Leela:
One evening, there was a terrible storm in Shirdi. The sky was overcast with thick black clouds. The winds blew forcibly, the clouds roared, lighting flashed, and rain descended in torrents. In a short time, the area was flooded with water. All creatures, birds, beasts and men, were terribly frightened and flocked to the Masjid for shelter.
There are many local deities in Shirdi, but none came to their aid. So, they all prayed to Baba, their God Who was fond of their devotion, to intercede and quell the storm. Baba was much moved. He came out and, standing at the edge of the Masjid, addressed the storm in a loud and thunderous voice. "Stop, stop your fury and be calm".
In a few minutes the rains subsided, the winds ceased to blow, and the storm came to a stop. Then the moon rose in the sky, and the creatures all returned home well-pleased.
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), p66
Based on Shri Sai Satcharita, The Life and Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba, G. R. Dhalbokar, Translated by Indira Kher (Slovenia: Bird Publisher, 2009), p90
Teachings from Leela:
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BACKGROUND
Brief Introduction of Advaita Vedanta “Vedanta” is a combination of two words: “Veda” which means “knowledge” and “anta” which means “the end of” or “the goal of.” They say it is the “end of all knowledge” as it is the knowledge that leads to enlightenment. In this context the goal of knowledge here means the knowledge of our own divine nature. Vedanta then is the search for Self-knowledge.
Advaita means "not two" or non-dual, which is to say that all instances of consciousness are simply one universal consciousness. Advaita Vedanta is a school of Vedanta philosophy that considers the individual consciousness of the jivatma, the individual living being, to be the same as the universal consciousness of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality.
According to this philosophy, spiritual liberation can be acquired through the knowledge that one's true identity is that of Brahman, the One God. It holds that Brahman is the singular reality and everything else is either a projection or delusion. Upon their liberation, individual jivatmas, who are otherwise trapped in the cycle of birth and death, merge into Brahman and thus become free from the cycle and the bondage of suffering.
Saints are jivanmuktas, who have achieved this ultimate realization within their lifetimes. Since all Gods and Saints identify themselves with Brahman, they are one and the same in their identity, spirit, knowledge, aims and objectives. Both are of the same Essence and of the same disposition. There is no difference between them.
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1) Your Sadguru has amazing capabilities to help you in times of trouble, even a natural disaster, so seek His help and He will do everything possible to help
Your Sadguru can help you in most situations, even a natural disaster. Note that you are ultimately responsible for the consequences of your karmas, which may manifest in your life in any number of ways, including natural disasters. You reap as you sow. Thus, all our sufferings are our own creations, even if they come from acts of God.
The laws of karma govern the cosmos and even God does not have the discretion to break them, though he might be able to bend them a little (such as when a Sadguru takes some of the karma suffering from a devotee). We are governed by the law of karma, but it is due to Brahman (the One God) whose motherly love for His devotees causes Him to come to us in the form we are closest to, such as our Sadguru.
In Shirdi, such a living form was of Sai Baba, who came to the rescue of His devotees, so they could get some relief from the effects of their karma and free them from sufferings, so that they could focus on their spiritual lives.
You may plead to your Sadguru for help but leave the decision of how and how much of the help is given entirely to Him, as He will help you in the broadest sense possible, looking at your best interests for the long term, over all your future lifetimes. When you appeal to your Sadguru to intervene in a problem in your life, his response may not be what you expect, but will be what is best for you.
Whatever happens, happens for good, this short story best describes this point.
Once upon a time there was a King who had a very close trusted advisor. This advisor was a wise man with whom he would always converse with, about problems that occurred and issues that required attention. But the King noticed that whenever there was an accident, the wise man would always say one thing: “Everything happens for a reason, and that’s great!” While the King liked the wise man, he wasn’t exactly sure about what this meant and how an accident can be great.
One day, the King decided to go out hunting and he took the wise man with him. During the hunt a terrible accident occurred to the King; one of his fingers got chopped off. The King helplessly asked the wise man why such an unfortunate incident had happened to him, especially after ruling his country with such love and being so respected by all his people. At that very moment, the wise man just said, “Everything happens for a reason, and that’s great!”
This time the King reacted angrily and said, “You’ve been eating my food and living from my wealth, and now you only have these stupid words to say… You think that it’s great to have my finger cutoff?!” The King considered him to be crazy and insensitive, so he then ordered his soldiers to throw the wise man into prison as punishment.
After some time, the King decided to go out again on a hunting expedition with his troops. He fled deep into the forest far away where he was suddenly confronted by a cannibal tribe that were living there. The tribe captured the King and everyone that he brought along. The cannibal tribe were actually preparing for the festival of sacrifice! They were searching for the perfect sacrifice for the worshiping ceremony, and with just their luck, they got their hands on the King! He was destined to be sacrificed.
As the shaman prepared for the ritual, he examined the King. As he examined him, he realised that one of the King’s fingers was missing. He told the tribe master about this and said it would be refused because according to their religion, sacrifices can only be made to complete physical bodies. He warned that if they were to proceed with an incomplete sacrifice, according to beliefs, this would bring God’s curse upon them. Taking this into consideration, they decided that the King was not “worthy” and the tribe master decided to release him.
With great relief and shock, the King now figured out that if it wasn’t for the finger he had lost, he would have lost his life. He remembered the words the wise man had told him: “Everything happens for a reason, and that’s great.”
Realising that the wise old man was right, the King went to see him on his return to the capital. He brought him out of prison personally and told him everything that had happened, including how his missing finger saved his life. “It really was great after all” the King said. Yet still confused, the King proceeded to ask, “In my case, it was indeed good that I lost my finger, but, what I wanted to ask you was, what was so great about you being put in prison and having to eat only dry scraps of bread?” The wise man, at no loss of words, replied:
“Your Majesty, if I had not been locked up in prison, and left behind, I would have gone hunting with you and I would have been captured with everyone else. They would have surely set you free because you are an incomplete sacrifice, but for me, just like everyone else, I would have been sacrificed by the tribe. So, it’s great that I was thrown in prison before this happened. Like I always say, “Everything happens for a reason, and that’s great!”
2) It might seem that there are differences between Gods and Saints, but they are in fact different forms of the One God, Brahman
As described in Indira Kher’s version, in this same chapter, Page 86, verse 30 and 31:
30. Though Godhead Himself, even Shri Krishna says that "the saints are my heart and soul; saints are my living image; the loving, compassionate saints are none other than myself.
31. "And yet, even to call them my 'image' would not be correct. For they are a constant, unchanging image of mine.
Why is Sadguru equal to God?
According to Advaita Vedanta, Sadguru has the unique qualification of having already walked the spiritual path all the way to its end and reached moksha. He has realized His true nature, which is Brahman, the One God, also known as Sat-chit-anand. Thus, we say that Sadguru is equal to God. Your Sadguru is a form of God who has manifested on this earth to help you (the jiva or jivatma) on the path of realization of your true nature.
As we have seen above, all instances of consciousness are simply the One Universal Consciousness. There is no difference between your Sadguru and the different forms of Gods or any other local deities. It does not matter in what form of Brahman help comes to you. It usually comes from the form of Brahman you feel the closest to.
Putting into Practice
Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.
1) Your Sadguru has amazing capabilities to help you in times of trouble, even a natural disaster, so seek His help and He will do everything possible to help
If you find yourself suffering in any situation, even a natural disaster, remind yourself that Baba will take on some of your suffering if it becomes intolerable. Remember him often.
When you find yourself in a situation where it appears you have got away with less harm than potentially could have happened, consider the possibility that Baba took on some your suffering. In taking some of your suffering Baba has made some room for you. Instead of being fully occupied with the allotted suffering, you have been given the gift of time, which you should make the best use of, by applying it towards your spiritual growth.
Would you want God or your Sadguru to suffer for your karmas?
It becomes your duty to perform good karmas and avoid bad karmas, the consequences of which Baba will have to suffer unnecessarily, as He is bound by His love for you to protect you. Think before you perform any bad karmas, if you don’t want your Sadguru to suffer the consequences.
1) It might seem that there are differences between Gods and Saints, but they are in fact different forms of the One God, Brahman
Every being, including you the jivatma, are the same Universal Consciousness of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality, and the appearance that we are all different is an illusion (Maya).
Treat all forms of Gods and Saints with the same love and respect as you would treat your own Sadguru as there is no difference between the different forms of God and your Sadguru.
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Listen
to the stories with reverence; Reflect upon them deeply. Shirdi Sai Baba Shri Sai Satcharita, The Life and Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba, Chapter 3, verse 18 |
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.
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