Baba's Storytime - Worldly Pleasures

One person came to Me about 20 years ago and prayed that he should meet with success in his examination and a high first class.  I told him that there will have to be effort and the result will be according to God's will.  I gave him My blessings and sent him away.  He did secure a high first class and came to Me again after passing his examination and asked for My blessings so that he may get a job.  He did get a job within a month.

He came to me after a few months.  He said he got a job, that he was happy and he also said he wanted to marry a typist girl in his own office.  I told him that if it is agreeable to his father and mother, he may do so but they may not like it.  He was not inclined to listen to me.  He said even if it is transgressing the wishes of his parents, he was determined to marry the girl.  He in fact suggested that he would give up his life, if this marriage was not possible.  I told him that he must convince his parents before he entered into such an alliance.  He brought a lot of pressure on his parents and they, finding no other alternative, agreed to the marriage.

The marriage was over and after a year, both of them came to Me again and said they wanted a son.  After the birth of a son, his expenses multiplied, his wife gave up the job and he came to Me desiring a promotion.  By his good luck, he got a promotion.  Although he was somewhat foolish in regard to worldly matters, he had great faith in regard to matters relating to Swami.  I gave him my blessings and he got a promotion.

He did not turn up thereafter for over five years.  He was quite happy and in the next five years, they had four children.  He came again to Me after five years and said that he was fed up with the family, he cannot bear the burden of the family and was looking for relief from all the mess.  He said that he wanted a small job in the ashram itself and said that his family has not got hold over him like a big serpent.

I asked him if the serpent caught him on its own or whether he let the serpent come to him and catch him.

(Quoted from the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)