Sai Wit and Wisdom - Is This for Me?

 

"When among children, I am a child ..."  How delightfully true!  In 1978, a large group of children from a Centre in England visited Brindavan, taking with them seven sacks of presents for Swami (to be given to the needy).  And what a collection it was!  Apart from all the garments, the children had given the things they liked best - teddy bears, toy trains, cars, toys, even clothes pegs - and a packet of Weetabix breakfast cereal!  "And is this for me, too?"  Swami kept saying in wonder, as he took out, examined and played with each item to the children's delight.  Then He took them to see His little friends in the Brindavan garden, sitting a small rabbit on his crown of hair for their amusement and then on to fondle the calves, for at that time the Gokulam was situated behind the former residence.  (Meantime several important personages who had come to see Him were forced to curb their impatience!)

The first night the children were too excited to sleep, so Baba visited their quarters and asked them if they would go to sleep if He went to sleep?  There was a chorus of assent.  So the Avatar lay down on the floor, pretending to sleep till all were in blissful slumber when He was able to creep out on tiptoe.

The contrasts can be mind-bending.  Some years ago, when Baba visited the Himalayas with a party of chosen disciples, they all behaved like excited boys in the unfamiliar snow.  Baba threw snowballs at them and enjoyed the improvised "toboggans" on which they careered down the slopes.  Yet, on another day, He blessed a venerable sage in his cave retreat, by granting him a sight of His Cosmic Form, which left the old man in a state of unimaginable ecstasy.  (I am reminded of another occasion when a great sage had stayed for a long time at Prasanthi Nilayam.  Afterwards he wrote, "At the last moment of leave-taking, His transformation into Krishna in dazzling splendor, blinding my sight, is a face never to be forgotten in my life.")

(From the book "Wit and Wisdom of Sri Sathya Sai" compiled by P. Gurumoorthy)