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CHINNA KATHA – Stories and Parables
Posted by the Editor on Aug 5, 2010 in Vishnu | 0 comments
Three steps to Divinity
– Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
Once there lived a cowherd in a village. Though he was illiterate. he was a great devotee of God. He took the cattle out for grazing early in the morning and brought them back in the evening. At night, he used to attend a devotional congregation where a pauranik (Expounder of mythological texts) to the village used to narrate mythological stories and teach the path of devotion to the villagers. One day, while giving the description of Lord Vishnu, he told the listeners that vishnu is dark-complexioned, he rides on white garuda (Eagle), bears a white sacred mark on his forehead, accepts naivedyam (Food offerings) of his devotees, fulfils their desires and grants darshan to those who have firm faith. The cowherd listened to all this with great devotion so that the form of lord vishnu as described by the learned man got imprinted on his heart. He also heard from the learned man that lord vishnu listens to the prayers of his devotees and can be pleased by singing his glories. After hearing all this, there developed a deep yearning in the cowherd, and he made a firm determination to have the direct vision of the lord, come what may.
The cowherd used to carry with him everyday his lunch in his cloth packet from his house when he went out for grazing the cattle. Since the day he made the firm resolve to have lord’s darshan, the cowherd offered buttermilk to lord narayana as naivedyam and started singing this prayer daily:
“Oh dark complexioned lord!
come riding on white Garuda
and drink this buttermilk”.
Leaving the cattle for grazing in a field, he used to sit in the shade of a tree and sing this song. He used to become so engrossed in his singing that he forgot to eat his own food which he brought from his house. After some days, he decided that he would not eat the food which God did not accept and returned totally hungry without any food or drink.
Ten-eleven days passed like this, with the result that the cowherd became very thin and weak. But he did not stop contemplating on the Lord. He felt miserable, thinking that perhabs his song was not good enough to please the lord or his way of singing was not up to the mark. He shook with exhaustion while taking the cattle out to the forest for grazing. In spite of suffering from prangs of hunger, he did not want to eat anything till the lord ate the naivedyam offered by him and kept singing the song daily to please the Lord:
“oh dark complexioned lord!
come riding on white gardua
and drink this buttermilk”
One day when the cowherd was singing this song, lord vishnu moved with compassion by his constant contemplation and unblemished devotion, manifested before him in the form of an old brahmin. On seeing him, there did not develop in the cowherd the feeling that he was lord vishnu. He therefore asked him, “Sir, who are you and where have you come from?” The old Brahmin replied, “I am lord narayana and I have come in answer to your prayer”. But the cowherd did not find any resemblance of the old brahmin with the form of lord vishnu which the pauranik had described to him since he was neither dark complexioned nor rode on white eagle. Every sadhaka – spiritual seeker wishes to see the lord in the form which is described to him. The cowherd therefore sang this song:
“You do not have the form
that has been described to me
nor is your form beautiful like that of the lord”.
The cowherd then said to the old brahmin, “Please come here tomorrow at 7 o’ clock in the morning”. Lord narayana replied that he would come. The cowherd thought it proper to call on the pauranik and understand from him whether the old brahmin was indeed lord vishnu or not. He at once went to his house, narrated all that had happened and prayed to him, “Swami! please come to the bank of the river tommorrow at 7 o’clock in the morning”. Making fun of the cowherd, the pauranik said, “I have not yet caught the madness that has seized you. Get lost, I will not come”. When the poor cowherd pleaded hard before the pauranik with great humility, the pauranik agreed to go to the river bank, finding no other way to get rid of him. Soon this news spread in the entire village. Who was that brahmin and what was this story all about? Out of curiosity, all the villagers reached the river bank before even the break of dawn.
As the much-awaited moment approached, everybody eagerly looked for the appearance of the old brahmin. Ultimately, the old brahmin appeared. The cowherd said spiritedly to all. “Look! it was he who came yesterday. He is the same brahmin”. But except the cowherd, the brahmin was not visibe to anyone of the villagers who had come there. None could understand anything. Everybody thought that it was all a hoax played by this cowherd. They made fun of him and even started beating him out of anger. Enraged by the beating of the villagers, the cowherd gave a hard slap on the cheek of the brahmin and shouted loudly, “Have you come to put me into this pitiable condition? When you are visible to me, why don’t you reveal yourself to all? ” At once, Lord Vishnu in his most loving form with a charming smile on his face, adorned with glittering jewels, wearing yellow attire and riding on garuda manifested there. Jumping with joy, the cowherd burst into a joyous song:
“Oh dark-complexioned lord riding on the white eagle!
oh my beloved father!
Out of your compassion, you have come!”
Singing this song, he offered his salutations to the lord. In the meantime, a celestial chariot descended from heaven. At the command of the lord, the cowherd ascended the chariot and flew away. All those present there were wonderstruck to see this grand spectacle.
God always listens to the devotee’s prayers made with deep devotion and total faith, and grants their wishes. He perceives the deep yearning hidden behind their prayers. He does not take notice of external show of devotion.
The spiritual practitioner first of all learns about the form and attributes of God by reading sacred texts by hearing from his Guru. This is called Jnatum, meaning knowing. By reflecting and contemplating on the form of attributes over a period of time, he can have the direct vision of God and can attain satisfaction. This is called Drashtum, meaning seeing. But full satisfaction is derived only by total merger with God. This is called Praveshtum, meaning merger.
Man should lead life worthy of a human being
- Bhagawan Shree Satya Saibaba
Once when a naughty boy started crying and bothering his mother, she asked him to sit near his father. The father was doing his office work. As the boy sat there, he started playing with his father’s office papers. The father saw a world map nearby, cut it into pieces and asked him to join these pieces to make the map again in order to keep the boy busy. But the boy did not understand which country of the world was to placed where. On seeing again, he found that there was a human figure on the reverse side of the map. This he could understand easily. He identified the hands, head and other parts of the human figure and joined all the pieces together to make the human figure again. He set only the human figure correctly. But in the process, the world map on the reverse of it, which he didnot understand, was also set right. How did the world map become correct? It became correct by setting the human form correctly.
Hence first of all, man should become good. Then, the whole word will become good. Therefore, first and foremost man should conduct himself in a manner worthy of a human being and should lead a life befitting his status as a human being. This itself will transform the human into divine. But, on the other hand, if man becomes animal, how can he do any good to the world? This is impossible. Hence the first thing for man to do is to lead a life worthy of a human being. he should not degenerate to the level of an animal nor should he become a demon. If man lives like a human being, it is enough. This is the path that leads to divinity.
Whoever surrenders, Rama accepts
– Bhagawan Shree Satya Saibaba
God is so merciful that He will come ten steps towards you, if you but take one step towards Him. Vibhishana, the brother of Ravana, inquired from Hanuman whether Rama will accept his homage and take him under His protecting shade.
Vibhishana said: “I am the brother of His worst enemy, whom He has vowed to destroy; I am a member of the demonic race; I am unacquainted with the Vedas or Sastras or the rituals of the Âryans”. Then Hanuman replied: “O you fool! Do you think He cares for ritual correctitude, or family status or scholarship? If so, how could He accept me, a monkey?” That settled the matter. Vibhishana was assured of grace. When he went to Rama later, He asked the elder monkeys around Him whether He could accept Vibhishana into the fold. Of course, He did not need any counsel from anyone. He was never influenced by others. But, still, just to bring them into the picture, He consulted them and made a pretence of not having made up His mind yet. When Sugriva said “no”, Rama reminded him that he too had come to Him, first, giving up his elder brother! When Lakshmana said that the only treatment he deserved was to be thrown back into Lanka, Rama said, “Yes! I am resolved to crown him as the emperor of Lanka, after the demise of Ravana”. Whoever surrenders, Rama accepts, on the spot, without reservations. When someone suggested that Vibhishana should not be promised a throne, for, Ravana may fall at the feet of the Lord and earn pardon for his iniquity, Rama replied, “In that case, I will hold both hands of Bharata and beg him to make Vibhishana Emperor of Ayodhya, our ancestral domain; we both, Bharata and I, will spend our time happily in the forests”.
This world is a Part of Kalpavriksha
– Bhagawan Shree Satya Saibaba
Because God comes out of our heart in the form of speech, we must try to make our speech as pure and clean as possible. God is also in the form of Truth. So whatever we will be saying will have an echo: “Let it be so!” There is a small story for this.
A traveller was going on his way. After going some distance, he was tired on account of the summer heat. By the side of the path there was a big tree and he went there to take rest under the shade of the tree. When he went into that cool shade, he was overjoyed. Then he said to himself, “I am able to find a very cool place; how fortunate will I be if I will be able to get a glass of cool water also here?” Instantaneously, a tumbler of water came down. After he drank that water he thought, “Now I have quenched my thirst, how happy will I be if there is a good bed here because this floor is hard and rough”. At once a big soft bed came down. He then thought, “Even in my house, I do not possess such a pillow. If my wife comes here and sees, how happy will she feel?” Immediately the wife also came. He saw here and he thought, “Is she my wife or is she a demon? Will she eat me?” No sooner he said this, she ate him. The tree under the shade of which he sat is ‘Kalpavrihsha’. Kalpavriksha is a tree that fulfills all desires. When the traveller sat under the Kalpavriksha, whatever good things he thought of, he got them instantly. But when he thought about bad things, bad things also came to him. This world is part of Kalpavriksha. We are sitting under the shade of this Kalpavriksha. If we think badly, bad happens to us and if we think in a good manner, good happens to us. So when our thoughts, our contemplation, and our deeds are pure, the Kalpavriksha of the world will be giving the good things desired by us. Both good and bad will come only from our heart. They never come from outside. That is why in the beginning we have to make our heart as pure as possible.
Duty is God
– Bhagawan Shree Satya Saibaba
THOSE were the days when the supply of electric power for lighting streets was available only to a few big cities in India. In one of the big towns every street had three or four oil lamps each with a glass chimney set on a pole. The municipal authorities employed some labourers to light the lamps at about 6:00 p.m. in the evening. The expenses incurred towards oil, wick and chimney were met by the municipalities.
There was one lamplighter who did his job cheerfully and scrupulously. He had great faith in God and always recited the name of his dear God, Rama. He was very punctual and systematic in his work. He used to come to his ward exactly at 5:00 p.m., clean the chimneys, pour oil into the container, set the wick right and light the lamp. While doing all these he would be singing, “Janaki Jeevana Ram, Karoonga Tumhara Kam,†meaning thereby, “Oh Lord of Janaki, I am doing only your work. I am only serving you.â€
Reports reached the municipal authorities that the lamps lit by this devotee shone brighter all through the night while the lamps lit by others in the town were dim and many of them burnt only for a part of the night. The matter was taken for investigation. The reporting officer submitted to the authorities the fact that all the lamplighters in the town were given the same oil and other material and were also paid the same remuneration. As for the street where the lamps shone brightly all through the night unlike those in other streets, it was a unique case where the lamplighter was known to be a very pious man doing his duty as service to God.
Any work done sincerely as service to God is bound to reflect His love and glory.
The Pundit and the Milkmaid
– Bhagawan Shree Satya Saibaba
There was a pundit who led a disciplined life, and always stuck to a prearranged timetable. He woke up from sleep in the early hours of the morning, recited Pranava (Om) and later, after ablutions, drank a cup of milk exactly at 7 a.m. every day. This meant, a lot also depended on how punctual his milk maid was.
But sometimes the milkmaid would arrive late, for she lived on the other side of a river. The river flowed between where she lived and the pundit’s hut. She had to catch a ferry to cross over the river with the milk. The ferryboat would sometimes either start a little early or a little late. So, on those days by the time she reached the Pundit’s house it used to be very late.
One day, the Pundit admonished her. He said, “You are disrupting my disciplined life. Don’t you know that I must have my cup of milk at 7 a.m. everyday? Why do you depend on that boat to take you across? Just repeat the name of Rama. The river will part and you will be able to walk across. Rama will see that you do not get drowned.”
The maid being very simple and unsophisticated had faith in the words of the Pundit. Next day, the maid repeated the name of Rama and just walked across the river!
The Pundit questioned her: “So, how did you manage to come on time today?” The milkmaid replied, “Sir, I repeated the name of Rama as you had instructed yesterday, and I could just walk across.”
The Pundit was now flabbergasted; he did not believe her account. He just drank the milk and said, “Let’s now go to the bank of the river. Let me see you walk across the river.”
The maid stepped into the river repeating the name of Rama, and she could just walk across! The maid requested the Pundit to follow her. But the Pundit knew that he would not be able to do it, because he did not have faith in what he himself had said. In spite of his scholarship, he did not have faith in the power of the Name.
Righteousness rules
Bhagawan Shree Satya Saibaba
Prahlada was not only a devotee of Lord Narayana but also a very righteous king. He was also the most bountiful of kings. He would never say ‘no’ to anyone who approached him for a favour, gift or help.
Once Lord Indra intended to test Prahlada and so came to him in the guise of a Brahmin. Prahlada offered his respects to him and asked, “What do you seek of me? How can I make you happy? The Brahmin replied, “Oh king! I want you to gift me your sheela (character).
Prahlada said, “So be it. Your wish is fulfilled. I am gifting away my sheela to you.” The Brahmin left the court. No sooner did the Brahmin leave, than a charming young man was seen walking away from the royal court.
Prahlada questioned him: “Sir! Who are you?†The young man replied, “I am fame. I cannot stay with you any longer since character has left you.” Prahlada permitted him to leave.
A few seconds later, yet another handsome person was seen walking away from the court. Prahlada asked, “May I know who you are?” He replied, “I am valor. How can I be with you without character and fame? Therefore, I am leaving.” Prahlada permitted him to leave.
Soon, a charming lady was leaving the court in hurried steps. Prahlada asked her: “Mother, may I know who you are?” “I am Rajalakshmi, the presiding deity of this kingdom.” She replied and added, “I can’t live here without character, fame and valor.â€
Next another lady was seen moving away with tears in her eyes. Prahlada ran towards her and asked, “Mother, who are you?” She said, “Son! I am Dharma Devatha (righteousness). I don’t have a place where there is no character, fame and valor. Even Rajalakshmi has left you.”
Prahlada fell at her feet and said, “Mother, I can live without character, fame, valor and Rajyalakshmi, but I cannot live without you. How can I send you anywhere? It is the duty of the king to protect righteousness; that alone is the basis of the entire world. Please stay with me. Do not forsake me!”
The Dharma Devatha agreed to stay. And when this happened, all the others too returned to the court and said, “We cannot exist without Dharma Devatha. Let us please be with you.”
Lord Indra tested Prahlada only to illustrate to the world the greatness of Prahlada, who practiced the principles of righteousness steadfastly.
THE MARK OF A TRUE DEVOTEE
- Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
There will always be worry and grief of some type or the other. There is no escaping it, be it in the past or future; while walking, dreaming or even while sleeping. But by placing faith in the Lord and dedicating everyday chores and tasks to Him, the effect of these constant worries can fizzle out completely. Here’s how.
One day Narada boasted before Lord Vishnu about how there wasn’t any devotee better than him. But in doing so he went against the very first qualification of a devotee – freedom from egoism.
So, in order to teach Narada a lesson or two in devotion, Vishnu spoke of a farmer, who was tilling his little plot of land, as a greater devotee. He even recommended that Narada should visit and learn the art of devotion from him!
A little humiliated but at the same time curious, Narada proceeded to the farmer’s village. But what he saw amazed him. The farmer was all the time engrossed in either doing his work on the field, in the cattle shed or was busy at home.
And in spite of the most vigilant watch, Narada did not hear him utter the Lord’s name more than thrice a day; once when he woke up from bed, another time when he took his midday meal and the last when he retired for the night.
Narada was naturally incensed that he was deemed inferior to this very poor specimen of a devotee.
While Narada was always singing melodiously the divine stories of the Lord and spreading everywhere the message of chanting the name of the Lord, here was a farmer who remembered the Lord just three times a day, whom Lord Vishnu judged as being superior to him!
He hurried to heaven, his face flushed with anger and ignominy, but Vishnu only laughed at his plight. In answer to his anxiety, the Lord gave him a pot full to the brim with water and asked him to carry it on his head and go round a certain course without spilling even a drop.
Narada did so, but when asked how often he had remembered the Name of the Lord while doing so, he admitted that in his anxiety to walk without spilling the water, he had forgotten the Name completely.
Vishnu then explained to him that the farmer, who was carrying on his head more precious and more spoilable burdens than a pot of water and who had to be careful not bring harm to any of them, must therefore be more admired for remembering the Lord at least three times a day!
So, even if you remember the Lord with thankfulness at least thrice or even just twice a day, it is rewarding enough and confers with you with great peace.
Do not give up your worldly duties, but do them with the Name of God on your lips, thus inviting the Grace of God upon you.
Becoming God, not Dog
– Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
Once, a dog came to Lord Rama bleeding from blows. Lakshmana (Rama’s brother) was sent to enquire why it had to receive such blows. The dog said: “I was beaten by a Brahmin (the priestly class in a Hindu society) with a stick.”
The Brahmin was questioned. He said that the dog was always annoying him by coming across his path. Rama asked the dog: “Well, how do you want to punish the Brahmin?”
The dog said: “Make him a manager of a temple.”
Rama replied with wonder: “That would be a reward, not a punishment.”
The dog said: “No, I was a manager of a temple in my previous birth. It was impossible not to mishandle or misuse or misappropriate some fraction of God’s money. When he is that manager, he too will get, like me, this canine birth and perhaps get beaten too in his subsequent birth.”
In fact, not only the dog or the Brahmin, but every one of us are lining off the property of God, for does not all this belong to Him? What do we do in return for all benefits we derive from the property of the Lord? We should not simply eat and sit quiet. We have to render service to the poor and the helpless in a manner suitable to us.
Respect or Disrespect which others give has no Meaning
- Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
Respect or disrespect which others give has no meaning. These are simply words. There is a small story to illustrate this. In a village, there were two individuals. One of them always used a horse for making his journeys. The second individual would make all his journeys by walking with a pillow in his hand. One day, both of them had to start for the same village at the same time. On that occasion, the man who was accustomed to carry the pillow led the way. Behind him was the person travelling on horseback. On the way, there was another small village through which both these persons passed. The villagers looked at the individual carrying the pillow and thought that he was a peon, carrying the papers, ahead of the master coming behind. They looked at the man on horseback and they thought that he was the officer. In early days, because there were no cars, all the officers used to make their journeys on horseback. That is why the villagers thought that way. As soon as they reached the destination, the man with the pillow went straight into a rest-house and sat in a comfortable and boastful manner, resting himself on the pillow. The other was looking around for a place to tie up his horse. The villagers looked at both of them and thought that the man with the pillow was the officer and the man trying to tie up the horse was the peon. This is how respect and disrespect take shape in the world. The person who was thought to be peon in the former village was thought to be the officer in the latter village. This is only imagination on the part of the onlookers and flows from the minds of people. In this process neither respect nor disrespect has come to either of them as a result of intrinsic worth.
Bhakti is Above All
– Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
Once Narada was asked to name the most noteworthy among the things of the world. He answered that the Earth was the biggest. But, he was told Water has occupied three-fourths of the Earth; it threatens to swallow up the balance too, bit by bit. So, Water, he had to agree, was more powerful. However, Water too was drunk up by the sage Agastya and the oceans were rendered dry by him, and he, in turn, is now just a star in the sky! Is the sky the biggest, then? No, for, it was covered by one single foot of the Vamana-Avatara of the Lord. And the Lord? O, He enters the hearts of the devotees and resides there. So, Narada had to conclude that the hearts of bhaktas are the grandest things in creation!
Desire Binds Us
– Baghawan Sree Satya Saibaba
Those who catch monkeys prepare a pot with a small opening and fill it with some sweets. The monkey, who desires the food, will put its hand inside that pot and take a big handful of the food. Thus, the monkey becomes unable to draw its hand out through the opening. Only on releasing the grip will the monkey be able to take its hands out. It is its desire for the food that has bound its hands. Because it took with its hand some food to fulfill its desire, it was bound there. This wide world is like that pot and our ‘samsaras’ or families are like the narrow top. Our desires are the sweet in the pot. The world being the pot, containing the desires, sweets, man put his hand in the pot. When he sheds his desires, he will be able to live in the world freely. To get freedom, the first thing to do is to sacrifice. In philosophical terms, this is called renunciation. We think that the world is binding us but the world is lifeless. It is the desire that binds us.
Implicit Faith is the Road to Spiritual Success
– Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
Once Lord Krishna and Arjuna were going together along the open road. Seeing a bird in the sky, Krishna asked Arjuna: “Is that a dove?” Arjuna replied “Yes, it is a dove”. Krishna told Arjuna, “It is an eagle”. Arjuna replied promptly, “Yes, it is an eagle.” “No, Arjuna, it looks like a crow to Me; Is it not a crow?” asked Krishna. Arjuna replied, “I am sorry, it is a crow beyond doubt”. Krishna laughed and chided him for his agreeing to whatever suggestion was given. But Arjuna said, “For me Your Words are far more weighty than the evidence of my eyes; You can make it a crow, dove or an eagle and when You say it is a crow, it must be one”. Implicit Faith is the Road to Spiritual Success.
The best friend in life
- Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
Friendship rampant these days can be illustrated by a story. A person had three friends. He had taken to several bad ways and consequently had to face a court case. He went to a friend and sought his help. The friend blankly told him that he would not like to associate himself with the crime committed by him. He refused to give evidence to rescue him. The second friend, when approached, told him that he would only go up to the court but would not be a witness in a witness box. Thereafter he approached the third friend for help. He immediately responded and said, “Yes, your troubles are mine, my troubles are yours and I shall help you in whatever manner you wish me to help”. It is quite clear that amongst these three the third is the best kind of friend. For your life also we have three such friends. At the time of death, one has to leave behind all that one owns. Wealth and status do not accompany you. Your friends and relations may come to the burial ground to bury or cremate the body, and thereafter all will return home. Only the good and bad acts that you have performed in your life will accompany you. Your next birth will be carved out according to your deeds in this life. In order to remain good, you must cultivate respect for truth, which is permanent, whereas everything else including your body is subject to change, decay and death.
The most amazing thing on Earth
– Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
When once Brahma asked Sage Narada, What was the most amazing thing he noticed on earth, Narada replied, “The most amazing thing I saw was this: The dying are weeping over the dead. Those who are themselves nearing death every moment are weeping over those who have died, as if their weeping has any effect, either to revive the dead or prevent their own death: Brahma asked him to tell another: Narada said, “Another amazing thing is: Everyone fears the consequences of sin, but goes on sinning nevertheless! Everyone craves for the consequence of punya (meritorious acts), but everyone is reluctant to do any meritorious act!”
Playing marbles with the Name of God
– Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
There was once a boy, who picked up a precious gem, bright and round, and used it for playing marbles on the road, with his friends. A merchant dealing in precious stones chanced to pass along that road, and his discerning eye fell on the gem. He approached the boy, took him aside and offered to pay him fifty rupees in exchange. If the boy could know the value of fifty rupees he would have known the value of the gem! He went to his mother and told her that a stranger had tempted him with fifty rupees in return for the marble he played with. She was surprised that it was so costly and she said, “Don’t go at the compound with it; play in the garden with your friend”. When the value was revealed , limits were set.
The merchant had no sleep that night, he was planning to secure the gem from those simple folk, so that he could sell it at a huge purofit to some millionaire or maharaja. He discovered the house of the boy and moved up and down that road hoping to see the boy. When he saw the boy play with it, as it was as cheap as a marble, his heart was wrung in agony. The boy threw it on the floor; his mother emerged just at the moment from the inner apartments and it struck her foot and fell under the bush. He spoke to the boy asking for the gem in exchange for a hundred rupees, and again for five hundred rupees. The son ran into the house in tears, complaining about the stranger who would not let him alone. The mother came out into the garden and begged the merchant to go away.
The merchant grasped the chance; he told the mother that he was ready to give a thousand rupees on the spot, if the marble placed in his hand! On hearing this, she forbade the child to play with it outside the house; he could lay only within the rooms. The merchant could not be shooed off like that; he appeard the next day in front of the house; he held out ten thousand rupees as his offer for the marble. The mother refused to part with it but kept it now in an iron safe, under lock and key! When the merchant came the next day with fifty thousand rupees she took it to a bank and deposited it in their safety vaults.
You are also playing marbles with the name of God unaware of its value. Once you know the worth, you will keep it in your heart of hearts as the most precious treasure. Know that the name is the key to success in your search for consolation,confidence,courage,illumination and liberation.
It is Never too soon in the Spiritual Realm
– Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
There was once a miser who lived in a leaky house; the rainwater poured into the house through the roof but he sat through it all. Neighbors laughed at him and warned him to get the roof repaired. But in the rainy season he replied, “Let the rains subside, how can I repair it now?” Andh when the rains stopped, He replied, “Why should I worry about leaks, now the rains have stopped?” Do not suffer the leaks when the rains come, as they are sure to do; repair the roof now itself. That is to say, acquaint yourselves with the spiritual primers and textbooks now itself; begin the first lesson of silence, prayer and chanting the name of the lord. It is never too soon in the spiritual realm.
The One Basis and Different Containers
- Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
When a guru was sitting and teaching his disciples. One day he said Guru Brahma, Sishya Brahma, Sarvam Brahma. Thus the guru was implying that everything in the universe was Brahma, Every day, one disciple was accustomed to greet the guru respectfully on his arrival, but after this particular event, he did not do so and he never got up from his seat. The guru questioned him on this strange behaviour and the disciple replied that the previous day, the guru had said that everything was Brahma and therefore there was no difference between them.
Then the guru felt that what he said came back to him as a boomerang and he wanted to teach the student a good lesson. He went to the board and wrote “Guru Brahma” as two different words. He also wrote “Sishya Brahma” and “Sarva Brahma”. When you look at these three, though brahma is occuring as the same in all the three, the Guru, Sishya and Sarva are different. Only when these three words also become one, you can say that all are one. Thus, until you are able to experience this oneness of all in practice, the students will remain student and a teacher will remain a teacher and there is no escape from the need for the student having to respect the teacher. The basis is one but the containers are diffferent.
“The Same Atma Indwells all Beings”
– Bhagawan Sree Satya Saibaba
EKNATH was a great devotee of Maharashtra. Once he went to Kasi (Varanasi) on a pilgrimage. After Darshan of Lord Vishwanath, he filled some pots with Ganga water and carried them in a kavadi (a bamboo stick with a basket at each end) with his disciples to perform abhisheka of the siva linga at Rameshwaram and pour some of it in the ocean. It is an old custom to pour sacred Ganga water of Kasi in the Indian Ocean at Rameshwaram.
As he proceeded towards his destination, Eknath saw on his way a donkey lying on the ground and writhing in agony due to thirst with its mouth wide open. It was summer season and the donkey was on the verge of death due to acute thirst. At once, Eknath poured some water from the pot into the mouth of the donkey, and also sprinkled some of it on its body. After sometime, the donkey opened its eye,s got up slowly from the ground and went away wagging its tail. On seeing this, the disciples of Eknath asked him, “Swami! How is it that you have poured the sacred Ganga water meant for the abhisheka of the siva linga at Rameshwaram into the mouth of a donkey?” Then Eknath explained to his disciples. “My dear ones! Have you forgotten the truth contained in the maxim, Easwara Sarva Bhuthanam (God is the indweller of all beings)” Don’t you know God is immanent in all living beings? All water is one, whether it is Ganga water or ocean water. In your view it might be a donkey, but I see Lord Siva in it. I have, in fact, quenched the thirst of Lord Siva. This is a very sacred act that I have performed”.
The people of Bharat recognise the immanence of the Supreme Being in every atom of the creation. That is why great devotees like Potana, Thyagaraja and Kabir described throught literature, music and Sankirtan (Devotional songs) the glory of God who is present in all beings in the form of Atma.
