There is a story about a lioness. One day she went about in search of prey and seeing a flock of sheep she jumped upon them. She died in the effort and a little baby lion was born. The cub was motherless. It was taken care of by the sheep and the sheep brought it up. It grew up with them, ate grass and thought it was a sheep. And although in time it became a big full-grown lion, It thought it was a sheep. And although in time it became a big full-grown lion, it thought it was a sheep. When attacked by other animals, it would run away, like the sheep.
One day a fierce-looking lion attacked the herd. It was amazed to see a lion in the herd eating grass and running away with the sheep at its approach. He tried to get near the sheep-lion to tell it that it was not a sheep but a lion but the poor animal fled at his approach. However, he watched it and said, “You are a lion.” “I am a sheep,” cried the other lion sleeping. However, he watched his opportunity and one day found the seep-lion sleeping. He approached it and said, “You are a lion.” “I am a sheep,” cried the other lion and could not believe the contrary but bleated.
The lion dragged him towards a lake and said, ‘Look at your face in the water. It is just like mine. here is a little meat. Eat it. Saying this, it thrust some meat into its mouth. But the grass-eating lion would not swallow it and began to bleat again. Gradually, however, it got the taste of blood and came to relish the meat. The wild lion roared and the sheep-lion also roared. Then the wild lion said: Now you see there is no difference between you and me. ‘What a disgrace! You lived with the sheep and ate grass like them!’ Come along and follow me into the forest. ‘And the other was really ashamed of itself.
AWAKEN THE LION WITHIN
Eating grass is like enjoying the sense of enjoyment of the world. To bleat and run away like a sheep is to behave like an ordinary man. Going away with the new lion is like taking shelter with the teacher, who awakens one’s spiritual consciousness, and recognises him alone as one’s relative. To see one’s face rightly is to know one’s real Atman.
You are lions, you are souls, infinite, and perfect. The might of the universe is within you. Men are taught from childhood that they are weak and sinners. Teach them that they are all glorious children of immortality, even those who are the weakest in manifestation. Let positive, strong, helpful thought enter their brains from the very childhood. Lay yourselves open to these thoughts and not to weakening and paralysing ones. Drive out the superstition that has covered your mind. Let us be brave. Know the Truth and practise the Truth. The goal may be distant, but awake, arise, and stop not till the goal is reached.
Fill the brain with high thoughts, and ideals, place them day and night before you and out of that will come great work. Talk not about impurity, but say that we are pure. We have hypnotised ourselves into this thought that we are little, that we are born, and that we are going to die, and into a constant state of fear.