Sai Satcharitra-Let us all read it together, a little everyday

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The Quest

Once four of us were studying religious scriptures and other books and, being

thus enlightened, we began to discuss the nature of the Brahman. One of us said

that we should raise the self by the Self and not depend on others. To this the

second replied that he who controls his mind is blessed; we should be free from

thoughts and ideas and there is nothing in the world without us. The third said

that the world (phenomenon) is always changing, the formless is eternal; so we

should discriminate between the Unreal and the Real. And the fourth (Baba

Himself) urged that bookish knowledge is worthless and added, "Let us do our

prescribed duty and surrender our body, mind and five pranas (life) to the

Guru's feet. Guru is God, all pervading. To get this conviction, strong

unbounded faith is necessary."

Discussing in this wise, we four learned men began to ramble through the woods

in the quest of God. The three wanted to make the quest with their free and

unaided intellect. On the way a Vanjari (a man who trades in certain things,

such as grain etc. by carrying them on bullock) met us and asked us, "It is hot

now, where and how far are you going?". "To search the woods", we replied. He

enquired, "On what quest are you bound?" We gave him an ambiguous and evasive

reply. Seeing us rambling aimlessly, he was moved and said, "Without knowing

the woods fully, you should not wander at random. If you want to walk through

forests and jungles, you should take a guide with you. Why do you exert

youselves unnecessarily at this sultry noon-time? You may not give out to me

your secret quest; still you can sit down, eat bread, drink water, take rest

and then go. Be always patient at heart." Though he spoke so tenderly, we

discarded his request and

marched on. We thought that we were self-contained men and needed nobody's help.

The woods were vast and trackless, the trees therein grew so close and tall,

that the sun's rays could not penetrate through them; so we lost our way and

wandered here and there for a long time. Ultimately through sheer good luck, we

came back to the place from were we started. The Vanjari met us again and said,

"Relying on your own cleverness you missed your way; a guide is always

necessary to show us the right way in small or great matters; and no quest can

be successfully carried out on an empty stomach. Unless God wills it, no one

meets us on the way. Do not discard offers of food; served dish should not be

thrust away. Offers of bread and food should be regarded as auspicious signs of

success." Saying this he again offered us food and asked us to be calm and

patient. Again we did not like this good hospitality and discarded his offer

and went away. Without doing any quest and without taking any

food, the three began to move out. So obstinate were they. I was hungry and

thirsty and I was moved with the Vanjari's extraordinary love; we thought

ourselves very learned but were quite strangers to pity and kindness. The

Vanjari was a quite illiterate and unqualified fellow and belonged to a low

caste. Still he had love in his heart and asked us to eat the bread. In this

way he who loves others disinterestedly is really enlightened and I thought

acceptance of his hospitality was the best beginning of getting knowledge. So

very respectfully I accepted the loaf of bread offered, ate it and drank water.

Then to! The Guru at once came and stood before us, "What was the dispute

about?" He asked and I told him everything that had happened. Then he said,

"Would you like to come with me? I will show you what you want; but he alone,

who believes in what I say, will be successful." The others did not agree to

what he said and left him; but I bowed to him reverently and accepted his

dictum. Then he took me to a well, tied my feet with a rope and hung me - head

downwards and feet up - from a tree near the well. I was suspended three feet

above the water, which I could not reach with My hands, nor which could go into

my mouth. Suspending me in this manner he went away, no one knew where. After 10

or 12 ghatakas (4 or 5 hours) he returned and taking me out quickly asked me how

I fared. "In Bliss supreme, I was. How can a fool like me describe the joy I

experienced?" I replied. On hearing my answer the Guru was much pleased with

me, drew me near him

and stroking my body with his hand kept me with him. He took care of me as

tenderly as a mother-bird does of her young ones. He put me into his school;

how beautiful it was! There I forgot my parents, all my attachment was snapped

and I was liberated easily. I thought that I should embrace his neck and remain

staring at him always. If his image were not fixed in my pupils, I would like

better to be blind. Such was the school! No one, who entered it once, could

return empty-handed. My Guru became my all-in-all, my home and property, mother

and father, everything. All my senses left their places and concentrated

themselves in my eyes, and my sight was centred on him. Thus was my Guru, the

sole object of my meditation and I was conscious of none else. While meditating

on him my mind and intellect were stunned and I had thus to keep quiet and bow

to him in silence.

There are other schools where you see an altogether different spectacle. The

disciples go there to seek knowledge and spend their money, time and labour;

but ultimately they have to repent. The Guru there boasts of his secret

knowledge and his straight-forwardness. He makes a show of his sacredness and

holiness, but he is not tender at heart. He speaks a lot and sings his own

glory; but his own words do not touch the disciples' hearts and they are not

convinced. So far as Self-realization is concerned, he has none. How can such

schools be of any use to the disciples and how can they be benefited? The

master (Guru) mentioned above was of different type. By his grace, realization

flashed upon me of itself, without effort or study. I had not to seek anything,

but everything became clear to me as broad day-light. The Guru alone knows how

the topsy-turvy Suspension, 'with head down and feet up' can give happiness!

Among the four, one was a Karmatha (Ritualistic) who only knew how to observe,

and abstain from, certain rites; the second was a Jnani, who was puffed up with

pride of knowledge and the third was a Bhakta who surrendered himself completely

to God, believing that he was the sole Doer. When they were discussing and

arguing, the question of God turned up, and they, depending on their unaided

knowledge, went in search of Him. Sai, who was Discrimination and Dispassion

incarnate, was one of the four. Being Himself Brahman Incarnate, some may ask,

"Why did He mix with them and act foolishly?" He did this for attaining the

good of the public, and setting them an example to follow. Though an

incarnation Himself, He respected a low Vanjari, by accpeting his food with the

firm belief that "Food is Brahman" and showed how those who rejected Vanjari's

hospitable offer suffered and how it was impossible to get Jnana without a

Guru. The Shruti (Taittiriya

Upanishad) exhorts us to honour and worship mother, father and preceptor, and to

study (learn and teach) the sacred scriptures. These are the means of purifying

our minds and unless this purification is effected, self-realization is not

possible. Neither the senses, nor the mind and intellect reach the Self. Modes

of proof, such as Perception and Inference will not help us in the matter. It

is the grace of the Guru that counts. The objects of our life such as Dharma,

Artha and Kama are attainable with our effort, but the fourth object, Moksha

(liberation) can only he had with the help of the Guru.

In the Darbar of Shri Sai, many personalities appear and play their part;

astrologers come and give out their predicitions; princes, noblemen, ordinary

and poor men, Sannyasis, Yogis songsters and others come for darshan. Even a

mahar comes and, making a Johar (his salutation), says this Sai is the Mai-Baap

(True parents), Who will do away with our rounds of births and deaths. So many

others such as Jugglers, Gondhalis, the blind and the lame, Nath-panthis,

dancers and other players come and are given suitable reception. Biding his own

time, the Vanjari also appeared, and played the part assigned to him. Let us now

revert to the other story."Gurur Brahma Gurur VishnuGurur Devoh Maheshwar;Gurur

Shakshat ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba

always shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and

anxieties by giving us all - strength ,

goodluck, success and happiness with peace of mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366

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