Impact of Great Works

[Guest guest]

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.

 

But there is a way, even of reading these books- be it Shri Sai

Satcharitra or any other. One may read it in seven days or three days or

even in one day, - it is not the number of days and readings that

matter, but the manner of the readings. If the reading is cursory, or

casual or even mechanical and ritualistic, much of its value is

diminished. How then one should read these books so as to get profit

from them. Baba has Himself given the answer -once again through His

words addressed to the devotees on different occasions. We read, for

instance, that Baba appeared in a dream to Shri Dev and told him that

Dnyaneshwari must be read slowly, carefully and thoughtfully, so as to

be able to understand it properly. We also read about Baba's comment on

Shri Chandorkar's exposition of the 33rd verse in the fourth chapter of

Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta, where, by suggesting a slightly different and a

more appropriate exposition of the same verse, Baba surely brought out

the importance of a critical and more analytical approach to the reading

of such books.

 

Again, Shri Dabholkar felt that in the repeated readings of

Guru-Charitra, Shri Sathe was more favored while he himself fell short

of Baba's grace. Baba immediately but indirectly, brought home to him

the fact that one should not compare oneself with others in such matters

and that it is patience and faith that is important. Incidentally, He

also brought to Dabholkar's notice, the undesirability of leaving the

daily reading of these books incomplete. What one needs is a discipline

of the mind.

 

To be able to concentrate fully while reading is also a sign of a

disciplined mind. Such reading impresses the essence of the book on

one's mind. Whatever is read must be meditated upon, turned over and

over in the mind; it should be then strengthened further by repeated

readings and contemplation. So much so, that the real significance of

the book emerges and is absorbed into one's line of thought, becomes a

part of one's being. It is then that it is naturally, spontaneously

translated into one's actions. One may not even be conscious of it. This

is what Baba told the Assistant Collector who was given Vicharsagar by a

saint at Vadgaon and asked to visit Baba at Shirdi. Baba told him that

'now that you have read this book carefully, its wisdom must be

practiced in day-to-day life, otherwise it has no meaning.'

 

Above all, when we read books like Shri Sai Sat-Charita, we must

approach them with faith and reverence. In a sense all great books are

like polished crystal; whatever object is placed before it, it reflects

it faithfully. From these books too, you get back exactly in proportion

to what you bring to it. If you bring faith to it, it will confirm you

in it; if you seek wise counsel from it, it will lay open its rich store

of wisdom for you. Ultimately one must know what to seek and it will

surely be found.

(Source Shri Sai Padananda Jan 2001)