Reminiscences

A doctor explained his problem to ShriMaharaj thus : "Sometimes a patient, on reading an advertisement or on the advice of his relatives, demands, by himself, 'Doctor, give me this medicine or injection.' It is not possible to decide upon the action without a proper examination of the patient. Quite often it is also not advisable to pre­scribe the particular medicine he asks for. What should one do  under these circumstances  ?" Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "There are three reasons why a pa­tient recovers. One, the coming to an end of the effect of what he was destined to suffer; two, the effect of the medi­cine; and three, the faith the patient has in the doctor and the medicine. Of these, no one knows what he was destined to suffer. As regards faith, the patient generally comes with it. It is not correct for one  pointlessly to of­fend or disregard it. What is left is the property of the . medicine. If it appears to be clearly harmful, refuse to give that medicine. If there is not going to do any harm, do as the patient desires. It is not impossible that his faith itself may bring about recovery. But tell me, what is the proportion of such patients ?" The doctor said that such persons are about five to ten per cent of his patients. Smiling a little, ShriMaharaj said, "You are fed up with only this much ! Then what should I do ? Amongst the persons coming to me, this proportion is exactly the re­verse. Ninety to ninety- five per cent persons bring with them a worldly wish or problem, and expect that I should confirm what they have in their mind. Now what I do is that I first tell them what I honestly feel they should do. But if it seems that someone is doggedly holding on to his opinion or wish, then I am compelled to say, vaguely, "Try doing that'. It is obvious that his destiny is dragging him. Realizing that all this is a display of God's doings and the illusory world, I do not let my mind be affected by either joy or sorrow."