Swamiji love to tell small stories......sometimes amusing, sometimes mythological, but all stories begin "Small Story......"
The other day we had two guest speakers. Locals from the area who are simple village women with small stories about their experiences with Swamiji. They spoke in their native tounge through interpetors about simple happenings with their live stock and children.
The first women, was older her children now grown adults shyly began her tale. She told us of a calf (very sacred in India and often the only source of income) that had become sick. She had been feeding it sips of milk for a week but the calf only seemed to get weeker. Making one of his regular visits to the area he stopped by the stable to see the calf. He did a blessing for the calf and the next day the calf was up and about....when that calf grew to deliver her first calf the women took it to Swamiji as an offering of gratitude. A big deal when she could have used more income. This women had seen Swamiji sometime before sitting up by the Banyan tree that we all visit today. She was a young mother then and her and some others with children were enjoying the cool air in the shade of the Banyan. She had noticed this young man just sitting there, when a large cobra crawled out from the grass. There are lots of poisinous snakes in India and we have been warned to keep an eye out for them. Everyone scattered but the women and the young man who sat there undisturbed as the snake coiled it's self around his waist. It's head slipped up the back of the young mans neck and over his head creating a canopy for the unknown enlightened master. The women told everyone the only reason she did not run was becasuse her young daughter was sitting in front of her....her only way of escaping. Needless to say she became very animated in her discription poking her interpretor in the ribs to hurry to tell us what she was saying.....she was very sweet, and told us sternly to listen to whatever Swamiji had to say, he knows what he is talking about!
The next lady got very emotional and bowed down to Swamiji's photo and sobbed. Her story is about her daughter....nothing tragic. Swamiji has been helping the family for some time with food and spiritual counseling but more recently the daugher asked a photo of Swamiji for some chocolate and chocolate started appearing. The mother thought the daugter was lying or stealing so she even locked the room for two days only to open the door and find two chocolates. Finally the mother went to Swamiji to ask him if he was doing this....she had heard of some of the "miricles" that other had experienced but she thought this was crazy. He told her that he did not know how it happens but he verified that the chocolates were something from him.....and that he just doesn't always know how this happens. The women went on to say that her family has recieved all kinds of small "miricles" like pencils and books. And the reason why is that even though the womens family and community shun her for believing in Swami she still is a devotee and so he looks after her.
It is interesting to see how people react to him. Funnily enought though he cannot convince the on site construction workers of his abilities. He won't allow them to drink or smoke on the Ashram premisis so they all quit. He offered them free courses and talked to them for a long time but they said why should we work if we can't make money to buy liquour and smokes? He compromised and found them land to live on adjoining the property....where they can do what ever they want. I guess if one is not ready for enlightenment no amount of coaxing is going to make a difference!
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