Shri Ram Navami Message

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RAM NAVAMI MESSAGE OF SHRI C. B. SATPATHY

 

On one occasion, Shri Shirdi Sai Baba advised one of His devotees

working as a Magistrate, to maintain 'probity' in personal and

professional life. The word 'probity' means a high standard of moral

behaviour or adherence to the highest principles and ideals or in

short, uprightness. People from all walks of life, such as government

servants like magistrates, revenue officials, tehsildars, mamlatdars,

police officials to lawyers, artists, pilgrims, used to flock around

Baba at Shirdi, seeking His divine blessings, help and guidance, both

mundane and spiritual. Baba helped everyone as and when required,

without any considerations of religion, caste, creed, temporal status

or varied social differentiation.

 

Of all the advice that Shri Sainath Maharaj rendered, the most

important and common advice was to maintain uprightness and honesty

in all aspects of life religious, social, professional or personal.

By asking the Magistrate to exhibit moral conduct in his profession,

Baba gave the message that demonstrating the quality of righteousness

in only one sphere of life, is not conducive to spiritual growth of

an individual. It has to be practiced or adhered to in every sphere

of life.

 

In our ordinary life, we come across many people, who demonstrate

their quality of piety by donating lots of money to the temples, but

shirk away in providing any such help to their poor domestic servant,

even if he or she may be in dire stress due to any number of reasons

such as the sickness of his or her child. There are others who spend

lots of money and time on the rearing of their pet dogs, but do not

think twice before hurling abuses and even beat up urchins begging on

the street. Such examples are too numerous to be described within the

limited space of this article. Such people show contradiction between

their thought, intent and action, where they display virtuosity

selectively, sometimes simply for their personal gains. Thus, the

quality of uprightness, probity and honesty are applied as

utilitarian principles. One need not be surprised at such examples,

because to be successful in the worldly life, most people take

recourse to such a formula. However, such an approach is not

conducive for those desirous of their inner evolution. The formula

that Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi prescribed, was upholding the qualities

of tolerance, compassion, uprightness, sacrifice and non-attachment

to be practiced resolutely in every station of life be it

professional, personal, religious or social.

 

Those who followed Baba's teaching in letter and spirit gained

spiritual progress much faster than those who did not follow. Shri

Sai Satcharitra cites stories of many such evolved souls during

Baba's lifetime, such as, Megha, who maintained his simplicity till

his demise, Bala Saheb Bhate and Kaka Saheb Dixit who renounced

worldly life entirely on the bidding of Baba, while Mahalsapati

maintained his non-attachment to materialism. These exalted and noble

souls, and many others, who never faltered in sustaining their

qualities under the guidance of the Master of Shirdi, have been

praised in Shri Sat Charitra and elsewhere.

 

Therefore, it behoves the true Sai devotees to consciously try to

evolve the best qualities in them, in all the activities they

undertake. No doubt, this is not at all easy to achieve, but

steadfast love, devotion and unwavering faith towards Baba will

gradually bring out the best qualities in them. May Shri Sai bless us

all, to be able to follow the path of righteousness and uprightness.

 

C.B SATPATHY, New Delhi