The Cowherd and the Big Bull

Story

Once upon a time, deep in a forest by a quiet river, there lived a wise yogi. He spent his days meditating, studying, and praying. At some distance lived a cowherd. He was poor and never went to school, but he was kind-hearted and curious.

Every day, as he tended his cows, he saw the yogi sitting still for hours. One day, he walked up and asked, “Sir, can you teach me the way to God?”

The yogi, proud of his knowledge, looked at him and said politely, “You are a good cowherd. Right now, your duty is to care for your cows. Understanding God is a big subject—it might not be so easy for you.”

The cowherd walked away, but a deep wish to know God had awakened in his heart. He couldn’t eat or sleep properly.

After a few days, he returned to the yogi and asked again, “Please, sir, teach me something about God.”

The yogi sighed. The cowherd was so sincere that the Yogi had to listen to his request.

The yogi said, “All right. I’ll tell you something about God.”

The cowherd asked eagerly, “What is God like? What form does he take?”

The yogi smiled and said gently, “God is just like the big bull in your herd — strong, caring, and always near you. That bull is God. You can think of him that way. It will be easier for you to understand.”

The cowherd was delighted. He ran back and began to worship the bull every day. He fed it green grass, sat beside it, talked to it, cared and worshipped it lovingly. His whole heart was in it. Days turned into months, and months into years. One day, as he sat beside the bull, he heard a voice: “My son, my son.”

He looked around. “The bull spoke? No, that’s not possible.”

But the voice came again—and this time he realised it wasn’t from outside. It was from within his heart. His urge to know God had awakened the God within him.

He rushed to the yogi, glowing with peace and joy. The yogi was amazed at how his face shone.

“What happened to you?” the yogi asked.

“You gave me that gift,” said the cowherd.

"I only said that to keep you from asking more questions!” the yogi said in surprise.

“I took your words seriously,” replied the cowherd. “I saw God in that bull and ultimately within myself.” God can be found in any form when we serve with true love and faith. What matters most is the sincerity of the heart.