Heads or Tails

[Guest guest]

AUM SAI RAM

 

Heads or Tails

 

Tuesday 27 December, I am in Parthi at the Prasanti Nilayam. I am standing in

the queue with other famished devotees and waiting for the Western Canteen to

open to eat a bite for breakfast. It is 11 am; nine hours have elapsed since I

woke up and prepared myself to go to Temple for the Morning Prayer. I have not

had a sip of water for nearly 15 hours! Engrossed in my thoughts, at first I do

not notice the little boy, a local child going from one devotee to another

asking for alms. I guess he is four years old and I assume that he is the kid

of one of the women who sweeps the alley in front of the canteen. Whilst

everyone ignores him, possibly because Bhagawan Baba has taught us not to

encourage “beggars” by giving them alms, here I am feeling sorry for this dirty

little duckling covered from head to toe with dust. I cannot help feeling

embarrassed too. True it is, I am a foreigner; however phir bhi dil hain

Hindustani. In no time the frail bundle of tiny bones is standing besides me.

He looks at me with imploring eyes, his hand pointing at the little round hole

as he purses his lips to indicate to me that he is famished too. I am appalled.

I search my purse for a sweet and in my bestest Hindi I told him

 

“Kya hain, Baba? Mama kahan hain? Aisa nahin karna. Tiik nahin hain.”

 

“Here, take this sweet and go home!”

 

He grasps the sweet and bolts away

 

This dramatic incident is closely followed by another equally moving scene.

 

Under the porch of the canteen, three stray dogs with fat tummies are sleeping

peacefully; one devotee ( or tourist?) dressed up in sumptuous Kanjivaram and

wearing the latest designer shades bends down to pat the dogs, each one in

turn with loving care and attention. The dogs respond merrily to the caressing

touch with wooah! Wooah!

 

Well, well!’ Raso Vai Sah’, Baba says, ‘see GOD in all creatures’ Every single

moment in our life, we are given the opportunity to put into practice Baba’s

Teachings

 

At the lotus feet of SAI

Anita