CONSIDERED AS "FETTERED SOULS", THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SPIRIT AND AN ORDINARY PERSON.

A woman was "possessed" by an evil spirit. That spirit used to enter the woman's body and meet ShriMaharaj. ShriMaharaj once set out to go to Karnataka. After hav­ing taken leave of all, ShriMaharaj also took leave of the evil spirit. The spirit then said to ShriMaharaj, "Maharaj, you are going out of town for many days. I become rest­less on not seeing you. So please return soon." The brother of the "possessed" woman said, "Maharaj, you have been pampering this spirit too much, and so it has become bold enough to harass my sister." Upon this ShriMaharaj said, "Did you listen to what the spirit said ? In truth, if one understands the condition 'a fettered soul', then it will become clear that there is not much difference between it and you. Not one of you said to me what it said to me. So who has the greater eagerness to be free from the fet­tered state ? I face another kind of difficulty. A fettered soul, that spirit and you are the same; but because I have to spend all my time with you I cannot even say to you, 'You are all ghosts'; on the contrary I have to treat every­one respectfully."

FOR A SAINT THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SEXES EXISTS ONLY FOR EVERYDAY DEALINGS, ELSE HE SEES ONLY GOD IN ALL.

FOR A SAINT THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SEXES EXISTS ONLY FOR EVERYDAY DEALINGS, ELSE HE SEES ONLY GOD IN ALL.

A seeker of knowledge asked, "What happens when the distinction between the sexes ceases to matter ?" ShriMaharaj said," How can one describe in words a state which needs to be experienced ? Yet, observe how children build a castle at Diwali - time, and place on it clay figurines of the king, the queen, the minister, noblemen, cavalry, foot soldiers, guards, milkmaids and such others. Each has a specific place. One does not place a solider at the place for the king, nor does one place a milkmaid at the place for the queen. One arranges the figures keeping in mind the distinctions between them. But one does not lose sight that all of it is but clay. The saints have a like frame of mind. A hunter goes on a hunt taking his dogs with him. When he sees a prey, he sets a dog on it. When he does so, it is only a dog in his eyes. But when a bitch litters, the distinction between the sexes comes to the fore for him. Likewise, for saints, all living beings, as an image of God, appear alike. They take cognizance of the distinction between them only for everyday dealings."

WHILE TALKING TO A SAINT ONE SHOULD NOT KEEP ANYTHING UP ONE'S SLEEVE

WHILE TALKING TO A SAINT ONE SHOULD NOT KEEP ANYTHING UP ONE'S SLEEVE

One person had taken a leave of absence from his work for ten days. ShriMaharaj asked him, " With how many days of leisure have you come here ?" He said," Six days ." In the remaining four days he intended to perform some household tasks. ShriMaharaj quickly said, " Tell me the total number including those that you have kept up your sleeve." Embarrassed, he said, " Actually I have taken leave for ten days." Upon this ShriMaharaj only said, " If he, to whom one comes with the intention of obtaining love for God, is not able to know even this much, then how can he bestow love for God on the disciples ?"

A SAINT'S ADVICE IS NEVER TO THE UNDESERVING

A SAINT'S ADVICE IS NEVER TO THE UNDESERVING

A close disciple of ShriMaharaj said, "You give us ad­vice with such earnestness; but we are so despicable that your giving advice seems like casting of pearls before swine, or reading the Bhagavadgeeta to an ass." ShriMaharaj said, "The description does not apply here. If it were to be applied here, it will mean that the advi­sor does not know who is like a swine or an ass, and who is not. Many persons do apply themselves to reforming the cast of their mind as a result of my advice."

A SAINT ENTERTAINS ONLY AS MUCH JOY AND SORROW AS NEEDS TO BE EXPRESSED BY CUSTOM

A SAINT ENTERTAINS ONLY AS MUCH JOY AND SORROW AS NEEDS TO BE EXPRESSED BY CUSTOM

                      

A doctor, of whom ShriMaharaj was very fond, died. Along with all the others, ShriMaharaj also expressed grief. A seeker of knowledge asked, "We suffered sorrow on the passing away of the doctor. Did you also suffer in the same way T ShriMaharaj said, "The parents of your wife have their house in Pune. When your wife is visiting her parents in Pune, you do not grieve for her absence. You know that she is in Pune and keeping well. Likewise, because I know where the soul has migrated, there is no occasion for me to grieve. But my difficulty is a little dif­ferent. Because I have to stay amongst you, by conven­tion, I have to make a show of grief. Care needs to be taken that the show is well done. Exercising of this care is what causes a strain. By the grace of Rama, my show has never Hopped; on the contrary, it has been coming off very well."

ONE SHOULD NOT PIT MATERIAL WISDOM AGAINST A SAINT'S ADVICE.

ONE SHOULD NOT PIT MATERIAL WISDOM AGAINST A SAINT'S ADVICE.

  Ganpatrao Damle was in Gondavale. It was necessary for him to go to Pune to attend the court on a particular date. On the day before he asked for ShriMaharaj's per­mission to go to Pune. It was about eight o'clock in the morning. 'Let us see' was all that ShriMaharaj said. Even at noon, Maharaj would not tell him to go. Ganpatrao thought that the task of attending the court was a mun­dane matter, there was nothing spiritual about it; so why should he be hindered by want of permission from ShriMaharaj? He might as well be on the way. Taking courage, he said to ShriMaharaj, "It is very urgent for me to go to Pune. I will therefore leave today." ShriMaharaj merely said, "All right". As was his practice, ShriMaharaj put him on a bullock cart in the evening. The cart - driver and Ganpatrao were the only two passengers in the cart. They reached Pusegaon at nine o'clock in the night. Both of them dined there, and had a nap. At about three o'clock in the morning, the cart - driver got the cart ready, and

put it on its way to Koregaon. In about ten or fifteen minutes, both he and Ganpatrao fell fast asleep. After a short distance, a hyena appeared in front of the bullocks. The bullocks were startled, shied, and turned round and began walking in exactly the opposite direction (that is, in the direction of Gondavale). The bullocks walked fast because of a natural longing for their home. At about half - past six in the morning Ganpatrao and the cart - driver both woke up. Expecting to have reached Koregaon, both of them rubbed their eyes and looked. What they saw was the boundary of Gondavale ! What the mix - up was they could not fathom. In about an hour the cart was standing in front of the Rama temple. As it was not possible to catch the train at Koregaon even if they were to start back immediately, Ganpatrao was in despair. In the af­ternoon, plates were set in the temple for serving Prasad. Ganpatrao had to walk past ShriMaharaj to take his usual place. ShriMaharaj said, in his hearing, "What can be done? Ganpatrao did not realize what even the bullocks did." Ganpatrao was greatly embarrassed. Later it be­came known that that night the carts which went from Pusegaon to Koregaon were looted by highwaymen, and the passengers had been beaten up. Besides, the Presid­ing officer of the court having taken ill, the date for Ganpatrao to attend the court had automatically been postponed.

ONE SHOULD NOT USE WORDS THAT OFFEND SOMEONE'S FEELINGS

ONE SHOULD NOT USE WORDS THAT OFFEND SOMEONE'S FEELINGS

A schoolteacher was a disciple of ShriMaharaj, He of­ten addressed those of his students who were dull, by such offensive names as "dolt", "dimwit", and "dullard". ShriMaharaj said to him, "Teacher, the minds of the chil­dren and their parents are hurt by such harsh words. So please use mild words." The teacher angrily retorted, "The reality has to be stated in plain words. No laxness can be tolerated in it." ShriMaharaj said, "Although this is so, in some respects a convention needs to be scrupulously ob­served. Imagine that you have gone out for a walk. Your wife is in the kitchen, cooking. Presently your son comes home and asks his mother, 'Where is your husband gone?' Will you find it acceptable ? Asking thus, or asking *Where is father gone?' both have the same meaning; actually the former accords more with the reality." The teacher drew an appropriate conclusion.