X was forever discontent with the replies to his spiritual queries. That’s when he heard of a wise man known as Paglot Baba, or the mad guru. Similar to the Zen koan (paradoxical riddles) and Kabir’s ulat baasiyan (upside-down verses), Paglot Baba was known to dispense strange advice that made little sense to people. He also had a habit of shooing away visitors if he found them to be non-serious seekers. Thankfully for X, the guru found him genuine. However, he realised that X was struck at the initial step as is the case with the majority of seekers. Baba could figure out the self-imposed impediments that held him back from taking the first step.
During their meeting, X blurted out innumerable passages from various scriptures. In that initial rattling, X also criticised the gurus he had approached, who had ‘no answer’ to his queries. Though initially Baba found X’s hubris cringeworthy, he was compassionate enough to realise the spiritual potential brewing deep within. He told X to reverse his action. ‘Do unto yourself what you do to others, and do to others what you do to yourself. That’s the mantra,’ Baba told him before dismissing him.
X was perplexed. Reverse what? What was this guru specifically referring to? He couldn’t comprehend that the advice pertained to his boasting and ranting. He dismissed it as yet another spiritual misadventure. However, the guru’s words kept ringing in his ears. Soon, it started making sense. It was during an argument that he understood what the guru meant. Instead of praising ourselves and criticising others, he needed to reverse it by praising others and criticising himself, or, in other words, acknowledge his shortcomings. This simple-seeming act though wasn’t easy to implement since his mind kept dismissing it as rubbish. This act was diametrically opposite what the mind invariably likes to do. However, X realised its potential as he applied it a few times. New doors leading to knowledge started opening.
I’m sure we can empathise with X. After all, isn’t that what we do all the time: praise ourselves and criticise others? From now on, remember Paglot Baba’s words and follow this profound mantra, not only to acquire spiritual knowledge, but to gain anything of importance. The reversal is magical. Once you implement it, the blue lotus, representing wisdom, blooms.