A Christmas Story Of Transformation

It’s Christmas time again!!! With the joyful arrival of the holy Christmas comes the fondest memories of the ‘Father-Son Duo’ of The Holy Divine Father and the ‘Prince Of Love n’ Peace’, Jesus Christ. Over 2000 years after the epochal arrival of the Son on to the planet, as we celebrate the occasion once again, let’s now ‘listen’ to an exciting tale of transformation happened in the physical presence of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai at Dharmakshetra in Mumbai, on a Holy Christmas Day. The article is sourced from Bhavan’s Journal, November 1975 issue, a fortnightly devoted to life, literature and culture. The author of the article Sri S Ramakrishnan was the Founder editor of the Bhavan’s Journal.

A merchant-prince from Gujarat who had made his fortune by his untiring industry in East Africa once came and met me in the Bhavan a few years ago. The man who exuded opulence from almost every pore of his body, I expected, would also be brimming with inner joy, but, alas, this was not to be. He did laugh during our conversation, but the laughter sounded hollow and in fact it was only an echo of his deep grief within. I enquired of him whether there was anything worrying him secretly.

He opened up and said: “Yes, it is my young son, eldest son…” He could not talk easily, such was his anguish.

Slowly I gathered that he was sorely distressed because his son who was in England for higher studies had been nearly “seduced” into leaving Hinduism and embracing Christianity.

All the persuasive efforts of the father and the even more worried mother had fallen flat on the youngster for whom Hinduism, with its “maze of thousands of gods, and goddesses” held very little attraction and appeared irrational and anachronistic.

The gentleman sought my help in infusing his son with faith in Hinduism.

I explained to him that our ancients had enjoined to look upon one’s children as equals after they attain the age of 16. Hence, any compulsion was likely to harden the heart of the impetus and misguided youngster in pursuing his own decision. I also stressed the futility of brow-beating or imposing a decision on a confused and bewildered, though sincere, soul. I told him that the best way to “teach” was to follow the way of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita: expound and explain the pros and cons of the issue and, then tell the son, as the Lord told Arjuna: “I have explained everything to you. Now you decide what you think best.”