Sadgurus, like Sai open our intellect and show us the divine beauty of the self, and fulfill our tender longings of devotion. when this is done our desire for sense objects vanishes and we develop dispassion. Then knowledge sprouts. All this happens when we come in contact with saints. These chapters talk about how Hemadpanth was blessed, stories about Sathe and Mrs Deshmukh and other teachings by Baba.
Baba sending Hemadpant to Shyama's house:
A great business man by name Sathe lost every thing in his life. He became distressed and despondent about his situation. Some one suggested to him that if he goes to Shirdi he might feel better. He came and visited Baba, started reading Guru Charitra (Scripture). After seven days, he saw Baba in his dream and Baba was explaining the scripture that he was reading. He came and told Dixit about the dream and Hemadpant was also there. Hemadpant then felt in his mind that he read this scripture several times and Baba never appeared in his dream. He felt sorry for himself. Baba realized this and told him to go to Shyama’s house. He was supposed to ask for rupees 15 as Dakshina (offering) and stay with him little while to talk. Baba taught so many things by just sending him to Shyama.
Usually Hemadpant reads his daily scripture but he did not read that day. When he went to Shyama’s house, Shyama was busy and asked him to make himself comfortable. Then he saw Bhagavata scripture and opened the book. He exactly opens where he stopped earlier. He was surprised by this. Baba is teaching here that we need to have dedication in what ever we do. Our mind should not control us. Then Shyama talks about the story of Radhabai Deshmukh.
In Sai Sathcharita, this Radhabhai Deshmukh story is so important as it contains the essence of Baba's teachings. If we can understand this very well and follow, we do not need anything else in our lives. Radhabhai comes to Shirdi asking Baba to bless her with a mantra as she wanted to accept Baba as her Guru. She wanted to fast until Baba blesses her. Baba later intervenes and says " Oh Mother! why do you have to subject yourself to unnecessary tortures? You are my mother and I am your child. Take pity on me and hear me through. My Guru was a great saint and he never gave me any mantra but he asked me two coins. One is firm faith and and the other one is patience. I gave these two paise to him and he was pleased. I served him for 12 years and he was My sole refuge."
Baba continued " Do not try to get any mantra or upadesh from anbody. Make me the sole object of your thoughts and actions and you will no doubt, attain the ultimate goal of life that is Moksha. Have faith and confidence in your Guru. "
Hemadpant goes and repeats the story to Baba during the afternoon arathi time. Then Sai gives a discourse which goes as follows.
Then Baba said, 'Wonderful is the story. Did the story strike you, and did you catch its significance?' Anna Saheb said, 'Yes. The restlessness of my mind has vanished. I have got true peace and come to know the true path'.
Then Baba said, 'My method is quite unique. Remember well this one story, and it will be very useful. To get knowledge (realization) of the self, dhyana (meditation) is necessary. If you practice it continuously, the vrittis (thoughts) will be pacified.
Being quite desire less, 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 be one-pointed and the distinction between the dhyata (meditator), dhyana (act of meditation) dhyeya (thing meditated upon) will be lost, and the meditator will be one with the consciousness and be merged in 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. The 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 downpour of nectar, the only source of sustenance and happiness. Similar is the relation between the Guru 'and disciples.'
Baba gave him sugar candy and said, 'If you take this story to heart, remember it well, your state will be equally sweet. Your desires will be fulfilled and you will be happy. Meditate on the story; assimilate its spirit; then you will always remember and meditate on the Lord who will manifest himself to you.'
At the end of the chapter 19 Hemadpanth talks about Baba's advise regarding our behaviors.
The following words of Baba are general and invaluable. If they are kept in mind and acted upon, they will always do you good. "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them, with due respect.
Next we will see what Baba said about good thoughts. Baba said “If you get a good thought in the night, ponder over it, when you get up in the morning put that thought in to works. This is the first step in the direction of the truth that is Jnana (knowledge). This is what gives us mental peace”. Baba always encouraged his devotees to implement good thoughts immediately. God always protects us and takes us forward with positive thoughts and good intentions. Baba always provided his blessings and will continue to give us enough patience to carry out those fruitful good thoughts.
Baba says not to waste our life by criticizing other and he compares this to a pig eating the filth. By doing this we create negative energy around us.
The chapter was concluded with Baba climbing up on the roof of Vaman Gondkar;s house, passed over the roof of Radhakrishnamai to help her get rid of fever. Baba not only saved Radhakrishnamai but also taught us how to give remuneration for labor by paying someone who brought the ladder.
Om Srisainathaarpanamasthu!
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