The idea for this post came to me when I came across an article in a very prominent political magazine. The article was based on the hype around the sad demise of Shri Satya Sai Bab recently. The author included Sai Baba amongst the likes of Chandraswamy and Nityananda who are an example of wily con spiritual fraudsters. I am no follower of Shri Satya Sai baba but I am saddened by such reactions of some of the prominent Media houses after this unfortunate incident. It’s not about Sai Baba in particular but it’s meaningless to simply stamp all the spiritual leaders and sadhus as dhongis just because of some Nityanands and Chandraswamys in history.
You may want to read the post on Outlook (Click Here). The author argues that all the Spiritual Babas have only one aim and that is to squeeze money from people’s pocket. He overlooks the nexus between the powerful and the likes of Sai Babas and Ramdevs. The Author questions the money that comes in hands of the spiritual leaders. My simple reply to the Author on all this is that he is overpowered, to an uncontrollable extent, by the typical how-could-he-do-it-and-not-me attitude. He has been blinded to an extent that he’s not able to see through that how beneficial these Spiritual leaders are proving to the Indian Society. Talking in Particular about Shri Satya Sai Baba, he has built an empire which runs Hospitals, Medical Colleges and Ashrams where the poor are fed and taken care of.
Now, if some foolish author, driven by his illogical paranoid attitude of pointing out faults in almost everything, comes and proves that so-and-so minister’s black money is being poured into Baba’s empire then I would weigh Baba’s contributions to the society more than looking into where the money is coming from. In fact, if it is so, then he is using the black money (robbed from the public) in causes beneficial for the public only. Well, that’s the case of Satya Sai Baba in particular and I am not saying that this Black money chain (as claimed to exist) is right. But, the importance of Spiritual leaders should not be ignored.
I think we are so much involved, attracted and influenced by the western culture that we are ready even to let go our spiritual leaders and their learning in the name of being practical and so-called “modern”. I am not saying we should be a restrictive society but to be an open to an extent of criticizing everything without taking into account its benefits just to look ‘Cool’ and care-free is not justified either.
A strange fact that I came across my mind is that we middle and higher-class Indians are so much busy in our lives that we don’t get time to even look into issues of society. How many of us would have ever gone to help in social activities as teaching unprivileged kids or helping people at an old-age home. Lack of time is our excuse. Surely, some of us must have done this. But, aren’t we lost somewhere in race for money?? If someone like Satya Sai Baba, Baba Ramdev and Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj drives us to do all the good things by their preachings and they themselves initiate the helping deeds why to waste time criticizing them??
At last, whatever the world may say, I would believe Baba Ramdev more than a scientist in US when he says that he can cure Cancer. This isn’t a superstition, but a belief in him and the people around me whom he has cured by bringing in light hundreds of aasans of our very own Yoga.
Thanks!!
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