At the feet of Baba: Chapter 38, Leela 4: Cup of Butter-Milk

Leela:

Once Hemadpant had eaten his full in this company [ed: of Baba and other devotees], when Baba offered him a cup of butter-milk. Its white appearance pleased him, but he was afraid that there was no space inside for it. He, however, took a sip which proved very tasty. Seeing his faltering attitude, Baba said - "Drink it all, you won't get any such opportunity hereafter." He drank it off then, but found that Baba's words were prophetic, for He passed away soon.

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), p205

Teachings from Leela:

1) When an opportunity for spiritual progress presents itself, accept it even though it appears that your life is too busy

The act of Baba offering Hemadpant buttermilk is a metaphor for a Guru offering his discipline spiritual teachings. Hemadpant’s feeling that his stomach is too full to accept the drink is a metaphor for a disciple feeling his life is already too busy to add any spiritual practice. Despite his reluctance, Hemadpant accepts the drink and is able to drink all of it and enjoy it. Similarly, you too can accept new spiritual teachings and practices into your already busy life.

2) A spiritual seeker must be content in his worldly wants, but not content in his spiritual wants

As taught in Baba’s other teachings, it is important to detach yourself from your worldly attachments and desires. This is not true for your desire to develop spiritually; in this, you must be ever thirsty for spiritual growth.

Putting into Practice

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

1) When an opportunity for spiritual progress presents itself, accept it even though it appears that your life is too busy

If you are at that stage of life where you are very busy and have countless responsibilities, and an opportunity for spiritual progress is presented to you, you must seriously consider it. Either of two things might happen: (1) you open yourself to the opportunity and find that the spiritual knowledge and practice it offers can be creatively fit into your already busy schedule, or (2) you open yourself, and the new demands the opportunity makes on your life cannot fit in your schedule.

If the first happens, that’s great. If the second happens, all you must do is decide to postpone the practice to a different stage in your life when you can fit it in.

2) A spiritual seeker must be content in his worldly wants, but not content in his spiritual wants

It is important to feel materially content as it will give you happiness and peace of mind when you accept your current situation in life and practice detachment. A simple exercise to promote this in your mind is to contemplate upon the lives of those less fortunate than you, and to express gratitude for the blessings you do have in your life. The feeling of material contentment will provide the required strength to pursue your spiritual goals.

The reason why you should not be spiritually content is for your own liberation. As described in Yoga Vasistha Sara Sangrahah, Translated by Swami Tejomayananda (Mumbai: Central Chinmaya Mission Trust, 2010), p35,38.

A worldly person is generally spiritually content (with a little prayer, etc.) but not materially so.

Most of us do not feel that we are bound since we think that we have the freedom to speak and act as we like. Nevertheless, bondage expresses as sorrow. The symptoms of bondage are tension, fear, anxiety, stress, helplessness etc. We experience these therefore we are all bound. Until and unless we understand the nature of bondage, we cannot appreciate what is liberation.

Liberation is freedom from sorrow, stress, fear and tension. When children enter school, they have a look about them like that of bonded slaves but when the last bell rings there is a shriek of pure joy as they all run towards freedom! Hence liberation is the state of pure bliss unblemished by the slightest trace of sorrow.

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