Chapter from "Sanathana Sarathi - Bhagavan's 70th Birthday Commemorantion Volume" (page 65)

"Do Your Duty Or Get Out"

David M. Wolff

"I do not give 'speeches'; my talks are more of the Sambhashana type (conversation, dialogue); I want that you should follow every word of what I say with reverent attention, for your Anandam is my Aahaaram, your joy is my food,... You should listen carefully and take to heart all that I say."

- Baba

In the United States, all over the world, we have most recently heard the term known as the "Information Superhighway". We, however, as Sai devotees have had this superhighway since we came to know our beloved Swami... We unfortunately forget that His is the ultimate information superhighway. I have been a devotee for some 15 years now and since I can remember, I have drawn on Swami's counsel, words, and blessings to give me strength to do what I had to in order to accomplish my life tasks. The highway that Swami is providing for us is one that will speed us along the road of life to that very destination that He has in mind for each one of us. It is true that other avenues can be taken to reach a destination, but this gift of His of having shown us the path is a rarity.

If we do follow every word that He does say, we are sure to accomplish very much; the less of His words that we care to follow, the longer it will take us .to arrive at our destination. How sure am I that I am on the right path speeding along on this Sai Superhighway? I humbly pray that I am in fact on this highway of God. I do know however that if I had not been a Sai devotee, that my life would probably not be worth much.

Sathya Sai Baba is the author of numerous Divine Discourses, and has spoken at many seminars, mostly dedicated to you and me. Do we listen or do we pretend to listen, bouncing His words back and forth and praising His Divine glory? My answer is that we bounce His words back and forth. It might be better to say less, praise less and do more. Those actions will speak louder than words; we will have then done our duty.

" ...YOU SHOULD LISTEN CAREFULLY AND TAKE TO HEART ALL THAT I SAY."

One fine day, I was in the Mandir and did just that. Baba walked inside and very softly yet with firm determination said about five times, "Do your duty or get out!" Who in God's name was He speaking to? I knew that He was not speaking to me, or was He? His words, however, had a very profound effect on me; He was speaking to me and you and everybody who could hear, who would care to listen, and even those who were not in an audible range. No word should go unheard if you can help it.

I cannot live with myself if my work is not done, or if my duty is not accomplished. The penalty is too great. If I lose Swami, l lose everything that my life stands for and my very existence will lose its meaning. I can no longer sit back idly and expect Swami simply to take care of everything without my participation. I submit that we will feel a sense of accomplishment if we take this approach. The feeling of satisfaction that we can derive is enormous, and most of all Baba will be so very proud of all of us. Now, are we doing our life's work to make Baba proud? Maybe. I would rather think that it is to build ourselves so that we become strong vessels that carry Baba's messages or rather perform them.

We are human beings with a very special job; we are Sai devotees with a silent mission to carry forth our Father's words and translate them into venerable actions that do not bring glory unto ourselves, but allow the Lord's wisdom to permeate the world.

This life is Baba's and I would not have it any other way. I must become an integral part of His Divine Information Superhighway. The possibilities are endless.

David M. Wolff

Connecticut, U.S.A.