Dakshina asked for giving effect to intention

Dakshina asked for giving effect to intention

 

M. W. Pradhan, when starting to see Baba for the first time intended to give him Rs.20, in silver, and for that purpose got a Rs.50 note changed.

 

When he actually came to Baba and dakshina was asked, he changed his mind and wanted to give gold. So he gave a sovereign.

 

Baba: What is this?

 

Noolkar: This is a guinea.

 

Baba: What is it worth?

 

Noolkar: Rs.15.

 

Baba: I do not want this.    Give me Rs.15, and keep this.

 

And Pradhan carefully treasured up the coin touched by Baba and gave him 15 silver rupees.

 

Baba, (counting it over and over): Here is only Rs. 10. Give me Rs.5. more:

 

M. W.Pradhan: Here is Rs.5 more.

 

Thus, under colour of wrong calculation and putting to test also M.W.P.'s combativeness in dealing with his own guru, Baba gave effect to his intention to pay Rs.20.

 

After receiving the Rs.20, he did not ask for anything more.

 

(- from Baba's Charters and Sayings, No. 244)

 

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Guruvaar Prarthna

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Guruvaar Prarthna

 

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Baba, our hearts are crumbling by hearing disastrous news from all corners of the earth. This shows us the uncertainty of our life, our days are shrinking and we are still waiting for Your grace.  When Your grace is on us, the difficulties of worldly existence will disappear and unhappiness will turn to true happiness. By constantly remembering Your Lotus Feet, the obstacles cease to have any effect; death loses its sting and worldly sorrows vanish. On this holy day we start our prayers by reading Your words given in Satcharita.

 

Nobody knew Samartha's mind or heart's secret. He left the body in no time and became one with the Supreme Spirit.

 

Wearing the cloak of the body, from Maya, the Saints manifest in the world. Soon after their work of upliftment is completed they merge with the formless.

 

An actor plays many roles but fully knows his own identity. Those who manifest themselves resume their own identity after their work is done. What is death to them?

 

He who manifested for the benefit of the people ended the Avatar as soon as his mission was complete. Could he be bound by life and death, who takes a form by his own divine sport?

 

How can there be a possibility of death for him whose glory is the Supreme Spirit? He who is the embodiment of detachment, how can existence or non-existence have any effect on him?

 

Though ostensibly he appears to be engaged in action, he hardly ever performs any. Being without any ego, when doing any action he believes that it is not he who is doing anything.

 

"Action does not end without experiencing its fruit". This is the essence of action as implied in the Smritis. There is no delusion in case of the knower of Brahman, since he sees Brahman in every entity.

 

This is the fruit achieved on account of a collection of deeds. Such a duality is well known but here, too, the knower of Brahman believes it to be Brahman, as a silver sheen on the oyster.

 

How could Baba, like a loving mother, fall prey to death? It was as if the day was eclipsed by a dark night.

 

This is offered to Sree Sadguru Sainath.

May there be auspiciousness!

 

I bow down to Sree Ganesh

I bow down to Sree Saraswati

I bow down to the Guru

I bow down to the Family Deity

I bow down to Sree Sita-Ramachandra

I bow down to Sree Sadguru Sainath.

 

-(from Shri Sai Samartha Satchrita, Chapter  42, Ovi 142 - 150)

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Sai Prayer

Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

1. Swami Vivekanand:- I can't find free time. Life has become hectic.

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you free.

2. Swami Vivekanand:- Why has life become complicated now?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Stop analyzing life.. It makes it complicated. Just live it.

3. Swami Vivekanand:- Why are we then constantly unhappy?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not happy.

4. Swami Vivekanand:- Why do good people always suffer?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer.  With that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.

5. Swami Vivekanand:- You mean to say such experience is useful?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons.

6. Swami Vivekanand:- Because of so many problems, we don't know where we are heading…

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides the way.

7. Swami Vivekanand:- Does failure hurt more than moving in the right direction?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.

8. Swami Vivekanand:- In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

9. Swami Vivekanand:- What surprises you about people?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- When they suffer they ask, "why me?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me?"

10. Swami Vivekanand:- How can I get the best out of life?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

11. Swami Vivekanand:- One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- There are no unanswered prayers. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

You Will Have My Prasad

You Will Have My Prasad

 

On an Ekadasi day Kusa Bhav (i.e., Krishnaji Kasinath Joshi of Mirzgaon) sat by Baba's side.

 

Baba: What do you eat to-day?

 

Kusa: Nothing. Today is Ekadasi.

 

Baba: What does "Ekadasi" mean?

 

Kusa: A day for "Upavasa"

 

Baba: What does Upavasa mean?

 

Kusa: It is just like "Rojas"

 

Baba: What is Rojas?

 

Kusa: We fast, i.e., do not eat anything except Kanda Moola. (Meaning sweet potatoes etc.,)

 

Baba: Ob, Kaanda (i.e., onion) you eat. Well, here you have onion. Eat it.

 

Kusa: (finding baba forcing on him unorthodox food) Baba if you eat it, I will eat.

 

Baba ate some; and Kusa Bhav ate some, and then visitors arrived. Baba wished to have some fun.

 

Baba: Look at this Bamniya (corrupt and contemptuous form of the word Brahmin). He eats onion on Ekadasi.

 

Kusa: Baba ate it and I ate it.

 

Baba: No. I ate Kanda, i.e., sweet potatoes. See.

 

Baba then vomited out sweet potatoes.

 

Kusa Bhav seeing the miracle, voraciously swallowed the potato as prasad. Baba beat him and said:

"Rogue. why do you eat the vomit?

 

But Kusa Bhav did not mind the blows. Baba's heart melted.

 

Baba: (placing a palm on Kusa's head) I bless you. Think of me and hold forth your Palms. You will have my prasad.

 

KUSA BHAV now holds up his empty palms and WARM UDHI (BABA'S PRASAD) falls from it, and this is given as BABA'S PRASADA UDHI by Kusa Bhav.

 

(- from Baba's Charters and Sayings, No. 283)

Guruvaar Prarthna

Guruvaar Prarthna

 

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Baba, we come to you to get bread, but forgot to bring a basket to carry it. We look for you to get Your blessings, but You find our minds are engulfed with worldly triviality. We are unable to dig out and take away wealth from Your treasury which is over flowing. Please adopt us as Your blessed children to inherit ourselves with this wealth. On this holy day we start our prayers by reading Your words given in Satcharita.

 

"Baba! I come prostrated before you. I am totally surrendered to you. Take this child, under your wing. Get the pothi read by me".

 

'I realised what was meant by 'rags'. What I had asked Balakram, constituted 'rags' and Sai had not approved of that and had, therefore, got angry.

 

'Baba had not liked my questioning Balakram as to how he worshipped or how he meditated on Parabrahma.

 

As Baba was ready to answer any questions himself, why ask questions to one another? Therefore, I had been tremendously harassed.

 

'Harassed' – that word itself is rude and impudent. He who was overflowing with love for the devotees did not even dream of harassing his devotees. Then the word and its use is wrong.

 

He did not harass but he taught me, that 'whatever is in your mind, all that has to be fulfilled by me and whatever is stolen will never be of any use'.

 

Though Sai appeared outwardly to be angry he was always calm within. He appeared angry outwardly but he was full of bliss within.

 

The anger that was shown outwardly was on account of affection. Within, he was in divine bliss.  One must be fortunate to sing of the grandeur of that Sai's leela.

 

He who has an intense desire to achieve his objective believes that the volley of abuses is a shower of flowers and blessings, keeping one's mind fixed on one's own welfare.

 

Deo was not shaken on hearing the very abusive words which were offensive to the ears. He was full of love for Baba and he felt that only a shower of flowers had rained on him.

 

"Only the fortunate can enjoy the milk with which the cow's teat is gorged. The cattle louse, though near the teats full of milk, prefers blood due to its fate.

 

The frog lives in the vicinity of the lotus flowers. The bee snatches the honey from the lotus, while unfortunately the frog eats only the filth. There is no limit to the bee's good fortune.

 

Similarly, you are fortunate. We are close to one another. Ask whatever you want and get your doubts clarified", says Sai.

 

"Observe my obstinacy about the pothi. I did not open the Dhyaneshwari to read till the moment he said READ. And Baba fully fulfilled my desire".

 

I bow down to Sree Ganesh

I bow down to Sree Saraswati

I bow down to the Guru

I bow down to the Family Deity

I bow down to Sree Sita-Ramachandra

I bow down to Sree Sadguru Sainath.

 

-(from Shri Sai Samartha Satchrita, Chapter  41, Ovi 144 - 157)

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Baba Testing the Strength of Vairagya

Baba Testing the Strength of Vairagya 

H S Dixit once came with a trunk full of silver rupees, which he had earned by working for a Native State, and placed it before Baba. 

H S Dixit: All this is yours. 

Baba: Is that so? 

Then Baba opened the lid and with both hands drew out all the contents and poured the same to all and sundry. In a few minutes, the trunk was empty. Mr. Garde, Sub-Judge of Nagpur and a friend of H S Dixit, watched the latter's face. H S Dixit had not the slightest regret or sorrow or concern at the disappearance of his hard earned fees. It was evidently to test and strengthen his vairagya that Baba scattered his money thus.

 

(- from Baba's Charters and Sayings, No. 251)

Guruvaar Prarthna

Guruvaar Prarthna

 

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Baba, please make us perfect, for that please give us faith, without faith there is no knowledge, without knowledge there is no virtuous conduct, without virtues there is no deliverance, and without deliverance there is no perfection. When we are perfect, our prayers are meaningful and beneficial to all. Baba bless us to achieve that perfection. On this holy day we start our prayers by reading Your words given in Satcharita.

 

 

Then Baba said at that time: "Now wrap up your fake Brahman. Till your greed is not destroyed, you will never realize Brahman.

 

He, whose mind is attached to his family and possessions (sons, farm, animals etc.) how can he achieve Brahman till constant awareness of his wealth is not abandoned.

 

The greed for money is very difficult. It is a deep whirlpool of pain, full of crocodiles in the form of conceit and jealousy. Only a desireless person can swim across these difficult waters.

 

There is unending enmity between avarice and Brahman. How can he attain salvation and practice self–denial who has no time for meditation? A covetous man is a fallen man.

 

Where there is greed, there is no peace, no contentment, nor restfulness. All means (of achieving Brahman) turn to dust when avarice takes hold of the mind.

 

He who indulges in low, forbidden acts and stoops down to lowest behaviour, unacceptable to the Shrutis and the Smritis, and who is permanently leading that kind of life, can never have equanimity of mind.

 

Such a man is called whimsical. He is always engaged in wicked deeds, permanently wallowing in worldly pleasures and he never understands what is good or bad.

 

May be he has understood the nature of Brahman but if he is not detached from the fruits of his action, then his knowledge of the Brahman is futile and he is not self-realised.

 

If anybody approaches a Saint and asks for anything, a Saint first judges whether he is worthy of it and then grants him his desire accordingly.

 

One whose mind is engaged day and night in boasting about material achievements and seeking pleasures, for such a person the preachings of a Guru are of no use. For both, it is a sheer waste of time!

 

He who tries to penetrate the realm of divine life without the purification of his mind, his efforts appear like an exhibition of scholarship. It is all a futile effort.

 

Therefore, one should speak only what one understands; and should eat what one can digest otherwise unnecessarily there will be indigestion. Everybody knows this.

 

 

I bow down to Sree Ganesh

I bow down to Sree Saraswati

I bow down to the Guru

I bow down to the Family Deity

I bow down to Sree Sita-Ramachandra

I bow down to Sree Sadguru Sainath.

 

-(from Shri Sai Samartha Satchrita, Chapter  17, Ovi 66 - 77)

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BABA REMOVES HANKERING FOR DRINK

BABA REMOVES HANKERING FOR DRINK

 

Baba to D V Sambare (who was getting addicted): 'Boy, why do you behave like this? See, I give you this warning first that you should give up drink. If you do not heed this, I will not warn you again but leave you to your fate.' 

D V Sambare forswore liquor. He was free of the hankering. 

One day his superior invited him to a dinner, a big party and came up to see that the glassful kept before him was not drunk by D V Sambare. The latter offered excuses which were laughed at. In this perplexity of D V Sambare, all the hall lights were extinguished suddenly. The host went to look at the cause. Meanwhile an obliging neighbour drank up D V Sambare's glass. The host returned, saw the glass empty and thanking his pleading was successfully went away. 

Baba performed a chamtkar to save D V Sambare, - for none could discover how the lights were extinguished and again lit up by themselves.

 

(- from Baba's Charters and Sayings, No. 292)

Guruvaar Prarthna

Guruvaar Prarthna

 

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Baba, You said give, give and You will give! We keep on giving our talents, love, understanding, money, possessions and keep on flowing freely. Bless us all goodness unfold for us and all our needs fulfilled at exactly the right time and place. Baba, with you, our life is glorious, indeed.  On this holy day we start our prayers by reading Your words given in Satcharita.

 

O Sadgururaya, boundless is your power and marvellous your deeds, You are the kind one who is the ship which takes the animate and inanimate beings across the worldly ocean. (Refrain).

 

You transformed yourself into Veni-Madhav (Vishnu) and made your feet into prayag here. You showed the currents of Ganga and Yamuna flowing from your toes. (1)

 

You are Brahma (born of the lotus), Vishnu (Lord of Kamala) and Shiva, the embodiment of the Trinity. And, on this earth, you manifest as Sai, the Samartha. (2)

 

In the early morning, like Brahma you utter words of wisdom; And, sometimes, you exhibit your violent nature and frightening appearance of Rudra, resorting to the quality of Tamo guna. (3)

 

Sometimes like Sree Krishna, you indulge in child-like pranks; And become the swan in the lake of the devotee's heart. (4)

 

If we call you a Muslim, then you have love for "Gandha " (sandalwood paste); If we call you a Hindu you always happily reside in the Masjid. (5)

 

If we call you rich, you are seen going about begging alms; If we call you a fakir, then with your favours (your generosity) you have put Kuber to shame. (6)

 

If we call your house a Masjid then fire is seen burning there; The dhuni (pit kindled with woodfire) always burns to distribute " Udi " to the people. (7)

 

From morning the devotees in their simplicity come and worship you; And when the sun is at its zenith at noon, your 'arati' is performed. (8)

 

Devotees stand all around you like attendants of Gods and holding whisks and swishes in their hand fan you. (9)

 

Horns, Clocks, Shenai, Gongs, Bells resound; And attendants in Uniforms (mace bearers) wearing belts proclaim your glory at the gates. (10)

 

At the time of the Arati you look like Vishnu; And at dusk, as you sit before the Dhuni, you appear as Shiva (the destroyer of Cupid). (11)

 

Such Leelas of the Trinity, manifested in you, are experienced by us daily, O Baba Sai! (12)

 

Even when such is the case, my mind wanders idly. Now this is my request to you, Baba, make it steady. (13)

 

The vilest of the viles, and a great sinner, I take refuge at your feet. Please ward off the three-fold afflictions of Das Ganu. (14)

 

I bow down to Sree Ganesh

I bow down to Sree Saraswati

I bow down to the Guru

I bow down to the Family Deity

I bow down to Sree Sita-Ramachandra

I bow down to Sree Sadguru Sainath.

 

-(from Shri Sai Samartha Satchrita, Chapter 4, Ovi 104)

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Dakshana to Baba

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Dakshana to Baba

 

Judge (MB Rege) in 1912, went to see Baba with Rs.100/- in his pocket.

 

Baba: Give me dakshana Rs. 40/-

That was given.

 

Again Baba: Give me dakshana Rs.40/-

That was given.

 

Again Baba: Give me Rs. 20/-

That also was given by the judge, who noted that Baba was reducing him to zero condition.

 

Later, Baba to Judge: Give me Rs.40/- dakshina.

 

Judge: I have nothing to give.

 

Baba: Then go and get the money and give.

 

Judge: To whom am I to go.

 

Baba: Shyama.

Then Judge went to Shyama and told him.

 

Shyama: You have not understood Baba. He cares a rap for you rupees. What he wants is your mind and heart, your time and soul to be devoted to him. That is his meaning.

The Judge went back and reported to Baba.

 

Baba, smiling: Go to Dixit and ask him.

The Judge went and told Dixit.

 

Dixit: Baba's directions to you must be understood in the circumstances as a lesson to you and that you should not feel absence of money or the begging for money or for anything else to be a humiliation and that you should not consider yourself to be above begging.

Judge went and reported to Baba.

 

Baba, smiling: Go to Nana (N.G. Chandorkar)

Judge went and reported to Nana.

 

NGC: I know how delicate it is, when baba asks for Dakshina and there is nothing to be given. You must learn my plans and ways. Whenever I go to Shirdi, I start with a certain sum and leave half of it at Kopergaon, e.g., on this occation I came with Rs.200/= and left half of it at Kopergaon and came to Shirdi with Rs.100/- only. I go on giving dakshana out of the stock in hand to Baba and when it is exhausted, I send for the reserve at Kopergaon. You must adopt this plan.

 

Judge went and reported this to Baba.

Baba then sent for Nana and Nana came.

 

Baba: Nana, give me Rs.40/-

And Nana paid it and went away.

Again he was sent for.

 

Baba: Nana, give me Rs.40/- more.

 

Again Baba sent for Nana and collected Rs.20/-. Then Nana sent someone to Kopergaon for the reserve fund, but before it came, Baba wanted more from Nana and Nana felt humiliated.

 

The lesson taught by these demands for dakshana was that it was a presumption on the part of anyone to think that he himself was the great providence supplying Baba or that anyone could supply all that Baba might ask for.

 

(- from Baba's Charters and Sayings, No. 249)

Guruvaar Prarthna

​Guruvaar Prarthna

 

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Baba, we are Your children. As parents, we do understand how difficult to bring up a child. Similarly we realize how much efforts You are taking to bring up all Your children on this earth. You alone our savior on each and every stage of our growth. Please be with us, stay with us and fulfill our life's desires with Your blessings. On this holy day we start our prayers by reading your advice given in Satcharita.

 

 

Oh, Shama, I tell you, furthermore, that whoever takes my name with love, I will fulfill his wishes and increase his devotion.

 

Whoever sings with feelings of my life, eulogises my powers, virtues and excellences, I will protect him totally, by surrounding him.

 

Those devotees who have become one with me with heart and soul, they will, naturally, be bound to be happy by listening to the story of my life.

 

Whoever sings my praises, I will bestow upon him complete happiness, permanent pleasure and contentment. Believe this as the Truth.

 

It is my promise to redeem the one who, with faith sings my praises, totally surrenders to me, remembers me constantly and meditates on me.

 

How will anyone be longing for worldly pleasures, who thinks of my name, worships me, studies me, whose holy readings are of me, who meditates on me and who continuously thinks of me?

 

From the very jaws of death I will snatch away my devotees. Just by listening to my stories diseases will disappear.

 

Listen to the story with due reverence, meditate fully upon it, intently contemplate upon it and you will attain peace.

 

The 'You and I' will disappear. The minds of the listeners will be absorbed in God. The mind will be a store of divine energy and full of single-minded and complete faith.

 

Repetition of the name 'Sai' will burn away all the sins of Kali-Yuga. Once having prostrated, past sins born of speech and hearing will be destroyed ".

 

-(from Shri Sai Samartha Satchrita, Chapter 3, Ovi 11 - 20)

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