Two points
m and n from a topic named "Sai Bhakti as advocated in ‘Shri Sai Satcharitra" from Part 4 of Chapter 5 - Sai Bhakti the incredible book
Fragrance Of Sai Bhakti written by Shri. Suresh Chandra Gupta ji from Delhi were posted. With three more points, we are concluding this chapter.
Part 8 - Sai Bhakti
Sai Bhakti as advocated in ‘
Shri Sai Satcharitra’
- (o) Baba’s ways of Teaching
To some he prescribed the Adhyatma Ramayan; to some the recitation of Dñyaneshwari; to some he suggested reciting the Harivarda and to some to read Gurucharitra.
He would keep some near him; ask some to go to Khandoba’s temple; to some he keenly suggested to study and memorise the Vishnu Sahasranama.
To some he suggested the Ram Vijaya; to some meditation; to some the power of the name of the Lord; to some he suggested the Chandogya Upanishad and Gita Rahasya and told them that through faith only they could understand the essence of all.
His ways of teaching were exceptional. Some were taught in a particular way, some in a different way. To some he taught directly and appeared in the dreams of others.
Many people from different castes came for his darshan and help. He even appeared in dreams to those who were fond of liquor.
He would sit on their chest pressing with his hands and feet and making them take a solemn vow never to drink again.
Like the pictures that are drawn by an astrologer on the walls of a house where a wedding is to take place he would write the mantra “Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu” etc. in a dream vision on the walls of the house of another devotee.
If a person tried to practise the yogic aasana and also the difficult Hatha Yoga without Baba’s knowledge, Baba would come to know about it because of his extra-sensory powers and then he would rightly penalise.
He would catch hold of someone, whom he did not even know, and send a message: “Can you not sit quietly, and patiently eat your bread?” - Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant (Chap. 19, Ovi 222-230)
To some he would give an ultimatum and tell him that: “I am a very strict person by nature. I will tell you mildly only once or twice and if inspite of that you don’t listen, at the end it will be very difficult for you. - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 19, Ovi 232)
I will try to tell once, to tell twice, but if a person does not care to listen to my words, even if he be my kith and kin, I will not hesitate to tear him apart and throw him away”. - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 19, Ovi 232)
i) On Enjoyment of Senses
“Before the mind, the intellect and other senses enjoy their objects, remember me first so that they become an offering to me, slowly.
“The senses can never remain without their objects; but if these objects are first offered to the Guru, the attachment for them will naturally vanish.
“If you desire anything, desire me only! If you are angry vent your anger on me only! Offer me your pride and obstinacy. Be devoted only to me.
0“Whenever desire, anger, pride arise strongly make me the object towards which to direct them.
“In this way, one by one, the Lord will help you in eradicating all the ‘Vrittis’. The Lord (Govinda) will certainly calm the strong waves of these three venomous qualities.
“In fact, this disturbed mental state would be absorbed in my form or would become one with me. A state of peace will be yours at my feet”. - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 24, Ovi 46-51)
“Such a person (ignorant and confused) is not fit for Self-knowledge. False knowledge will overpower him. For him there is nothing in this world and in the next. For ever and everywhere, he is miserable.
“There is no point in establishing one’s own school of thought. And there is no need to refute the thinking of others also. There is no need to debate and prove someone wrong. These are baseless efforts”. - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 2, Ovi 87-88)
A disciple should be modest, able, free from envy, unselfish or disinterested, always ready to serve the Guru, eager to have spiritual knowledge and of steadfast temperament.
He should have no hatred, nor engage in loquaciousness. These are the qualities required to please the Gururaya. - Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant (Chap. 42, Ovi 124-125)
One whose conduct is always correct and good, who eats just enough to sustain his body, and is not attached to home or wife - such a person is blessed and a sage. - Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant (Chap. 37, Ovi 90)
ii) On Fasting
“Food and the one who eats it are the embodiments of Vishnu. Fasting, austerities, unsullied food, going without any food or water - Why indulge in this? What is the need for us to practice fasting and austerities?” - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 32, Ovi 142-143)
You do not need ceremonies to complete the rituals, you do not need fasting to torture the body; you do not need to visit the tirthas. It is sufficient to listen to the story. - Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant (Chap. 3, Ovi 182)
iii) Food to Hungry
“Oh mother! You fed me to-day, because of which I am full upto my throat. I was overcome with hunger and you satisfied me.
“You must act like this always. Truly only this will prove useful, ultimately. Sitting in the Masjid, I do not ever speak an untruth. This is the universal truth.
“Know that this is the kindness which I preach. Give food to the hungry first and then eat yourself. Remember this clearly in your mind”. - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 9, Ovi 120-122)
“When you sat down for your meals, you suddenly saw a dog come to the door, which was suffering from extreme hunger. I am one with that dog.
“Similarly, I am one with that pig bespattered with mud, which was also hungry and miserable”.
When she heard Baba’s words, the lady was very much surprised. Dogs, pigs, cats which wander - Are they one with Baba?
Sometimes I am a dog, sometimes a pig, sometimes I am a cow, sometimes a cat, sometimes an ant, a fly or fish. I move about in different forms.
“That person who sees me in all the creatures, you must understand is my beloved one.
Give up the belief in the two-fold nature, and worship me in this manner”. - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 9, Ovi 126-130)
“Why do you fret unnecessarily? Satisfying the hunger of this dog is the same as giving me appeasement. Bear this in mind.
“Isn’t this dog a living creature? All beings experience the same hunger. Though it is dumb and I can speak, is there any difference in the hunger that both experience?
“He who feeds those distressed by hunger really serves me with food. Know this and regard it as an axiomatic truth”. - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 42, Ovi 103-105)
iv) Dancing
He (Baba) behaved ordinarily with all people, witnessed the dance and frolic of the Muralis, listened to the songs and ghazals, swaying to them (with great relish) but his inner state of samadhi was absolutely undisturbed. - Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant (Chap. 4, Ovi 49)
Before moving into the Masjid, Baba stayed at the takia. He stayed there long, peacefully and untroubled by anyone.
Here, tying jingling bells around his feet, he would dance gracefully and sing melodiously with devotion to the accompaniment of a tambourine. - Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant (Chap. 5, Ovi 99-100)
v) Advice to Kirtankars
Where are you going so dressed up? Baba asked Das Ganu. He replied: “I am going to perform kirtan”.
Baba said to him, further: “Why have you taken so much trouble over dressing up? Why do you have long coat, uparna and pheta? We do not need all these things.
“Take them off in front of me. Why burden your body with them?” As per his orders, he took them off and laid them at his feet. - Shri Sai Baba (Chap. 15, Ovi 24-26)
vi) Reading of Books
Mere reading is a waste of time till the meaning is not experienced, for which the blessings of a Guru, who has the knowledge of the Brahman, is required. Mere bookish knowledge is futile. - Govind Raghunath Dabholkar alias Hemadpant (Chap. 21, Ovi 73)