Damu Anna -2 (Teachings to change Lives)

On religious matters, he had very little occasion to seek Baba’s assistance. It was chiefly temporal blessings that he got. For instance, when his son Nana had only one son, Damia prayed to Baba at his Samadhi for a second grandson and a second grandson was born. Being almost wholly occupied with worldly affairs, his consultations with Baba were only on business and domestic matters.

Cotton business incident:

On one occasion, a Bombay cotton broker told him that he had a good lot of Rs. 50,000 or Rs. 60,000 with him, and he could safely speculate in cotton and earn lakhs of rupees and that too very quickly. At once Damia wrote to Shama to ask Baba for permission to launch on this speculation. When letter came to Baba, Baba said, “Damia wants to catch at the sky. His head is wrong. He is trying to think of lakhs, write to him that his present position is not bad, and ask him not to think of lakhs”. After the letter came, Damia with great regret dropped the idea of cotton speculation, but not finally. He thought he would go directly to meet Baba, and then induce Baba to give the permission by offering a share in the profits to Baba. So he went to Shirdi and when massaging Baba’s legs, was thinking of his plan. Baba at once said, “Damia, I am not in anything.” That is, Baba was not going to be a partner in any speculation or similar affair. Baba did not want money at all and, if he wanted, speculation was not necessary for him. Prakamya is one of the siddhis forming part of one’s divine nature. Baba said, “I am God”. He also said, “I have vast powers.” Baba could command large amounts at will. But he had no necessity for wealth.

Grain trade:

Again on another occasion, Damia found people trading in grain. So, he wanted Baba’s permission for himself to trade in grain. Baba said, “No.” He was wondering why. He had friends who advised him that grain prices were rising, and if the grains were stored up the yield of profit would be 100 percent or more.

But Baba said, “Arre, you will be buying at five seers per rupee and selling seven seers per rupee. For a month or two, the prices were rising still; Baba’s prophecy seemed to be false. But when the monsoon rains were abundant and everywhere the crops were excellent, and so prices fell and the grain hoarders suffered a loss. Damia discovered that Baba had saved him from this calamity.

Baba’s message to his devotees:

Damia wanted to know if when so many were crowding around Baba whether they all got any benefit from him. This was a mental question.

Baba at once replied, “Look at the mango tree in blossom. If all flowers turn fruit, what a splendid crop it would be? But do they? Most fall of by the wind. Very few remain.”

The second question was, that, if Baba should pass away, how helpless Damia would be. This is also a mental question. To this Baba answered, “I will be with you whenever you think of me and wherever you think of me.” This was mentioned before 1918 and is fulfilled even after 1918. Damia told people, “Even after his Mahasamadhi, He is still with me. He is still guiding me, as per his statement made in 1936.” So, he is one of the close devotees of Baba, whom Baba guided, corrected and helped.

OM SAI RAM!