SPIRITUAL GAINS AND WORLDLY HELPS

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SPIRITUAL GAINS AND WORLDLY HELP

 

Some who learnt of Baba's miraculous help to his devotees have been

oppressed by doubts and objections. What trivial work is done by the

saint! If he is a great saint, could he or should he attend to such

trifles or to any worldly work at all? If not exactly infra

dignitatem, does it not prove that he is not a jnani in Sat Chit

Ananda, i.e., perpetual absorption in Supreme Bliss of God or the

Atman? Can an Atmanishta or Jivan Mukta afford to fritter away his

moments in concern for worldly gains and losses, comforts and

discomforts, even though they are not his but others. Have not saints

themselves decried the working of miracles, and is not such working

prima facia proof of the absence of Jnana or Realisation?

 

A close examination of these objections is not possible here. But a

single circumstance that constitutes a complete reply may now be

mentioned. Is not a fact that Sri Krishna, lord Buddha, Jesus Christ,

Sri Sankaracharya, Lord Gauranga and a host of `Great Ones' have

rendered temporal help, even in small matters, to many even by

miracles. Are these to be labeled Ajnanis?

 

NOT HIS: BUT GOD'S:

 

What applies to them applies to Baba. The reader will find the truth

declared often by Baba that what are called `his' actions are really

`His'. Baba repeatedly stated that he did nothing, that God did

everything, that God is the Master (Allah Mallik), and that he, Baba,

performed no miracles and indeed did not do anything unless permitted

or made to do it. Ample proof will be found even in these pages of

his complete self-surrender, his merger in or identification with

God. Meanwhile the reader is requested, in the words of Baba, to have

faith and patience (Nishta and Saburi), to wait and see. He will soon

find that the apparently trivial is at times an important link in

momentous affairs, that Baba's `worldly' work in unworldly, that his

efforts and care are consistent with-nay the expressions of his

supreme love and bliss.

 

Baba's care for children began even before they were born. The

devotees that successfully prayed to Baba for securing matches for

their daughters and progeny have urged their prayers on all

occasions, great and small. Pregnancy is sometimes the occasion of

great anxiety and Baba has not failed to help his devotees in such

critical moments. Here is a typical instance.

 

PRESENCE UNNECESSARY:

 

The daughter-in-law of Nana Saheb Nimonkar, an Hony. Magistrate of

Nimon, was in the family way and in September – October, 1916, her

accouchement was expected. Mr & Mrs. N. Nimonkar started for Poona to

help in the accouchement and called enroute at Shirdi. When they

wanted leave to go to Poona, Baba refused. He told Nana Saheb

Nimonkar on the other hand that the latter should stay by Baba's

side, bury him and then leave Shirdi. asked about the accouchement,

Baba replied, "Why are you anxious? God will help". That meant of

course that Baba undertook the safe delivery of the child and that

Nimonkar stayed on.

 

At Poona, no preparations for helping the lady were made and when

pain began, she was taken about 10 p.m. to a hospital and there

within an hour, in the total absence of help when even the attendant

nurse was absent, a male child was born in good health. At about that

time, Baba told Nana Saheb Nimonkar at Shirdi, "There was woman. she

was taken to a place. there she was delivered safe of a male child".

Here again as promised, God did help – through Baba of course.

 

(Courtesy: H H Pujyasri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji)