Divine Words of wisdom by Sathya Sai Baba – On Shirdi Baba
Divine Words of wisdom by Sathya Sai Baba - On Shirdi Baba
1. Sacrifice leads to immortality: Story from Shirdi Baba Life Story
Description
A rich man once came to Shirdi with his pockets full of five rupee notes which were clearly visible. Baba saw this and asked Dama to get five rupees from a person named Patel. Dama left. In the mean while the rich man asked Baba, “Baba, please give me the knowledge of Self. Give me the divine renunciation.” Baba asked to wait for a while. Dama returned and said, “Swami, the Patel is not at home.” Then Baba asked him to go to another oil merchant in the village and bring five rupees. Dama went to the oil merchant. All the while the rich man was pestering Baba to teach him the knowledge of the self. Dama again returned empty handed and was again asked by Baba to get five rupees from another shop owner in the village. In this way Baba sent Dama four to five times to various persons to procure five rupees. Baba asked Dama to get the five rupees as he was in dire need of the money. Then Baba started telling indirectly to the rich man, “O rich man! Your five rupee notes are clearly visible to me. I sent Dama for the money many times to the city. But did you try to offer the five rupees that were there with you? How can a miser like you expect the knowledge of self? How can a scrooge like you be taught the knowledge of self?” Hence the saying, “tyagenaike amrutatwa maanasuhu”, it is through sacrifice that one attains the knowledge. The knowledge of the self is miles away from the person devoid of the spirit of sacrifice. Hence the vedas too say, “na karmana, na prajaya dhanena tyagenaike amrutatwa maanasuhu!” meaning, one cannot aspire to experience the immortal either by action or by progeny or by wealth but only through renunciation. Today you feel sad to part with five rupees, but you must give up this one day or the other. What can you do then? What is it that you can carry with you? This is the true knowledge of the self, the ‘Atma Gyana’. If you know this truth you will experience all that which has to be experienced in this life itself.”
2. God is present in everyone: Episode of Lakshmi bai Danghe (Shirdi Baba)
Description
Shirdi Baba too taught wisdom on many occasions, in many ways using many examples. God is everywhere, present in every being. “Isa vaasya midam sarvam!” Meaning, God is present everywhere. Lakshmi Bai Danghe was a very rich lady. Though being affluent, she used to come to Shirdi and clean the ashram and serve the devotees coming to Shirdi. One day seeing the opportunity, she fell at the feet of Shirdi Sai Baba. Baba said, “Lakshmi Bai, I am hungry.” Lakshmi Bai thought, “O Baba himself is asking me for food today, how I can bear it?” And asking Baba to wait for a while, she ran to her house to get some food. On the way she was sad, thinking, “I have been offering food to the photos of the Lord which do not ask for food and to the asking Lord I am unable to give food promptly!” So she went and quickly prepared some chapattis. In those days Baba used to eat well. He used to eat a pile of chapattis folding them into quarters and eating them in one go. So she made many chapattis and went to Baba and offered them in a plate. Baba on seeing them exclaimed, “Aha! They are very tasty!” In the meanwhile a black dog came there wagging its tail. Baba called it near and the dog ate all the chapattis while He petted it. Lakshmi Bai Dongle was watching all this and said to Baba, “Baba what is this you do? You said you were hungry. I thought Lord himself is asking for food and prepared chapattis with love and reverence. Right in front of me you are offering the food to this dog. What sin have I committed? What fault lies in me? Did I have any bad thoughts while preparing these chapattis? I prepared these chapattis whole heartedly and with love. Why are you insulting me thus? Is it justified?” In this way Lakshmi Bai talked to Baba with closeness as if she were talking to her father. Baba said, “Lakshmi Bai, sit down. I have eaten all the chapattis. My stomach is full.” Lakshmi Bai said, “Baba, how do I believe you? I saw the dog eating all the chapattis before my very eyes and you say you have eaten them. How can I believe it?” Then Baba said, “Man can ask for food if he is hungry. Animals and birds cannot ask if they are hungry. They too have hunger but cannot express it. They too are the creation of the Lord. Hence isn’t it me who is eating when they eat? Do not think that this body alone is Baba. That dog too is Baba. This bird too is Baba. This buffalo here is also Baba. All the beings are Baba. ‘Isa vaasya midam sarvam’, God is everywhere. ‘Eshwara sarva bhootanam’ God pervades all the beings. Why are you limiting Baba who is present in all? I made you cry thus because of your narrow ideas. Get rid of this narrow mindedness and broaden your vision. Hence develop a broad mind. Whatever others may do take it as the will of the Divine. Think that whatever, good or bad, happens, happens for your good. It is proper when such good thoughts are fostered in the hearts of the devotees.”
3. Swami on Shirdi devotees
Description
Dada, Nana, Damu, Abdul Baba, Chandorkar, Mahalsapathi, Shyama were always with Baba. Abdul Baba, who was a great devotee, was alive till recently. Whatever be the religion, devotion is the same in all. Kaka Dikshit was a judge. The son of Kaka Dikshit was in Brindavan for twenty years. His wife too is in Brindavan. Kaka Dikshit recorded in his diary the details of rebirth of Baba. Therefore, it is very difficult to establish and categorise the relationship with divinity; it is the relationship of soul to soul.
4. Baba's effort in bringing muslims and hindus together
Description
A number of controversies arose when people could not decide if He was a Brahmin, a Hindu or a Musalman. One moment Baba used to say, “Allah Malik!” and at other times He used to cry out, “Ram Malik, Krishna Malik, Dattatreya Malik.” It aroused doubts in villagers about the religion of Baba. When he said, “Allah Malik.”, muslims used to gather in large numbers in the masjid. In appearance too Baba looked a muslim and so a number of muslims came to him. Hindus too worshiped him with Hindu rituals of lighting the lamp, offerings etc. When things were so, the Muslims did not approve of the worship rituals of Hindus and vice versa. Enmity developed greatly between the two clans. One day Mahalsapathi was sitting near Baba and was serving him.Mahalsapathi was priest in the temple of Khandoba. The Muslims on seeing a Hindu priest sit near Baba, were angered and gathered in the masjid and beat Mahalsapathi with staffs. For every blow of the staff,Mahalsapathi cried out, “Baba! Baba!” The moment Mahalsapathi cried out so, the blows were felt by Baba!!Mahalsapathi fell down and Baba came out. Mohammedans had great faith in Baba. Baba came out and roared, “Devils! On one hand you pray and on the other you hit and torment me. Is this your devotion?” The Mohammedans saw Baba bleeding from the blows and came running to Baba, “Baba, who did this? Who hit you?” Baba showed them saying, “Was it not you who hit me?” The Mohammedans replied, “We never came near you. We only beat Mahalsapathi.” Baba said, “Who do you think in there in Mahalsapathi? I am there, in him. He had surrendered himself to me, therefore his troubles are mine!” Hearing this, the Mohammedans asked for forgiveness at the feet of Baba. Baba then gathered the Hindus and the Musalmans and told them, “You are the children of one mother.” And He showed to the proof of brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God. “You should not breed the differences of caste, creed and religion. For humanity, heart is important. Lord cannot be found by the person who searches for Him in religion. One should find the Lord in one’s own mind and heart for He is found there. All the differences of caste, creed and religion pertain to the body. These are all worldly affairs. One has to search for God in the heart that is beyond the worldly affairs.” Baba who had come to Shirdi in the year 1858 along with Chand Bhai Patel did not leave Shirdi till 1918. When He entered Shirdi He was 16 years old, in the year 1854. Baba lived for eighty years.
5. Magistrate enquiring Shirdi Baba
Description
After a few years there a magistrate case filed on Baba. Sai Baba had to offer witness in that particular case. What was the witness he had to give? Some thieves were carrying away the stolen things from a wealthy person. The police caught them in the village of Pehelgaon. When the police asked them, “Where did you get these things?” they out of fear replied, “That fakir gave us these things.” And the police asked them to show the fakir who gave them those things. The thieves brought them to Sai Baba. The police asked Baba, “Fakir, did you give them those things?” Sai Baba said, “Yes, I gave them.” The police: “From where did you get these?” Sai Baba: “From the same source from which everything comes!” The police: “Who gave them to you?” Sai Baba: “I gave them.” Baba gave such vague and mysterious answers that the police could not understand. They were in the worldly plane and Baba was always in the spiritual plane. From the worldly outlook one cannot understand Baba. Baba: “It is me who gives to everyone. Who can take them or earn them without me?” The police felt that it was no use talking to Baba and went to the magistrate and wrote a report. Summons came from the office of the magistrate and Baba had to go to the office of the magistrate. Chand Bhai Patel was not ready to send Baba to the magistrate. He talked to the magistrate and higher officials and as a result a commission was deployed to Shirdi to take the statement of Baba. The commission started to question Baba, Commission: “What is your father’s name?” Sai Baba: “Baba.” For ‘baba’ means father. Commission: “To which religion do you belong?” Sai Baba: “The religion of God.” Commission: “From where have you come?” Sai Baba: “From Atma!” Commission: “To which caste to you belong to?” Sai Baba: “The caste of Divinity.” In this way Baba answered the commission.Mahalsapathi hailed Him as Sai and Baba called his father as ‘Baba’; so he became ‘Sai Baba’. Nobody knew the place of birth or the year of birth or who named him so.
6. Baba's early life in Shirdi
Description
In the year 1854 Baba reached Shirdi. Mahalsapathi saw him as Baba reached Shirdi. When Baba was about to enter the temple, Mahalsapathi thinking him to be a muslim fakir who weren’t allowed into the temple, drove Him away from the temple. Then Baba went and sat under a neem tree on the outskirts of the village. He was then sixteen years old. The villagers did not know the details about the boy and Baba did not give any reply to their questions. When the villagers asked, “From which place do you come?” Baba used to answer, “Why are you bothered about from which place I come from?” Villagers: “What is your name?” Baba: “Why do you want the name?” As he began replying in this manner, the villagers could not get any details about Baba. He stayed under the tree for some time. Many people suffering from ailments used to rest awhile under tree and go their way. To such people Baba used to crumple some leaves and give it to them to eat and this cured them of their ailments. This news spread very fast among the villages. A number of people began to come to Baba to cure their diseases and to them Baba used to give some juice from the leaves and cure them of their diseases. Suddenly one day Baba disappeared from Shirdi. The villagers searched for Him but were disappointed at not finding Him anywhere. After three years, He came back to Shirdi in the year 1858.
7. The entry of Shyama into Shirdi: Story of Shyama and his experiences with Baba
Description
Shyam’s parents brought him to Shirdi after their retirement. He was two years old at that time. His name was Mohan Shyam. Parents used to call him Mohan. Baba always used to call him Shyam. After retirement his parents settled in Shirdi and Shyam pursued his studies in Shirdi. After the departure of Sathe, Baba gradually began to care deeply for Shyam. Shyam eventually completed the teacher’s training programme and was appointed as a teacher in a local school in Shirdi. During the day Shyam would teach the students while Baba stayed in an adjacent room. By night he used to sleep in the class room. Only a small ventilator separated the Baba’s room and Shyam’s classroom. Shyam used to look into Baba’s room during the night through the small ventilator. He often saw Baba speaking to himself, laughing by himself, and scolding by himself. The room in which Baba slept had a foot and a half wide plank which was held in place by two ropes from the ceiling. Baba used to swing and sleep on the plank. Shyam feared that Baba might fall off the narrow plank in his sleep and used to see through the ventilator. So one day while pressing Baba’s feet, he took courage and asked Baba, “Swami, you are not sleeping in the nights. You laugh by yourself, talk to yourself. What is the meaning and significance of your actions? Please tell me.” Baba replied, “O Madcap! Are you the only one in this world? There are many who pray to me for help in this universe. I am talking to them. When I write something in the air, I am turning their minds. When I move my lips, I am talking to them. It is my taste to laugh at their madness. Child, all these actions are for my devotees.” Gradually, Shyam began to pray to swami, “Swami, I have less number of classes. I want to serve you and stay with you.” Lakshmi Bai was the lady who used to cook food for Swami. “Even I want to serve Baba.” thinking so Shyama used to go to Lakshmi Bai and help her in making Jowar rotis for Baba. Baba was very fond of Brinjal. Shyama used to go to Lakshmi Bai and learn to make various items with Brinjal. Shyama used to serve Baba in this way. Only he knew the tremendous happiness he derived in serving Baba so. In those days, Baba used to get angry a lot; however it stayed only for very short intervals. When angry Baba used to throw a stick that was ten feet away. Shyama used to say, “Swami, you are throwing sticks like that out of anger. If somebody were to die getting hurt by it, you would get a bad name.” Baba used to reply, “O Satan, sit down. That life is in my hands. It will go only when I let it go. I will see to it he does not lose his life. Go and do your work. Why are you so much worried about it? He will mend his ways only when I show my anger in that manner. People will sit on my head if I tell them mildly. Hence to make people do their work properly, sometimes harsh words and actions are needed.” Baba revealed the secret only to Shyama, “I only pretend to be angry to put people on the right path. Inwardly I do not have anger.” Baba’s actions emanated out of love and love alone and had no other motive behind them. In this manner Baba gave an opportunity to Shyam to be close to Him and serve Him.
8. Copper coins episode from Shiridi Baba's life
Description
Once in Shiridi, Baba, sitting on the steps of Dwarakamayi, was keenly looking at some copper coins. There were a lot of devotees who were waiting for Him but He saw none. He went on watching and shifting the copper coins from one palm to another. Though the devotees waited for long, Baba did not look up to see anyone nor did He talk to anyone. Meanwhile Dama came there. He was the one who was always with Baba. Dama said, “Baba! Look, how many are waiting for you! You seem to be playing with something. What is the secret behind this? Why are you watching the coins so? Are you examining?” Then Baba looked up and said, “O son! See, not even one coin is genuine. On one side the letters are missing and on the other side the image is blurred. Some of them are in pieces, some are disfigured and yet some have cracks in them. I am examining them to find out those that may be useful.” “Throw the useless ones away, why waste time seeing them?” said Dama. Baba said, “O Son! Understand clearly. Many devotees come here. Each one of them has some defect like the coins here. I do not find even one who might be of use to me.” Baba continued, “Some come here with worldly desires. Some students come with a desire to successfully pass in the examinations. Some come with a wish to get married or to have a job or for promotion. Each one comes here with a desire but none comes with a desire to get Atma gyana, the sacred knowledge of the Self. All these people are like these coins and I am just examining who can be useful. There is none in these who obeys me. People say that they want Swami but to what extent are they obeying Swami’s commands? When they do not follow me, where is the devotion?” Shiridi Baba called Dama and pointing to a mango tree, said, “See that mango tree. It is full with flowers. The flowers are countless and they are covering up even the leaves. But at the end how many of these become fruits? How many of those become ripe fruits? All will not. Some flowers fall off due to the dew, some fall due to the wind. Some become small unripe fruits and some fall off while some others grow bigger but some drop to the ground when birds and squirrels bite them. Ultimately only a few become fully ripen fruits. If all flowers turn out into fully ripen fruits, can the tree bear those?”
9. How Hemadpant wrote Sri Shirdi Satcharitra
Description
One day a learned man came to Baba with a desire to write His biography. His name was Hemad Pant and he is the one who wrote the biography of Baba. He prayed intensely to Baba to know where he was born, what his name was and who his parents were. But Baba did not reveal any of the details. The date of birth was revealed only to Mahalsapathi when he was serving Baba.Mahalsapathi was not a scholar but knew only few hymns for offering worship.Mahalsapathi had written the birth date revealed by Baba on a piece of paper that later fell into the hands of Hemad Pant who wrote the biography of Baba. Nobody knows the essence of Baba’s life. The world only knows about Baba from the age of sixteen. Baba, who was born on 27 September 1838, left His body on the day of Dasara. That is Baba was born in the year 1838 and left his body in the year 1918. In between those years Baba gave many sacred teachings and showed people the divine power and has been worshipped by many as God. Dada, Nana, Damu, Abdul Baba, Chandorkar, Mahalsapathi, Shyama were always with Baba.
10. Swami explaining the role and workings of Pancha Koshas
Description
Man is made up of five different kosaas, sheaths viz—Annamaya, Praanamaya, manomaya, vignyaanamaya and anandamaya. Out of these five three are related to the physical world and two belong to the world beyond. It is not possible to differentiate between these two. The physical world and the world beyond are interlinked and closely bound. They are a perfect admixture. God is considered as the ‘sath, chith, ananda’ being. The sath, chith and ananda are part of one’s perception and feeling. The one that is to be experienced is the name and the form. Without the name and the form, sath, chith and ananda cannot be perceived by man. The name and the form belong to the physical world and are temporary and ephemeral. Through this medium of name and form which is transient and temporary, one can experience the everlasting sath chith and ananda. Therefore without the name and the form one cannot attain the everlasting and permanent purity that is sath, chith ananda. The body is the annamaya kosha. In the annamaya kosha, that is the body, the primary entity is the prana or the life force. This prana in turn is linked to the manomaya kosha. The totality of one’s existence on this earth consists the coming together of the three sheaths namely the annamaya, praanamaya and manomaya. To transcend from the human plane of existence to become one with divine one needs the vignyaanamaya and anandamaya koshas. Therefore two paths are shown one that pertains to the physical world and the other leading to the world beyond.
