Leela:
One Dr. Pillay was an intimate Bhakta of Baba. He was much liked by Baba, Who always called him Bhau (brother). Baba talked with him off and on and consulted him in all matters and wanted him always at His side. This Pillay suffered once very badly from guinea-worms. He said to Kakasaheb Dixit, "The pain is most excruciating and unbearable. I prefer death to it. This pain, I know, is for repaying past Karma, but go to Baba and tell Him to stop the pain and transfer the working of my past Karma to ten future births of mine." Mr. Dixit went to Baba and told Him his request. Then Baba, being moved by his request, said to Dixit,"Tell him to be fearless. Why should he suffer for ten births? In ten days he can work out the sufferings and consequences of his past Karma. While I am here to give him temporal and spiritual welfare, why should he pray for death? Bring him here on somebody's back and let us work and finish his sufferings once for all".
The doctor was brought in that condition and was seated on Baba's right side,where Fakir Baba always sat. Baba gave him His bolster and said,"Lie calmly here and be at ease. The true remedy is, that the result of past actions has to be suffered and got over. Our Karma is the cause of our happiness and sorrow; therefore put up with whatever comes to you. Allah (God) is the sole Dispenser and Protector, always think of Him. He will take care of you. Surrender to His feet with body, mind, wealth and speech, i.e. completely and then see what He does." Dr. Pillay said in return that Nanasaheb had put a bandage over the leg, but he found no relief. "Nana is a fool" replied Baba. "Take off that bandage or else you will die. Now a crow will come and peck you, and then you will recover."
While this conversation was going on, one Abdul, who always cleaned the Masjid and trimmed the lamps, turned up. While he was attending to his work of training, his foot accidentally fell upon the stretched leg of Dr. Pillay. The leg was already swollen and when Abdul's foot fell upon it and pressed it, all the seven guinea-worms were squeezed out at once. The pain was unbearable and Dr. Pillay bawled out loudly. After some time, he calmed down and began to sing and cry alternately. Then Pillay enquired when the crow was coming and peeking. Baba said, "Did you not see the crow? He won't come again. Abdul was the crow. Now go and rest yourself in the Wada and you will be soon allright."
By application of the Udi and by taking it in the stomach with water, and without taking any other treatment or medicine, the disease was completely cured in ten days as predicted by Baba.
The doctor was brought in that condition and was seated on Baba's right side,where Fakir Baba always sat. Baba gave him His bolster and said,"Lie calmly here and be at ease. The true remedy is, that the result of past actions has to be suffered and got over. Our Karma is the cause of our happiness and sorrow; therefore put up with whatever comes to you. Allah (God) is the sole Dispenser and Protector, always think of Him. He will take care of you. Surrender to His feet with body, mind, wealth and speech, i.e. completely and then see what He does." Dr. Pillay said in return that Nanasaheb had put a bandage over the leg, but he found no relief. "Nana is a fool" replied Baba. "Take off that bandage or else you will die. Now a crow will come and peck you, and then you will recover."
While this conversation was going on, one Abdul, who always cleaned the Masjid and trimmed the lamps, turned up. While he was attending to his work of training, his foot accidentally fell upon the stretched leg of Dr. Pillay. The leg was already swollen and when Abdul's foot fell upon it and pressed it, all the seven guinea-worms were squeezed out at once. The pain was unbearable and Dr. Pillay bawled out loudly. After some time, he calmed down and began to sing and cry alternately. Then Pillay enquired when the crow was coming and peeking. Baba said, "Did you not see the crow? He won't come again. Abdul was the crow. Now go and rest yourself in the Wada and you will be soon allright."
By application of the Udi and by taking it in the stomach with water, and without taking any other treatment or medicine, the disease was completely cured in ten days as predicted by Baba.
Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri
Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai:
Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20th Edition 2002), p183
Teachings from Leela
- Baba can reduce the effects of your Karma and help you
manage your suffering
Unless we completely burn out all the influences of karma, be it good or bad, we won’t be able to merge with God.
Even though Dr. Pillay knew he had to suffer due to his past karmas, he asked Baba for help, who gave him the strength to endure his unbearable suffering and pain by bringing him under his protection. Baba helped him burn his past karma in this birth even though Dr. Pillay wanted to take his karma forward in the next ten births. Baba gave him hope by ensuring him that his suffering is only going to last for 10 days and helped him tolerate and overcome the pain - Divert your mind towards Baba to give you hope and strength
Baba said to Dr. Pillay, “Now a crow will come and peck you, and then you will recover.". This diverted his mind from thinking about his pain. He spent his time anticipating the arrival of the crow to come and peck him. Just then Abdul’s foot accidentally fell upon his leg and all the seven guinea-worms were squeezed out at once. Of course, he screamed loudly as the pain was unbearable for a few moments, but when the pain receded he enquired as to when the crow was coming. Baba, with his characteristic sense of humour, said "Did you not see the crow? He won't come again. Abdul was the crow. Now go and rest yourself in the Wada and you will be soon allright.".
Putting into Practice
Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.
1. Baba can reduce the effects of your Karma and help you manage your suffering
When one is going through difficulties or challenges in life, it helps to recall this leela and think about Baba’s guidance on how to cope. In everyone’s life there are ups and downs and in those down times, we all suffer the effects of our past karmas, but Baba can help reduce the effects of our past karmas. Meditate and pray to him on a regular basis and have faith in him. He will surely take care of us.
2. Divert your mind towards Baba to give you hope and strength
At certain times in life, when the challenges in front of you are too much to cope with, it is best to divert your mind by focusing it towards Baba and surrendering whole-heartedly to him. This will divert your mind and at the same time give you the hope and strength that is inherent in him.
At certain times in life, when the challenges in front of you are too much to cope with, it is best to divert your mind by focusing it towards Baba and surrendering whole-heartedly to him. This will divert your mind and at the same time give you the hope and strength that is inherent in him.
I would encourage all of you to please share your interpretations, learnings and experiences on how you have put this leela into practice.
Om Sai Ram.
2 comments:
Nicely explained.
When we have faith in Baba, that He is there taking care, He actually does and reduces the sufferings. The problem may not end sometimes so quickly but we get stronger by our faith. I have myself seen a change in my temprament. I have a recurring problem of my son's illness which happens every few months and continues for 2-3 months. It is quite serious but I have noticed that now as I surrender to Baba and know for sure that He is taking care, I tend to remain normal and not get extremely tense as I used to get earlier. The problem is the same but there is increase in my faith that Baba is taking care and is always with him, I remain assured that he will recover with time. I also read it somewhere that Baba lets His loved ones go through suffering and anguish to burn their karmas to bring them closer to Him.
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