The Fork in the Road: Choosing Shreya (The Good) Over Preya (The Pleasant)
The Leela
In a potter's courtyard, bathed in the morning sun, a young child played innocently. As he ran, his shadow stretched out before him. The child, fascinated by the dark silhouette, tried to touch the head of his own shadow. He lunged forward, but the shadow moved ahead. He ran faster, but the shadow remained equally elusive.
Frustrated, he cried out to his father, "I see my head in the shadow, but I cannot touch it!" The father, busy at his wheel, sighed, "Son, no one can catch a shadow. Let it be."
At that moment, a wandering Fakir entered the courtyard. Hearing the child's plight, he smiled—a smile knowing the secrets of the universe. "Do you wish to reach the head in the shadow?" the Fakir asked gently.
"Yes! But is it possible?" the boy asked.
"I do that work only," the Fakir replied. He took the child's small hand and placed it firmly on the child's own head. Immediately, in the shadow on the ground, the hand touched the head.
The world is like this shadow, the Fakir taught. If you run after the world (Preya) to possess it, it will forever elude you. But if you touch the Self within (Shreya), the world becomes yours effortlessly.
? The Conflict / Doubt
âť“ The Eternal Dilemma Why does the path of Preya (worldly pleasure) feel so natural and effortless, like water cascading down a mountain, while the path of Shreya (ultimate good) feels like an arduous struggle against gravity? If the spiritual path is the truth, why do 99.99% of humans instinctively choose the road that leads to momentary pleasure and eventual sorrow?
The Revelation
đź’ˇ The Wisdom of the Swan
The teachings of the Kathopanishad, as revealed in Chapter 17 of the Sai Satcharitra, clarify that at every moment in life, two roads diverge before us. One leads to the pleasant (Preya) and one leads to the good (Shreya).
-
The Nature of the Two Paths:
- Preya (The Pleasant): This is the path of ignorance (Avidya). It appeals to the senses immediately. It is like gravity; just as water flows down a mountain effortlessly, the mind easily flows toward lust, wealth, and ego. However, it leads to a cycle of endless desire—where one satisfaction only births a larger, unfulfilled hunger.
- Shreya (The Ultimate Good): This is the path of knowledge (Vidya). It requires energy, like pumping water up a mountain. It demands the courage to say "no" to momentary impulses for the sake of eternal bliss.
-
The Role of Discrimination (Vivek): Life presents us with a mixture of milk and water. A true seeker must become a Paramhansa (Divine Swan)—one who possesses the discrimination to drink only the milk (Shreya) and leave the water (Preya).
-
The Definition of True Manhood: Gender is not of the body, but of the will. Baba teaches that a "Man" (Purusharth) is simply the one who has the strength to drop the pleasant to embrace the good. Anyone—man or woman—who lacks the courage to reject Preya is spiritually weak.
"Drop the Preya and respect Shreya... The one who is awakened to Shreya, Preya can never lead him astray."
- The Final Victory: Just as a traveler might choose a difficult path that guarantees a safe destination over an easy path that leads to a cliff, the seeker understands that while Shreya is filled with obstacles initially, it ends in victory. Preya begins with sweetness but ends in destruction.
Scriptural References
Sai Satcharitra Chapter 17, Kathopanishad, Sai Satcharitra Chapter 53 (Verse 161)
Watch the Discourse
In a potter's courtyard, bathed in the morning sun, a young child played innocently. As he ran, his shadow stretched out before him. The child, fascinated by the dark silhouette, tried to touch the he...
Leela Narration
In a potter's courtyard, bathed in the morning sun, a young child played innocently. As he ran, his shadow stretched out before him. The child, fascinated by the dark silhouette, tried to touch the he...