Sivananda's Personality - 17.

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A lady from South Africa came and prostrated. The Master inquired about her welfare. She started weeping. She had lost her son in an accident.

"Do not weep. All here are your sons and daughters," assured the Master. The lady felt comforted.

A young woman, out to commit suicide, came and wept. Unmarried, she was yet carrying a baby. The Master did not gave her a sermon on ethics, but gave her a room in the Ashram, deputing an elderly woman, an inmate, to attend to her needs. When in due course the unwanted baby arrived, the Master thoughtfully passed it on to an issueless couple who had long been in correspondence with him over their singular misfortune.

The Master was ever on the watch for opportunities to serve. Even small instances stood witness to this eagerness to serve. One night in the Ashram Satsang, a child stood up from its mother’s lap and started toddling towards the male group. The Master at once guessed the child’s intent, and flashed his torch in such a way that the child could spot its father easily.

By virtue of his long medical experience, the Master was sometimes able to notice in visitors lurking diseases of which they themselves had no inkling. His timely advice saved many from future trouble.

The Master’s watchword with regard to selfless service was that service should seek the needy person. Thus, during the Sankirtan tours in North India, at the end of the day’s programme, he invariably announced from the platform, that all those needing medical attention were welcome to avail themselves of his free services.

Since his Swarg Ashram days it was a habit with the Master to carry three bags wherever he went. One would contain spiritual literature, another fruit and sweets, and the third medicines and utility articles like candle, matchbox, scissors, thread and needle, etc.

Once, the car in which the Master was travelling came to a halt on a trunk road. It was night time and the driver required a light to see what was wrong with the vehicle. The Master immediately opened his bag and pulled out matchbox and candle.

Sri N. Ananthanarayanan
To be continued  ...


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