Message for the Week.

October 2, 2008

Sairam Sai Family,

Wish you all a Happy BABA's day. May the grace of BABA shine upon one and all now and forever.

What would you or I do if BABA were in front of us just like HE were in HIS physical presence prior to 1918? Would we love HIM as we do now? Do we recognise HIS divinity and bow down before HIM? The reason I ask is because, human mind plays havoc. We do not realise the value of people when they are in they physical presence, but cry for them when they are no more. If all the people in Shirdi and across India recognised BABA's divinity during HIS life time, then the world would have been taken over by BABA's devotees, and the life would have a different meaning altogether. But not every body recognises the Sanctity and purity in a divine person. Is this not correct. Take us for example, we would have read Satcharita, more than 10 times, and know the stories from each chapter. We understand what BABA is trying to convey to us to some extent based on our spirituality, then why is it that we do not follow HIS teachings Verbatim? The reason is that for most of us, our devotion is not strong enough to take HIS words at point blank. Those who follow HIS teachings they already are divine, and have earned the grace of God. Do you not agree with it. Here is the message for the week...

"Ordeal of Guru-Bhakti Let us now see, how the second Cholera-ordinance fared with Baba. While it was in force, somebody brought a goat to the Masjid. It was weak, old and about to die. At this time Fakir Pir Mohamad of Malegaon alias Bade Baba was near. Sai Baba asked him to behead it with one stro7ke, and offer it as an oblation. This Bade Baba was much respected by Sai Baba. He always sat on the right hand of Sai Baba. After the chilim (pipe) was first smoked by him, it was then offered to Baba and others. After the dishes were served, at the time of taking meals at noon, Baba respectfully called Bade Baba and made him sit on His left side, and then all partook of food. Baba paid him also daily Rs.50/- out of the amount collected as Dakshina. Baba accompanied him hundred paces whenever he was going away. Such was his position with Baba. But when Baba asked him to behead the goat, he flatly refused, saying "Why it should be killed for nothing?" Then Baba asked Shama to kill it. He went to Radha-Krishna-Mai and brought a knife from her and placed it before Baba. Knowing the purpose for which the knife was taken, she recalled it. Then Shama went to bring another knife, but stayed in the Wada, and did not return soon. Then came the turn of Kakasaheb Dixit. He was 'good gold' no doubt, but had to be tested. Baba asked him to get a knife and kill the goat. He went to Sathe's Wada and returned with a knife. He was ready to kill it at Baba's bidding. He was born in a pure Brahmin family and never in his life knew killing. Though quite averse to do any act of violence, he made himself bold to kill the goat. All the people wondered to see that Bade Baba, a Mahomedan was unwilling to kill it while this pure Brahmin was making preparations to do so. He tightened his dhotar and with a semicircular motion raised his hand with the knife and looked at Baba for the final signal. Baba said - "What are you thinking of? Go on, strike". Then, when the hand was just about to come down, Baba said - "Stop, how cruel you are! Being a Brahmin, you are killing a goat?" Kakasaheb obeyed and kept the knife down and said to baba - "Your nectarlike word is law unto us, we do not know any other ordinance. We remember You always, meditate on Your Form and obey You day and night, we do not know or consider whether it is right or wrong to kill, we do not want to reason or discuss things, but implicit and prompt compliance with Guru's orders, is our duty and dharma". Then Baba said to Kakaseheb, that He would Himself do the offering and killing business. It was settled that the goat should be disposed of near a place called Takkya, where fakirs used to sit. When the goat was being removed to that place, it fell dead on the way. Hemadpant closes the Chapter with a classification of disciples. He says that they are of three kinds : (1) First or best (2) Second or middling and (3) Third or ordinary. The best kind of disciples are those who guess what their Gurus want and immediately carry it out and serve them without waiting for an order from them. The average disciples are those who carry out the orders of their Masters to a letter, without any delay, and the third kind of disciples are those, who go on postponing the carrying out of their orders and making mistakes at every step. The disciples should have firm faith, backed up by intelligence and if they and

patience to these, their spiritual goal will not be distant. Control of breath

-- ingoing and outgoing, or Hath-Yoga or other difficult practices are not at

all necessary. When the disciples get the above-mentioned qualities, they become

ready for further instructions and the Masters then appear and lead them on, in

their spiritual path to perfection. " Chapter 23 Satcharita.

BABA bless us and guide us always.

Humble pranams

Anitha Kandukuri

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