Spiritual faith
>> Thursday, July 15, 2010
A few years back I came across a book, the title of which, if translated, says: “Conversations with a saint.” I put one chapter in a gist.
There was this saint, quite young, who lived in his Ashram in a small town. Though young, the saint was a good orator and used to give sermons daily in the evening. People in large numbers flocked to listen to him. Apart from being a good orator, he lead a very routine and disciplined life. He got up at the crack of dawn, did some early morning Shlokas, washed his clothes and took his bath near the well, little food and siesta and then meditation for long hours in the open and finally sermons in the evenings. His life, routine and open, seldom varied.
Among his listeners, there was a lady of ripe age and her little son. The lady often used to tell the saint, whom she called ‘Swamiji’, that she wanted to speak to Swamiji alone for a few minutes about her personal family problem. The saint kept refusing the lady saying there was no secret in his Ashram and that she should ask whatever she wanted in open and if not, she should have some patience, continue to attend sermons and one day she would find her answer. But the lady kept trying.
One day the little boy lost his patience and confronted the saint: “Swamiji, why don’t you oblige my mother? You are a Mahatma and still not confident of yourself? You must give some reason for your refusal.” The saint posed for awhile and told them that they would have their answer in the next day’s sermon.
The saint quietly told one of his trusted disciples to deliver a set of a woman’s clothing early next morning. The disciple did not question this odd request and did as he was told. The next day, Swamiji changed his routine, washed his clothes in the evening and lined them on the liner to dry along with the ladies’ clothes. Soon after, people came for his sermon as usual. Their attention was deviated by women’s clothes. For one, routine that they were used to, had changed. Second, what were women’s clothes doing in a place like Swamiji’s? They all kept quite for they had immense faith in Swamiji, but their minds wavered and the sermon was an utter failure.
Later, the saint explained: “There are rules and limitations (maryada) in Sadhu’s behavior (acharan). ‘Yadyapi shudhdham, lokam virudhdham, nacharaniyam nakaraniyam.’ However pure you are, your behavior should not go against common beliefs. A saint has responsibilities and his act, any act, should not be questionable and attention drawing
There was this saint, quite young, who lived in his Ashram in a small town. Though young, the saint was a good orator and used to give sermons daily in the evening. People in large numbers flocked to listen to him. Apart from being a good orator, he lead a very routine and disciplined life. He got up at the crack of dawn, did some early morning Shlokas, washed his clothes and took his bath near the well, little food and siesta and then meditation for long hours in the open and finally sermons in the evenings. His life, routine and open, seldom varied.
Among his listeners, there was a lady of ripe age and her little son. The lady often used to tell the saint, whom she called ‘Swamiji’, that she wanted to speak to Swamiji alone for a few minutes about her personal family problem. The saint kept refusing the lady saying there was no secret in his Ashram and that she should ask whatever she wanted in open and if not, she should have some patience, continue to attend sermons and one day she would find her answer. But the lady kept trying.
One day the little boy lost his patience and confronted the saint: “Swamiji, why don’t you oblige my mother? You are a Mahatma and still not confident of yourself? You must give some reason for your refusal.” The saint posed for awhile and told them that they would have their answer in the next day’s sermon.
The saint quietly told one of his trusted disciples to deliver a set of a woman’s clothing early next morning. The disciple did not question this odd request and did as he was told. The next day, Swamiji changed his routine, washed his clothes in the evening and lined them on the liner to dry along with the ladies’ clothes. Soon after, people came for his sermon as usual. Their attention was deviated by women’s clothes. For one, routine that they were used to, had changed. Second, what were women’s clothes doing in a place like Swamiji’s? They all kept quite for they had immense faith in Swamiji, but their minds wavered and the sermon was an utter failure.
Later, the saint explained: “There are rules and limitations (maryada) in Sadhu’s behavior (acharan). ‘Yadyapi shudhdham, lokam virudhdham, nacharaniyam nakaraniyam.’ However pure you are, your behavior should not go against common beliefs. A saint has responsibilities and his act, any act, should not be questionable and attention drawing
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