Manasa Bhajore Guru Charanam
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I was reading Swami's discourse during Guru Poornima on the 24th of July, 1964! There was an anecdote of the Shirdi Avatar that He narrated. Along with that anecdote came a great assurance. I felt like dramatizing that anecdote into a play. All facts are as narrated by Swami though the style is mine. Hope you enjoy this little play....
(Shyama is serving Baba – massaging His feet and seems to be worried…)
Baba What bothers you so much Shyama?
Shyama Baba! I am at your feet here. What worry could I possibly have?
Baba Ah! The classic case of a conflict between what one is actually feeling and what one wants everyone to think he is feeling! (gentle laughter)
Shyama Baba, forgive me. You know everything and yet you ask? Don’t you know the innermost recesses of my heart?
Baba Shyama! If I were to ask only out of ignorance, there would be no possibility of any dialogue between God and devotee. So, tell me. . . what is bothering you?
Shyama Baba you are aware of Radhabai. She serves you in all love and diligence.
Baba What about her Shyama?
Shyama She has been seeking a mantra from you for so long. Her need is spiritual and yet you have been keeping her at a distance. Help her Baba.
Baba So a day has come when your love for her is greater than mine!
Shyama Baba please do not speak so. She is so bent upon getting the mantra that she has refused to take food till she gets one. And it has been three days now. She has grown so weak and if this continues…… she may….
Baba …die? Hahaha Shyama! Having determined to get something, one should either achieve it, or collapse from that effort.
Shyama Baba! Please do not take it to the extreme. If she dies then….er….what will people speak about you? I am worried about your name Baba. People have vicious tongues.
Baba Sai cares neither for the praise nor the blame heaped upon him. Sai cares only for the welfare of his devotees. And sometimes, welfare comes along with a struggle or pain.
Shyama I plead to you Baba. Please do something.
Baba You are a madcap Shyama but still you please me. When I am here to give temporal and spiritual relief, why do you worry so much? Summon Radhabai and I shall give her what she truly needs.
( Shyama arrives to Baba's presence with Radhabai)
Radha - Baba….Baba…..
Baba - Radhabai! There is a fine line between stubbornness and determination and you do not understand it.
Radha - Baba I am just seeking a mantra for Spiritual redemption….
Baba -Why do you ask me? Go and seek your mantra from your Guru…
Radha - Baba you are my Guru! I know no other…
Baba -Hmmm. Easy words Radhabai. . . Do you know what a Guru is?
Radha - Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu Guru Devo Maheswaraha. Guru Sakshath Parabrahma Tasmai Shree Gurave Namaha.
Baba Tell me Radhabai……when the Guru is everything – Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara (the trinity of gods) – the ultimate too – then why not take His name as mantra? Why demand another name from the Guru? If the Guru is God, obeying His orders, walking in the path He has shown, these are as effective as the repetition of the name.
(Baba now gets up and walks to Shyama)
Baba Shyama get some food and drink for Radhabai. Take care of your body Radhabai and I shall nourish your soul.
Radha I will do as you say Baba..
Baba (to Shyama and Radha) Once you have secured a Guru, leave everything to him, even the desire to achieve liberation. He knows you more than you yourself ever can. He will direct you as much as is good for you. Your duty is only to obey and to smother the tendency to drift away from Him. You may ask, how are we to earn our food, if we attach ourselves to a Guru like this? Be convinced that the Lord will not let you starve; He will give you not merely money but even Amirtha, not only food but the nectar of immortality
Surrendering to one's Guru is the easiest path. No wonder that the first bhajan Swami taught us was, "Manasa Bhajore Guru Charanam" meaning, "Oh mind! Contemplate incessantly on the feet of your Guru and be redeemed across this ocean of worldly existence. "
Bow down to Shri Sai; Peace be to all.
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I am re-reading the articles in your hub. Found this to be very interesting..wud luv to do this as a play with children or need to find some adults to act for Guru poornima or vijaya dasami.. dialogue form is excellent tool to spread the greatness of guru! It will stay in the minds of audience rather than just sharing it like an information.
Hahahaha - The last two dialogue between Spirit Whisperer and Mr.Happy is rib tickling!
Its so wonderful to be gifted with two lovely friends!
I was talking about Swami lol!!
I have very little hair Mr Happy! LOL
Mr. Spirit Whisperer is always super-nice! I became curious about him a couple of months ago when I first saw his photograph. I will not lie: it was the hair that attracted my attention to begin with. I am glad it did though.
Cheers!
Another wonderful hub and your style of telling the story is very much like Swami's.
Swami was my guru when I was in need of an external guide but it was he he urged me to find my own inner guru and to listen to the voice within.
When I started to read A Course In Miracles I could hear Swami's voice again and my heart soars every day when I read another page from that book.
Your stories are very special and you are doing very important work by writing them. Thank you. I think that Mr Happy has been drawn to Swami through you. He is a good man with a heart of gold and I can see how Swami would want to speak to him through you.
"Having determined to get something, one should either achieve it, or collapse from that effort." - I believe in that!
"Tell me Radhabai……when the Guru is everything – Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara (the trinity of gods) – the ultimate too – then why not take His name as mantra? Why demand another name from the Guru? If the Guru is God, obeying His orders, walking in the path He has shown, these are as effective as the repetition of the name." - This may very well be something that I was looking for. Wise words. Very wise.
"Be convinced that the Lord will not let you starve; He will give you not merely money but even Amirtha, not only food but the nectar of immortality." I am not sure what Amirtha is but faith is very important, in general I would say.
Now, from the little that I am understanding and excuse me if I am wrong, would I be correct in comparing Mr. Swami to say Budha or the Dalai Lama?
Thank you again for everything - I have been lucky to learn a lot in a short time. That makes an impatient Mr. Happy very happy. Cheers!
As I was reading this hub, I remembered Swami's explanation of surrender in the Geetha Vahini... the one explaining the three stages of surrender...
beautifully written anna..!! it so nice how Swami reveals such important lessons of life in such a simple manner...in times like dis i feel it is truly very sweet of HIM - the Avatar to come down to our (human beings) level and explain like dis...nobody on earth cld hav put dese concepts better..simple yet profound...!!
btw ur title reminded me of ur speech...the fisherman's example which i remember till date...
really enlightening article i shld say...!!
THANK YOU ANNA..!! :) :)
I remember reading this incident in the Shirdi Sai Satcharita. The line "Having determined to get something, one should either achieve it, or collapse from that effort." is very profound. I pray that Swami gives each of us that strength to persevere along the path of truth. Nice article, bro!
Awesome
Typical Swami. Profound yet simple. Simple yet difficult for man, but not impossible. Love you Swami, always, love you.
@ Jose - God's timing is always perfect!
@ Anjali Sai - Each and every statement of the Avatar is like a seed that sprouts at the correct time and gifts the fruits of wisdom.
@Indra - Swami has given a very beautiful interpretation of surrender. Will share that soon....
Fantastic job!! Aravind. But very hard to practise surrender yet, we have to do our part and keep at it.
Superbbbb......many teachngs in one go... " Having determined to get something, one should either achieve it, or collapse from that effort."....."He knows you more than you yourself ever can. "......"Surrendering to one's Guru is the easiest path"......just luvd it....
ina perfect time tnx Swamiji!!!!! love ya!!!
Spirit Whisperer Level 6 Commenter 5 weeks ago
I re-read this hub today and today I see clearly how the relationship between devotee and guru prepares the way for our ultimate relationship with the Holy Spirit as taught in A Course in Miracles. Thank you again for your soul food!