'The key of my treasury is now placed in your hands' - Baba

[Guest guest]

In another way also Baba granted this identity. That was in about 1916. Rege had

gone to Shirdi and was staying with Ayi. When Baba was alone, he sent for him,

and said, 'The key of my treasury is now placed in your hands'. Ask anything you

want, Rs. 5, Rs. 100 or what you like. I will give it to you. This was a

temptation, but Rege declined to ask for anything.

 

Sai Baba knew what was necessary, good or useful for Rege and it was for Baba to

decide what to give or what to withhold, and not for Rege to ask. So, Rege would

not ask. Then Baba held him by the chin and coaxed him to ask for something,

because he was anxious to give. Then Rege said, ˜Is it agreed, Baba that you

grant anything I ask for? Yes, Baba answered. Rege said, ˜Then Baba I want this.

In this and in any future birth that may befall me, you should never part from

me. You should always be with me. Baba was full of joy and petting him said

'Yes', I shall be with you, inside you and outside you, whatever you may be or

do Rege felt then and feels even that now, Baba is always with him. Baba also

shows his form visibly to him occasionally to reassure him and guide him.

 

This statement that Baba is always with Rege, and Rege always with Baba, came

from Sai Baba in a very forceful way again in 1916. On one occasion Baba showed

his deep concern for M. B. Reges comfort and happiness. It was about a child

that was the first child that Rege had. When in 1914 a child was still in the

womb, both Rege and his wife went to Baba for darsan. Then Baba cryptically

said, You have got one of my gifts with you. When the child was born, it was

taken to Baba. Baba then caressed it, and asked Rege, Is the child yours or

mine? Yours Baba, replied Rege. Then Baba said, Keep him with you as a charge

from me.

 

One might wonder, with what object this was said. Baba fully knew what the

future of that child was to be and how it was to leave Rege and cause him much

pain, being his very first child. A year and a half after that, the child got

pneumonia, and the doctors were saying that the danger was over. But just then

it started sinking. Rege took the child to the prayer room in his house and

prayed to Baba. 'The child is yours, Baba. So, please take it and give it rest

in you. But having given it its worldly existence, I undertake all its karma',

said Rege.

 

Then Rege put his palm on the head of the child. There was a smile on its face,

a last gasp and the crown of the head was drawn in with a hiss, just the way in

which the yogis lives would depart, namely, through the crown of the head. To

confirm his idea that the child had sadgati, he had an experience, a couple of

months later, when he went to Shirdi. As he was in Babas presence, the latter

asked some one, Who is this man? Where does he live? pointing to Rege.

 

They said, This is Rege and he lives at Indore.No, said Baba, You are wrong. He

is always here and I am with him. Next Baba asked,Has he any children? The

persons present said, No Baba; his child has just now died. Baba retorted, Died?

No, no. I will tell you what happened. The child was mine, and this man agreed

to keep it. One day he said, " You keep him with you, and I shall take up his

karma. " So, I took the child and kept it here pointing to his heart. Baba added,

He shall be here eternally. Eternal with Guru-God means undoubted sadgati. That

is how Baba tried to fore-warn Rege from the beginning about this loss of his

first child and how he consoled him by giving the child sadgati. This being a

memorable event is referred to in Sai Sahasranama in the following words: Rege

Sisoh Tathandasya Sada Sadgati Dayakah.

 

As for worldly matters, naturally in the position of a judge, he did not have

much trouble, though on account of his increasing family burdens, he had demands

and burdens. But Rege never troubled Baba with prayers for worldly gain or

support, for instance, as in matters of promotion. He had his income from

property and insurance. He was quite content with the provision for the present

and the future. If need arose, somehow money was coming in, and Rege had nothing

to complain of.

 

Baba's kindness and provision for Reges welfare had no limit. Rege says that it

is not possible to give out all his experiences, but about Babas method of

communication, he gives a classification. There are three forms. The first is in

the active waking state. When the sishya is in difficulties or Baba wants his

sishya to take a particular course, the sishya gets an inspiration as to what

course should be adopted and the feeling that it is Babas inspiration. That is

quite enough and it is verified by the events in his own case.

 

When he was at Ayis house, he would feel that Baba called him, and would go up

to the Mosque and find that Baba was actually waiting for him there. So, the

inspiration really came from Baba. Baba would give him some songs to sing or

some tunes, because both Baba and Rege knew music. The second relates to the

sleeping or trance state. Baba would appear in dreams or trances. This would be

called Sakshatkara and is considered most impressive and unmistakable. Of course

Rege had Baba's Sakshatkaras. In the third method, Baba directed his sishya to

go to some other person, who did not even know why the shishya was sent, but who

nebertheless benefitted the shishya in accordance with Babas internal and

unperceived guidance. Sometimes the person to whom Baba sends a devotee is

totally unfit to give any reply, for instance, the rustic girl to whom Das Ganu

was sent for interpreting the Isha Upanishad.