11 Holy Sayings - Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi Soil, his sufferings would come to an end.

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As far as Shirdi is concerned, along with our will, Baba's call is

essential. He invites you, waits for you, makes all arrangements for

you, takes care of you, showers hospitality on you and loves you. He

loves his devotees. He treats them as his kith and kin.

 

Sai Baba often said that - let My man (Devotee) be at any distance, a

thousand miles away from Me, he will be drawn to Shirdi, like a sparrow,

with a thread tied to its feet. Sparrow is ignorant. It leads its life

instinctively. It goes in search of food to any place in any direction.

Prompted by its vision of the eye, it goes to get its food. It does not

know that its legs are going to be tied by somebody. Unaware of the

thread tied to its legs it goes as it lives in search of food. But it is

pulled by the puller and it goes to him. Similarly, when Baba draws us

to Shirdi, we can't resist him. Our free will loses its freedom. Since

the sparrow is tied by a soft silken thread, it does not feel wounded.

There is no friction.

 

Gently and slowly, gradually and steadily, the puller pulls the sparrow

towards him if it yields willingly to the pull, the journey will be easy

and comfortable. The sparrow tries to look sideways and stay in places

of pleasure and mirth. Now and then, it tries to free itself from the

thread and the pull. All its efforts are in vain. The puller wants the

bird. Therefore he draws it towards him. The bird can't resist anymore.

It is ultimately taken to the hands of the puller and it is given food

and shelter, pleasure and peace, in the owner's garden. Sai Baba is our

gardener. He draws us to his garden and he provides everything for our

comfort and peace.

 

If we do not understand why Baba is calling us, we may feel

uncomfortable initially like the bird. If he is drawing us away from the

world and the worldly attractions, it is certainly for our good. We

think world and its attachments are the source of pleasure, but really

they are the source of pain. It is better we respond to the call of Baba

and proceed towards Shirdi. Let us not be caught in ignorance. Let us

not lose ourselves in Maya. Let us respond to the loving call of Baba.

 

(to be contd..)

(Source Eleven Holy Sayings of Shirdi Sai Baba by Pujya Shri Ananda Sai

Swamy)