The Company You Keep
Question: Swami, today Sai devotees are spread all over the world. They range from heads of governments to ordinary citizens. As your devotees, they enjoy special respect and esteem in society. What is the key to this?
Bhagavan: Naturally so! It is the effect of the company you are in. Even the string that passes through and binds the flowers in a garland acquires a value. The rat as the vehicle of Lord Ganesha [Hindu deity who removes obstacles] is also worshipped. The bull as the vehicle of Lord Shiva [Lord of destruction in the Hindu trinity] is respected. Likewise, all the vehicles of all our deities are worshipped.
Once Lord Vishnu [Lord of preservation in the Hindu trinity] sent a message to Shiva through his vehicle, Garuda [eagle]. As Garuda was flying with great speed and about to land near Shiva, a strong wind caused the dust to rise up as in a storm. Watching this, the snakes adorning Shivas neck started hissing at Garuda, ready to attack him. Then Garuda said to the snakes, You are with Shiva, so you are hissing at me so fearlessly. Come away from the Lord and then see what will happen to you! I can finish you off in no time. In the same manner, when you are with Me you are respected and served. If you move away from Me, you will lose honor and be disgraced.
You should not run after silly worldly things like common flies that land on anything and everything. Be like honeybees and only draw honey from flowers. Look at the person who drives the car of the President of India. He can never act as a common taxi driver. Similarly, those who sing the glory of God shouldn’t run after people for petty favors.
Question: Swami, a change is needed in every field of our activity. Almost all walks of public life are polluted, disgusting, and disappointing. How can a change for the better be brought about?
Bhagavan: Truly speaking, villagers who are unlettered, innocent, and rustic are living in greater peace and cooperation, more intimate relationships, and mutual love than the so-called urban, sophisticated, educated, and seemingly cultured people. The latter are full of ego and jealousy.
To bring about a change, they need to work for it. They must put in enough sincere effort to overcome qualities like egoism, pride, jealousy, and hatred. Butter is no doubt very soft. But in order to make ghee [clarified butter] out of it, you must heat it. Similarly, for any change you have to work for it. You should first of all listen to all good things from good people. This listening, shravana, is the first step. It is not enough if you simply listen. You should remember, recall, recollect, and recapitulate the good things you have listened to. This is called manana. The third thing is to practice what you have listened and learnt. This is called nidhidhyasana.
For example: First of all, your food must be cooked in the kitchen. Then it has to be brought and kept on the dining table and served; only then you eat it. Further, the food that you eat must be digested, assimilated, and the nourishment is to be supplied to different parts of your body. Is it not so? Similarly, listening is like cooking, remembering is the same as food kept on the table, whereas practicing what is heard is like eating and digesting.
Source: Satyopanisad, Vol. 1
