"Good deeds done in a dedicatory spirit do not add to the length or strength of Yama's rope; they give santi and santosha, in plenty. Why, you had a very good illustration of this just today. The final offering of sacred objects in the sacrificial fire of the Rudrayaga was done here at 10 a.m. and there was a welcome downpour of unexpected rain at 10.05 a.m.!
Those who do not know the true values of yagna and yaga ridicule these rites and shout that they involve the loss of precious ghee and fuel, which could be put to better use. They do not realise that the food they themselves consume is a colossal waste, for they do no good to the world or for themselves. The cigarettes are a waste, indeed, a dangerous waste. The bush coasts, the films they see, the radio hours they listen to, are all waste. You see a sculptor working away at a rock with his chisel and you condemn his work of chipping pieces as waste of precious time, and valuable stone. You do not know that one day a form of divine beauty will emerge. You see the ryot scatter valuable seeds on the mushy field; you blame him for wasting eatable stuff. You do not realise that he will harvest it a hundredfold in a few months. Your criticism is born of ignorance.
The rain that fell this morning and surprised everyone did not surprise Me, for it is the inevitable consequence of the yaga. It is a special science, which pundits know; honour them for it."
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(From the book "Chinna Katha 1")
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