A Christmas Story Of Transformation
Thursday, December 24th, 2020
It’s Christmas time again!!! With the joyful arrival of the holy Christmas comes the fondest memories of the ‘Father-Son Duo’ of The Holy Divine Father and the ‘Prince Of Love n’ Peace’, Jesus Christ. Over 2000 years after the epochal arrival of the Son on to the planet, as we celebrate the occasion once again, let’s now ‘listen’ to an exciting tale of transformation happened in the physical presence of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai at Dharmakshetra in Mumbai, on a Holy Christmas Day. The article is sourced from Bhavan’s Journal, November 1975 issue, a fortnightly devoted to life, literature and culture. The author of the article Sri S Ramakrishnan was the Founder editor of the Bhavan’s Journal.
A merchant-prince from Gujarat who had made his fortune by his untiring industry in East Africa once came and met me in the Bhavan a few years ago. The man who exuded opulence from almost every pore of his body, I expected, would also be brimming with inner joy, but, alas, this was not to be. He did laugh during our conversation, but the laughter sounded hollow and in fact it was only an echo of his deep grief within. I enquired of him whether there was anything worrying him secretly.
He opened up and said: “Yes, it is my young son, eldest son…” He could not talk easily, such was his anguish.
Slowly I gathered that he was sorely distressed because his son who was in England for higher studies had been nearly “seduced” into leaving Hinduism and embracing Christianity.
All the persuasive efforts of the father and the even more worried mother had fallen flat on the youngster for whom Hinduism, with its “maze of thousands of gods, and goddesses” held very little attraction and appeared irrational and anachronistic.
The gentleman sought my help in infusing his son with faith in Hinduism.
I explained to him that our ancients had enjoined to look upon one’s children as equals after they attain the age of 16. Hence, any compulsion was likely to harden the heart of the impetus and misguided youngster in pursuing his own decision. I also stressed the futility of brow-beating or imposing a decision on a confused and bewildered, though sincere, soul. I told him that the best way to “teach” was to follow the way of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita: expound and explain the pros and cons of the issue and, then tell the son, as the Lord told Arjuna: “I have explained everything to you. Now you decide what you think best.”
However, I suggested to the anxious father that his son might get a much better insight into Hinduism by coming into direct contact with noted religious leaders. Entirely agreeing with this view, the father pleaded that his son should be exposed to the influence of some of the religious luminaries in our land. Indeed, two well-known Swamijis had a dialogue with the young man but then, he could not be deflected. In the meantime, I had also given him a few of the Bhavan’s publications for reading and understanding Hinduism in depth.
As luck would have it, Baba happened to be in Bombay at that time and on Christmas day he was to speak on Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, at Dharmakshetra.
I suggested to the worried father that he should take his son to Baba’s meeting which might change his mind. At first, the young man did not seem particularly enthusiastic, but, somehow he was persuaded to attend. The boy, his parents and myself motored together to Dharmakshetra. From “Satya Deep”, Baba came down to the pandal, moved among the vast concourse and then commenced his holy sermon on Christ and the significance of Christmas.
When the speech was over, wild with enthusiasm, the young man embraced me and said: “When I saw him and his childlike simplicity and overflowing love and total freedom from fanaticism, my heart throbbed. When I was listening to his message, my mind stood still. My doubts vanished.
I now realise that Hinduism is all-inclusive, all-embracing, is the Mother of all religions.’ I am convinced that the core and kernel of all religions are the same. To be a genuine Hindu is to be a genuine Christian or Muslim or Parsi and vice versa. Mere changing of label by formal conversion is unnecessary, nay, it is indeed irreligious.”
If this is not a divine miracle, what else is!
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
Posted in Sai Spiritual Showers |
