This title "Rise above biases to a higher way of thinking" comes from today's paper. Such a beautiful line. However, the paragraph didn't explain it in detail and could find little gist here and there. But, this paragraph had mentioned about Sage Kaushik and Dharmavyadh. So, I searched for this story and here it goes.
There lived a brāhmaṇa by name Kauṣika. He was well-versed in the Vedas, of noble character, and a tapasvi. Once, when he was reciting the Vedas under a tree, a crane bird excreted upon him. The brāhmaṇa was enraged and looked at it with eyes filled with anger. The bird lost its life the next moment and fell dead on to the ground. Kauṣika felt sorry for the creature and repented his doing. He felt that he had committed a misdeed, overcome by anger and hatred. He got up from there and went into the city as a beggar in search of alms. He came before a house and the lady of the house said, "Wait there!" Kauṣika waited. In the meanwhile, her husband came home and the lady got busy feeding him and totally forgot about the beggar. After a while she realised her mistake, embarrassed, she brought alms for him. The brāhmaṇa was angry and said, "How could you do this, madam? You asked me to wait here and caused me so much of trouble! Is this right on your part?"
The lady said, in reply, "O revered brāhmaṇa, kindly forgive me! My husband returned home, hungry and tired. I got busy taking care of him!"
Brāhmaṇa – You arrogant lady! You think your husband is greater than a brāhmaṇa who is waiting at your door? How can you insult a brāhmaṇa, especially when you are in the gṛhasthāśrama? Brāhmaṇas are like fire; they can burn the entire world – haven’t your elders told you so?
Lady – O brāhmaṇa! I know that you have come here after killing a crane bird. Brāhmaṇas are no different from the Gods and I have never humiliated them. Please forgive my mistake. I also consider my husband as my God and serve him to my best. Anger is an enemy that resides in our body. Thus, it is not right to get angry. A brāhmaṇa is one who has conquered his senses; he never avenges for violence through violent means. He sees no difference between himself and the rest of the world – he treats both in an impartial manner. You are well read and should know the nature of dharma. However, in the current case, I get the feeling that you probably do not know dharma in its entirety. If you would like to understand it in detail, I suggest you visit the butcher in Mithila. If you think I spoke or did something inappropriate, kindly excuse me. You should not kill a woman!
These words of the lady subdued the brāhmaṇa’s anger. He was curious and eager to meet the hunter in Mithila and headed towards the city. He saw Dharma-vyādha (virtuous butcher) selling the meat of deer, buffalo and other animals in a butcher’s shop. After all the customers had left the place, the butcher’s eye fell on the brāhmaṇa. The butcher greeted the brāhmaṇa and said, “You were sent here by a married woman, I suppose? I know with what purpose you have come here!” Kauṣika was happy listening to these words and thought, "Aha! Amazing! This is the second miracle!” The butcher said, “This is not the right place to speak on this topic. Let us go my house!”
They reached the butcher’s house and the brāhmaṇa was offered arghya. Kauṣika, out of his pity for the butcher, said “Dear one! I don’t think the job of a butcher suits you. It pains me to see the cruel task you have taken to!” The butcher said “O revered one! This job has come down to me through my family and my ancestors. I am doing my duty and that is my dharma. In addition, I am taking care of my parents and always speak the truth. I never feel jealous of anyone else and share my earnings with the others. I don’t speak ill of anything or anyone. Neither do I disrespect the elders nor harm any being. I only sell the meat of dead animals but I don’t consume it myself. There is no one who does not harm animals in this world… People who don’t have faith in dharma and only ridicule it end up destroying their own lives and the lives of others... Greed is the root of all sin... Just as weeds grow and cover up water in a lake, adharma grows only to hinder dharma and to make it invisible. It is only rare to find people who can wade through the filth and realize dharma.” In this manner, the butcher explained in detail the concepts of dharma and adharma.
Kauṣika – Everything you say sounds reasonable to me and you seem to have realized dharma. It appears as though there is nothing you do not know.
Vyādha – O revered brāhmaṇa! Let me show you the person who helped me attain this state. Come, follow me!
With these words, the butcher escorted the brāhmaṇa into his house. He pointed at his parents who had just finished their dinner and prostrated before them. After an exchange of pleasantries, the butcher said, “They are my deities! They are Gods to me. I serve them just as I would serve any God. This is my tapas. The lady who sent you here performs tapas in the form of her service to her husband. If you would pay heed to my words, go and serve your parents as well. You have left them behind and have head out to study the Vedas. The aged ones are in pain as you have gone away from them. Get home fast and make them happy! There is no dharma greater than this!” He sent the brāhmaṇa away to his parents.
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