WHERE ARE YOU - MY BELOVED!

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WHERE ARE YOU, MY BELOVED

“Baba saw that the whole universe was pervaded by the Almighty, and so He never bore enmity or ill-will to anybody.” Shri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. XXIII.

There was this unworldly shepherd whose heart overflowed with love for the Creator. All day long, as he tended his flocks, he would talk aloud to God: “Where are You, my Beloved? How I long to serve You!”

One day, Hazrat Moosa (the prophet Moses) passed by the meadow where our shepherd’s flocks were grazing and heard him call aloud: “Where are You, God, that I might stitch your clothes, mend your socks, polish your shoes, comb your hair and bring you a cup of good, nourishing milk?”

Moosa was horrified at what he considered gross blasphemy of Formless Almighty. “How dare you speak to God like that?” he raged. “Is God a mere human that he needs to drink milk and have his hair combed and his shoes polished? You insult the Almighty by such talk, you enemy of religion! Let us pray that Creator will not punish the whole human race because of you!”

The poor shepherd was shattered. What had he said that was so wrong? Sobbing broken heartedly, he apologized to the great prophet and led his flock away feeling wretched and bereft.

Proud that he had caught and taught an erring person, Hazrat Moosa marched away grandly, when the Lord’s annoyed voice arrested him. “Why did you interfere with Me and Mine, Moosa?” asked the Almighty. “Who authorized you to separate the lover from the Beloved? Did I make you my prophet to bring humanity to Me or to drive it away?” Stunned, Moosa fell to his knees.

“I did not create this world for my profit, Moosa,” said the Lord sternly. “My creation is for the benefit of my creatures. I have no need of praise and worship: it is the worshipper who benefits, not Me. Nor do I care what form the worship takes. It is the sincerity of the heart that alone interests Me. Those bound by outward correctness are unlike those bound by their loved for Me. Those who love Me know no religion but their Beloved.”

Humbled and repentant, Moosa went back to look for the shepherd. After much searching, he finally found him in tatters meditating by a spring. Moosa eagerly related what had passed, but the shepherd had no more to say. With a compassionate smile, he simply moved away.

 

 

 

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