Impact of Great Works

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Impact of Great Works

By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

The Secret

Both rain and sunshine are needed to make a rainbow. Both joy and

sorrow are needed to make life truly beautiful and colorful.

 

(Eknath Maharaj,

it is said, had a neighbor, who though born a Brahmin, led an irreligious and

in disciplined life. Full of compassion for him, Eknath

Maharaj taught him to read Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, verse by verse, which helped the man in

self-purification and ultimately in getting redemption. It was the same book,

Sri Vishnu Sahasranama that Baba gave to Shama, despite his protests and much to the annoyance of

the Ramadasi bua to whom it

belonged. Shama was asked to read it slowly,

carefully and with understanding so that it may pave the way for

self-purification.

 

With the same purpose Shri Dixit and Shri Jog were asked to

read aloud and with exposition, books like the Nath Bhagvat, Bhavarth Ramayan, Dnyaneshwari, to

the audience who was specially sent by Baba to listen to them. Shri Dev, Shri Dabholkar and other devotees were encouraged to read such

books too. These books are beacon lights that remove doubts and guide us along

the right path. It is in this sense that they help in self-purification.

 

As with these books, so with Shri Sai Satcharitra, which unfolds a

way of life for the pious and the faithful? Its verses are full of anecdotes,

experiences of people and philosophical expositions. But these are as a foil to

a gem; for it is Baba's personality, His powerful presence and His invaluable

words which lend significance to the stories, experiences and philosophical

expositions. It is most interesting to observe as to what valuable advice,

simple practical guidance and principles of a good life are scattered through

the pages of this volume.

 

That one should respect all God's creatures; that one should

realize that even the poor, the meek, the dumb suffer the same pangs of hunger

as we do; that we should never take labor from anyone without paying for it

well and adequately; that it is uncharitable to talk ill of another;....these

principles and a thousand others like these, are woven in and through

interesting stories and anecdotes. There is nothing new or unusual about most

of these words of simple wisdom, but it is only after reading and re­reading Shri Sai Satcharitra that

we begin to take note of these, to ponder over them, and they begin to act as a

check over all our daily actions. We reproach ourselves when we fail to follow

them in practice. Self-purification has already begun imperceptibly, gradually.

 

It is also interesting to note as to how many devotees have

discovered that when their minds are troubled and they are faced with problems,

the moment they open Shri Sai Satcharitra, at

whatever page and at whatever chapter, their problem is answered instantly and

satisfactorily.

 

But there is a way, even of reading these books-

be it Shri Sai Satcharitra

or any other. One may read it in seven days or three days or even in one day, -

it is not the number of days and readings that matter, but the manner of the

readings. If the reading is cursory, or casual or even mechanical and

ritualistic, much of its value is diminished. How then one

should read these books so as to get profit from them. Baba has Himself

given the answer -once again through His words addressed to the devotees on

different occasions. We read, for instance, that Baba appeared in a dream to Shri Dev and told him that Dnyaneshwari must be read slowly, carefully and

thoughtfully, so as to be able to understand it properly. We also read about

Baba's comment on Shri Chandorkar's

exposition of the 33rd verse in the fourth chapter of Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta, where,

by suggesting a slightly different and a more appropriate exposition of the

same verse, Baba surely brought out the importance of a critical and more

analytical approach to the reading of such books.

 

Again, Shri Dabholkar

felt that in the repeated readings of Guru-Charitra, Shri Sathe was more favored while he himself fell short of

Baba's grace. Baba immediately but indirectly, brought home to him the fact

that one should not compare oneself with others in such matters and that it is

patience and faith that is important. Incidentally, He also brought to Dabholkar's notice, the undesirability of leaving the daily

reading of these books incomplete. What one needs is a discipline of the mind.

 

To be able to concentrate fully while reading is also a sign of a

disciplined mind. Such reading impresses the essence of the book on one's mind.

Whatever is read must be meditated upon, turned over and over in the mind; it

should be then strengthened further by repeated readings and contemplation. So

much so, that the real significance of the book emerges and is absorbed into

one's line of thought, becomes a part of one's being. It is then that it is

naturally, spontaneously translated into one's actions. One may not even be

conscious of it. This is what Baba told the Assistant Collector who was given Vicharsagar by a saint at Vadgaon

and asked to visit Baba at Shirdi. Baba told him that 'now that you have read

this book carefully, its wisdom must be practiced in day-to-day life, otherwise

it has no meaning.'

 

Above all, when we read books like Shri Sai Sat-Charita, we must approach

them with faith and reverence. In a sense all great books are like polished

crystal; whatever object is placed before it, it reflects it faithfully. From

these books too, you get back exactly in proportion to what you bring to it. If

you bring faith to it, it will confirm you in it; if you seek wise counsel from

it, it will lay open its rich store of wisdom for you. Ultimately one must know

what to seek and it will surely be found.

(Source Shri Sai Padananda Jan 2001)