DEVOTEES' EXPERIENCES OF SRI SAI BABA BY H.H.NARASIMHASWAMIJI - PARTS II

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I replied that I had not seen Vittal: and what was good for her was good for me,

and that I also would go on taking Sai's name. So we sat on, facing each

other and repeating to ourselves our chosen (guru God's) name - for about an

hour. Later in the day, Sai Baba sent for me and asked me what I had been

doing in the morning. "Japa" I said "Of what name?" He asked. "Of my God" I

replied. "What is your God?" was Sai Baba's next query. I simply replied,

"You know it," and He smiled and said "That is right”. Thus this Japa was

really the Japa that he expressly approved and had perhaps silently started

through Ayi - unperceived by either Ayi or myself. Japa being the Sadhana

approved of (in my case), the question may be put

- what is the Sadhya or goal that Sai Baba approved of - as the goal of life?

What should a man aim at and reach as the end of his life? Just as the Sadhana

was indirectly started by Baba, the Sadhya or goal, also was indi­rectly

revealed; it was patent from all he said and did. It was through love, to

reach God, (in any form, especially in the beloved Form of the loving

Guru) and intensely, nay passionately,

to love him. This is what we did and what he made us to do, i.e., what he

enabled or drew us to do by his own intense and wonderful love for us. Some may

set a great store by Sakshatkara or revela­tion in physical form of the object

of worship, as the be-all and end-all of all religion. But I do not. As I

intently medi­tated on Baba, I had Baba's vision at the meditation. I, however,

treated that appearance as a matter of secondary or minor importance. I did not

want Baba to

be outside of me. I said to Baba that I wanted him to come in and be me. What I

mean by "me" is this. The self (i.e., T) is compounded of two substances - one

the gross body and the other, the finer or subtler. In the finer, we have the

baser element or part, and the nobler or higher. Our self, God Vittal and other

entities are all the reflections of the Real; and so I should rise up to be

Vittal or Sai; Vittal or Sai should come into me and take the place of my

higher part. That is what I wanted to arrive at - and so was not satisfied with

seeing Sai Baba as external to me in my meditation or contemplation.

mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">I have not regularly studied even Gita up to this

time. I did not care for spiritual study in my earlier days either; and so I do

not go into much detail on the question of the exact description of the further

stages or final stage of meditation. One Guru-poornima day, numerous devotees

came to Sai Baba, and as usual, placed a book before him so that he might

return it with his Asirvada or blessing for them to study it with profit and

benefit. Sai Baba, however, took up a book brought by one man and gave it to

another, as he often does. On that occasion every one had a

book in hand, except myself. Baba then looked at me and said pointing to the

books: - "In these books, they want to find God Brahma. There is however,

‘Bhrama’, i.e. whirl, confusion or delusion in these books. You are alright. Do

not read books but keep me in your heart If you unify (or har­monise) head and

heart, that is enough." So I have not been indulging in any regular study of

religious books. I content myself with what has led me so far; (and with what

has been achieved). Some of my experiences bear upon the question what I should

do. Though I have been intensely loving Sri Sai, I have not been able at times

to do as good service to Baba as others do. It was probably in 1912 that I went

up to Shirdi on some festive occasion (Guru Poornima?) I saw the devotees at

Manmad having each a grand basket with flower garlands etc. I was much pained

to note that I had forgotten to take a flower garland when I was going to my

Guru, who was every­thing to me. We all went to Shirdi and at the mosque, I

found-Baba was under a great weight of flower garlands and it pained me again

that I had not a garland to give him. Baba lifted up a bundle of the garlands

with his hand and said "All these are yours". How kind of Baba! What love was

his to me! all forgiving, all forgetting love. [1] i.e absorption or infused

contemplation. This devotee has also stated that Baba had musical gifts and

musical appreciation - especially of Bhajana

Kirtans, that Baba sent for him at midnight, and made him sing and corrected

mistakes in "Ragas" and gave him some musical tips and that iiaba himself sang

with a charming voice. Devotees can be read this book from the Book Section

of www.Saileelas.org/books/exppart2.htm Send

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