Sai Baba the Master

[Guest guest]

As Bhagavan Ramana had often pointed out, though self-realization is the

result of grace, grace never comes without efforts, i.e. arbitrarily. And

Sai Baba was asking everyone to exert, exert himself in his spiritual

exercises and in being vigilant against the negative tendencies of his own

mind. The variety of his teachings and his ways could be summed up in the

words of his first biographer, Hemadpanth:-

 

“He who wants to get rid of the cycle of births and deaths should lead a

righteous life with his mind calm and composed. He should not speak

cuttingly to anyone so as to hurt him to the quick. He should always engage

himself in good actions, should do his duties and surrender himself heart

and soul to Him. He need not then be afraid of anything. He who trusts Him

entirely, hears and expounds His leelas and does not think of anything else

is sure to attain self-realization. Baba asked many to remember His name,

but to those who wanted to know who they were, he advised sravan (hearing)

and manan (contemplation on teaching of the guru). To some he advised

remembering God’s name; to others, hearing His leelas; to some the worship

of his feet; to others the reading and study of the Adhyatma Ramayan,

Jnaneswari and other sacred scriptures. Some he made to sit near His feet,

some he sent to Khandoba’s temple, and to some he enjoined the repetition of

the thousand names of Lord Vishnu and to some, the study of the

Chandogyopanishad and Gita. There was no limit or restriction to his

instructions. To some, He gave them in person. To others by visions and

dreams. To one addicted to drink, He appeared in his dream, sat on his

chest, pressed it (hard) and left him (only) after he

gave a promise not to touch liquor. To some, He explained mantras like

Gurur Brahma in dreams. To one devotee who was practicing hata yoga, he

sent word that he should leave off hata yoga practices, sit quiet and wait

(i.e. for God’s grace). It is impossible to describe all His ways and

methods. In ordinary dealings, He set examples by his actions...” (Sri Sai

Satcharitra).

 

Source: http://www.saibharadwaja.org