The Winner

[Guest guest]

The Winner

 

To return to other stories of Baba, there was a wrestler in Shirdi, by name

Mohiddin Tamboli. Baba and he did not agree on some items, and both had a fight.

In this, Baba was defeated. Thenceforth, Baba changed His dress and mode of

living. He donned Kafni, wore a Langot (waistband) and covered His head with a

piece of cloth. He took a piece of sackcloth for His seat, sackcloth for His

bed, and was content with wearing torn and worn out rags. He always said,

" Poverty is better than Kingship, far better than Lordship. The Lord is always

brother of the poor " - Sri Sai Satcharitha, Chapter V - The English version by

Shri N V Gunaji).

 

Baba lost the fight. However, He won the world and beyond. Stories of lives of

saints are uniquely impregnated with interesting events. Some times the events

may sound trivial, but every incident seems to have its message. Human life is

constant struggle and competition. Usually, the assessment of a person or an

event is shaped by the outcome and such a judgment itself in reality is the ego

ratified. Sainath's contention is perhaps the same. Accomplishing victories of

mundane nature may ratify one's ego, but does not necessarily guarantee the

permanent happiness, a pursuit every human birth longs for. Accepting God's

dispensation and long for, if any, His grace will bring permanent happiness.

True winners are those who accept God's will, surrender their selves to His

cause, accept their roles in His play and strive for the permanent happiness.