It was a long time ago. A great saint lived in a quiet ashram surrounded by mountains. He had many disciples who came from far and wide to gain knowledge. The Guru was extremely knowledgeable, simple-natured, and compassionate towards all living beings. One morning, he gathered his disciples and said, "Children, this world is God's creation. All living beings on this earth—animals, trees, and humans—are a part of that God. Therefore, we must see Narayana in every living being and respect everyone."
The disciples bowed their heads reverently and took Guruji's words to heart. This teaching became a topic of discussion in the ashram, and everyone began to reflect on it.
A few days later, a grand havan was organized at the ashram. Preparations were hectic. Guruji ordered some disciples to bring wood for the havan from the nearby forest. All the disciples took baskets and headed towards the forest. The quiet morning, the melodious sounds of birds, and the soft sunlight beautifully illuminated the forest.
The disciples were busy picking and gathering wood when suddenly the ground began to tremble slightly. Within moments, with a loud roar, a mad elephant appeared, rapidly approaching them. Its eyes were red, and it was tearing and twisting trees as it moved forward.
A stampede broke out among the disciples. Everyone shouted loudly, "Run! The mad elephant is here! Save your lives!"
But amidst the chaos, one disciple stood quietly. There was no panic on his face. His actions surprised his companions.
One disciple shouted as he ran, "Hey, don't be crazy! The elephant is coming straight for you. If you wait even for a moment, you'll lose your life!"
But the disciple smiled and said calmly, "You all go. I'm not afraid of anything. Guruji has taught me that Narayan resides in every living being. How can I run away from him? I will bow to him."
His companions tried to reason with him, but he refused. He stood there with folded hands.
But the elephant had neither the understanding of devotion nor the philosophy of life. It was furious and trampled anyone who came in its way. As soon as the disciple reached the elephant, it lifted him with its trunk and threw him away with great force. He fell to the ground with a thud and fell unconscious.
When he regained consciousness after a long time, he was lying on his bed in the ashram. His body was bandaged. The Guru was standing before him, a serious face and a slight sadness in his eyes.
The Guru said, "Son, why didn't you move away even after seeing the elephant coming? You knew it could hurt you."
The disciple said in a low voice, "Guruji, I followed your orders. You said that God resides in every living being. That's why I felt that the elephant was also Narayana. I didn't run away."
The Guru took a deep breath and said, "Yes, son, I said that we should see Narayana in every living being, so that we don't cause harm to anyone. But I also taught that it's crucial to use our discretion in difficult situations. Just as you saw Narayana in the elephant, your companions stopped you—they too were Narayana. Why did you ignore their warning?"
Then the Guru explained, "Water is also Narayana, but one type of water is suitable for offering to the gods, and the other for bathing and washing. The use of every substance is determined by the situation. Similarly, knowledge should be adopted based on the time, place, and circumstances. Blind following always brings destruction."
The disciple bowed his head. His eyes were dripping with remorse.
The Guru gave his final teaching, "Respect knowledge, but never abandon wisdom. Listen to others, but think carefully. If wisdom is abandoned, even the best education can cause harm."
Therefore, the lesson from this story is that we should not blindly believe what others say. Knowledge is only meaningful when it is combined with discretion.
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