Parable Of Mahmud And Ayaz
Mahmud Gazni was a powerful emperor before whom the whole world trembled. But he
was himself the deluded victim of the fascination of Ayaz, a slave-girl. He became so much
infatuated with the love of Ayaz, that when she was near, he was powerless.
Even when he attended the Court, his Prime Minister had to constantly remind him that he was the Mighty Emperor Gazni, the great conqueror, etc. Then and then alone was he able to behave as an emperor should.
Even so, the Jiva which is none other than the Infinite Consciousness, is deluded by Maya
and comes to imagine that it is finite, powerless, feeble and limited, subject to birth and death, pain and joy, etc. The Prime Minister of the Jiva or the pure intellect tries to reflect deeply and raise the Vrittis of Akhanda, Ekarasa, Satchidananda, Nitya, Buddha, Mukta Swaroopa, etc., and the Sadhaka begins to meditate. During meditation the Jiva feels that it is one with the Infinite, unaffected by Maya and Avidya. Thus gradually it is established in this exalted state.