A boy wanted to seize the moon. Though his parents explained that this desire could not be fulfilled, he insisted that it must be fulfilled. They finally brought him to the top of a high building. Though he stretched his arms out as much as he could, he could still not catch the moon in his grip. Then he started cursing the sky for being too high. “Damn sky! Let go of the moon! Why do you keep it out of my reach? Rascal!” He began spitting into the sky, and of course it all fell back into his own face.

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This story is meant to illustrate the folly of criticizing one’s own spiritual master. Whatever criticism one may make in foolish self-righteousness, it all flies back in his own face.