Buddha's Attainment Of Nirvana
"Buddha's heart was filled with compassion. The sight of a dead body, a sick
person was enough for Buddha to get transformed and attain Nirvana." Sai Baba,
SS, 4/2000, p. 110
"All that you experience is nothing but reflection, reaction and resound of
what is in you. Buddha, having understood this truth, put his five senses to
proper use through which he could attain Nirvana. He was in a state of supreme
bliss at the time of Nirvana. That state could be described as ever blissful,
granting happiness, embodiment of wisdom, beyond duality, infinite as the sky,
primordial, final goal, one eternal, pure, immutable, omnipresent witness,
beyond emotions, devoid of the three Gunas.
When Buddha was on the verge of attaining Nirvana, his stepbrother Ananda, who
was by his side, started shedding tears. Seeing this Buddha smiled and said,
'My dear one, it is rather surprising that you should feel sad about my
attaining the state of highest bliss. Instead you should also try to attain
this state of supreme bliss by controlling your senses." Sai Baba, SS, 8/99,
p. 215
Buddha's Departure From The Physical Body - An Episode
"At the time of Buddha's departure from the physical body, there was a small
coin with him, which he had carefully kept in tiny knots of his cloth. Kings
and emperors built magnificent monasteries for the Bhikshus (Buddhist monks).
This did not delight him much. One day, an old beggar woman came to him and
gave this coin with all her heart saying that it was all that she could give.
He accepted the coin with both hands, treasured it for the feeling with which
it was given. It is not how much you give that matters. Pomp and show stains
all charity. Charity given-with love and humility makes it precious." Sai
Baba. SS, 6/2000, p. 185
Death Is A Certainty - An Episode
"Once Buddha was sitting alone in a forest. A fierce demoness appeared before
him and said, '0 Buddha, I am very hungry. Will you allow me to eat you?'
Buddha readily consented to the request of the demoness and said smilingly to
her, 'One need not be afraid of death. Death is certain and is bound to come
one day or the other. You are
hungry; feed on me and be happy.' As soon as Buddha uttered these words
smilingly, the demoness changed into a dove. '0 Buddha, I will spread your
gospel of sacrifice. People are afraid of death, but you are delighted at the
prospect of sacrificing yourself to satiate somebody's hunger. I am not a
demoness. I am a dove. I have come down to test you. I will now disseminate
your gospel of love and sacrifice in the world.' The cardinal principle
of Buddha's teachings is selfless love. Sai also gives the message of love."
Sai Baba, SS, 6/2000, p. 185
Sacrifice Of Animals At Yajnas - An Episode
"Man undertakes Yajnas (sacrifices) and Yagas (rituals) without realising the
innate divinity of all beings. While traveling from place to place, Buddha
came across a group of people in a village performing a ritual sacrifice. This
sacrifice required the killing of animals. Buddha protested. He told them that
omnipresent God was indweller of all living beings. Therefore, it was improper
to sacrifice living beings. The person conducting the ritual said that the
sacrificed animals would attain liberation. Buddha laughed at this and said,
'You want to give liberation to these animals, which have not desired for it.
Why don't you apply the same principle and give liberation to all these men
who are yearning for it? I do not accept your argument that these sacrificial
animals will attain liberation. Which Upanishad or the Veda recommends animal
sacrifice? How can you think of anybody's liberation when an animal is killed?
This is utter falsehood. This animal has not expressed any desire for
liberation. But your mother, father, wife, children, relatives and many others
desire liberation. Why don't you sacrifice them and fulfill their desire? In
fact, why don't you start with yourself? Nobody can attain liberation by
violence on living beings.' In this manner, Buddha propagated the principle of
Ahimsa (non-violence). The love that is inherent in human beings is present in
birds
and beasts
also. Share your love with birds and beasts and fellow-beings. Absolute love
is true liberation."
Sai Baba,
SS, 6/2000. pp. 180 & 181