Practise Self-Control with Steady Faith.. Short Story, As told by Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba

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PRACTISE SELF-CONTROL WITH STEADY FAITH

 

(Short Story, as told by Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai BABA)

Those who deny God are denying themselves and their glory.

 

All have Love in their hearts, in some form of other, either towards the

children or the poor or their work or goal. That Love is God, the spark of the

Godly in them. They have Ananda however small or temporary and that is a spark

of God and the Godly. They have Shanthi, Detachment, and Sympathy.

 

All these are reflection of the Divine on the mirror of their minds.

 

These are all mental Excellencies, revealed through an appreciation of the

advantages of virtue. Shanthi or Calmness practiced through helplessness, as

in the case of the thief in the story of Tenali Ramakrishna is no good.

 

One thief exhibited great Shanthi and Sadhana, calm fortitude!

 

A thief had come into Tenali Ramakrishna's garden at night and that he was

hiding under a “snake-gourd bush” near the well.

 

Ramakrishna called his wife to his presence. He asked her to bring a rope and

bucket so that he may draw water from the well.

 

The wife drew the water and gave the bucket to him.

 

The thief watched his movements and he crouched in the darkness, expecting that

the man and his wife would go into the house soon. He planned that he should

gain entry later and collect his loot without having caught.

 

Meanwhile, Ramakrishna pretended that he had something itching in his throat.

He poured the water into his mouth, gargled loud and spat underneath the

“snake-gourd bush” right where the thief was crouching!

 

Ramakrishna gets it right on his face, and that was Ramakrishna’s intention too.

 

The poor fellow could not run away, he could not protest. He was afraid to move

he showed perfect fortitude.

 

But, do you call it a virtue? Do you appreciate him for it?He was motivated by fear, not faith.

 

Such Santa and Sadhana are of no use at all.

 

Practice self-control, with steady faith. Then it is a source of strength.

(Story #46, from the Book: "CHINNA KATHA")

 

 

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