One day, Ribhu decided to pay Nidagha a visit to see how the disciple was getting on. After Ribhu had washed his hands and feet. Nidagha offered him food. “Please eat,” he said.

“What have you got to eat?” asked Ribhu. “Is it clean food?”

“I have rice and cereals and fruit and sweets.” replied Nidagha.

“That is unclean food,” said the teacher. “Make me rice pudding, curds and wine.”

Nidagha asked his wife to prepare the desired food. The food was prepared and Ribhu had his fill.

“Are you content now?”, asked Nidagha. “Where are you going and why did you come here?”

Ribhu replied as follows. “Those who are hungry become content on eating food. I was not hungry, so the question of my being content after eating does not arise. Why ask me a silly question? The body feels hungry, I do not. I am not the body. You asked me where I was going and why did I come here. These are meaningless questions. My atman is everywhere, it cannot go or come. I am not really what you see. Nor are you what I see. I did not care at all about what you gave me to eat. I said all that just to see what you would say. Since all food is made of the same elements, it all tastes alike. Learn this, for this is true knowledge.”