The Twenty four Gurus (10)

8. THE PIGEON

A male and a female pigeon once lived happily in a forest. The male pigeon loved the female pigeon dearly and took trouble to fulfill all her wishes. Many little ones were born to them. They brought up these little ones with much care. Once, when the parent pigeons were out in search of food, a hunter caught these little ones in his net. On return, the two pigeons saw this and cried out in anguish. The female pigeon out of compassion for her young ones jumped into the net and voluntarily got caught in it. The male pigeon pained at the now empty home cried out, "Without my children and wife this home has become an empty dwelling. I will also quit this home." And he, too, fell into the net. The hunter, his job completed, carried the pigeons home.

Similarly, a man who is caught in a family, loses his mental peace, faces the dual feelings of joy and sorrow, bears the burden of the family and thus meets destruction. This human birth is the doorway to Moksha. Yet, if one even after attaining this birth is, like the pigeon, attached to his family he is derided by the Yogis as 'Aaruda Pathi' (one who falls down after having attained a high status). Hence, it is not good to be deeply attached to or love anyone or anything. This misplaced affection/attachment leads a man to misery. So one should remain detached.