Junaid's Cow Story || Acharya Prashant

Full Video: Take this test - check whether you are a hero || Acharya Prashant, on Vedanta (2021)

Transcript

00:00Sufi story, Junaid and the cow.

00:02So Junaid is going somewhere with a few of his disciples.

00:05In front of Junaid is a man walking with the cow.

00:09And the man is holding the leash and the cow is behind him.

00:12So Junaid says, wait, this is a moment to learn something.

00:15He asks his disciples, who owns whom?

00:18Does the man own the cow?

00:19Does the man lead the cow?

00:21Or does the cow own and lead the man?

00:23The disciples say, sir, it is evident the man owns and leads the cow.

00:27So Junaid says, had the answer been so simple, why would I ask the question?

00:31So he says, fine, any of you carrying a knife or a scissor or something?

00:34He gets one and cuts the cord.

00:36The leash has been, now cut.

00:38She just sprints away and the man is running behind.

00:41And Junaid asks his chaps, now you tell me who leads whom?

00:46That's the question you must ask.

00:48Do I own my things or do my things own me?

00:51In some sense, spirituality is all about unleashing yourself, which is freedom from bondage.

00:56The leash is the bondage.