Friday, August 24, 2007
That wonder filled night...
Yesterday I was watching the movie "Panduranga Mahaathmyam". It's the story of a devotee called "Pundareeka". Most of his youth, he spends waywardly without any devotion to God. One sudden day, he meets a sage and then he changes forever.
The movie had 3 CDs. I finished the first 2 Cds and yet, as per the story, Pundareeka had not become a devotee! He was still un-changed in his character. I wondered, "Am I watching the story of a spoilt youth or that of a great devotee of God? What magic is gonna happen now to this guy in the last one CD, after all?"
And yes, a magic happened. One night and that's it, Pundareeka changes forever. The one who never paid heed to his parents, the one who ran after material pleasures all his youth changes in one night. The very first time, he sits in Pooja before the Lord, he goes into trance filled with devotional ecstasy. When his mother wonders at this miracle, his father replies, "That is his poorva janma sukritham - the merit of his past lives!"
Sometimes, I wonder if I have any such merit. May be one night I would sleep, and then by the time, I get up the next day, I would have no desire except Sai! Only His Name I remember, only His Form would appear to my eyes, wherever I see. I would know no pain, no pleasure, but one love. I would know no joy, no grief, except my Swami's thought. I would be in love with Him. Yes, I would be. Even if I had no great merits, I will strive and acquire them now. I would be in love soon. Very soon. And then this blog would be empty. Because my Swami said that when one is in love with Him totally, one cannot talk anymore. When experience fills and fulfills, there is no expression anymore. When the entire universe is filled with Swami and only Swami and none else, to whom shall I narrate my lovestory?
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Sai Ram,
I thought this talk by Prof. Anil Kumar garu would be of interest to
you:
What is the significance of Bhagavan taking this ailment upon His
body? Is it for welfare of any human beings? Is there any
philosophical explanation for this?
Thank you, sir. This question is often put to me, whenever I meet big
or small groups. I don't go into philosophical depth or spiritual
significance of this particular event. The question is how do you
look at the present situation of Bhagavan being in a wheelchair?
Further, this gentleman wants to understand why He has taken this
ailment upon Himself. Has He any aim, such as human welfare, in
accepting the present ailment?
My friends, the purpose of an Avatar is to teach. The purpose of an
Avatar is to demonstrate. The aim of an Avatar is to set an example.
To set an example, to demonstrate and to teach are the three-
dimensional objectives of every Avatar. Baba, while walking briskly
then, had a message to convey. Baba, in a wheelchair today, also has
a message to convey. We have a lesson to learn -- then, now and
forever.
If we look at it physically, the sight of Swami in a wheelchair is
very painful. Some ladies even cry because it is a very sensitive
matter. Some question as to why He should be in that state. Some even
doubt His Divinity. Some will feel badly that, while He cures
everybody, why does He not cure Himself? Some people go to the other
extreme. When He cannot cure Himself, how is He going to cure me?
(Laughter)
These are the questions that arise in our mind. There is no point in
condemning anybody. There is no point in calling anybody less devoted
or an atheist. There is no point in asking him to leave Prashanti
Nilayam. You may ask one individual to leave, but there will be
millions like that. So let us try to understand together. Let us try
to explore together this particular question.
I think there are a few lessons that we should learn from Swami in a
wheelchair. The first lesson I think is the spirit of acceptance, as
we already discussed. He has accepted the condition; therefore He
prefers to be in a wheelchair.
Two years ago, He was on a wheelchair. There in Kodaikanal some boys
said, "Swami, we have a modern, sophisticated wheelchair where people
don't see the wheels. You can sit majestically on it and go." They
cried.
Swami said, "No. Bring that ordinary wheelchair."
Baba also added, "People come to see Me and not My chair. People
don't come here to see the wheelchair. They come here to see Me!"
(Laughter) That's what Baba said. So, it only means that He has
accepted that.
This is a lesson to all of us. We have to learn to accept the
reality, the fundamental fact. Yes, there is a fracture; ok I accept
it. There is no point in searching for another reason, another
pretext.
Secondly, He said that it happened in the natural course of events.
He has not taken anybody's ailment upon Himself. If He tells us that
He has taken so-and-so's ailment, we will finish that person the next
moment. (Laughter) So He has made it categorically clear that He has
not taken on anybody's ailment. It has happened in the natural course
of events.
EVEN GOD MUST FOLLOW HIS OWN LAWS :
Further, He gave one example. If anyone slips on soap in the
bathroom, he is sure to fall, whether God or an ordinary human being.
Laws of gravitation operate for God also. He is not above the laws of
Nature.
He also said that a policeman sees to it that we abide by traffic
rules and drive on the left side, not on the right. In the U.S., it
is the right side; here it is left side. But the policeman who
enforces this rule cannot himself drive on the right side: "I am the
policeman so I'll drive on the right side." No! You are also supposed
to drive on the left side.
Therefore, God, who creates these natural laws, has to abide by His
own laws. He has set the law and He has to unscrupulously abide by
His own law. That is the second lesson. "When I am bound to suffer,
it's alright! There's nothing wrong with it."
The third lesson is that He doesn't show any trace of pain on His
face. In contrast, in our case, any simple problem we have, whether a
family problem or a community problem, we make it a national problem
if possible! (Laughter) A simple headache or stomach ache is enough
to impose curfew at home! "Nobody should see TV, nobody should talk,
nobody should joke, nobody should smile, and no guests please because
I have a headache!" (Laughter) So, we share our headache with
everybody. We don't leave anybody until they also get a headache!
(Laughter)
But here is Bhagavan who never says that He is in any pain. He says
nothing at all! He says that He has no pain at all and shares
happiness with everybody with His broad smile, kind gestures, and
words of enquiry. This is a lesson to all of us to swallow all our
problems. So sharing happiness with everyone around is the third
lesson.
SWAMI HAS NOT CHANGED HIS SCHEDULE
The fourth lesson that we have to learn is this. Any simple problem
makes us apply for a casual leave. One gentleman who was poor in
English wrote in his application: "I am suffering from the marriage
of my daughter; therefore, grant me casual leave." (Laughter)
Everybody laughed. Suffering? Well, he happened to be my friend. He
is correct about suffering because he had to pay lot of dowry
(Laughter). Also, he had to extend all hospitalities and extra
courtesies to the groom's family. Therefore, he had to suffer. So he
is correct.
And here Baba has a hectic schedule right from morning to evening:
talking to people, granting interviews, giving darshans, guiding and
chiding, directing, admonishing, and praising people. That schedule
has never been changed for any reason. If it were you or me, we would
apply for casual leave. "I have a headache; therefore, I am sorry,
but kindly grant me casual leave." Baba has never applied for casual
leave for even a day.
Then we may question why sometimes darshan is cancelled. Let me share
with you a Divine secret, which I am not supposed to. I know I am
taking a risk. It always happens in my life. (Laughter) I can't avoid
it. So many interviews are taking place at His residence today. If I
get an opportunity, I would say, "Swami, what's all this?"
He talks to many people there at the residence. It is not that He
wants to avoid us. Important matters, policy matters are discussed.
Therefore, Swami is not on a holiday when darshan is cancelled. No!
He is busier on the days the darshan is cancelled. He is so busy that
He has to cancel darshan. He is more busy than usual, the same way
most of us work more on a Sunday than on any other day. We have some
service activity, akhanda bhajan or study circle. Everything happens
on a Sunday, so we are busier. Therefore, we would like to relax on a
working day! (Laughter) So the lesson is that He has not made any
kind of change in His schedule or itinerary whatsoever.
SWAMI DEMONSTRATES BODY-MIND DETACHMENT
Another lesson we can learn from Him is this. He has been telling us
that we are not the body. We know theoretically that we are not the
body. But on pizza day, I am the body! (Laughter) When I see a cup of
ice cream, I am the body. When I see some South Indian pickles, yes,
I am the body! (Laughter) So, we know theoretically that we are not
the body, but we are the body when the situation arises.
We know that we are not the mind. Everyone says, "I am not the mind."
But again, it's only theoretical. If you call that nonsense, the man
gets angry. But if he truly is not the mind, why should he get angry?
(Laughter) Theoretically he knows that he is not the mind; but in
fact, he is totally the mind. The mind or ego reacts immediately
because the mind is still highly sensitive. It is like gasoline –
highly volatile.
When the ego is affected, it goes to any extent. If I don't hear you,
you are irritated. If I don't follow you, you are annoyed. We don't
think about why you are like that. We don't bother to step into
another's shoes and find out why someone is like that. We are only
bothered about why he does not act according to our wish or why he
does not conduct himself according to our desire. But we know
theoretically that we are not the mind!
So, my friends, we know too much theory and nothing practical. I am
sure you are noting down my words. I repeatedly say, "We know." I
don't say, "You know." I say, "We know", which includes me too. I am
the first on the list.
We know theoretically that we are neither the body nor the mind. Yet
we react every time. So how can He convince us? How can He make us
rally around? Here is an open demonstration. Imagine the terrible
pain from an initial fracture, then the subsequent operation, then
the next fall and next fracture. How is He able to bear that? How is
He able to smile? How is He able to stand and give a discourse?
When He was perfectly fit, He gave a one hour lecture. Today He gives
a one and a half hour lecture. Extra! How is it possible? Suppose I
have pain, can I smile? If I have some problem, can I attend my
office? How is He able to do that? The simple answer is that He is
beyond the body. He is beyond the mind. So, it is an open
demonstration to all of us that one can transcend the body and the
mind like Him. Unless we see it operating, unless we see it in front
of us, we cannot learn.
Some people ask why He does not cure Himself. If He cures Himself, we
are the first persons to say, "You are God. You could cure Yourself.
So how about curing me?"
If He does not cure Himself, some say, "How can You be God if You
cannot cure Your own suffering?" We don't spare anybody! (Laughter)
We are always ready with questions. But when we stop these questions
and accept, we will certainly learn many lessons.
http://www.saiwisdom.com
Om Sai Ram
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