A Fine Family: A Novel Read Online Free PDF

acquaintance with fellow passengers. Some passengers get off earlier, some later; some have a short journey, some have a longer one. But no one makes deep friendships, because they all know that each one has to get off. That is how you must learn to live in the world. Do not imagine for even a moment that your parents, children, friends, are going with you. They are all passengers.’
    Bauji was alternately moved and disturbed by this analogy. Even though he felt sceptical about the possibility of a true home or a perfect world, he was drawn to the perspective of the train passenger. He wondered what the world would be like if all relationships were as casual as those of passengers. Slowly a vision of that world appeared. And it was a bleak vision. Surely this world, he thought, with all its failures and sorrows, is better for the emotion that we invest in it, especially in human relationships. He began to be repelled by the vision. In the meantime the guru had changed the analogy.
    ‘Look at how the wise bee sits on the jar of honey!’ continued the guru. ‘The bee sits on the jar and licks honey from its edge, and flies away when it is content. That is how you must live in this world. Enjoy the world, but do not get involved. Be ready to fly a way at any time. Most of us, however, live like the stupid bee who sees the honey with hungry eyes and plunges in—with the result that it gets stuck in the honey as we get stuck in our involvements.’
    This was more than a lesson in moderation, Bauji felt. Despite the fact that the analogy was more convincing, he still felt uneasy. He thought to himself that he liked getting involved and attached. Although he did not think of himself as the greedy bee stuck in the jar, he liked to plunge in and form attachments. His world was the richer for these entanglements. If he hadn’t felt as he did for Tara, why would he trouble himself with these arrangements for her happiness?
    As the evening wore on, the professor of philosophy kept interrupting the guru with countless questions. ‘Who created the universe? If God created the universe why did he create it? Etc., etc.’
    Finally the tired guru sighed and said, ‘Listen, professorji, I shall tell you a story. Once there was a blind man who fell into a deep well. Fortunately a shepherd happened to pass by; he heard the blind man’s cries, and took pity and offered to pull him out.
    ‘Instead of taking hold of the rope lowered by the shepherd, the blind man started to argue. He questioned the shepherd about his motive in helping him. “Where was the guarantee,” he asked, “that he wouldn’t fall again in a well? Why didn’t they make safer wells for blind people? Why did they make wells at all, in fact?”
    ‘The patience of the shepherd was taxed by these questions, but he gently replied that it would be in the blind man’s interest to take advantage of the rope. After coming out he could study the situation for himself at leisure and form his conclusions.
    ‘The blind man, however, persisted and asked the shepherd why he had not also fallen into the well. The kind shepherd said that he was in a hurry to get home where he had a number of tasks awaiting him.
    ‘“All right, “ said the blind man, “but first answer only two questions: when was this well built and how deep is it?”’
    ‘“It is deep enough to be the grave of some people,” said the shepherd and left in disgust.’
    Everyone laughed heartily at this tale, including the professor.
    As the evening came to an end, the guru turned to Bauji. ‘You have been quiet all evening. I perceive disquiet in your heart. What is it?’
    ‘Guruji,’ said Bauji. ‘I have always believed that a man should lead a virtuous life, do good to others, avoid causing pain or harm to fellow human beings, and earn an honest living. I never thought anything more was necessary.’
    ‘Bauji, I applaud your beliefs. You are in fact far better prepared to undertake the spiritual