Our Divine Lord on the Wheelchair - Its Significance

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This is an excerpt from a Most Wonderful Talk given by Sri Anil Kumar:

 

What is the significance of Bhagavan taking this ailment upon His body? Is it for welfare of any human beings? Is there any philosophical explanation for this?

Thank you, sir. This question is often put to me, whenever I meet big or small groups. I don't go into philosophical depth or spiritual significance of this particular event. The question is how do you look at the present situation of Bhagavan being in a wheelchair? Further, this gentleman wants to understand why He has taken this ailment upon Himself. Has He any aim, such as human welfare, in accepting the present ailment?My friends, the purpose of an Avatar is to teach. The purpose of an Avatar is to demonstrate. The aim of an Avatar is to set an example. To set an example, to

demonstrate and to teach are the three-dimensional objectives of every Avatar. Baba, while walking briskly then, had a message to convey. Baba, in a wheelchair today, also has a message to convey. We have a lesson to learn -- then, now and forever.If we look at it physically, the sight of Swami in a wheelchair is very painful. Some ladies even cry because it is a very sensitive matter. Some question as to why He should be in that state. Some even doubt His Divinity. Some will feel badly that, while He cures everybody, why does He not cure Himself? Some people go to the other extreme. When He cannot cure Himself, how is He going to cure me? (Laughter)

These are the questions that arise in our mind. There is no point in condemning anybody. There is no point in calling anybody less devoted or an atheist. There is no point in asking him to leave Prashanti Nilayam. You may ask one individual to

leave, but there will be millions like that. So let us try to understand together. Let us try to explore together this particular question. I think there are a few lessons that we should learn from Swami in a wheelchair. The first lesson I think is the spirit of acceptance, as we already discussed. He has accepted the condition; therefore He prefers to be in a wheelchair.Two years ago, He was on a wheelchair. There in Kodaikanal some boys said, " Swami, we have a modern, sophisticated wheelchair where people don't see the wheels. You can sit majestically on it and go. " They cried.Swami said, " No. Bring that ordinary wheelchair. " Baba also added, " People come to see Me and not My chair. People don't come here to see the wheelchair. They come here to see Me! " (Laughter) That's what Baba said. So, it only means that He has accepted that.This is a lesson to all of us. We have to learn to accept the reality, the fundamental fact. Yes, there

is a fracture; ok I accept it. There is no point in searching for another reason, another pretext.Secondly, He said that it happened in the natural course of events. He has not taken anybody's ailment upon Himself. If He tells us that He has taken so-and-so's ailment, we will finish that person the next moment. (Laughter) So He has made it categorically clear that He has not taken on anybody's ailment. It has happened in the natural course of events.

EVEN GOD MUST FOLLOW HIS OWN LAWS :

Further, He gave one example. If anyone slips on soap in the bathroom, he is sure to fall, whether God or an ordinary human being. Laws of gravitation operate for God also. He is not above the laws of Nature.He also said that a policeman sees to it that we abide by traffic rules and drive on the left side, not on the right. In the U.S., it is the

right side; here it is left side. But the policeman who enforces this rule cannot himself drive on the right side: " I am the policeman so I'll drive on the right side. " No! You are also supposed to drive on the left side.Therefore, God, who creates these natural laws, has to abide by His own laws. He has set the law and He has to unscrupulously abide by His own law. That is the second lesson. " When I am bound to suffer, it's alright! There's nothing wrong with it. " The third lesson is that He doesn't show any trace of pain on His face. In contrast, in our case, any simple problem we have, whether a family problem or a community problem, we make it a national problem if possible! (Laughter) A simple headache or stomach ache is enough to impose curfew at home! " Nobody should see TV, nobody should talk, nobody should joke, nobody should smile, and no guests please because I have a headache! " (Laughter) So, we share our headache with everybody. We don't leave

anybody until they also get a headache! (Laughter)But here is Bhagavan who never says that He is in any pain. He says nothing at all! He says that He has no pain at all and shares happiness with everybody with His broad smile, kind gestures, and words of enquiry. This is a lesson to all of us to swallow all our problems. So sharing happiness with everyone around is the third lesson.

SWAMI HAS NOT CHANGED HIS SCHEDULE

The fourth lesson that we have to learn is this. Any simple problem makes us apply for a casual leave. One gentleman who was poor in English wrote in his application: " I am suffering from the marriage of my daughter; therefore, grant me casual leave. " (Laughter) Everybody laughed. Suffering? Well, he happened to be my friend. He is correct about suffering because he had to pay lot of dowry (Laughter). Also, he had to extend all

hospitalities and extra courtesies to the groom's family. Therefore, he had to suffer. So he is correct. And here Baba has a hectic schedule right from morning to evening: talking to people, granting interviews, giving darshans, guiding and chiding, directing, admonishing, and praising people. That schedule has never been changed for any reason. If it were you or me, we would apply for casual leave. " I have a headache; therefore, I am sorry, but kindly grant me casual leave. " Baba has never applied for casual leave for even a day. Then we may question why sometimes darshan is cancelled. Let me share with you a Divine secret, which I am not supposed to. I know I am taking a risk. It always happens in my life. (Laughter) I can't avoid it. So many interviews are taking place at His residence today. If I get an opportunity, I would say, " Swami, what's all this? " He talks to many people there at the residence. It is not that He wants to avoid us.

Important matters, policy matters are discussed. Therefore, Swami is not on a holiday when darshan is cancelled. No! He is busier on the days the darshan is cancelled. He is so busy that He has to cancel darshan. He is more busy than usual, the same way most of us work more on a Sunday than on any other day. We have some service activity, akhanda bhajan or study circle. Everything happens on a Sunday, so we are busier. Therefore, we would like to relax on a working day! (Laughter) So the lesson is that He has not made any kind of change in His schedule or itinerary whatsoever.

SWAMI DEMONSTRATES BODY-MIND DETACHMENT

Another lesson we can learn from Him is this. He has been telling us that we are not the body. We know theoretically that we are not the body. But on pizza day, I am the body! (Laughter) When I see a cup of ice cream, I am the body. When

I see some South Indian pickles, yes, I am the body! (Laughter) So, we know theoretically that we are not the body, but we are the body when the situation arises.We know that we are not the mind. Everyone says, " I am not the mind. " But again, it's only theoretical. If you call that nonsense, the man gets angry. But if he truly is not the mind, why should he get angry? (Laughter) Theoretically he knows that he is not the mind; but in fact, he is totally the mind. The mind or ego reacts immediately because the mind is still highly sensitive. It is like gasoline – highly volatile.When the ego is affected, it goes to any extent. If I don't hear you, you are irritated. If I don't follow you, you are annoyed. We don't think about why you are like that. We don't bother to step into another's shoes and find out why someone is like that. We are only bothered about why he does not act according to our wish or why he does not conduct himself according to our desire.

But we know theoretically that we are not the mind!So, my friends, we know too much theory and nothing practical. I am sure you are noting down my words. I repeatedly say, " We know. " I don't say, " You know. " I say, " We know " , which includes me too. I am the first on the list.We know theoretically that we are neither the body nor the mind. Yet we react every time. So how can He convince us? How can He make us rally around? Here is an open demonstration. Imagine the terrible pain from an initial fracture, then the subsequent operation, then the next fall and next fracture. How is He able to bear that? How is He able to smile? How is He able to stand and give a discourse?

When He was perfectly fit, He gave a one hour lecture. Today He gives a one and a half hour lecture. Extra! How is it possible? Suppose I have pain, can I smile? If I have some problem, can I attend my office? How is He

able to do that? The simple answer is that He is beyond the body. He is beyond the mind. So, it is an open demonstration to all of us that one can transcend the body and the mind like Him. Unless we see it operating, unless we see it in front of us, we cannot learn. Some people ask why He does not cure Himself. If He cures Himself, we are the first persons to say, " You are God. You could cure Yourself. So how about curing me? " If He does not cure Himself, some say, " How can You be God if You cannot cure Your own suffering? " We don't spare anybody! (Laughter) We are always ready with questions. But when we stop these questions and accept, we will certainly learn many lessons.

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Om Sai Ram