"Don't Waste"

 

That afternoon, He (Baba) started reading letters in front of us.  He opened an envelope and took out the letter.  A boy had written two lines on a long white sheet of paper.  There were only two lines on the top.  The rest of it was blank.  What did Baba say?

He tore it there and gave that remaining white paper to a boy saying, "You use it.  I don't want you to waste anything, not even white paper."  Further Baba said, "Don't waste food.  Food is God.  Don't waste time.  Time waste is life waste.  Time is God.  Don't waste energy.  Don't waste water.  Don't waste money.  Waste of money is evil."  He taught these wonderful lessons to the boys who were assembled that afternoon.

I recall one of Baba's visits to the boys' hostel.  He got out of the car and immediately He said, "Hey, come here!  On the third floor, a fellow has not turned off the water tap there in the bathroom.  Go and close the tap!  After using it, you should turn the water off.  You should not let the tap run and waste water."  That was what Bhagavan said.

You must have also noticed that when He calls you for an interview, Bhagavan goes into the room first.  As you all go in and sit down, He switches on the fan Himself and the moment you leave, He will turn it off.  Why?  "Don't waste energy.  Don't waste electricity."

Bhagavan sets the finest example for all of us to learn from His own life.  That is why Bhagavan has every authority to say "My life is My message.  My life is My message."  As He does not waste anything, we should follow His example and not waste anything either.

(From Prof. K. Anil Kumar's Satsang: Baba's Conversations with Students - Dec. 2002)