We all say in moments of suffering that since life is so full of sorrow, it is best not to be born repeatedly on this earth. We begin to desire moksha. But the moment the problem is solved, or the trouble has passed, our liking for life comes back. Once our problems are resolved, we are so full of happiness, that past difficulties are forgotten and only the pleasures of life seem important, said Kidambi Narayanan in a discourse.
There was a sage who suffered in many ways. He felt he had enough of worldly life. Exiting the world not just in this birth but forever seemed imperative to him. With his wisdom, he could predict that in his next birth he would be born as a pig. He did not want to prolong that birth and felt that to bring it to an end as soon as possible was the best thing to do.
So, he summoned his disciple and said to him, “I am about to die now. Nearby is a sow which is about to give birth. I will be born as a piglet in its litter. Come to the place where the sow gives birth and kill me.” The disciple hesitated, for he did not want to kill his teacher. But the sage insisted, and the disciple agreed to obey his teacher’s command.
As soon as the teacher died, the sishya went in search of the sow and found it with its litter. He picked up a stick to do the task assigned to him by the sage when he heard a voice. It was a piglet speaking in the voice of the sage. “What are you going to do?” asked the piglet. “I’m going to kill you, as instructed by you,” replied the sishya. “No, do not kill me,” says the piglet. “Let me enjoy the life of a pig for some years.”
So the sufferings of the previous birth were forgotten by the sage. Leading the life of a pig was now appealing to him. Such is our desire to prolong life on this earth.