Baba's way of giving instructions.

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Every 16 years period in the life of an Avatar is marked. The first 16 years in leela, the second 16 years leelas combined with teaching those who come to his presence. From 32 years onward it is mainly teaching though the entire life of Avatar is interspersed with miracles. Protecting and saving the devotees all over the globe is leela combined with miracle and grace. Unsolicited he comes to our rescue. Unasked he provides our needs. Only the wavering mind delude us often doubting the very god who follows us second after second. Hence we start worrying for this and that and start oscillating like a pendulum. We even dare to question His motives. "Why this happened to Me? Why Swami closed his eyes so far as my welfare is concerned. See he gifts more and more to the unasked newcomer. We are sitting here for the past several years. No grace and no improvements laments several elder devotees(the so called seniors). An interesting episode took place during advent of Shirdi Baba too on the same lines. A new devotee is blessed profusely whereas a devotee staying at Shirdi for 7 years awaits for the grace of Sai which is not forthcoming. The devotee was just brooding in his mind the above point while messaging the feet of Sai. Sai immediately asked the devotee to go to Shama and converse with him for some time and come back. Yes, the devotee dutifully obeyed went to Shama's house. The untimely arrival of the devotee at his house was perplexing to Shama. However Shama told him, It seems you have come from the mosque. What is the matter? Any way please eat the panvada and eat betel leaves. I will come after dressing. Incidentally the devotee found the book "Ekanath Bagawath' which he used to read every day was there where he sat. He opened the book and to his astonishment it revealed the passage he is supposed to read on that day. After finishing his daily reading, he found Shama dressed up and came in his presence. The devotee told Shama, "Baba asked me to converse with you for a while before returning to the mosque. Shama told him "I am an illeterate villager whereas you are well read and you yourself is witnessing several miracles by your own eyes. However, i will narrate one incident which i recollect from my memory. He narrated the story of an innocent but adamant old lady who sought "upadesh" from Sai. The lady obstained from food and water till Baba gave her Upadesh. Thus 3 days passed and many intervened on her behalf with Baba, asking him to do something to the lady, otherwise people will blame you that due to your indifference the lady will die. Then Baba called the lady to his presence and said "Oh Mayi, why you are putting yourself into unnecessary troubles. My guru never gave me any Upadesh. He made me penniless and made me to depend upon him fully. I used to stare at him lovingly. If my guru is not present before my vision, it is better to perish. Such was my deep love to him. He maintained me like a tortoise which never feeds its offsprings with milk neither it gives the proximity. But the siblings of tortoise grow up remembering their mother." Immediately on hearing the story, the devotee found answer to his doubts. Saibaba never give any upadesh directly. He gives certain directions on spiritual life which if followed sincerely will bear fruit at the appropriate time. Thus the devotee was immensely satisfied by the way adopted by Saibaba. Sairam.