A Test in Detachment By M. Rama Rao

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A Test in Detachment

By M. Rama Rao

L " Rama divides all the religions of the world into three classes. These will

cover all. In one form of the religion Rama calls their curtain as 'lam His'

(Tasyaivaham). In the other form of religion, the curtain may be called like

'lam Thine' (Tavaivahm). After that curtain of duality has become so thin, as if

it did not exist at all, 'I am God'. That is the case of (Tavamevahma) that is

'lam Thou', 'I am God, I am Siva'. When the curtain is altogether removed, even

the above phrase is not possible to utter. "

- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

 

between the years 1921 to 1936, H. H. Narasimha Swamiji met so many

saints; his analytical mind could not accept anyone of them as his

Master; yet he liked them all. His search for Truth went on from day to day and

ultimately in 1936, as he stood before the 'Samadhi' of Sai Baba at Shirdi, he

was blessed with 'Self- realisation'. Sai Baba gave his entire 'Anugraha' to Sri

Narasimha Swamiji. Swamiji's search had its rewards because the experien-ces he

gathered and the suffering he underwent perfected him in many ways. They played

a very significant part in shaping his outlook and approach when he founded the

All India Sai Samaj in 1941, placing him on a firm spiritual foundation. His

itinerant life during 1921-36 was making Sri Narasimha Swamiji a ready

receptacle for the grace of Sai Baba in 1936 to come. Sai Baba gave him the

final touches and accepted him as his great apostle.

 

Soon after he obtained 'Self-Realisation', Sri Narasimha Swamiji called on

Upasani Maharaj to pay his respects at Sakori. Sri Upasani himself was a great

saint and had known that Swamiji was basking in the grace of Sai. Still he

wanted to test Sri Narasimha Swamiji. At that time, another devotee of Sai

Maharaj, who later on became famous as H. H. Ram Baba was also at Sakori.

 

Open Feast

One day, Upasani Maharaj held an open feast. As the feast was about to

end, an old man suffering from leprosy came along. The leper had a

frightening appearance. He had only one eye; blood and pus were oozing

from his disfigured lips, nose and eyes; he had open ulcers all over his body.

As if this were not enough, an awful stench also emanated from his body.

Everyone was aghast at the sight. Imagine Swami Ram Baba's bewilderment when

Upasani Maharaj said: " Feed the old man with your own hands. He is not able to

eat by himself. " Swami Ram Baba pulled himself together as best as he could and

started feeding the repulsive leper. He, however, took great care to see that

his hand did not touch the bleeding lips of the leper. As a result, some of the

food kept dropping down.

 

After the leper had eaten and walked away, Upasani Maharaj asked Sri

Narasimha Swamiji: " Pick up the food from the plate and eat it " . For the

onlookers, to eat the food that had been contaminated by the bleeding lips of

the leper seemed impossible. But, a realized soul he was, Sri Narasimha Swamiji

took the plate and ate up all the remnants without the least hesitation. As

everyone looked on in amazement, Upasani Maharaj explained to the onlookers:

" Did you see how swiftly the old man walked away? Is it possible for one so

terribly afflicted by open sores and leprosy to walk like that? Do you know who

came to you in the garb of a repulsive leper? It was none other than Lord Sai

Baba Himself. "

 

Sri Narasimha Swamiji realized with great joy that Shirdi Sai Baba

Himself had come to instruct him not to attach importance to the

external superficialities of existence but to realise that He and He

alone pervades everything and every being.

 

Enjoyment leads to wandering, while renunciation leads to stability in

the self. Enjoyment gives birth to strong craving, desires and passions, which

bring only suffering and misery; while renunciation makes such impulses weak,

and devoid of support; they disappear of their own accord, even as fire gets

extinguished in the absence of fuel.

- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

(Source Sri Sai padananda Oct 1991)