Sai Baba Gita Reading for Today - The Story of the Officer and the Preceptor

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Sai Baba Gita Reading for TodayDecember 2, 2003- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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The Story of the Officer and the Preceptor

There was once a government officer who did not believe in the great power of

words to transform minds, particularly when it came to spiritual teachings. He

happened to be the education secretary for a district, and included among the

schools he had under his auspices were some religious institutions. One day he

visited one of these schools where a preceptor was teaching the holy scriptures

to a number of young students. This spiritual teacher was expounding on some

very profound concepts. Sitting there listening to this, the officer developed

a headache. Finally, he told the teacher, "My dear fellow. These are small

children. There is no need to burden them unnecessarily with such lectures.

This will be completely useless to them. Such scriptural truths and deep

philosophical concepts cannot possibly be grasped and understood by such small

children."

The teacher replied that only when children are at such a tender and

impressionable age can they be led onto the proper path. Being taught these

noble truths from the very beginning, he felt, would clear their hearts of

doubts and put them on the right track in life. The officer said, "I do not

believe in all these words. How can mere words transform the mind? I do not

think this will ever be possible." The teacher tried to convince him through

various explanations and arguments, but the officer would not listen and allow

any of the teacher's wisdom to penetrate into him. It was a case of a closed

mind. Too much authority often results in cynicism and an exaggerated sense of

self-importance. Cleverness follows and in a short time all the virtues

disappear and the reason becomes impaired.

When the teacher realized that no matter how hard he tried it was impossible to

explain his point of view to this officer, he decided to prove his point by a

practical lesson that the officer was sure to understand. He asked the youngest

of the students to get up and told this small boy, "Child, you go and physically

throw this officer out of the room. Do it immediately!" The moment he heard

these words, the officer got very angry. He started shouting at the teacher,

"Who do you think you are? I am a government officer, I am the education

secretary of this district, and you are asking a small child to send me out!

How dare you do this?"

The teacher then told the officer, "Well sir, I did not beat you or hit you or

even touch you. I did not do anything to you. Just by merely hearing some words

you seem to be getting very upset. What could be the reason for your becoming so

angry? It is because of these few words I used, isn't it?" This is how the

teacher demonstrated to him that words can be very powerful. They have an

enormous capability for doing great harm or great good, according to the way

they are used. After this personal lesson the officer left, but now much wiser

and humbled by his experience.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Source:http://www.atmapress.com/saibabagita/saigita064.html- - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sai Baba

GitaCompiled and edited by Al Drucker - Published by Atma

Presshttp://www.atmapress.com - ISBN: 0963844903Online Edition:

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

 

 

 

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