Back Biting

It is said that one day Shirdi Sai Baba was sitting with his devotees. They were discussing about some devotees. Shirdi Sai Baba was telling them to look for goodness in everyone. That was surely a way to make life pleasant.

One of them said, “Baba we try not to find fault with others but my neighbour is such a terrible person. He is always out to harm others for his personal gains. He is the devil personified. None of us wants to talk to him or have anything to do with him.” Baba listened, without uttering a word.

Sometime later it was time to eat. Baba and the devotees started to walk in search of food. After walking some distance, Baba pointed out to an animal and said, “Look, what’s there!” The devotees went a few steps further. They said, “It’s a pig. Tch! Tch! It’s eating filth!”

Baba laughed out loud and said, “It’s doing just what you were doing a short while ago. A backbiter cleans the filth of others with his tongue. The backbiter takes over the sin of the person of whom he is backbiting.”

Before you speak think:
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Will it improve upon the silence?