DON'T BE PROUD OF PRIDE

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DON’T BE PROUD OF PRIDE

Baba said, "He should get rid of his ego, surrender it at My feet. He, who acts

like this in life, him I help the most" in Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch.II.

A King who had a beautiful figure, a strong body and large army. He was the

mighty ruler of a vast kingdom. He was proud of his strength, wealth and army.

One day, a holy man came to him and said: "O’ King, you must not be proud of

your beauty, your possessions, your power, for they are transient. Either, you

will leave them, one day, or they will leave you."

The King did not understand. He got angry. But the holy man insisted: "O King,

learn to be humble. In the measure in which you become humble, in that measure

you will become a channel of God’s forces for the healing of suffering

mankind."

Infuriated, the King said: "Why must I be humble? I have such a vast kingdom. I

have just to lift up my finger and thousands of people will come to my bidding.

Why must I be humble. I do not need your advice. Please leave the darbar."

A few days later, the King, along with a few of his ministers and friends, went

out to hunt. From a distance he saw a deer. He chased the deer and was

separated from the rest of his group. The deer eluded the King and disappeared.

The King galloped faster and faster. The deer suddenly crossed a valley and

again disappeared. The King kept on chasing the deer and just as he was about

to cross the valley, his horse fell down. Both the horse and the King were

badly hurt and lost their consciousness.

After a little while, a few decoits happened to pass by. Finding the horse and

the rich rider in an unconscious state, they looted the King of his

possessions, his weapons and stripped him naked. When the King regained

consciousness, he was shocked at what he saw. He was nude and his horse was

almost dead. In that helpless condition, he remembered the words of the holy

man: "These things will either leave you or you will leave them, one day." He

repented. He realized that it was his pride that had brought him to this

predicament. He closed his eyes and offered a prayer. "In this state of utter

helplessness, Lord, I turn to Thee! Do Thou help me. Else, here, in this dark

jungle, the animals will soon devour me!"

Just then, he heard the roar of a lion. His heart trembled. However, he found

that the lion’s roar had awakened the horse. The King felt happy. He mounted

the horse and crossed the valley to where his ministers and friends were

searching for him. The King’s life was transformed. He became a man of

humility. Every night, he reminded himself of the great teaching: "O man not be

proud of your possessions and power. They are fickle as the shifting sands of a

desert."

Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya.....

All the great men of humanity have been men and women of humility. A rider on a

horse back, one day, came across a squad of soldiers who were trying to move a

heavy piece of timber. The rider noticed a well dressed corporal standing by,

giving loud commands to "heave." But the beam was a little too heavy for the

squad.

Turning to the corporal, the rider asked: "Why don’t you help them?"

"Me? Why, I’m a corporal, Sir!"

Dismounting, the stranger helped the soldiers. He smiled at them and said, "Now

all together, boys, heave!" The big piece of timber slid into place.

Handing over his visiting card to the corporal, the stranger quietly said: "The

next time that your soldiers need help, call me!"

The corporal looked at the visiting card and was shocked to find that the

stranger was none other than George Washington, the Commander-in-Chief.

 

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