There were three idols. They looked alike but were priced differently. To explain the reason, a straw was inserted into one of the ears of the first idol and it came out through its other ear. Than the straw was inserted into the ear of the second idol and it came out of his mouth. And in case of the third idol, the straw settled in it. It was explained that the third idol was the costliest because it imbibed the word it heard. The second idol was costlier than the first one which ejected the straw from the other ear. In other words, there are the persons like the first idol who hear the beneficial thoughts but ignore the same. Those who listen and relay the thoughts to other like the second idol, are better than the first kind. Though they themselves do not derive any benefit from what they hear, they convey the same to others who may be inspired and benefit. A poet has rightly said: what is important is what has been said and who has said it. Those, who listen, say that they were impressed by what they had heard and they acted on it which brought transformation in their life. What is meant is that the one who relayed the message may not have himself acted on it but those who heard him and acted on it , reaped the benefit; They are the people like the third idol which is costliest because on hearing, they live upto the same. Such ones reap the benefit themselves and benefit others too.

Take an electric bulb: there is a filament in it and there is a power supply to it. The power is the same, say 110 volts and filament is there in each bulb but if it is covered by a dark cloth we have darkness and once the dark cloth is removed, there is light everywhere. So this is an example of one who is enlightened, whose ignorance has gone away: he is not in dark, he does no more represent an animal because his ignorance has gone, the darkness has vanished and he is enlightened and represents a true human being. The religion has to play its role to make a man a true human being but it is very sad to say that religion is rather in the forefront in fanning the feelings of hatred in our minds and in our hearts. The true religion unites, it does not divide. Unity which we call brotherhood has to be established but what we are doing we think is the true religion which is filling our mind with hatred for some other community, some other caste, some other color, other nation. So this is the role which the religion is playing these days but that is not the true religion. The true religion is that which unites man with man.