Chapter 32, Leela 2: Fasting and Mrs. Gokhale

Leela:

Baba never fasted Himself, nor did He allow others to do so. The mind of the faster is never at ease, then how could he attain his Paramartha (goal of life)? God is not attained on an empty stomach; first the soul has to be appeased. If there is no moisture of food in the stomach and nutrition, with what eyes should we see God, with what tongue should we describe His greatness and with what ears should we hear the same? In short, when all our organs get their proper nutrition and are sound, we can practise devotion and other sadhanas to attain God. Therefore, neither fasting nor overeating is good. Moderation in diet is really wholesome both to the body and mind.

 

One Mrs. Gokhale came to Shirdi with an introductory letter from Mrs. Kashibai Kanitkar (a devotee of Baba) to Dada Kelkar. She came to Baba with a determination to sit at Baba's Feet observing a three days fast. The day previous, Baba said to Dada Kelkar, that He would not allow his children to starve during the Shimga, i.e., Holi holidays, and that if they had to starve, why was He there? Next day when the woman went with Dada Kelkar and sat at Baba's Feet, Baba at once said to her, ""Where is the necessity of fasting? Go to Dadabhat's house, prepare the dish of Puran Polis (wheat rotis with gram-flour and jaggery), feed his children and yourself too."" Shimga holidays were on. Mrs. Kelkar was then in her menses and there was nobody to cook in Dadabhat's house. So Baba's advice was very timely. Then Mrs. Gokhale had to go to Dadabhat's house and prepare the dish as directed. She cooked that day, fed others and herself. What a good story and how beautiful its import! "

 

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), p173

 

Teachings from Leela:

1)    When fasting, your mind is too distracted to focus on your spiritual practice

If your body is at ease, your mind will also be at ease. When you feel at ease, your mind can focus on your spiritual practice.  Baba wanted us to take care of the body (but not pamper it).

When you are fasting, your body is craving food, and your mind is somewhat distracted. You will find that taking on an activity that requires deep focus will be difficult to accomplish. To Baba, it was more important to focus on your spiritual practice than to follow this form of tapas (practice of austerity).

2)    Wearing out one's body for the cause of others is of far greater merit than observing fasts

Use your body’s labour to benefit others rather than putting it through turmoil by fasting.

In Hemadpant’s original book, the verses describing this leela have the following additional message from Baba:

“Not only did he get the 'polis' prepared by her, but made her eat them to her heart's content and impressed upon her mind how the fulfilment in wearing out one's body in the cause of others, is truly great.” 
The Life and Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba, Indira Kher, Page 267, verse 9.

Putting into Practice

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

1)    When fasting, your mind is too distracted to focus on your spiritual practice

Many things you do (or neglect to do) in life affect your ability to focus. In order to focus so that you can achieve your goals, you must not be distracted. When observing your spiritual practice, you may encounter many obstacles, such as: tiredness, lethargy, anxiety, worries and physical aches or pains.

If you extend this teaching about fasting to other activities, you will find ways to put both your body and mind more at ease, which will help you in your spiritual practice.

Tiredness and lethargy are indications that you are either not eating a healthy diet, not getting enough sleep, or not exercising regularly. To address this, you can begin by ensuring you get sufficient sleep, by doing regular, moderate exercise and by eating nutritiously.  This will improve your overall health and increase your energy.

Similarly, you may suffer from anxieties and worries, which occupy your mind with troubled thoughts and prevent you from focusing. To address the root cause of worries and anxieties, here is a story that was told by my Vedanta Guru, Rita Nayar:

There are two beggars, both in torn clothes, with begging bowls, begging for food. They both are in identical situations, but the first beggar is completely attached to his life, and feels miserable and sorry for himself. The second beggar is detached, as he knows he is not a beggar, but playing the role of a beggar temporarily. He is at peace and even enjoying his role.

If you approach your life with a feeling of detachment, then your mind will not be affected by the problems around you, by anxiety, or the worries you are facing in your life.  You will understand that you are not the body, which is temporary, but the atman, which is eternal and indestructible.  You will understand that you are just playing a role in Maya.

2)    Wearing out one's body for the cause of others is of far greater merit than observing fasts

If you wish to perform some actions that will help you develop spiritually, rather than doing tapas (practicing austerities), it is of much greater value to do karma yoga (performing actions with absolutely no expectation of anything in return). Offer your services to the needy and consider these services as an offering to God.

 

 

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.