God Dwells in All Beings

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GOD DWELLS IN ALL BEINGS

 

This happened more than fifty years ago. The famous saint of South India,

Sri Sai Baba, had gained a great name in the spiritual world. Once, he was

absorbed in some thought when, suddenly, a smile appeared on his lips. "In

your temple, does any person come to you?" he lovingly asked his well-known

disciple Sri Upasani Maharaj.

 

Upasani Maharaj, as commanded by Baba, was then living in the outskirts of

Shirdi, in the temple of Khandoba, in the cremation grounds near the river.

The temple was dilapidated. Being an orthodox Brahmin, he had refused to

stay in the Dwarika Mayi Masjid where Baba stayed. He was having Darshan of

Baba every day. He was preparing meals daily in the afternoon and taking

them to Baba in the Masjid. Only after Baba's meal was over, he would take

food and water.

"Baba, nobody goes there," replied Upasani Maharaj in reply to Baba's

query.

 

"Well, sometimes I shall come to you," Baba graciously told the Maharaj.

 

Some days passed. Then, on a midday during summer, when the earth had become

very hot by the fiery rays of the sun, Upasani Maharaj was taking to his

Guru a plate containing food. Maharaj was suddenly obstructed on the way by

a black dog which was very hungry. Maharaj thought to himself, "Only after

feeding the Guru, and not before, will it be proper to give food to the

dog." On going a little distance, his mind changed. Looking back for the

dog, he found that it had disappeared. He walked on and reached the Masjid.

There he met Baba who asked him: "Where was the need for you to come as far

as here in this terrible heat, when I had already met you on the way? "

When Baba spoke like this, Upasani Maharaj remembered the dog he had met

on the way and repented very much over his failure to feed it. Sai Baba

remained silent.

 

The next day, when Maharaj started as usual from the temple with the food,

he saw near the compound wall a Sudra standing and asking for food. Maharaj

did not even cast a look at the hungry Sudra who cried for food. He wanted

to reach the place of the Guru as early as possible. So he walked towards

the Masjid. When he reached the place, Baba again told his disciple: "Todav

also you have needlessly taken so much trouble. I was standing near your

temple itself. But you did not. care to look at me."

 

The disciple's eyes were now opened by Sai Baba who said: "I myself appeared

before you as the dog and the Sudra. In all these resides one Paramatma or

God. I wanted to teach you the secret of Parabrahman. He is all-pervading,

as established by Vedanta. He resides in all beings. So you have to look

upon all with equal vision, bear good feelings towards everybody and always

do the right action, which is the highest duty. God dwells in all beings.

Recognize Him, know Him and serve Him in all." Thus, Sai Baba blessed his

great disciple.

 

“Worshipping brass images and conceiving hatred for man is not devotion.”

 

“You truly love, when you feel one with all”.