MIND IS LIKE A BIRD CAGE

 
Baba once remarked, "Mind is like a bird cage with its many bars imprisoning the bird. The door of the cage is the heart, through which (when opened) the bird can fly to freedom so easily."

But even when the Keeper comes along and opens the door, the captive bird flutters about dashing against the cage, hurting its wings and trying frantically to get out through the many narrow openings between the bars and giving up each time. I've witnessed this a number of times with caged birds.

After a while the bird is exhausted with its effort and collapses, dropping to the floor of the cage looking dazed and helpless — and then, then it sees the open door, and in a moment is out of the cage and flying to freedom!