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Sai Satcharitra-Shirdi Sai-Love In Spirituality-Ch 48

Sai Satcharitra, Ch 48
Continued from Sai Satcharitra-Satguru And Guru-Ch-48

Hemadpant thinks that on account of the store or accumulation of merits in his past births, he had the good fortune of meeting and being blessed by such a Sad-guru as Shirdi Sai Baba. Even in full youth He hoarded nothing (expect perhaps chillim). He had no family, no friend, no home, nor any support. Since He was eighteen, His control of mind was perfect and extra-ordinary. He lived then fearless in a secluded place and always abided in His Self. Seeing the pure attachment of His devotees He always acted in their interests and hence He was in a way dependent on them.

What experiences Shirdi Sai gave to His devotees while he was living in flesh, are even to-day, after His Mahasamadhi, obtained now by those who attach themselves to Him. What the devotees have to do is this - They have to trim their heart-lamp of faith and devotion, and burn in it wicks of love, and when this is done, the flame of knowledge (self-realization) will be lit up and shine brighter.

Mere knowledge without love is dry; nobody wants such knowledge. Without love there is no contentment; so we should have unbroken and unbounded love. How can we praise love? Everything is insignificant before it. Without love, our reading, hearing and the study are of no avail. In the wake of love follow devotion, dispassion, peace and liberation with all their treasures. We do not get love for anything unless we feel earnestly about it. So where there is real yearning and feeling, God manifests Himself. It includes love and is the means of liberation.

Now let us revert to the main story of this chapter. Let a man go to a true saint with a pure mind, otherwise (fraudulently) and hold his feet; ultimately he is sure to be saved. This is illustrated by the following stories.

Sai Ram. The above discussion is rather academic. There is only one Guru (Paramatma, Para Brahma), manifesting as Guru or Sad-Guru. Sri Guru (Lord Dattatreya) explains this in Sri Guru Charitra. Depending on our karma, destiny, fate, we meet the right Guru, including a pseudo-Guru (let us recall the story of pseudo-Guru Jawahar Ali and how Sai served him as He would have served a real Guru).

Sad-Guru means true Guru or good Guru. It is God, who comes as Guru in many forms (again we recall the 24 Gurus of Lord Dattatreya, indicating that if we are humble and are willing to learn the whole universe can become Guru). A person cannot go to a Saint, Temple or Guru unless He wills it. And whether we go willingly or unwillingly, fire burns! Guru thus burns / dissolves our ego and purifies us so that we move further on the spiritual path. Sai Ram.

Sai Satcharitra

Sai Satcharitra, a spiritual text, is the reflection of the story of Shirdi Sai (baba), a noted Indian Saint and His teachings, written by Hemadpant, a direct devotee and disciple of Shirdi Sai. This article is an excerpt from Sai Satcharitra-Chapter 48, begining with 'Warding off devotees' calamities'. This article an introduction to Ch 48, reveals the difference between a Satguru and a Guru.

About the author

S V Swamy

Swarna Venkateswara Swamy, (also known as Venkateswara Swamy Swarna, S.V.Swamy or simply Swamy) is a physicist and a metallurgist by education. He considers Sai Baba of Shirdi as his Sadguru but respects all Gurus. He is an avid reader, a book reviewer and an editor. He has an abiding interest in holistic health systems.

To be continued

Story first published: Thursday, February 10, 2011, 12:30 [IST]