Let Go Your World If You Want God

The Chaubeys rowing an anchored boat

On the banks of river Yamuna in the city of Mathura, lived four friends. They were all Chaubeys, a caste in India whose people were famous for drinking.  They were good friends since they all liked to enjoy drinking.  

Once, after an evening of drinks, these men spontaneously decided to row their boat to Prayag in Allahabad, which is also on the banks of river Yamuna. 

They started rowing the boat and did so all night long.  In the morning, their intoxication had mostly worn off.  One man rubbed his eyes and remarked loudly to others - Look, Prayag looks exactly like Mathura.  

The others rubbed their eyes, looked around and agreed. Someone walking near their boat overheard them said - Hey! You are still in Mathura.  

They looked around in dismay. One of them said - How is this possible?  We rowed the boat all night long. We should be in Prayag.  

The man walking by explained to them - You fools!  You were rowing the boat all night but you did not release the anchors.  The boat is still tied to the shore.

 

Moral of the Story -

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj narrated this story to explain the following -

We may be working hard to attain God but how can we progress towards God when our minds are still attached to the world (just like the boat is anchored to the shore).