“Eating that lovely bread I(Baba) am heartily contended and I am still belching. 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.
Baba in SSSC-Chapter 9 to Mrs. Tarkhad
Category: Art of living
Ia Good standard of Living in this Materialistic World
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He, who sees Me (Baba) in all the creatures
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Would You like to come with me?
“I will show you what you want,
but he alone who believes in what I say,
will be successful”
Baba’s Guru to Baba
SSSC-Ch 32
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Make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will attain Paramartha
“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 (money).
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 and at once, he was pleased.
Mother, Saburi is courage, do not discard it. It ferries you across to goal. It gives i) overcomes all fears, ii) manliness to men, iii) eradicates sin and dejection and
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; and
- we were both filled with Bliss.
- I cared not to turn my eye upon anything else.
- Night and day, I pored 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 the art of my Guru!
- I wanted nothing but the Guru and
- he wanted nothing but my love.
- Apparently action less,
- he never neglected me,
- but always protected me by his glance.
That Guru—I tell the truth, 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.”
- The lady bowed, accepted the advice and gave up her satyagraha.
Baba to a Lady, who started Fasting to get mantra from Him, about His Guru.
- How can I describe his love to me?
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Quotation- BCS 309
Alms giving without discrimination
“Athiti is what ever creature is hungry and comes on to you, at that (kakabali-crow offering) time, whether it is human or a bird, beast or insect.All these seek food. The real Athiti that you get, (but) you do not regard as such. These have come to you in lakhs.
Nana! give up your rotten interpretation*. At kakabali, take plenty of boiled rice outside the house and leave it there.
Do not shout or call for any, nor drive away. Whatever the creature that comes to eat, let not that disturb your mind. You get thus the merit of feeding lakhs of guests. “
Baba in BCS para 309 to N G Chandorkar alias Nana
*The phrase “Atithi Devo Bhava” translates to “The guest is akin to God,” highlighting the reverence and care that should be given to guests.
In Hinduism, welcoming guests, especially unexpected ones, is considered a sacred duty. This practice is deeply embedded in the culture and traditions, emphasizing the hospitality that should be extended to guests. Here are a few key aspects:
Rituals and Practices for Welcoming Guests
1. Traditional Welcome:
– Guests are often greeted with a warm “Namaste,” a gesture of respect and reverence.
– In some households, a ceremonial welcome called Aarti might be performed, where a small lamp is waved in front of the guest, accompanied by singing or chanting.
– Some families may apply a small mark (often a red dot known as tilak) on the guest’s forehead as a sign of blessing and respect.
2. Offering Refreshments:
– Guests are typically offered water, tea, butter-milk or other beverages upon arrival. This practice signifies hospitality and the intention to make the guest feel comfortable and valued.
– Following this, guests may be served snacks or meals, often including traditional and home-cooked dishes.
3. Providing Comfort:
– Hosts ensure that the guests have a comfortable place to sit and rest. Clean towels, refreshments, and any other necessities are provided.
– In many cases, if the guest is staying overnight, special arrangements are made to ensure their comfort, including clean bedding and private space.
4. Treating Guests with Respect:
– Throughout the visit, guests are treated with utmost respect. Conversations are often centered around the guest’s well-being, their travel experiences, and any needs they might have.
– Hosts may also offer small gifts or tokens of appreciation when the guest departs, further signifying the importance of their visit.
These practices not only reflect the value placed on hospitality in Hindu culture, but also emphasize the spiritual aspect of serving and honoring guests as part of one’s duty (dharma). -
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
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Quotation 323
” What is this sira and who eats it? Do not say of anyone that he is your enemy”.
Baba wanted to point out to Das Ganu (devotee) that he is the soul, which neither eats nor has any other physical function. And that all souls are in essence one and the same, viz., Paramatma.
To one who has realised himself as Paramatma, there can be no enemy at all.
Which means, “The one Vishnu (God) is in you, in me and others; all he endures. Your anger is senseless. See the (same) Atman in every one. “
LoSB-Chapter 3 of Part II, to Das Ganu Maharaj who had said that “that man is my enemy”, when not getting sira/drink
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Quotations 141
“Oh Shama, this book is very valuable and efficacious, so I present it to you, you read it.
- Once I suffered intensely and My heart began to palpitate and My life was in danger.
- At that critical time, I hugged this book to My heart and
- then, Shama, what a relief it gave me!
- I thought that Allah (God) Himself came down and saved Me.
- So I give this to you, read it slowly, little by little.
- Read daily one name at least, and it will do you good.”
Baba to Shama in SSSC Ch-27 about the Book “Vishnu-Sahasra-Nam”
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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
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Proof Reading of Sai Literatures, Opportunity at Shirdi
Public Appeal from Shirdi, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan
Shri Saibaba Sansthan, Shirdi is planning to reprint its Literatures in Marathi, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Odia, Kannada, Gujarati, Assamese, Punjabi, Sindhi, Urdu, Nepali etc.
For this purpose, Sansthan is inviting Sai Devotees, who have PHD to Form a Committee of 30/40 members.
The work involves i)corrections ii) proof reading of the text and iii) Helping Sansathan to resolve issues/doubt, raised by Sai Devotees, on a regular basis.
Since Sai Seva, there is no compensation for this project.
Thanks SSS Trust, Shirdi PS: please check their official website for latest updates.
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Sai Devotees-Do Free Service at Shirdi Temple
Sai Devotees, You can now do Free Service at Shirdi, under Sai Sevak Scheme of Shirdi-Sai-Baba-Temple-Management.
Opportunity to do seva at/near our Sai Mandir at Shirdi, and get Sai Baba’s blessings, directly.
About Sai Sevak Scheme
- Sai Sevak ‘Group’ with maximum 21 members
- Seva period will be 7 days only ie Every Tuesday to Monday
- Sai Sevak Group should reach on Monday at Sansthan’s Sai Ashram No.2 (Dharmashala) by 2.00 p.m.
- Free facilities given:
- 21 members accommodation, at Sai Dharmshala
- Meals at Prasadalaya
- Breakfast packets at accommodation
- Tea at seva
- Daily Darshan
- Aarti once in 7 days.
- Documents required are
- 2 Passport size Photos.
- Aaadhar Card Xerox.
- Medical Fitness certificate.
- Police (On Line) Verification or Character Certificate from Corporation Ward Member/ Municipal Chairman /Gram President.
- No compensation/ claim for employment, against Seva.
- Only 10 groups will be accepted for service in each week by Temple.
- Service Places offered at:-
- Contact:-
- Website – online.sai.org.in
- Email: labour@sai.org.in
- Call: 02423 258811/10
PS. The above details are given for information only. Contact the above, for Registration and latest updates.
Steps in registration process
"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 