SAINTS AND SAINTLINESS

Saints and Great Masters, teach their, disciples only what is good for them. The object of many of their miracles or " leelas '' .is to convey this teaching in the ' language 'that is best under' stood by the disciples. The same " leela " might have different imports to different disciples. Each disciple draws his own conclusion and learns a lesson for himself from one common context or word of the " Sadguru." Thus it will be seen that the "leela" of Sri Sai Baba insisting on his 'disciples giving him Dakshina' had a lesson in it. Curiously enough the word' "Dakshina" begins with, the syllable 'Da,' with which Prajapathi prescribed three different disciplines to his three ' disciple-sons.'

Three classes of Prajapati's sons, the_ gods, men and Asuras lived with their father Prajapathi, (viraj) as students, and led a , life of studentdom. After the completion of their term, they ' sought his instruction by asking for a guiding Mantra for their future. Prajapati smiled and uttered the syllable 'Da' when .each one approached him separately. The gods, men and Asuras_;' .found themselves instructed each differently by the one. syllable, according to the consciousness of their failings. The , gods .took ''DA” to mean " continence," the men "Dan" "give" and the Asuras, "Daya" "compassion." Men are endowed with the qualities of the three. The one endowed with the noblest powers and .qualities, like unto gods, are always in danger of falling from , spiritual standards by their one defect, lust or want of self-con-, human failing is greed and acquisition ,of Wealth and the Asura nature has'-the soul-killing quality of cruelty and anger. These three natures, have to be overcome only, by practicing^: the "virtues of Danta, (Selfcontrol); Dan (charity) and Daya (compassion). Sri Krishna in the Bhagavat. Gita also teaches Nara (Arjuna, man) this lesson, by asking him to renounce these three at least.

There are three fatal doors leading "to hell viz. (i) lust, (ii) anger and (in') avarice. So those who ate desirous of eternal well-being must shun them" (at least).

The path of this renunciation of evil is through practice of virtues and good acts done by us bring us in tune with the Divinity.

Saints have got over the effects of the various gunas Rajas and Tamas by Shrada and Saburi, faith and patience, which have led them to all actions being performed without desire for the fruits there off, for it is indeed not possible for the embodied being -to give up action completely, but there is no reaping the fruits— by going through the cycle of births, for the one who has renounced the fruits of all his actions and gone beyond the concepts of the knowledge, action and the agent and has realised the highest teaching, in the following Sri Krishna's words.

Know that knowledge to be Sattvika by which one unified eternal Principle is realised in all divergent beings”

He who is desirous of eternal well-being must aspire after, and practice such saintly characteristics and lead a pure and devotional life' in obedience to the practice and preachings of saints and shun» idiosyncrasies of his mind. Sri Krishna says " Saints are Myself, and the characteristics of a Saint are the. following :

Fearlessness, purity of heart, firm faith in self-knowledge, charity, sense-control, sacrifice, austerity, vedic study, simplicity, inoffensiveness, truth, absense of anger, non-attachment to mundane relations, tranquility, magnanimity, kindness to animals, absence of avarice, mildness, bashfulness, steadfastness, vigour, forgiveness, forbearance, purity, compassion and humility" and adds " O Arjuna, A man born in an auspicious moment is endowed with these , godly qualities" Bagavat Gita XVI—1 to 3.

And Sri Sai Baba with all the above godly characteristics is verily God Himself! Plus more, of a Chintamani, 'Kamadenu and Kalpavriksha, to give wholesome, good and permanent objects to the Bhakthas, unthought of and unasked by Him.