Chapter 31 portrays a perplexing first encounter between Sai Baba and Vijayananda. Initially, the sannyasi took darshan and prostrated at Baba's feet, feeling very pleased. However, verse 22 states that Baba's disposition then became disturbed, and He unexpectedly said to the assembly, "send away this sannyasi; there is no companionship for work." For the sannyasi, who was new and did not understand Baba's unique nature, this was a distressing moment. As verse 23 notes, though he became distressed at heart by the apparent rejection, he did not leave. Instead, he chose to sit and continue observing the service, indicating a nascent faith or curiosity that outweighed his immediate confusion.
Analyze Sai Baba's initial, seemingly contradictory, reaction to the sannyasi Vijayananda's arrival as described in Chapter 31.
๐ Chapter 31