Magician and his magic is a popular story by Sri Ramakrishna.
Shiva was seated in Kailas.
His companion Nandi was near Him. Suddenly a terrific noise arose.
‘Revered Sir,’ asked Nandi, ‘what does that mean?’
Shiva said: ‘Ravana is born. That is its meaning.’
A few moments later another terrific noise was heard.
'Now what is this noise?’ Nandi asked.
Shiva said with a smile, ‘Now Ravana is dead.’
Birth and death are like magic: you see the magic for a
second and then it disappears. God alone is real and all else unreal. Water
alone is real; its bubbles appear and disappear. They disappear into the very
water from which they rise.
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
The last statement reflects a philosophical perspective that emphasizes the transient nature of life and the ultimate reality of God or a higher power. Let's break it down:
"Birth and death are like magic: you see the magic for a second and then it disappears." This analogy compares birth and death to a fleeting moment of magic. Just as magic seems to captivate us briefly before vanishing, so too does life appear and then fade away.
"God alone is real and all else unreal." This assertion suggests a belief in the primacy of the divine or the transcendent over the material world. From this perspective, everything other than God is considered illusory or temporary in nature.
"Water alone is real; its bubbles appear and disappear." This analogy likens the material world to bubbles that emerge from water and then dissolve back into it. The water symbolizes the ultimate reality or divine essence, while the bubbles represent the transient manifestations of existence.
"They disappear into the very water from which they rise." This phrase underscores the cyclical nature of existence, where all things arise from and ultimately return to the fundamental essence of reality.
Overall, this statement reflects a worldview that prioritizes the eternal and immutable nature of the divine while acknowledging the impermanence and illusionary quality of worldly phenomena.