Category: Art of living

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‘.