Leela:
Das Ganu was once performing his kirtan and singing the glory of Sai Baba in the Koupineshwar temple in Thane. Mr. Cholkar, a poor man serving in a probationary role in the Civil Courts in Thane, was in the audience. He heard Das Ganu's kirtan most attentively and was very moved. There and then, he mentally bowed to Baba, and made the following vow: "Baba, I am a poor man, unable to support my family. If, by your grace, I pass the departmental examination and get a permanent post, I shall go to Shirdi, fall at Your Feet and distribute sugar-candy in Your name".
As good luck would have it, Mr.Cholkar passed the examination and got the permanent post, and now it remained for him to fulfil his vow. Mr. Cholkar was a poor man with a large family to support and could not afford to pay for the expenses of a Shirdi trip. As is well said, one can easily cross over Nahne Ghat in Thane District or even the Sahyadri Range, but it is most difficult for a poor man to cross Umbare Ghat, the threshold of his own home. As Mr. Cholkar was anxious to fulfill his vow as early as possible, he resolved to economize, cut down on his expenses, and save money for the trip. He determined not to use sugar in his diet and began to take his tea without it. After saving money for the trip, he came to Shirdi, took Baba's darshan (had a personal audience with Him), fell at His Feet, offered a coconut and distributed it with a clean conscience along with sugar-candy as per his vow. He said to Baba that he was much pleased with His darshan and that his desires were fulfilled that day.
Mr. Cholkar was in the Masjid with his host Bapusaheb Jog. When the host and the guest got up to leave the Masjid, Baba spoke to Jog as follows, "Give him (your guest) cups of tea, fully saturated with sugar". Hearing these significant words, Mr. Cholkar was much moved, and with his eyes filled with tears, he fell at Baba's Feet again. Baba wanted, by His words, to create faith and devotion in Cholkar's mind. He let it be known that He knew full well Cholkar’s secret determination to abstain from sugar, and accepted that Cholkar had completed his vow.
Based on: 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), p83
Teachings from Leela:
1) If circumstances do not allow you to fulfill a spiritual commitment, compensate by practicing some austerity until it is fulfilled
When you vow to do something spiritually significant and it turns out to be difficult to fulfill due to circumstances beyond your control, you can compensate for this by practicing some austerity until conditions become more favourable.
Mr. Cholkar made a vow to visit Baba in Shirdi, if he passed the exams. He did pass the exams, but could not afford to fulfill his vow due to family responsibilities.
Most people in this situation would feel regret at not being able to fulfill the commitment, and would file the commitment away in their memory, only to be reminded of it years later, if at all. Instead, Mr. Cholkar took up an austerity, the giving up of sugar, as a constant reminder of his pending commitment. It was a symbolic way of saying that, until his vow was fulfilled, all sweetness in life was forbidden to him. He would enjoy sweets only after completing his vow. It was also a clever way of dealing with an important commitment, as he was reminded of it several times a day, every day.
2) Any sincere or earnest effort you put towards your practice is known to and acknowledged by your Sadguru
Through His brief parting instruction to Bapusaheb Jog, Baba clearly communicated to Mr. Cholkar that he knew of his mentally taken vow and his practice of the austerity of abstaining from sugar. He also clearly indicated acceptance of Mr. Cholkar’s fulfillment of his vow.
Putting into Practice
Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.
1) If circumstances do not allow you to fulfill a spiritual commitment, compensate by practicing some austerity until it is fulfilled
In your spiritual life, if you find yourself unable to fulfill important spiritual commitments that you yourself make, this leela offers a very helpful technique. By practicing some austerity, such as giving up your favorite food, you will have a constant reminder to motivate you to fulfill your commitment.
2) Any sincere or earnest effort you put towards your practice is known to and acknowledged by your Sadguru
All of your sincere effort towards your spiritual journey is known and acknowledged by your Sadguru. Your Sadguru is fully attentive and fully committed to your spiritual progress. Use this knowledge to keep you motivated to move forward in your journey.
"Everything in future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now"
Sri Sri Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri in "Autobiography of a Yogi" (note 1)
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.
Notes:
1. Source Spiritual Diary Published by Yogoda Satsanga Society of India
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