Master’s messages- 5.5- Body as a meaningful vehicle

 

 

Body to be used as a meaningful instrument

 

Body is the vehicle which is to be used to realise and attain God. Hence proper care of this body is necessary though not undue pampering or caring. Peace can be attained only by realising the inner reality. Senses will drag us into alternate peace and joy. Only contemplation of unity can remove fear, rivalry, envy and greed.

One must be constantly engaged in good activities for the sadhana to progress well. It is not enough to just do once in a while which is like just getting some 5/6 marks in an examination, where these marks are of no use. We must atleast get 5/6 marks less than the passing mark to get some grace mark to pull us through. This also will happen provided we are good students.

We are fortunate to witness and be with the Master guiding us. Let us realise that and engage ourselves in doing good. Only when one has mastered the scriptures does one even get a glimpse of what the characteristics of an avatar are. We must treasure and value this and follow the Master’s teachings.

This body should be used as an instrument which can be meaningfully used to benefit the society as well as help us in recognising our inner reality.

Story based on the above message

 

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/the-crocodile-and-the-priest-value-truth/

Message- Sathya Sai Speaks Vol 1- Chapter 5

Sai Satcharita – Chapter 15 – Devotee’s faith and Baba’s omniscience

 

Value: Devotion

Sub value: Faith

Story 1

Mr. Cholkar’s Sugarless Tea 

Initially, Baba was known in Poona and Ahmednagar Districts, but Nanasaheb Chandorkar, by his personal talks and by Dasganu, by his splendid Kirtans, spread the fame of Baba in the Konkan (Bombay Presidency). In fact, it was Dasganu – May God bless him-who, by his beautiful and inimitable Kirtans, made Baba available to so many people there. The audience, who come to hear the Kirtans have different tastes. Some like the erudition of the Haridas; some his gestures, some his singing, some his wit and humour, some his preliminary dissertation on Vedanta, and some others, his main stories and so on; but among them, there are very few, who by hearing the Kirtan get faith and devotion or love for God or saints. The effect of hearing Dasganu’s kirtan on the minds of audience was however electric, as it were. We give an instance here
Dasganu was once performing his Kirtan and singing the glory of Sai Baba, in the Koupineshwar temple in Thana. One Mr. Cholkar, a poor man serving as a candidate in the Civil Courts in Thana, was amongst the audience. He heard Dasganu’s Kirtan most attentively and was much moved. He there and then mentally bowed and vowed to Baba saying – “Baba, I am a poor man, unable to support my family. If by your grace, I pass the departmental examination, and get a permanent post, I shall go to Shirdi, fall at Your Feet and distribute sugar-candy in Your name.” As good luck would have it, Mr.Cholkar did pass te examination and did get the permanent post and now it remained for him to fulfil his vow, the sooner the better. Mr. Cholkar was a poor man with a large family to support; and he could not afford to pay for the expenses of a Shirdi trip. As is well said, one can easily cross over Nahne ghat in Thana District or even the Sahyadri Range; but it is very difficult for a poor man to cross Umbareghat, i.e., the threshold of his house. As Mr. Cholkar was anxious to fulfill his vow as early as possible, he resolved to economize, cut down his expenses, and save money. He determined not to use sugar in his diet; and began to take his tea without it. After he was able to save some money in this way, he came to Shirdi, took Baba’s darshan, fell at His Feet, offered a coconut, distributed it with a clean conscience along with sugar-candy as per his vow and said to Baba that he was much pleased with His darshan and that his desires were fulfilled that day. Mr. Cholkar was in the Masjid with his host Bapusaheb Jog. When the host and the guest both got up and were about to leave the Masjid, Baba spoke to Jog as follows:- “Give him (your guest) cups of tea, fully saturated with Sugar.” Hearing these significant words, Mr. Cholkar was much moved, he was wonderstruck, his eyes were bedewed with tears, and he fell at Baba’s Feet again. Mr. Jog was also curious about this direction, regarding the tea-cups to be given to his guest. Baba wanted by His words to create faith and devotion in Cholkar’s mind. He hinted as it were, that He got the sugar-candy as per his vow and that He knew full well his secret determination not to use sugar in his diet. Baba meant to say, “If you spread your palms with devotion before Me, I am immediately with you, day and night. Though, I am here bodily, still I know what you do; beyond the saven seas. Go wherever you will, over the wide world, I am with you. My abode is in your heart and I am within you. Always worship Me, Who is seated in your heart, as well as, in the hearts of all beings, Blessed and fortunate, indeed, is he who knows Me thus.”

What a beautiful and important lesson was thus imparted by Baba to Mr. Chokar !

Essence

The moral of the above stories can be summarised as Devotion to Faith in the Lord or Guru can help us to overcome the hurdles in our life and ultimately we can realise, feel and experience the omniscience of the Lord or Guru.

For Children

Make it a habit to pray every day and keep doing your daily routine, gradually you will see that we will be able to accomplish difficult tasks and we will realise the Lord or Guru’s unseen hands guiding us, which will lead to developing more faith and devotion.

Story to depicts the essence of the above stories

 https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/how-i-developed-faith-in-god/

 

 

Sai Satcharita – Chapter 14 – Charity and Renunciation

 

Value: Charity

Subvalue: Renunciation, Purification

 

Story

Charity to the needy

It is a well-known fact that Baba always asked for Dakshina from people who went to see Him. Somebody may ask a question, “If Baba was a Fakir and perfectly non-attached, why should he ask for Dakshina and care for money?” We shall consider this question broadly now.

First for a long time, Baba did not accept anything. He stored burnt matches and filled His pocket with them. He never asked anything from anybody–whether he be a devotee or otherwise. If anybody placed before Him a pice or two, He purchased oil or tobacco. He was fond of tobacco, for He always smoked a bidi or Chilim (an earthen pipe). Then some persons thought that they could not see the Saints empty-handed, and they, therefore, placed some copper coins before Baba. If a pice was placed before Him. He used to pocket it; if it was a two pice coin, it was returned immediately. Then after Baba’s fame had spread far and wide, people began to flock in numbers; and Baba began to ask Dakshina from them. It is said in the Shruti (veda) that Puja of the Gods is not complete, unless a golden coin was offered. If a coin was necessary in the Puja of the Gods, why should it be not so in the Puja of the Saints also? Ultimately, the Shastras laid it down that, when one goes to see God, King, Saint or Guru, he should not go empty-handed. He should offer something, preferably coin or money. In this connection we may notice the precepts recommended by the Upanishads. The Brihadaranyak Upanishad says that the Lord Prajapati advised the Gods, men and demons by one letter “Da”. The Gods understood by this letter that they should practice (1) “Dama” i.e. self-control; the men thought or understood that they should practice (2) “Dana” i.e. charity; the demons understood that they should practice (3) “Daya” i.e. compassion. To men Charity or giving was recommended. The teacher in the Taittiriya Upanishad exhorts his pupils to practise charity and other virtues. Regarding charity he says, “Give with faith, give with magnanimity, i.e. liberally, give with modesty, with awe and with sympathy. In order to teach the devotees the lesson of charity and to remove their attachment to money and thus to purify their minds, Baba extracted Dakshina from them; but there was this peculiarity, as Baba said, that He had to give back hundred times more of what He received. There are many instances, in which this has happened. To quote an instance, Mr. Ganpatrao Bodas, the famous actor, says in his Marathi autobiography, that on Baba’s pressing him often and often for Dakshina, he emptied his money-bag before Him. The result of this was, as Mr. Bodas says, that in later life he never lacked money, as it came to him abundantly.

There were also secondary meanings of Dakshina, in many cases, in which Baba did not want any pecuniary amount. To quote two instances – (1) Baba asked Rs.15/- as Dakshina from Pro. G.G.Narke, who replied that he did not have even a pie. Then Baba said, “I know you have no money; but you are reading Yoga-Vashistha. Give Me Dakshina from that.” Giving Dakshina in this case meant – `Deriving lessons from the book and lodging them in the heart where Baba resides’. (2) In the second case Baba asked a certain lady (Mrs. R. A. Tarkhad) to give Rs.6/- as Dakshina. The lady felt pained, as she had nothing to give. Then her husband explained to her that Baba wanted six inner enemies (lust, anger, avarice etc.) to be surrendered to Him. Baba agreed with this explanation.

It is to be noted, that though Baba collected a lot of money by Dakshina, He would distribute the whole amount the same day, and the next morning He would become a poor Fakir as usual. When Baba took His Mahasamadhi, after receiving thousands and thousands of Rupees as Dakshina for about ten years, He had only a few Rupees in His possession.

In short, Baba’s main object in taking Dakshina, from His devotees was to teach them the lessons of Renunciation and Purification.

 

 

Post-script

Mr. B. V. Deo of Thana, retired Mamlatdar, and a great devotee of Baba, has written an article on this subject (Dakshina) in “Shri Sai Leela” magazine, Vol.VII, P.6-26, in which he says amongst other things, as follows:-

“Baba did not ask Dakshina from all. If some gave Dakshina without being asked, He sometimes accepted it; and at other times He refused it. He asked it from certain devotees only. He never demanded it, from those devotees, who thought in their minds that Baba should ask them for it, and then they should pay it. If anybody offered it against His wish, He never touched it, and if he kept it there, He asked him to take it away. He asked for small or big amounts from devotees, according to their wish, devotion and convenience. He asked it, even from women and children. He never asked all the rich for it, nor from all the poor.”

Essence

Baba tried to make his devotees understand, Charity is one of the virtues which when practiced is a two way benefit for both the person receiving and the person giving. The person receiving feels satisfied as his needs are fulfilled and feels happy and the person giving will become free both from desires and material world.

For Children

It is a good practice to share your things with your friends and siblings. You will able to see a smile and joy on their face when they receive from you, which in turn will make you happy. So try to inculcate the habit of sharing small things in day to day life and which can bring smiles on many faces and make the day a happier one.

The story below describes the good habit Charity,

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/king-rantideva/

Seek Within

 

Value- Truth

Sub value- Introspection

There was a girl of marriageable age and her parents had selected the groom, who in accordance with ancient customs was first in the line of marriageable relatives. But the girl was determined only to marry a person who was the best among all. So the parents left her alone.

The girl said that the king is higher than everyone else and she will marry none other than the king. And she kept following the King.

The king was riding in a palanquin one day and met a sanyasi on the way. The king got down, made his obeisance to the holy man and then continued on his way.

The girl was watching: “what a fool I am to think that the king is the highest among men. The Sanyasi seems to be higher than the king. I must somehow marry the holy man.” Thinking so, this girl followed the Sanyasi.

One day, when following the Sanyasi, she saw him paying his respects to an idol of Lord Ganesh under a banyan tree. She then changed her opinion and decided to marry Lord Ganesh as she found him higher than the Sanyasi who paid homage to Him. Instead of following this holy man, she sat close to Ganesh.

There were not many who visited the place where the idol was. It was not a temple but merely the foot of a tree. Therefore, a street dog that was passing by emptied its bladder on the idol. The girl then thought that the dog must be higher than the idol and started running after the dog.

An urchin passing by threw a stone at the dog. It howled in pain and ran faster. A young man who was watching this chastised the boy for being unkind to the dumb creature who had done him no harm. The girl ultimately thought that the one who thrashed the boy who beat the dog should be the best. So, she decided to marry that youth. It turned out, at last, that the youth was the one who had been chosen by her parents. Thus, it turned out that the person whom she thought was far away was in fact very close.

“You are wandering all over the country in search of God as though he is far away. So long as he is not known, he will certainly be at a distance. All the quest will not reveal him. He stays very close to you. Far away from the far distant but nearer than the nearest” – Shruti

Learning

We always choose to see externally forgetting our own strength which is within us. Once we realise that what we seek is not far away rather very close to us rather within us we will be peaceful, happy, fearless which is our true nature. That is the eternal truth.

 

Charity – A Saint’s Perspective

 

 

Value- Truth, Right conduct

Sub value- Charity, helping the needy

A multi millionaire was travelling in his car. On the way, he was listening to a Satsang of a certain religious Saint. The Saint was preaching that, everyone in the world is after money only. But they are ignorant that they cannot take their money with them after their death.  But Still they  are  after money  only  and  do  whatever  possible  ways  to get the  money.

The millionaire  got annoyed  of  his  statement.

He said to himself  that  since  the  Saint  has  no  money  with  him,  he  is  giving  a lecture  like  this. The next day, the  millionaire  called  all  his  employees  and  advised  them  to  give  him  an  idea  so that he  can  take  all  his  wealth  along with  him  after his  death.

Everyone thought that their boss has gone mad and tried to avoid him. Days passed by.
Suddenly  one day a stranger  approached  the  millionaire  and  informed  him  that  he had heard about his query & he has  one brilliant idea. The  millionaire could  not  believe  his  ears  as  everyone  has  declared  him  “Mad”.

The millionaire was very eager to hear his idea. The stranger first asked him whether he had traveled abroad? The millionaire said that he had visited almost all countries.

Then  the  stranger  asked  him  what  he  had  done  when  he  went  to  the USA? The millionaire  said  that  he  had  converted  the  Indian  rupees  into  American dollars and went  to  the USA.

The  stranger  again  asked  him,  what  he  had  done  when  he  went  to  UK? The  millionaire replied that  he  had  converted  Indian  rupees  into Pounds Sterling and  went  to  England.

The stranger asked him why he did all this? The  millionaire  laughed  and  told  the  stranger  that  our  Indian  rupees  have  no  value  in  USA  and  in  England.

The stranger replied that you are very correct and continued. Mr. Millionaire,  now you  want  to  go  to  the  Heaven  world  after  your  death, correct? Well, in  the  Heaven world,  the  name of  the  currency  is punnya (good merits). So  you  convert  your  entire  Indian rupees into  the  currency  of  Sat Karma/Good Karma so  that  you  can  spend  very  happily  there  after  your  death. The  rich  man  was  convinced and very happy  to  hear  his  idea and  started  doing  Dharma (charity – helping the needy without expecting anything in return)

Learning

We need money to survive and have a comfortable life in this world. However excess money can be used for good purposes to help deserving people. At the time of our passing we cannot carry anything with us. So when alive we can use money for meaningful purposes and earn good karma which will be helpful in our further journey of life.

Courtesy- Whats app forward

Sai Satcharita- Chapter 13- Faith and surrender

Value- Devotion

Sub value- Faith

Story 1

Bapusaheb Booty

Shriman Bapusaheb Booty suffered, once from dysentery and vomitting. His cupboard was full of patent drugs and medicines, but none of them had any effect. Bapusaheb got very weak, on account of purgings and vomittings and, therefore, was not able to go to the Masjid for Baba’s darshana. Baba then sent for him and made him sit before Him and said, “Now take care, you should not purge any more” and waving His index-finger “The vomiting must also stop”. Now look at the force of Baba’s words. Both the maladies took to their heels (disappeared) and Booty felt well.

On another occasion he had an attack of Cholera, and suffered from severe thirst. Dr. Pillai tried all sorts of remedies but could give him no relief. Then he went to Baba and consulted Him as what to drink that would allay his thirst and cure the disease. Baba prescribed an infusion of almonds, walnuts, pistachio (a kind of dry fruit), boiled in sugared milk. This would be considered, as a fatal aggravation of the disease by any other doctor or physician, but in implicit obedience to Baba’s order, the infusion was administered and strange to say, the disease was cured.

Story 2

Alandi Swami

A Swami from Alandi, wishing to take Baba’s darshana, came to Shirdi. He suffered form a severe pain in his ear, which prevented him from getting the sleep. He was operated for this, but it served no purpose. The pain was severe and he did not know what to do. While he was returning, he came to take Baba’s leave, when Shama (Madhavrao Deshpande) requested Baba to do something for the pain in the Swami’s ear. Baba comforted him saying, “Alla Accha Karega (God will do good).” The Swami then returned to Poona, and after a week sent a letter to Shirdi, stating that the pain in his ear had subsided though the swelling was there, and in order to get the swelling removed, he went to Bombay for operation, but the surgeon on examining the ear said that no operation was then necessary. Such was the wonderful effect of Baba’s words.

Story 3

Kaka Mahajani

Another devotee named Kaka Mahajani suffered once from diarrhea. In order that there should be no break in his services to Baba, Kaka kept a tambya (pot) with water in some corner of the Masjid and whenever there was a call, he would go out. As Sai Baba knew everything, Kaka did not inform Him of his disease, thinking that Baba would of His own cure it soon. The work of constructing the pavement in front of the Masjid was permitted by Baba, but when the actual work was begun, Baba got wild and shouted out loudly. Everybody ran away, and as Kaka was also doing the same, Baba caught hold of him and made him sit there. In the confusion that followed, somebody left the a small bag of groundnuts. Baba took a handful of groundnuts, rubbed them in His hands, blew away the skins, and gave the clean nuts to Kaka and made him eat them. Scolding and cleaning the nuts, and making Kaka eat them, went on similtaneously. Baba Himself ate some of them. Then, when the bag was finished, Baba asked him to fetch water as He felt thirsty. Kaka brought a pitcher full of water. Then Baba drank some water and made Kaka also drink it. Baba then said, “Now your diarrhea has stopped, and you may attend to the work of the pavement.” In the meanwhile other persons, who had run away, returned and started the work; and Kaka, whose motions had stopped, also joined them. Are groundnuts medicine for diarrhea? According to current medical opinion, groundnuts would aggravate the disease, and not cure it. The true medicine, in this as in other cases, was Baba’s word.

Essence

The moral of all the stories mentioned above is the complete faith in the master’s words without applying our logic. It is blindly relying on the Guru’s words with complete surrender. Only when complete faith or surrender is there; miracles like the above happen. When we keep doubting and being anxious; the above-mentioned cures by any Master may not be effective. If we really seek the help of the Master we should have complete faith and surrender.

For Children

One must do their duty and fulfil their responsibilities to the best of their abilities. Certain situations in life may be beyond us which we cannot help even after we have put in our best. That is the time when prayers and good values will help us develop the inner strength to persevere and handle any difficult situation of life bravely. We should develop self confidence and have complete faith in ourselves as well as in God or our Masters who will guide us when we need the most.

 

A beautiful story which emphasises the above value

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/unni-the-innocent-child-devotee/

 

 

 

Master’s messages-5.4- Concentration

Constant practice is needed for developing concentration

One must not get discouraged if we are unable to concentrate, only through constant practise just as we learn to ride a bicycle we should keep trying despite falling.

When one starts meditation, the mind starts wandering everywhere. We must plug that outlet by means of chanting the name. We must alternate between visualising the form and chanting of the name whenever the mind slips away. Japa and dhyana are the two bunds to control the thoughts. Once we develop this habit, the Bhava chitram (imaginary picture) will become saakshaatkara chitram (the real form) when Lord assumes form to fulfil our desires.

Japa sahita Dhyana is the best sadhana. For a start 10 to 15 minutes of meditation shuld be enough. After this; some time should be spent in mananam or contemplation at the peace and contentment experienced by this meditation. Then slowly we should loosen the limbs, be aware of the surroundings slowly and then resume our other activities.

Story based on the above message

https://saibalsanskaar.wordpress.com/2015/04/30/1323/

Courtesy

Sathya Sai Speaks- Vol 1 Chapter 5