Softening the Hard Ego: The Deep Mystery Behind Baba Kneading Mangoes
The Leela
In the sacred precinct of the Dwarkamai, where Sai Baba lived His entire life, a seemingly small but profound play would unfold when the season of mangoes arrived. Baba would often purchase entire boxes of mangoes or bring bananas, spending from His own pocket to distribute generously among the devotees.
However, before giving a mango to a devotee, Baba performed a peculiar ritual. He would take the fruit in His hand and, while conversing with people on various topics, He would continuously rub and knead it between His palms. He would not stop after a mere minute or two; He would crush it gently yet persistently.
What was the Master doing? To the naked eye, He was simply softening a fruit. But in truth, He was demonstrating the alchemy of the Guru. By the time He handed the mango to the devotee, the fruit was entirely transformed. The hard pulp was gone, turned into liquid nectar. There was no need to suck or struggle; the juice would simply flow into a vessel, leaving behind only the seed and the peel to be discarded.
? The Conflict / Doubt
Why would a realized master spend so much time physically kneading a mango before distributing it? Is this merely a way to prepare the fruit for eating, or does this simple act conceal a profound spiritual surgery performed on the devotee's soul?
The Revelation
Baba's act of kneading the mango is a powerful metaphor for the relationship between the Sadhguru and the disciple.
- The Hardness of Ego: We are like raw mangoes. Unless touched by the Guru's hand, our arrogance, body consciousness, and Ahankara (ego) remain hard and rigid.
- The Process of Kneading: Baba takes us into His holy hands. The rubbing represents the penance and the tests of the Guru. As the transcript notes, He does not just knead for a moment; metaphorically, "He kneads for twelve years" (bara varshe). This is the time taken to crush the ego completely.
- The Flow of Nectar (Amrut): Once softened, the soul releases its essence. Amrut (Nectar) signifies that which is beyond death (Mrut). When the Guru is done, the devotee becomes entitled to this stream of immortality.
- Discarding the Filth: Just as the skin and seed are thrown away, the Guru's touch separates the soul's nectar from the "garbage" of the mind and body pride.
This leads to the ultimate choice described by the saints:
"It is in your hands whether you want to be a mango kneaded by Him or whether you want to remain like a raw unripe mango and stay in conflict with the world."
Scriptural References
📖
- Sai Satcharitra: Adhyay 12, Ovi 92
- Saint Kabir: "Chalti Chakki" (The Moving Mill)
- Saint Rahim: Couplet on the conflict between Worldly Comfort and Ramji (God)
Watch the Discourse
In the sacred precinct of the Dwarkamai, where Sai Baba lived His entire life, a seemingly small but profound play would unfold when the season of mangoes arrived. Baba would often purchase entire box...
Leela Narration
In the sacred precinct of the Dwarkamai, where Sai Baba lived His entire life, a seemingly small but profound play would unfold when the season of mangoes arrived. Baba would often purchase entire box...