LIFE HISTORY OF SHIRDI SAI BABA - Ch. XVI to XVIII

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Om Sri Sai Ram

LIFE HISTORY OF SHIRDI SAI BABA

By Ammula Sambasiva Rao

English Translation by Thota Bhaskara Rao

 

Chapter XVI

How Sai saved Sathe from Ruin

Sathe moved close with Baba. But there was not much spiritual progress in him.

Though he grew older he could not control his desire for lust.

In Shirdi was a beautiful woman who attracted males desirous of satisfying their

lust. Sathe once went to see Baba, before visiting her. On seeing him, Baba

asked him whether he is on his way to ‘Saala’, the place of the ill-repute

woman. But Sathe, not aware of this nickname for the place, thought Baba was

asking him about school (meaning Saala) and gave some vague answer. Afterwards,

he went to the house of the woman and sat in the verandah, indulging in some

pleasant talks. The talks appeared to take Sathe on a ruinous path. When he

opened the doors of the room, he was shocked to find Baba standing there and

staring at him with his sharp eyes, as if to caution Sathe. Baba also made some

gestures with his hand, which appeared as though he was questioning him whether

he had all the way come to Shirdi only to get ruined. He immediately turned

back and came to the mosque. He fell on the feet of

Baba and took a vow not to visit that woman again during his lifetime. Then Baba

blessed him with his hand raised. In this incident Baba did not speak much, but

did everything silently. Baba corrected the wrongs of his devotees in such a

way that only those who committed them would understand without others knowing

about them.

Meghashyam

Meghashyam was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He regarded Baba as an Avatar of

Shiva. When some devotees gave Baba Shiva’s idol from Panipat, he presented it

to Megha in appreciation of his devotion to Shiva. Megha did Abhishek to this

idol everyday. After some time, the idol was put below the Neem tree in

Gurusthan, which can be seen even now.

One afternoon, Megha was sleeping in his room in Sathe Wada bolting it from

inside. Baba appeared to him in his dream and said "Megha! Draw the trident

(trishul) near the Sivalingam and sprinkle some Akshata (rice) on it." When

Megha woke up and looked around, he did not find Baba. But he found the Akshata

sprinkled by Baba all over the room.

Megha went to Dwarakamayi and asked Baba whether he had come to Wada and ordered

him to draw the trident (trishul). Baba replied in the affirmative. Megha then

asked him how he entered the room when it was bolted from inside. Baba replied,

"Son, do you think that Baba is only the physical body that you are seeing? I am

everywhere. Walls and doors cannot obstruct my movements."

Megha died in the year 1912. Baba touched his dead body and declared that he had

been a real devotee, and tears fell from his eyes. He entrusted the work

connected with cremation and the obsequies of Megha to Kaka Dixit. After a few

days, Shama asked Baba when he was alone, "Baba, we are unable to understand

your actions. You used to tell us that death is only to the body and not Atma,

which is permanent. But then Megha died you shed tears and also accompanied the

body for some distance. Why did you have this special affection for Megha?" At

this Baba smiled and said, "Shama! You have put a wise question. The two doubts

you are entertaining are true. But it is necessary to understand properly the

connection between them. Every issue is connected with the prevailing

conditions in this world and also the timing of the actions. Keeping these in

mind, one should try to understand the matter. When this

is absent, sometimes the Guru will be viewed critically. When the disciple is in

a position to criticize his Guru, he does not stand to benefit anything from

him, but on the other hand misunderstandings may develop. Things, which we

cannot properly understand, should not be left to our limited knowledge. Every

disciple will face such a situation. But those who offer everything to their

Guru wholeheartedly will consider the actions of the Guru for our good only. In

such case, there will not be room for duality in thoughts and actions.

"In the present issue, it is a fact that Atma is permanent and the body only

dies. Usually those who die are born again with some other body. But Megha had

completely detached himself from all worldly things. He attained Moksha

(salvation). In the shape of Atma he is going far beyond the sun and the moon.

That is the reason why I grieved about him."

Mahalasapati, hearing these clarifications of Baba, was pleased and satisfied

with them. Baba looked at Mahalasapati and said, "Bhagat! One who does not seek

answer to his doubts will remain ignorant. But one who seeks answer will be

ignorant only till he asks and after that he will be a learned person."

Baba Sanctifying the Religious Books

Some devotees of Baba, before reading the religious books gave them to Baba.

Baba opened the books, looked into some pages and returned them to the

devotees. The devotees believed that by reading those books touched by Baba,

they would properly understand the contents, and the Parayana would continue

unhindered.

Once Kaka Mahajan brought the book Ekanath Bhagawat to Shirdi. Shama came to the

mosque with this book, wanting to read it. Baba took the book from Shama,

touched it and returned it to him, asking him to keep it with him only. But

Shama told him that the book belonged to Kaka and therefore should be returned

to him. But Baba replied, "I am giving this book to you." In this way Baba gave

several books to Shama. Shama was an innocent person with a blind devotion. He

had no education and had not read many religious books. Hence, Baba gave him a

number of religious books.

Once a devotee Ramdas came to Shirdi. He was a great devotee of Lord Rama. He

stayed at Shirdi for some days. Every day sitting in the front side of the

mosque, he read Vishnu Sahasranama and Adhyatmic Ramayana. He made this

Parayana several times. One day, while he was reading the Vishnu Sahasranama,

Baba sent him out on an errand. He obeyed Baba and stopped the Parayana in the

middle. After Ramdas left, Baba took the Vishnu Sahasranama book of Ramdas and

gave it to Shama, saying, "Shama, this Vishnu Sahasranama book is very

valuable, which gives good results. I am presenting this to you. You read this

sincerely with devotion. Once when my heart was beating rapidly, I suffered a

lot and thought that my life was in danger. Under such difficult conditions, I

put this book on my heart. It did a lot good and the suffering reduced. I

thought Allah had come personally

and cured my ailment. I am giving such a powerful book to you. If you read daily

one Namam also, a lot of good will happen to you."

But Shama hesitated to take the book as it belonged to Ramdas, who was an angry

and quarrelsome person and a quarrel might take place when Ramdas returned. But

he failed to understand that Baba’s aim was to do him good. On his return,

Ramdas learnt about this and created a scene even though Shama narrated the

facts. Then Baba called Ramdas and said to him, "Ramdas, why are you in an

angry and quarrelsome mood? Shama had nothing to do in the matter. I gave the

book to him. Is he not our man? Why are you quarreling with him unnecessarily?

Always talk softly and with love. Even though you read sacred religious books

daily, your mind still is not purified. A real Rama Bhakta should practice

equality and detachment and not attachment. With money you can purchase any

number of books but not persons. Think well and act intelligently. You know

this book "by heart”. Let Shama also read this and be

benefited. If you desire, you can have some other book from Shama in exchange for your book."

Hearing this loving advice from Baba, Ramdas cooled down and took the book

Pancharatna Gita from Shama, in exchange for his book. The above speech of Baba

was not only intended for Ramdas but to all of us. Even though we read a lot of

religious books or spend our time in the worship of God, there will not be any

benefit unless our hearts get purified.

Attachments to outside things and the words "I" and "mine" should be rid of from

us. We must always think that all are one and equal. Everyone should try for

such a change of hearts.

Once Bapu Saheb Jog took the Gita Rahasyam (Secrets of Bhagawad Gita) written by

Tilak, along with him to Baba’s Darshan. Baba took the book from Jog and after

seeing some of the inside pages, he took out a rupee coin from his pocket and

returned the book to Jog along with the Dakshina, and blessed him saying that a

lot of good would come to him if he read the book sincerely with devotion.

In the same way as Baba used to touch the religious books, and bless his

devotees even now when the devotees purchase the books, they keep them on the

Samadhi of Baba and only then commence the Parayana. The same is also in the

case when the devotees purchase new articles.

Sai Yuga

Shirdi Sai Baba was the human incarnation of Lord Shiva of Kailas. For the good

of the world, he stopped the poison in his throat and suffered for the sake of

others. Repeating the name of such a Sai make us happy. Worship of Sai is

auspicious. Devotees experienced complete bliss when they were in the company

of Sai Baba frequently said, "Allah Malik". Sai, without aspiring for Moksha or

complete merger of God, has remained in the service of all living beings

considered by him as facets of God. Sai means love, selfless love, sacred love.

Sai’s love was not only to mankind but all living things. People in the name of

wealth, caste religion, nationality, regions and political parties swindle and

become millionaires. If necessary they are prepared to kill some. In the

present society, we find a lot of such persons who call themselves leaders and

servants

of people. To curb this, we should publicise Sai philosophy on a large scale,

spreading brotherly love in society. All should have peace and happiness

permanently. This is shall be the aim of Sai philosophy in all nooks and

corners of our towns and villages of the country. Sai Yuga is going to set in.

All castes, all religions and all philosophies will merge into one and the

philosophy of ‘One family’ will be established and we be lucky to be a part of

this movement. Let us pray to Sai Baba to form an army of dedicated devotees

(Sai Army) and establish a Sai empire.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

Chapter XVII

God sends yogis to different places in this world to propagate spiritual matters

to counter the growing evils and balance this to a certain extent. This is the

main aim of the yogis or religious leaders. Though they function at different

places, they know each other and from where they are functioning. As Vasu

Devananda Saraswathi said, Shirdi Sai Baba was like an elder brother to all

such yogis.

We come in contact with yogis because of our good actions of the previous birth.

Persons who did not do good in their previous births, will fall prey to desires

and lead the lives of animals as they cannot put their minds to divine ways.

Because of the good actions in our previous birth, today we are lucky to do

Parayana of the Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba, who is the king of all yogis.

Appa - The Kannada Yogi!

Thakur was working as a clerk in the Revenue Department. Once he visited the

Kannadiga Yogi Appa and touched his feet in reverence. Appa gave him a book on

Vedanta titled Vichara Sagara and asked him to read it without fail as this

would fulfill his wishes. He said, "Sometime in the future when you go in the

northerly direction on official work, you would be lucky to come in contact

with a great yogi. By his Darshan you will have peace of mind and happiness. He

will show you the proper way to your life’s journey." After sometime Thakur was

transferred to a place called Jinner. To reach it he had to cross a deep valley

by riding on a buffalo. He suffered a lot while he was at Jinner. After sometime

he was transferred on promotion to Kalyan. There he learnt about Baba and his

greatness through Nana Chandorkar. He came to Shirdi and by touching Baba’s

feet, he experienced a lot of happiness. Baba who

is omnipresent told Thakur, "The road here is not as easy as what Appa told you.

It is also not as easy as traveling on a buffalo in the valley. One should work

had relentlessly. Walking on this road is like walking on a sharp-edged sword."

 

Without asking Thakur who he was, from where he had come and the purpose of his

visit, Sai Bhagawan knew everything. After hearing Sai, Thakur’s eyes were

fully of tears out of joy and he experienced complete bliss. He found that what

the Kannadiga yogi Appa had said was true. With complete devotion he prostrated

at the feet of Baba. After putting his hand on Thakur’s head in an act of

blessing, Baba told him, "What Appa had told you is true. But you have to learn

them and put them into practice. No useful purpose will be served by simply

reading the holy books. The knowledge obtained from the books without the

blessings of Guru will be of no use." Every word that came out of Baba was like

nectar. The readers should not only take this nectar but also continue on their

life’s journey in a peaceful manner.

The Nine Forms of Devotion

Ananta Rao Patankar of Poona was a Vedic scholar. Though he read all the Vedas,

Upanishads and the eighteen Puranas he had no peace of mind. He came to Shirdi

and visited Baba. On seeing him he experienced a lot of happiness, which he did

not experience in his life till then. He fell at Baba’s feet and pleaded with

him to show compassion and bless him. Then Baba said, "Once a merchant came to

me. He wanted to put some questions to me but could not do so. He was looking

straight at me. Just then a mare in front of him passed stools in the shape of

nine balls. The merchant collected all the nine balls and put them in his upper

cloth by which he was able to concentrate his mind and thus have peace." But the

scholar Patankar did not understand the analogy between peace of mind and the

nine balls. A devotee, Dada Kelkar, at the instigation of Baba, explained the

significance of the story as follows.

"Merchant means a person having special qualities not found in ordinary people,

a Jnani. A mare means God’s Grace. Nine balls of horse’s excretion means nine

kinds of devotion. The devotee in search of God should fix his mind on the

Sadguru, and serve the Guru sincerely. Then God will pity him and show him the

nine devotional ways. The devotee can choose any one of the nine ways and reach

God. The nine ways are :

1.Shravan - Hearing divine stories and reading the Puranas. 2.Kirtan - Singing

devotional songs in praise of the greatness of God. 3.Smaran - To recollect

what one had heard through Shravan, and- always remembering them. 4.Pada Seva -

Worship of the feet and prostration. 5.Archana - Different kinds of rituals

performed daily. 6.Namaskar - Bowing the head in respect, and salutation.

7.Dasya - Doing service to God like a servant. 8.Sukhyatva - Considering God as

a friend and making friendship. 9.Atma Nivedan - Surrendering one’s life and

Atma to God.

Devotion is of nine kinds. As we progress and the mind begins to settle down, we

can worship God in all the nine ways. Let us make sincere efforts to reach God

through the nine devotional ways like the Jnani in the story.

The Story of Avasthe

P.R. Avasthe was a judge at Gwalior. Hearing of the greatness of Baba through

Rege, he wanted to see him. In 1914, on his way to Pandharpur, he came to

Shirdi along with Rege. Those were the days of the First World War. These two

were traveling by train from Gwalior to Manmad. When the train reached Mhow

where there were a large number of troops, all the passengers in the train were

asked to alight so as to enable the transport of the troops. Avasthe and Rege

also had to get off the train. They prayed to Baba to help them. In the

meantime the Military Commander came and after inspecting their carriage told

them that this was too small to accommodate the troops and told them that they

need not get down. The whole night Avasthe sang devotional songs and prayed to

Baba. They reached Shirdi the next day morning. When they went to the mosque to

see Baba, he asked Rege who the unstable devil with him

was. He said, "They tried to disembark my children from the train. But I told

the captain that you are my children and let them come to me. But this Avasthe

was by my side the whole night, calling ‘Baba! Baba!"

>From the above incidents we learn that Baba always protects the devotees who

fully believe in him. Previously Avasthe had a Yogini as his Guru. He thought

that now if he started worshipping and serving Baba, he might be considered as

unfaithful to the Yogini who was his Guru. But Rege told him that his Guru was

also integrated in Sai Baba who is considered to be the incarnation of God and

Guru for the entire world (Jagatguru). Hence, if he worshipped Sai Baba it

amounts to worshipping his Guru Yogini. But Avasthe desired to have some proof

of this. For the afternoon Aarti, he took a rice ball kept in a small vessel

covered with a cloth. He thought within himself that if Baba personally asked

and took the rice ball, then he would definitely belief that his Guru Yogini

was also in Baba. He started climbing the steps of Dwarakamayi when the

rice-ball fell down accidentally. What he had wanted to keep

as a secret became public. When he was picking up the rice ball from the floor,

Baba called him and asked him to give it to him and said that he in turn would

send it to the person for whom it was intended. Avasthe felt very happy. His

Guru Yogini had attained Samadhi long back. He decided to have Baba as his

Guru. Even afterwards Avasthe used to come to Shirdi and consult Baba whenever

he wanted advise in worldly matters; spiritually also he advanced much by

seeking Sai’s advise.

Accepting Sai Baba as Guru

>From the above story, the moral we learn is - If the devotees of Sai have had

some other Gurus previously, and so think that they are being unfaithful to

them, if they treat Sai Baba as their Guru now, no such doubt need be

entertained by them, since Sai Baba is the Guru of Gurus, Samartha Sadguru King

of Gurus and yogis. He has powers to command the entire world and also to

control the five elements. If any disciple of a Guru comes under protection of

Sai, the Guru will be pleased. Some gurus with an eye on the wealth and power

of their disciples, will try to create some unpleasant situations with some

concocted stories.

Baba also was not for changing Gurus. He always checked to see what type of

disciple he was and under what circumstances he had left his previous Guru and

come to him. There are a number of disciples who would worship a particular

Guru or God for some time and if they did not gain anything, they would change

their Gurus or Gods. They would run to the Guru or God who fulfilled their

wishes. Such persons are after material benefits and not spiritual advancement,

being without faith and patience. When they came to Baba, he would tell them,

"What is required for you is not another Guru. If you cannot have undeterred

devotion and gratitude towards your Guru, but come to me, no useful purpose

will be served and you cannot benefit anything. Therefore, first of all you

should learn how to serve your own Guru in the correct manner and do not keep

changing your Guru." To those who approached Shirdi Sai Baba

and saw his greatness personally, and were unable to surrender themselves

completely, our appeal to them: "Previously there was no Guru equal to Sai

Baba. In future also we cannot get such a Guru. Let us prostrate to this

Satchidananda Samartha Sadguru, and request him to make us understand this true

Avatar, before we complete the Parayana of his Life History. We will also pray

to him to see that we have abundant devotion for him with his devotion lasting

our lifetime. When the life goes out of our body our kith and kin and material

things do not come with us. We also pray to Sai to be with us in our solitary

journey and to give us Moksha or higher form of life in the next birth and be

with us in all the future births.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

Chapter XVIII

The Story of Two Goats

That was the month of May in the year 1909. Geographically situated at a higher

altitude, Shirdi had acute shortage of water during summer months. The severe

summer made the people very uneasy. In the nights the villagers slept outside

in the open though there was no breeze. But in the early hours there was a cool

breeze, which the villagers enjoyed very much, thinking it to be God-sent. The

morning climate was pleasant like the innocent smile of babies laughing.

Baba was going from Dwarakamayi towards Lendi Bagh. Behind him were Shama,

Tatya, Balashimpi, Bhagoji Shinde and others.

Just then a heard of goats passed that way. Baba caught hold of two goats from

the herd. Bhagoji Shinde went to assist Baba. He talked with the owner of the

herd and purchased the two goats for Rs.32. The actual cost of the two coats

would not be more than Rs.7. Baba ordered for five seers of chana dal (Bengal

gram) and fed the goats. Seeing the strange behaviour of Baba, Shama questioned

him about this. Baba replied, "I have neither a house nor family and therefore I

should not accumulate wealth." Even then Tatya and Shama were discussing

seriously among themselves about the transaction. Baba gave away the two goats

to the owner of the herd. Baba explained his strange actions and also the story

of the two goats, to the devotees thus; "These two goats were humans in their

previous births. They were with me for some time. They were brothers born to

the same mother and were affectionate in the

beginning. As they grew up, enmity grew between them. The younger brother earned

a lot of money with his intelligence. The elder brother, out of jealousy, tried

to kill his brother and steal all his money. In this way the two brothers tried

to kill each other. At last both of them died at the same place and time by

killing each other. Because of their actions in the previous birth, now they

are born as goats. When they were passing by me, I recognised them and drew

them near to me. From the happy human life they have come down to animal life

in this birth and are suffering. In view of their connection with me in their

previous births, I wanted to keep them with me and make their lives happy. But

you all made a fuss about my transaction and so I returned them to their

owner."

>From the above-mentioned story of the two goats we learn two things. If we

indulge in enmity and quarrels, we will come down from human life to animal

life in our next birth. Though the goats were with him in the previous birth,

Baba could not keep them with him because his present colleagues started

murmuring. We must always do things, which are liked by all around us, and not

hurt the feelings of those who are with us.

Hari Kanoba

A resident of Bombay, Hari Kanoba, on hearing the greatness of Baba came to

Shirdi to test the greatness of him. When he went to the mosque he put on his

best dress, wore new footwear and sprayed scent on his dress. He did not know

where to keep his costly footwear before entering the mosque. He kept them in a

corner near the mosque and went in. He waited till his turn came and greeted

Baba with folded hands. Baba gave him udi as prasad. All the while he was in

the mosque, his mind was on the new footwear left outside and not on Baba. When

he came out of the mosque, he was shocked to find his new footwear missing. Then

he began thinking - on hearing of Baba’s greatness he had come, but lost his

footwear and blamed Baba for what had happened. He went to his room. While he

was eating a boy with a stick, at the end of which the footwear was tied, was

announcing loudly "Hari Ka Beta, Zari Ka Peta",

meaning son of Hari and sporting zari headgear. Kanoba came out of his room on

hearing the announcement and found his new footwear on the stick carried by the

boy. He called the boy and on enquiry he was told that Sai Baba had given him

the footwear and asked him to go round the place announcing as stated and if

someone responded to this, then to give the footwear to him.

Kanoba then went inside the room and brought and showed the zari headgear to the

boy, and claiming the footwear, felt immensely happy. He thought that Baba might

have known his name and about the zari headgear. But how could he know about his

father’s name? Thus Kanoba who had come to test Baba, found him to be of

all-pervasive.

Fakir Maddhu Shah

In the year 1913, Madhu Shah, a resident of Meerin village near Jalgaon, came to

Shirdi and requested Baba for Rs.700, which was urgently required for a good

cause. At the instance of Baba, Jog gave Rs.700 in coins to two youths,

Lakshman and Gulab with a direction to give this money to Maddhu Shah. But the

youths gave only Rs.500 to the fakir, Maddhu Shah, and kept for themselves the

balance of Rs.200.

Maddhu Shah told Baba that he received only Rs.500. Baba appearing not to have

taken note of it, gave the fakir udi as prasad and sent him away. The fakir

traveled for about two miles and was near Neemgaon, when a Tahsildar named Erun

Shah, passed in a Tonga. On seeing the fakir he got down from the Tonga, gave

the food packet he was carrying and also Rs.200. The fakir took the money and

food packet, and feeling very happy, continued his journey after some rest.

Erun Shah, the Tahsildar, reached Shirdi and stayed in the house of Tatya Patil.

He told him about a dream he had. In his dream someone told him, "Come to Shirdi

in a Tonga. On your way near Neemgaon you find a fakir with a tiger skin on him.

Give him Rs.200 and also some food." He finding such a fakir near Neemgaon he

gave him Rs.200 and some food.

Six months after the above-mentioned incident, the two youths, Lakshman and

Gulab, came to Erun Shah and gave him Rs.1000 each in some other connection.

That day again Erun Shah had a dream. Someone told him in his dream, "In your

dream about six months back, as per my direction you gave to a fakir Rs.200.

Today, I am giving you ten times that." What moral we learn from this story is,

Baba collected ten times the amount from Lakshman and Gulab, which they had

misappropriated, not caring for Baba’s instructions and made the two youths pay

to Erun Shah, who obeyed Baba’s instructions, ten times the money he had paid to

the fakir. Those who steal God’s money will have to pay back ten times that

during this birth or in the future. Under any circumstances one should be

willing to spend for God but if one is tempted to take God’s money then one

will have to suffer.

Desiring Mantropadesa from Baba

An old woman called Radha Bai Deshmukh treated Baba as her Guru and she wanted

to have Mantropadesa and also Atma Sakshathkaram. With this determined desire,

she went to Shirdi and requested Baba to teach her mantras. But Baba kept

silent. Then she went on a fast and decided not take food or water till Baba

taught her mantras. Her fast continued for three days and she became very weak.

Shama noticed this and fearing that Baba might get a bad name if anything

happened to her, requested Baba to interfere in the matter and save the woman.

The Baba sent for her and told, "Mother, I am like your child, You are like my

mother. Why are you undergoing this agony and desiring death? I am a fakir.

Show kindness to me. My Guru was a great ‘Satpurush’. When I approached him, he

asked me two coins as Dakshina. They are not ordinary coins. One is shraddha

(faith) and the other is saburi (patience). Shraddha means faith, doing work

correctly and saburi means patience - equanimity in the face of difficulties.

As soon as he asked for them, I improved these two qualities in me and gave

them to my Guru as Dakshina. He immediately got my head tonsured and accepted

by Dakshina.

When my Guru was in meditation, I used to sit in front of him, and then focus my

eyes on his face, without diverting it on other matters; this went on for days,

forgetting hunger and thirst. He also used to look at me with love. On such

occasions we used to be full of mutual love and happiness. I could not

withstand our separation even for a moment. There was no other goal for me

except my Guru He also desired to have my love only and nothing else. He used

to radiate his affection on me always.

"I will never tell a lie sitting in this mosque. My Guru did not tell me any

mantra in my ear. So I cannot also give any advice to you. If you want to have

me as your Guru, you must behave as I did in the case of my Guru. Keep me as

the goal for your thoughts and ideals. See me with undeterred sincerity and I

will also see you in the same manner. Some drawbacks and pressures in life will

try to separate us. Without yielding to such things you should exercise patience

and be happy. Unless you act like this, you cannot reach your life’s goal. You

need not bother about the four kinds of practices, six Shastras or eight kinds

of yoga. With strong devotion, if you serve your Guru that is enough. This is

the only true thing that my Guru taught me."

These nectar-like words of Baba changed the heart of the old woman and she gave

up the fast. That day Baba made her sit next to him and eat her food.

Sai’s philosophy is about mantras, Poojas and procedures coming down from ages,

and also the blind beliefs. What are required to be given to Sai Baba are our

heart, mind and ego. When we offer these three to our Guru, then the five

senses will lose their power. A person who controls the five senses will be

deemed to have won the world. As advised by Baba, if we focus our eyes on the

Guru, some changes will take place in our body. Let us see what these changes

are. All our senses will desire external pleasures. This is the natural

tendency of the senses. But if we concentrate our mind on the Guru, then the

mind will not stray. Then the desires will disappear and the mind will be

focused on Guru only. In the olden days they did penance to achieve this only.

If we concentrate our mind on Guru keeping this as our life’s aim, then this is

equivalent to penance.

Ekalavya could learn and master the arts of warfare, by concentration of his

mind and meditation on Dronacharya. Baba’s teaching about devotion to Guru is

also like penance. Keep these in mind and read the words of Baba once more. In

these days, where weaker sections of our society cannot do sacrificial rites,

Sai who descended from Kailas has shown this easy way to attain Moksha. Wishing

all the readers will go in the Sai Marga and enjoy peace and happiness.

"Om Shanti! Shanti! Shantihi"

To be continued…

Source: http://www.saibaba.org

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Sent with Sai love,

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