Message of the Week from Shirdi

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TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Baba advised us... that before the senses, mind and

intellect enjoy their objects, he should first be remembered, and if this be

done, it is in a way an offering to Him. The senses etc. can never remain

without their objects, but if those objects are first offered to the Guru, the

attachment for them will naturally vanish. In this way, all the Vrittis

(thoughts) regarding Desire, Anger, Avarice etc. should first be offered and

directed to the Guru and if this practice be followed, the Lord will help you

in eradicating all the Vrittis. When before enjoyment of the objects, you think

that Baba is close by, the question whether the object is fit to be enjoyed or

not will at once arise. Then the object

that is not fit to be enjoyed will be shunned and in this way our vicious habits

or vices will disappear and our character will improve. Then love for the Guru

will grow and pure knowledge will sprout up. When this knowledge grows, the

bondage of body - consciousness (we are the body) will snap and our intellect

will be merged in spirit-consciousness (we are the spirit). Then we shall get

Bliss and contentment. There is no difference between Guru and God. He who

sees any difference in them, sees God nowhere. So leaving aside all ideas of

difference, we should regard Guru and God as one, and if we serve our Guru as

stated above, Lord (God) will be certainly pleased and purifying our minds He

will give us self-realisation. To put the matter in a nut-shell, we should not

enjoy any object with our senses etc. without first remembering our Guru. When

the mind is

trained in this way, we will be always reminded of Baba, and our meditation on

Baba will grow apace. The Sagun Form of Baba will ever be before our eyes and

then devotion, non-attachment and salvation will all be ours. When Baba's Form

is thus fixed before our mental vision, we forget hunger, thirst, and this

samsar; the consciousness of worldly pleasures will disappear and our mind

shall attain peace and happiness. Baba Said.... "If a man utters my name with

love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion and if he sings

earnestly my

life and my deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides".

Question : What are the most important things that Sai Baba of Shirdi taught?

Answer : Love towards all including animals, birds and insects:

white; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Baba used to feed dogs even

before He partook food. He extended His love to even a useless rock used for

washing clothes by sitting on it. Today that rock is seen in Dwarkamai and is

worshipped by devotees who come there. People today should learn this and

follow His teachings. To a great extent devotees are following this. People are

seen distributing clothes, food, etc. to the poor Narayana seva is going on all

over the world in various Sai centers. Religious tolerance:

MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Shirdi Sai Baba looked after the Hindus

and Muslims equally. We can find people of all religions coming to Him even now.

He always preached that all are one and be alike to everyone. In today’s world

there is lot of intolerance among the people of various religions. People must

believe that all are humans. Faiths may be different but the goal is one.

Shirdi Sai devotees are found to be very tolerant in this aspect. We find

Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, etc sharing their views and talking with

each other like real brothers in Shirdi and also at various Sai centers all

over the world. They firmly believe that flowers may be many but worship is

one. Stars may be many but light is one. Similarly paths may be different but

goal is one.

MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Caste Harmony: Shirdi Sai never

allowed people to have ill feelings towards the so called untouchables. He made

Brahmins eat from leper’s plate or untouchable’s plates. When they felt

loathsome to do the same He castigated them and preached them everything is

Atma. If they hated them they are infact hating Him who is residing in them.

People who believe in Baba should follow the same thing. Treat all mankind as

brothers and live happily. Believe in brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God.

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