Impact of Great Works By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

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Impact of Great Works

By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

The Secret

Both rain and sunshine are needed to make a rainbow. Both joy and sorrow

are needed to make life truly beautiful and colorful.

 

(Eknath Maharaj, it is said, had a neighbor, who though born a Brahmin,

led an irreligious and in disciplined life. Full of compassion for him,

Eknath Maharaj taught him to read Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, verse by

verse, which helped the man in self-purification and ultimately in

getting redemption. It was the same book, Sri Vishnu Sahasranama that

Baba gave to Shama, despite his protests and much to the annoyance of

the Ramadasi bua to whom it belonged. Shama was asked to read it slowly,

carefully and with understanding so that it may pave the way for

self-purification.

 

With the same purpose Shri Dixit and Shri Jog were asked to read aloud

and with exposition, books like the Nath Bhagvat, Bhavarth Ramayan,

Dnyaneshwari, to the audience who was specially sent by Baba to listen

to them. Shri Dev, Shri Dabholkar and other devotees were encouraged to

read such books too. These books are beacon lights that remove doubts

and guide us along the right path. It is in this sense that they help in

self-purification.

 

As with these books, so with Shri Sai Satcharitra, which unfolds a way

of life for the pious and the faithful? Its verses are full of

anecdotes, experiences of people and philosophical expositions. But

these are as a foil to a gem; for it is Baba's personality, His powerful

presence and His invaluable words which lend significance to the

stories, experiences and philosophical expositions. It is most

interesting to observe as to what valuable advice, simple practical

guidance and principles of a good life are scattered through the pages

of this volume.

 

That one should respect all God's creatures; that one should realize

that even the poor, the meek, the dumb suffer the same pangs of hunger

as we do; that we should never take labor from anyone without paying for

it well and adequately; that it is uncharitable to talk ill of

another;....these principles and a thousand others like these, are woven

in and through interesting stories and anecdotes. There is nothing new

or unusual about most of these words of simple wisdom, but it is only

after reading and re-reading Shri Sai Satcharitra that we begin to take

note of these, to ponder over them, and they begin to act as a check

over all our daily actions. We reproach ourselves when we fail to follow

them in practice. Self-purification has already begun imperceptibly,

gradually.

 

It is also interesting to note as to how many devotees have discovered

that when their minds are troubled and they are faced with problems, the

moment they open Shri Sai Satcharitra, at whatever page and at whatever

chapter, their problem is answered instantly and satisfactorily.

(to be contd...)

Source Shri Sai Padananda Jan 2001 issue