Amaru’s grandfather, Krishna, had passed away and had left Amaru a sum of money. Amaru was very sad about losing Krishna, but he was thrilled about the money.
He spent hours pondering what to spend it on: a house in the city; a long trip to the north of India; toys for all the village children. But then the idea occurred to him of starting a business.
At last he would be looked up to by his neighbours! Perhaps he would even take a wife! And this idea grew and grew until he could think of nothing else.
But before long, a conflict developed in his mind, because such a radical change would inhibit his freedom. Amaru could not decide what to do and he became very troubled. He began to find it difficult to sleep at night. He stopped eating. His friends avoided him.
Then one windy day Amaru wandered moodily down to the river. A market was there, and women in colourful saris and gold bangles were selling fish. Many baskets were scattered about, some filled with fish, and some empty.
Amaru regarded the baskets of small, writhing fish, fresh from the sea. “Just like my mind,” he thought bitterly.
Suddenly, one of the empty baskets was caught by the wind and carried aloft. Amaru, startled, watched it go higher and higher until it was just a speck above the water.
Unnoticed by him, a very old saddhu had come up and was standing close to Amaru.
“Yes,” said the old man, “an empty mind soars above the sea of emotion; but it can lose itself in the process.”
Now, this was the very thought that had come to Amaru as he had watched the basket disappear in the distance!
“Come with me,” said the holy man. He stooped and picked up two worn, empty baskets and walked down to the shore.
He tossed one of the baskets onto the choppy water, and of course the basket was buffeted about, and thrown over and over by the waves; it finally sank.
Then the saddhu reached into his sleeve and drew out an orange. He placed the orange in the other basket, which he then tossed onto the water. This basket was also thrown to and fro, but each time the basket leaned one way, the orange rolled around and stabilized it.
Amaru was fascinated and felt he was on the verge of an important realization. But he couldn’t quite see it.
The two of them were silent for some time, watching the basket with the orange in it rolling about on the choppy water. Finally the saddhu said, “First the mind must become empty; then you must fill it with God.” And he turned and walked slowly away.
Amaru also walked slowly away, in the other direction; and as he walked, he began to sing.
