Duty Towards Servants
There is an incident-such incidents are, of course, numerous – from which we can learn and understand the true place of the servants in our home and their relationship with us and how they knit into our lives, and about our own responsibilities towards them.
A lady was confronted with a problem and she wanted to go and seek Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s advice in the matter. She got ready along with her servant boy to accompany her to go to Puttaparthi. As they were about to start, her son who was studying elsewhere happened to come home. At this, the lady told the servant boy that he need not accompany her. Then she went to see Baba along with her son. Baba gave them the coveted interview and they took His permission to go back home. They were immensely happy at Baba’s kindness and love for them. Then, as soon as she reached home, she found that there was a telegram waiting for her informing that Baba wanted her to come to Puttaparthi again very urgently. But now her son had to go back to the place of his study. The lady started back for Puttaparthi taking the servant boy along with her this time, as her son could not accompany her. When they reached there, she asked Baba as to why He called her so urgently. Baba said, “I called you because of the servant boy of yours… Do you know how much he cried when you left him behind last time? He felt such a disappointment. That was the reason I made you come again, to satisfy him, to give him the joy of visiting and seeing me, just as I have done for you and your son.” A chastened lade she was as she set out back for her town.
It is also said that Baba, when He visits house, many VIPs would have gathered there waiting eagerly to see Him, but Baba walks first straight into the out house or into the kitchen to greet the servants and cook before He even looks at his chief host and the VIP guests.
Once, when a man of high position wanted to see Baba at Puttaparti along with his family, Baba called them for an interview. The first thing Baba asked them was, “You are only four of you here. Where is the other person who came along with you?” They replied, “Our family is only four of us, Swami!” Baba said, “But your servant also came along with you. Go and bring him also for the interview.” Oh, then in the eyes of Baba, there is no difference at all between us and our servants! And it was shown many times that Baba’s love is the same for even the cats and dogs in our house as his love for us! Dumb they may be, but they are also members and partners in our family, in His view!