The Sadhu Who Lived By The Ganges

 

I will tell you a story of an old Indian ascetic, a Sadhu, who lived in Gangotri.

Gangotri is a town in the Indian Himalayas. It is the source of the great river Ganges.

This sadhu used to collect rocks by the river. He would bathe in its cold waters. He would sit in meditation for hours upon end. He would retreat into a nearby cave during the night.

An Indian King heard about this sadhu. This king was given to mystical pursuits, and he was very much intrigued by this reclusive ascetic. And thought to pay him a visit.

He forbade his guards to go with him across the short stretch of river, asking them to stay with the horses until he returned.

As the king approached the area near the river, he noticed a disheveled man with a simple brown dothi squatting at river’s edge with his arms resting outstretched on his knees.

The king approached and said, “Namaste, Baba.”

The old man looked up at the king, then turned his gaze back toward the river.

The king was quite insulted. For he was accustomed to any and all men bowing before him as he approached.

But this old disheveled ascetic did not so much as give him a second glance.

After a few minutes of silence, the king repeated, “Namaste, Baba.”

The sadhu picked up a stone and tossed it into the river. He did not bother to respond or even to look at the king.

The king was beset by pride. He felt a surge of anger and he sought to impress his status upon the sadhu.

He said, “Do you know that I am the king? Do you know that you are dealing with a man who by the snap of a finger can summon your death?”

Again, the old man did not respond.

The king, enraged and insulted, retreated to his guards for the journey back to his palace. But before he mounted his horse, the old man called out to him.

“Oh, king,” shouted the sadhu. “Do you know that you are dealing with a man who by the snap of his fingers can welcome death?”

The king stood by his horse, stunned at what the old sadhu had just said. He did not have a reply for this. So he mounted his horse and returned to his kingdom.

Over the next several months, the king would return for a visit with the old sadhu. And each time he returned, the sadhu would essentially ignore him.

But as time went on, the sadhu began to speak to him.

During one visit, the king asked the sadhu, “I don’t understand myself. I am the most rich and powerful man in the kingdom. Yet I find myself having this urge to continually return to see an old sadhu who hasn’t a penny to his name.”

The sadhu began to laugh. “It is interesting, is it not?” he said.

“But why, Baba? What keeps pulling me back to you?”

“Desire, oh king. It is desire that keeps pulling you back to me.”

“Desire?” said the king. “What do you have that I could possibly desire?”

“The one thing that you do not,” said the sadhu.

“What is that?” said the king.

The sadhu sat crouched at the river’s edge examining a smooth and pointed stone. He held the stone inches from his eyes the way a jeweler examines a diamond.

“Tell me,” said the king. “What is it that draws me to you? What is it that you have that I do not?”

“Desirelessness,” said the sadhu.

Dr. Gupta travels the world working with True Seekers. His clientele consists of professional athletes, executives, and celebrities. He helps them become The God Of Their Own Life.

Kapil@KapilGuptaMD.com