This is a story of a Guru and his disciple. The disciple asked, “How can my mind focus on the soul?” Guruji gave a beautiful example and said, “Ring this bell gently. You heard a gentle noise and experienced a gentle after-effect. Now, ring it loudly. You heard a loud noise and experienced a louder after-effect. Similar things are with your thoughts. If you think you are negative, you become negative, and if you think you are God, you become God. You are already God, but you don’t have faith.”
Another disciple came to the same Guruji. The disciple said, “Give me a powerful mantra, through which I can attain the material benefits as well as spiritual progress. I want everything as early as possible.” Guruji said, “I don’t have any such power.” The disciple was very stubborn and didn’t move a bit, irrespective of Guruji’s grievances. To get rid of him, Guruji took a piece of paper and wrote a mantra. He gave it to the disciple and said, “Recite this mantra seven times in a sitting, seven times a day, for seven days.” The person rejoiced and ran with the paper, without thanking Guruji. Before he could move down the stairs, Guruji said, “There is a small hitch in this mantra. You should not remember a monkey while reciting the mantra, otherwise, you will not get the benefits.” The person said, “It’s very easy.” As he stepped out of the ashram, he saw a monkey. The whole day, whenever he wished to recite the mantra, he saw or remembered a monkey. He thought that he should sleep and then try the recitation the next morning with a fresh mind. Even at night, he saw monkeys in his dream. The next morning, he sat with determination, but after three recitations, a thought of a monkey came. On the fifth day itself, he ran back to his Guruji and said, “Take this mantra! I can’t do it. You should have told me about the monkeys after I had attained my powers. Now, monkeys never leave my mind vacant.” Guruji said, “This happened to you because you tried to run away from the thought. You fought with your thoughts. Don’t fight and just be the witness. Just surrender and the disturbing thoughts shall disappear. Face the brood, be fearless, and you will win. Don’t anticipate any happenings. Let the light shine. Welcome it. Take the pause and accept.”
The teacher concluded with Buddha’s statement, “Apo Deepo Bhav” (Be your own light).