A man had heard that Paras [touch stone] turns the iron into gold. He came to know that an old saint in a far off village possessed Paras. He went to him and said, "I have come to know that you have Paras with you. Kindly show it to me, I want to have a look at it." the old saint agreed. He went inside and took out a small box. The box was made of iron. The man who had approached him to have a look at Paras said," Surely, the secret is out. Today I have come to know everything. I have understood everything. Who says that Paras can turn into gold? You are showing this small box which is made of iron and claim that it contains Paras. Had it been so, this box should not have been made of iron. The claim that Paras turns iron into gold, is unfolded." The saintly person asked him to wait. Then he opened the box. It was found that Paras was wrapped into a piece of cloth. The saint pointed out, " Paras is an energy, but it is not able to touch the iron because of the wall created by the piece of cloth. Since Paras is unable to touch the iron, the iron has remained iron. In spite of the fact that box contains Paras, it has failed to become gold. Similarly, the congregation is Paras which turns life into gold [virtue], provided only that no wall of ego, no wall of falsehood, creates obstruction.

Once a man said to another, “I have been attending the congregation for several days, but I am yet to acquire any virtues." The other saint gave him a basket made of bamboo and asked him to fill it with water. He took the basket to the river. He put it into the river but it would just not hold the water. The next day he again went and asked how to fill the water into the basket because there were several holes in it. He was, however, advised to continue the practice. After some days, he came again and complained that even though he was trying regularly, the basket was not holding the water. At this the saint said, " You have putting the basket into the water and taking it out again and again. Have you noticed any change in the basket?" The reply was: "One change I have seen definitely. Earlier, the basket had some dust settled on it. Now it is quite clean. Secondly the size of the holes of the basket has been reduced." The saint explained," If you continue the practice of putting the basket into the water again and again, the bamboos will expand and one day the holes may disappear from the basket at all and it may be able to hold the water. Similarly, a person who goes to the company of saints again and again, his mind becomes clean and the holes in the form of shortcomings will gradually disappear and it will start holding the virtues."