In a village lived several Patels. They were so foolish, they once thought to themselves that “for many years now, darkness at night time has slipped into our houses, lets keep a strict guard today and make sure darkness does not creep in.” In preparation, one Patel picked up a stick, another a washing pin, another a pestle or dustpan to chase darkness out just in case it did manage to gain entry. And so at six o’clock in the evening the villagers finished dinner and sat ready on their cots outside their homes. They watched the sunset, carefully watching around them lest darkness sneaked into their homes.
Slowly the sun set, one man went into his home for a drink of water at 6.30 p.m. and raised the alarm, “Get up! Get up! What are you watching outside for? Darkness has already snuck in”.
All the Patels grabbed their sticks, washing pins and dustpans. They began to beat darkness in the house. In the darkness they broke many pots and pans. They spent the whole night trying to chase darkness away. With the coming of morning, the sun rose and darkness went away. The Patels stroked their moustaches with pride and happily said “we really did beat it away”.
They all became very sure of themselves, not realising that beating darkness doesn’t chase it away. The rising sun causes darkness to go.
People decide for themselves what salvation is – as the Patels thought of darkness. Freedom from the cycle of births and deaths is true salvation. Without a sun-like true Guru our ignorance is never driven away.