If our mind can not withdraw from worldly distractions and we do not have love towards God; what could be worse? We can say that we have real devotion when all organs of action, senses and other human aspects of life converging as one and be able to love god. What is the use if this devotion does not exist and still we do sit in front of Sai? A real devotee should not tolerate the separation from Sai even for a minute. If we can not get rid of intense passion towards worldly objects, how can we increase our love towards God? Parents might love their children, progeny will expect your material belongings, and wife wants the stability in life and in her family. But no one helps you in the quest for salvation. Then who can help us? If we can not help ourselves no body will. We have to cut down the expectations from other people, and start showing self confidence. We need to examine ourselves and this is the only path to freedom. We are in bondage and we have to realize the intensity of this maze. Guru is the ultimate answer and by reciting Guru’s name we will achieve this goal. We will be able to see God in all creatures.
Navanatha’s devotion and Dixit's dejection
Once Dixit was reading about Navanatha’s devotion in Bhagavat Puran and expressed to the people there that their mindset and will power is hard to fathom. He also says, “How difficult is this Bhakti (Devotion path) marga and for ignorant people like us it is even more difficult. This could not be achieved even in multiple lives. We are all sinners and these Navanathas are special souls. He understood the depth of the knowledge that they were talking about. This is in 11th skanda of Bagavat. The great Manu had a son by name Priyavrata and he had Agneedrudu as son. Agneedra's son was Nabhi and he inturn had a son named Rushabha. Rushabha had 100 sons. Bharatha was the oldest son and
Syama came to his rescue and did not like melancholy expressed by Dixit. He reminds him that we have Baba in our lives and we do not need to be that despondent. He also reminds him that Baba asked Dixit to read Bhagavat and Bhavartha Ramayana and is this not enough? He is guiding you and reciting Guru’s name or God’s name is the way to go. So we do not have to worry. Dixit knows this truth but he is looking for perfection in his love towards Sai. He continued to be anxious and restless, the whole day, thinking and brooding over how to get the powerful Bhakti of the Nathas. Next morning, the following miracle took place.
Anandrao Pakhade's vision
One gentleman, named Anandrao Pakhade came there in search of Madhavarao. The reading of the Bhagawat was then going on. Mr.Pakhade sat near Madhavarao and was whispering something to him. He was mentioning in low tone his dream-vision. As there was some interruption in the reading by this whispering, Kakasaheb stopped the reading, and asked Madhavarao what the matter was. The latter said - "Yesterday you expressed your doubt, now here is the explanation of it; hear Mr.Pakhade's vision which Baba gave him, explaining the characteristic of 'saving' devotion and showing that the devotion in the form of bow to, or worship of, Guru's feet is sufficient." All were anxious to hear the vision specially Kakasaheb. At their suggestion Mr.Pakhade began to relate the vision as follows.
I was standing in a deep sea in waist-deep water. There I saw Sai Baba all of a sudden. He was sitting on a beautiful throne studded with diamonds, with His Feet in water. I was most pleased and satisfied with the Form of Baba. The vision was so realistic that I never thought that it was a dream. Curiously enough Madhavarao was also standing there. He said to me feelingly - 'Anandrao, fall at Baba's Feet.' I rejoined - "I also wish to do so, but His Feet are in water, how can I place my head on them? I am helpless." Hearing this he said to Baba - "Oh Deva, take out Your Feet which are under water." Then Baba immediately took out His feet. I caught them without delay and bowed to them. On seeing this Baba blessed me saying - Go now, you will attain your welfare, there is no cause for fear and anxiety. He also added - "Give a silk-bordered dhotar to my Shama, you will profit, thereby."
In compliance with Baba's order, Mr.Pakhade brought the dhotar and requested Kakasaheb to hand it over to Madhavarao; but the latter refused to accept it, saying that unless Baba gave a hint or suggestion for acceptance, he would not accept it. Syama accepted this after Kakasaheb cast lots and Baba's wish came true. In this way both Anandrao and Madhavarao were satisfied and Kakasaheb's difficulty was solved.
This story exhorts us to give respect to the words of other saints, but at the same time asks us to have full faith in our Guru, and abide by His instructions: for he knows our welfare better than any other person. Carve out on your heart, the following words of Baba - "There are innumerable saints in this world, but 'Our father' (Guru) is the Father (Real Guru). Others might say many good things, but we should never forget our Guru's words. In short, love your Guru and surrender to Him completely. You have to prostrate before Him reverentially and then you will see that there is no sea of the mundane existence before you to cross, there is no darkness before the sun."
Wooden plank - Baba's Bed-Stead, and not Bhagat's
We learned about Baba's miracle bed in earlier chapters. He was sleeping on a plank which was tied to the ceiling and later Baba broke this plank into pieces and threw it away. Once Baba was describing the greatness or importance of this plank to Kakasaheb. Hearing this the latter said to Baba - "If You still love the wooden plank, I will again suspend or hang up one in the Masjid again for You to sleep at ease." Baba said that he won't sleep up there leaving Mhalsapathi on the ground. Then Kakasaheb wanted to provide another plank for Mhalsapathi also. Then Baba says it is not easy to sleep up there. Whoever has many good qualities, they can only sleep up there. He who can sleep 'with his eyes wide open' can effect that. When I go to sleep I ask often Mhalasapati to sit by My side, place his hand on My heart and watch the 'chanting of the Lord's name' there, and if he finds Me sleepy, wake Me up. He can't do even this. He himself gets drowsy and begins to nod his head. When I feel his hand heavy as a stone on My heart and cry out - 'Oh Bhagat', he moves and opens his eyes. How can he, who can't sit and sleep well on the ground and whose asana (posture) is not steady and who is a slave to sleep, sleep high up on a plank? Like this Baba was teasing Mhalsapathi but at the same time he was teaching us the ultimate truth of human goal. Sleeping eyes wide open means living in this world without getting attached to the objects of this world.
This chapter was concluded with these words of Baba. "What (whether good or bad) is ours, is with us, and what is another's is with him." Here Baba made the whole karma theory in to a simple sentence. We all have to remember that we are responsible for our own actions and we blame other people for our miseries, we suffer more. Understanding this concept is the first step in the path of spirituality.
Om SriSainatharpanamasthu!
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