No Retirement from Service

 "Flowers bloom and give perfume before dropping,

whereas man, when his end is approaching, has only a long face. 

He should be like the flower and do something good and bright when dying."

(Conversations with Sai Baba by John Hislop, Indian edition, p.70)

Baba says that man should regard selfless service as the purpose for which he is given life.  We were born to serve the community.  Baba says there is no retirement from service, and that we are to do service until our last breath.

I often wondered what he meant by this last statement, as when we are about to take our last breath, we are not likely to be thinking of doing service.  The following story helped me to understand what Baba meant.

A Sai Baba devotee, who had been to Mt.Oliver Hospital in Brisbane for eight months with an incurable disease, decided he should do something for all those looking after him.  Several members of the Brisbane Centre had been visiting him regularly, so he asked them to help.  Gladly they planned an afternoon tea party, which included a "thank you" cake made by clients of S.W.A.R.A. (Sunshine Welfare and Remedial Association).

All the doctors and nurses who looked after our friend, Peter received a carnation with a thank you note, and seemed very touched by this gesture.  The whole staff became involved in the party - they brought food and decorated Peter's bed with balloons and streamers.

Doctors, nurses, other staff and the patients in the ward all joined in, and top level administrative officers of the hospital came to take part in this unique party.

The party went on for over an hour and everyone had a wonderful time.  A doctor, who was a fellow patient suffering from a terminal illness, said he had never seen anything like it - and he wanted to have one too.  We told him this one was only a rehearsal - the next one would be better.

The doctor patient was very anxious to know what group was doing this service.  We told him about the Brisbane Central Service Group, and explained that this group was able to fill in some of the gaps which other larger organizations were not able to cover, and that it was made up of a cross-section of the community.

Peter really carried out Baba's instruction to do service until we die.  In the one simple step he took - to do something for the hardworking hospital staff who looked after him and the other patients so devotedly - he began a chain reaction.

He involved S.W.A.R.A. clients (who made the cake), members of our centre and the hospital themselves, who were delighted to contribute to the party preparation.  And of course the other patients in the ward really enjoyed the warmth and gaiety of the party which was the highlight of conversation at the hospital for weeks afterwards.

The following Christmas I was privileged to have an interview with Baba.  He asked me, "How is the man in hospital?" - referring to Peter.

I said excitedly, "Swami, I was just going to ask you that question!"

Baba replied, "Yes, yes, I know.  I know everything.  I will give you vibhuti for him."  Swami also commented that Peter was always taking vibhuti and saying "Om Sai Ram".

Peter, the man who did service until his death, died shortly after I returned and told him what Baba said in the interview.

~Valmai Worthington ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - Feb. 1990)