Sai Baba Gita - The Fire that brought out the Attachments of the Disciples

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The Fire that brought out the Attachments of the Disciples

Suka decided to teach a lesson to all the people assembled there who were

harboring such negative feelings. After some time, he interrupted his discourse

suddenly and said, "Janaka, look at your kingdom. It is on fire!" King Janaka,

who had closed his eyes and was totally absorbed in listening to the sacred

teachings, took no notice of these words. He had fixed his mind on the Vedanta,

and so he kept his concentration only on the Vedanta.

The other people who had assembled there saw the flames and smoke rising above

the city. Some of the disciples, thinking of their relatives and belongings,

began running towards the capital city, in the plain below. All the attachments

which had lain hidden deep in their hearts now came to the surface and fully

exposed themselves.

A few moments later, Suka told King Janaka, "Janaka, this fire has now spread to

your palace." Even then, Janaka did not take any notice of Suka's statement;

Janaka did not move from his seat. He had the true feeling of complete

detachment and indifference to all things worldly. His interest was only in the

atma. Except for this absorption in the atma he had no other feelings.

Among those in attendance at the discourse were a number of celebrated spiritual

teachers having worldwide reputations. Suka wanted to demonstrate to them that

they might be very great scholars but they had not killed their attachments.

When these scholars saw the flames, they were apprehensive; they turned to King

Janaka and began praying, "O, King! O, King! Please do something about this

terrible catastrophe happening below!" But Janaka had entered into a state of

samadhi; he was enjoying the bliss of the atma.

Tears of joy were coursing down Janaka's cheek. He did not waver for even a

moment from the holy thoughts on which he had fixed his concentration. Suka

observed Janaka's state and was very pleased. After some time, those disciples

who had run away towards the capital returned, reporting that, in fact, there

had been no fire at all. Then Suka began to explain to the disciples the

meaning of all that had gone on.

Suka said, "Well, children, I did not delay starting my discourse for two hours

because Janaka is the king and, therefore, a very important man. I delayed

because he is a deserving person, a true seeker; and I believe in waiting for

such a one. Because he has purged himself of ego and pride, because he has true

humility, dedication and detachment he has the authority to hold up the

discourse. You listen, but you do not hear what is said or put it into

practice; therefore, you have no such authority.

"Instead of teaching hundreds of people who have made no effort in applying

these teachings to their daily lives, I can teach at least one person who truly

has a right to being taught, because he has integrated these sacred precepts

into his very life. What is the use of teaching people full of attachment and

egoism? It is something like throwing a stone into water. For any number of

years the stone may lie in the water, but it will not absorb even a drop of

water.

"Even if I can get just one person like Janaka, it is sufficient for me to go

on. Why have useless shining stones in great numbers? If there is at least one

gem which is truly valuable, that is enough. Why have ten acres of barren land

if you can have even a small plot that is fertile and abundant in its yield? If

one king like Janaka can become sacred, then he can transform his entire kingdom

and turn it into a sacred realm that will be an example to the whole world."

Suka's intent was to make Janaka a sacred king and at the same time to teach a

valuable lesson to the conceited disciples who had gathered around him.

http://www.atmapress.com/saibabagita/saigita324.html

Sai Baba Gita, Compiled and edited by Al Drucker - Published by Atma Press -

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

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

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