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Monks 'Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
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arrogate to themselves the wisdom and competence to advice and guide the householders? It is a surprising paradox that a person of your status capable of curing others is himself afflicted with paralysis. I also fail to understand that the God incarnate like you should be concerned with problems of his devotees only and not of mankind as a whole. Are you so partial or help only those who flatter you with their obeisance and allegiance? These burning questions, material and spiritual, ephemeral and eternal, superstitious and rational are agitating my mind. I have come here with great hope for the answers from you, supposedly the omniscient and epitome of all knowledge."
Deepti's pointed questions shook the very core, stupefied every nerve and neuron in him, tumbled down the entire edifice of his institution he had built so dexterously and meticulously with clever articulations and manipulations, hypnotic tricks, slate of hand, and concocted stories of his miracles, boons and cures, their multiplier effect, based solely on the ignorance, blind faith, superstitions and weakness of the gullible people wanting to get benefits without effort. Satya Sai Baba was dumb and numb, so was the entire audience, the very foundation of their faith in him shaken miserably. He had no option but to evade and escape. He mustered some courage and said meekly. "The time is over. It is time for my meditation. I am retiring to my room. You have to seek another appointment."
Deepak congratulated Deepti and said, "Our mission is successful. We should leave now. There is nothing more here to stay for."
Shree was checking her E-mail. Deepak wanted to know about the progress in the preparatory work she was doing for organising the proposed seminar. Shree wrote him, "I sent the questionnaire to four hundred proposed invitees comprising prominent monks, intellectuals, scientists, writers, journalists, lawyers, educationists, mahants, pundits, priests, astrologers and politicians. I have received replies from one hundred and forty only so far. I am sending reminders. I am simultaneously analysing and categorising the responses viz. The number and percentage of monks initiated in early teens, as adults, as householders, as married or single, circumstances that forced them into monkhood, their understanding about detachment, their notions about soul, god, heaven, hell and salvation and views of others about relevance of the very institution of monkhood in any sect. I shall tabulate the information after some more responses are received. I shall finalise the compilation even if I get replies from over two hundred addressees. I do not expect attendance of more than that."
Deepak, "Acharya Vinay is expected to reach Udaipur within a week. You should go and meet him ten or fifteen days after he has settled their, apprise him of the work you have done so far. If there are any new instructions, try to comply. This time you should insist on getting final dates for the conference from him, impressing on him that it would require a month or more for preparations and that it had to be organised within the period of his four months stay at Udaipur. You may also hint that delaying the conference deliberately on any pretext will compel us to take legal recourse."
Shree, "I am in touch with the President, Managing Committee and shall go there after a fortnight of his arrival there."
