Baba’s sayings about How to surrender
Para Number in the Book & About What to surrender
135. Baba (to Buty): “Curly locks, Give me 16 1/2 Rs.Dakshina.”
Buty: I have not got the money here now.
Baba: “Go to Kaka and ask him for 16 1/2 Rs. and be listening to the Pothi, he is reading.”
Buty accordingly came to H.S.D. and asked for Rs. 16 1/2. Kaka(H.S.D)- “I have got only Rs. I/- and cannot pay Rs. 161/2.“
Buty: Baba asked me however to listen to your Pothi.
Then H.S.D. read on his Bhagavatam and the first Stanza that came there was “Kayan vacha” etc., which refers to complete surrender of all acts to God. So Baba wanted complete surrender to him as he was God.
But where is 16 1/2 in that stanza? For one thing, there are 17 phrases in it. For another thing, the objects for surrender are 16, but “Chitta has been omitted, in the text, “says the commentary. That will make it 17, but Chitta is only ½ . So 161/2 objects mentioned there had to be surrendered to Baba, as amounting to complete Surrender.
Anna Saheb Dabolkar
- Anna Saheb Dabolkar anxious to have Sakshatkara, sat before Baba and thought “Will not Baba give me Upadesha some day?”
Baba- “Get up, go to Shama. Bring from him Rs.15/-, Sit with him for a while, Have a chat and then bring me Rs.15/-dakshina, he will give you.”
Dabolkar went and told Shama the facts.
Shama: Instead of Rs.15/- convey to Baba my fifteen namaskaras and tell him that is the dakshina.
D: But Baba has asked me to sit and chat with you and then bring the dakshina you will give. This was because I sat before Baba thinking he should give me Upadesha.
Sharma- “Baba never give Upadesh as is ordinarily understood i.e., he never utters mantra in the ear of any devotee. Here is an instance of his refusal.”
- Radha Bai Deshmukin came to Baba for Upadesh, got none and resolved upon satyagraha. She started fasting, which should only end with either death or with Upadesha from Baba whichever occurred first. After three days of her fruitless fast, I (Sharma) interceded with Baba on her behalf and requested Him to utter some divine name in her presence. Baba sent for her and addressed her thus.
“Mother, why do you think of dying and torture yourself? Take pity on me, your child. I am a beggar. Look here, my guru was a great saint and highly merciful. I fatigued myself in trying to serve him and yet he did not utter any mantra in my ear. Instead, he first shaved me clean and then begged of me, two pice. What he wanted was not metallic coin-he did not care even for gold, but only Nishta and Saburi i.e., faith and courageous patience. I gave these to him at once and he was pleased.
Mother, Saburi is courage, do not discard it, It ferries you across to the distant goal. It gives manliness to men, eradicates sin and dejection and overcomes all fear.
For 12 years I waited on my Guru, who is peerless and loving. How can I describe his love to me? When he was Dhyanasta (in love trance), I sat and gazed at him. I and we were both filled with Bliss. I cared not to turn my eye upon anything else. Night and day I poured upon his face with an ardour of love that banished hunger and thirst.
The Guru’s absence, even for a second, made me restless. I meditated upon nothing but the Guru and had no goal or object other than the Guru. Unceasingly fixed upon him, was my mind.
Wonderful indeed that art of my Guru! I wanted nothing but the Guru and he wanted nothing but my love. Apparently actionless, he never neglected me; but always protected me by his glance.
That Guru-I tell the true, sitting as I do in this Masjid-never blew any mantra into my ear; nor do I blow any into yours. Go thou and do likewise.
If you make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will attain Paramartha, the supreme goal. Look at me with undivided attention; so will I look at you. This is the only truth, my Guru taught me. The four sadhanas and the six sastras are not necessary. With entire confidence, trust your Guru.
That is enough.”
Shama: “The lady bowed, accepted the advice and gave up her satyagraha.”
Then Dabolkar returned to Baba and narrated his talk and what happened.
137-A. Mantropadesa: Baba and his gurus never gave Upadesa of mantra in the ear of the initiated (623-4). But he recommended Rama mantra often for Japa e.g. to Sri M.W.Pradhan: see 192 to 198.
- Baba : Our art is unique. Remember this. To get Atmajnan, dhyana is needed i.e., the Atma-anushtana that pacifies and carries the mind into Samadhi. So give up all desires and dwell in your mind upon God in all. If the mind is thus concentrated, the Goal is achieved.
For Dhyana, meditate on me either as in form or as formless, mere Ananda. If such formless contemplation is hard, then think of my form, just as you see it here. Think of it night and day. With such meditation, the mind dissolves into unity (i.e., attains Laya). The difference between subject, and object, (me and you) and the act of contemplation will be lost. This results in Chaitanya Ghanata, Brahma Samarasata. The Guru’s glance is bread and milk for the pupil.
- Then Baba gave sugar-candy prasad to Dabolkar and said: “If you keep this instruction in mind, it will be as sweet as this sugar-candy.” Baba then recommended the study or Sravana of the Katha followed by Manana Nidhi Dhyasa, Smarana and Dhyana, all of which will lead to realisation of Ananda Ghana. That which is seen is the manifestation of Brahman through Maya and will dissolve again into Brahman. Look into the six sastras to see if the Atman is one or as many as there are jivas. The crown of Jnana is the realisation of the one Atman, from which everything has issued.
140. By Rinanubandha, you have come to me. Have regard to Rinanubandha. Whoever or whatever creature comes to you, do not drive away, but receive with due consideration. Give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty and clothes to the naked. Then God will be pleased, Do not bark at people. Be not pugnacious. Bear with others’ reproach. Speak only gentle words. This is the way to happiness. Let others and the world turn topsy-turvy, but do not mind that. Keep on to your own course straight. The world maintains a wall-the wall of differentiation, between oneself and others, between you and me. Destroy this wall. God is the supreme Lord. Allah Malik. Wondrous, precious and long-enduring are his works. Your object will be fulfilled in the due course. We shall both attain bliss by mutual love.
"I draw to Me, My man from far off or even across the seven Seas to Shirdi, like a sparrow with a string fastened to its feet"-Shirdi Sai Baba, Indian Spiritual Guru-God 