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Category: HUMAN SOCIAL SCIENCES

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  • Sai Baba’s Wisdom for the Modern World

    Sai Baba’s Wisdom for the Modern World

    🌟 Sai Baba’s Wisdom for the Modern World: Questions & Answers

    🧘 What is the essence of Sai Baba’s teachings?

    Sai Baba’s teachings revolve around universal love, faith, patience, humility, and spiritual transformation. He offered practical guidance rooted in deep spiritual truths that transcend time and cultural differences.

    ❤️ How did Sai Baba promote universal love and service?

    He taught that divinity resides in all beings. His quote, “He who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved…” encourages compassion and service to others—feeding the hungry, helping the poor, and caring for strangers.

    ⏳ Why are faith and patience (Nishtha and Saburi) important?

    Baba emphasized faith in a higher power and patience to endure life’s hardships. He said Saburi “removes all sins… casts aside all fear, and ultimately gives success,” making these virtues essential tools for inner strength today.

    🙇‍♀️ What does Sai Baba teach about surrender and ego?

    He taught that spiritual progress requires dropping ego and desire. His promise: “When his ego is annihilated… I Myself shall enter into him.” This path leads to serenity and freedom from modern anxieties.

    🧘‍♂️ Is spirituality complex according to Baba?

    Not at all. Baba advocated simple spiritual practices, saying, “Leave off all cleverness and always remember ‘Sai’ ‘Sai’.” Meditation and mantra repetition are accessible paths to self-realization—no need to renounce daily life.

    🌿 What is the meaning behind Baba’s use of Udi and Dakshina?

    He used sacred ash and offerings to symbolize impermanence and detachment. His teachings encourage mindfulness and non-attachment, helping people navigate today’s material world with clarity and peace.

    🏠 How did Baba model acceptance and detachment?

    Living humbly, Baba embraced simplicity and remained untouched by praise or criticism. His life teaches us to remain grounded and peaceful despite external chaos or changes.

    🤝 What was Baba’s message about religious harmony?

    He celebrated both Hindu and Muslim traditions, uniting communities. Baba’s example speaks powerfully to the importance of transcending divisions and fostering unity and acceptance.

    🧙‍♂️ Is a spiritual teacher (Sadguru) still relevant today?

    Yes. Baba emphasized that a Sadguru can guide the soul to self-realization. Even without physical presence, the essence lies in finding spiritual teachings or mentors that deeply resonate with one’s inner journey.

    🌈 How can we apply Sai Baba’s wisdom in our daily lives?

    By living with love, compassion, humility, faith, patience, surrender, and detachment, we can achieve inner peace and clarity, no matter our external circumstances.

  • Promoting Love

    Promoting Love

    Sai Baba actively promoted love and unity, both among his devotees and towards animals, through his teachings, actions, and the examples he set. Here’s how the sources illustrate these aspects:

    • Unification and Harmony:
      • Sai Baba worked towards the unification of communities, particularly Hindus and Muslims.
      • He celebrated Hindu festivals like Rama-Navami with all due formalities.
      • He also permitted the ‘Sandal’ procession of Mahomedans and allowed Muslims to offer prayers (Namaj) in his Masjid. This demonstrated his disregard for religious distinctions and his wish for communal harmony.
      • His constant advice was that “Rama (the God of the Hindus) and Rahim (the God of the Mahomedans) were one and the same.” He emphasized that their devotees should not quarrel. Instead, they should “join hands and bring both the communities together” for national unity.
    • Fostering Unity and Eradicating Duality: Baba emphasized the importance of dissolving the sense of difference between individuals and with God.
      • He explicitly stated, “Demolish the wall of difference that separates you from Me; and then the road for our meeting will be clear and open. The sense of differentiation, as I and thou, is the barrier that keeps away the disciple from his Master, and unless that is destroyed the state of union or atonement is not possible“.
      • This teaching directly supports universal love by promoting the realization of oneness.
    • He also encouraged his devotees to love their Guru with whole-hearted affection. He advised them to surrender completely. He suggested prostrating reverentially before Him to attain this unity.
    • Direct Instruction on Conduct:
      • Baba provided invaluable general advice for interacting with others:
      • “If any men or creatures come to you,
        • do not discourteously drive them away,
        • but receive them well and treat them, with due respect.
      • Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased, if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting“.
      • This emphasizes hospitality, compassion, and respectful treatment of all.
    • Discouraging Slander and Gossip: Baba strongly disliked slander.
      • He stated, “He who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart and injures Me, but he that suffers and endures, pleases Me most“.
      • In one instance, he corrected a slanderer by pointing to a pig eating filth and comparing the slanderer’s actions to the pig’s,
      • thereby teaching a powerful lesson against reviling others.
    • Personal Relationships and Care: Baba demonstrated deep personal love and care for his close devotees.
      • He shared his dormitory with Tatya Kote Patil and Bhagat Mhalsapati for 14 years, showing immense affection and intimacy.
      • He loved Khushalchand of Rahata and “watched his welfare, day and night,” even visiting him.
      • He exhibited “motherly love” towards his disciples, knowing their wants and feeling boundless joy when they were adorned.
      • He ensured the proper execution of religious functions in devotees’ homes, even attending a dinner in Mr. B.V. Deo’s house through an appearance.
      • His “anger” was often a disguise for blessings or tests, as seen
        • when he appeared enraged with the women grinding wheat but later smiled at their devotion, or
        • when he seemingly scolded Haji Sidik Falke only to then show him great favor.
    • He sometimes appeared in dreams or visions to guide and comfort his devotees, like the instance of Hemadpant’s Shimga dinner.
    • Importance of Guru-Disciple Relationship: Baba emphasized
      • complete surrender and unwavering faith in the Guru, assuring that such
      • devotion leads to spiritual progress and self-realization. This deep bond fosters profound love and trust.
    • Saints, like Baba and Shri Tembye Swami, are shown to love each other with “fraternal affection,” indicating a wider spiritual family bound by love.

    Promoting Love with Animals:

    • Oneness with All Creatures: Sai Baba explicitly taught the principle of seeing God in all beings, including animals. When Mrs. Tarkhad fed a hungry dog, Baba told her, “The dog which you saw before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread is, one with Me, so also other creatures (cats, pigs, flies, cows etc.) are one with Me. I am roaming in their forms. He, who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved. So abandon the sense of duality and distinction, and serve Me, as you did today“. This is a profound teaching that directly connects compassion for animals with devotion to God.
    • Compassion and Non-violence: Baba’s conduct consistently demonstrated compassion for animals. He never drove away dogs, cats, or crows that ate from his food pot, indicating his acceptance and care for them. He also gave a clear opinion on the killing of serpents, stating, “God lives in all beings and creatures, whether they be serpents or scorpions… So we should take pity and love all creatures, leave off adventurous fights and killings and be patient. The Lord (God) is the Protector of all“.
    • Reminiscences of Past Lives: In a remarkable instance, Baba purchased two goats for a significantly high price, explaining to his surprised devotees that these goats were formerly two human brothers who had fought bitterly and killed each other. He bought them out of pity, fed them, and then returned them. This story highlights Baba’s boundless love and compassion for all creatures, acknowledging their karmic journeys.
    • Protection of Animals:
      • Baba saved his devotees from potential harm from animals like snakes,
      • sometimes by foretelling the danger and
      • other times by direct intervention,
      • but he always advised against killing them,
        • emphasizing universal love and the divine presence in all creatures.
      • Even a fierce tiger was drawn to his feet and found a blessed end in his presence, demonstrating Baba’s all-encompassing mercy towards even wild animals.
  • Baba’s Compassion and Love

    Baba’s Compassion and Love

    Shirdi, Shri Sai Baba’s life is a testament to His boundless compassion, profound gentleness, and unwavering selflessness. He consistently demonstrated these qualities through His actions, teachings, and interactions with His devotees. Here are instances:

    Baba’s Compassion:

    • Protection from Epidemics: Baba displayed compassionate foresight by grinding wheat and having the flour thrown on the Shirdi village borders to curb a cholera epidemic.
      • Villagers understood that He was not only grinding wheat.
      • He was also grinding the cholera itself to pieces. This act pushed cholera, out of the village. This led to the epidemic’s subsidence.
    • Encouragement of Hemadpant: When Hemadpant expressed self-doubt about writing Baba’s biography,
      • Baba gently encouraged him. He blessed him with Udi (sacred ashes) and placed His boon-bestowing hand on his head.
      • Baba assured,
        • “I will help him.
        • He is only an outward instrument.
        • I should write Myself My autobiography and
        • satisfy the wishes of My devotees”.
        • This shows His desire for devotees’ spiritual growth and His loving support.
    • Motherly Love for Disciples: Baba exhibited a unparalleled motherly love towards His disciples. He was always attending to their needs. Sadgurus like Baba have this peculiar and extraordinary love for their disciples.
      • All-Embracing Love and Tolerance:
        • Baba’s all-embracing love was evident in His defense of the Rohilla, who disturbed villagers with loud prayers.
        • Baba took the villagers to task, explaining that the Rohilla’s prayers kept away “Durbuddhi” (bad thoughts),
        • thus protecting even those perceived as troublesome.
    • Omnipresence and Constant Protection: Baba’s statement: “I am the Inner Ruler of all and seated in their hearts. I envelope all the creatures, the movable and immovable world.“
    • Curing Ailments through Grace: Baba cured numerous diseases without using conventional medicine. He did so through His Grace, Words, or Udi. This demonstrated His compassion for the suffering. Examples include:
        • Bhimaji Patil’s severe tuberculosis, cured by Baba’s words of hope and mercy, through two dreams.
        • Bala Ganapat Shimpi’s malaria, cured by instructing him to feed a black dog, with rice mixed with curds.
        • Bapusaheb Booty’s dysentery and vomiting, instantly cured by Baba’s command, “Now take care, you should not purge any more” and “The vomiting must also stop”. He also cured in another time, Booty’s cholera with a seemingly fatal remedy, effective due to Baba’s word.
        • A Swami from Alandi’s ear pain, relieved by Baba saying, “Alla Accha Karega (God will do good)”.
        • Madhavrao Deshpande’s piles and Gangadharpant’s stomach-pain, cured by simple words and touch, and Nanasaheb Chandorkar’s stomach-pain with a sweetmeat.
        • A doctor’s nephew of tubercular bone-abscess, cured with Udi and Baba’s “loving glances”.
        • Dr. Pillay’s excruciating guinea-worm pain, relieved by Baba’s command to be ‘fearless’ and allowing an accidental step on the wound, to expel the worms.
        • Shama’s sister-in-law’s bubonic plague, cured overnight by sending Udi and giving instructions.
        • A Harda gentleman’s bladder stone, dissolved with Udi mixed with water.
        • A Bombay lady’s painless delivery, despite a stillborn issue, by her praying to Baba and consuming Udi-mixture.
      • Acceptance of Sincere Offerings: Baba lovingly accepted offerings made with devotion, such as
        • Mr. Cholkar’s small offering of sugar-candy, knowing his secret vow to save money for his trip by abstaining from sugar.
        • He knew devotees’ sincere intentions,
          • even reminding them if they
          • forgot to offer something,
          • demonstrating His acceptance of their inner devotion over the material value.
      • Teaching Non-duality through Action: Baba profoundly taught the principle of “See God in all beings”
        • when He told Mrs. Tarkhad, “Mother, you have fed Me sumptuously… The dog which you saw before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread is, one with Me, so also other creatures… I am roaming in their forms. He, who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved.“. This practical demonstration encouraged compassion for all life.
      • Drawing Devotees and Fulfilling Desires: Baba had an incredible ability to draw devotees to Shirdi, “like a sparrow, with a thread tied to its feet.” He was omniscient and knew their innermost thoughts and desires. Often, His compassion led Him to fulfill them. Examples include:
          • Knowing Lakhamichand’s taking a loan for his darshan and forgetting to buy guavas, but arranging for an old woman to sell him the fruits.
          • Knowing Damu Anna’s secret thoughts about speculative business and gently dissuading him, saving him from financial ruin. He blessed Damu Anna’s wife with four sons and four daughters, by gave her four mangoes as Prasad. This act overrode astrological predictions.
          • Fulfilling Mrs. Tendulkar’s dream of her son passing his medical examination despite unfavorable astrological predictions, emphasizing faith. He also blessed Mr. Tendulkar with a higher pension after a dream.
          • Ensuring painless death and salvation (Sadgati) for devotees like Sannyasi Vijayanand, Balaram Mankar, and Tatya Noolkar; Even showering flowers on Megha’s body and arranging his funeral rites after his passing shows, deep affection.
        • Compassion for Animals: Baba displayed immense compassion for animals.
          • Notably, he bought two goats for an exorbitant sum. He explained their past lives and their enmity in their previous human forms. Out of pity, he fed them.
          • He also taught not to kill creatures, stating “God lives in all beings and creatures”.
        • Personal Sacrifice for Devotees:
          • A supreme act of compassion was when Baba
          • sacrificed His own life to save Tatya Kote Patil’s life, fulfilling an earlier prophecy that Tatya would pass away, but Baba took his place.

        Shirdi’s Shri Sai Baba exemplified unparalleled compassion and selflessness through numerous acts. He protected villagers from epidemics, encouraged disciples, healed ailments without medicine, and accepted sincere offerings. Baba’s teachings emphasized seeing God in all beings, fulfilling devotees’ desires, and displaying profound love for both people and animals, often embodying true sacrificial spirit.

      • Baba is a Scientist in Teaching Education

        Baba is a Scientist in Teaching Education

        Pedagogics is the art and science of teaching and education. It involves not only conveying information, but also understanding how people learn. It requires creating environments, that foster growth and development.

        Sai Baba is also not only delivering information, but create environment for learning and growing of His devotees. viz:

        • One,
          • totally devoid of any book study, but
          • possessed of
            • perfect self-surrender,
            • humility,
            • trust, and
            • love towards the Guru Baba,
            • was and is the person who could derive
            • the fullest benefits from Baba.
        • The idea that
          • one has understood all about Jiva and Paramatma and
          • the methods by which Paramatma could be reached by a Jiva,
          • forms the greatest obstacle to one’s progress.
        • It is
          • not the intellect, the keenness of intellect, that is
          • wanted from a person approaching Baba.
        • It is
          • humility,
          • receptivity, and
          • a readiness to receive all that Baba gives, that counts.
        • As Baba pointed out to the Valambi Station Master,
          • persons (evidently with much conceit of learning etc.) came to him
          • like vessels the mouth of which was kept inverted; and were therefore
          • incapable of receiving any benefits from him.
        • In the case of Nana (Devotee),
          • his very high learning and
          • great ability in official and other matters were naturally accompanied
          • by a high degree to self-assertion and egotism;
          • which make for success in
            • literary study,
            • official matters, and to a certain extent even in
            • spiritual matters.
          • But for the highest results in spiritual matters, it is just the opposite, namely,
            • utter reduction of egotism,
            • the power to relax the Ego and
            • keep it relaxed for long periods, that is essential.
        • This is why
          • the consumption of water, that was used to washing of the feet of the Guru, and
          • the acceptance of his Uchchishta tirtha (the remnants of food that have been contaminated by the Guru’s saliva) are emphasized in the
          • “Guru Gita” for a pupil’s advancement,
          • as these practices foster a profound annihilation of Ahamkara, or Ego,
          • through deep reverence for the Guru, culminating in Love.
        • In Baba’s system,
          • the Guru-Teacher imparts virtue after virtue to the sishya-Student.
          • HE trains him step by step to secure these virtues and the knowledge, he wishes to equip the pupil with.
          • This process is just as the cat carries its kittens to safe and good places.
        • The first essential preparatory step in Baba’s course is thus,
            • not book learning, but the
            • development of
              • humility and
              • receptivity.
            • These would result from
              • perfect faith, absolute faith,
              • unlimited and powerful faith in the Guru.
            • The Guru must be everything to the sishya,
              • the giver of bread,
              • the giver of life and light and
              • the giver of all that life is worth living for, and
              • at one stroke.
              • He must not regard anything else. This alone is the tyaga of Tan, Man, Dhan – body, mind and possessions.

          LoSB-Vol II’ Ch 2

          • Baba’s company was the highest education one could get. As a Mahratta saying goes, ‘Let us stay with saints. If they do not give us Upadesa, let us note what they do and say. That is the best Upadesa‘.
        • Oh Sai, create in us reverence for Your stories

          Oh Sai, create in us reverence for Your stories

          • When a man takes a plunge into the sea, he gets the merit of bathing in all the Tirthas and sacred rivers.
          • Similarly when a man takes refuge at the feet of the Sad-guru, he gets the merit of bowing to the Trinity, i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and also Para-Brahma.
          • Victory be unto Shri Sai, the wish-fulfilling tree and the ocean of knowledge, who gives us self-realization.
          • Oh Sai, create in us reverence for Your stories.
          • Let the readers and audience devour them with the same relish; the chatak bird drinks the water from the clouds and becomes happy.
          • While listening to Your stories, let them and their families get all the true and pious emotions, viz.
            1. let their bodies perspire,
            2. let their eyes be full of tears,
            3. let their breath be steady,
            4. let their minds be composed,
            5. let their hair stand on end,
            6. let them cry, sob and quiver,
            7. let their hostilities vanish.
          • When these things happen, that is a sign of the grace of the Guru dawning upon them.
          • When these emotions develop in you, the Guru is most pleased.
          • The Guru will definitely guide you to the goal of self-realization.
          • The best way, therefore,
            • to get free from the shackles of Maya,
            • is our complete and whole-hearted surrender to Baba.
          • The Vedas cannot take you across the ocean of Maya. It is only the Sadguru, who can do so, and make you see the Lord in all creatures

        • How to conquer Jealousy, easily?

          How to conquer Jealousy, easily?

          Baba guided us ‘How we can conquer Jealousy, one among Six Basic weakness of human’ as below:-

          • “Among the six (Viharas) weakness, Jealousy is the easiest to conquer.
          • In Jealousy,
            • 1. There is no question of (actual) gain or loss,  to ourselves
            • 2. (Matsara) Jealousy is the inability to endure another’s profit and prosperity.
            • 3. If another gets fortune or power, we cannot put up with it, we scandalise him.
            • When he meets with loss, we rejoice.
          • But is it good? When that man attains prosperity , what loss have we really suffered?
          • Now, Do consider, the following points! If One attains good
            • 1) let us rejoice (with him) or
            • 2) let us consider ourselves also, as lucky or benefited or
            • 3) let us attain or strive to attain, equal good.
          • Thus, conquer jealousy first.”

          BCS -Para 225

        • Baba is a Liturgiology Scientist

          Liturgiology is study the rituals and practices of religious worship, including understanding the structure, significance, and evolution of the ceremonies.

          Baba is good at Liturgiology. One of the Example, on evaluation in the rituals and practices is given below:-

          Early one morning, when Megha (Devotee) was still lying down on his bed, with eyes closed but internally awake, he saw clearly Baba’s Form.

          • Baba knowing him to be awake threw Akshata (rice-grains marked red with Kumkum) and
          • He said, “Megha, draw a Trident” and disappeared.
          • Hearing Baba’s words, he eagerly opened his eyes, saw no Baba there, but saw only rice grains spread here and there.

          He then went to Baba, told Him about the vision and asked permission to draw Trident.

          • Baba said – “Did you not hear My words asking you to draw Trident? It was no vision, but direct order; My words are always pregnant with meaning and never hollow.”
          • Megha said – “I thought you woke me up, but all the doors were closed, so I was doubtful and thought it was a vision”.
          • Baba rejoined – “I require no door to enter. I have no form; I always live everywhere. As a wire-puller, I carry on all the actions of the man, who trusts Me and merges in Me.”

          Megha returned to the Wada, and drew a red Trident on the wall near Baba’s picture. Next day a Ramadasi Bhakta came from Poona, saluted Baba and offered Him Pindi (an image of Shiva). At this time Megha also turned up there.

          • Baba said to him – “See, Shankar has come, protect (i.e., worship) Him now.”
          • Megha was pleasantly surprised to see Pindi, following Trident.

          Also in the Wada, Kakasaheb Dixit (another devotee) was standing with a towel on his head after having taken his bath, and was remembering Sai, when he saw a Pindi in his mental vision. While he was wondering about this, Megha came and showed him the Pindi, presented to him by Baba. Dixit was happy to know that the Pindi exactly tallied with the One, he saw a few minutes before in his vision.

          In a few days after the drawing of the Trident was completed, Baba installed the Pindi near the big picture, which Megha was worshipping. The worship of Shiva was dear to Megha and by arranging the drawing of the Trident and the installation of the Pindi, Baba confirmed his faith therein.

          In SSSC Ch-28

        • Baba is a Master of “Catechectics”

          Baba is a Master of “Catechectics”

          Catechectics is an Art of teaching by Question and answer (as a Part of ‘How emotional investments shape our behaviors and thoughts’). Baba is in very advanced stage in this science. This is an example:-

          It was in the year 1916, a Chennai Bhajani Mela (Party of the Ramadasi Panth) started on a Pilgrimage to the holy city of Kasi/Banaras. The Party consisted of a man, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law; and they had come to Shirdi to get Gift of money from Baba. There the husband got a wonderful vision in his dream one night as follows :-

          He was in a big city, the police there had arrested him, tied his hands with a rope, and put him up in lock-up. As the police were tightening the grip, he saw Sai Baba standing quiet outside, near the cage. On seeing Baba so near, he said in a plaintive tone – “Hearing Your fame, I came to Your Feet, and why should a calamity befall me, when You are standing here in person?”

          • Baba said – “You must suffer the consequences of your action”
          • He said – “I have not done anything in this life, which would bring such a misfortune on me.”
          • Baba said – “If not in this life, you must have committed some sin in your past life.”
          • He replied, “I do not know anything of my past life, but assuming that I did commit some sin; then why should it not be burnt and destroyed in Your presence, as dry grass before fire? “.
          • Baba – “Have you got such faith?”
          • He – “Yes.”
          • Baba then asked him to close his eyes.
          • No sooner did he shut them, than he heard a thumping sound of something falling down, opening his eyes,
            • he saw that he was free and the police had fallen down, bleeding.
            • Being much frightened, he began to look at Baba who said – “Now you are well caught, officers will now come and arrest you.”
            • Then he begged – “There is no other saviour except You, save me anyhow.”
          • Then Baba again asked him to close his eyes. He did so and when he opened them,
            • he saw that he was free, out of the cage and
            • that Baba was by his side.
            • He then fell at Baba’s Feet.
          • Baba then asked him –
            • “Is there any difference between this namaskar (Hello) and your previous ones? Think well and reply.”
            • He said “There is a lot of difference; my former namaskaras were offered with the object of getting money from You, but the present namaskar is one offered to You as God”
          • Then a desire arose in his mind, to get the darshan of his Guru Ramdas;
            • when Baba asked him to turn back and see. And when he turned,
            • lo, Ramadas was in front of him.
            • No sooner did, he begin to fall at His Feet, Ramadas vanished.
          • Then he inquisitively asked Baba,”You look old. Do You know Your age?”. Baba – “What! Do you say I am old! just run a race with Me and see.” Saying this, Baba began to run and he too followed. Baba disappeared in the dust raised by His foot-steps while running, and the man was awakened.
          • After awakening, he began to think seriously about the dream-vision. His mental attitude was completely changed and he realised the greatness of Baba. After this, his grabbing and doubting tendencies disappeared and true devotion to Baba’s Feet sprang in his mind.
          • The vision was a mere dream, but the questions and answers therein were most significant and interesting.
          • Next morning, when all the persons assembled in the Masjid for the Arati, Baba gave him as prasad two rupees’ worth sweetmeats and also two rupees from His pocket and blessed him.
          • Baba made him stay there for a few more days and gave him His blessing, saying, “Allah (God) will give you plenty and He will do you all good”. He did not get more money there, but he got far better things viz. Baba’s blessing, which stood him in good stead all along.
          • The party got plenty of money afterwards; and their pilgrimage was successful: as they had not to suffer any trouble or inconvenience during their journey.
          • They all returned home safe and sound, thinking of Baba’s words and blessings and the Anand(Bliss) they experienced by His grace.

          In SSSC Ch-29

        • Baba’s standpoint similar to Mahatma Gandhi

          Baba’s standpoint similar to Mahatma Gandhi

          That is ‘Live and let live’- and To unite persons, use common joint formula.

          Mahtama Gandhi (freedom fighter of India) tried to effect a rapproachment between Hindus and Muslims. He started the formula noted below, where Rahim and Ram are put together. He also made his Hindu and Muslim followers repeat the formula or mantra.

          “Raghupati Raghava Rajaram Patita paavana Sitaram,

          Iswara Allah Tere nam, Sabko Sanmati De Bhagavan,

          Rama Rahim Krishna Karim, Sabko Sanmati de Bhagavan.“

          Mahatma Gandhi aimed to familiarise the ears of impartial and co-operatively minded Hindus and Muslims, with a mix of both cultures. This would help both groups to hear each other’s names without losing equanimity.

          This would become easier and inspiring by habit for future generations. That was the great object of Mahatma Gandhi’s formula. Baba added to Gandhiji’s plan of work. He secretly worked on the hearts of all.

          Baba was perfectly neutral and submitted to the peculiar idiosyncracies of his worshippers in order to avoid offending them. Left to himself Baba would have no mark on his forehead. Baba did not believe at all that there is a separate Siva and a separate Vishnu as Gods. ‘To him, there was only one God. It might be called Siva or Vishnu, Vittal, Rama or Datta. Khuda, Khandoba, Devi, Allah or Hari; might all be names given with equal justification’. “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”.

          If each wants to get on in his own way, he should do so. He should choose the way that suits him best. By all means, let him do so. He should not be hindered. This is the only way to unite all sincere worshippers. Sincere bhaktas’ worship of Sai is the same as the worship of God.

          That is their feeling and according to correct metaphysics and philosophy, there is no difference between the worship of Sai treated as God and the worship of God under any other name or any other form. Both achieve the same ends.

          “In whatever form you surrender to Me, in that form, I respond- BG (4) 11.

          LoSB/Part I: Ch-XIV

        • No Fasting

          No Fasting

          Bromatology is the scientific study of food. It integrates principles from chemistry, biology, and engineering to understand and enhance the foods we consume.

          • Baba never fasted Himself, nor did He allow others to do so.
          • The mind of the faster is never at ease, then how could he attain his Paramartha (goal of life)?
          • God is not attained on an empty stomach; first the soul has to be appeased.
          • If there is no moisture of food in the stomach and nutrition,
            • with what eyes should we see God,
            • with what tongue should we describe His greatness and
            • with what ears should we hear the same?
            • In short, when all our organs receive adequate nutrition and remain sound, we can practice devotion. This also allows us to perform other sadhanas to attain God.
            • Therefore, neither fasting nor overeating is good. Moderation in diet is really wholesome both to the body and mind.

          SSSC-Ch 32