Is understanding of intellect enough?

Jai SaiNath

Today the writer woke up with disturbance. The disturbance caused by the insufficient economical funds, and calls from few to whom some money has to paid, caused a great disturbance. The disturbance had caught the whole body and mind. Just the previous night, was reading about life story of life of saint, in one of the books from a set of books called Sai Sarovar, in Gujarati language. Much has been written about Shirdi Sai Baba in this book, originally two huge volumes, somehow out of print. A Sai Baba devotee presented the photo copy of these books as the book is no longer available in stores and very few are left.

While reading the story about the Saint known as Shree Mota, an d how he was immensely helped by few great saint. Shree was also helped much by Merciful Fakir of Shirdi, the Sai Baba. Shree Mota had never heard the name of Sai Baba, never seen the picture of Sai Baba, still the merciful Fakir, appeared while he was meditating and performing certain Sadhana, and helped him immensely. It was only, that few days later of that occurrence, Shree Mota happened to see the picture of Sai Baba, on a ring worn on a hand of friend’s friend. On inquiring about whose picture it was he came to know that it was the picture of Sai Baba of Shirdi, and that he had left his body 20 years before in 1918, it was 1938 when the incident had happened. Sai Baba helped directing Shree Mota on many occasions, even after this first incident had taken place. Sai Baba used to appear in physical form. The story has many incidents, of the mystical ways of how saints appear and the guide the souls, who are really and deeply interested in spirituality and yearning for deliverance from the unnecessary troubles of mind. It also has few interesting stories of the sacred river Narmada. All of he Sai Sarovar would require a different website or a blog and hope to do it one day, with Sai Baba’s grace.

The story also describes various hardships and troubles Shree Mota went through during his life time and during the spiritual practices he went through while reading the story the writer was thinking about it. The problems so many saints and sages went through the life time. A biography of Tibetan Mystic Milarepa, The life of Milarepa, came to mind. How Milarepa suffered during his life before he attained the highest. What tough and rigorous and tough ordeal he went under his Guru and otherwise. Also biography of Holy Mother Sri Sardadevi came to mind. I had read this book about Maa Saradadevi some 5 years ago. And I remember how tough it was for me to just read the book. How tough it was, to read the troubles she had to go, tears would roll out of my eyes. In fact I could not complete the book, I simply could not bear and have left that book after reading 3/4^th of it. And her husband Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, his life too was full of difficulties. There were points when Ramakrishna Paramhansa thought himself to be mad, due to his intense bhakti, devotion. Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is one book all the devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba or devotees worshiping God in any form of Guru or God. It injects the feeling of devotion and bhakti in us. I personally consider it equivalent to Sri Sai SatCharita, the greatest gift to us by Shirdi Sai Baba. Even it has the quality of making us drunk with divine energy while reading it. While reading it, it gives us much direction of how we as devotees should love and worship our dear SadGuru SaiBaba. I have met few devotees who deny reading anything other than that written about Sai Baba. Some even go as far as we don’t need to see Shirdi Sai Baba, in the light of saints such as Sri Ramakrishna. Truly Shirdi Sai does not need any light as he is light itself. Thousands of sun gathered together does not need any light. But it is for us.

Even after reading a lot about Shirdi Baba, who always use to encourage devotees to read books of different saints, just so that the bhakti, the devotion of the devotees increases, it is us that we are failing to understand what the merciful Fakir was encouraging, and for that he would take so much pain of the devotees, just to infuse the quality of devotion (Bhakti), Faith (Sraddha) and patience (Saburi). Coming back to the sufferings that saints and sages endured the list can go on Swami Vivikanada, Jesus Christ, Mira, Prahalad …….

Even after reading and thinking such, after waking the next day. The mind got much disturbed. As it is there is some financial debt, to clear that an offer of selling computer Lan related card was taken up. A big order was confirmed after showing them the demo and they were too willing and eager to buy and install the cards in their labs, as it would save much costing and human work. Since the order was confirmed and much eagerness was shown to install the cards as soon as possible, I bought a lap top so that it can serve as a server for the product to be marketed. Much of the payment for the laptop was to come from the big order placed. As soon as I bought the lap top computer, on which this post is being written while listening to Sai Baba Aarti, they delayed for the installation. This brought about a great disturbance in the mind. To add the few calls for the money to be paid, that of the lap top vendor has been added.

The disturbance was full. As always I sat before Sai Baba’s picture. Then I played the Sai Baba’s Kakad morning Aarti video that I downloaded. Even while watching the Aarti the mind and whole system was so much caught up by the disturbance created. There was no asking for grace and love of Sai Baba. The disturbance was ruling. When the disturbance rules we tend to forget what we have learnt intellectually. Watching the video I was feeling to be in Shirdi. There was no feeling of gratefulness towards Sai Baba. In fact I was telling look Baba, a great disturbance is standing in front of you. You do what you want to do. Just because I feel I am in Shirdi and standing in front of your Samadhi, I am not going to wear a mask of a good person, I have brought the fact to you. The disturbance was so great it was not even asking for the grace or energy. Still the merciful that he is, he did not listen to the complaints. And even thought the grace and energy was denied it started filling the head and the body. After some time, when my physical system was thus filled with grace, the merciful Sri Sai Baba, seemed to say. You call yourself my devotee? Where has all that knowledge and thinking of suffering of all Saints and Sages gone? Truly mere intellectual learning never helps. Hence Sai Baba remarked many a times that mere book reading and learning will not help, you have to carry out and live what you read in spiritual books. Sai Baba is also stated saying people try to find Bhrahma (truth) in the books, but it is all bhram (illusion) that they find. However I don’t consider books like Sri Sai SatCharitra and Gospel Of Sri Ramakrishna which also contains the grace and love of beyond, which brings about a lot of change in our mind and heart.

To quote J. Krishnamurti on the same “To be an integrated human being is to understand the entire process of one's own consciousness, both the hidden and the open. This is not possible if we give due emphasis to the intellect. We attach great importance to the cultivation of the mind, but inwardly we are insufficient, poor and confused. This living in the intellect is the way of disintegration; for ideas, like beliefs, can never bring people together except in conflicting groups.”

Yes our gaze should always be inwards. All the time while watching the Aarti, might have watched it three to four times again and again as soon as it got complete. I even remembered how I used to wait for the Aarti to get completed much earlier in my life. That time the Aarti was a mere ritual and would wait for it to be completed so that I could get back to work or with friends, to gossip. This time while watching the gaze was on the inner disturbed system and also aware how the grace was working on it., so was not waiting for the Aarti to get complete but the tremendous disturbance that has aroused to be completed while watching it. This time I had not fruits, and gratefulness to offer to Sai Baba, the disturbance was allowed as a fact and was offered to him, which he gladly took. It is well known fact how Sai Baba suffers for his devotees and during the physical presence he demonstrated many a times how he took even the physical pains of his devotees. This might come in next post, but it is not guaranteed, as the writer himself does not know what comes out until it is written.

Aum Sai Ram

Sri SatChitAnand SadaGuru SaiNath Maharj Ki Jai.

Online Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
other link
in India buy at subsidized rates from

Preface

Preface


It has been 14 years since, the writer has been introduced to what he would like to call the grace of Baba, at the age of 22, when he happened to visit the holy land SHIRDI. Since that visit the writer has been drawn to Shirdi a number of times. It has been like “ there is some extra money for staying at least a couple of days in Shirdi, lets go to Shirdi.” Much reading about Shirdi Sai, talking about Baba has continued since. And a joy, an intense attraction, a feeling of deep closeness with Baba, a deep sense of devotion, a sense of togetherness, which is not created by the writer, has been a vital part in writer’s life.


Getting drawn to Baba and Shirdi, How can the writer be away from the great holy book Sai Satcharitra, which has touched millions of devotee’s hearts, minds and souls. Along with Sai Baba of Shirdi, the writer has also been drawn towards the books of Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansha, one of the greatest of the devotees who ever walked on this earth. Meher Baba, the Avatar of this age. J. Krishnamurti, who would intellectually and logically point towards our own pattern of thoughts, the way we live, and points out to us how we build the wall against the grace and the sacred, while always getting engaged in self centered activities. It is from j. Krishnamurti’s books, that writer began to read Sai Sat Charitra, with greater intensity. Very slowly, and letting each word and sentence of Baba from the book, to remain in head and heart, holding it and letting it work on the mind and the heart.

Also from J. Krishnamurti’s talks the writer began to question his self, on each statesman of Baba. How deeply the reader allows Baba’s words and guidance, to penetrate his self.
Whether Baba’s words of Baba are read or forgotten, or they allowed sinking in. Does what Baba has said and pointed to is taken care of or is it that the writers own personal comfort, own personal greed this worldly or the otherworldly is ruling.

The question had arisen at the writer’s recent visit to Shirdi. Due to Diwali holidays, there were too many visitors for the darshan of Baba. Baba’s devotees had filled the land of Shirdi so much, too little space was seen empty. The writer with his family was sitting in the Mukhdarshan area, watching Baba’s Murti. The writer was feeling grace and a kind of satisfaction, difficult to put in words, that is always felt in the Holy Land Shirdi. He then went to near by Maruti temple, as his son wanted to put garlands on the neck of Hanumanji’s statues. The son happily put a couple of garlands on each of the two Hanumanji’s statues, spent some time and they both were again on the way back to Mukhdarshan. Going back through the heavy crowd, the writer happened to see a meager puppy, visibly hungry. At once thought came to writer’s mind. So many devotees for Baba’s darshan, all with their wants, and out of all, none care for what Baba had said. Baba in Sai Satcharitra and in various other stories have suggested that feeding hungry, may it be human or animal, is feeding Baba, who is seated in the heart of his devotees and every living creature.

None from the crowd feels the pity for the hungry puppy, and instantly the question was pointed to the writer. The writer was no different. He too was more concerned with getting the mind and the heart drenched with sacred vibration of the Holy Land. Of what importance are the sacred vibrations if it cannot evoke pity for a hungry being. For even he walked towards the Mukhdarshan without feeding the hungry puppy. As the thought came he went in search to buy something for the puppy to eat.

ZAR ZARI ZAR BAKSH

Was on the bed, with the head band on the head. This head band has got tremendous grace or power what ever one may call. On wrapping the green colored strip of cloth which I obtained when i visited Zarzari Bhakhs, tomb in Khuldabad, a village near Ellora Caves, near Aurangabad.

More about on this link
I came to know about the tomb from the book Meher Baba on The Perfect Master Shirdi Sai Baba
which i happened to buy when i visited Meher Baba's Tomb in Ahmednagar, 100 kilometers away from Shirdi. The book can be read online as a part of a huge volme called Lord Meher written by Bhau, with whom also i was able to meet and chat with him one on one while he was replying the answers to the emails from Meher Baba lovers all over the world.
Link to the book Lord Meher online (Shirdi Sai Baba Chapters)
Talking about Bhau he is now a days conducting excellent live chats on every Sundays 5 p.m. Indian Standard Time( Check your time zone accordingly), those who cannot attend to the live chats can request the chat log from Stephen Shev email id *nuesos*at* earthlink* .net* (kindly remove the stars and add @ instead of at)
Link to live Chats with Bhauji
Yes i was Talking about the strip of green colored cloth they tie on the head when we visit the tomb of Zarzari Bakhs. Link:Some more about the place
That cloth has the most amazing grace flowing from it. More of it in the next post as i am feeling a bit sleepy, i would have liked to go on, but the eyes, body and the brain needs some rest. Other than the link provided, more could be found on web using the google search bar on the top of the page
for now.
continued after two days( Nov, 27th 2006)
I was suppose to continue, the very next day. Somehow it was not to be. The next day was a little bit tough. Next day the insecurity had made the attack on my system. The business of a restaurant in a club have running with loses since last 6 months or so. 3 months due to rainy season and another 3 months because of the disastrous flood that had hit our city, covering 90% of the city for 4 days. The debt have been pilling up since. I have never wanted to be financially reach, pilling up money, in the bank account. Still the money required for everyday living is essential. And since i am shutting up that business, with debt, a great wave of insecurity had struck on my system. It struck mentally and emotionally. Whole house(body) was shaken. It felt like attacked on the nervous system also, even few tears rolled down the eyes. And I was left with the feeling of not being able to do anything. The brain was denying to think, to make any efforts. I had to lie down with the picture of Sai Baba on my chest as even looking at Sai Baba's picture was an effort heavy on me.

When one becomes sensitive, it is always difficult, and to be meditative, to be devotional, one must be sensitive. Sensitive to the surroundings, sensitive to the other living being. Has not Sai Baba said, " He who carps and cavils at others pierces Me in the heart and injures Me, but He that suffers and endures pleases me most. To be a successful businessman one needs to be ruthless today, calculative, with a sense of grabbing as much money as one can, never minding one's own sensitivity or of others.I have been a failure in it, since about 6 years or so. But i am much happy, much much happy a deep satisfaction, of i would not say earning, but getting and feeling the Sai's grace. It all started about 14 years ago. A couple of my friends, asked me to travel to Shirdi with them, i agreed. It was just a outing with the friends, nothing special. But since my heart had great inclination for spirituality and Saints, my heart did had a respect for an entity called Sai Baba. Those were not the weekends and not even Thursday, when we visited Shrdi. So there was no rush in the Temple. We had darshan of Sai Baba's Grand Murti. It was not a grand Murti then, Now nothing is as grand as that. Yes we had the darshan and in those days devotees were allowed to sit in front of Samadhi and Murti. So we sat there for about 45 minutes. There was a feeling of serenity but nothing to shake me up. Then we had darshan of Gurusthan under the neem tree, right behind the Sai Baba's Samadhi Temple. We went strolling with ease toiwars the Masid Mai. Stepped up in Masid Mai, where Sai Baba had spent most of the time, while staying in the Holy land Shirdi. Not much crowd, so at ease, we strolled in Masid Mai, respectfully bowing at few places.

From there just in front of the Masid Mai, is placed a Stone, on Which Sai Baba use to sit.There was a queue of about 5 devotees, for placing their heads with respect on the Stone, on which Sai Baba used to sit. No hurry, let the queue be over and then i'll place my head on the stone, i thought. I stood facing the Masid Mai, at ease, for the queue to get over. Suddenly i felt that i was hit with the something like sand found on sea beach, on my calf area on my legs. I wondered who would be doing this and turn my neck to see below what was hitting my leg and from where and who is doing it. And whole of my body was filled with vibrations, kind of soft and not harming electric current, but very powerful. As the queue got over i placed both my palms on the stone and my forehead on the stone while kneeling. A strong current was felt passing through palms, in entire body. The spinal chord was felt as if charged with electricity moving upward, condensing itself in the forehead, just above and between the two eyes. It had a great impact, i sat besides the stone still drowned in that energy, and since there was no rush would occasionally place my palms and forehead on the Holy Stone, charged by the presence of Sai Baba. I would have sat there for the clock time of 1 hour or so, but time time was not felt during that period. Since than the holy land of Shirdi has been attracting me, Stories and talks about Sai Baba, Sai Satcharitra, watching Sai Baba's picture and feeling that same current, no current does not seem right word, the grace of Sai Baba feeling me, has all been an integral and most attractive part of my life. Some saving of money i rush to Shirdi. Sai Baba's picture, The holy Book Sai Satcharitra, the shawl sold in Shirdi Sansthan shop, which had been wrapped around Sai Baba's Murti, all gives me the sense of the energy passing in my body, heart and brain.

I was writing about the green colored cloth, wrapped on my head when i visited Zar Zari Zarbakhs Tomb. That has most amazing grace. When i wrap it around my head, so much grace is felt. The powerful grace seems to work on head so powerfully, when placed near the heart it gives solace to heart. I have been keeping it, with me since. Like a ornamental chain we wear on our neck, i wear it.
The grace is always felt with it. When ever there is a great disturbance within, like it happened two days before, it's grace seems to hold the whole disturbed system. Passing through such great, disturbance, which even seems to hit the physical nervous system, the grace through it gives much support.

Visiting The Local Temple

As I entered the Temple of Sai Baba again the grace or the vibrational energy or the subtle energy is felt. It is a temple situated about 2 kilometers form my home, with a huge and beautiful murti of Sai Baba, with a Dargah of a sufi mystic in front of the Dargah. physically it feels like a sap running upwards, from the base of the spine, through the head, concentrating itself at the third eye. The concentration of the intensity is not brought about by any effort, it just happens as the writer goes to any spiritually charged place. When the mind is empty, empty of wants, desires, insecurities, fears, watching Sai Baba's murti the sap runs with a intensity, the intensity one feels when meeting a dear one after a long time. Before entering the temple i was told by a friend to pray to Sai Baba, to flatten her flat tummy. It was just a joke cracked on me, as sometimes get upset when such things are asked from Sai Baba. Yes indeed, when our minds our filled with wants and desires, those very wants and desires perhaps, blocks the grace of Sai Baba which is ever flowing. On coming out of the temple, i told the friend that i asked Sai Baba, to take away the want of getting slim, and thus getting more and more attracted to Sai Baba and his grace, allowing the grace to purify, to cleanse, the head and the heart.

Sai Ram

My first experiences - Shirdi Sai Baba - Alpesh

Do Share your Sai Baba or Shirdi experience in the comments below.



Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!!!

Sai Ram Sai Devotees.

I am and was much interested in spiritualism and in transcendence of the self. I use to read many books of philosophy and religious scriptures. Also I would visit many saints and gurus in the search for truth. I was (and am) very much attracted towards J. Krishnamurti’s words. I was experimenting with the awareness of self. And whatever feeling I use to get I let it flower without naming it and only as energy,  not judging or theorizing it. The general tendency of human being is trying to run away from the painful psychological and emotional experiences. I do not do that and let the pain or pleasure flower.

Somehow I had respect for Shirdi Sai Baba. Once I tried reading Sai Sat Charitra, and had put down the book thinking it has stories of mere miracles and not much about self transcendence. However respect for Sai Baba was the same. While experimenting with different styles of meditations which I used to do with awareness on self I had started feeling subtle vibrations at holy places like temples and pilgrimages.

It happened that two of my friends decided to come with me to Shirdi, as I had and have this passion to visit pilgrimages. We reached Shirdi and had darshan at the Samadhi temple. It felt nice, however I could not feel much vibrations there, there was a feeling of calmness, serenity and silence.

After sitting for a while before Baba's Samadhi we went to Gurusthan in Shirdi. (Picture on the right shows how it looked during those days).

Then we moved towards Masjidmai or Dwarkamai. We had the darshan of Dhuni Maa, the holy fire that Baba himself lit up and which burns 24 X 7.

Moved around in the Masjidmai then outside the Majid or Dwarkamai there is a stone on which Sai Baba used to sit. Right hand side picture shows how it was in those days. There were few people placing their head with reverence on this stone. So i decided to stand beside the stone facing Dwarkamai and wait for those few people to be done with their ritual.

As I was standing I felt as if someone was hitting my legs with the sand from behind. I was wearing jeans. I thought, "Who is hetting my calfs with sand?" Then I looked down on the floor and said to myself, "Hey the floor is of the stone, no sand here" and the thought continued, "perhaps there is a small pit of sand behind me, and some child is picking up handfuls of sand and hitting my calfs vigorously in the playing mood."  So i turned my neck to have a look at that small pool of sand and that nasty little child.

As my felt on the floor, there was the same stone flooring. The feeling of getting hit by sand sand soon overtook whole of my body.

I had never felt the subtle vibrations so strong, ever. I was getting overwhelmed. We stood in the queue which was reduced to about three devotees. I placed both my hands on the stone and then the head. What great energy I felt! Whole of my vertebrae column was vibrating and I felt energy rushing between my eyebrows. I stayed in that position for about 3 minutes. My friends later told that a devotee wanted to disturb me as there were devotees waiting in the queue. But another devotee stopped him by saying Achi Bhakti kar raha hai( he is doing good devotion). I was like totally drunk, drunk with the divine energy of Baba. I sat besides the stone enjoying the bliss and the energy I was receiving. Both my friends had felt the same energy. We sat there, again and again after short intervals, we put our heads on the holy stone with the same effect. The feeling of that great energy, the presence was felt even when we reached hotel and thereafter for few days. This presence is always felt when ever I go to the holy land Shirdi.

While in Shirdi we had bought Sai Baba’s pictures, the original one with the umbrella. After reaching home I was watching the photo and the energy began to rise within and accumulated between the eyebrows, I kept watching and felt the presence within and without. What energy that is, one thing is sure that such energy cannot be created by us, but can only be received. I feel so thankful to merciful Sai Baba who showers this grace on unworthy child like me. Yes when ever I feel this presence I am sure that it cannot be produced by my efforts.

Once I got impatient and thought why I cannot have this energy every second of the day. I want to be in the same energy always. So I decided that I will sit watching Sai Baba’s picture until I get the self realization. I decided that I will do nothing else but keep watching Sai Baba’s picture. I watched Sai Baba's picture for about an hour. Then, I thought that I should also read Sai Sat Charitra, as the energy felt was too much.

I casually opened the book and began to read. The chapters 18 and 19th, i was reading. These chapters had the story of the author who had the similar thought of impatience. Sai Baba had sent him to chit chat with another devotee Shama. Shama then narrated the story of Mrs. Radhabai Deshmukh, who had decided and gave up food until Sai Baba gave her a mantra. 

Then Sai Baba called her and told her his own story where he had said that he had served his Guru for long and his guru had asked him to shave his head and asked for two paise, shaving the head which symbolically means emptying the mind. Those were Shraddha( faith) and Saburi( patience). Here I was struck with the word patience with great impact and also in the second last paragraph the words to some devotee, who was practising Hath-Yoga, He sent word that he should leave off Hath-Yoga practices, sit quiet and wait (Saburi) struck me. 

I then left the idea of hath and decided to remember and watch his picture with Saburi. Here I remember the Shree Ramakrishna Paramhansha’s words that, how could one who think about consciousness get unconscious. So how can one who watches the picture of consciousness incarnate get unconscious. I still meditate on Baba’s picture and feel this consciousness within and without. I was also very much against the miracles.

 There is a very good book Meher Baba on Sai Baba. In which Meher Baba had explained that to perform miracles for the awakened ones is not a big deal( here I am writing as how I have remembered or interpreted not exactly what is written) they perform miracles so that they can attract devotees and give them what they want them to give. And also there is nothing like miracles. Our small mind when it sees something happening, which it is beyond it’s grasp it calls it miracle. And nothing was and is beyond Sai Baba’s grasp.

For instance television, or phone or radio or even switching of the light bulb would be termed as miracles by the people living in 15th century. 

In the similar manner many times when I would feel troubled and casually read Sai Sat Charitra. I have opened the chapters that would get my agitated mind and lead it to peace, the message required for that particular time always pops up during the reading. 

Other great thing about this blessed book the invaluable gift to us by Sai Baba is that even holding it makes me feel the presence.

Once I was in deep emotional pain. I felt that the very roots of my being were shaken and I choose to get in this painful experiences rather than avoiding them. The pain was deep and I thought I would go mad by this painful experience. My body was like paralyzed by the emotional pain and I was lying on the bed. At that time I put Sai Sat Charitra on my heart I felt much energy going from the book in my heart and balanced it. 

The pain was there but the energy to sustain was received. On another instance I had gone to meditate in a group conducted by a well known guru (here I am not in anyway trying to write against that or any other Guru). There were about 15,000 people mediating. The energy went so high that people began to scream and laugh and cry. The energy within me was also going high and I thought that my brain will not be able to take such energy. I had taken Sai Sat Charitra with me. I held it and all the energy was diverted to the place between the eyes. 

The energy was well directed by holding this precious gift by Sai Baba. I have also bought a shawl from Sai Sansthan Shop in Shirdi and get touched by Samadhi of Sai Baba. The shawl when placed on my body also makes me feel this presence.

 I had this desire of touching and placing my head on the articles used by Sai Baba. Last time I was I Shirdi and was visiting a house of a devotee of Baba, when Baba was still in the human form. The ancestor of the devotee suddenly stood up and started showing me the articles used by Baba, the Kafni, the footwear, which were gifted by Sai Baba to his forefather devotee. Not only this, he insisted that I hold them for a while. There were devotees in queue before me and after me, none he asked to hold them but me. Sri SadGuru Sainath Maharaj ki Jai.

Also Baba has blessed me with a wonderful son who loves to repeat Baba, Baba,Baba…..