The
external situation creates a reflection in the mind. Why look for
weaknesses in others? Why not identify the weaknesses within ourselves?
We will not be able to evolve if we keep pointing out the flaws in
others and keep getting affected by their actions. Instead of reacting
to what someone said and thinking negative thoughts, we should reflect
on our own drawbacks and weaknesses. Control your mind and you will
gradually identify the weaknesses in yourself. Till we do this, no
saint, no God, no deity, nor any elder member of the family can give us
happiness.
A
child born in a poor man’s house starves for food. Throughout his life
this child grows by suffering and enduring hardship. We have never faced
the kind of disrespect that a poor man’s child has to face, because we
have food to eat, a car at our doorstep, a bank balance for our
financial security. All these have been given to us by our father and
forefathers. What is our contribution? If despite having received so
much we still remain unhappy, then we are ungrateful to God.
Remember
that we have not received so much because of our merits but due to the
merits and hard work of our parents. Each generation inherits the best
of earlier generations. Be grateful to them and reflect on what you are
contributing and how you can be sensitive to the needs of others.
Why
do people worship Baba and all the other saints? Their human form has
gone, but they are still remembered and worshipped. They are not
worshipped because they had earned a lot of money. Not also because they
belonged to the so called intellectual class or because they have
performed miracles. They are worshipped because they were sensitive to
the problems of others and felt compassion for them. Most people are
extremely conscious of their own sentiments, their own sensitivities but
are insensitive to the sensitivities of others. Let us try to be
sensitive to the needs of others and behave accordingly. Let us stop
unnecessary ritualism and use our God given advantages to reach out to
the poor, needy and weaker sections of society and try to relieve their
suffering.
We
might have read the Sai Satcharitra ten times, read other books, heard
sermons from priests so many times, but what is the use of just reading
them? Read books, but not superficially. Do not pretend to imbibe
bhakti. Going to the temple, all decked up, does not express devotion.
Baba had advised Dasganu not to do that. Be natural – the more natural
you are, the better. Exhibition of religious fervour is just physical
acrobatics. We don’t need acrobatics. We need finer sense to prevail on
us to understand the problems of others. We should start from our own
home because our home is our ‘peeth’. If we are not sensitive to the
needs of those in our homes, for whatever reasons, then there will be no
saviour for us. Every man is humbled with old age and sees the world in
a new way, the way in which he has not seen it during his youth. If
this balance has to come as time will make it happen, then why not
accept it to the extent possible now and live our lives accordingly ?
Guru
shakti and Guru sahitya guide us in not taking the difficult path in
our quest to evolve. The Guru teaches us through his own experiences, so
one will not have to suffer in his path. Let us not condition our mind
through whatever we read, see and hear superficially. Read the Sai
Satcharitra regularly and concentrate on the divine attributes of Baba
and meditate on His form. Let us pray the Master to give us the correct
emotional and mental capabilities to enable us to understand Him and
walk on the path shown by Him.
May Shri Sai Bless us all.
Shri C.B. Satpathy, New Delhi
