TO OBEY ME IS LIKE RIDING YOUR OWN SHOULDERS

 
"To love is one thing, to obey is another. It is very difficult to obey me implicitly. And that is really important." We kept quiet. Baba was in a mood to explain further. He looked at both R.L.S. and me in turn and said, "Will you both obey me?"

"Yes," said R.L.S.

"Yes, Baba. I'll try to do so," I said.

"Know well that it is not easy to obey me but it is very very difficult. Now Amiya, if I tell you to ride your own shoulder can you fulfil my orders?"

"No, Baba, I can't," I said in alarm.

"Or, if I tell you to jump in the sea with a rafter tied onto you with the command that you should see that not a drop of water wets you, can you do it for me?"

"No, Baba, it is almost impossible," I muttered.

Baba's face grew more serious. The atmosphere suddenly changed from gaiety to grim silence. Baba continued. "It is like that — to obey me is like riding your own shoulders — at best you can take a somersault but you cannot really ride your shoulders. R.L.S. and Amiya do you understand?"

"Yes, Baba!"

"In order to attract my grace you have to obey me implicitly," Baba said.

"Baba, why don't you give us your grace so that we could obey you?" I ventured to suggest.

Baba turned more serious. "If I were to give you my grace to do something, where is the point in asking you to do it yourself?"

"Yes, Baba, it is right," I said, admitting my folly in making such a request.