Spiritual Gains and Worldly Help

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XXVIII. SPIRITUAL GAINS AND WORLDLY HELP

 

IS IT OBJECTIONABLE?

 

Some who learnt of Baba's miraculous help to his devotees have been

oppressed by doubts and objections. What trivial work is done by the saint!

If he be a great saint, could he or should he attend to such trifles, or to

any worldly work at all? If not exactly infra dignitatem, does it not prove

that he is not a Jnani in Sat Chit-Ananda, i.e., perpetual absorption in

Supreme Bliss of God or the Atman? Can an Atmanishta or Jivan Mukta afford

to fritter away his moments in concern for worldly gains and losses,

comforts and discomforts, even though they are not his but others. Have not

saints themselves decried the working of miracles, and is not such working

prima facie proof of the absence of Jnana or Realisation?

A close examination of these objection is not possible hare. But a single

circumstance that constitute a complete reply may now be mentioned. Is not a

fact that Sri Krishna, Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, Sri Sankaracharya, Lord

Gauranga and a host of other 'Great Ones" have rendered temporal help, even

in small matters, to many even by miracles. Are these to be labelled

Ajnanis?

Not His: But God's :

What applies to them applies to Baba. The reader will find the truth

declared often by Baba that what are called 'his' actions are really 'His'.

Baba repeatedly stated that he did nothing, that God did everything, that

God is the Master (Allah Malik), and that he, Baba. performed no miracles

and indeed did not do anything unless permitted or made to do it. Ample

proof will be found even in these pages of his complete self-surrender, his

merger in or identification with God. Meanwhile the reader is requested, in

the words of Baba, to have faith and patience (Nishta and Saburi), to wait

and ice. He will soon find that the apparently trivial is at times an

important link in momentous affairs, that Baba's 'worldly' works In

unworldly, that his efforts and care are consistent with-nay the expressions

of his supreme love and bliss.

Baba's care for children began even before they were born. The devotees that

successfully prayed to Baba for securing matches for their daughters and

progeny have urged their prayers on all occasions, great and small.

Pregnancy is sometimes the occasion of great anxiety and Baba has not failed

to help his devotees in such critical .moments. Here is a typical instance.

Presence Unnecessary:

The daughter-in-law of Nana Saheb Nimonkar, an Hony. Magistrate of Nimon,

was in the family way and in September-October, 1916, her accouchement was

expected Mr & Mrs. N. Nimonkar started for Poona to help in the accouchement

and called enroute at Shirdi. When they wanted leave to go to Poona, Baba

refused. He told N. N. on the other hand that the latter should stay by

Baba's side, bury him and then leave Shirdi. Asked about the accouchement,

Baba replied, "Why are you anxious? God will help". That meant of couise

that Baba undertook the safe delivery of the child and that Nimonkars stayed

on.

At Poona, no preparations for helping the lady were made and when the pains

began, she was taken about 10 p.m. to a hospital and there within an hour,

in the total absence of help when even the attendant nurse was absent, a

male child was born in good health. At about that time, Baba told Nana Saheb

Nimonkar at Shirdi, "There was woman. She was taken to a place. There she

was delivered safe-of a male child". Here again as promissd, God did

help—through Baba of course.

 

 

(This is from the book"The Wonderous Saint Sai Baba" written by Pujyasri

V.Narasimaswami,founder President of All India Sai Samaj,

Chennai...........This book can be read from www.saileelas.org)