The Self and the Wife

There was once a sannyasin living with his Guru. But he was not
understanding the Teacher at all.

The Guru wondered, “How can this be? He is alone with me day and
night. He has twenty-four-hour satsang. He is attending me correctly.
Yet he is not understanding. What can be the trouble?”

Finally, the Teacher discovers that the disciple is still attached to his
wife. He has only been hiding it all along. This was the impediment
between him and realization. This attachment was not allowing him to
open to his own Self.

So what does the Teacher do?

He can’t do anything. He can’t tell a sannyasin to go and kill his wife.
He has already left the family. So what do you think that wise
Teacher advises him?

The Teacher says, “The wife is dear for the sake of the Self. The Self
of your wife is not other than the absolute Self itself. The substratum
of your wife is Truth, which is not other than you. The Self of your wife
and your Self are the same Self.”

Instantly he realized.

Nothing must remain between you and the Absolute Self.