You are My Friend By D. K. VARADA RAO

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You are My Friend

(A page from the thrilling life of His Holiness Narasimha Swamiji) By D.

K. VARADA RAO

" All are of one Self - fraternity

Such being the dictum to avow

In such a light how can we take life and devoid of least pity go on to

eat? "

- Narayana Guru

 

H. H. Narasimha Swamiji traveled from one end of, the country to another

during 1939-56 taking the gospel of Sai Baba and in fact took 'Sai Baba

out of Maharashtra'. He traveled third class in railways, by bullock

carts, jutkas, buses, motor cars, accepting any place to rest, living on

plain fare, whichever came to him. He carried Udhi, Sai's pictures and

Sai Ashtottara for free-distribution. By these tours he built up a net

work of Sai-institutions all over the country.

 

Once Narasimha Swamiji was on a trip of coastal Andhra Pradesh, He had

very little money and hardly any luggage. When the train was nearing its

destination-Vishakhapatnam-and people were busy with their luggage, one

co-passenger, whose curiosity was aroused, approached Narasimha Swamiji

and put him a series of questions:

" Where is your luggage? "

" I keep as much luggage as I can carry myself. "

" Have you any money? "

" No, I keep no money. "

" Are you landing in Vishakhapatnam? "

" Yes. "

" You must have some friends to help you? "

" Who is he? "

 

Narasimha Swamiji touched the shoulder of the questioner and

softly said: " You! " This 'YOU' flashed an electric influence on the

questioner and it was the latter that befriended Narasimha Swamiji and

looked to his physical needs while in Vishakhapatnam, apart from

Sai-Prachar.

 

Later, this gentleman wrote of Narasimha Swamiji: " He the torch leading

us to Sai Baba " . The fire can burn him, not the steel can cut him not.

As he says 'Sai' 'Sai' tears of ecstasy roll down his eyes, and his very

presence gives new life.

 

Narasimha Swamiji's life and mission is that of true dedica-tion. He

gave us a characteristic reply: " I live in tune with Sai Baba. I feel

there is someone to feed me when I am hungry and someone to give me

water when I am thirsty, I need nothing more. I never had any

difficulty "

 

" Whenever I injure any kind of life I must be quite certain that it is

necessary. I must never go beyond the unavoidable, not even in

apparently insignificant things. The farmer who has mowed down a

thousand flowers in his meadow in order to feed his cows must be careful

on his way home not to strike the head of a single flower by the side of

the road in idle amusement, for he thereby infringes the law of life

without being under the pressure of necessity. "

- Dr. Albert Schweitzer

 

" The difference between man and man is not one of kind but one of

degree; one manifests more divinity than another; and the purest soul

manifests the most. No one, according to the highest truth inculcated in

the Vedanta, is superior to another, for the same God resides in all.

Therefore, hate none. Take everyone where he or she stands.

- Swami Ramakrishnanananda

(Source Sri Sai padananda Oct 1990)