Category: Other Sadhnas

Beyond the well-known practices, Baba prescribed many personal spiritual disciplines (sadhnas) tailored to individual devotees. Explore this rich variety of paths leading to the same divine goal.

  • 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

  • Joy and sorrow are mere delusion.

    Joy and sorrow are mere delusion.

    Mere appearance of worldly joy is not true happiness. The worldly man is forcibly drawn to it, as he believes it to be true happiness.

    According to the Prarabdha (accumulated karma) of each, one gets delicacies (Panchamrita): one, stale crumbs, and one, mere bran-gruel; The latter fancy themselves unhappy at that, and the former fancies he lacks nothing. But the result of eating any of these is merely the satisfaction of hunger.

    Some cover themselves with laced shawls, others with barks. Both serve only one purpose, covering the body.

    This joy and this sorrow is due to opinion, which is mere illusion and is ruinous.

    Whenever any idea of joy or sorrow arises in your mind, resist it. Do not give room to it. It is pure delusion.

    The ‘Shadripus’ -six enemies (Lust, Anger, Covetousness, Delusion, Pride and Jealousy) are all misleading Illusion; they make the unreal appear as real.

    If a rich man wears a gold ornament, the poor man gets jealous, and thinks he must have one. This is Lobha.
    All are like this. So one must conquer the six enemies. If they are conquered, waves of passion will not arise. Else they will enslave you.

    If they are subordinated and reason made the commandant, then the delusive pressures and pains will no longer hold sway over you.

  • Classification of disciples

    Classification of disciples

    • There are of three kinds of disciples of a Guru:
      • (1) First or Best
      • (2) Second or Average and
      • (3) Third or Ordinary.
    • The best kind of disciples are those who
      • guess what their Gurus want and
      • immediately carry it out and
      • serve them
      • without waiting for an order from them.
    • The average disciples are those who
      • carry out the orders of their Masters to a letter,
      • without any delay, and
    • the third kind of disciples are those, who
      • go on postponing the carrying out of their orders and
      • making mistakes at every step.
    • The disciples should have
      • firm faith,
      • backed up by intelligence
      • and if they add patience to these,
        • their spiritual goal will not be distant.
    • Control of
      • breath (ingoing and outgoing), or
      • Hath-Yoga (Balancing Sun and Moon force of Human Body) or
      • other difficult practices
        • are not at all necessary.
    • When
      • the disciples get the above mentioned qualities,
      • they become ready for further instructions and
      • Masters then appear and
      • lead them on, in their spiritual path to perfection.
  • Various teachings and practices, prescribed by Baba

    Various teachings and practices, prescribed by Baba

    • Baba lovingly urged many to remember His name and to surrender to Him,
    • Yet for those seeking to understand ‘who they truly were’ (the ‘Who am I’ enquiry), He gently recommended Shravanam (study) and Mananam (meditation).
    • To some, He lovingly guided
      • the remembrance of God’s name,
      • to others, the joy of hearing HIS Leelas /Plays,
      • to some, the sacred worship of His Feet,
      • and to others, the reading and studying of the Adhyatma Ramayan, Jnaneshwari, and more sacred scriptures.
    • Some He tenderly invited to sit near His Feet,
    • while others He lovingly sent to Khandoba’s temple,
    • He advised some
      • to repetition the thousands of names of Vishnu,
      • and others to engage in the study of the Chhandogya Upanishad and Geeta.
    • To some, He offered His guidance directly in person, and to others, through the precious visions in their dreams.
    • He lovingly explained certain Mantras, such as ‘Guru Brahma’, “Raja Ram’ in their dreams.
    • To one devotee,
      • who was earnestly practicing Hath-Yoga,
      • HE conveyed a gentle message to leave those practices aside,
      • to sit in quiet and embrace patience (Saburi).
    • Truly, it is an immense task to describe all of His ways and methods, each filled with love and compassion.
  • Sense of differentiation is the barrier to Happy or Union

    Sense of differentiation is the barrier to Happy or Union

    “If anybody wants any money from you, and you are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark at him, like a dog.

    Let anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving any bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy.

    Let the world go topsy-turvy, you remain where you are. Standing or staying in your own place, look on calmly at the show of all things passing before you.

    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, “Allah Malik”

    Baba in SSSC-Ch 18 & 19

  • If any men or creatures come to you, do

    If any men or creatures come to you, do

    • “Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere.
    • 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 (Platform outside to House) to strangers for sitting and resting. “

    It is on account of Rinaubandh (former relationship) that we have come together, let us love and serve each other and be happy. He, who attain the supreme goal of life, is immortal and happy”

    Baba in SSSC-Ch 18 & 19

  • He, who sees Me (Baba) in all the creatures

    He, who sees Me (Baba) in all the creatures

    “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

  • Quotation- BCS 309

    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?

    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

  • Quotation 323

    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