Chapter 19, Leela 3: Remuneration for Labour

Leela:

One day at noon, Baba came near Radha-Krishna-Mai's house and said - "Bring Me a ladder." Some men brought it and set it against a house as directed by Baba. He climbed up on the roof of Vaman Gondkar's house, passed the roof of Radha-Krishna-Mai's house and then got down from the other corner. What object Baba had, none could know. Radha-Krishna-Mai was, at that time, shivering with Malaria. It may be to drive off that fever, that He may have gone there. Immediately after getting down, Baba paid Rupees two to the persons who brought the ladder. Somebody asked Baba, why he paid so much for this. He replied that nobody should take the labour of others, in vain. The worker should be paid, his dues promptly and liberally

 

Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20^th Edition 2002), p103

 

Teachings from Leela:

1)    If you use someone’s services, pay them generously and promptly  

Baba set an example by his action in the above leela to show us how to act in ordinary worldly dealings with others. Make it a rule never to take anybody's labour for free and do not take undue advantage of them, regardless of their relationship to you or their status in society. Do not feel that you are entitled to receive work from them without compensation or appreciation.

Putting into Practice

Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.

1)    If you use someone’s services, pay them generously and promptly  

Be appreciative and respond generously and promptly when you receive any service from people around you. Remember this leela, to make sure you either compensate their efforts by money or do something nice for them in some other way. This will help you to become more humble, selfless and empathetic towards others and will help you move forward in your spiritual journey.

 

Mantra:

Om, Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ

Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ

Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu

Mā kashchit duḥkha bhāgbhavet

Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ

Meaning:

May all be prosperous and happy

May all be free from illness

May all see what is spiritually uplifting

May no one suffer

Om peace, peace, peace

 

This above mantra is from the Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/seekingshanti/2015/09/hinduprayerforeveryone_globalgoals/

 

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.