Mumukshutva

Have you ever wondered which is the  most important quality needed to move ahead in spiritual life?

Here is a story I read a few days ago.

Once a disciple asked his guru, “I have been with you for a number of years now, yet I am not progressing on the path of spirituality, why is it so, where am I lacking?”

Guru smiled and said, “I will tell you when the time comes.”   A few days passed, disciple kept on waiting but guru did not speak a single word about the topic.  Then one day early in the morning Guru said to disciple let’s go and take a dip in the nearby river. While taking the bath as soon as disciple put his head inside the water, guru pressed his disciples head inside water firmly without letting him take the head out of the water.

The disciple was not able to breathe so he tried to free himself from his guru’s grip and move his head out of water. But he was not able to move and thought this is the end I am going to die here. 

Just then guru relaxed his grip and disciple was able to move his head out of water and breath.

Disciple puzzled and angrily said to his guru, “Why did you do it?  I would have died if had stayed any longer in water.”

“Yes you surely would have died.” said the guru and asked his disciple “tell me what were your last thoughts in the water?”

Disciple replied ” I was not able to think of anything, I just wanted to breath.” 

Guru calmly said, “The longing that you experienced inside the water to breathe, when you develop that kind of a longing to realize God, than only you can progress spiritually my son, there is no other way.”

This is what Mumukshutva is, an intense desire to achieve God where nothing else remains.

Thank you and please share your comments on the topic in the comment box below.

Jai Shri Hari.