Carrots and Sticks

[Guest guest]

Carrots and Sticks

 

Baba said, " There are several ways. One is from here " , meaning that He is the

Sadguru capable of helping one in the pursuit that a life may have. Having

dissolved the myth the surrounded the requirements for a spiritual upliftment,

Baba further simplified the path saying, " You can reach God from where ever you

are " . Baba also cautions the seekers to be vigilant about the wolves and tigers

from the outside and those within.

 

Does the path simplified render the pursuit any simple?

 

The way Sai guides His children should emphasize one fact of spirituality. There

are several ways by which one could pursue the spiritual path. Sai did not set a

particular protocol nor did He force upon His believers, a rigid path to

traverse upon. Even while some of the Gurus looked at people dissecting straight

into their social status, religious standing, and origins, Sai embraced the

untouchable, the Moslem, the leper and the likes with equanimity. He had a

different way of gauging the merits of those who flocked Him, then and now. Some

were outright reprimanded for their behavior while some were reformed without a

word spoken. The learned had to wait while Baba welcomed the vagabond. The

Antaryami showed the avaricious Madarasi, the path of truth through a peculiar

vision. Dasganu's scholarly question was promptly directed to Kaka's maid. While

Sai worked internally on some, His outrage was visible in case of others.. While

some were offered

carrots, yet others had to face the stick.

 

The communication between Baba and His child is unique and the rarest one of its

kind. Let us on this Thursday contemplate on that individual communication we

have with Baba. The goal is as universal as the pursuit individual. Perhaps an

important aspect of spirituality may lie in understanding the significance of

carrots and sticks.