Baba's Storytime - The Senses

 

In the book "Summer Showers in Brindavan - 1990, Bhagavan dwelt on the demands of the senses and related the story of Tukaram to illustrate how the senses can be brought under control.

 "There is a method by which the demands of the senses can be reconciled and harmonised.  This is by treating both good and bad with equal mindedness.  

Tukaram is an illustrious example in this regard.  He was great devotee and very gentle by nature.  His wife was a shrew.  Nevertheless, by his calmness and forbearance,  Tukaram managed to get on well with her.  Only when one is in the habit of retaliating word for word, tit for tat, tooth for tooth and nail for nail, one has to face discord and trouble.

But Tukaram was the very embodiment of forbearance.  He used to cultivate his small farm of half an acre to maintain his family.  At the insistence of his neighbours, he once raised sugarcane crop in that small plot of land.  When the crop was mature taking undue advantage of Tukaram's good nature, many passers-by used to pluck a couple of sugarcanes and chew them.  Finally, Tukaram harvested whatever crop was left behind, bundled the canes and was taking them home in his cart.  On the way, the children of the village gathered round him and pleaded for a piece of sugarcane each.

In his usual generosity, Tukaram allowed the children to help themselves to the canes in the cart.  At last when he reached home, there was only one cane left in the cart.  Seeing this, his wife flew into a rage and strongly scolded Tukaram; condemning him as unfit for family life; she took out the only cane on the cart in a fit of anger and struck Tukaram with it.  The cane broke into three pieces, out of which two fell on the ground and the other was in her hand.

Tukaram calmly remarked, "I was wondering all along the way as to how to distribute the single remaining cane to the three members of the family. I am glad you have nicely solved the problem for me.  You can eat one piece which is in your hand, and give the other two which have fallen on the floor to the two children."

Such forbearance and equanimity can rarely be found except in a few high-souled persons.  These qualities can be acquired only through devotion and faith.  You need not feel disheartened with the fear that you will not be able to control the senses.  By developing one-pointed devotion and complete surrender to God, the senses can definitely be brought under control."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~