Magician and his magic is a popular story by Sri Ramakrishna.
Shiva was seated inKailas .
His companion Nandi was near Him. Suddenly a terrific noise arose.
Shiva was seated in
‘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
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa