BABA’S TEACHING TO CHILDREN

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BABA’S TEACHING TO CHILDREN

Thus far we have examined the motive for and manner of Baba’s teaching. We

may next examine more fully what his actual teachings were. None can pretend to

give an exhaustive account of his teachings. He never wrote or dictated his

teachings. He was mostly conferring his help on those who came to him in

numerous ways, which did not contain any apparent teaching. But there was

hardly a simple instance of his help, however, which did not actually educate

and raise the recipient of such help. In numerous cases, he seemed to give

advice to particular individual in particular circumstances. But these cases,

when examined and studied closely, embodied valuable lessons. Students of case

law would appreciate the deduction of principles from their cautious

application to different sets of circumstances, with modifications suited to

each set. Lovers of Baba note with joy how the advice and help given by Baba to

particular persons suit others in similar circumstance-making; of course some

allowance for points of difference. In a very few cases Baba has given express

teachings, in the regular moralists style. Gathering together whatever is

available of all such teachings, we may note (1) What Baba taught different

sets of persons, e.g., children, adults, females and males, rustics and the

learned, the scoffers and believers, Hindus and Moslems; and (2) on different

subjects of morality, religion and worldly wisdom.

Taking up the subject of children and boys, one expects very little of teaching

to this class; and none will expect higher spiritual teachings or help. Yet,

Baba has given such teaching and rendered help for their sadgati. Here are a

few instances. These may all be brought under Baba’s general principle,

which cannot be better expressed than in the words of Gita:

Swe swe karmani abhiratah

Samsiddhim labhate paraam

That is, each one should attend to the duties that appertain to his or her lot

– i.e., his or her age, position, caste, community etc., Baba thus

addressed Bapu Rao, the younger son of Nana Saheb G. Chandorkar, "Hearken to

the words of your parents. Help your mother in her task. Speak truth and truth

alone." Baba, however, did not confine himself to the enunciation of

principles. The principles of truth, filial love and obedience are of such

vital importance that Baba had several occasions to impress them upon his

devotees in other ways also.

A rich man had adopted a young boy and hoped to get love, obedience and regard

from the latter. The young, however, was little disposed to pay any regard to

his rich father or to his wishes, and indulged in smoking. Once, the old man

started by train to Shirdi along with the boy. Instead of travelling with his

fond parent, the young went away to a different compartment where he could

smoke freely. Arriving at the Shirdi mosque, the youth felt the moral

restraints of Baba’s Asram so much that he resolved to decamp, giving no

intimation of his flight to the poor unsuspecting father. But there was another

Father, the Argus-eyed Sai, who was watching him from within. When the boy made

his resolve, Sai Baba issued out his order in loud tones that cowed down the

boy. "No one" said Baba, "should leave this place without permission from me."

The boy discovered that his secret plans were known to the great wizard Sai and

dared not disobey Sai with impunity, whatever he may dare to do towards his

adoptive father. He confessed his designs and thus Baba gave a much needed

correction to such impetuous youths that they should hearken unto their

parents.

Baba’s own example, in his previous lives, was full of such implicit and

obedience to parents; and he occasionally narrated reminiscences.

In one birth, Baba had a grandfather, who had advanced leprosy. That old man

lived outside the family house staying under a tree mostly. Baba, as a little

boy, attended upon him and gave him constant help.

In another life, Baba’s father wedded a barmaid, who misbehaved. Worms

developed on her feet. As she was his father’s wife (and his own step

mother) Baba tended her feet and cured her.

In another life, Baba pleased his father, a weaver, by assiduity in weaving

shawls. The father was immensely pleased with him and gave him presents. Like

these, Baba would narrate many in inspiring incident of his past lives.

But Baba, though severe with himself, wanted young ones to be treated leniently.

He rebuked the mother of Daulatshah (Nana Saheb D. Rasane of Ahmednagar and

Poona) when that lady beat the boy. The boy, who was massaging Baba’s

legs, was naturally attracted by Baba’s distribution of sweets to other

children and slightly relaxed his efforts at massage, and his mother beat him

and said, "You are thinking of sweets and neglecting the service of Baba". But

Baba interposed on his behalf and said, "You, old woman! Why do you beat the

boy?" The mother answered and said that the boy should be inspired by Baba with

a love of service to Baba. "Yes", replied Baba, "The boy will serve me well. God

will endow him with pure desires. Do not fear, do not beat him".

As to how Baba corrected young men, who were developing drunkenness and other

evil habits, mention will be made on a later occasion.

But before closing this very brief account of Baba’s education of children

and boys in good ways, we may note how he gave actual sadgati to a little child

of a year or two. It is commonly believed that children have hardly any souls

to lose or save. But most Hindus believe that souls are born into this world

and die very young because they have only very little more of poorva karma or

rinanubandha to clear off. In reference to the rare cases, where young children

give an account of their past lives; the explanation is offered that they were

advanced souls in their previous births and that power of remembering pre-natal

incidents was one of their accomplishments. In any case, Baba gave spiritual

help even to such tiny individuals for their sadgati and here is an instance of

it.

Says the esteemed North Indian Judge in Part I of "Devotees Experiences": -

"In August 1916, I lost my first son aged two years; When the child was in the

womb and when my wife and I went for darsan, Baba said, "You have one of my

gifts with you". Later when we took the child, Baba caressed it and said, "Is

he mine or yours", "Yours" I replied. Baba then said, "Keep him with you, as a

charge from me." A year and half later, the child got pneumonia and just when

the doctors thought the danger was over, started sinking. I took the child to

the worship room and prayed to Baba that since the child was His, He may take

it and give the soul a rest in Him, and that having given it its worldly

existence, I would undertake the responsibility for its karma. I put my palm on

the head of the child. There was a smile on its face, a last gasp; and the crown

of the head was drawn in with a hiss-the child going the real way of yogis."

"A couple of months later, I was at Shirdi. One afternoon, Baba pointing to me,

asked "Who is he and where does he live?" People who know me gave my name and

mentioned the place where I lived. "You are wrong", said Baba. "He is always

here and I am with him.Has he any children?" asked Baba next. The reply by

others was that my child died recently. "Dead" Baba said, "No, I shall tell you

what happened. The child was mine, and this man (pointing to me) agreed to keep

it. One day, he said "You keep him with you and I shall take up his karma. I

took him and kept him here (pointing to his heart) and he shall here

eternally."

Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

(Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Coimbatore-641025, India)