THE TIME TABLE OF SAIBABA'S DAILY ROUTINE - 1

[Guest guest]

THE TIMETABLE OF THE GLORIOUS SAINT (1)

"The mind is the basis for the existence of the concept of time. If the outward

looking aspect of the mind is the larger hand of the clock of time, the inward

aspect of the mind is the smaller hand. When the mind is stilled in perfect

concentration, time does not exist. Time is the experience of the mind that

thinks that the self exists separate from the world and that both are bound by

the limitations of time and place. Time was non-existent for Sri Sai Baba who

was wholly immersed in the supreme self. That is why he once said that his age

was, "Lakhs of years." On another occasion he said, "My mother was ecstatic

with happiness when I was born,’ however I asked myself, ‘When was I born? Was

I not there before too?’" Sai Baba on the one hand enunciates the apparent

reality of the physical body when he states, "When I was born," but on the

other, gives his experience of the ever-living soul when he asks, "When was I

born?" That was Baba’s unique way of teaching

spiritual truths. He gave happiness to his mother on birth. He gave happiness to

the entire world, which is nothing but himself. He is the very embodiment of

eternal and infinite happiness. In the blue skies where the limits of place and

time are transcended, where the golden showers of love and affection abound, he

is the rainbow of happiness which shines in the light of knowledge and

dispassion."

It is foolhardy to attempt to confine and describe the day-to-day activities of

Sri Sai Baba to a particular timetable, while he himself was beyond the

limitations of time and space. However, let us, within our human limitations,

attempt to see what he did daily at Shirdi.

Baba would rise before the rosy dawn first blushed across the sky, and meditate

while sitting leaning on the pillar besides the dhuni. No one would get the

chance to see what he was doing at that time. He would allow no one to come

near or to be even within fifty feet of him. After a while he would softly

chant words like, "Yaade Haq,Allah Vali Hai," and "Allah Maalik Hai" and

perform some yogic mudras in between.

Only Abdul Baba and Madhav Fasle would enter the mosque and do the normal

housekeeping work, such as sweeping the floor of the mosque, trimming the wicks

of the lamps and refilling them with oil, and placing the firewood near the

dhuni.

As the day broke, Bhagoji Shinde would enter the mosque and would softly massage

Baba’s hand and feet. Baba’s hand was burnt in 1910 when he put his hand in the

fire of the dhuni to save a child from being burnt. Bhagoji would open the

previous days’ bandage and after softly massaging the scar with ghee (clarified

butter), would tie on a new one. He performed this service to Baba daily for

eight years, till his mahasamadhi. Perhaps Baba’s burn injury may have healed

after a few days, but Bhagoji’s devotion and love for Baba made him continue

with the service. He was indeed a blessed soul.

After this Bhagoji would get the pipe ready and hand it over to Baba. Baba would

take a couple of puffs and hand it back to him again. It would be about 7 to

7.30 am by the time all this was over. By then the devotees would have reached

the mosque for the darshan of Baba. Baba would describe to them how he had

saved his devotees who were far away from harm during the previous night, and

how he had conveyed those who died during the night, safely to heaven. The

devotees would later learn that whatever Baba had stated was true when the

devotees from distant places came to Shirdi to thank Baba and narrate their

experiences.

(Source: Suchitra Devi in Sai Padham)

 

 

The New with improved product search