DRUNKEN ELEPHANT
A man goes to the market and sees a stall with no products on it. He asks the stall holder, "what are you selling?" The stall holder says, "I'm selling something which will change your life. They are invisible ghosts which will do all you work for you free of charge. Anything you need done, housework, cleaning, DIY, cooking, driving.. anything, this ghost will do it for you." The man was shocked and said, "wow, I have so many things which need doing at home, I could do with this ghost, how much does it cost?" "It's free" said the stall holder, "however there is a catch. Make sure you keep it busy because if it has nothing to do, it will kill you." The man was worried but was sure he could keep the ghost occupied. He took it home and set it doing different things. The ghost would do them in a flash and await the next command.
The man carried on giving the ghost chores however the ghost was finishing them so fast the man became worried.
He turned to his wife and said, "what shall I do? Soon the ghost will be idle and kill me." His wife said, "just put this ladder against the side of the house and tell the ghost to keep climbing up and down it. Then when you need the ghost for something just call it, and when that job is done, send it up and down the ladder again." The man was relieved and was able to keep the ghost busy.
The ghost is our mind... When it is occupied or engaged in work, it doesn't head towards the panj chor and Paap (5 evils of the mind).. But when left idle it will destroy us. An idle mind is the devils workshop (behlaa mann, shehtaan da ghar). So just like this man, we must keep our mind engaged in the routine of Naam meditation, Bani (gurus word) and Seva (selfless service up and down the ladder). Keep that going and keep yourself busy and the mind doesn't have time to concoct or build any weapons to damage you with. In this way the mind finds happiness, joy, balance, true love, peace and contentment and dwells in the fourth and highest state of Sehj (truth, tranquility and bliss).
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says, "the intellect of the mind is like a drunken elephant."
Vaheguroo!
