Sai Satcharitra-Let us all read it together, a little everyday

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Mrs. Radhabai Deshmukh

There was an old woman by name Radhabai, She was the mother of one Khashaba

Deshmukh. Hearing Baba's fame, she came to Shirdi with the people of Sangamner.

She took Baba's darshan and was much satisfied. She loved Baba intimately and

resolved in her mind, that She should accept Baba as her Guru, and take some

Upadesh from Him. She knew nothing else. She determined to fast herself unto

death, so long as Baba did not accept her, and give her any Upadesh or Mantra.

She stayed in her lodging and left off taking any food or water for three days.

I was frightened by this ordeal of the old woman, and interceded with Baba on

her behalf. I said, "Deva, what is this You have started? You drag so many

persons here. You know that old lady. She is very obstinate and depends on You

entirely, She has resolved to fast unto death, if You don't accept and instruct

her. If any thing worse happens, people will

blame You, and say that Baba did not instruct her, and consequently she met her

death. So take some mercy on her, bless her and instruct her." On seeing her

determination, Baba sent for her, changed the turn of her mind by addressing

her as follows:-

"Oh mother, why are you subjecting yourself to unnecessary tortures and

hastening your death? You are really My Mother and I am your child. Take pity

on Me and hear Me through. I tell you My own story, which if you listen

carefully, will do you good. I had a Guru. He was a great Saint and most

merciful. I served him long, very long; still he would not blow any Mantra into

My ears. I had a keen desire, never to leave him but to stay with and serve him;

and at all costs receive some instructions from him. But he had his own way. He

first got my head shaved and asked Me two pice as Dakshina. I gave the same at

once. If you say that as My Guru was perfect, why should he ask for money and

how should he be called desireless? I replied plainly that he never cared for

coins. What had he to do with them? His two pice were (1) Firm Faith and (2)

Patience or perseverance. I gave these two pice or things to him, and he was

pleased.

"I resorted to My Guru for 12 years. He brought Me up. There was no dearth of

food and clothing. He was full of love nay, he was love incarnate. How can I

describe it? He loved Me most. Rare is a Guru like him. When I looked at him,

he seemed as if he was in deep meditation, and then we both were filled with

Bliss. Night and day, I gazed at him with no thought of hunger and thirst.

Without him, I felt restless. I had no other object to meditate, nor any other

thing than My Guru to attend. He was My sole refuge. My mind was always fixed

on him. This is one pice Dakshina. Saburi (Patience or perseverance) is the

other pice. I waited patiently and very long on My Guru and served him. This

Saburi will ferry you across the sea of this mundane existence. Saburi is

manliness in man, it removes all sins and afflictions, gets rid of calamities

in various ways, and casts aside all fear, and ultimately gives you success.

Saburi is the mine of virtues,

consort of good thought. Nishtha (Faith) and Saburi (Patience) are like twin

sisters, loving each other very intimately."

"My Guru never expected any other thing from Me. He never neglected Me, but

protected Me at all times. I lived with him, and was sometimes away from him;

still I never felt the want or absence of his love. He always protected Me by

his glance, just as the tortoise feeds her young ones, whether they are near

her or away from her on the other side of the river bank, by her loving looks.

Oh mother, My Guru never taught Me any Mantra, then how shall I blow any Mantra

in your ears? Just remember that Guru's tortoise-like loving glance gives us

happiness. Do not try to get Mantra or Upadesh from anybody. Make Me the sole

object of your thoughts and actions; and you will, no doubt, attain Paramartha

(the spiritual goal of life). Look at Me whole-heartedly, and I in turn look at

you similarly. Sitting in this Masjid, I speak the truth, nothing but the truth.

No Sadhanas, nor proficiency in the six Shastras, are necessary. Have faith and

confidence

in your Guru. Believe fully, that Guru is the sole Actor or Doer. Blessed is he

who knows the greatness of his Guru and thinks him to be Hari, Hara and Brahma

(Trimurti) Incarnate."

Instructed in this way, the old lady was convinced; she bowed to Baba and gave up her fast.

Hearing this story carefully and attentively, and marking its significance and

appropriateness, Hemadpant was most agreeably surprised. Seeing this wonderful

Leela of Baba, he was moved from top to toe, he was overflowing with joy, his

throat was choked, and he was not able to utter a single word. Shama, on seeing

him in this condition asked him, - "What is the matter with you, why are you

silent? How many innumerable Leelas of Baba shall I describe!"

Just at that time the bell in the Masjid began to ring, proclaiming that the

noon-worship and Arati ceremony had begun. Therefore, Shama and Hemadpant

hurried to the Masjid. Bapusaheb Jog had just started the worship. Women were

up in the Masjid, and men were standing below in the open courtyard and they

were all loudly singing the Arati in chorus to the accompaniment of drums.

Shama went up, pulling Hemadpant with him. He sat to the right and Hemadpant in

front of Baba. On seeing them, Baba asked Hemadpant to give the Dakshina brought

from Shama. He replied that Shama gave Namaskaras in lieu of Rupees and that he

was there in person. Baba said, "Alright, now let Me know whether you both had

a chitchat, and if so, tell Me all that you talked about." Not minding the

sounds of the bell, the drum and the chorus songs, Hemadpant was eager to tell

what they had talked and started to narrate it. Baba was also anxious to hear,

and so He left the

bolster and leaned forward. Hemadpant said all that they talked about was very

pleasant, and that specially the story of the old lady was most wonderful and

that on hearing it, he thought that His Leela was inexplicable, and under the

guise of that story, He really blessed him. Baba then said - "Wonderful is the

story. How were you blessed? I would like to know everything in detail from

you, so tell Me all about it." Then Hemadpant related in full the story which

he had heard a little while before, and which had made a lasting impression on

his mind. Hearing this Baba was much pleased and asked him - "Did the story

strike you and did you catch its significance?" He replied - "Yes, Baba the

restlessness of my mind has vanished and I have got true peace and rest, and

come to know the true path."

Then Baba spoke as follows:- "My method is quite unique. Remember well, this one

story, and it will be very useful. To get the knowledge (realization) of the

Self, Dhyana (meditation) is necessary. If you practice it continuously, the

Vrittis (thoughts) will be pacified. Being quite desireless, you should

meditate on the Lord, Who is in all the creatures, and when the mind is

concentrated, the goal will be achieved. Meditate always on My formless nature,

which is knowledge incarnate, consciousness and bliss. If you cannot do this,

meditate on My Form from top to toe as you see here night and day. As you go on

doing this, your Vrittis will concentrate on one point and the distinction

between the Dhyata (meditator), Dhyana (act of meditation), Dhyeya (this

meditated upon) will be lost and the meditator will be one with the

Consciousness and be merged in the Brahman. The (mother) tortoise is on one

bank of the river, and her young ones are on

the other side. She gives neither milk, nor warmth to them. Her mere glance

gives them nutrition. The young ones do nothing, but remember (meditate upon)

their mother. The tortoise glance is, to the young ones, a down-pour of nectar,

the only source of sustenance and happiness. Similar is the relation, between

the Guru and disciples."

When Baba uttered these last words, the chorus of the Arati songs stopped and

all cried out loudly in one voice: "Victory be to our Sadguru Sai Maharaj, Who

is Existence, Knowledge and Bliss." Dear readers, let us imagine, that we are

at this time, standing amongst the crowd in the Masjid; and let us join them in

this Jayajayakar.

After the Arati ceremony was over, Prasad was distributed. Bapusaheb Jog

advanced as usual, and after saluting Baba, gave into His hand a handful of

sugar-candy. Baba pushed all this quantity into the hands of Hemadpant and said

to him, "If you take this story to heart and remember it well, your state will

be sweet as the sugar-candy, all your desires will be fulfilled and you will be

happy." Hemadpant bowed before Baba and implored, "Do favour me like this, bless

and protect me always." Baba replied - "Hear this story, meditate on it and

assimilate its spirit. Then you will always remember and meditate on the Lord,

Who will manifest Himself to you."

Dear readers! Hemadpant got Prasad of sugar-candy then; and we now get the

Prasad of sugar-candy or nectar of this story. Let us drink it to out heart's

content, meditate on it, and assimilate it, and be strong and happy by Baba's

grace. Amen!

Towards the end of the 19th Chapter Hemapter Hemadpant had dealt with some other

matters which are given below."Gurur Brahma Gurur VishnuGurur Devoh

Maheshwar;Gurur Shakshat ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"May the

Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove

our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and

happiness with peace of mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366

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