Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 9 - Part II

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One European gentleman of Bombay once came to Shirdi, with an introductory note from Nanasaheb Chandorkar, and with some object in view. He was comfortably accommodated in a tent. He wanted to kneel before Baba and kiss His hand. Therefore, he tried thrice to step into the Masjid, but Baba prevented him from doing so. He was asked to sit in the open courtyard below and take Baba's darshan from there. Not pleased with this reception he got, he wanted to leave Shirdi at once and came to bid good-bye. Baba asked him to go the next day and not to hurry. People also requested him to abide by Baba's direction. Not listening to all this, he left Shirdi in a tanga. The horses ran at first all right, but when Sawul well was passed, a bicycle came in front, seeing which the horses were frightened and ran fast. The tanga was turned topsy-turvy and the gentleman fell down and was dragged some distance. He was immediately released; but had to go and lie in Kopargaon hospital for the treatment of the injuries. Because of such experiences all people learnt the lesson, that those who disobeyed Baba's instruction met with accidents in one way or the other, and those who obeyed them were safe and happy.

Sai Ram. Baba had His own reasons for doing so. And when He did not will it, no one could step into that Dwarakamai. A haji tried for several months to enter the Masjid but could not do so. Each has to get ready.

"He was asked to sit in the open court-yard below and take Baba's darshan from there. Not pleased with this reception he got, he wanted to leave Shirdi at once and came to bid good-bye." Thus showing that his ego was as yet not ripe to receive Baba's grace.

Baba mentioned many times that He could see a bit further into the future and thus was acting in the best interests of those souls that were given into His charge. But He didn't always interfere with their freedom of choice since the humans were endowed with the faculty of discrimination and thus could be expected to take due care. They also had to realize that their egoistic vision had definite limits unlike Baba's who was one with all.

So, Baba did allow some freedom of action like a watchful mother allows the child to play but rushes to its rescue when it gets into trouble. Recollect the incident related in Chapter 8. After a few such incidents, the child does realize that its own limited knowledge is inadequate and accepts the directions of the Mother willingly.