In this divine conversation, Sai Baba Answers on Kindness to Animals with wisdom that transcends ordinary ideas of compassion. A traveler’s doubt becomes the doorway to a profound teaching, where Baba gently reveals that true kindness is not limited to food or ritual, but springs from the purity of one’s heart. With metaphors drawn from nature, life, and the simple act of acceptance, Baba unfolds a perspective that challenges conventional thinking. His words inspire seekers to reflect not only on kindness towards animals but also on the greater truth of non-attachment, intention, and universal love. A story worth reading till the end, it carries timeless relevance for anyone on the spiritual path.
The Traveller’s Question – Sai Baba used to eat meat, why did He not show compassion towards animals here?
The sun was beginning to set over the sacred land of Shirdi, casting golden hues across the dusty paths leading to the Dwarkamai mosque. A lone Traveller, weary from the weight of his thoughts, approached Sai Baba, Who sat peacefully by the Dhuni (sacred fire), His eyes half-closed, as if seeing beyond the world.
The Traveller bowed and spoke hesitantly, his voice laced with doubt.
“Baba, I have heard that You sometimes ate meat. If You are the embodiment of compassion, why did You not show kindness towards animals? Shouldn’t a saint renounce such things?”
Baba’s Wisdom
Baba opened His eyes, looking at the Traveller with a gaze both piercing and gentle. He took a small twig and drew a circle in the dust.
“Tell Me, child, where does this circle begin and where does it end?”
The Traveller frowned, studying the shape. “It has no beginning or end, Baba.”
Baba smiled. “Just like this, life moves in circles, birth, death, and rebirth. The body is consumed by the earth, the earth nourishes the plants, the plants feed the animals, and the animals feed other beings. This is the way of nature. Who then can say where life begins or ends?”
The Traveller remained silent, unsure of how this answered his question. Baba continued.
“You believe compassion is measured by what one eats. But tell Me, if a man eats only fruits and vegetables but speaks with cruelty, is he truly kind? And if another man eats whatever is offered but serves all with love, is he truly cruel?”
The Traveller thought for a moment. “Intent matters, Baba?”
Baba nodded. “Yes. Compassion is not in the act itself, but in the heart behind it. A doctor may cut flesh to heal, while a butcher may cut flesh for profit. One does so with love, the other is for survial. The act is the same, but the essence is different. Look deeper, beyond surface judgments.”
The Traveller looked down, absorbing Baba’s words. But another doubt arose.
“But Baba, why eat meat at all? Why not reject it completely?”
Baba laughed gently and threw a few sticks into the Dhuni. Sparks rose with the smoke.
“Fire burns whatever is placed in it, wood, leaves, even fragrant flowers. Does the fire choose? No. It takes what is given and turns it into light and warmth. A true fakir is like that. I accept what is given, without attachment or aversion. If a devotee offers me food with love, I take it, for I see only their devotion, not the form of the food.”
The Traveller’s eyes widened. “So, it was never about taste or desire, but about non-attachment?”
Baba smiled. “Now you understand.”
The Answer
Sai Baba’s occasional consumption of meat was not an act of desire, nor was it a contradiction to His compassion. He lived beyond rigid rules, teaching that true spirituality is not about external restrictions but about inner purity. A saint does not crave nor reject, he simply accepts what comes, seeing all as the will of the Divine.
A Final Thought
Does compassion come from the food we eat, or from the way we treat all beings? And are we looking at actions, or understanding the deeper intention behind them?
Contributed by: Murali P K – Author of Shirdi Sai Baba – The Guiding Light for the New Age (Volume 1)
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Posts in this Series
1️⃣ Sai Baba Answers About Human Suffering
2️⃣ Why Is God Worshipped in Different Forms?
3️⃣ Existence and Reality – Sai Baba Answers
4️⃣ Why Does the Universe Seem Fine-Tuned for Life?
5️⃣ Is There Life Beyond Earth? Sai Baba Answers
6️⃣ Sai Baba on The Unseen Laws of the Universe
7️⃣ Sai Baba on Consciousness Beyond Science
8️⃣ Sai Baba Answers – Consciousness Beyond Death
9️⃣ Sai Baba Answers on Near Death Experiences
🔟 Sai Baba Answers on Spiritual Experiences and Parallel Worlds
1️⃣1️⃣ Sai Baba Answers – Can We Talk To The Dead
1️⃣2️⃣ Sai Baba Answers On Recurring Dreams
