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An Avatar's Words
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Prof.
N. Kasturi
Only an Avatar (incarnation of God) could say those words.
Lesser souls like seers, spiritual aspirants, great souls
ascetics, and realized persons would not have the courage to
utter them, and even if they mustered enough strength, the words
would not have the ring of authenticity.
About four years ago, I went from Bangalore to Puttaparthi by
night train. When I reached the place by 10 A.M. I peeped into
the old temple near the village on my way to the new ashram and
was shocked by the heavy cloud of sadness that hung over it.
Baba” brother –in-law (as we, with our limited family outlook,
do prattle in delusion) Sri Subba Raju, Baba's sister's husband,
who was also his maternal uncle, had passed away the previous
evening and was buried late at night.
I had known him as a good and active worker at the Prashanthi
Nilayam, with a kind enquiry always on his lips, and so I was
overwhelmed with sorrow. I also felt great anguish when I
thought of the bereaved lady and her only son, a sweet little
boy. With a heavy heart I moved towards the Nilayam, half
apprehensive to meet there the stricken brother and nephew
(Baba) and doubting all the time whether the words I might use
would be enough to express my sorrow and convey my sympathy in
front of Him.
The bereaved lady was evidently inside the Nilayam for her
lamentation could be heard out side. Dark despair lay thick on
every face and all were eagerly watching Baba's lips, waiting
for His words.
Since I had not yet heard those words which only an Avatar could
say, I had foolishly manufactured on my way to Prashanti Nilayam
a sentence of consolation in the conventional style to be spoken
to Him. But luckily, before I could commit that sacrilege, Baba
looked at me with a be witching smile and, seeing my tears, He
said, "Why? What is this? Don't you know me? If there is no
birth and no death, how am I to pass my time? And then He
laughed!
"How am I?… "Birth and death"… pass my time"?… What a profound
utterance and before what an audience and against what a
background!
I saw before me not Baba with a physical body 28 years old, but
an Avatar of the Lord Himself. Who else could have the courage?
Who else could infuse into those words that true ring of
authenticity? Ponder over this, … Brother reader, that is my
prayer.
SWAMI says: The principle of Atma is one and same in all, be it
yogi or bhogi. A yogi renunciant or varagi. It is present in
theists and also atheists, But you are unable to recognize
this all-pervasive Divinity. You are undertaking various
spiritual practices should confer the awareness that Divinity is
all-pervasive just as fire is needed till the rice is cooked, so
also the spiritual practices are needed till you realize the
innate Divinity… -Baba
Source: Sanathana Sarathi,
April 1958
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