SATHYA SAI BABA-SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT–46

THE GARBAGE TRUCK!!!

How often do we let other people's emotions affect our mood? Do we let a terrible driver, or a rude comment ruin our day?

The mark of a spiritual aspirant is how quickly we can ‘regain our focus’ on what is important. One man learnt this experience while in the back of a New York City cab. Here's what happened.

He was traveling in a taxi, on his way to Grand Central Station. All of a sudden, without warning, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of them. The taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded and missed the other car's back end by inches.

Then, the driver in the other car, who nearly caused a huge accident, whipped his head around and started abusing the taxi driver. So did the companion sitting next to him! One would have thought that it should have been the other way round!!!

But the taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. The startled passenger sitting in the taxi said, "Why did you take it so easy? The guys almost caused your car to crash and send us to hospital!"

The taxi driver laughed and then related what he called, "The Law of The Garbage Truck."

"Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of rubbish, filled with frustration, bursting with anger, and packed with disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump it all on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be glad you did. I assure you.”

The passenger started thinking how regularly he let garbage trucks run right over him? And how frequently he took his own garbage and spread it onto other people, at work, at home, or on the streets? It was that day he promised to himself, "I'm not going to do it anymore. Enough is enough!"

Over time he learnt how to distinguish when a "Garbage Truck" was coming to dump all over him. He noticed the junk they were carrying and prepared himself to avoid it all being unloaded onto him. Like the taxi driver, he did not make it a personal thing; he just smiled or waved or wished them or did all of these and moved on!!!

(A very popular story in all ‘Emotional Intelligence’ sessions & was also published in ‘radio sai journals’))

PS: “Can you not be saturated with Love? Why use harsh words against anyone, for words wound more fatally than even arrows? Can you not speak softly and sweetly? You don’t have to oblige but you can always speak obligingly!!!” – SATHYA SAI BABA

SOME RESPONSES…

1. Dear Sir,

I never cease to be awed by the way SQ manages to drive home the point with the help of your spiritual quotes, examples and short stories.

We youngsters always have these misconceived notions that spirituality is something which is to be pursued only in old age after we have enjoyed our life in our youth, but SQ has been an eye opener for us.

The messages are wonderful that we need to be thankful for mental peace and material comfort bestowed by God on us, than to hanker after things which can just give us momentary feeling of happiness.

This write up of SQ is much more intense and thought provoking. I think the effort taken for compiling these articles for SQ is really commendable and hope that you continue to nourish us daily with your spiritual anecdotes.

Regards

REVATHI

2. Dear Sir,

In fact, your SQ has become quite a repository of spiritual knowledge that besides your quotients, the debates and the exchange of ideas and thoughts have also become equally popular. I have become quite an avid reader of all these.

Thank you once again for this wonderful opportunity to 'learn' and to 'debate'.

May your column grow from strength to strength?

Regards

JAWAHAR.N.R

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