Beloved Sairam

[Guest guest]

Beloved Sairam,

 

In our daily spiritual practice, it is natural to expect a vision of

Sri Sainath Maharaj, because many consider this event is a stepping

stone in their path of spiritual progress and mark of recognition for

their spiritual efforts. But in reality, meditation sometimes brings

about spectacular side effects; visions of gods may appear and

occasionally supernatural powers such as clairvoyance and telepathy

are developed. Both of these effects can be deliberately produced.

 

Concentration on a mental image will sometimes result in visions,

particularly if the concentration is done with devotion or if there

is a strong desire for the visions to appear. Das Ganu Maharaj was

very keenly interested to have a vision of Vittal, and Baba

instructed him to do Nama Sapthah with intense concentration towards

God, and vision of Vittal came to Kaka Saheb Dixit, but not to Das

Ganu.

 

Psychic powers (Siddhis) may also be attained by special yogic

exercises. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the classic text on Yoga, lists

several exercises which accelerate the development of eight Siddhis

ranging from invisibility to walking on water.

 

Sri Sai Baba discouraged His devotees from DELIBERATELY pursuing

either visions or Siddhis by pointing out that they were products of

the mind, which might impede rather than facilitate Self-realisation.

 

If visions came spontaneously he would sometimes admit that they were

a sign of progress but he would usually add that they were only

temporary experiences in the mind and that they were `below the plane

of Self-realisation'.

 

If Siddhis appeared spontaneously he would outline the dangers of

becoming attached to them, and explain that such powers were more

likely to inflate the ego than eliminate it, and emphasize that the

desire for Siddhis and the desire for Self-realisation were mutually

exclusive.

 

Kusa Bhav acquired some siddhis from his previous Guru Datta Maharaj

and got trained in Yoga. That is Asana, Pranayama and raising of the

Kundalini. The Guru imparted to him only the general teachings, but

this sishya was not satisfied and prevailed upon the Guru to give him

instructions in Maranam, Uchchatanam and Vasigaranam. The Guru gave

those Mantras to him and he learnt them all. He had therefor to deal

with evil spirits, and so he wore an iron bangle as talisman when he

was repeating the mantras. He mastered the mantras by his japa, and

he was able to order sweetmeats to come and they would came. When he

was aged only 22 in 1888, fully armed with these magical powers, the

Guru left him, wanting to go to the Himalayas to live there alone up

to the end of his life. Kusa Bhav accompanied him up to Delhi, and

there, when parting, the Guru told him that he should go to Sai Baba

of Shirdi whom he referred to as his elder brother, `Maja Vadil Bhai'

and that he should go to him and do whatever he directed. With that

injunction he disappeared. Kusa Bhav in 1908 went to Baba at Shirdi,

but, as soon as he came near the Mosque, Baba would not allow him to

enter, `Throw away your iron bangles, stop the production of your

pedas and then come here' was Sai Baba's order. As for his mantric

powers Baba had forbidden their use and he was not using them. From

this incident, it is evident that Baba specifically wanted to help

Kusa Bhav to achieve life's ultimate objective of Self Realization.

 

The Self is the most intimate and eternal being whereas the Siddhis

are foreign. Siddhis are acquired by effort whereas the Self is not.

The powers are sought by the mind, which must be kept alert whereas

the Self is realised when the mind is destroyed. The powers only

manifest when there is the ego. The Self is beyond the ego and is

realised only after the ego is eliminated.

 

Bow to Sri Sai – Peace be to all.

 

N. Sivanandam,

Shri Vasuki Mahal Shirdi Saibaba Trust, Coimbatore-600025, India