Sai Satcharitra – Chapter 24 – Surrender

 

Value – Good conduct

Sub value – Faith

Story

Chanak-Leela

In Shirdi, bazar was held every Sunday, On one such Sunday, Hemadpant sat in front of Baba, shampooing His Legs and muttering God’s name. Shama was on Baba’s left, Vamanrao to His right – Shriman Booty and Kakasaheb Dixit and others were also present there. Then Shama laughed and said to Annasaheb – “See that some grains seem to have stuck to the sleeve of your coat”. So saying he touched the sleeve and found that there were some grains. Hemadpant straightened his left fore-arm to see what the matter was, when to the surprise of all, some grains of gram come rolling down and were picked up by the people who were sitting there.

This incident furnished a subject-matter for joke. Everybody present began to wonder and said something or other as to how the grains found their way into the sleeve of the coat and lodged there so long. Hemadpant also could not guess how they found an entrance and stayed there. When nobody could give any satisfactory explanation in this matter, and everybody was wondering about this mystery, Baba said as follows:-

Baba – “This fellow (Annasaheb) has got the bad habit of eating alone. Today is a bazar-day and he was here chewing grams. I know his habit and these grams are a proof of it. What wonder is there is this matter?”
Hemadpant – “Baba, I never know of eating things alone; then why do you thrust this bad habit on me? I have never yet seen Shirdi bazar. I never went to the bazar today, then how could I buy grams, and how could I eat them if I had not bought them? I never eat anything unless I share it with others present near me”.
Baba – “It is true that you give to the persons present; but if none be near-by, what could you or I do But do you remember Me before eating? Am I not always with you? Then do you offer Me anything before you eat?”

Moral 

Let us mark and note carefully, what Baba has taught us, by this incident. He has advised us that before the senses, mind and intellect enjoy their objects, he should first be remembered, and if this be done, it is in a way an offering to Him. The senses etc. can never remain without their objects, but if those objects are first offered to the Guru, the attachment for them will naturally vanish. In this way, all the Vrittis (thoughts) regarding Desire, Anger, Avarice etc. should first be offered and directed to the Guru and if this practice be followed, the Lord will help you in eradicating all the Vrittis. To put the matter in a nut-shell, we should not enjoy any object with our senses etc. without first remembering our Guru. When the mind is trained in this way, we will be always reminded of Baba, and our meditation on Baba will grow apace. The Sagun Form of Baba will ever be before our eyes and then devotion, non-attachment and salvation will all be ours.

Essence

Unless, we surrender our ego to the feet of our Sad-guru, we will not succeed in our undertaking. If we become egoless, then our success is assured.

For Children

Let us make it a habit to pray and offer god whatever we do, as he knows what is best for us.  By developing this habit we gradually will surrender our thoughts and deeds to god and develop faith.

Given below is a story which depicts the above message:

 

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2013/12/27/surrendering-at-the-feet-of-our-mastergurugod-sub-value-faith-devotion-value-love/

 

 

 

 

Greatest sin

 

Value: Right Conduct

Sub value: Gratitude,  compassion

Once Jesus was walking along the streets of a city. It was a slum area. He saw a young man rolling in dirt, dead drunk. He went to him, sat by his side and woke him up. The young man opened his eyes and saw Jesus. Jesus asked him: “Son! Why are you wasting your precious youth in drinking?” The young man replied: “Master! I was a leper, you cured me of my leprosy. What else can I do?” Jesus heaved a sigh and walked away.

In another street he saw a man madly pursuing a beautiful woman. Jesus caught hold of him and asked him: “Son! Why do you desecrate your body by indulging in such a sinful act?” The man replied: “Master! I was really blind. You gave me vision. What else can I do?”

Jesus trudged along another street. He saw an old man crying bitterly. Jesus approached him and gently touched him. The old man wiped his tears and looked at Jesus. Jesus questioned him:”Why are you weeping old man?” The old man said: “Master! I was nearly dead. You granted me life. What else can I do except weep in this old age?”
In times of difficulty and distress, we cry out for God’s help. But when God, out of His boundless love and compassion, responds to our prayer, we ignore Him and fall back into our self-centered life. One must guard oneself against this greatest sin of ingratitude towards God.

Learning:

When we are in difficult situations we usually pray to god for guidance and support, along with this we must consciously practice the habit of being in gratitude in our day to day life.

 

 Source : Chinna Katha

Sai Satcharitra – Chapter 23 – Develop Patience and Faith

Value – Patience

Sub value – Patience

Story 1

Yoga and onion

Once it so happened, that a sadhak of Yoga came to Shirdi with Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He had studied all the works on Yoga, including the Yoga-sutras of Patanjali, but had no practical experience. He could not concentrate his mind and attain samadhi even for a short time. He thought that if Sai Baba be pleased with him, He will show him the way to attain samadhi for a long time. With this object in view he came to Shirdi, and when he went to the Masjid he saw Sai Baba eating bread with onion. On seeing this, a thought arose in his mind – `How can this man, eating stale bread with raw onion, solve my difficulties and help me?’ Sai Baba read his mind and said to Nanasaheb – “Oh Nana, he who has the power to digest onion, should eat it and none else”. Hearing this remark, the yogi was wonder-struck and then he fell at Baba’s Feet with complete surrender. With pure and open mind, he asked his difficulties and got their solution from Baba. Thus being satisfied and happy, he left Shirdi with Baba’s Udi and blessings.

 

 

Story 2

Shama Cured of Snake-Bite

Once Shama was bitten by a poisonous snake. His little finger of the hand was stung and the poison began to spread into the body. The pain was also severe and Shama thought that he would pass off soon. His friends wanted to take him to the God Viroba, where such cases were often sent, but Shama ran to the Masjid — to His Viroba (Sai Baba). When Baba saw him, He began to scold and abuse. He got enraged and said – “Oh vile Bhaturdya (Priest) do not climp up. Beware if you do so” and then roared – “Go, Get away, Come down.” Seeing Baba thus red with wrath, Shama was greatly puzzled and disappointed. He thought that the Masjid was his home and Sai Baba his sole Refuge, but if he was driven away like this, where should he go? He lost all hope of life and kept silent. After a time Baba became normal and calm when Shama went up and sat near. Then Baba said to him – “Don’t be afraid, don’t care a jot, the Merciful Fakir will save you, go and sit quiet at home, don’t go out, believe in Me and remain fearless and have no anxeity”. Then he was sent home. Immediately afterwards, Baba sent Tatya Patil and Kakasaheb Dixit to him with instructions to the effect, that he should eat what he liked, should move in the home, but should never lie down and sleep. Needless to say that these instructions were acted upon and Shama got all-right in a short time. The only thing to be remembered in this connection is this – the words of Baba (or the five syllabled Mantra, viz, `Go, Get away, Come down’) were not addressed to Shama- as it apparently looked – but they were a direct order to the snake and its poison not to go up and circulate through Shama’s body. Like others well-versed in Mantrashastra, He had not to use any incantation, charged rice or water etc. His words only were most efficacious in saving the life of Shama.

Essence:

The disciples should have firm faith, backed up by intelligence and if they and patience to these, their spiritual goal will not be distant. When the disciples get the above-mentioned qualities, they become ready for further instructions and the Masters then appear and lead them on, in their spiritual path to perfection.

For Children

Patience is a good virtue and if we practice this consciously in our day to day life, we can face the situation  in a calm and peaceful manner.

The story below depicts about Patience the value one should cultivate.

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/quick-enlightenment/

 

 

 

Sai satcharitra – Chapter 22 – respect and love for all the beings around us

 

Value – Love

Sub value – Compassion

 

How to meditate on Baba?    Look at Baba’s posture, how fine it is! He is sitting with His legs folded, the right leg held across the left knee. The fingers of His left hand are spread on the right-foot. On the right toe are spread His two fingers-the index and middle ones. By this posture Baba means to say, as it were-if you want to see My Light, be egoless and most humble and meditate on My toe through the opening between the two branches-index and middle fingers-and then you will be able to see My Light. This is the easiest means of attaining devotion.

Story 1

Hemadpant (1) At Baba’s recommendation Kakasaheb Dixit was daily reading the two works of Shri Eknath Maharaj, viz., Bhagwat and Bhawartha Ramayana and Hemadpant had the good forturne to be one of the audience when the reading of the works was going on. Once when a portion from the Ramayana relating to Hanuman’s testing Rama’s greatness, according to his mother’s instructions, was being read, all the listeners were spell-bound. Hemadpant was one of them. A big scorpion (none knew where it came from), jumped and sat on the right shoulder of Hemadpant, on his Uparani (upper dhotar). First it was not noticed, but as the Lord protects those, who are intent on hearing His stories, he casually cast a glance over his right shoulder and noticed it. It was dead silence, not a bit moved here or there. It seemed as if, it also enjoyed the reading. Then by the Lord’s grace, Hemadpant without disturbing the audience, took the two ends of his dhotar, folded them, and brought them together, enclosing the scorpion within. Then he went out, and threw it in the garden. (2) On another occasion some persons were sitting in the upper floor of Kakasaheb’s Wada, just before nightfall, when a serpent crept through a hole in the window frame and sat coiled up. A light was brought. Though it was first dazzled, yet it sat still and only moved its head up and down. Then many persons rushed there with sticks and cudgels, but as it sat in an akward place, no blow could be dealt. But hearing the noises of men, the serpent went out hastily through the same hole. Then all the persons there felt relieved.

 

Baba’s Opinion 

One devotee named Muktaram, then said that it was good that the poor creature escaped. Hemadpant challenged him saying that serpents should better be killed. There was a hot discussion between them Next day, the question was reffered to Baba, who gave His settled opinion as follows:- “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 will 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.

 

Essence:

Love all creatures, love and respect them, do not trouble them try and help them when they are in need.

For children

Cultivate the habit of loving and helping the people around you. Respect the animals, show your care and love for them.

Story:

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2018/11/30/seeing-divinity-in-all/

YOU CANNOT PAINT THE WHOLE WORLD GREEN

Value : Truth

Sub value : Acceptance

There was a millionaire once who was bothered by two aches, one in his stomach and the other in his head! Once diagnosed he was treated by a galaxy of medical experts; and had to consume heavy loads of drugs, and  injections. Yet, the aches persisted with greater vigour than ever before!

At last, a monk arrived at the scene of his agony. He spoke very kindly to the millionaire, and pronounced the fault to be in his eye! “Set right the eye, and the head on top and the stomach below would both behave very sweetly! To improve the eye, concentrate on only one colour. Concentrate on green. Do not let your eyes fall on red or yellow, or any other colour”, suggested the Monk.

The millionaire rallied a group of painters and purchased barrels of green colour and directed that every object on which his  eye was likely to fall, be painted thick green.

A few days later the monk came to visit him , the millionaires’s servants ran with buckets of green paint and poured it on the Monk, as he was in red clothes. Lest their master see any other colour, the pain in his eye would come back, was the only concern of the servants.

Seeing  this, the monk laughed and said “If only you had purchased a pair of green glasses, worth just a few dollars, you could have saved these walls and trees and pots and pans, and chairs and sofas and also a pretty large share of your fortune! You cannot paint the world green.”

Learning:

 

How often do we try to change other people, and get frustrated when they refuse to change? But how often do we take a look at ourselves? If we would just change our own outlook, change our own way of thinking, change our own actions, our change might motivate others to change as well. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Let us change our vision and the world will appear accordingly. It is foolish to shape the world, let us shape ourselves first.

Source: Chinna Katha

Happy New Year

Wishing Everyone A Happy New Year 2019

 

Sai satcharitra – chapter 21 – Spiritual Path – Devotion

 

 

Value – Devotion

Subvalue – Faith

Story 1

Mr. V.H.Thakur, B.A., was a clerk in the Revenue Department he was transferred to Kalyan on higher post, and there he became acquainted with Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He heard much about Sai Baba from him and wished to see Him he left for Shirdi and when he went there He saw Baba, fell at His Feet and was overjoyed. His eyes were full of tears of joy and his hair stood on end. Then after a while the omniscient Baba said to him – “The path of this place is not so easy as the teaching of the Kanarese Saint Appa or even as the buffalo-ride in the Nhane Ghat. In this spiritual path, you have to put in your best exertion as it is very difficult”. When Thakur heard these significant signs and words, which none else than he knew, he was overwhelmed with joy. He came to know, that the word of the Kanarese Saint had turned true. Then joining both hands and placing his head on Baba’s Feet, he prayed that he should be accepted and blessed. Then Baba said – “What Appa told you was all right, but these things have to be practised and lived. Mere reading won’t do. You have to think and carry out what you read, otherwise, it is of no use. Mere book-learning, without the grace of the Guru, and self-realization is of no avail”. The theoretical portion was read from the work `Vichar Sagar’ by Thakur, but the practical way was shown to him at Shirdi.

 

 

Story 2

Once a pleader from Pandharpur came to Shirdi, went to the Masjid, saw Sai Baba, fell at His Feet and, without being asked, offered some Dakshina, and sat in a corner eager to hear the talk, that was going on. Then Baba turned His face towards him and said – “How cunning the people are! They fall at the feet, offer Dakshina, but inwardly give abuses behind the back. Is not this wonderful?” This cap (remark) fitted the pleader and he had to wear (take) it. None understood the remark. The pleader grasped it, but kept silent. When they returned to the Wada, the pleader said to Kakasaheb Dixit – “What Baba remarked was perfectly right. The dart (remark) was aimed at me, it was a hint to me, that I should not indulge in reviling or scandalizing others (calling by names). When the subjudge or munsiff of Pandharput (Mr.Noolkar) came and stayed here for the improvement of his health, a discussion about this matter was going on in the bar-room at Pandharpur (as it ever happens in many a bar-room). It was said or discussed there whether the ailments, from which the sub-judge suffered were, ever likely to be got rid of without medicines, by merely going after Sai Baba, and whether it was proper for an educated man, like the sub-judge, to have recourse to such methods. The sub-judge was taken to task, i.e. he was ciritisied, as also Sai Baba. I also took some part in this affair; and now Sai Baba showed the impropriety of my conduct. This is not a rebuke to me, but a favour, an advice that I should not indulge in any scandal or slander of others; and not interfere unnecessarity in others’ affairs”.

Though the story refers to a pleader, still it is applicable to all. All should, therefore, take this lesson to heart and profit thereby.

Essence

Yoga practice and studying the scriptures should be accompanied by Bhakti, i.e., Devotion.what is wanted is loving devotion.

 

Below is a story which depicts the value, the path of Devotion:

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2016/11/30/power-of-chanting-the-lords-name/