Sai Baba Gita Reading for Today - The Cowherd Boy

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Sai Baba Gita Reading for Today

November 16, 2003

 

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The Cowherd Boy

 

There was a poor cowherd boy, who had a great deal of faith and an

intense yearning to see God. One day, in the village where this boy

lived, a preacher came to deliver some spiritual discourses. The

preacher would gather together an audience and sing the glories and

exploits of the Lord. It was not possible for this cowherd boy to

give up his work and come to all the meetings, because all day long

he had to attend to his cows. But in the evenings he would bring the

animals into a sheltered place and then go to hear the preacher give

his talk. The cowherd boy would listen with great earnestness and

care to all that was being said.

 

The preacher was a follower of Lord Vishnu, and so he related the

characteristic features of God in the form of Vishnu, or Narayana,

as he is also called. In the course of the discourse the preacher

repeatedly described the traditional image of the Lord as one who

was dark complexioned, who wore a white mark on his forehead and

rode on a white eagle. The preacher also explained that Lord Vishnu

was always prepared to go to the rescue of those who sought shelter

in him, and that he would accept as an offering anything that was

given to him with full faith and love.

 

As the preacher repeatedly described these characteristics of the

Lord, they made an indelible impression on the heart of that boy.

The preacher also said that God is a great lover of music, and that

he could be won by directing one's prayers to him in song, sung most

reverently from the heart.

 

Well, this cowherd boy used to carry some food with him for his

noontime lunch. Daily he would offer this food to God with all

sincerity and devotion, praying to the Lord to partake of it. He

began his prayers by singing this song, "O loving Lord, You ride on

a white eagle, so I have been told. Come. Please come to me and

accept this food." The boy went on praying like this to the Lord for

one whole week continuously. He never touched his food because it

was not shared by the Lord. By the end of the week he became

extremely weak.

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

Source:

http://www.atmapress.com/saibabagita/saigita048.html

 

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Sai Baba Gita

Compiled and edited by Al Drucker - Published by Atma Press

http://www.atmapress.com - ISBN: 0963844903

Online Edition: http://www.atmapress.com/saibabagita/index.html