DIVINE EXPERIENCES - Sri. M. W. Pradhan (4)

[Guest guest]

DIVINE EXPERIENCES – SRI. M.W. PRADHAN (4)

My last visit to Baba was in May 1918. I had taken with me Rs. 3,800 and

overstayed my intended period, on account of Baba’s insistence. Baba’s

unuttered but evident practice with those whom he loved was to deplete their

resources. "Ysyanugrahamicchmi tasyavitth HarahamI take away the wealth of

those I love." So when I returned from Shirdi after the month’s stay, my money

was reduced to minus Rs. 1200. In fact I had borrowed that sum from an

acquaintance, a veterinary Doctor of Poona and returned it to him after coming

home.

An incident relating to Babu’s illness as an infant ought chronologically to be

placed before this. When Babu was 3 or 4 years old, he had serious illness. We

had Madhava Bhat, a learned and pious (and on the whole well-to-do) Telugu

priest at home who was greatly attached to the family and carried on Mantra

Japa and Pooja in our house for our benefit. He noticed Babu’s serious illness

with concern. He had first no sympathy with our worship of Baba. He fancied

that Babu’s illness was due to our worshipping a Moslem saint viz. Sai Baba,

but he dared not give utterance to his thought. One night he had a dream. He

saw a figure (which from the photo we had, he recognised to be Sai Baba)

sitting on top of the staircase, holding a baton (sota) in one hand. That

figure (Baba) told him "What do you mean? I am the Lord of this house." The

priest kept this dream to himself for a time (He had asked us to go and make a

vow to Datta for the child’s cure but he had been told that

Baba was Datta himself).

Later Babu’s condition was much worse than before. The priest noted with

concern. He ran up at once to Baba’s photo and loudly prayed thus "if the child

should improve sufficiently by 4 p.m. so as to be brought downstairs, then I

will agree that you are Datta." Within a short time of this prayer, the child’s

temperature was getting lower and by 4 p.m. he wanted to be carried down for

amusement and his mother took him downstairs. Madhav Bhat was converted and

felt Sai Baba was really Datta. And he vowed he would pay him a dakshina of Rs.

120 and paid it. The Pandit wanted to get a son and vowed he would pay Rs. 108

if he got one. He got one and then paid Rs. 108 to Baba. But at that very time,

the Pandit vowed he would pay Ts. 1008 if my (i.e., Pradhan’s) ambition should

be achieved. When Mr. Despande referred to the gift of Rs. 108 as large, Baba

belittled it and said, "He is giving me much more" evidently referring to the

vow of Rs. 1008.

Baba gave some words of advice to my wife:

If anyone talks ten words at us, let us reply with one word, if we reply at all.

Do not quarrel or vie with any one not to be outdone.

Early during the 32 days of my last stay with Baba, 1918, all of us escorted him

with umbrella and all paraphernalia to the Lendi, we all left him there and

retreated. But me alone he recalled to himself put his palm over my head and

said, "Bhav, will you do what I ask you to do?" I said, "yes". Then he said,

"Pay me Rs. 100. Bring it in a bag and deliver it to me at the Masjid quietly."

In this way he made me give him all the sums I brought and the extra sums I

borrowed. Then he made some signs which were not clear. They seemed to mean,

"Even if the heavens tumbledown on you, do not fear. I am with you." Baba at my

first visit said that for the previous six years, he had been smoking the chilm

that I had given him. I could not make out his meaning.

Sri Buty’s second marriage took place at Shirdi in 1916 and I was present.

When we left Shirdi Baba said, "tuyiyakar vamoyeyin" i.e., he would accompany

us. Physically and with a visible body he did not accompany us. But our journey

was pleasant and free from danger. That indicated that he accompanied us with

his invisible body and warded off all danger and trouble. After Baba blessed me

and passed away, I had the following benefits. I was appointed 2nd class

magistrate of South Salesette from 1920-26 and as a J.P. since 1926. I was

elected from Thana as a member of Bombay Legislative Council and sat during

1921-23. I was made as Rao Bahadur in 1927.

(Written by HH Pujyasri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji on 19th October 1936 in Devotees Experiences Vol.3)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Knowledge makes a man proud; love makes him humble. When knowledge blended with

love, man shines as do the angels of God. His life becomes radiant.

Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya.......

Question: I am very sad; how to get rid of it ?

Answer: It is a serious question, but you have not come out openly. The root of

all sorrow in this world is attachment-mamata, expressed in a variety of ways.

If a person to whom we are attached, does not listen to us, we are annoyed; or

if another person opposes, we consider that man our enemy. Also, if we are

attached to a person, place or event, and it is taken away or destroyed, we

feel very sad.

To get rid of such sorrows, one should try to understand the real nature of

persons, places and events. And that is; everything in this world is subject to

change and destruction, which is beyond our control. Our own body is constantly

undergoing change, and we have no control over it. If this situation is well

understood you will have less attachment with the body and concentrate more on

performing your duty, It will strengthen renunciation and faith in God’s will.

Whenever the presence of God is felt, there is no sorrow.

There are two ways of feeling the presence of God; through one’s efforts, and

through faith in God’s Mercy. The former path is hard to tread. Therefore, have

faith in God and be happy in whatever condition. Pray to Him with your entire

being. Very soon you will see Light, and wherever is light, darkness is

dissolved and man rises above the duality of pleasure and pain.

(-Swami Premanandaji Saraswati )

 

 

 

 

Express yourself with Y! Messenger! Free. Download now.