There was a man from Puttaparthi who lived in a solitary hut on the banks of the Ganga. He was engaged in severe penance and was admired by other monks. One day, while bathing in the river, he overheard a party of pilgrims who had just alighted from the bus, talking in Telugu. His attachment to his mother tongue dragged him; He asked them where they came from. Slowly, he gathered that they were from Anantapur District, Penukonda Taluk. His ears ached for further details. When they said they were from Puttaparthi, the monk was elated and began enquiring about his lands, family and friends. When he learnt that a few of them had passed away, he started weeping! All his years of penance broke down before the onslaught of language-attachment! Practice detachment from now on, slowly and steadily! Do not continue to add things that bind you to them. Bind yourself to the great liberator, God.
Ada seorang pria berasal dari Puttaparthi yang tinggal di sebuah gubuk sunyi di tepi sungai Gangga. Ia melaksanakan pertapaan berat dan dikagumi oleh para biksu/rahib lainnya. Suatu hari, saat mandi di sungai, ia kebetulan mendengar rombongan peziarah yang baru saja turun dari bus, berbicara dalam bahasa Telugu. Keterikatannya dengan bahasa ibunya menyeretnya; ia bertanya kepada mereka darimana mereka berasal. Perlahan-lahan, dia mengetahui bahwa mereka berasal dari Anantapur District, Penukonda Taluk. Telinganya ingin sekali mendengarkan rincian lebih lanjut. Ketika mereka mengatakan mereka dari Puttaparthi, ia sangat gembira dan mulai bertanya tentang tanahnya, keluarganya, dan teman-temannya. Ketika ia mengetahui bahwa beberapa dari mereka telah meninggal, ia mulai menangis! Semua pertapaan yang telah ia lakukan selama bertahun-tahun jebol karena serangan kemelekatan pada bahasa! Praktikkanlah tanpa kemelekatan dari sekarang, perlahan dan terus-menerus! Janganlah terus menambahkan hal-hal yang mengikatmu pada objek-objek duniawi. Ikatlah dirimu pada sang pemberi pembebasan yaitu Tuhan.
-BABA
