Sai Baba - Garib Nawaz

॥ ॐ सांई राम ॥

Sai Baba, God, Sadguru, Divine personification, the sacred, the highest, Karunasagar ( ocean of compassion), grace bestowing, the one who fills us with divine love, Data (giver), guide, the one who takes His devotees pain on Him, the one who frees from bondage, the list can go on.

Devtoees go to Sai Baba, remember Him, perform His Aratis, visit Shirdi, visit temlples, sing bhajans, sing his name (Namsmaran), perform puja, read Sai SatCharitra, light lamps, do seva, do seva (service) of poor and needy and hungry, and even this list can go on and on, so many devotees so many ways of devotion.

Sai Baba is also called as Garib (poor) Nawaz, what does the garib means, poor by money or health or failures. Yes that has a meaning, and we all recognize poverty in these terms, and seek escape or avoidance of this kind of poverty. But there is another poverty we should seek for or rather look at as we already have, which enables us for deeper hunger for devotion or bhakti, creates hunger for richness of Sai's love, Sai's grace, Sai's Kripa.

The poverty of mind, the poverty of self. Most of us also avoid to look at the poverty of mind and self. If we have to think about our selves, mostly it will choose the positive sides which makes it feel better, makes the self greater. I have this good quality and i am proud of it. Many a times it takes a corrupt form that of comparison in devotion. Look that person is always going to Temples, sing glories of Sai Baba, and/or any of the many forms of devotion, but .............. and this but can have numerous reasons .......... and the reasons the mind or self gives is not to bring the other devotee down but to feel great about the self, to feel 'look i am right'.

While praying to Sai Baba, while devotion or anytime because devotion has to be all the time. Not for half or couple of hours in a day and then put aside for the rest of the day. Devotion and remembrance has to be carried on while on work or rest, while playing with the children or talking with the friends or relatives. The hunger for Sai's love and devotion should lurk all the time.

Feeling 'i am right' or 'i am great' can prevent this. As Sai Baba's bhakt's we do have many plus points, by His love and grace. More important is to look for the poverty rather than this richness of self. We can get stuck at the richness, the richness that is good. It is there by His love and grace, now let me find the poverty that is within me and when i look at the poverty within me, it will create and urgency to get rid of it. To get rid of it i will remember and get devoted with more intensity as only He can remove the poverty, only the devotion can take away that poverty.

As long long as there is a feeling of me. i am the body, i am the mind, i am great the poverty is there. No matter how many plus point my mind may see comparatively. When that feeling goes, which goes by His grace and love, only His grace and love is felt and remembered, we can call ourselves true devotees. It should be Tu Hi Tu (you and only you).

Suddha Chaitanya

Nana (to Baba): Pray, tell us about SUDDHA CHAITANYA

Sai Baba: That is the origin, the essence, the foundation and the permeator
of the entire Universe sentient and insentient, as also the end of it.
The source is SUDDHA CHAITANYA. You cannot exactly describe,
'CHAITANYA', but every moment it exists in your existence. There is no
place without it, but it has no form or name. In that, it resembles air,
which has no colour or form to be seen and whose existence however, is
unquestionable. This SUDDHA CHAITANYA is called BRAHMAN. The wise do
upasana of it under the name BRAHMAN and then, they are called
BRAHMAVIT. All manifestations of life are contained within it. It is the
origin of all appearances, perceptions and knowledge. It is the one root
of the many. It pervades everything. It may be characterized at SAT and
ANANDA (bliss) and finally EKATVA (unity). All of us are that. We are
not distinct from that.

Stories from Shri Sai SatCharitra

Om Sadguru SaiNathaya Namaha!

Since past few days Sai Baba's love and grace is making me read the Sai SatCharitra again and again. Few days ago the reading started and completed in a single day! What an amazing experience it was. Then the reading has been completed twice more. Total three parayans of Shri Sai SatCharitra in a week.

Also with the parayan of the sacred book, there is one more change. i get up, or should say am waked up before 4 in morning, take bath in the morning and perform puja in our home puja room. Puja in our puja room was not normally and routinely done through me. My Dad or Mom used to complete that daily task. i would be occasionally called for performing the Pooja, when both gets busy and someone have to do this so it was me. Otherwise i was satisfied with meditation on Sai Baba, getting drenched in the vibrations and grace i feel from the shawl consecrated at Shirdi or the same while reading the sacred and blessed book Shri Sai SatCharitra.

Few days ago i received the scarf that Sai Baba's idol wore in Shirdi. Really a sacred magnificent gift i received from Sai Baba. It is being given special treatment, and it gives me more than special treatment. After bath i use to go for prayers in our home puja room, pray to Gods, do massage to the idol of Sai Baba which i had bought and got consecrated in Shirdi. Apply attar (perfume) to Baba's idol while chanting his name or singing his bhajan with deep love.

After the scarf arrived, it was with the scarf and a huge qualitative change in the service and prayers was felt. Then is the part of reading Shri Sai SatCharitra in my room in front of Sai Baba's pictures. The scarf is worn only after bath and for prayers and reading the sacred text. The sacred scarf is fed with deep prayers, meditation and reading of Sai SatCharitra and it feeds my mind , body and soul with something unexplainable.

After the first reading in a day and after performing the Arati with offerings of prasad, which is normally done after completion of each parayan. Next early morning at 4, took bath and was drawn to puja room. There was a huge qualitative change. It was as if the grace from the scarf performing puja through me. It takes a lot of time by clock, and quiet fulfilling. Then the pictures of Sai Baba are also cleaned perfumed and tilak and attar are applied with the burning of insence stick (aggarbatti). The perfumed smoke from the insence stick makes the environment divine and vibrant in the early mornings. Arati is performed in my room in front of Sai Baba's pictures.

Today was Thursday also lovingly called Baba's day by many of his devotees. Shirdi and Sai Baba's temples are generally overcrowded on Thursdays. Also most of the time the parayan of Shri Sai SatCharitra commences on Thursday and ends on Wednesday. Today after the mind, body and soul satisfying puja was about to start the Arati given at the end of Shri Sai SatCharitra , 'Arati Saibaba, Sokkhya Datara Jiva, Charnarajatali ...', which was the one send to Nanasaheb Chandorkar in the famous Jamner miracle, described in Chapter 33 Shri Sai SatCharitra, along with the sacred Udi. I felt of doing the Arati with the live darshan From Samadhi Temple provided by Shri Sai Sansthan, Shirdi. So opened up the windows media player on the lap top which is switched on almost 24 hours a day. Hit Ctrl + U keys, mms://59.165.131.6/shirdi20 is saved in it as don't watch online anything else than the live darshan in windows media player. And there it was, Morning Kakad Arati live from Shirdi. My favorite Uttha Uthha was over, another favorite Jai Jagadish hare was going all and it continued with all the other favorites :) songs and Aratis.

Om Shree SadGuru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!

I give You my tensions, my insecurities to you and you give me so much, invaluable and what not, can i ever speak out or write the glory you deserve for what you do to me and give me. NO! NEVER! everything will fall Short.

Sadguru Deva, my Sadgru Deva!

OOps originally i was reading Shri Sat Charitra and got and urge to write the story of Annasaheb Dabholkar's first visit to Shirdi, as was seen to me while reading. So gave the title, and the above article took place, only after hitting the publish post button in the blogger and seeing the page online i realized the title with what was intended to write has remain the way it is, so will let it remain the way it is.

One more lesson of Shraddha and Saburi

Today, or just a few minutes ago got one more lesson on Shraddha meaning Faith and Saburi meaning patience. One similar incident, which happened long time back is mentioned in the first experiences with Shirdi Sai Baba.

Shirdi visit was quite amazing as always. The spiritual charge that was felt cannot be explained. Returning from the Shirdi, the greedy mind did not wanted to lose it. There was a comment on this blog dealing with meditation, after i returned. i replied, while replying following quote of Sai Baba from Sri SaiSatCharitra made an impact on the mind, “All My senses left their places, and concentrated themselves in My eyes, and My sight was centered on him. Thus, My Guru was the sole object of My meditation and I was conscious of none else. While meditating on him My mind and intellect were silent and I had thus, to keep quiet and bow to him in silence.”

The intellect and mind were silent, it became the goal. As already described in previous post, one gets powerful vibrations or grace or what ever one may name it from the shawl, consecrated at Samadhi Temple, Dwarkamai and the stone on which Sai Baba used to sit, tied on head and Shri Sai SatCharitra in hands. Those two highly charged sacred object became constant companion, leaving some routine work of cleaning the body. Awareness was on the energy emitted through it. Most of the time it gave the feeling of body and mind fully charged with it, with some occasional disturbances in mind. The essential goal was that the intellect and mind gets silenced by the sacred energy felt. May a times each thought was read and discarded, no the thought cannot be true, Oh Sai give me the truth which the thoughts or intellect cannot conceive. There were some other activities with the awareness on the energy, reading spiritual books on the lap top, so that both the hands can hold Shri SaiSatCharitra ,and the grace felt through is not missed. Also low volume chanting of SaiBaba Mantra would play. Wrote the previous post on this blog and a Zen Story, on blog containing inspirational stories.

One of the books was The Wayfarers one can download other Meher Baba books from ambppct.org. This books describes the work of Meher Baba with Masts. Masts are the spiritually advanced people, who for the love of God have made intense search for God without help or guidance of a Sadguru like Sai Baba. They achieve a higher spiritual state, they are divinely mad stationed at higher realms of life and quite beneficial to humanity. Outwardly to the normal person, they might appear mad due to their outward behavior.

Following i would like to put from that book,
" All philosophy, spirituality, and mysticism might be summed up in what I once heard offhand from Baba, in the early stages of my novitiate:
"Mind stopped, is God.
Mind working, is man.
Mind slowed down, is mast.
Mind working fast, is mad."

What i wanted to put on this blog while reading the book was the types of Masts described. The first two types characteristics, most were shown by Sai Baba of Shirdi, though he showed much, much, more than the following two types.

"JALALI
Type one A fairly common type
A jalâli mast is always hot-tempered, abusive to others, and talks at random. He is restless, and beats those who come near him. He is almost always dressed in rags, and lives in an environment of filth and squalor. By day, he occasionally roams hither and thither, and at night, although he rarely sleeps, he lies down usually in a particular place. When awake, he prefers to recline in a half lying posture, and occasionally rests his head on one hand. He has a habit of constantly moving his fingers and toes to and fro, has a passion for tea, and is moderately fond of tobacco.

He never asks for gifts except tea and tobacco. If given clothes, money and so forth, he at once throws them away; and though he will accept food when hungry, he may throw it away if not hungry. He is happy in crowded streets and bazaars, and sometimes enjoys the company of dogs. The presence of small children annoys him.

JAMALI
Type two A fairly common type
A jamâli mast is always mild-tempered, and he never abuses or beats others. He speaks often in riddles, and often at random. At night, he almost always remains in a particular place, and by day rarely moves about, doing so only when absolutely necessary. When a jamâli mast sits down, he prefers to be on something raised from the ground, so that his legs dangle. He typically moves his fingers and hands most of the time, and occasionally makes signs with one or other of his fingers on the ground, on some convenient part of his body such as his thigh, or on any object to hand. He has a passion for tobacco, and is moderately fond of tea. He never asks for anything from anyone except tea and tobacco, but if given anything he keeps it. His favourite environment is a room, and he loves music."

One more type of Mast's is also mentioned, that of gouse type. These Masts has the ability to take out their inner organs, like kidney, intestine clean them up and again putting them in body. Sai Baba of Shirdi is also reported of being seen by many doing this. Also in Lord Meher is mention of Shirdi Sai Baba controlling First World War, it says,
" In this beggar's hands the conflicting forces of the world's turmoil and the throes of the universes were kept balanced! It may be difficult for a worldly-minded materialist to believe this, but it is a spiritual fact. If people were told this peculiar holy man was responsible for conducting or controlling the First World War, they would say it was ridiculous. But in the inner realms of spiritual realities, the Qutubs or Sadgurus are the Masters of the universe and nothing ever happens without their divine ordinance."
Sai Baba during those periods would scatter all the parts his body in Masjid, to feel and take the pain of the wounded soilders. Where can one find such compassion?

Coming back to the author's story, today awareness on energy in the company of sacred shawl and the sacred text, Shri Sai SatCharitra, took unfavorable turn for my head and system. The mind was getting too much disturbed, primarily for the way people behave, how people use each other not minding much for the other, for their own selfish motives. The disturbance, one thought would subside took to a new vigor. The head was unable to bear the pain. Like a zombie i looked staring at the wall lying on the bed. Than took the decision to watch Sai Baba's picture. As mentioned in few previous posts, the picture is responsive (one will find many of these responses with various devotees if one reads their experiences with Shirdi Sai Baba). The picture seemed to move with immense compassion in His eyes, the hand in blessing posture seemed moving as if pouring blessings. It was like " Why fear when I am with You."

What followed did not convince the mind first. A thought began to vibrate "Leave the shawl and the book for a day". I said, "How can it be Baba? This are you, i can feel you so strongly through these." This happened a couple of times. Baba seemed to say to me, " Do you remember the incident?"

The incident that came to the mind was of one man who coaxed much to Sai Baba, to make him a highly spiritual person. Being coxed much, Sai Baba once swung his hands towards him as if he was throwing a ball towards him. Since than, the person acted as deranged. Sometimes speaking words like Sai Baba does. After few days, his relatives and well wishers prayed to Sai Baba to do something about his deranged state of mind. Sai Baba, then swung his hands as if taking out the ball from him. The man came to the senses, to which, the society accepts, and never again coaxed Sai Baba for instant nirvana.

The message that mind got was " I am with you even when you are away from my blessed objects. The purpose of the blessed object is to make your meditations easy, I work on your head and your karmas and sanskaras(subtle bodies one has, according to deeds). You surrender, I work. But your system must also have the capabilities. Other wise what happened to the coaxer can happen to you, so my child put them away for a day, let everything settle and move ahead with my blessings.

I parted with the sacred shawl and the sacred book, somewhat reluctantly. Whole of the body was vibrating, the hair on the body stood on the hands. One felt much energy was emitting from the head. After couple of walks inside the home, i sat down to write this post.

Few quotes from Shri Sai SatCharitra

"It is, therefore, better for one to take only what he can digest and assimilate. My treasury is full, and I can give anyone, what he wants, but I have to see whether he is qualified to receive what I give. If you listen to Me carefully, you will be certainly benefited. Sitting in this Masjid, I never speak any untruth."

“The knowledge of the self is so subtle and mystic that no one by his own individual effort can ever hope to attain it.”

“Lords grace is most essential.”

Couple of Days in Shirdi

Visited Shirdi this Dipawali. Reached one day before Dipawali. Visiting Shirdi is always a splendid out of the world spiritual experience. The day i reached Shirdi, was supposed to meet a priest in regard to staying for the padayatris (people visiting Shirdi from Surat with Palkhi). A devotee had given me the job to get the sanctioned letter for their stay in accommodation provided by Shri Saibaba Sansthan guest houses. While conversing with the priest, i happened to tell him, how i was least interested in Shirdi Sai Baba and got my first experience near the stone on which Sai Baba used to sit, which is placed opposite the gate of Holy Dwarkamai or Masjidmai.

I went there wearing the shawl sanctified at Sai Baba's Samadhi, in Masjid Mai, on the stone which Sai Baba used to sit. Wearing (see picture which i just ckicked from web cam ) that shawl makes me feel like Sai Baba's hand is on my head. Strong working is felt in the head. The priest promised me to give me a cloth from the temple for the meditation purpose. Also holding the sacred book Shri Sai SatCharitra gives lots of vibrations and helps a lot while meditating. This always brings me memories of the mention of a brick which, with Sai Baba used to meditate, mentioned Shri Sai SatCharitra Chapter 43 & 44. Few days ago happened to read the following about the brick, in a yahoo group newsletter.

"Posted by: "Saileelas" saileelas@saileelas.org leedharart

Sat Oct 20, 2007 5:46 am (PST)

THE BRICK
Ever since Baba came to stay in the Dwarakamai, He had a brick with Him.
This brick was His constant companion. With great affection and care Helooked after it. Though an inanimate object Baba loved it and called it His 'life long companion' Baba in His characteristic way referred to it as "her'. Although she was an earthen brick she was well backed and sturdy. She was one foot long, 9"inches wide and 3"inches in depth Baba would support His hand on her while he sat in solitude in the Dwarakamai. When He slept, He used her as a pillow. Mhalsapathy and Kashiram Shimpy would worship her, after performing "Mangal Snan". Then carefully place her against the pillar adjacent to the Dhuni Maa. At night they would wrap her in a clean cloth and give her to Baba to use as a pillow. Though Mhalsapathy and Kashiram were constantly with Baba it did not occur to them to ask Baba about the significance of this brick?

Madhu Fasle who used to sweep and clean the Dwarakamai was very careful when handling the brick. Every day he would and her by placing her near Dhuni Maa. Later he would wrap her in a clean cloth; and place her underneath the cupboard. This cupboard had Baba's clothes beneath which was a cemented parapet, thus the brick would be safely stored away. Baba loved this brick more than His life and never forgot her. Many an hour He spent with her, in Self-absorption, oblivious of His surroundings. One day when Baba had gone out a young Sevkari while sweeping the Dwarakamai, accidentally dropped her, and she broke into 2 pieces. Frightened of the consequences he placed the two pieces one upon the other, against the Dhuni Maa and left. When Baba returned He asked Mhalsapathy for His brick. Mhalsapathy lifted her and one of the broken pieces fell to the ground. Seeing this Baba was distraught and started crying like a human being." It's not the brick, but My fortune that is broken. She was My constant companion! Now that she has gone I too will leave."Mhalsapathy tried to comfort Baba by saying "Baba I will bind her together with a gold wire" "O! Bhagat this brick is more valuable than many gold bricks! Now that My "Sangani" (companion) is broken I cannot remain here." Thereafter Baba's health stared detoriating and on the 5th day He took Maha Samadhi. Mention of this incident is made in Sai Satcharita # 44. The Lord Vithal of Pandarpur Stood on a brick while the Parabhrama
of Shirdi used a brick for His pillow.

(Source Shri Sai Leela Magazine)"

After reading about the brief mention of the brick in Shri Sai SatCharitra Chapter 43 & 44, i was too curious to have a look and place my head on the brick and tried hard to find it somewhere in Shirdi, only to learn later that the brick was placed as the pillow underneath Sai Baba's head, in the Samadhi. So the holy brick which Sai Baba loved so much is in the Samadhi.

Also feeling the great vibrations i call it love and grace of Sai Baba, one more incident i always remember from Shri Sai SatCharitra chapter no. 27 about the mention of Vishnu Sahasrnama ( Thousand names in praise of Lord Vishnu ). Sai Baba to his beloved devotee Shama told, "Oh Shama, this book is very valuable and efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it. Once I suffered intensely and My heart began to palpitate and My life was in danger. At that critical time, I hugged this book to My heart and then, Shama, what a relief it gave me! I thought that Allah Himself came down and saved Me. So I give this to you, read it slowly, little by little, read daily one name at least and it will do you good."
As mentioned in the first experience i had a similar experience while hugging Shri Sai SatCharitra and at that time i was not even a regular reader of the sacred book. During this visit, in a small shop just outside Hotel Goradias, where i normally stay, along with other books on Shirdi Sai Baba, i also happened to see The thousand names of Vishnu, with English translation and meanings of each name given in a line or two. Each name is the shortest expression of the profound meaning of God essentially Sabka Malik Ek. The expression of one unlimited, indivisible formless God.

While reading the Mantras and the short meanings from this book, as i read each mantras, i was amazed, how Sai Baba showed during his presence in physical form oneness with each and every name. Will be writing about each name and how Sai Baba showed oneness with the Highest the God in following posts.

During the two days stay i read the Sai SatCharitra in the open courtyard opposite Dwarkamai, as it is open during whole night, and only few devotees where present. Started reading from 11 in the night till 4 in the morning first day. The first half hour i could read exactly at the place where i had received the first experience of Sai Baba's tremendous grace. Then kept on changing places of 1 hour reading each. Next night at about 2 in the night the reading of the book was completed as i also gave few hours of reading in the Parayan Hall made for the purpose of reading by Shri Sai Baba Sansthan Shirdi. The experience i got, cannot be put in words.

Jai Sai Ram ! Sat Chit Anand SadGuru Shri SaiNath Maharaj Ki Jai !!! is all i can say !!!

Services at Local temples on Surat

Last month was full with problems of computer and internet connections. So Had the splendid time with the favorite Shri Sai SatCharitra.

The energy, the presence, it emits is just amazing. Read it repeatedly, and a Sai Baba devotee and a friend, would take me to different Shirdi Sai Baba temples. He would ask me t wake him up at 3 in the morning. By four O' clock we would be in a temple. There is a temple at Chouta Bazaar, in Surat. Three O' clock the services to Sai Baba starts.

Sai Baba's, limbs are pressed, with the chanting of Sai's name. There is a Dhuni kept alive, which is cleaned and fed with wood. After the massage of the body of Sai Baba, bathing is done all with chanting and songs of Sai Baba. On Thursdays, bathing is done with warm water, followed by Panchamrut, followed by warm water, followed by Saffron mixed water and finally with warm water. Same procedure is followed with the idol of Lord Dattayetra's idol.

There are three floors of the temple, than bathing is followed in the basement, followed by the idol on the first floor. All the time different Chanting and songs are sung. Heart use to get fill with joy seeing and feeling Sai Baba's chanting and services.

I use to get particularly attracted to Shayankhand (sleeping room), of Sai Baba on the first floor. First time i went there, in few seconds with a wave of energy i was filled, sat there and watched the beautiful idol of Sai Baba sleeping. Sai Baba is sleeping in the fashion, Lord Vishnu sleeps ( i miss a digital camera badly, could have got the picture and uploaded with this post) with the ShesNaga. The idol looked almost real, and felt Sai Baba will move any moment.

On the right hand side of Shayankhand is a small statue of Sai Baba, heart got filled with the service rendered to the small idol. Bathing went on with Chantings with no hurry. After the bath, the devotee chanted a Stotra, and while carefully making a tripunda mark on Sai Baba's forhead, all the 108 names of Sai Baba where chanted. One can imagine with how much love and care, the services are performed, not as mere rituals.

Offerings to Shirdi Sai Baba

Few days back there where news in the newspaper, that a Chennai based devotee of Sai Baba have donated Rs. 200 crores. A Bhakt Niwas ( Staying place for devotees) will be built by the money. This is the largest amount donated by a single devotee until now. About 14,000 devotees would be accommodated in this new building with good facilities for the devotees staying there.

Another news few days back was about a devotee, wanting to make the throne on which Sai Baba sits a golden one. All the money required for the golden throne would be donated by an individual devotee. The cost estimates to Rs. 6 Crores approximately $ 15,00,0000/-.

Just two examples of how Sai Baba of Shirdi touches the life of his devotees, and that the capable devotees are ready to do for their dear Sai.

Incidentally, when Sai Baba was in physical form, staying in Shirdi, even then lot of money and other articles where offered to him. All the offerings where immediately given away to other devotees and poor. Large amount of money came to him and everything was given away, next morning he woke up as beggar again. Beggar in the sense of material possession, otherwise the spiritual treasures he had and has is everlasting, inexhaustible.

If one have read the Sacred book Sri Sai SatCharitra, One must be aware that Sai Baba used to accept all kind of offerings, offered with love and devotion. Sai Baba even showed that he accept the offerings made with devotion in front of his pictures and idols, and that they are always accepted by him. He also knew about the offerings sent by devotees with other devotees, who were visiting Shirdi, and if the visitor forgot he would ask for the particular offering sent to him. Was it food, flowers, incense, money or pranams or anything else.

These are the gross offerings we make to Sai Baba and are pretty very much seen as offerings.

Other offering that comes to my mind is about the story of the author of Sri Sai SatCharitra, in Chapter number 24, how Sai Baba indicated the mental offerings should be made to him before eating.

Yes there are offerings prior to these offerings, made out of love and gratitude, and most of us do not see them as offerings. More subtle offerings. When we are in trouble we remember Sai Baba and ask him to take us out of our troubles, we seldom see them as offerings of our troubles to Sai Baba, when we see and feel that Sai Baba has taken our troubles, then we offer him money, garlands, flowers, prasad (food), seva (service) that we see as offerings. Yes Sai Baba loves and appreciate these offerings, as he says he ever hungers for love and devotion from his devotees.

In article Meditation on Sai Baba of Shirdi the mention of " He buys our dirty bag of goods, and in return gives us an inner light that borrows from His splendor " is made. Yes he is ever taking the disturbance of our mind, emotions etc, setting it right. These are the offerings we make the the most and tend to forget to offer the good times, the undisturbed mind. We should remember Sai Baba also in good times, when the mind is undisturbed it should be offered to Sai Baba. Close our eyes or our attention on our mind or Sai Baba's picture or idol and surrender it to him and we are sure to see or feel a miracle. Feeling a miracle is better than seeing a miracle.

Jai SaiNath

Sai Baba's Grace

Jai Saintah

Was reading How K.J.Bhishma Composed Shri Sadguru Sainath Sagunopasana. Second part continued here.
The story deals with how K. J. Bhisma had a dream and on visiting Shirdi how Sai Baba pointed out to him that he knew his dream. If we read experiences of devotees who met Sai Baba in Shirdi when he was moved about in form made of flesh and blood, most of the time Sai Baba would narrate important incident or dream of a newly visiting devotee to show him is all pervasiveness and thus injecting faith in him or her so that the spiritual journey of the individual starts.

In the second part of the posting is the mention of Sai Baba putting his hand on Bhisma's head for full two minutes which goes as
' Sai Baba put his palm on Bhishma’s head for two full mintues. Bhishma went into
ecstacy. How could he describe the state of his mind except by saying like
Devnath in his famous composition “Gurukrupayka uhnjuna paya mera main janu”
. “The Guru’s Grace I have received I know it for myself”.'

Yes how can one describe the state of mind when in spiritual ectasy or in the influence of spiritual grace showered by Saguru. Two minutes by clock time is mentioned but what happens belongs to timelessness something beyond time, untouched by time, because time implies past and future.

This grace of Sai Baba is still felt by the devotees in Shirdi, while reading the blessed book Sai Satcharitra and by remembering Sai Baba. I would also like to mention a post on Mr. Shastri's blog , which deals a rather unusual way of transmitting the grace in disciple. The disciple was challenged for a wrestling match where the following occured.

' He was still smiling and holding me with a strong grip. Gradually I felt a sort of electric current coming out of his hands and entering into me. That touch made me completely helpless. I lost all my physical strength. I went into ecstasy*, and the hair of my body stood on end. Releasing me, the Master said with a smile, "Well, you are the winner."'

Later in the post it says, 'Patting me gently on the back, he said: "Come here often. It is not enough to come once."'

Yes this statement shows us much, Sai Baba also used to tell the same thing to most of his devotees, come here often. We should visit the grace bestowing Shirdi, read the grace bestowing Sai Satcharitra quite often just as we need to bath the physical body with water, the other subtle aspects of us needs cleaning up by visiting Sai Baba temple, visiting Shirdi, Reading Sai SatCharitra and remembering Sai Baba, his stories and sharing the stories with friends and family.

Pleasing Sai Baba

Today while reading Sai SatCharitra, the story of the dog fed made an impact on me. Sai Baba was telling me, this is the right way to please me, this is the way you can make me happy. Yes surely seeing Sai Baba in all living creature is the best way to worship or pleasing God. We must be ever cautious of not hurting a living being with thought, deed or words. This is perhaps better than pujas and mantras and bhajans. What is the the use if we go to Sai Baba temple or to any temple or mosque or church for that matter, perform rituals prescribed in books or holy men, come out and kick a dog or an animal or a so called lower status human being. When a sense of power makes us hurt someone may it be by words, thoughts or deeds. If we go to temple, maybe visit Shirdi, perform Aratis, make a donation, offer flowers and fruits and food to Sai Baba, and if we forget to feed a hungry beggar or a hungry animal, worst even insult or hurt them in any way, we are not loving Sai Baba or God or the divine that lives everywhere.

And this also reminds me of a short story of Gautam Buddha which i posted on the blog dedicated to inspirational stories

Incidentally , i was reading Inspirations and Creative Thoughts on a blog named mystic saint by Sadiq Alam, where i read the following

The model of adab in the Sufi tradition is the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing upon him), who said: "None of you will have authentic faith until your hearts are made right, nor will your hearts be made right until your tongues be made right, nor will your tongues be made right until your actions be made right."

Devotion

Was talking with my Mom. Had been through much financial problems since last few months. To be more truthful, since many years. Every effort to improve the financial status resulted in negative.

After seeing all the efforts going down the drain the mind was now afraid of making any more effort. So had left all the money gaining efforts and was spending much time reading Sai SatCharitra in local temple. Since the subtle energy is too high in the temple all the emotions and what ever state of mind, emotions and lot more that happened to the entity called me, was being surrendered to Sai Baba, his love and grace. Sometime it would happen that the system would get attacked by much downer feelings and emotions that even one felt that why you are offering such downer state of being to Sai Baba. It was to the point of guilt, that don't you have anything better to offer to Sai Baba. But Sai Baba the merciful Fakir is there for us to take such offerings and freeing us from it, even He feels pain seeing his devotee's pain, but does not complain, and always ask for it.

Many times looking at Sai Baba in the form of idol or statue or Murti, much loved and gratitude flowed through the heart. That time the heart got elevated and one felt that out of all the offerings we make like offerings of flowers, food, and more, Sai Baba loves most the offering of heart and love.

Coming back to the original story ( i almost thought that todays post will be one of the shortest and the above was never intended until i started typing, it just came out). Since the financial condition suddenly started to improve, my Mom came to me and said that i must continue the devotion and the condition will keep improving.To which an answer just slept out of my mouth that, "It is far better to be devoted for the sake of devotion than for the sake of something good to happen, for if one is devoted it is sure that only good will happen."

Yes truly why ask Sai Baba or to the God, or the highest the most merciful, the infinite for small things one by one, just ask for his grace and love and everything that happens will be right for us, Remember the two most important things Sai Baba asks from us Sraddha (Faith) and Saburi (Paitence), why ask and seek for petty things one by one, which seems to be endless, rather than the ultimate, the love and grace of God.

Meeting with a Sai Baba devotee

Om Sai Nathaya Namah

Today happened to meet a Sai Baba devotee and in the local Temple and had a little chat with him. I had been going to Sai Baba temple and read the sacred Pothi (literature) there since last three weeks. The reading starts from Thursday and ends on Wednesday or sometimes earlier. Today the feeling was great as the completion of the reading neared and great vibrations, or energy or grace was working on the body. In the comment by Mr. Shastri here, the Bauls refer it as the wind. A cleansing process of the system (physical, emotional, mental, subtle and more or one can say the cleansing process of accumulated karma or impressions we have gathered since centuries) was happening with a great force. After the all the remaining few chapters of Sai SatCharitra were over, was just sitting and letting the subtle energy work.

Among the other visiting devotees, there came one simple devotee, who sat in the temple for quite a long. And one could see how much love and respect he had for Sai Baba, the way he massaged the legs of Sai Baba in the form of statue, how occasionally Sai Baba bhajans slept out of his mouth. As he saw me relaxed with eyes open, he inquired about the book that was it SatCharitra. I answered in affirmation. He told me since the version of the book available in Shirdi, is smaller one, it is comparatively easy, otherwise verse to verse translated version even eight hours given daily, proves insufficient for him.


Then he told his story that how he visit regularly Sai Temples. If inquired if I was a regular visitor. I told him that since three to four weeks I was regular and reading and meditating on Sai Baba.

Then he told me his story how some years back, disaster had struck him, of all he was also under heavy burden of debt, and he went to Tapti river (Surat city is located on the banks of river Tapi), to flung his self into the river thereby bringing an end to his life. He told Sai Baba took me from that point to his Temple (Situated at place called Chawtapull or maybe Chawtapool ) and since he never misses visiting Sai Baba’s Temple from saving him from that point of committing suicide. He also told about another devotee from Surat who from last 38 years have been visiting Shirdi every month. That devotee he mentioned, that had long time back, when even the means to reach Shirdi from Surat where not good enough, had visited Shirdi every Thurday of every month continuously for 4 years. In those days that particular devotee was doing a job. My heart and mind was amazed by hearing these stories, and also was amazed how strong was/is the bhakti or devotion of the guy who visited Shirdi, while doing job, every Thursday from Surat. Even these days by road in a good car it takes about 8 hours to reach from Surat to Shirdi. This devotee he mentioned now is very well settled financially living in huge bunglow, with some ice cream business going on very well, and Sai Baba still calls him to Shirdi every 15 days. And what about the guy who met me, how he loved Sai Baba, how satisfied he looked serving Sai Baba everyday.



Sai Baba aapki leela aap hi jano.

Bathing Sai Baba's Statue

Today morning had a wonderful experience of bathing Sai Baba's Statue at the local temple. Had did it for few days about a couple of years ago, since yesterday something was telling me go in the morning and enjoy the experience of bathing Baba. Usually on Fridays in that temple there are very few people for bathing Sai Baba's Statue as the temple remains from early morning till late night with heavy rush on Thursdays and the care takers of the temple are exhausted. Today also when i reached the temple early in the morning , at about 6.15 there was only one person for giving the bath, i joined him after lighting some incense sticks.

After returning from that wonderful experience, i came in my room and as my eyes fell on Sai Baba's picture, the mind was about to say, look Baba i gave you a bath. And thankfully it did not came that way. It came out, thank you Sai, for calling me and giving me a great opportunity for giving you a bath. This also reminded me on the post that is half way, the post about expounding of a verse from Bhagwat Gita by Sai Baba to Nanasaheb Chandorkar, where Sai Baba explains about the term Seva(Service), that seva does not just means services like massaging legs, and other physical services to SadGuru, but one must feel that the mind body and everything is surrendered to SadGuru. So it exist only for his service.

Somehow we miss this point a lot of time. The I is always ahead. I went to temple. I bowed to God or Guru. I read Sai Satcharitra. I offered prasad and in everything if I comes first it is useless. It should be God you compassion brought me to temple, your grace enabled me to read Sai Satcharitra or any other Holy scripture, with your grace and guiding i am lucky enough to offer you prasad.

Also the bathing part reminds me of an incident that happened in Shirdi. The pujaris at Shirdi every morning gives bath to Sai Baba Statue or Murti. Once the Pujari was not careful enough and by mistake he dropped the vessel with which the water was poured on Sai Baba's Idol. The vessel had fell on Sai Baba's leg. The pujari had forgot all about it. He somehow developed pain in his leg which troubled him much for a couple of days and no remedy seemed to work. Then he got a dream where Sai Baba appeared and ask him about the pain. Sai Baba then told him that he had given him pain just to let him know that the vessel that he dropped on his leg gave him pain, of which the pujari was unware and was quiet oblivious about the dropping of it on Sai Baba's leg while bathing him, thinking it to be a non living marble statue. Sai Baba asked him to be more cautious and the pujari's pain was gone.

Om Sai Ram

Sai Baba's Shri Sai SatCharitra

On Wednesday had completed Shri Sai SatCharitra, which was started on precious Thursday exactly a week before. It is very popular and well known that completing the reading of Shri Sai SatCharitra in a week, the reader’s problems are removed if prayed for before and during the reading. The writer might have read the sacred book, so many times, but never with an ask, it was simply, to feel the presence and grace of Sai Baba while doing it, and what is better than that? However this time it was not so. A prayer deep from the heart was involved, to remove mental and maybe emotional disturbance of another devotee of Sai Baba. The disturbance was so great that the devotee was denying even to read the sacred book, or when reading was tried the disturbance was preventing it.

So the writer, prayed in front of Sai Baba picture from the depth of his heart, and asked Sai Baba to shower his love and grace while reading the pothi and remove the disturbing element from the devotee. All the time while reading there was a kind of intensity from the writer, for the removal of the disturbance from devotee. The reading of Sai Baba’s Shri Sai SatCharitra was over and the devotee is much free from the disturbance miraculously, and now reads Shri Sai SatCharitra.

Today the writer went through another kind of experience of Sai Baba’s grace. Being tired he put the shawl, which he had bought from Shirdi, lay his head on the shawl and was relaxing. Surrendering everything the body, the mind, the emotions everything to the grace flowing from the shawl. While doing it he also put Sai Baba Shri Sai SatCharitra on the forehead. A feeling of energy flowing from both the sides, beneath the head (from Shawl) and above the forehead, was something great. It was like an subtle operation was done, and the writer came out as if anew from it, something very difficult to put in words.

Related posts
About Sai SatCharitra

Reading Sai SatCharitra Blessed book of Sai Baba of Shirdi

What should we ask from Shirdi Sai Baba

Sai Baba the merciful Fakir, has given so much, to his devotees. Many have got unasked, as is the case with me link. Does it means we should ask and ask and ask forever. Because the list of the wishes never seems to end, one desire fulfilled other is waiting behind. Actually there are multi desires all waiting to force themselves at the given opportunity. And we fail to see that it is the never ending queue of the desires, that does not let the mind to be calm and quiet, so that it can receive and feel the grace and love of Sai Baba of Shirdi. The mind is so much engrossed in it’s own desires that most of the time it fails to listen and grasp of what Sai Baba is showering. Once Sai Baba was putting the pots upside down and said, people come to me in this manner, how can I fill the pots?

Yes most of the time our mind is filled with desires and desires, and fails to grasp the grace and love of Sai Baba. If at all the mind has to ask as it’s is habit, not easily to be given away, why not ask for only Love and Grace of Sai Baba, of God, the only one Sabka Malik Ek. Let the mind ask for his Love and his grace and everything is included in it. His love and grace will take care of everything. Once we have asked for his love then it his Sai’s business to take care of us. How can he put attention on everyone and every one’s business? It does not take any time for him to put attention on every one as he resides in everyone, just waiting for a call of love. And why is it his business to help us? Do we ask, what business has the mother got, to take care of her little child? The love of the mother for the child takes care of everything. The child does not have to ask for each and everything.

So let’s just ask for the Love and Grace of God, of Sai Baba, or whatever name we want to give that attracts us, because he is beyond name and it is the love for him in whatever name or form we get drawn. And his love will take care of everything. He asks for Faith and patience, Shraddha and Sauburi, lets give our Faith and patience to him, and let him work through us.God will give you everything which you need - not want. What is necessary for you

A translated version of Poetry of A Sufi Mystic Poet Rumi, tells the story of a real dervish or Fakir:-

The Sufi opens his hands to the Universe

and gives away each instant, free.

Unlike someone who begs on the street for money to survive

a dervish begs to give you his life.

Related articles

What to do about this mind

Let the mind always crave for Sai Baba

How To Pray To Shirdi Sai Baba

Love and Grace Of Sai Baba, that's all we need

Leave the result to Sai Baba as it happens because of his love.

Stories of Sai Baba, we come across many incidents where the Devotees want something and Sai Baba gives something else. It is the love of Sai Baba which, is always looking for the ultimate benefit of his beloved devotees, that he works that way. Many devotees went to Sai Baba for their desires to be satisfied and got much more precious than what their mind had asked for. Many a times the devotees went with their wishes, and Sai Baba knowing the consequences, stopped them from doing so. So it is best for us to love him ask for his grace, and not feel worried if the we feel that the prayers were not ansered. We should,Leave the result to him as it happens because of his love.

Holier than thou

Om SaiNathaya Namah

Today happens to be my birthday. I'll just chant for today's post

Om Sai Ram
Om SaiNathaya Namah .......... This reminds me of the Shirdi where continuously this Mantra is herd in the Sacred Land. Most of the time the Audio is played of this Mantra in Shirdi.
Baba Sai Baba Sai
Sadguru SaiNath Maharaj Ki Jai

And now a prayer flows through my heart

Oh Sai, How can i ever repay you,
repay you of whatever you have done for me and for all your beloved devotees,
certainly no words and deeds are enough, to repay,
you ask simple things like remembering you, meditate on you, read and write about your glories,
and solve complex problems in miraculous ways,
and this too, we tend to forget sometimes,
Still your mercy and grace is always with you,
How can we ever repay

Nothing was coming in the mind when i started writing this post. Suddenly the feeling of writing comes. Oh Sai, there is a big hurdle which can come in your devotees mind. The holier than thou feeling. Oh Sai Baba please help me and all your devotees that we never get into the holier than feeling. There is a story i remember about Prophet Muhammad or may be a Sufi Master. He was returning with a disciple after early morning Namer az the prayer to the infinite, the Almighty. On the way back, after the prayer, the disciple saw people snoring. He said how unfortunate are the people, they know nothing about God. To this the reply came that, the morning prayer had gone in vain because of that feeling.

Yes we are the children of Sai Baba, and never ever compare our Bhakti or relation with Sai Baba we feel with anybody. Sometimes the feeling comes we are not doing enough, that can be helpful, if it gives us the drive for Bhakti and devotion with more intensity.

The other that i know more about Sai Baba, i know more about Shirdi, i know more about Sai SatCharitra, does not at all serve the purpose of Sai Baba's teachings and his Will.

The incident narrated in Sai SatCharitra comes to my mind when a devotee was scandalizing. Upon which Sai Baba said "Behold how, with what relish it is gorging dung. Your conduct is similar. You go on reviling your own brethren to your heart's content. After performing many deeds of merit, you are born a man, and if you act like this, will Shirdi help you in any way?"

Oh Sai grant me as my Birthday gift that i never feel that i know more about you than others. It always remain in my heart and mind that i the finite can never know the leelas of the infinite.

I require no door to enter

Sai Baba in Sai SatCharitra chapter 28

"I require no door to enter. I have no form nor any extension; I always live everywhere. I carry on, as a wirepuller, all the actions of the man who trusts Me and merges in Me."

Was meditating on Sai Baba’s picture. How selfish are we, when in trouble we run to Sai Baba, we run to God, look out for prayers and ways of meditating and chant mantras and read religious and sacred books like Sai SatCharitra. Once the troubles are over, the agony is over, the disturbance is over, and we tend to give importance to other things forgetting all, which held us in those disturbing times.

Same happened with me, when I was going through tough times, going through agony as always I was meditating on Sai Baba’s picture, and praying to him, talking with him, to remove the agony, to remove the disturbance. As is the characteristic of the merciful Fakir, it got over with his grace. During those times a thought had come, so great is Sai Baba’s grace and love, only by looking at SaiBaba’s photo so much happens. Looking wholeheartedly, with the intensity and it is natural that during the tough times the intensity is always more.

After the whole system was cleared of disturbance and agony, I forgot what had crossed my mind that time, that of watching Sai Baba’s picture daily for at least an hour or reading Sai SatCharitra and allow the energy created by it, through the grace received through it. Accepting the grace, simple deed of just watching Sai Baba’s picture and letting his grace work, or read the sacred book Sai Sat Charitra and letting Sai Baba’s grace work was overlooked. And again the tough times emerged, the agony emerged, the disturbance emerged.

Again in such time I did the only thing I know to do in such times. Surrender to Sai Baba’s will and watch his picture and let his grace work or read Sai SatCharitra. Two days it was there, and Sai Baba’s picture was telling me. Look, you are again suffering, this is my love for you. You forgot me, you did not sit in my company and I was missing you, so I had to give you little trouble. Your system is not yet cleaned, till you melt and merge in me I am not going to leave you. Same way a mother gives bitter medicines to her child for the child’s welfare, you have to taste some bitterness, when you forget to get your system cleansed. Once the system is cleansed there will be no difference between you and me. In fact, the me in you will be melted and all that will remain will be my infinite self.

My Guru can give boundless

Life is such a flux. Few days the mind was at unrest, and again there was suffering. We suffer due to insecurity. Insecurity of relationship, material insecurity, insecurity of losing the known, and the mind is never in our control. The mind takes leaps breeding insecurities.

Ah but I have the blessings and love of Sadaguru. Sai Baba’s pictures are also so much communicative. The pictures of Sai Baba are enigmatic. They are living, most of the time I feel the picture of Sai Baba of more living and vibrant than the fellow beings. And this experience I have heard from so many devotees of ShirdiSai.

There is a picture of Sai Baba in my room, which is communicative. The eyes of Baba convey a lot through the picture, even the face expression changes. This has been happening since such a long time, actually years. Few days ago I could see the picture of Sai Baba in pain, the eyes were also in deep pain, and I knew some problem is waiting. And indeed it happened in a couple of days. Other devotees of Baba and my friends were going through anxiety. And it affected my mind also. And in such time I do what I know the best, actually it would not be proper to say I do. I don’t trust the reasoning of the mind to solve our problems. How can a troubled mind solve any problems? So I sit before Sai Baba’s picture and let his grace work on the wounded mind and heart. I surrender completely to him, knowing well that my efforts in solving any problems would not be enough. Truly we have made great progress intellectually and we trust our intellect most. We take pride in solving the problems, if the problems happen to be solved. And we miss the clear apparent fact, that all the progress brought about by the intellect has not brought about the real solutions. We can build gorgeous big buildings, which can supply physical comfort, but in those houses most of us cannot sleep with the calm and serene mind. We create big bank balances but cannot get rid of the insecurities and fears. We create weapons and high tech modes of defenses, which has not been able to get us free from the fear. So the mind and intellect has failed so far in this area.

Today the anxiety of the mind is over and was lying with calm mind allowing the energy and grace of Baba to work on the mind, by warping the Shawl, which I had bought of Shridi Sansthan Shop in Shirdi. Every day so many clothes and shawls are offered to Sai Baba at Samadhi Mandir. Also they are sanctified as they remain on Samadhi and/or on Sai Baba’s Grand Statue. Shirdi Sai Sansthan sells this offering at very reasonable rates to the Devotees, seeking blessings through it. Yes those clothes have totally different quality. Even when the mind was anxious and feeling wounded the blessings from the shawl was allowed to work. The pain was sustained.

Also there came few moments when I was praying to Baba, to take away the anxiety from his devotees. To which through picture, Baba seemed to tell me. Don’t you see pain my eyes? I am also suffering with them, while they are suffering I am with them. My ways are inscrutable. I suffer when they suffer, and strange are the ways of Karma. Because I love them, because I want them to get free, they have to pass through what they have to pass through. But don’t you worry I am with them, my grace and love will sustain them.

Ok after writing this I open up Sai Sat Charitra and put some quotes from the sacred book.

“The knowledge of the self is so subtle and mystic that no one by his own individual effort can ever hope to attain it.”

“Lords grace is most essential.”

“The teachings of Guru are of no use to a man who is full of egoism and always thinks about sense objects.”

“If you listen to me carefully, you will certainly benefited. While sitting in masjid I never speak any untruth.”

Going Through Tough Times

Sadaguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai.


From Shri Sai Satcharitra

Chapter XXII

Sai Baba

"God lives in all beings and creatures, whether they be serpents or scorpions. He is the Great Wirepuller of the world, and all beings, serpents, scorpions etc., obey His command. Unless He wills it, nobody can do any harm to others. The world is all dependent on Him, and no one is independent. So we should take pity and love all creatures, leave off adventurous fights and killings and be patient. The Lord (God) is the Protector of all.

Last few days were really tough. Tough on the mind. All kind of insecurities were at attack on mind. The attack of insecurities also suggests that the faith in Sai Baba is not yet total. Though Sai Baba took care of many things in a miraculous way.

There were also attacks from friends and relatives, the mental attacks. Of not being good at anything and not being able to fulfill the responsibilities. All the time I was watching Sai Baba’s pictures and letting the words injure the mind.

It was much painful and I was watching Sai Baba’s picture and letting it happen. I was letting it happen as SaiBaba’s will, there was no complain for the speakers whose words were injuring the mind. I was enduring the pain as the essential, as something good for me, as a gift from Sai Baba to get me closer to him. All the time, for three days I was watching Sai Baba’s picture and Sai Baba’s grace, Baba’s Nazar was sustaining me in those difficult times.

Also due to Sai Baba’s grace there was no complaints against the complainers whose complains were injuring the mind. (Let anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving any bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy. Sai Baba in Chapters XVII & XIX). I was just letting the injuries to the mind happen as something essential for the growth, something essential for getting closer to Sai Baba, if it had come to me, it was necessary for me, otherwise Shri Sai Satcharitra Sai Baba would not have given it to me.

What I learned Today.

First an excerpt from Sai SatCharitra Chapter XXIV

Sai Baba's Characteristics -- His Dependency on Bhaktas

Sai Baba allowed His devotees to serve Him in their own way, and did not like any other persons interfering in this. To quote an instance, the same Mavsibai was on another occasion, kneading Sai Baba's abdomen. Seeing the fury and force used by her, all the other devotees felt nervous and anxious. They said, "Oh mother, be more considerate and moderate, otherwise you will break Sai Baba's arteries and nerves". At this Sai Baba got up at once from His seat, dashed His satka on the ground. He got enraged and His eyes became red like a live charcoal. None dared to stand before or face Sai Baba. Then He took hold of one end of the Satka with both hands and pressed it in the hollow of his abdomen. The other end He fixed to the post and began to press His abdomen against it. The satka which was about two or three feet in length seemed all to go into the abdomen and the people feared that the abdomen would be ruptured in a short time. The post was fixed and immovable and Sai Baba began to go closer and closer to it and clasped the post firmly. Every moment the rupture was expected, and they were all dismayed, did not know what to do, and stood dumb with wonder and fear. SaiBaba suffered this ordeal for the sake of His Bhakta. The other devotees wanted only to give a hint to the Mavsibai to be moderate in her service and not cause any trouble or pain to Baba. This they did with good intention, but Baba did not brook even this. They were surprised to see that their well-intentioned effort had resulted in this catastrophe; and they could do nothing but to wait and see. Fortunately, Sai Baba's rage soon cooled down. He left the satka and resumed His seat. From this time onward, the devotees took the lesson that they should not meddle with anybody but allow him to serve Baba as the chooses, as He was capable to gauge the merits and worth of the service rendered unto Him.


There are innumerable devotees of Sai Baba, each with unique characteristic, and unique way of Bhakti, or worship, or unique knot with Sai Baba. The bond of Sai Baba with each devotee is unique. So it is ever useless to compare our Bhakti or the way of our relationship with SaiBaba with others. It is utterly useless to think my way of devotion is better. It is how deep one has Faith in Sai Baba. One may be regularly worshipping SaiBaba, writing and talking a lot about Sai Baba, may be wearing ornaments or clothes with Sai Baba’s picture and name on it. The other may just be talking a casual talk with the latest fashioned clothing. Yet the other may be far ahead in relationship with Sai Baba, and may have far deeper faith in SaiBaba. One can never judge a real devotee of Sai Baba just by outward appearance or the outer deeds.

It is not good to feel that my religion or sadhna is true and others are wrong. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansha.

Watching Sai Baba’s Picture

I have been watching Sai Baba’s Picture, the original, black and white with the umbrella. While watching, the body is still and relaxed, eye balls not moving and the eyes are empty, the brain empty, watching the picture through empty eyes. A kind of energy is felt in the brain. Thoughts and feelings may come and go. The awareness is on the energy created, in the brain. Allowing it, to purify the mind.