Sai Baba, through His words and actions, laid down several spiritual principles or “Laws” for seekers, guiding them on the path of self-realization, devotion, and a righteous life.
- Guru’s Grace and Guidance:
- The help of a Sadguru (True Guru) is absolutely necessary to
- traverse the spiritual path and
- attain God-vision,
- as bookish knowledge alone is insufficient.
- A Sadguru like Baba,
- who has attained self-realization,
- can impart spiritual wisdom,
- dispel the sense of difference, and
- establish disciples in unity.
- Implicit obedience and prompt compliance with the Guru’s orders is considered the real Dakshina (offering) that pleases Him most.
- The help of a Sadguru (True Guru) is absolutely necessary to
- Remembrance and Meditation:
- The constant remembrance of
- Baba’s name (“Sai, Sai”) is presented as an easy and powerful Sadhana (spiritual practice).
- It destroys
- sins,
- calms the mind,
- removes ignorance, and
- leads to self-realization and eternal happiness.
- He advised devotees to
- meditate on His formless nature, which is knowledge, consciousness, and bliss, or
- on His physical form, from head to toe.
- This practice helps to
- pacify thoughts (Vrittis),
- concentrate the mind, and
- ultimately merge the meditator with Supreme Consciousness.
- The constant remembrance of
- Renunciation and Non-attachment (Vairagya):
- Baba’s practice of asking for Dakshina (offerings) from devotees was primarily to
- teach them the lessons of renunciation and
- purification
- and to remove their attachment to money.
- He stated that wealth should be a means to work out Dharma, not for personal enjoyment.
- He often pointed out that
- “woman and wealth” are two main obstacles in spiritual life, and
- His teachings and practices served as tests for devotees to overcome attachment.
- He taught that true self-realization is not possible unless
- egoism is dropped,
- avarice is got rid of, and
- the mind is made desireless (pure).
- Baba’s practice of asking for Dakshina (offerings) from devotees was primarily to
- Disapproval of Fasting for Spiritual Gain:
- Baba
- never fasted Himself nor
- encouraged others to do so for spiritual benefit, stating that
- God cannot be attained on an empty stomach.
- He advocated for moderation in diet as wholesome for both body and mind.
- Baba
- Suffering for Karma:
- Baba taught that individuals must experience the consequences of their past actions (Karma), whether good or bad.
- Action and Duty (Karma Yoga):
- One must discharge the duties of their station in life
- satisfactorily and
- disinterestedly for the
- purification of the mind, which is a prerequisite for self-realization.
- Inactivity is considered a “canker of the soul”.
- Baba stressed that human life should be engaged in good actions and used to attain God-vision or self-realization, which is the supreme end of life.
- One must discharge the duties of their station in life
- Seeing God in All Beings (Unity):
- A fundamental teaching is to “See God in all beings”.
- Baba demonstrated this practically by stating that feeding a hungry dog is equivalent to feeding Him, as He pervades all creatures.
- He exhorted devotees to
- abandon the sense of duality and distinction, and
- to serve Him by serving all beings.
- Baba taught that
- “Rama (the God of the Hindus) and Rahim (the God of the Muslims) were one and the same”,
- advocating for
- unity among communities and
- discouraging disputes.
- He saw no difference between Religion / castes or Beings.
- He emphasized
- demolishing the “wall of difference” (the sense of “I and thou”)
- that separates the disciple from the Master, as this barrier prevents
- union with the Supreme.
- Oneness of Saints:
- All Saints are one and work in unison to fulfill the divine mission. They know each other’s work and can communicate and cooperate beyond physical limitations, guiding devotees towards the same ultimate truth.
- Divine Omnipresence and Omniscience:
- Baba affirmed His omnipresence and all-pervading nature, stating that He dwells in all beings from ants to Brahma and that there is no space without Him.
- He demonstrated His omniscience by
- knowing events far from Shirdi,
- reading devotees’ thoughts, and
- anticipating their needs and problems, often
- intervening to ward off calamities.
- He famously stated that His devotee, no matter how far, would be “drawn to Shirdi like a sparrow, with a thread tied to its feet”.
- Importance of Human Birth:
- The human body is considered
- a precious gift, obtained
- as a result of merits in past births.
- It should be used to
- attain God-vision or
- self-realization, which is the supreme aim of life.
- The human body is considered
- Spiritual Growth through Hearing/Singing Leelas (Stories):
- Baba encouraged the
- listening to and singing of His life and deeds (Leelas), stating that this practice would
- remove sins,
- calm the mind,
- destroy ignorance,
- abate worldly consciousness, and
- increase devotion and love.
- listening to and singing of His life and deeds (Leelas), stating that this practice would
- Those who trust Him entirely, hear and expound His Leelas (stories), and think of nothing else, are sure to attain Self-realization.
- He noted that in the Kali (present) Age, singing the name and glory of the Lord is the easiest Sadhana and is open to all.
- Baba encouraged the
- Surrender and Faith (Nishtha and Saburi):
- Baba repeatedly emphasized that,
- complete surrender of one’s
- ego (Ahamkara),
- body,
- mind, and
- wealth at the Guru’s feet is
- the most effective way to achieve spiritual goals.
- complete surrender of one’s
- He stated that by doing so, unsolicited, all chief objects of life (Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha ie Righteousness, Wealth, Desire and Deliverance) are easily attained.
- Unwavering faith (Nishtha) and patience (Saburi) are
- considered twin sisters and are
- crucial virtues for spiritual progress.
- Baba assured that if one has firm faith and patience, God will protect them.
- He stated that Saburi (patience)helps
- cross the ocean of mundane existence,
- removes sins and afflictions,
- casts aside fear, and
- ultimately brings success.
- Baba repeatedly emphasized that,
"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 