BABA
-4. Baba And The Beggar

One of the men answered, “This is the only route we know to go to the field of our Zamindar where we work as laborers.  If we do not go to work on any day for whatever reason, we are not paid our daily wage. Therefore, we decided to return.  However, fear got the better of our other colleagues.” 

Baba’s face lit up with his customary smile. 

“Just like you are prepared to take this route to go to your place of work, even if it endangers your life for it is the question of your living, so also a couple of unfortunate incidents where sages have been found indulging in corrupt practices should not make you stop your children’s education because it is a question of their future.  Remember that education is as important to your children as work is to you.  If your children get education today, they may lead a more secured life than you tomorrow.  Try to have a positive outlook in life.  It is actually good that those miscreants who were fooling us have been caught.  Otherwise, they could have caused more harm to the society.   Please do not take such extreme decisions which could adversely affect your child’s future.” 

As both the men looked at Baba, awe-struck by his words, he got up followed by Bhargava.  “You can go and bring back your colleagues.  Tell them that there is no lion out here!  Or else wouldn’t I have also run like you?  Remember seeing this boy with me when you first came here?” 

Looking at Bhargava, he said, “Come!  Let us go!”  After taking a few steps, he looked back and intoned, “Don’t waste time in thinking about me.  Instead, ponder over what I just said.  If you agree with me, then share these thoughts with others who in their ignorance have taken such wrong decisions like you.” 

The two men glanced at one other and continued to look at Baba and Bhargava till they disappeared from their eyesight. 

As days went by, those who had come in contact with him not only appreciated his views but even shared them with others.  Slowly Baba’s thoughts gained acceptance among the people.  His popularity too grew.  People now recognized him and even exchanged greetings when they met on the way.   Some even began to revere him for his ability to know everything.  Baba exhorted everyone to treat him like any other mortal and assured them that they would get an insight into his life at an appropriate time.  More than anyone else, it was Bhargava who was pleased at this veneration for his Baba.

One day, both of them were passing by a temple where there was a large congregation of devotees. They also found that a number of beggars had assembled outside this temple begging for alms.  Asking the boy to follow him, Baba went and stood near a beggar who was bereft of legs.  Sensing that he was about to make an offer, the beggar sitting beside the handicapped one opened his palms and implored Baba to foremost give him something.  Baba only smiled at him, untied a small piece of bundle which contained some fruits and gave them to the handicapped beggar.  This caused immense embarrassment and annoyance to the other.  Not wanting to show his anger he hung his head down.  Sensing his feelings, the handicapped beggar offered to share the fruits Baba had given with him.  “Leave me alone, please!”  He whispered in anger still looking at the ground.  At that time, he felt something touching his head.  Looking up, he found that it was the hand of Baba!  Much to his surprise, he found Baba sitting beside him and clasping his hand!  “Brother, do not be disheartened.”  Baba’s soothing touch and genial words calmed his temper.  Never before had anyone behaved with him so compassionately.  Baba continued to converse with him, “I do not have any animosity towards you.  You are as dear to me as anyone else.  What I find hard to comprehend is the way you have chosen to survive.  Your partner is physically challenged.  Although there have been instances where people like him, despite their disability, have come up in life owing to their sheer grit and determination, still his complete dependency upon others for survival is in a way understandable.  However, by God’s grace, you are absolutely normal.  Then, where is the need for you to beg like this?  No person is bereft of talent in this world.  It is up to us to tap that talent and convert it into a source of livelihood.  You should be no exception to this.  Do not put God to shame by this action of yours.  Discover your talent, brother, and I assure you that your life will change.” 

Baba got up and walked away followed by Bhargava leaving behind his listener and others around him who was begging outside the temple, deeply inspired.

After walking a few miles, both of them sat under a tree.  “That was why you took those fruits along with you, Baba!  I had never seen you do that before.”  Bhargava reasoned.  Baba smiled at him.  Just then, a young couple was coming that way. 

“I told you that coming to this temple would serve no purpose.  What has to happen will ultimately happen!  You came so far to see this temple and what did you get in return?  You slipped from the temple stairs and fell down!  Since you had come to see him, couldn’t God have had mercy on you and prevented this incident?  Nothing of that sort happened!”  The husband lamented. 

His wife hushed him to be silent and whispered, “Please be quiet!  Don’t you see the sage sitting under that tree?  If he listens to your musings, he will certainly not like it.” 

As they passed him, Baba called out to them.  Seeing fear writ large in the women’s face, Baba conversed with her, “Do not worry, sister.  I am not going to do anything except have a little conversation with you.” 

He made both of them sit beside him and then addressed the young women.  “What your husband said was both right and wrong!  He was right when he said that ‘….coming to this temple would serve no purpose. What has to happen will ultimately happen’.  Where he erred was when he blamed God for not preventing your fall from the steps.”