Meditation With Cats
At the foot of the hill, on the river bank, lived a hermit. The forest around the hill supplied him with the fruits and vegetables he needed and the water of the river was pure. The people of the nearby villages were happy to repair his hut from time to time and they gave him clothes. In fact, they would be happy to give anything the hermit would need, but his needs were few. Many people came to meet the hermit. They took his advice and went away. But one stuck on to him; although the hermit never asked him to do so. But, in all fairness to the man, it must be admitted that he served his master well. He claimed himself the hermit's chief disciple and the hermit did not mind that! The people called him Chelababa. One night, in his vision, the hermit received a call from his guru who lived in the Himalayas. "I am off to the Himalayas!" he announced to Chelababa, in the morning. "Please allow me to accompany you," said Chelababa. The hermit smiled and expressed his inability to do so. "When will you be back here?" asked Chelababa anxiously. "Why should I be back at all? I am an ascetic. I may go anywhere I like. I have no attachment to any place," replied the hermit.
"What will happen to this beautiful hut?" asked Chelababa with great concern. The hermit laughed and said, "The hut is for me; I am not for the hut. So many castles and forts have been reduced to dust through the centuries. What does it matter if a hut is gone?" Chelababa did not appear to appreciate the reply. He wept and said, "No, Master, please allow me to be here, to continue your tradition, till your return." The hermit took pity on the man who, after all, had served him so well, and allowed him to be there, claiming himself to be his disciple and heir, as he was wont to do. The hermit roamed about in the Himalayas after he had met his guru. Years passed- twenty-five years. Suddenly he remembered his hut on the river and the man whom he had left there. He decided to pay a visit to the place. He walked for several months and approached the hill. Much had changed in that region and nobody recognized him. On his way to his old hut, he came across a fair. To his great surprise, he found it devoted to the sale of kittens only"
"This one is bound to grow up to be a wonderful tomcat, most suitable for meditation," one seller exclaimed upholding a black and white kitten. "Mine is destined to be the finest tabby in the region - the right type for meditation!" shouted another. "Come here, these kittens are the direct descendants of 'the one with whom the great hermit himself meditated!" declared the third one. The hermit was perplexed. He took a man aside and observed, "Gentleman, I have never seen a cat fair anywhere!" "How can you? Chelababa's disciples live mostly in this area. Naturally, a cat is so important here and we have this quarterly fair!" said the man. The statement did not satisfy the hermit's curiosity. He advanced towards his old hut. On the way, he heard an old man chiding his son, "How could you think of meditating without a cat tied to the pillar? What will Chelababa think of you if he comes to hear of such an outrage?" Still more puzzled, the hermit reached the river-bank. His old hut was still there, but it was maintained as a sacred shrine.
His servant, Chelababa, lived in a nice building built by his disciples. A number of disciples lived with him. All looked at him with surprise. But nobody dared to stop him. The hermit pushed on to Chelababa's room. It was evening. Chelababa sat in meditation. Before him lay a cat, tied by a rope to a pillar. As the hermit looked on with compassion, he saw in his seer vision all that had happened. A quarter of a century ago, he had a pet cat. The pet was in the habit of playing with him whenever it found him sitting. So, when he sat for meditation, he tied it to a pillar. Chelababa had observed the practice and had concluded that tying a cat to a pillar was a must for meditation. Soon Chelababa opened his eyes and saw his master. He was about to cry out in joy. But the hermit stopped him in time and said, "I have no desire to attract a crowd. I must leave this place forthwith." "Master! Please take me with you this time," pleaded Chelababa, in tears. The hermit realized that his pleading was genuine. Rather foolish though, Chelababa was a good soul. "All right. Meet me on the other side of the hill, alone, after a week. In the meanwhile announce to your disciples that the age when meditation had to be done with cats tied to the pillars has passed. Now they can meditate without the cat," advised the hermit and he left for the hill.
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