A Story Narrated by Bhagavan Baba

THE MILK MAID

There was a pundit who led a disciplined life, and always stuck to a prearranged timetable. He woke up from sleep in the early hours of the morning, recited Pranava (Om) and later, after ablutions, drank a cup of milk exactly at 7 a.m. every day. This meant, a lot also depended on how punctual his milk maid was.

But sometimes the milkmaid would arrive late, for she lived on the other side of a river. The river flowed between where she lived and the pundit’s hut. She had to catch a ferry to cross over the river with the milk. The ferryboat would sometimes either start a little early or a little late. So, on those days by the time she reached the Pundit's house it used to be very late.

One day, the Pundit admonished her. He said, "You are disrupting my disciplined life. Don't you know that I must have my cup of milk at 7 a.m. everyday? Why do you depend on that boat to take you across? Just repeat the name of Rama. The river will part and you will be able to walk across. Rama will see that you do not get drowned."

The maid being very simple and unsophisticated had faith in the words of the Pundit. Next day, the maid repeated the name of Rama and just walked across the river!

The Pundit questioned her: "So, how did you manage to come on time today?" The milkmaid replied, "Sir, I repeated the name of Rama as you had instructed yesterday, and I could just walk across."

The Pundit was now flabbergasted; he did not believe her account. He just drank the milk and said, "Let's now go to the bank of the river. Let me see you walk across the river."

The maid stepped into the river repeating the name of Rama, and she could just walk across! The maid requested the Pundit to follow her. But the Pundit knew that he would not be able to do it, because he did not have faith in what he himself had said. In spite of his scholarship, he did not have faith in the power of the Name.

PS: Dear readers, this is a story narrated by Bhagavan Baba in a divine discourse delivered on April 25th 1998. Swami has always emphasized that the Lord of the Universe always responds to those with faith in Him. One need not have any worldly education and degrees to qualify in His school; it is enough if we have complete Faith in Him. For faith, as we know, can do much more than just move mountains; with faith in God we can develop tremendous confidence and witness the blossoming of talents placed within us by the Lord Himself!

RESPONSES…

1. Sairam,
Your mails are excellent and words cannot describe the service you do. It is really a great service that you awaken the hearts everyday.

Your SQ answers all queries.

Even then, wish to have an answer for the below.

The mind always runs after success. We always want to be successful in career and satisfy our desires.

Even with swami or spiritual activities, if we aim to see swami , the mind gets satisfied only after seeing swami.
A kind of anxiety is developed always before our aim or desire gets fulfilled.

How to overcome this anxiety? How to control mind? Even when we do namasmarana,one part of the mind
runs after the desire or aim.

Regards,
With best wishes,

Bharathi.R

2. Dear Sir,

Sai Ram.

First we thank you for the wonderful service you are doing by sending these lovely ,so much meaningful,eye opening................ SQs..really cant find words to express our appriciation.

we wish to print these SQs and make a booklet and give out to friends and children.but we are only fortunate to get these SQs from 22nd only.23rd and 29th too we have got.

If its not too much trouble for you ,we would like to have them. 1to 23rd and 29th.

The pearl necklace 40th one made me cry uncontrollably.How we are attached to so many cheep things .

Thank you for the woderful.messages.May our beloved Swami bless you with all the best in life to continue His work.

Love and Sai ram

Nadarajah.KSA

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