Happy BABA's day to you all

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram

 

Happy BABA's day to you all. May the merciful grace of BABA shine on one and

all, and BABA guide us in our lives.

 

We call ourselves devotees of BABA asking the foolish question " Am I Right Or

Not " thats 'EGO', why we need this type of " Ego " devotees in our local group

acting in front of other devotees or in all . So by sai's grace I am

planning to put at last a final FULL STOP just to remove from all Sai Group and

also local Sai Center with the help of Central Trust

 

Sometimes I wonder if that is not a strong word to use - " devotee " I mean.

Forgive me if I offend anybody, my understanding of a devotee is to have

unflenching love for Baba as shown by Mahalsapathy the priest of Khandoba mandir

during BABA's time. For Mahalsapathy, BABA was everything to him. Mahalsapathy

suffered from poverty, BABA never let him have money, yet Mahalsapathy's

devotion towards BABA never faded an inch.

 

A true devotee is like Kaka saheb who had complete faith in BABA. Come what

may, he always knew BABA would take care of things for him. A true devotee is

one who has patience, knowing that what ever BABA destines is for the better.

Lakshmi Bai, Bajabai, Mrs Tarkhad, RAdhakrishna mai are the true devotees who

waited upon BABA with patience, love, humility and faith.

 

Know tell me do we even stand to hold a light to these people? We are so

entangled in this world and day to day affairs, let alone act as per BABA's

instructions, we do not even think of BABA when we are bogged down with mundane

problems.

 

True devotion is practicing what BABA taught through Satcharita. Just taking

BABA's name alone does not qualify us as devotees, we must exercise self

control in thoughts words and actions. Understand others problems even before

they tell us. Know that others suffer the pain similar to what we endure when

we are subjected to harsh treatment, abuse and hurt. One has to be humble and

know that what god gives He also has the power to take away. When one is truely

devoted to BABA, there should be no trace of arrogance in them or the feeling of

superiority just for taking the name of BABA. A true devotee is one who has

respect towards women, elderly and younger. Devotion has no room for

connections, status in the society or the reach one has in the community.

Everything fades away in front of true devotion. There is room only for " truth "

in true devotion.

 

Having read the above, how many of us think we qualify in calling us " devotees "

of BABA??? I do not dare even calling myself His servant let alone a devotee...

Here is the message for week..

 

Turning Water into Oil

 

Sai Baba was very fond of lights. He used to borrow oil from shop-keepers, and

 

keep lamps burning the whole night in the Masjid and temple. This went on for

 

some time. The Banias, who supplied oil gratis, once met together and decided

 

not to give Him oil. When, as usual, Baba went to ask for oil, they all gave Him

 

a distinct No. Unperturbed, Baba returned to the Masjid and kept the dry wicks

 

in the lamps. The banias were watching Him with curiosity. Baba took the Tumrel

 

(tin pot) which contained very little (a few drops) of oil, put water into it

 

and drank it and forced it fall in the container. After consecrating the tin-pot

 

in this way, He again took water in the tin-pot and filled all the lamps with it

 

and lighted them. To the surprise and dismay of the watching Banias, the lamps

 

began to burn and kept burning the whole night. The Banias repented and

 

apologized. Baba forgave them and asked them to be more truthful in future.

 

The Pseudo-Guru Javhar Ali

 

Five years after the wrestling bout mentioned above, one Fakir from Ahmednager

 

by name Javhar Ali, came to Rahata with his disciples and stayed in Bakhal

 

(spacious room) near Virabhadra temple. The Fakir was learned, could repeat the

 

whole Koran and had a sweet tongue. Many religious and devout people of the

 

village came to him and began to respect him. With the help of the people, he

 

started to build an Idgah ( a wall before which Mahomedans pray on Idgah day),

 

near the Virabhadra temple. There was some quarrel about this affair, on account

 

of which, Javhar Ali had to leave Rahata. Then he came to Shirdi and lived in

 

the Masjid with Baba. People were captured by his sweet talk, and he began to

 

call Baba his disciple. Baba did not object and consented to be his Chela. Then

 

both Guru and Chela decided to return to Rahata and live there. The Guru

 

(Teacher) never knew his disciple's worth, but the disciple knew the defects of

 

the Guru, still he never disrespected him, observing carefully his duties. He

 

even served the Master in various ways. They used to come to Shirdi off and on,

 

but their main stay was in Rahata. The loving devotees of Baba in Shirdi did not

 

like, that Baba should stay away from them in Rahata. So they went in a

 

deputation to bring Baba back to Shirdi. When they met Baba near the Idgah and

 

told the purpose for which they came, Baba said to them that the Fakir was an

 

ill-tempered fellow, he would not leave him and that they should better return

 

to Shirdi without him, before the Fakir returned. While they were thus talking,

 

the Fakir turned up and was very angry with them for trying to take away his

 

disciple. There was some discussion and altercation and it was finally decided

 

that both the Guru and Chela should return to Shirdi. And so they returned and

 

lived in shirdi. But after a few days the Guru was tested by Devidas and he was

 

found wanting. Twelve years before Baba arrived in Shirdi with the

 

marriage-party, this Devidas aged about 10 or 11 came to Shirdi and lived in the

 

Maruti temple. Devidas had fine features and brilliant eyes, and he was

 

dispassion incarnate and a Jnani. Many persons, namely Tatya Kote, Kashinath and

 

others regarded, him as their Guru. They brought Javhar Ali in his presence, and

 

in the discussion that followed, Javhar was worsted and fled from Shirdi. He

 

went and stayed in Bijapur and returned after many years to Shirdi, and

 

prostrated himself before Sai Baba. The delusion that he was Guru and Sai Baba

 

his Chela, was cleared away, and as he repented, Sai Baba treated him with

 

respect. In this case Sai Baba showed by actual conduct how one should get rid

 

of egoism and do the duties of a disciple to attain the highest end, viz.,

 

self-realization. This story is told here according to the version given by

 

Mhalsapati ( a great devotee of Baba). " Chapter 5 SSS

 

 

 

 

BABA bless us and guide us always to be truthful, humble and live the life you

taught us to lead.

 

humble pranams

 

Sairam