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The drink of... water
Here is an experience of one of
our senior Sai Devotees, here in Beaverton, OR.
It is said in Purushasuktham that God has a thousand eyes.
Literally, this sounds wierd, but it is a symbolic representation
and it only means that god is in every one watching everything. No
one can fool Him.....
Bob Whaley, is a senior devotee, has been in Swami's fold since
1989 and has been making it a point to go to Parthi once atleast a
year. When the American devotees go to Parthi, they normally tend
to go there as a group. So the last year 1998, they were a big
group of about 16 memebers ( ladies and gentlemen put together).
They all went early November and stayed there till the beginning
of January and got back early 1999. One of the group members -
Thomas was an alcohol addict. He came to Swami's fold about three
years ago and this was his first ever trip to India / Parthi, he
was all excited about it. After coming to Swami's fold he started
reducing his in-take of Alcohol, but has not left it totally.
After reaching Parthi, on the first day evening, they have had
Swami's Darshan. Thomas was really impressed and touched with
everything happening around, he slowly walked back to his room in
the Ashram after dinner. Bob Whaley shared the room with Thomas,
they were casually talking about Swami's miracles and Thomas felt
the urge to take a peg ! He promptly took the bottle out of his
bag and started putting into a tumbler. Bob was astonished as
until then, none of the group members knew that Thomas was
carrying alcohol with him. No one is supposed to bring / consume
alcohol in the ashram and accordingly Bob persuaded him not to
drink and asked him to throw it away. Thomas did not feel like
doing it. But he did not want to put down Bob as well, so he kept
it away for the time being, hoping to consume it late in the night
when Bob is asleep. As the day in Ashram starts at 4:00 a.m., Bob
went to sleep early around 9:30 / 10 p.m. wanting to catch up with
the routine next day.
Thomas wanted to make use of the "good opportunity", slowly pulled
the bottle out and gulped a mouthfull, to his surprise, he felt
the taste was different, more like water. He was not sure, took
another gulp, yes, that was water. He thought some one must have
changed the contents and opened a brand new bottle, to quench his
addictive thurst, Surprise......Water again.
He could not believe himself, he could not resist but wake up Bob
at that moment. Hesitantly Bob also drank a little and knew it was
nothing but pure water !!! They were both amazed, and thought,
that must have been one of Swami's deed....
........... Next day Swami called the group for an interview.
Thomas was itching to tell swami about the previous night's
incident, but was again scared, because he could not muster the
courage to say that he actually brought alcohol into the ashram !
Understanding his mental agony, Swami called him slowly... "Thomas,
how was the drink, yesterday ?" Thomas was ZZzzaapped !!!!! Until
then no one even told swami what Thomas's namewas!!
Source:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saisruthi/message/69 |