Mahalsapathi and Tatya were blessed with Baba's company for many years.

[Guest guest]

Renunciation should be mental. Physically you may remain amidst family but if you are like King Janaka, then the family atmosphere can never harm you. At the same time, if you want to flee to the forest for spiritual sadhana, it won't be of any use since there won't be any opportunity for you to prove the control of your senses. If you remain like a tortoise when living in the world, you can escape the attacks of senses. When confronted, the tortoise withdraw its head and four legs inside the hard shell which is unbreakable. Thus it escapes the attack of its enemies. No need to renounce the family. Be in the family, do your duties to the family members without any attachment just for duty's sake. Then it is the highest renunciation. In fact Shirdi Baba trained Mahalsapathi and Tatya Kote Patil to renunciation by making them to sleep in the Mosque along with Him. All the three will be discussing various subjects till late night. If any of them is found drowsy, Baba will push them and hit them so that he will awake from drowsiness. Thus Mahalsapathi and Tatya were blessed profusely by living in the company of 'Samartha Sai Nath' for many years. Only when Tatya's father passed away, he was allowed to go and stay in his house. This is the extent of Love of Baba towards his children. Sairam.