The Relationship Between The Master And The Disciple (Contd)

Sathya Sai Baba

oi-Staff

By Super

Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 17:15

Ananda wondered, what would become of him when the Buddha passed away? Although he had been with the Master for so long, day in and day out, twenty-four hours a day, he did not become enlightened. Without the Master around he felt he would have no hope whatsoever. However, the Buddha explained to Ananda the reasons for his failure, and how His departure would bring the change:

"You don't understand the dynamics of life. Perhaps you will become enlightened only when I am gone; I am the barrier. You take me for granted. When you asked me to comply with your three conditions, I already knew that those conditions would become the barriers in your progress. You still haven't forgotten the fact that you are my brother. You continue to believe that you have special privileges over other disciples and that I had to fulfil your three conditions. Perhaps my death will help you towards your goal."

Eventually, when the Buddha passed away the enlightened disciples convened a meeting to write down everything the Master had taught them over the years. However, Ananda was not permitted to take part in the meeting because he was deemed ignorant and unenlightened. Others, though enlightened, were also disadvantaged in that none of them had been so close to the Master continuously as Ananda had been. But, they still doubted Ananda's reliability – whether he had understood the Buddha's Messages correctly or if he would make up things with his own imagination; whether he remembered everything accurately, or if he would give his own interpretation on what the Buddha had said. Ananda's New Joy

Ananda was asked to sit outside the conference room and make himself available just in case something needed confirmation. It was a difficult situation and the scene was really tragic. The meeting was held behind close doors. Left out in the 'cold' Ananda was in tears because he had lived with the Buddha for forty-two years and actually knew more than the other disciples. In spite of him remembering each and every moment with the Master, Ananda was not allowed to participate in the meeting because they deemed him unfit.

Something transpired as he sat outside crying. Ananda had never cried in his entire life. With those tears his ego was washed away and he became like a child.When the disciples came out of the conference room they saw Ananda still sitting outside, but he looked transformed and radiant. The old Ananda, the old egoistic person had vanished. They saw an innocent being with tears of joy and they all could see the light surrounding him. With great joy they invited Ananda inside. They were bewildered by the fact that Ananda could not attain enlightenment for forty-two years in spite of his close proximity to the Buddha, but no sooner had the Master departed he attained that state, exactly as the Master had continuously remarked. The Buddha's departure alone brought about the death of Ananda's ego. Ananda's contribution to the recollection of His teachings was immense.

So it is not a question of one person being decisive. Each person has to be unique in his own way. Somebody dies for the Master, somebody lives for the Master, and others become enlightened only after the Master is no more on the physical plane, each a unique individual. You cannot say who is greater - perhaps no comparison should be made. All are themselves unique and inimmitable!

To be continued