Learn the Art of Self-Preservation from the Artists of Nature

Walking stick is a kind of insect. Its body legs and color resemble a dry twig. In its active state, flesh eating animals kill it and eat it. For safety against enemies, God has given it a peculiar attribute. When it sees an enemy prowling towards it, it lies down looking exactly like a piece of wood, and the predators, taking it as a dry twig, pass on without touching it. In this way 'Walking stick' keeps itself secure against its predictors.

The Kangaroo, found in Australia, is exceedingly clever in this respect. On seeing an enemy, it lies down in a manner as if it were dead. So long as the enemy is at some distance, it breathes slowly and keeps its eyes half open, and fixed on the enemy. The moment the enemy comes near; it closes its eyes and ceases to breathe. The enemy smells it and taking it as dead passes on. The Kangaroo cheerfully gets up and resumes its normal routine.

The human life is by no means less encircled by enemies. There may be some means of safety against external enemies, but it is rather difficult to gain victory over internal enemies. The cave of human body, which is provided by God so that the soul may reside in it, work for its well being and also enjoy worldly pleasures, contains six ferocious enemies and a large number of smaller ones. The powerful oppressors of the captivated soul are - lust, greed, anger, hearted, ego and jealousy. They squeeze out the energy of human beings instead of fostering understanding, friendship and love among people, they make them quarrel amongst themselves. They prompt people towards deceit and numerous evil deeds. When these enemies become very powerful, man becomes helpless. In order to escape from their clutches, man has to learn the means of escape and safety from the artists of nature. For example, when one happens to be troubled with lustful desires, or there develops enmity against any person or the fire of pride and vanity kindles up, one should lie down like a 'Walking Stick' or a Kangaroo and visualize oneself to be dead. In that state, one's soul watches from outside one's body how the sense organs, which make things appear beautiful and pleasant, are full of dirt and foul smell. The human body was meant for some noble tasks, but it was put to bad use and the sense organs consumed it. One should pause to ponder over these problems while lying like a dead body. The thought at that moment will fill the person concerned with the real goal of his life and in the process he will be able to save himself from putting his evil designs into evil acts.