Don't Leave Me Raw

A chickpea is born, and it attains salvation only when it becomes soft enough to be a morsel inside a mouth. It burns in the fire of the mystic chef—our own soul—and this fire is fueled by our actions. The fulfillment of our lives lies in salvation, which comes when our ego is burned away in this transformative fire. Our soul will not leave us hard; it will keep the fire burning until we are truly ready for liberation. I willingly chose the path of service, where my ego faced hard blows—something that would have been impossible otherwise. This journey has cooked me to a great extent, though I cannot claim it is complete. The moment I declare myself fully cooked, the chickpea that is 'me' hardens once again. When our ego is exposed to challenges and hardships, it softens in the process. But when we protect our ego and refuse to step out of our comfort zone, it only grows harder.