His Touch that Purifies
The late Charles Penn was an ardent devotee of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He often received messages from Baba during his meditations, which he shared with fellow devotees. The following piece is one such lesson from Baba.
This morning, long before His bright light [Sun] appeared over the horizon, this devotee with the heart filled with ananda [bliss] received a beautiful lesson from Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Sharing it with you is a joy.
In the midst of my dhyana [meditation], Babaji let me “see” Him on one of His frequent visits to hospitals. The scene was the waiting room. Actually it was a widened hallway with new patients sitting on each side. Although suffering, they patiently awaited their turn to see the doctors.
Babaji, who did not appear to be visible to the patients, walked in front of each and touched their hands. I asked Him why He did that.
“These patients come for treatment. They know of only one kind of treatment, the kind that can be seen. A wound healing! Limb mending! A disease being routed! My touch also heals. Most times, it is not felt by the patient engrossed in body pain. I pour purity into their bodies. It is a `charge’ that cannot be seen. It can only be felt by one who has risen above mortal fears, one who has commenced to release himself or herself from bodily demands influenced by a diseased mind,” Baba kindly explained.
“Swamiji, you said that you pour purity into their bodies. Please, tell me more about this ingredient to better health,” I asked yearningly.
“Charles, you know well that pouring clean water that is free of impurities into the vessel containing muddy water will in time make the water in the vessel all clean. And so also with the body [vessel] the purity I pour in to skim off the debris will, given the chance, rise to the ‘surface’,” Baba softly answered.
“Swamiji, are there other ways to take in your purifying power?” I asked further.
“Your eyes can gather this treasure at every turn. Your recognition of purity in others brings into yourself a like amount of the purity you see,” He answered.
“How else can one gather up this treasure, Swamiji,” again I asked.
“There are many ways to load your chariot with Me, more than I could hope for you to learn in one lifetime, Charles. Seeing purity in all actions of others is wonderful to experience. But even more is knowing that all actions, regardless of their kind, contain elements of purity. Even actions that are foul and bitter and full of suffering contain purity,” He patiently replied.
“You mean, Swamiji, that one writhing in pain, even self-inflicted, is purifying himself?” I enquired.
“Yes, Charles, but such a one, while striving for the goal of final purification in the world, knows no other way to reach the clouded goal. He endures mortal pain. No matter how many times such a seeker takes this path to Me, he will fail if he destroys his body, his vessel. He merely rids himself of the one means of traveling toward Me.”
“Now the one who strives hard to rid himself of impurities by pouring clean water into his vessel will begin to feel different—uplifted. He feels released from the draw of earthly things and desires. By continually practicing walking along the pure path, he will enjoy shanti [peace] and in time, his round of births and deaths will cease. He will find that even the remaining time he has for using the human vessel will be filled with ananda [joy]. He will not even want time ever to pass swiftly for he also has great joy here on earth. In fact, such a one has attained immortality upon earth,” Swamiji continued.
“You have often told about the crossing of the Ocean… Can you tell as to how long such a voyage takes?” I asked Him.
“When the vessel is on course and you have acknowledged Me as the Master, the crossing can come in a flash, for time is a man-made expression that is not relative to My creation. That which I created in a flash—all the universes—can complete it instantly [the crossing]. For where do you `travel’ to? You are already there, are you not?” He patiently explained.
“All too often, though, a soul seasoned by many journeys in the `body vessel’ almost reaches the other side, but runs aground in the midst of the great calm. The vessel runs aground on unseen reefs. Just a little more guidance and vigilance would have brought the vessel safely to the shore-line.”
“Once your sails are filled with the breeze, don’t waver on the course even when a peaceful island is located on the horizon. I will be your wind, your sails, and your rudder as long as you need Me. One touch of My hand, Charles, purifies the `sailor’ and strengthens him!” Babaji sweetly concluded.
~Charles Penn, Los Angeles, California, USA
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Feb. 1968
