PRIDE

Baba’s sayings about Pride

Para Number in the Book & About pride

Baba puts down the Pride of a Haji

219. A Haji (one who had made a pilgrimage to Mecca) came to Shirdi mosque. Baba: “Do not get into the mosque.” The Haji went back and was for some months, prevented from getting into the mosque. Then when he asked Syama to intercede for him, Baba thus put him to the test and put down his pride.

Baba, to Syama:” Go to the Chavadi and ask the man, if he will walk straight in the middle of the narrow foot-path amidst babul bushes near Barve well.”

Syama went and returned with an affirmative answer.

Again Baba to Syama: Go and ask him if he will pay me Rs.40,000/- in four instalments. Syama went and returned with the answer that he was prepared to pay Rs.40 lakhs.

Again for the third time Baba: Syama, ask him whether he would like to have mutton or haunch with bone or the testicles of the goat? Syama returned with answer that the Haji would be quite happy to receive a small crumb of bread from Baba’s mudpot (Kolamba). Then Baba straightway advanced to the Chavadi himself and pouring a shower of vile abuse on Haji’s head added

“What do you think is here (showing his body)? You vainly brag and fancy youself great. Does the Koran teach you to do so? You are conceited about your pilgrimage to Mecca etc. But you do not know me.”

The Haji was flabbergasted. Baba went back to the mosque, purchased a basket of fruits and sent them to the Haji and later gave him Rs.50/- and allowed him to come thereafter into the mosque whenever he liked.

220. Baba, to H.V. Sathe: “Why do you go there (to lay the foundation stone)? What have we to do with all this? The masons and other workmen will do it.”

221. Baba to Das Ganu: “Why do you go, dressed like a bridegroom to perform Kirtan? Doff all that above the waist (including lace Pagadi etc.).” Narada inaugurated the Keertan Paddati. Hence Narada’s dress should be adopted, viz.. bare above the waist, dress below the waist, chipla and Tambur in hand.

CASTE-PRIDE

222. Mamlatdar says to a Brahmin Doctor from South Africa.-“Come, we shall go to see Sai Baba.”

D.: I am a Rama Upasaka and will not bow to any others.

M: Never mind, come on.   You need not bow.

The Doctor, at the mosque, while standing at a distance from the Arati proceedings suddenly darted inside and fell at Baba’s feet.

M.: (later}.: Why did you change your mind and bow?

D.: Sai Baba showed himself to me as the beautiful dark Rama and so I bowed. This Sai is a Yoga Sampoorna Avatar. (Baba showed himself as Rama to Madrasi Ramdasis, also.)

The Doctor resolved upon satyagraha, fasted three days and absented himself from the mosque resolving not to go there, until Baba should send for him and give him Brahmananda- God Realisation. But on the fourth day, a long absent chum of his turned up and accompanying him came to the mosque. Then,

B.: “Did anyone invite you to come here?”

Doctor was abashed and prayed mentally for experience of Paramananda. He had it that night at Shirdi and at his own town, (cf 112, cf. G.S.Khaparde on Baba’s yogic glance, and Mrs. Manager, also).

223. When the caste-proud Mule Sastri of Nasik came to Shirdi. Baba-. ” (to someone) Get me some Gerua (a colour) ochre to colour my cloth.”

Baba did not wear ochre-coloured cloth that day or any other day.

Later Baba (to Buty).: “Go and get Dakshina for me from the newly arrived Nasik Brahmin.”

The Nasik Brahmin Mule came and stood at a distance lest, he be polluted by entry into a mosque.

Mule Sastri suddently saw his guru in the place of Baba and running into the mosque, cried “Jay Guru, Jay Dholap Guru Maharaj” and fell at Baba’s feet.

Baba- “Give me dakshina.”

Mule Sastri found that the Gerua robed Brahmin Guru of his, viz., Dholap Guru had suddenly disappeared and Baba was seated in his stead. He gave Baba dakshina.

pride of physical strength

224. Bayyaji Appaji Patel boasted of having Bhima’s strength and occasionally lifted Baba up in his arms after massage to place him before the fire. One day he tried to lift Baba, but could not. Baba looked at him and laughed. That laughter was a homily against pride, (cf, Kena Upanishad. –Vayu trying to lift up a straw in vain.)

Pride of Learning

Baba put down N.G.C.’s pride of learning in Sanskrit especially about Gita Bashya – See No. 182.