20 - Divine Darshan

There lived a barber in Vrishpur. He was aware of the greatness of Abjibhai.

He used to shave Abjibhai regularly. ‘I am privileged to serve such a great man.’ thought he. One day, he went to Abjibhai’s place for shaving.

Abjibhai said, ‘Please come in, I have been waiting for you.’ The barber began to shave. He had been chatting with Abjibhai while shaving. Suddenly he stopped shaving in between.

Abjibhai asked, ‘Why have you stopped?’ Barber replied, ‘Bava, light is spreading out of your head.’ Abjibhai asked, ‘Light? How is it possible?’ Barber repeated, ‘Light is spreading out of your head. I can not see anything.’

Abjibhai replied, ‘May be it is sunlight, penetrating through tree. Come on! Hurry up! I have a lot of work in the fields. Barber replied, ‘Bava! I am not crazy! I know that you are a great Mukta.’

Abjibhai absorbed the light back. Barber pointed out, ‘See! Where is sunlight? The light had been spreading out of your head.’ Abjibhai uttered, ‘You are fortunate that you had such Darshan.’

Barber prayed, ‘Bavaji, Bless me.’ Abjibhai said, ‘Bless you!’ Barber prayed again, ‘Bavaji, I have served a great saint like you. Please bless me that I achieve all the happiness in this life as well as thereafter.’

Abjibhai granted, ‘All right! I Bless you!’ The barber was elated. He went back. He declared to all his customers, ‘Abjibhai is a great Mukta. All of you recognize him and serve him.’ They asked him, ‘Tell us, how do you know?’ Barber wouldn’t reply.

At last he narrated the incident when people insisted. And concluded happily, ‘Bavaji has personally blessed me. I am very lucky.’

Difficult words:
To caress - To touch lovingly
Soothing - Easing pain through kindness

Points to ponder:
- Whoever serves an Anadimukta with awareness of his greatness, attains bliss in this world as well as in the next world.

Exercise

Answer the following questions:
1. What did the barber think?
2. What did the barber see?
3. Which explanation of Abjibhai could not be believed by the barber?
4. What blessings did the barber ask from Abjibhai?

Fill in the blanks:
1. Bava, ____________ is spreading out of your ___________.
2. Bava, I am not ___________.
3. Bavaji, I have ______________ a great saint like you. Please ____________ me.