"Many Noble Souls Will Be Born In Future" - An Episode
"Once upon a time, Buddha was traversing all over the country in order to propagate truth. On reaching a particular village, Buddha felt tired and was not in a position to deliver his discourse. So, he told one of his chief disciples to address the congregation. Buddha went inside to take rest. As he could not get sleep, he was listening to what his disciple was saying, the disciple said, '0 people, a person like Buddha was never born before and will never be born again in future. We are all very fortunate to be his contemporaries. So, make the best use of this golden opportunity.' On hearing this, the congregation gave a thunderous applause. Buddha came out and asked his disciple, 'Nityananda! How old are you?' Nityananda told that he was thirty-five years old. Buddha then asked, 'Have you travelled far and wide?' Nityananda told that he had visited only a few cities. Then Buddha chided Nityananda saying, you have not seen much of the world. You are just thirty-five years old. With what authority can you say that a person like Buddha was not born before and will not be born again? Many noble souls were born and many more will be born in future. The world cannot exist if there are no noble souls in it." Sai Baba, SS, 5/2000, p. 13]
Buddha's Experience With Meditation - An Episode
"For meditation, Krishna lays down two important injunctions; a moderate diet and a regulated conduct of life. 'Yuktaahaara Vihaarasya' said Krishna. Here, 'Yuktaahaara' does not denote complete abstinence from food, as this would lead to physical emaciation and mental fatigue. The Buddha's experience illustrates this very well. While doing penance, Buddha had in the beginning given up food for several days. This resulted in dissipation of his physical and mental energies. Realising that a healthy body and sound mind are necessary pre-requisites for effective penance, he went to a nearby village and partook of curds and appeased his hunger. From that day, he continued taking food in small quantities every day. He was thereby able to meditate with great ease and realise the truth. Thus, food in right quantities and of proper type is necessary if an individual is to meditate effectively. Excessive eating which leads to drowsiness should, however, be avoided." Sai Baba, Summer Showers in Brindavan-1979, p. 86
Buddha's Message To Ananda
"In his last moments, Buddha summoned his step-brother Ananda to impart him his final message. Ananda was the son ofGautami (Buddha's stepmother). Placing his palm on the head of his younger brother, Buddha said, "My dear child! I came to the world to teach (the truth). If anyone asks, 'Where is God? The answer is: 'He is everywhere.' Truth is God. Speak the truth. Do not harm anyone. Recognise that the highest Dharma is non-violence (Ahimsa).
Buddha told Ananda that this truth was leamt by him from his own experience. He said, ' When I left the palace, my father (the king) was told that I was doing a great wrong in renouncing the family. My parents, kinsmen and other tried to put pressure on me to return to the ties of family life. These wrong efforts, on their side, made me more determined to pursue the spiritual path. In the quest for spiritual peace, several ordeals have to be overcome. Today I have found the truth about life. What is it? The satisfaction of the five senses is the way to truth. If the senses are polluted, of what avail are spiritual exercises? When the water in a tank is polluted, all taps will only give polluted water. Your heart is the tank. Your vision and thoughts are impure. Your speech is foul. When the heart is polluted in this manner, the senses are bound to be sullied." Sai Baba, SS. 2/99. p. 31
"Before his passing Buddha taught his stepbrother, Ananda, the transience of worldly pleasures and the meaninglessness of a purely mundane existence. When Ananda started weeping, noticing the imminent passing of Buddha, the Enlightened One asked him,' What for are you weeping?' Ananda said, 'I am weeping because your passing is imminent.' Buddha told him that he should not worry about what happens to the body that is perishable and full of infirmities. He exhorted Ananda not to bother about the body or the mind, but lead a life based on the dictates of the conscience. Giving this advice, Buddha breathed his last." Sai Baba, SS, 2/98, p. 32
Buddha's Message For His Father
"When Buddha was going round for alms as a mendicant, his father, Suddhodana called him and said: 'Son! Why are you going about as a beggar? I am a king and you are leading the life of a beggar. This is not proper at all.' Buddha gave him a fitting reply. "Sir, you are Brahmam and I am Brahmam. You are not father and I am not son. Both of us are Brahmam. In the phenomenal world, you belong to the lineage of rulers. I belong to the lineage ofrenunciants. All those who follow my ideals are all renunciants. Your lineage is based on attachment (Raaga). My lineage is based on renunciation (Viraagya). To those who have attachment, it becomes a disease (Roga). To the renunciant, detachment becomes the means to Nirvana.' Buddha taught his message in this way to his father, wife and son." Sai Baba, SS, 6/97, p. 148
Is. Buddha Atheist?
"Because Buddha did not interest himself in the study of the Vedas or in the performance ofYagas and Yajnas, he was dubbed an atheist." Sai Baba, SS. 6/97, p. 146
Buddha's Teaching On God
"Once some persons approached Buddha and put him questions about God. Buddha told them, 'Why are you wasting your time on these little controversies? If you were told about God, you will not believe. Why should you waste my time on this matter? The basic requisites for life in this world are truth, righteousness and non-violence (Satya, Dharma and Ahimsa). Regard truth as God. Adhere to truth. You will realise everything." Sai Baba, SS. 4/97. p. 88
Decline Of Buddhism
"As Buddha's teachings were not properly propagated. Buddhism steadily declined in this country (India). All religions suffer a decline because those who profess them do not practise them in their daily lives. People should practise what they profess. People should live up to the truths in which they believe. People do not act upon the truths they have learnt." Sai Baba, SS, 6/98. p. 151