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Chapter XXXVI

Wonderful Stories of

(1) Two Goa Gentleman - (2) Mrs. Aurangabadkar.

This Chapter relates the wonderful stories of two gentlemen from Goa and Mrs.

Aurangabadkar of Sholapur.

Two Gentlemen

Once two gentlemen came from Goa for taking darshan of Sai Baba, and prostrated

themselves before him. Though both came together, Baba asked only one them to

give Him Rs.15/- as Dakshina which was paid willingly. The other man

voluntarily offered Rs. 35/-. This sum was rejected by Baba to the astonishment

of all. Shama, who was present, asked Baba, "What is this? Both came together,

one's Dakshina you accept, the other, though voluntarly paid, you refuse. Why

this distinction? Baba replied, "Shama, you know nothing. I take nothing from

anybody. The Masjidmayi (The presiding Deity of the Masjid) calls for the debt,

the donor pays it and becomes free. Have I any home, property or family to look

after? I require nothing. I am ever free. Debt, enmity and murder have to be

atoned for, there is not escape". Baba then continued in His characteristic way

as follows:-

As first he was poor and took a vow to his God that he would pay his first

month's salary if he got an appointment. He got one on Rs.15/- p.m. Then he

steadily got promotions, from Rs.15/- he got Rs. 30, 60, 100, 200 and

ultimately Rs.700/- per month. But in his prosperity he forgot clean the vow he

took. The force of his karma has driven him here and I asked that amount

(Rs.15/-) from him as Dakshina.

Another story, While wandering by the sea-side I came to a huge mansion and sat

on its verandah. The owner gave me a good reception and fed me sumptuously. He

showed me a neat and clean place near a cupboard for sleeping. I slept there.

While I was sound asleep, the man removed a literite slab and broke the wall

entered in and scissored off all the money from my pocket. When I woke up, I

found that Rs.30,000/- were stolen. I was greatly distressed and sat weeping

and moaning. The money was in currency notes and I thought that the Brahmin had

stolen it. I lost all interest in food and drink and sat for a fortnight on the

verandah, bemoaning my loss. After the fortnight was over, a passing fakir saw

me crying, and made enquiries regarding the cause of my sorrow. I told him

everything. He said, "If you act according to my bidding, you will recover your

money; go to a fakir, I shall give his whereabouts, surrender yourself to him,

he will get

back your money; in the meanwhile give up your favourite food till you recover

your money." I followed the fakir's advice and got my money. Then I left the

Wada and went to the sea-shore. There was a steamer, but I could not get into

it as it was crowded. There a good-natured peon interceded for me and I got in

luckily. That brought me to another shore, where I caught a train and came to

the Masjidmayi.

The story finished and Baba asked Shama to take the guests and arrange for their

feeding. Then Shama took them home and fed them. At dinner, Shama said to the

guests that Baba's story was rather mysterious, as He had never gone to the

sea-side, never had any money (Rs.30,000/-), never travelled, never lost any

money and never recovered it, and enquired whether they understood it and

caught its significance. The guests were deeply moved and were shedding tears.

In a choking voice they said that Baba was omniscient, infinite, the One (Para

Brahma) without a second. The story He gave out is exactly our story, What He

spoke has already taken place in our case. How He knew this, is a wonder of

wonders! We shall give all the details after the meals.

Then after the meals while they were chewing betel-leaves,the guests began to

tell their stories. One of them said:-

"A hill-station on the ghats is my native place. I went to Goa to earn my living

by securing a job. I took a vow to God Datta that if I got any service, I would

offer Him my first month's salary. By His grace I got an appointment of Rs.15/-

and then I got promotions as described by Baba. I did forget all about my vow.

Baba has just reminded me of it in this way and recovered Rs. 15/- from me. It

is not Dakshina as one may think it to be, but a repayment of an old debt and

fulfillment of long forgotten vow".

Moral

Baba never, in fact, actually begged any money, nor allowed His Bhaktas to beg.

He regarded money as a danger or bar to spiritual progress and did not allow

His Bhaktas to fall into its clutches. Bhagat Mhalsapati, is an instance on tis

point. He was very poor and could hardly make both ends meet. Baba never allowed

him to make any money, nor gave him anything from the Dakshina amount. Once a

kind and liberal merchant named Hansaraj gave a large amount of money to

Mhalsapati in Baba's presence, but Baba did not allow him to accept it."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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