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Once upon time there lived a youth by the name Gopal. He practised various kinds of sadhanas (spiritual austerities) to have the vision of God. One day he approached his friend and asked him, "I have done deep dhyana for long hours, have done yoga, have read lots of notebooks in this connection. Yet, I have not progressed spiritually. What is the reason for this?"

His friend said to him, "Well! You have performed dhyana and yoga on having read about them in notebooks. But to have the vision of God one needs a Guru; and, that Guru must have seen God. Sadhanas bear fruit only when performed with the guidance of the Guru."

However, Gopal's mind would not accept a Guru. What was the reason behind this? He thought, 'I know all the Mantras; how long they should be chanted; how to do dhyana. Whence I know these where is the need for a Guru? Is he an agent between God and me? Why do I need him?' So, his mind was not ready to accept a Guru.

He continued to practise his sadhana. Yet, there was no sign of any progress. Time was passing and he was growing old! He was filled with the fear. He thought, 'Oh! Just as my friend had advised should I attain a Guru and perform the sadhana?' And, he began to wonder whom should he take for his Guru.

He went to a Sadhu (Holy man). He came to the conclusion that this Sadhu had many faults and, therefore, could not be his Guru. He went to another and felt that this Sadhu had not done spiritual austerities even to the extent that he had done; therefore, he thought, 'this one cannot be my Guru.'

In this way, his bloated ego found some fault or the other in each one he met in spiritual life and would not permit him to accept any as his Guru. After a long time he met a great Guru. He fell flat at his feet. He began to sing his own praises to this Sadhu, "Swami! I have performed 'tapas' (spiritual austerities) for many days without taking food. I have chanted Mantras crores and crores of times. There is no Holy Place in India that has not been visited by me. I have bathed in all the Holy Rivers. I know all the slokas. There is not a single spiritual notebook left unread (by me). I sit in solitude and do dhyana for long hours."

The Mahatma said to him, "Child! I have no time to hear in detail all your spiritual practices. I am happy to hear your words claiming to have done this and that. It is in fact awe-inspiring. Please write down all these and bring it to me." Gopal left the Mahatma's place in joy.

One by one, from the time of his birth to that date, he wrote down all that he had done in order to get the vision of God. It took him five years to complete it. He then went to the Guru with this thousand-page notebook. The Guru saw the huge notebook and said, "Oh! Child! I had no time even to listen to all that you had practised. It was for this reason that I had asked you to write them down. You have brought such a big notebook. How can I read this whole notebook? I think that it contains all in full detail. Please edit this and bring it to me."

He returned home with the notebook and he cut down unnecessary things and wrote down the rest. This took him another ten years to complete. He came to the same Guru and submitted the notebook. He looked at it and said, "Even this seems long. How can I go through it wholly? Please try to edit it further." The Guru returned the notebook to Gopal.

Gopal returned to the Guru after fifteen years! He now submitted a small notebook in which he had written down briefly all about his sadhanas. The Guru said to him, "Had you brought this brief writing earlier I would certainly have read it. You have come after fifteen years. I have become very old. My vision is poor. Therefore, put it in a concise form." Gopal returned home and after much reading and thought put them all in a single page.

The Guru saw it and said to him, "Don't you feel even this to be too long? Edit even this."

The next time he returned to the Guru he brought an empty sheet of paper. Nothing was written on it. With tear filled eyes he fell at the feet of the Guru and said, "Swami! Only now have I understood what you said to me during each visit of mine. One after another I cut down matters that were useless for spiritual progress. Finally, I realized there was nothing to write down on this paper. Kindly grace me with your blessing," and surrendered to the Guru.

The moment we realize that we are but only an instrument in the hands of God we would receive the full Grace of the Lord. Is that not so? The Guru was very happy to see him with an empty sheet of paper. He said, "Do not worry. I know quite well about you," and instructed him. Due to the 'upadesa' of the Guru he 'Realised' God very soon.

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