Enchanted by the song of a bird singing happily on the branch of a tree, a king had it caught and
kept in a cage. Even singing is wrong in the presence of wrong people. The poor bird could not have
imagined that his song would get him behind bars! The bird that flew in abandon in the free skies
and flitted from one branch to another as he wished, now found himself in a golden cage, inlaid with
precious stones to one who has tasted the freedom of the skies? A cage is a cage, whether of gold
or iron.
The bird cried and cried, but the king and his courtiers thought he was singing aloud with joy! Some
people can cry only like the bird did but to those who cannot perceive the cry would be an expression
of joy. The bird was filled with agony and anxiety and he began to think: ”Will my wings remember
how to fly if I remain in this cage too long?” If he forgets the sky then of what use even if he were to
be freed from the cage!
Only those that have the knowledge and the joy of freedom within their souls know what it is. By
merely becoming independent, freedom cannot be known. The bird longed to be free before he lost
memory of the sky.
One, morning the bird heard a fakir sing: ”For him who seeks liberation, there is only one way – the
path of Truth. For him who seeks freedom there is only one way – the way of Truth. And what is
Truth?” The mendicant asks in his song. ”Truth is to see things as they are; to know things as they
really exist and try to live with them as they are and reveal them as such – this is Truth; and he who
attains Truth is liberated.”
This was the Fakir’s song Thus he sang in the streets each day. No one heeded him except the little
bird for, a bird still knows the joy of vast spaces through its flights. Man does not know it any more.
Man is completely oblivious of the wings he has which can take him to some unknown space.
And so the saints and seers of yore tirelessly called out to mankind but who hears? But this little
bird caught the Fakir’s message and that very day it decided to try....
The king was in the palace when someone came to see him. He sent word through his servants to
say that he was not within. The bird shouted: ”No, no! The king is in his palace and he has ordered
his guards to say he is not at home.” The king was angry.
People tend to be displeased when truth is spoken, for all people live in untruths and falsehoods.
And those who are the sovereigns, be they of kingdoms or wealth or religion; those that wield power
of any kind are displeased with Truth, for power is always installed on the throne of falsity. Therefore
those that hold power always crucify Truth, for if a Truth is allowed to live, it becomes the cross for
the governors
The king ordered that this bird be removed immediately – how can Truth reside within palaces? Truth
can have a place on the branch of a tree, but within the precincts of the royal abode – it stands no
chance. The bird was thrown out of the palace – but that was its cherished desire! He began to
dance in the open and said: ”The fakir is right – if you want to be free, Truth is the only way.”
A parrot watching from a distance cried out: ”Stupid bird, you lost a golden cage and you are happy
about it? Not even one is fortunate to have it! It is only obtained by good deeds of our past lives.
But you ignorant fool, you do not know the art of living in a golden cage. The first and foremost
rule is to do exactly what the master says without thinking about right and wrong: for he who falls
into this error cannot stay within it, Thinking begets rebellion and whosoever begins to think, cannot
remain in captivity. Why did you commit the mistake of thinking, you silly bird? To think is dangerous.
Sensible people never think. They stay within their prisons and call it their home, their temple. At
the most, you could have decorated the bars from within; a decorated cage give the impression of a
house.” Remember, the majority of people adorn their cages in just this fashion and look upon them
as their homes.
The bird paid no attention; he was mad with ecstasy, his wings fluttering in the gentle breeze – for he
was once again out in the open air. But the parrot continued to give his unasked, for advice. ”Learn
the art of retaining the golden cage from us parrots. We always say what the master says. We never
say the truth. In fact, we do not care to think that is truth. We say what the master says. What he
does, is not to be mentioned. We see with the master’s eyes and thing with his thoughts. We never
use our eyes or our brains.” Saying this the parrot quickly went and occupied the open cage. The
guard shut the door.
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