OM SAI RAM!
Today Baba asked me to write the Ninth assurance and really I was keen to write yesterday as it was Thursday but Our SADGURU has his own plans and I can write only when he dictates. I am really surprised how the words start flowing as I sit to write and all the grace of the most lovable GURU.
"IF YOU CAST YOUR BURDENS ON ME, I SHALL SURELY BEAR THEM"
What lovely words and such soothing and happy promise. Now let us see what we understand and what the real meaning of Baba is. We think that since baba promised he will bear our burdens we just go to temple, pray to Baba and ask him to take our burdens and offer a coconut as Bribe and come back happily for the day. we know that it is not that easy we are relieved of our burdens and if it has not happened then same human tendency, change guru or change temple as something more powerful we heard from people.
My dear devotees, please understand clearly what baba meant. He promised he will carry our burden but did not say he will take our burden. It needs lot of understanding what he means as you all will understand what baba told by this simple example.
We all might have traveled by train and when the train is not in the first platform we all might have used the service of a porter who helps us deliver our luggage and hands over the same to us upon reaching the desired train we have to board. Our Baba also does the same as he will rescue us when we are unable to bear the burden to give us relief for sometime, but do not expect to be taken away all the burden as that KARMA has to be completed if not this life may be next life for sure. Baba on numerous occasions has told in the satcharitra of the KARMIC effects and how to complete the same.
Let us now see how Baba himself has served his guru and what he got as Baba never told he will do some magic or MATROPADESH to remove the Karma.
Mrs. Radhabai Deshmukh
There was an old woman by name Radhabai, She was the mother of one Khashaba Deshmukh. Hearing Baba's fame, she came to Shirdi with the people of Sangamner. She took Baba's darshan and was much satisfied. She loved Baba intimately and resolved in her mind, that She should accept Baba as her Guru, and take some Upadesh from Him. She knew nothing else. She determined to fast herself unto death, so long as Baba did not accept her, and give her any Upadesh or Mantra. She stayed in her lodging and left off taking any food or water for three days. I was frightened by this ordeal of the old woman, and interceded with Baba on her behalf. I said, "Deva, what is this You have started? You drag so many persons here. You know that old lady. She is very obstinate and depends on You entirely, She has resolved to fast unto death, if You don't accept and instruct her. If any thing worse happens, people will blame You, and say that Baba did not instruct her, and consequently she met her death. So take some mercy on her, bless her and instruct her." On seeing her determination, Baba sent for her, changed the turn of her mind by addressing her as follows:-
"Oh mother, why are you subjecting yourself to unnecessary tortures and hastening your death? You are really My Mother and I am your child. Take pity on Me and hear Me through. I tell you My own story, which if you listen carefully, will do you good. I had a Guru. He was a great Saint and most merciful. I served him long, very long; still he would not blow any Mantra into My ears. I had a keen desire, never to leave him but to stay with and serve him; and at all costs receive some instructions from him. But he had his own way. He first got my head shaved and asked Me two pice as Dakshina. I gave the same at once. If you say that as My Guru was perfect, why should he ask for money and how should he be called desireless? I replied plainly that he never cared for coins. What had he to do with them? His two pice were (1) Firm Faith and (2) Patience or perseverance. I gave these two pice or things to him, and he was pleased.
"I resorted to My Guru for 12 years. He brought Me up. There was no dearth of food and clothing. He was full of love nay, he was love incarnate. How can I describe it? He loved Me most. Rare is a Guru like him. When I looked at him, he seemed as if he was in deep meditation, and then we both were filled with Bliss. Night and day, I gazed at him with no thought of hunger and thirst. Without him, I felt restless. I had no other object to meditate, nor any other thing than My Guru to attend. He was My sole refuge. My mind was always fixed on him. This is one pice Dakshina. Saburi (Patience or perseverance) is the other pice. I waited patiently and very long on My Guru and served him. This Saburi will ferry you across the sea of this mundane existence. Saburi is manliness in man, it removes all sins and afflictions, gets rid of calamities in various ways, and casts aside all fear, and ultimately gives you success. Saburi is the mine of virtues, consort of good thought. Nishtha (Faith) and Saburi (Patience) are like twin sisters, loving each other very intimately."
"My Guru never expected any other thing from Me. He never neglected Me, but protected Me at all times. I lived with him, and was sometimes away from him; still I never felt the want or absence of his love. He always protected Me by his glance, just as the tortoise feeds her young ones, whether they are near her or away from her on the other side of the river bank, by her loving looks. Oh mother, My Guru never taught Me any Mantra, then how shall I blow any Mantra in your ears? Just remember that Guru's tortoise-like loving glance gives us happiness. Do not try to get Mantra or Upadesh from anybody. Make Me the sole object of your thoughts and actions; and you will, no doubt, attain Paramartha (the spiritual goal of life). Look at Me whole-heartedly, and I in turn look at you similarly. Sitting in this Masjid, I speak the truth, nothing but the truth. No Sadhanas, nor proficiency in the six Shastras, are necessary. Have faith and confidence in your Guru. Believe fully, that Guru is the sole Actor or Doer. Blessed is he who knows the greatness of his Guru and thinks him to be Hari, Hara and Brahma (Trimurti) Incarnate."
Instructed in this way, the old lady was convinced; she bowed to Baba and gave up her fast.
Hearing this story carefully and attentively, and marking its significance and appropriateness, Hemadpant was most agreeably surprised. Seeing this wonderful Leela of Baba, he was moved from top to toe, he was overflowing with joy, his throat was choked, and he was not able to utter a single word. Shama, on seeing him in this condition asked him, - "What is the matter with you, why are you silent? How many innumerable Leelas of Baba shall I describe!"
Just at that time the bell in the Masjid began to ring, proclaiming that the noon-worship and Arati ceremony had begun. Therefore, Shama and Hemadpant hurried to the Masjid. Bapusaheb Jog had just started the worship. Women were up in the Masjid, and men were standing below in the open courtyard and they were all loudly singing the Arati in chorus to the accompaniment of drums. Shama went up, pulling Hemadpant with him. He sat to the right and Hemadpant in front of Baba. On seeing them, Baba asked Hemadpant to give the Dakshina brought from Shama. He replied that Shama gave Namaskaras in lieu of Rupees and that he was there in person. Baba said, "Alright, now let Me know whether you both had a chitchat, and if so, tell Me all that you talked about." Not minding the sounds of the bell, the drum and the chorus songs, Hemadpant was eager to tell what they had talked and started to narrate it. Baba was also anxious to hear, and so He left the bolster and leaned forward. Hemadpant said all that they talked about was very pleasant, and that specially the story of the old lady was most wonderful and that on hearing it, he thought that His Leela was inexplicable, and under the guise of that story, He really blessed him. Baba then said - "Wonderful is the story. How were you blessed? I would like to know everything in detail from you, so tell Me all about it." Then Hemadpant related in full the story which he had heard a little while before, and which had made a lasting impression on his mind. Hearing this Baba was much pleased and asked him - "Did the story strike you and did you catch its significance?" He replied - "Yes, Baba the restlessness of my mind has vanished and I have got true peace and rest, and come to know the true path."
Then Baba spoke as follows:- "My method is quite unique. Remember well, this one story, and it will be very useful. To get the knowledge (realization) of the Self, Dhyana (meditation) is necessary. If you practice it continuously, the Vrittis (thoughts) will be pacified. Being quite desireless, you should meditate on the Lord, Who is in all the creatures, and when the mind is concentrated, the goal will be achieved. Meditate always on My formless nature, which is knowledge incarnate, consciousness and bliss. If you cannot do this, meditate on My Form from top to toe as you see here night and day. As you go on doing this, your Vrittis will concentrate on one point and the distinction between the Dhyata (meditator), Dhyana (act of meditation), Dhyeya (this meditated upon) will be lost and the meditator will be one with the Consciousness and be merged in the Brahman. The (mother) tortoise is on one bank of the river, and her young ones are on the other side. She gives neither milk, nor warmth to them. Her mere glance gives them nutrition. The young ones do nothing, but remember (meditate upon) their mother. The tortoise glance is, to the young ones, a down-pour of nectar, the only source of sustenance and happiness. Similar is the relation, between the Guru and disciples." (COURTESY SHIRIDI SAI SATCHARITRA)
Baba clearly tells he expects only 1) Firm Faith and (2) Patience or perseverance. I am trying hard to give these two pice or things to him and readers it is very tough and sometimes I feel next to impossible but again i sit and meditate to give that strength and some how it helps me to be in the track. Baba keeps someone to tell his teaching which means it is directed to us and not to that person to whom it was told. We need to have that clarity if you really are to have Baba with you.
I shall narrate another real time experience of an incident in Maharashtra.There was a person by name SamadRamdas and he had many pupils and one was a totally devoted student who really knew what SHRADDHA was. He went to Kasi along with other students and he asked this particular student to look after the temple of Lord Rama which was in the ashram. He instructed to the pupil that he should give the offering to Lord Rama and after the same he should eat. The pupil promised the same will be done and all left for Kasi Yatra.
He had only one thing what his GURU said 1. shraddha And 2. Saburi.
He made the Prasadam or Bhog and prayed to Lord Rama and asked him to eat as the same he promised to his Guru. Nothing happened and he waited till evening and when nothing was eaten he decided to fast as he was in total commitment to his guru. This went on for four days and fifth day he dragged himself with great difficulty with the Prasadam/Bhog. He prayed to the Lord saying if you do not eat this could be the last day to serve the Prasad as he might die of starvation. Then the Lord appeared with Sita Mata , Lakshmana and Lord Hanuman. The pupil was so happy that and he Rama that if he let them go they will make him fast again and he has no strength, so he ties all of them with a rope.
Rama was smiling and others were looking at Lord Rama as he has to give the permission. Rama asked them to wait and watch what the boy does. Then next day he made Prasadam and brought and put the same in their mouths as they were all tied. Then Rama says that all stay and so asks him to untie them. After taking their promise he unties them. They all were also enjoying the Ashram. He made all them work in the daily routine of the ashram and he took promise that they will be with him till his Guru comes back. The great part is Sita Maa was doing the cooking for him and rest were all involved with the up keep of ashram. He never realized he was making the almighty do all the work such was his innocence and only thing he remembers was the word he gave to his Guru.
As this was going on one day Sita Maa made " Sweet Rice" ( A dish made with Rice, milk and Jaggery). As he saw the hot Vessel of the dish he thought about his guru and how much he likes. He asked Rama that he wants to go and give to his Guru and requested Hanuman to take him to Kasi. Rama laughed and asked hanuman to take him. See this is complete devotion, dedication and surrender of the student which even the Lord is mesmerized with.
He went to kasi on Hanuman shoulders and placed it in front of his guru who was in meditation. As he opened his eyes he smelled the dish and was surprised to see his student their. He asked how he was here and why he broke the promise to look after the ashram and most important not giving prasadam in the temple in ashram. The student says " I am coming from our ashram and Sita Maa made this and I brought this since you like. I came here on Hanuman shoulder. If you don't trust come and see he is sitting outside under the tree." The guru faints at the sight.
This my friends and Baba children is real SABURI and his selfless seva is that Shraddha which if placed at our LORD RAMA ( SADGURU SAIBABA) then he will be like our slave which he promised so many times and he loves doing that for his children.
OM SAI SRI SAI JAI JAI SAI
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