My Task is This

In the following letter, written when He was about 20 years of age, Sri Sathya Sai consoles a devotee who was anguished by criticism against Baba. Bhagavan points out that divine beings are unaffected by praise or blame because they incarnate to uplift humanity. Baba says that none can interfere with His task nor can any one understand Him.

Puttaparthi
25-5-47

To Bhaktas [devotees]!

My dear boy, I received your letter, and I noted the flow of the current of prema [love] and the echo of bhakti [devotion] in every word.

It is impossible to see into the hearts of jnanis [wise persons] and yogis [realized persons]; nor is it possible to understand their ways. So, naturally, people tend to talk about them [the jnanis and yogis] as their fancy prompts them. No amount of fault-finding indulged in by these people can affect us, as long as we act truly and well, keep our purpose steadily in view, and so long as we hold on to the values dictated by jnana [wisdom]. Don’t you know that only fruit-laden trees get stoned? In contrast, passers-by do not notice the trees devoid of fruits.

Good and bad co-exist; they are companions forever. That is in the very nature of the world.

And, let Me ask, why should we blame these people? Poor fellows! What do they know? What can they know? They are influenced by every gust of greed, anger, envy, and hate.  So, they become intolerant and have no control over their mind or tongue; they indulge in loose talk and slander. Those that know will never talk like that. It is not wise to take such ignorance seriously.

Believe me when I say truth alone can win. Untruth must fail. It [untruth] might appear to win for a little while, but as soon as truth appears on the scene, untruth flees.

It is not the nature of mahatmas [exalted souls] to exult when worshipped or lament when they are neglected or criticized. No [Bhagavad] Gita has laid down rules and regulations for the behavior of mahatmas; but, satpravartana [benevolent actions] and sadbuddhi [good sense/discrimination] are their fundamental traits. Provided these [beneficial activity and beneficial thoughts] are there, whatever is done over and above this for the benefit of the bhaktas [devotees] and for their welfare according to their deserts, we [mahatmas] can afford to be free.

I shall tell you this now: Listen!

My task is this: To confer on man fullness of joy, to guard, to guide!
My vow is this: To save each one who strays off from the virtuous path!
My love is this: To end the pain of the poor, fulfill their needs!
My crown is this: To nourish all who seek Me, steady, keen!
My need is this: The even life discarding ups and downs as trash!

I’ll ne’er forget those who come to Me
And be with Me; ’tis a certainty!
When thus I move and work and speak
Say, how My name can tarnished be?

You should not pay heed to the kind of talk that you men-tion. The mahatmas do not owe their greatness to others who recognize them as such; nor do they lose their great-ness if someone fails to recognize them. Their stature is not heightened by praise nor is it lowered by blame.

Of course, there are some yogis who suffer when they are criticized, and they have every reason to fear. I shall tell you who they are:

They quaff their full, they swallow pills
Of opium, and chew the bhang—these ‘noble’ folk!
They drink, they eat their fill
Of low unwholesome food—these ‘famous’ men!

It’s wrong to state, ’tis false to say
That anything dies, they never ‘die’,
They swear while cutting throats and eat
The living things they like—these ‘teachers’ grand!

They preach the lessons of love and peace
But hate and fight, all on the sly—these ‘gurus’ great!
They fret and fume and speak for long
On dry as dust philosophy!

This wondrous gang of yogis false
They surely dread a fall.

It is only such false yogis that have to be afraid. You must have read about the lives of mahatmas, and how small men assailed them. It is all part of the scheme; don’t worry. How long can the poor dogs bark at the star? How can they produce any effect on the star? All this will continue just for a short while; our integrity is the means to victory.

I shall not slacken My task, My activity, My determination. For Me, reputation, fame, blame, calumny—all are equally insignificant. I am quite unconcerned with the whole lot. I speak and act only to help the world and for the sake of the people. But, let Me tell you, I have no name, no place, and no possessions. By whatever name I am called, I respond; to whichever place I am called, I go and make My appearance. This is My vow, My self-imposed task.

I have not spoken of this to anyone so far; I am not a part of this world; I am far, far away from it. But yet, I engage Myself to uplift its inhabitants. My shakti, My power, and My mystery can never be understood, whoever studies it, howsoever intensely and well.

You can yourself witness the glory that will be manifested hereafter. Bhaktas must be patient and await events. Then, you will yourself realize the absurdity of your fears.

I wrote this reply to you because I felt you will be sad unless I wrote. Otherwise, I would not have replied at all, for it is not in Me to pay heed to such things.

Thus…

Your Baba