Ten thousand times!

Asim is a middle-aged man. He lives with his family — parents, brothers and sisters, wife and children. He has, like all men, both good and bad characteristics. The worst of the bad ones is his addiction to drinking.

One day, early in the evening, he came home heavily drunk. His parents became furious; their eyes were emitting fire. His brothers and sisters were greatly shocked. His wife began to shed bitter tears, while the children were terribly frightened. He finally realised that his drinking habit had reached an unbearable point. He therefore left for his Guru's ashram.

On reaching the ashram, he found that his Guru was not in. But he saw Shibhu, Guru's dearest disciple, and unburdened to him all his mental agonies, recounting the upheaval at home. Shibhu said, "I can well imagine their reaction to your drinking habit. But you should know by now that when you drink you are giving your family a bad reputation.

"But nothing is too late!” continued the disciple. "Just sit here cross-legged and repeat AUM ten thousand times. This will purify your body and you will be able to go home with peace of mind. You will be able to turn over a new leaf.”

Now, full of inner inspiration, Asim started repeating AUM aloud. At the same time, he was counting. No sooner had he repeated AUM five hundred times, than their Guru, Gholanda, came in. He enquired of the matter. Shibhu narrated the whole story to their Master and told about the instructions he had given to Asim for the purification of his body and for the forgiveness of God.

When the Guru heard that Asim had been asked to repeat AUM ten thousand times, he was utterly shocked at Shibhu's decree. Turning to Asim, he asked him how many times he had already repeated AUM. Asim answered in a trembling voice, "Five hundred times." The Guru asked him most affectionately to get up and stand beside him, He then commanded Shibhu to sit in the spot where Asim had sat. Then the Guru said, "Now you complete his journey … only 9,500 times to go! Do you think the power of AUM is so weak that one has to repeat it ten thousand times? When are you going to learn that AUM is omnipotent and has omnipotent power!

"No matter how grave one's sin is, if one repeats or chants AUM just a few times, from the depth of one's heart, the omnipotent compassion of AUM will forgive and redeem the victim.

"In the twinkling of an eye, the power of AUM transforms darkness into Light, ignorance into Knowledge, and death into Immortality."