The Ultimate Security
Recently, while enjoying a meeting with my husband at a restaurant near his office, I mentioned to him that one of the cars had two tires which seemed somewhat worn. I went on to say that since the other car had four new tires, I preferred to drive it. At the conclusion of our luncheon, I got into the car to return home, feeling quite secure with four new tires. However, I had only driven about two miles when a noise and a bump indicated that one of the tires was quite flat. The car had passed over a broken bottle, slicing a six‑inch hole in the tire.
The lesson in this experience was crystal clear. I began to laugh before the car had even come to a complete stop. How many times am I going to be reminded that security is not in things? I knew that once again the infinite wisdom of the Universe had reminded me of the only genuine security. I thanked Baba for His presence in my heart and for holding me always in safety. I may forget for a moment, but He never does.
A very handsome, dark‑skinned young man with a foreign accent stopped his car on the other side of the street. He crossed over, removed the punctured tire, mounted the spare, and waved away my expression of gratitude so quickly that I estimate the total time lapse for the complete incident to have been not more than ten minutes. I continued the short journey then and arrived home permeated with joy and wonder at the beauty of the reminder I had just been given.
Perhaps the fact that my childhood had occurred during the so‑called depression years had caused me to seek security in external things. Whatever the reason, I had for many years believed that security was to be found only in a monthly salary check. Then, when the decision was made to retire, I had transferred my belief in security from earning money to not spending any. I believed that as long as we never went into debt for anything that we would be quite secure.
My theory seemed to be working satisfactorily until I learned about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Suddenly I found myself with a desire much greater than the desire for financial security. I wanted so very much to see this Divine Being, and there seemed to be no way to get money for the trip except to borrow it. I knew intuitively that the security to be found in knowing Baba was infinitely greater than the security of being debt‑free. My husband’s desire to go to see Baba was as great as mine and he had no concern at all about finances. So we borrowed the money easily and paid it back without hardship of any kind. Our lives were transformed from the moment we received His darshan. From an almost meaningless series of unrelated incidents which we had called “life” before, we were lifted into a realm which is purposeful. Every experience now moves us inexorably toward ultimate liberation from the bondage of delusion.
On my second trip to see Baba, He brought the message of His life to bear vividly on my awareness of origin, destiny, and the ultimate security. On the first day of my return, His beautifully expressive face registered mild surprise as He asked me, “Where have you been—Bangalore?” As it had been less than three months since I had parted from Him at Brindavan, the question seemed logical and quite human. I responded that I had been to the United States and He seemed satisfied with the answer. On the following day He again smiled His recognition and asked, “Where did you come from?” This time I replied; “California, Swami.” Though feeling that neither of these two incidents quite fit in with the omniscience which Baba expresses so naturally, I just allowed myself to enjoy the attention and interaction with Him without any real contemplation.
On the third day of this visit, I was privileged to attend a discourse which Baba was giving in the auditorium of the college. My seat was in the first row. When Swami came down the steps from the stage to greet those who were seated outside on the ground, He made a slight detour, stopped in front of me, and asked pointedly, “Where did you come from?” He continued on His way, clearly uninterested in any answer I might give. My complacency was thoroughly shaken this time. Though I babbled some response at His retreating back, I knew that He was not asking for geographical information. He was in fact educating me in accordance with His own definition of education.
He told those attending the First Conference on Education in Human Values for College Teachers that day: “Education is not a matter of problem solving; it is a matter of problem posing.” The problem He had posed three times in three days became the upper-most thing in my thoughts. Where had I come from? The intellect could provide answers. It quoted Wordsworth, “Trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home.” It quoted the Bible, “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” But there was no feeling of resolution, and the inquiry continued.
After several days and nights, during which the question was always with me, I was still pondering it in the early hours of a Puttaparthi morning. It was very dark and very quiet when suddenly, “as when a lion roareth,” a voice from deep within me spoke the words, “You have emerged from Me and you will merge with Me again.” I heard the message with my entire being. The night seemed light about me and my heart was overflowing with gratitude for the Supreme Divine Teacher. He had taken the cold words from my head, warmed them with the flame of His love, and now they are aglow in my heart forevermore.
~Joy Thomas, California, U.S.A.
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, March, 1986
