Sri Saisatcharita Chapter - 39

Baba gave us his teachings about Karma yoga and Bhakti yoga on several occasions through Nana Chandorkar. As humans, we go through so many difficulties in our life time. But if we follow Baba’s teachings, we can reach our goal that is self-realization.

Once, Chandorkar, the great devotee was sitting in the Masjid pressing Baba’s feet, while he muttered the Gita to himself. He knew by heart the fourth chapter of the Bhagvad Gita and used to repeat it, as a habit, while his hands pressed Sai’s feet. When the thirty-third verse ended, the next verse started: When the thirty-fourth verse started, Nana’s recitation came to rest as Baba decided to ask a question and to impress upon Nana his lesson.

He said: “Nana, what are you muttering? Speak slowly and clearly whatever you are saying, so that I can hear whatever you are mumbling”. When he was asked to recite, obeying the orders, he recited all the four lines of the verse. Then Baba asked him to explain it with all the details. Then, Nana with great humility and with folded hands, happily and in a sweet voice gave his reply, explaining what the Lord (Sree Krishna) had to say. Now, so that everyone should clearly understand the dialogue between Sai and Nana, we shall take the original verse from the Gita quoting word by word. To understand the correct meaning of this question, as also the Saint’s mind, this practice should be followed whereby the meaning becomes clear and free of doubts.

“ Tadviddhi pranipatena, pariprashnena sevya.

Upadekshyanti te gyanam, gyaninastattva darshinah” .

So many great people gave commentary on this and agree as to its meaning. Nana was well-versed and had deeply studied the Gita.

Baba asked nana to explain the meaning of this verse.

Nana, in a sweet melodious voice, modestly and humbly, thinking of the natural order of construction of the words, began explaining the meanings, with respect.

He said: “Making prostrations at the Guru’s feet, giving one’s life in the service of the Guru, and questioning the Guru respectfully, then those who have attained the real Knowledge will give instruction of that Knowledge”.

Baba accepted the meaning of the first two metric feet, but listen to what he said about the rest.

Where you say that philosophers and those who have attained 

Real Knowledge will give instruction of that Knowledge, if you use the word ‘Agyan’ (ignorance), then you will get the real meaning.

 ‘Gyan’ is not a subject matter of words’. How can it be taught? Therefore, take the opposite of the word ‘Gyan’ and then it can be experienced at every step. I have listened to the meaning that you have given using the word ‘Gyan’. What do you lose by taking it as ‘Agyan’? ‘Agyan’ is a subject, which can be discussed. ‘Gyan’ transcends words. Just as the caul envelops the embryo or dust covers the mirror or ashes cover the embers, so does ignorance cover knowledge.

The Lord has said in the Gita that ‘Gyan’ is veiled by ‘Agyan’. Therefore, when ‘Agyan’ is removed, ‘Gyan’ shines on its own. ‘Gyan’ shines with its own luster and is self-effected. It is like pure water covered with moss. The intelligent one, who removes this moss will, find the pure water. Similarly ‘Gyan’ is unobstructed. It is self-evident and in its place. The Power of the inner vision of the eyes is ‘Gyan’. The veil or the film over it which increases is ‘Agyan’ and it is necessary to dispel it. That veil or film should be removed with the skill of your hands and the inner vision should be allowed to manifest driving away the darkness of ignorance. ‘Gyan’ is something which has to be realized and not something that can be taught.

So let us understand what Baba is teaching us:

To make prostrations, to question respectfully and to serve the Guru are the only means for his Grace. When we do not have these qualities and we lack total faith, the service we perform for Guru is mere lip service. Here Nana’s situation is similar. He has faith in Baba but Sai wanted to burn his ego which cannot be burnt that easily. That’s why this whole thing was played out by Baba.

What is Jnana (Knowledge)?

Whatever we see is not real (illusion), only Brahman(supreme Soul) is real. Experiencing this truth is called Jnana.

First we have to know that there is something like this. By understanding this, we can experience some kind of bliss. If we experience the real truth, then that Satchidananda (Total Bliss) is indescribable.

The world we see is not real. What is that mean?

It does not mean that this does not exist. Anything that exits at one time but disappears after some time is called as Unreal. If we take our universe, all the planets exist at one point but they disappear in space and time. Nothing is left when a planet or solar system disintegrates. In a similar way human body started with a small cell and organizes in to a huge conglomeration of cells. When the soul leaves the body, human body collapses and when we cremate the body what is left?

Why do we have to gain Jnana (knowledge)?

We can relate this kind of concept in our daily lives. When we do not tackle our daily problems with mature thinking, we suffer.

When we do not understand life or a particular object correctly, our outlook on that particular issue will be tainted.

When we want to live with someone we have to understand them properly. We have to be practical in our thinking.

If we can ignore our ego in certain situations, we will really enjoy our life.

To lose our ego, we need devotion (Bhakti) and Baba really emphasized Bhakti so much.

A combined approach is essential:

A learned person (Jnani) can feel that he has the knowledge but wherever there is devotion, ego disappears. We have to perform our daily actions (karmas) with a devotional attitude along with a proper understanding (Jnana). That’s why this Bhagavadgita stanza demands that kind of respect. We can see why Baba chose that Sloka (stanza). Baba taught fundamental principles of Knowledge (Jnana) so that we can achieve our goal as human beings. After listening to this discourse, Nana prostrated to Baba and requested him to direct him in proper path. He begged for his mercy, so that his ego could be burnt.

Even we are sizzling with great qualities (Satva Guna), our mind will have some impurities and we cannot tolerate if someone insults us. Our ego will throw us off balance.

What is Ajnana?

When we have our mind set on fame, name, greed and all other ego boosting qualities, we cannot have peace. This is Ajnana.

What’s miserable is to appear as a person of Knowledge but cannot overcome ego.

Here these qualities are sometimes very deep, and difficult to recognize. This is Maya (illusion).

The so called devotee, can get stuck with ritualistic mind set and cannot tolerate a bruise on his ego. What very he or she does feels right and ego dominates. They will try to control the situation. We see this in spiritual organizations where they tend to fight over their ideas. Even to serve our Guru, we cannot overcome our ego.

The way of Sai:

Sai used to work in a mysterious way. How he accomplished any work without making any fuss about it. The real reason was never disclosed, whether the work was small or big. The work was completed gradually and there was no mention about it anywhere. When some work arises casually, it should be taken into hand without pondering over its root cause or any indication. On the contrary, there is a creation of confusion. Avatars like Baba manifest on this earth for the well-being of others. When their desired mission is finished they merge into that which is not perceptible.

Reality of Life and the solution:

We do not know the root cause of our being, where we have come from and where we will go; why we were created and what is the reason for our birth. We live a life as per our own will. Then the time comes for death and all the senses are unable to function. Even then the good thoughts do not come. Even though we watch with our own eyes the wife, son, brother, mother, other loved and dear ones dying, the mind does not have these good thoughts.

The saints are not of this nature. They are very aware and have full knowledge of their end and know of the time of their death. Till they are in body, they weary their bodies for their devotees with great love and at the end the place where the body is abandoned is utilized for the benefit of their devotees.

Jnana (knowledge) is nothing but learning about these realities. We cannot wait until old age to learn these concepts. They are a waste because your body will not cooperate at that time. We need this Knowledge throughout our life. We need to understand the realities of life death cycle. We think that we are asking for happiness all the time but that is not true.

We need to understand the importance of permanent bliss that is happiness forever.

We need to understand what will cause sorrow and what will give us the real happiness.

If we can put a side our ego, be selfless and perform our actions with humility, devotion and faith, we will succeed in our endeavor.

Baba always taught us to see God in every human being, every movable or immovable objects. 

Serving with humility takes us to new heights in Knowledge.

Construction of Samadhi mandir

Bapusheb Butti is from Nagpur and he used to come to Shirdi often with his family. He served Baba with utmost devotion. He stayed in Shirdi on and off and was always obedient to Sai and felt like staying there all the time. He felt like buying a small plot of land and thought about building a wada there so that he can stay in Shirdi. One day he was sleeping in Dixit Wada on the first floor and had a wonderful vision where sai asked him to build a wada there. Syama was also there sleeping and he also had a similar vision. Syama was weeping in his sleep and Butti wakes him up. Then Symaa tells him about the vision that he had where Baba told him ““Let there be a Wada with a temple. It will fulfil the desires of all”. When both of them had the same vision, Butti understood that his desire to bulid a wada was approved by Sai. Then next morning both go to Baba and Syama asked Baba “O Lord, what is this unfathomable sport of yours? You do not even allow us to sleep undisturbed! You make us rave then also”. Hearing this, Baba covered both his ears with his hands and said: “I have been here all the time, whatever else one may say”. Then Syama supervised the work and Butti took care of the financial issues. Baba while going to Lendi used to advise where the doors and windows need to be and how the gallery should be. Butti got an inspiration that in the innermost space of the building he could install the image of Lord Muralidhar. Baba approved this also but said we will all live there. Later on like Baba predicted this wada became Samadhi mandir.

Om SriSainatharpanamasthu!