Sai Baba the Master - By E.Bhardawaj

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Sai Baba the Eternal Symbol

Every perfect saint is an embodiment of the spiritual tradition to which he

belongs, either by birth or by choice. Sai Baba is unique in that he does

not belong to any single tradition, or rather, he belongs to all

traditions. We therefore find in his physical existence, a symbol or a

glyph of the divine mysteries of creation. When we consider why he chose to

present himself in a particular manner amidst us, we feel that it referred

to a profound spiritual truth. It is rewarding to venture a guess at a few

aspects of this truth.

 

Baba first appeared in the outskirts of Shirdi as a boy of sixteen. This

age seems to have a special significance in the lives of many mahatmas.

Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi had the first experience of realisation at the

same age. Sri Gajanan Maharaj of Shegoan, the great contemporary of Sai

Baba, first appeared as a naked boy of sixteen. In Christ’s life too, this

age seems to have marked a major turning point.

 

Baba’s appearance was such that his religion could not be recognised. His

appearance and conduct showed that he was totally enlightened. His complete

non-attachment and solitude were such as to remind perceptive observers of

the fact that our ‘Awareness’ is a unity untouched by the objects of

perception and impossible to be subjected to the distinctions of caste and

creed.

 

Baba was always sitting under the neem tree. In most religions, the tree

symbolises the whole creation in that (a) both have their roots hidden from

our immediate perception; (b) both are ever growing, renewing themselves,

putting forth new and different forms and shedding the old. The Word Kalpa

Vriksha (wish-fulfilling tree) means also ‘the tree of creation’. The

opening verses of chapter XV of The Bhagavadgita describes the world as a

tree. The Hinayana School of Buddhism represents the Buddha through the

image of a tree. The Norse religion speaks of the tree Igdracil. It is

fitting that Baba, who demonstrated that he is the Spirit underlying the

whole of creation as its ground and source, should sit at the base of a

tree.

 

 

(Source : http://www.saibharadwaja.org)