Guru Vachaka Kovai - Chapter Concerning Immaturity

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Chapter Concerning Immaturity

 

605 Why do these people of immature mind, who are melting and weeping with the longing to obtain easily the five sense-pleasures, come and associate with Sadhus, who always live the aim of conquering and completely destroying the five sense-pleasures?

 

Sadhu Om and Michael James: Do not people who, even though they may hold degrees or high and powerful positions in society, are immature, approach Sadhus with worldly offerings and wait in their holy presence for the fulfilment of their desires? This is not only foolish, but also improper. Since such worldly people are mad after the five sense-pleasures, whereas Sadhus are totally destroying the desire for the five sense-pleasures by the power of their tapas, they have no business with Sadhus. The following incident will throw more light on this point:

One evening at 4 pm during Sri Bhagavan’s stay at Virupaksha Cave, an old brahmin came there with his daughter and offered a big plateful of costly sweets. Sri Bhagavan accepted a little of it, and the rest was distributed to all the devotees present, who were immensely happy since in those days they were not getting even enough ordinary food to satisfy their needs. The devotees were very happy, but Sri Bhagavan did not seem to be so pleased. On the third day when she came with her usual plate, though all the devotees were very happy, Sri Bhagavan told her with a look of displeasure, “What is this? Why do you bring today also? I did not mind when

you brought it once or twice, but why do you daily bring such costly things? If there is any expectation behind these offerings, it is wrong. This is not the place for the fulfilment of worldly desires. If you have any such desire, do not bring these offerings from tomorrow onwards”.

Next day, to the great disappointment of many of the devotees, she did not come. One of the devotees afterwards enquired from her father and came to know that, in spite of having passed the normal age, the girl had not yet attained maturity for her marriage, and that someone had advised her father that if such offerings were made to Sri Bhagavan, their desire would be fulfilled.

GURU VACHAKA KOVAI , by Muruganar

tr: Sadhiu Om & Michael James

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