Begging and Humility

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Baba's begging continued until His Mahasamadhi. During His final days, when His

movements were restricted due to illness, Baba delegated the honor of begging

His food to others. Such was His insistence on the honorable act of bowing in

front of others for the daily bread. Begging aids in the purgation of pride and

brings in humility. Humility is a easy path to God. Baba's insistence on begging

is only to highlight this axiomatic truth.

Scriptures say that the duty of feeding a mendicant falls on the society as the

renounced do not earn their livelihood by other means. However, mendicancy is

not a way for everyone. Only a few can tread that path. Mrs. Shaila Hattiangadi

in "Sai's Story" wrote as follows:

Baba never recommended Sanyasa. "Sanyasa", He said, "is not the way for you. In

fighting desires which are normal, you will lose all your strengths. The more

you fight, the larger the temptations will become. And if you drain your energy

and strength in trying to fight and overcome them, you will have no power left

in you to reach God. Instead, live a normal, natural life, reserve the energy

and use it positively to find God". "Sanyasa", he would say to His devotees,

"is a path for select few, to be followed under divine guidance and directive,

and not by one's inclination alone. It is very difficult path"

The real significance of Baba's begging is glorification of the virtue of

humility and not just as an act of a mendicant. Let us on this Thursday,

resolve to emulate our Sadguru and emphasis on the virtue of humility in our

own ways.

Source:saibaba.org

Arun Reddy Nukala

+44-7946-595063

+44-2085-695116

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