Wisely Used The Sense of Sight

From 1913 to 1915, Swami Sharan Anand saw a blind man in Shirdi. He was doing Hari Kirtan, and kept beat with his cymbals. 

In 1942 or 1943 he saw the same man reciting chapters of Shrimad Bhagwat Gita and singing verses from Dnyaneshwari's Amrit Anubhava. 

Curious about this, Swamiji said, "When did you get your sight back?" 

He replied "Through Baba's grace I received this precious gift. I had a blessed vision of Him years ago, and since then, I can see, read, write and move freely". To assure Swamiji he read out several verses from the Amrit Anubhava. 

How wisely he used the sense of sight!

Leela- 10 in Ambrosia in Shirdi - Part-I

(Baba's Leelas before 1918)

Navavidha Bhakti in Shri Sai Satcharita – 7

Navavidha Bhakti in Shri Sai Satcharita – 7

Seventh Step – Dasya Bhakt

• Bhagoji Shinde
• It was always Bhagoji who served Him. It was only Bhagoji who would massage the hand. Then, after some time the hand healed and everyone was happy. ll90ll In this way, although the hand was completely cured, one doesn't know what was in Baba's mind in allowing Bhagoji, every morning, early in the day, to carry out the ceremony of tying the bandages. ll91ll Although there was no pain, regularly and for no reason, with the help of ghee a massage was done and the hand was cared for till death. ll92ll These services were for the sake of Bhagoji. Siddha Sai never needed them. He made Bhagoji render regular service with love, as a devotee should. ll93ll Because of the sins of his previous birth, Bhagoji was suffering from leprosy. But, it was his good fortune that he came in touch with Sai. ll94ll Whenever Baba started on His round to Lendi, Bhagoji held the umbrella over Baba's head. Though his body was covered with black leprosy sores, he was the foremost in his service. ll95ll Whenever, early in the morning, Baba was seated restfully against the pillar, near the dhuni it was his good fortune to be there to serve Him. ll96ll He would remove the bandage, massage the respective muscles, apply ghee to those parts, and thus be fortunate to serve Him. ll97ll His fingers had become stumps because of leprosy and his whole body emanated a nauseating smell. Thus, the one with such a great misfortune, derived four-fold happines from his services. ll99ll Bhagoji Shinde was a great sinner in his past lives. His whole body was bleeding with sores. He was greatly affected by this deadly disease. But, he was a matchless devotee of Baba. ll98ll – C. 7

 

• Radhakrishnamai
• The tradition of the service was continued after him by Radhakrishnabai. She was excellent in this work. ll177ll By caste a Brahmin, respected by all, she never in her innocent heart had the wicked thought that this was a lowly task. ll178ll Getting up early in the morning, taking the broom in her hand, she would sweep all the paths used by Baba. Blessed was her service ! ll179ll Her work was clean and quick, who else would be able to compete with her ? After some time, Abdul came forward. ll180ll - C. 35

 

• Abdul Baba
• Baba said : "Nana is mad. Remove the bandage, otherwise you will die. Now a crow will come and peck. Then you will get well." ll73ll Enough. While this conversation was in progress, Abdul came up immediately, to pour oil in the lamps. See what happened all of a sudden. ll74ll Abdulla was concentrating on his work and had his attention on the lamps. Thereby, he did not notice Pillai. Something unusual happened ! ll76ll What could Abdulla do ? What is destined to happen will happen. Unknowingly his foot fell on the leg which Pillai had stretched out. ll77ll "Did he not already come ? He is the same one who trod on your leg. He is the crow who pecked and ran away. He squeezed out the worms." ll84ll What crow ! It had only been a figure of speech ! Whatever had to happen was got done in front of all. He fulfilled the prediction. ll85ll – C. 34

 

 

• Balaji Patil Nevaskar
• Balaji Patil Nevaskar was a great devotee. He rendered excellent and disinterested service and wore away his body for Baba. ll175ll Nevaskar's regular task was to sweep all the passages and streets in Shirdi through which Baba passed in His daily routine, including the round to the Lendi. ll176ll That Patil (Nevaskar) was very fortunate. Though he lived in the world, he was not attached to it. How unselfish he was ! Listen to that part of the story. ll181ll After harvesting, He brought all the grain to the Masjid and making a pile of it in the open space, he offered it at Baba's feet. ll182ll Firmly believing that Baba was the owner of everything, he lived on whatever Baba gave to him out of it, taking that much only back home. ll183ll Bala drank only the water that came from the channel after Maharaj had his bath or washed His hands and feet. ll184ll - C. 35

 

• Balaram Mankar
• A householder, named Balaram Mankar, was a great devotee of Baba. ll65ll But, later, his wife died and there was an interruption in the performance of his duties as a householder. He lost peace of mind; but he progressed towards the highest bliss. ll66ll Because of the accumulation of good deeds in the previous births, he got attached to Sai's feet. He developed unfailing faith there and was completely detached from his worldly ties. ll67ll Breaking all his ties with hopes, desires, children and family, Mankar due to his uncommon fate, left the worldly existence. ll68ll The main obstacle in entering the gate of spirituality is the desire to earn a livelihood and care for others. He placed this burden on his son and locked himself away from worldly concerns (and went to Shirdi). ll69ll The devotee Balakaramaji stayed in Shirdi, buzzing around the dust particles at the lotus feet of Sai, constantly humming the name of Sai. ll115ll – C. 31

 

GIVE GIVE RIGHT NOW

GIVE GIVE RIGHT NOW

 

Baba said, "Give with faith, give with magnanimity, i.e. liberally, give with modesty, with awe and with sympathy" in Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. XIV.

 

Karna was a great giver. He gave and gave and was never tired of giving. He gave whatever he had, and forgot about it.

 

One day, as he took his bath by the side of a well, a poor man approached him for help. At that time, Karna held, in his left hand, a gold cup containing oil which he rubbed on his body. Without hesitating for a moment, he passed on the gold cup to the needy one.

 

Someone asked, "The Scriptures say that when you give, you must give with the right hand. How is it that you gave away the gold cup with your left hand?"

 

Karna's answer was significant, "Life is uncertain. By the time I transferred the cup from the left hand to the right, anything could have happened."

 

When you get the impulse to give, give immediately.

 

Navavidha Bhakti in Shri Sai Satcharita - 6

Navavidha Bhakti in Shri Sai Satcharita - 6

Sixth Step – Vandan Bhakti

 

Ø  Sai Maharaj, Ocean of Mercy, Veritable Incarnation of God. Absolute Brahman, Great Lord of Yoga - I do my eightfold obeisance before Him ! ll1ll – C. 25

 

Ø  When you surrender to the powerful Sai, body and soul, virtue, wealth, love and deliverance are attained without striving and unasked. ll14ll – C. 6

 

Ø  He embraces and holds near His heart those who prostrate themselves before Him with no sense of duality and unconditionally surrender to Him. ll3ll – C. 40

 

Ø  Hearing this, I hurriedly ran to the spot where Baba was and prostrated in the dust at His feet. My joy knew no bounds. ll137ll – C. 2

 

Ø  When I heard this, I ceased to have any doubts. I bowed at the feet of Sai and then relying on my memory, I started to write this biography. ll5ll "..... Once having prostrated, past sins born of speech and hearing will be destroyed." ll20ll – C. 3

 

Ø  The collyrium of knowledge that He puts in the eyes, removes the ignorance and takes you to His own abode. To Sai, whose greatness is such, I prostrate myself fully. ll158ll – C. 10

 

Ø  "Oh ! Why so often do you do namaskar after namaskar ? It is enough to do it once, with reverence and honour." ll156ll – C. 48

 

Ø  "Convey to him My salutations and request him to have mercy and grace towards this humble one. Do not forget Me and let your love for Me grow uninterruptedly." ll133ll "As a rule, we swamis are forbidden and do not bow to any one else. But, breaking this rule, in the present context, can only be beneficent." ll135ll - C. 51

 

Ø  Baba, this Shamrao is here. He is giving namaskar in place of dakshina and says consider them as fifteen rupees only. Offer these to Baba. ll92ll Then I paid my respects to Baba and said : Your blessings are enough for me. Only grant me this favour. Take care of me. ll119ll – C. 19

 

A MOTHER’S BLESSING

A MOTHER'S BLESSING

Baba said "You need not go far or anywhere in search of Me" in Sri Sai Satcharitra, Chapter XLIV.

When Bayazid was young, all his thoughts were centred around his spiritual quest. He took leave of his mother and left home to seek the Truth as a wanderer.

 

Years later, fate led him back homewards, his quest still unfulfilled. He went up the familiar path that led to the door of his home, to hear his mother praying aloud.

 

"O Lord, take care of my son" she prayed fervently. "I have not seen him for years together! Bless and protect him in Your Divine Mercy! May all his aspirations be fulfilled!"

 

Bayazid was moved beyond words. "Mother! Your son is here!" he called gently.

 

The old mother's joy knew no bounds. She rose from her prayer and hugged her son, with tears streaming from her eyes.

 

"Until now, I had not realized how much your love mean to me," Bayazid said to her. "I will live with you and serve you in every way possible."

 

Bayazid's mother fell ill. He nursed her with great love and devotion.

 

One dark night, she awoke to ask her son for water to drink.

 

Bayazid found that there was not a drop of water in the house. Taking a pitcher, he went out in the bitter cold of the moonless night to fetch water from the flowing stream.

 

By the time he returned, his mother had fallen asleep. He kept standing by her bed, with a cup of water in his hands. After a few hours, his mother opened her eyes and once again asked for water.

 

"Here it is," Bayazid answered immediately, bringing the cup of water to her lips.

 

The mother was touched to find her standing by her bed for such a long time – and blessed him with all her heart.

 

That blessing, Bayazid said, gave him what he searched for. His heart was suddenly illuminated – and he had a vision of God.