Chaitanya and the ‘Outcast’
In the following discourse, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Baba highlights an episode from the life of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to show the brotherhood of humanity. He also emphasizes the need for pure devotion that transcends all spiritual practices.
Once, a mendicant who was unwashed, ungroomed, and clothed in tatters waited outside Chaitanya’s room as the saint meditated. On seeing him, Chaitanya came out and asked, “Who are you? Come inside.” On hearing these soft and sweet words, the mendicant humbly replied: “Swami, I don’t deserve to step into your room. I am a lowly person belonging to the caste of Chandalas (untouchables). I am unfit to defile your sacred residence.” Smiling, Chaitanya went closer to him and said endearingly: “My son, never say that you are mean, lowly, or unworthy. Who is mean and who is sacred on this earth? All are sacred because the same God shines in every one’s heart. So, please come inside without any hesitation.”
Lord’s name erases all fears
As the mendicant still hesitated, Chaitanya questioned him about the purpose of his visit. The visitor replied, “Swami, although I am repeatedly chanting God’s name, I feel it lacks chaitanya (spiritual power) just as a person in a state of coma has mere life without any consciousness. I seem to be mechanically chanting the Lord’s name without experiencing the power of the divine. I have come to you with the hope that if you initiate me in one of the Lord’s names, it will be charged with spiritual potency and benefit me.”
Chaitanya responded thus: “All the names of God are full of divine power. God’s name is omnipotent and self-effulgent. Hence it is not proper for you to underrate the efficacy of any of the Lord’s names. However, for your satisfaction, I will give you mantropadesha (initiation into the sacred formula) as desired by you. Please step into the room.”
Encouraged, the visitor slowly entered the room. Overcome with feelings of humility, hesitation, nervousness, and fear he, however, sat in one corner of the room. Noticing his plight, Chaitanya gently told him, “My son, why are you so full of fear? Freedom and fearlessness are the birthright of every man. Freedom is your real nature and so, why do you give room for fear? You must recognize that the atmic [divine] power is behind all thoughts, and give up fear.”
Saying this, Chaitanya moved closer to the mendicant. Seeing this, the mendicant cried out apprehensively: “Swami, please don’t touch me. If you touch me, both of us will be guilty of breach of the traditional norms of our society. I say so particularly because it is winter now, and if you touch me, you will have to bathe in cold water again. That will impact your health. I have accepted you as my guru (preceptor) and since, according to the scriptures, the guru is verily God, I shall be sinning against God by hurting you in any way. I have come to obey your commands and receive help from you, and not to hurt you in the process. Because of the sins of my past life, I am now born as an untouchable. I don’t want to add to my load of sins by allowing you to touch me now.”
No caste for the five elements
On hearing this, Chaitanya remonstrated: “What a simpleton you are! You are only revealing your ignorance by observing untouchability, ignoring the divinity inherent in every being. God has no distinctions of caste and creed. There is no caste for any of the five elements earth, water, fire, air, and sky—because they have emanated from God. Irrespective of the castes and creeds professed by men, all human beings equally share nature’s bounties suffused with the five elements. Therefore, there is no need to observe such differences of caste and creed. Come closer to me.”
However, the mendicant was apprehensive because he had nurtured this fear all his life. This shows that feelings such as fear, love, hatred etc., become ingrained in a person when it is imbibed from childhood. Chaitanya told the mendicant, “God never endows man with fear. It is one’s own weakness that fosters fear and is a result of some shortcomings in one’s self. One who has not committed any wrong or evil act will have no fear, and hence, will not need any protection or security. Fearlessness is the hallmark of divinity. One can become fearless through tyaga (renunciation or sacrifice). For example, if you have some valuables with you, there is room for fear. But if you give up those valuables, you will be free from fear wherever you may be, even in a jungle infested with robbers. My dear child, realize that absolute fearlessness in all circumstances is your nature. Remain true to your nature.”
Lord’s name sanctifies and transforms
Saying this, Chaitanya hugged the mendicant. But the latter began shaking with mixed feelings of bliss caused by the embrace of such a holy saint like Chaitanya, and fear because of the misapprehension that Chaitanya would be polluted by physical contact with him. He cried out, “O Swami, let not my sins pollute you.” Laughing at this statement, Chaitanya assured him thus: “O innocent one, you and I have now become one. We are no longer separate.” So saying, Chaitanya hugged him in a warm embrace and whispered the Lord’s name into his ear. Transformed by the power of the divine name, the mendicant exclaimed in ecstasy, “Swami there is no one as lucky as myself. I have now become sanctified, sacred, and pure. I have got rid of my wrong notion that I am only the body made up of the five elements. I have realized my true nature because of your grace and the grace of the Lord’s name which you gave me.”
One’s life becomes sanctified by treasuring the Lord’s name in one’s heart with a feeling of intense love. In the absence of such love, all so-called spiritual practices will prove futile. Various spiritual disciplines are necessary only for the purification of the heart. Once the heart becomes pure, there is no further need for study of the scriptures or spiritual practices. Explaining thus, Chaitanya exhorted his new disciple to give up fear henceforth. From then onwards, the mendicant became known as Haridasa [servant of God].
The moral of this story is that we should give up all differences based on one’s birth and position in life. And, we should whole-heartedly engage in the sacred act of chanting or singing the Lord’s names with intense love and devotion. First, the Name should melt the devotee’s heart; then only can it melt God’s heart and draw His Grace upon the devotee. God does not care about the length and kinds of sadhana (spiritual discipline) practised. What He wants is sincere, wholehearted, and intense love for Him.
Source: Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 26
