BY PUJYA SRI NARASIMHASWAMY JI
WORLDLY WISDOM AND WEALTH
SAI BABA TEACHES A LESSON
One remarkable feature of Sri Sai Baba's life was the , "insistent demand for money, dakshina, from his devotees.
Never, of course, was the money kept by him.It would immediately be distributed.
The money was generally asked from the rich but what was Sai Baba's aim? Judge Saheb nitrates in his reminiscences, the following incident, stressing also its moral.
"Once I had taken 100 rupees with me to , Shirdi in my" , pocket. Sai Baba asked me for dakshina of Rs 40.I readily gave it. A little later he asked for another 40 rupees and that too was given with equal readiness and joy. Finally, he asked me for the remaining twenty and that also I gave him. I was happy to give him although I was left without a paise in the result.
Go and Borrow :
"Then again Baba sent for me and asked me , for dakshina. I said I had nothing to give. Then he suggested that I shouid go and get money from some others.I agreed but told Baba that if he should indicate whom I was to go to, I would gladly go and ask him.Baba said , "Go to Shama".' I went to him and told him what took place and asked him for money.
He replied that , " I had not understood Baba alright.Does Baba care a rap for your rupees?
No, what he wants is your mind and heart, your time and soul to be devoted to him That is his meaning". I went back to Baba and reported what Shama had said.
Then Baba smiled and said "Go to Dixit and ask him'' , I went to Mr. Dixit and told him of what Baba had bidding me. to do. He,then replied that Baba's direction to me had to be understood in the circumstances as a lesson to me that I should not feel absence of money or the begging for money or for anything else to be a humiliation and that I should not esteem myself to be above begging
Wordly Wisdom :
I went back and reported. Dixits reply to Baba. He smiled and then asked me to go to Nana Saheb Chandorkars and ask him for a loan. I went to Khandobas temple where Nana Saheb was reading some religious books and told him all. that .had .occurred and Baba's.order that I should approach him for. money. Nana Saheb at once showed his worldly wisdom. He said that he knew how delicate the situation was when Baba asked for dakshina and that I should profit by his plans and ways. "Whenever I go to Shirdi, he said, 'I start with a certain sum, and leave a half at Kopergaon e.g., on this occasion I came with Rs. 200, out of which I have left 103 rupees at Kopergaon and come down to Shirdi with only 100 rupees. I go on giving dakshina out of the stock in hand to Baba and when it is exhausted, I send for the reserve at Kopergaon. You must act like this".
Put to the Test :
"I went back to Baba and told him what Nana said. While I sat there, Baba sent for Nana and asked him for dakshina Rs. 40. He paid it and went away. Again he sent for him and asked for 40 rupees more. That was paid and again Nana was sent for and the last amount was paid up and at once he sent some one to Kopergaon for his reserve fund. Then Baba at once wanted more. Nana felt humiliated at having to say 'no' as there was no time for the Kopergaon reserve to arrive. The lesson that was then taught to him, to me, and to all was that it was presumption on the part of any one to think that he himself was the great Providence supplying the needs of Baba, or that anyone could supply all that Baba might ask for".
"Thus Baba showed me how differently the demand for dakshina was interpreted by devotees. The real explanation of Baba's demand in this case was not what Shama, Dixit or Nana said it was. It was evidently to teach a lesson to all of us. Baba really cared nothing for money or for presents. What he really wanted was love, deep, intense, passionate, whole-hearted love".
24 January 2009
WONDEROUS SAINT SRI SAIBABA-PART 9
BY PUJYA SRI NARASIMHASWAMY JI
FANATIC LEARNS A LESSON
Sri Sai Baba had devotees belonging to all races, and Invariably all felt quite at case in his presence. He advised people to advance along path congenial to themselves; and invariably, he dissuaded intolerance. Sometimes he pronounced or got some one to pronounce fatia over Hindu offerings also. There was , as a rule , no sharp distinction or antagonism between the devotion of Hindu and Mohammedans to him. There were, however, some exceptions. One of these, Judge Saheb mentions in his reminiscences.
"About 1916 two "Rohillas" came to Shirdi and became devoted to Sri Sai Baba. The elder one was constantly with Baba and used to read the Koran at night, especially sitting at the feet of Baba".
Music in Mosque :
"He declared that Baba was Paygambar, (i.e. Prophet) and showed great reverence. At times he said that though Baba was Paygambar, he was still teaching heterodox doctrines. Baba's allowing the din of noon day Arati with its music in the mosque, allowing himself to be worshipped as God there and partaking of food offered to idols were highly heterodox and the rohilla mentioned his objections to Baba. But Baba only smiled and said, "All that (i.e. other Gods) is Allah". This was one of Baba's moods. In some moods, he would say: "We are all the creatures of God-Allah". In other moods, he would say: "I am God".
Taught a Lesson :
"This, of course, was extreme heterodoxy in the Rohilla's view. So one day he declared that, although Sri Sai Baba was Paygambar, yet his doctrine was wrong and so he would make short work of Baba and his doctrine. As Sri Sai Baba was going out walking, the Rohilla came up from behind with a stout club in his right hand and reached striking distance. Baba turned towards him and seizing his left wrist cast a glance at him, beneath which the poor Rohilla covered and sank like a lump of lead, powerless to lift his club or even to lift himself. Baba left him there and went away. Meanwhile as he could not get up, that man had to be raised up with some one's help. In a few days, he took leave of Baba and left Shirdi".
"Of course, intolerance was not confined to this Muslim devotee. There were some Hindu devotees, who exhibited the same trait but Baba always discountenanced it".
FANATIC LEARNS A LESSON
Sri Sai Baba had devotees belonging to all races, and Invariably all felt quite at case in his presence. He advised people to advance along path congenial to themselves; and invariably, he dissuaded intolerance. Sometimes he pronounced or got some one to pronounce fatia over Hindu offerings also. There was , as a rule , no sharp distinction or antagonism between the devotion of Hindu and Mohammedans to him. There were, however, some exceptions. One of these, Judge Saheb mentions in his reminiscences.
"About 1916 two "Rohillas" came to Shirdi and became devoted to Sri Sai Baba. The elder one was constantly with Baba and used to read the Koran at night, especially sitting at the feet of Baba".
Music in Mosque :
"He declared that Baba was Paygambar, (i.e. Prophet) and showed great reverence. At times he said that though Baba was Paygambar, he was still teaching heterodox doctrines. Baba's allowing the din of noon day Arati with its music in the mosque, allowing himself to be worshipped as God there and partaking of food offered to idols were highly heterodox and the rohilla mentioned his objections to Baba. But Baba only smiled and said, "All that (i.e. other Gods) is Allah". This was one of Baba's moods. In some moods, he would say: "We are all the creatures of God-Allah". In other moods, he would say: "I am God".
Taught a Lesson :
"This, of course, was extreme heterodoxy in the Rohilla's view. So one day he declared that, although Sri Sai Baba was Paygambar, yet his doctrine was wrong and so he would make short work of Baba and his doctrine. As Sri Sai Baba was going out walking, the Rohilla came up from behind with a stout club in his right hand and reached striking distance. Baba turned towards him and seizing his left wrist cast a glance at him, beneath which the poor Rohilla covered and sank like a lump of lead, powerless to lift his club or even to lift himself. Baba left him there and went away. Meanwhile as he could not get up, that man had to be raised up with some one's help. In a few days, he took leave of Baba and left Shirdi".
"Of course, intolerance was not confined to this Muslim devotee. There were some Hindu devotees, who exhibited the same trait but Baba always discountenanced it".
WONDEROUS SAINT SRI SAIBABA-PART 8
BY PUJYA SRI NARASIMHASWAMY JI
BOOKS BRING BHRAMA NOT BRAHMA
SAI BABA'S ADVICE
On one Guru Poornima day, numerous devotees came to Sri Sar Baba and as usual placed a book before him so that be might return it with his asirvada or blessing for them to study it with profit and benefit. Sri Sai Baba, however, took up a book brought by one man and gave it to another as he often does. On that occasion every one had a book except myself. Baba then looked at me and pointing to the books said; "In these books they want to find Brahma (God). There is however Bhrama (delusion or confusion) in them. You are all right. Do not read books - but keep me in your heart. If you harmonise head and heart, that is enough".
Judge Saheb mentions this incident in his reminiscences of Sri Sai Baba, and adds, that he has been following that advice with advantage.
"Baba did not prescribe ' ,adds the Judge Saheb, "one uniform spiritual exercise or practice for all. He suited himself to the stage, circumstances and conditions of each". "If you are a Rama Bhakta, keep to it. If you want only Allah, keep to it", was his advice.
"If I am asked what I would suggest to one who wished to find out how he (not having seen Sri Sai Baba in the flesh) could make himself a devotee of Sri Sai Baba and get his help, my answer is that he should whole-heartedly pour his heart in love to Sri Sai Baba. It is not essential that he should go to Shirdi for the purpose, though Shirdi associations are undoubtedly helpful. All that he should do is to transcend the senses and concentrate with love on Sri Sai Baba. He would certainly reach and obtain the help of Sri Sai Baba- to obtain all that he is fit to achieve or receive."
BOOKS BRING BHRAMA NOT BRAHMA
SAI BABA'S ADVICE
On one Guru Poornima day, numerous devotees came to Sri Sar Baba and as usual placed a book before him so that be might return it with his asirvada or blessing for them to study it with profit and benefit. Sri Sai Baba, however, took up a book brought by one man and gave it to another as he often does. On that occasion every one had a book except myself. Baba then looked at me and pointing to the books said; "In these books they want to find Brahma (God). There is however Bhrama (delusion or confusion) in them. You are all right. Do not read books - but keep me in your heart. If you harmonise head and heart, that is enough".
Judge Saheb mentions this incident in his reminiscences of Sri Sai Baba, and adds, that he has been following that advice with advantage.
"Baba did not prescribe ' ,adds the Judge Saheb, "one uniform spiritual exercise or practice for all. He suited himself to the stage, circumstances and conditions of each". "If you are a Rama Bhakta, keep to it. If you want only Allah, keep to it", was his advice.
"If I am asked what I would suggest to one who wished to find out how he (not having seen Sri Sai Baba in the flesh) could make himself a devotee of Sri Sai Baba and get his help, my answer is that he should whole-heartedly pour his heart in love to Sri Sai Baba. It is not essential that he should go to Shirdi for the purpose, though Shirdi associations are undoubtedly helpful. All that he should do is to transcend the senses and concentrate with love on Sri Sai Baba. He would certainly reach and obtain the help of Sri Sai Baba- to obtain all that he is fit to achieve or receive."
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