Conversations with Sai - The Weeping Saris

 H: Swami, something has happened here, water is around this box.  These saris will get wet.

(Swami removed the cover of the box and those of us who were standing there could see that the edges of the saris were wet.  The cardboard box with four saris in it was lying on a table at Dharmakshetra in Bombay.  Swami had selected 96 saris for distribution to some lady volunteers and of the 100 brought for His inspection, four were replaced in the box to be returned later to the merchant.  The table was not close to any source of water and Hislop, among other men, and Swami had been standing there from the time the saris were examined one by one by Swami.)

Sai: The saris are weeping because Swami has rejected them.  Now, I will take them.

H: Swami!  How could that be?  Does Swami say that inanimate objects have injured feelings and can weep?

Sai: Inanimate objects are also capable of feeling joy and grief.  When the bridge towards Lanka was built by the monkeys so that Rama could march to Ravana's kingdom where Sita was held captive, one last mountain peak was carried to the bridge site.  But it was too late.  There was no need for it.

At this circumstance, the mountain shed tears of anguish and news of this was quickly taken to Rama.  His compassion was great and He sent word that the mountain should no longer sorrow and that He would surely use it on a future occasion.  In the Avatara of Krishna, it was this very mountain peak, the Govardhana Peak, which the youth Krishna lifted on His finger to shelter the cowherds of Gokul from Indra's deluge of rain.

H: Swami!  This great drama of Rama and Krishna and the mountain peak has been recapitulated here in Bombay on this day before our very eyes.  The saris came and could not be used.  They wept tears of anguish; and in His compassion, Swami relented and the rejected saris will be used, although not for the original purpose of making gifts to the volunteers.  (Mrs. Hislop and three other ladies were given the rejected saris).  It is the self-same drama of ancient days played again on this day.

Sai: Yes.  And it is also the self-same Rama and the self-same Krishna who is here this day!

(Source: SSSMC)