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Once upon a time, there lived a big businessman, who did good business and earned well. From his youth he had a spiritual fervor and frequented temples and spiritual discourses.

Once, an elderly person was performing discourse in a temple. While speaking about the Purãnas, he said, "The Purãnas ask you to realize yourselves. What is the use if one does not realize oneself? Bookish knowledge does not suffice to attain realization. One requires Guru's grace to realize himself."

Hearing this, the businessman developed a deep desire to attain a Guru, get initiated and hence realize himself. He was waiting for the right time for the same. He thought that he would give away his business and his assets to his son and spend his retirement reading the Purãnas and getting initiated by a Guru to attain realization. He went in search of a Guru and also enquired his friends and relatives about one.

One day his friend told him that there was a Sãdhu in the next country, guiding people in the right direction and asked him to meet the Sãdhu. The businessman too, went to that town, met the Sãdhu, bowed to him and asked him to accept himself as a disciple. The Sãdhu replied, "I don't accept any disciple, Initiating a disciple itself is an act of ego. I don't have the least complex of inferiority or superiority."

The businessman stubbornly cried, "How will I attain deliverance if you talk this way? You should definitely initiate me and make me realize my divine nature." Looking at his stubborn nature, the Sãdhu replied, "Okay, I shall give you Upadesa, but before that you will have to stay with me for some time during which you should never question me on my actions and point out the mistakes. If you agree to this condition, I shall initiate you at the right moment." He agreed to this and lived with the Sãdhu performing chores for him.

One day, the Sãdhu got ready to leave for another town and the businessman followed. They came across a river on the way, and could proceed only after crossing it. There was a boatman in the bank and said, "I shall be overjoyed to have you aboard. You don't need to pay me anything. Your very stepping on this boat is enough!" Saying so, he got the Sãdhu and the businessman aboard. Just before reaching the destination, the Sãdhu started making a small hole in the floor of the boat with his pocket knife. Looking at this, the businessman felt sad for the boatman. He immediately retorted, "Swami, you are erring. Why are you making a hole in the boat?" The Sãdhu said, "Did I not ask you not to question me? Now that you have questioned, you cannot get initiation from me anymore." The businessman replied, "I am sorry! Please excuse me this time. It shall not happen in future".

Soon they reached the next land. Hearing about the Sãdhu's visit, the king was thrilled and invited him with due respect. He gave a separate palace next to his own to the Sãdhu and provided him all facilities. Time passed by.

One day, the king asked his son to go and prostrate to the Sãdhu. As the Sãdhu was speaking to the prince, he suddenly injured the prince on his leg rendering him lame. The businessman got angry. He asked, "Swami. The boatman was poor. You made a hole in his boat, which was his only means of living. This is worse. The king has provided you all the comforts and sent his son to seek your blessings. You have injured his leg!"

The Sãdhu said, "You are questioning my action again. I forgave you once. Did I not ask you not to question me? You are not fit to accompany me! You can go now! You are not fit to get initiation from me." Then the businessman gave his apologies and asked for forgiveness again. He promised he will never raise questions in future. The Sãdhu agreed and warned that this was his last chance, and continued his journey.

They reached the next country where they were not invited with any respect. They did not get even a place to stay or food to eat. They strayed along the streets. The citizens started pelting stones at them thinking that they were lunatics. They reached a street where the Sãdhu noticed a house whose wall was dilapidated. He started reconstructing the wall. Patiently lifting the bricks on his head, mixing cement and sand, he beautifully reconstructed the wall. The businessman got angry. In the earlier country where he was treated respectfully, the Sãdhu was vindictive whereas this country did not even provide food and he is doing good to them. He thought that the Sãdhu was indeed mad and with a heavy heart, said, "Sir! I very well know that you will let go of me if I ask questions. This time, I am purposely asking this question even if you let go of me. I cannot stand your actions. I feel that you are erring. Please let me know the reason for all the three actions and I myself will depart."

The Sãdhu replied, "The boatman was planning to go a long distance after dropping us. But pirates were waiting to rob him. I made the hole in the boat to save his life. You do not know what happened in the past and what will happen in the future, whereas I do. The prince who came for my blessings had evil designs in his mind. If he becomes the king, he will torture the citizens. By rule of that land, a handicapped person cannot become a king. Hence I made him lame, so that the country can be saved from his despotic rule.

You were saddened that we were not honored in this country. The princes of this country have been cheated and someone else is ruling this nation. The information about the true princes is found on an inscription on this wall. If that is exposed now, it might prove dangerous to the young princes. It will benefit them when they discover this fact after they grow up. In order to conceal those inscriptions, I plastered the wall." Understanding the reasons behind the Sãdhu's actions, the businessman nodded.

Mahãtmas are omniscient. They know the present, past and future. Their actions cannot be understood by our small mind.

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