The students are filling the verandah. The devotees called for interview have already left, and Baba is walking under the shadow of the Mandir's balcony. He is signing pictures shown to Him by the students and blessings trays filled with candies. Baba is also receiving letters and folded slips, smiling at everyone everywhere. Sometimes He stops moving and holds both hands behind his back while looking at everybody. Everyone is quietly expecting the next movement of the Lord.
This afternoon something unusual happens. Swami talks briefly to His students; then one student moves forward and after kissing Baba's Feet looks for a place in front of his classmates and begins speech. Some Indian ladies next to us point out that the students had prepared some stories about certain episodes from the Mahabharata which they are presenting in such a way as to show how to put them into practice in their own lives.
One by one they give their speech and when finishing their presentation, Baba congratulates them. Now, a student about ten years of age, goes up the bench used as a small podium from which he can give his speech. He speaks for a few minutes, but suddenly stops his speech, thinks for a while and starts again, then, he keeps silent in grief. He has forgotten his text. He, then, goes to Baba, looks at Him with his face in distortion; the child begins crying.
At that instant, Swami smiles, so filled with such incredible love, goes to him and comforts the child by hugging him and by patting on his back. However, the boy does not get any comfort; he had been preparing his speech for days and now, he forgets everything in this way and in front of Baba!
As Swami understands the child's mood, He holds the boy's hand and looks at it in astonishment and asks him very loudly so that everyone can hear Him. "But what have you done to the ring I gave you?" In amazement, the child stops crying and replies: "No, Swami, You have never given any ring to me." Swami insisted: "Tell me what you have done to the ring!" In view of this, the boy gets fully concentrated on his new matter and answers with his face close to Swami's: "You have never given me a ring, Baba, never!" "You say I have never given you a ring?" says Swami, smiling while He starts the premonitory movement of some Divine gift in front of the amazed student.
On this occasion the process culminated in the manifestation of a ring that He immediately put on the student's right hand. After this, Swami asked the child to continue with his speech and so he did, faultlessly, fully recovered from the previous amnesia!
What happened was but a brief episode included i short period of one out of the many Ashram afternoons, another Leela of Baba's. However, this clearly shows the Avatar's sensitivity, the dimension of His Love. The urge of His love comes first in front of other urges. He did not scold the student or make him go back to his place among the other students. Moreover, He helped him overcome the problem. He played on him, He encouraged him and raised his self-esteem. Later Swami completed this with a regal gift, so he got another chance to speak.
I am sure that, for that child, that ring stands forever as a symbol of he truth immersed in Swami's words: "God is Love; Live in Love".
~ Graciela Busto ~
(Sanathana Sarathi - April 1996)
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