Searching Questions And Fulfilling Answers

A child is like a sapling. In the

beginning, as he establishes a

foothold in this world of adults

he spreads his branches out

wide in all directions. He

questions about and everything.

‘Why this?’

‘How does that work?’, ‘What is

over there?’. He does so hoping

to reach the sky which of course,

is the answer to everything.

In his innocence he doesn’t

realise that the sky is still well

beyond his reach. If his questions

are not answered with love and

patience, we make break his

tiny, fragile branches, and his

eagerness to learn about life and

understand ‘Why?’.

With a broken spirit the

child grows up to be a man with

little eagerness in life. He has no

branches, thus disabling him

from reaching out to others, and

most important, he has no shade

to protect the next generation of

saplings from the scorching sun

which is the bad in our society.

Swamishri always has time for

children. Not just to play with

them, but also to guide them

and teach them. His answers

reflect patience and concern.

He takes them seriously

because he takes thefuture

seriously. And so, through his

answers we can see him -

‘Sowing the seeds of our future...’

Seven year old Nilkanth Parekh asked the following questions whilst Swamishri was walking on the terrace of the Bombay temple...

Nilkanth : Bapa! Why do sadhus eat in a pattar?

Swamishri : Because it is Shriji Maharaj’s agna. So we don’t have to set out any plates.

Swami! You are so famous. Everywhere you go people honour you. Yet you remain forever humble. How do you do it?

Swamishri : What difference is there between honour and insult to a servant? In this world, how many people believe in us? They all believe in God and they do His bhakti. We are only His servant.

You are constantly travelling, yet your body is so strong and energetic. How is that?

Swamishri : That’s because God keeps it well... God keeps the body healthy so that we can do bhajan.

(24 September 1989, Bombay)