Escape Your Suffering

How to Escape Your Suffering – The Blind Man vs. The Cripple

Spiritual Inspiring Story

There is a famous Indian story about the great battle between the blind man and the cripple which I think you will all enjoy.  I came across this story first is Osho’s book on Courage, The Joy of Living Dangerously.  Here is how it goes.  In a remote village in the outskirts of Punjab there lived 2 sworn enemies.  One chap was blind and the other was a cripple.  They just could not get along.  No matter what one did, it would upset the other and visa versa.  For years this battle raged on and the animosity between them grew fierce and caustic.

As fate would have it though, during one very hot and dry summer a terrible fire broke out in the village and began consuming everything in its path.  The villagers began to flee in fear as there was no stopping the inferno.  In the panic, the blind man and the cripple were forgotten about and left to fend for themselves.  They now had a big problem.  The blind man did not know which way to go in order to escape the fire, and the cripple, who could see the path to safety, could take no action regarding it.  So both were stuck.

Escape Your Suffering

Luckily for them, the desire to live was greater than their hatred for each other, so they decided to work together in order to save their lives.  The blind man put the cripple on his shoulders, who then directed him on which way to go in order to escape.  Thus, working as a team, they were successful and even ended up becoming friends.

Who is the blind man and who is the cripple?  The blind man is your mind and the cripple is your heart.  What is the fire?  The fire is your suffering.  The mind is the instrument through which you can move, act — but it is blind, in that it does not know which way to go.  It endlessly debates, weighing pros and cons, wobbling between what will be gained and what will be lost if certain action was to be taken.  It cannot see how to escape the suffering.  The heart, on the other hand, can see clearly the way out, but does not have any means to act.  In order to act, it needs the mind.  So they need each other.  But, more importantly the heart needs to sit on top of the mind, as the cripple sat on the shoulders of the blind man.  With the heart leading the way, the mind becomes intelligent.  Give the heart its precedence and wisdom will then emerge and guide you safely out of your suffering.

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16 replies
  1. Blossom
    Blossom says:

    Awesome post Anmol! Especially, the illustration about mind being the one that walks and heart being the one that decides the way is such a wonderful exlplanation you have given! :) thanks loads, i loved it! :D

    Reply
  2. Anmol Mehta
    Anmol Mehta says:

    Hi V,

    There are 2 article I will point you to an the website regarding this topic.

    The first is a set of questions which help you listen to your inner voice and help you discover what your heart really wants in life…

    How to Discover Your True Passion in Life

    The second is also an article which might interest you which involves how to discover your Higher Self.

    How to Discover Your Soul or Higher Self.

    Finally I would say to build you intuitive nature practice Third Eye AUM Meditation Technique.

    Hope they help.

    Best,
    Anmol

    Reply
  3. V
    V says:

    Dear Anmol,
    Can you please explain how to listen to the heart. I have read quite a lot of stuff (articles/books) about the importance of following one’s heart; but few explained lucidly as to how to listen to it.
    Thanks in advance for your kind help.
    regards,
    V

    Reply
  4. Kara-Leah Masina
    Kara-Leah Masina says:

    Another beautiful story – I love Osho’s words. I have never come across this one though. Thank you!

    Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. Live life Courageously | Zen++ says:

    […] 2. Listen to the Heart, Not the Mind: In the article How to Escape Your Suffering: The Blind Man vs. The Cripple I went into this point where your guide ought to be your heart and not your mind.  The mind will endlessly battle for security, it will wobble between the pros and cons.  The heart, on the other hand, will help you to jump into the great unknown and help you to be true to your passions. […]

  2. Sri Ramakrishna Teachings from 5 Spiritual Stories | Healing Minded says:

    […] How to Escape Your Suffering – The Blind Man vs. The Cripple […]

  3. » Zen++ | Programming Language To Life | A Self-Help Blog says:

    […] 2. Listen to the Heart, Not the Mind: In the article How to Escape Your Suffering: The Blind Man vs. The Cripple I went into this point where your guide ought to be your heart and not your mind.  The mind will endlessly battle for security, it will wobble between the pros and cons.  The heart, on the other hand, will help you to jump into the great unknown and help you to be true to your passions. […]

  4. Live life Courageously « lifeautography Blog says:

    […] 2. Listen to the Heart, Not the Mind: In the article How to Escape Your Suffering: The Blind Man vs. The Cripple I went into this point where your guide ought to be your heart and not your mind.  The mind will endlessly battle for security, it will wobble between the pros and cons.  The heart, on the other hand, will help you to jump into the great unknown and help you to be true to your passions. […]

  5. Live life Courageously « The Realbiography project says:

    […] 2. Listen to the Heart, Not the Mind: In the article How to Escape Your Suffering: The Blind Man vs. The Cripple I went into this point where your guide ought to be your heart and not your mind.  The mind will endlessly battle for security, it will wobble between the pros and cons.  The heart, on the other hand, will help you to jump into the great unknown and help you to be true to your passions. […]

  6. Live life Courageously « The Lifebiography Project says:

    […] 2. Listen to the Heart, Not the Mind: In the article How to Escape Your Suffering: The Blind Man vs. The Cripple I went into this point where your guide ought to be your heart and not your mind.  The mind will endlessly battle for security, it will wobble between the pros and cons.  The heart, on the other hand, will help you to jump into the great unknown and help you to be true to your passions. […]

  7. Love Mind Body Spirit » Blog Archive » Benefits of Yoga Testimonials Pouring In says:

    […] How to Escape Your Suffering – The Blind Man vs. The Cripple […]

  8. […] This is another topic on which you can find lots more information here on Mastery of Meditation.  I would suggest the following 4 articles to help explore this concept more:  Silent Mind Meditation Program: Confidence – Chapter 5, Inspiring Osho Quote on How to Live Courageously, New Kundalini Yoga Classes & the Courage to Live Dangerously and How to Escape Your Suffering – The Blind Man vs. The Cripple.    […]

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