SongsofGod with much appreciation and especially for you, I share this story told and authored by Sai Baba, which I titled: "Man know yourself"
MAN KNOW THYSELF!
1. Thai, Thai, Thai! Thai Thai.
Look at the performance, silly, of this puppet.
O Individual, listen to the long, long story
of her past, his future, back and forth.
2. he Rolled at first in crushed mud, the dark prison of his womb. He came with a groan, but all around him they smiled with joy and celebrated much.
3. O tragedy! I have been born again, he knew it and cried, loud and long. But the whole time, they looked after him and laughed to get a smile.
4. In his own dirt he wallowed,
no sense of disgust or shame.
He rose and fell, at every step,
Acting a child's mime every day.
5. He Runs and jumps with groups of buddies and learns a hundred tricks and trades. He grows in height, in width and in thickness, from year to year, very fast and even.
6. he Moves in pairs, and calls and coos in rainbow-pink style.
He sings songs never heard before, and he drinks his glass in a hurry, unique and particular.
7. It is God, the Creator, who makes these pairs of dolls, and millions and millions of dolls. But this puppet of ours does not know when he is playing with dolls:
Thim! Thim! Thim!
8. This doll of illusion, like the Sacred Bull, has the rope of ignorance through its nostril; lust and anger are his goads, which attack the slave's back.
9. he delights with malignant satisfaction when others stop at this, and shudder in dismay; and dealing pain to them, he cannot, however, bear even a tiny portion.
10. He curses and yells and waves his arms at him. He gets impatient and hot with bloodshot eyes; it is indeed a strange sight, possessed by evil rage!
11. He scrutinizes, scribbles and persists without knowing why. He runs around in a panic trying to store food for his belly, willingly or unwillingly.
12. Ah, have you seen this strange little doofus, with his belly full of books, spinning and squirming suspiciously at the encounter with a cultured doll?
13. And, you should hear the secret clucking of him, when a shameful sensual desire, a accursed lurking greed is satisfied in sin!
14. And what is it that he proudly pats?: his own back, for the beauty, muscularity and vitality of him. Meanwhile all the time and step by step he moves towards senility.
15. He wobbles and blinks through folds and wrinkles, and when the kids yell:
"Play the monkey" "Play the monkey" he makes gestures and faces, a toothless face, and his bones also creak.
16. Until the end, he lost he is found by fear, deterioration and reluctance and so much tearful wear! What good is it, oh silly doll, your gasping and grunting. You will necessarily have to meet your Conviction.
17. Aha! The bird, flaps its wings, takes flight, Brrr, from the carnal prison. If it is empty, it hardens, if it is distracted, it brings order. Or if you take it out of sight, it swells up and stinks.
18. The elements gather their five parents, the wishes of the doll are dust and ashes, why do you fools cry when one of you falls on the packed stage?
19. Uncles, cousins, aunts and friends march sadly to the door of the room. The doll of illusion, poor him, forgot his kinship, the Divine Name, the True Redeemer!
20. O man, do not lean on this thin reed; just resist a sneeze! This fragile leather boat, equipped with three times three holes, will plunge you into the middle of the stream.
21. This puppet cries, sleeps and wakes up when her strings are pulled by the Invisible Hand. It is the Lord, who is behind, but the fool swears. It's me, me, me.
22. Dharma', karma" are the strong threads that He tightens or loosens. The puppet swaggers carelessly in zigzagging balance.
23. Strutting, this poor little fool, takes the world as stable. A wink...and he gets the show rolling! Success gives pomp and pride!
24. Oh man, you have passed through the ant, the snake and the bird; he seeks and finds, without delay, the path to Eternal Happiness.
25. Bless your luck! Now you can see Sai, He has come! Come closer to Him and thus you will know your what, your why and your how.
26. Can a million clever and pleasant words appease your hungry maw? Instead, light the lamp of Soul, and freed from captivity, he goes out and acts.
27. This story he tells about the silly doll makes the man sad and wise! I know it. But man, check out Sathya Sai's Divine Game! And... know yourself.