Sai BABA - The Super Human

 

Like most of the devotess I often keep wondering whether I am acting in accordance to BABA’s philosophies. This, am sure is the main query of any sai devotee. Have you ever pondered about your behaviour, that what you are doing is not enough and you need to do more to please BABA? Perhaps give up home and family and live like a recluse away from the materialistic world and attachments as was done by sanyasis and rishis in the Himalayas?

Well until recently that is what I thought, till I accidentally came across Guruji CB Satpathyji’s MAY I ANSWER section in Shirdibaba.org. As is the experience of any sai devotee when in earnest you seek solution to your queries HE arranges for the answers. There I read about Guruji’s answers to queries as to how to conduct oneself while balancing a family life and at the same time being devoted to BABA, by remembering BABA constantly for all the things bestowed on us in the life. I was impressed and whilst at the same time the significance of BABA’s teachings as written in Satcharita also made sense and the true meaning between the lines of Satcharita dawned on me. Here is my interpretation of a conduct of a devotee.

BABA wanted us, his devotees to execute the duties of the life sincerely whilst simultaneously thinking of Him and remembering Him at every stage and turn of life. What use is the life of a person who is very devoted to God and inflicts mental and physical harm to the family who are dependent on him? Is BABA going to be proud of such a devotee? As BABA said “Will Shirdi help him in any way?” BABA wanted his devotees to live happily and love every body and all living things. He exhibited this innumerable times. For example take Tatya Patel for instance, Tatya slept with BABA in the masjid for 14 years, and enjoyed BABA’s love and company, and their relationship was unique. But after Tatya’s father passed away Tatya had to shoulder the household responsibilities and sleep at home. He started leading the life of Gruhastha. Tatya conducted himself properly according to BABA’s wishes simultaneously fulfilling his duties and responsibilities towards his family. BABA appreciated this conduct of Tatya and magnificiently rewarded Tatya for this, by averting Tatya’s death.

In the book “Devotees Experiences of BABA”, Shri RBHV Sathe gives his instance, when he was very angry with his wife who was constantly manipulated by her father and would not listen to husband, but followed what her father, Dada Kelker said all the time. Mr Sathe could not tolerate it and once took a stick in his hand to hit his wife, just then BABA, sent a boy asking Sathe to go to the Masjid and see BABA, thus BABA saved Mr Sathe from comitting the sin of hitting his wife. Baba wanted the children and spouses to be treated with respect and love. BABA always emphasised that man has to fulfill the duties of his life before taking up Sanyasa or following the path of God.

BABA always granted materialistic desires and fulfilled the wishes of the devotees. Whilst man is born to fulfill his responsibilities, if his desires are not fulfilled will he have any concentration towards God and his teachings? What I mean by fullfiling the desires, BABA made it possible for the person to work towards his desired object, BABA did not wave his hand in the air and material things, though BABA is very capable of such things, but instead HE made the person stronger and gave them proper advice as to how to work towards the goals. BABA was a guide, a mentor, enabling people achieve, their objectives in life, and creating a feeling of disgust for the materialistic things in people gradually and leading towards achieving their final goal of deliverance

Let us see how BABA helped Babu Saheb Jog and Balaram Mankar. Both had taken up sanyasa after they had successfully fulfilled their duties and responsibilities and their wives predeceased them. Let us consider the dialogue between BABA and Jog with regards to achiving the final goal in life:

“Jog asked Baba - "I have served you so long, my mind is not yet calm and composed, how is it that my contact with Saints has not improved me? When will You bless me?" - Hearing the Bhakta's prayer Baba replied - "In due time your bad actions (their fruit or result) will be destroyed, your merits and demerits will be reduced to ashes, and I shall consider you blessed, when you will renounce all attachments, conquer lust and palate, and getting rid of all impediments, serve God whole-heartedly and resort to the begging bowl (accept sannyas)." After some time, Baba's words came true. His wife predeceased him and as he had no other attachment, he became free and accepted sannyas before his death and realized the goal of his life.” (chapter 43/44, Satcharita).

It is essential for a man to fulfill his role and responsibilities before he can think of achieving final goal. Would we be considered godly people if we neglected our duties, created hardship for our dependents, hurt them, be wicked in our thoughts and actions and pretend we are pious by constant repeatation of Gods name and reading Holy scriptures? Do these actions not be against the norms prescribed by BABA? BABA asked us to love all and also said “He who craps and cavils others pierces me in the heart but, he who endures pain is dear to me”.

I would like to quote Guruji CB Satpathy ji in his discourse at the Pranaprathishtapana at Hyd as written in Sai Vichaar dated 28/02/2002, by Jitendre, Shirdi, “one's good deeds is the right path towards God. Rudraksha maala jap can not take one to God, it is an important medicinal herb, keep it as herb and use your good deed to reach the Sadguru. He went on saying that use your precious time for giving sanskar and give the message of love to mankind, to your loved ones and to God.”

Let us take this lesson to heart and act accordingly and start our good deeds from our home practicing on our family members, because the good or bad things start from the family and extend towards the world. Let us not shy away from our duties, let us please the God, residing in the hearts of people in our family, and begin our day, thanking HIM for making us think of Him and for giving this life to Serve HIM by serving the people who are dependent on us.