Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter 10 - Part II

Add as a preferred source on Google

Sai Ram. Let us continue with the study of Chapter 10 and enjoy the beauty of the spiritual gems that come up from the depths of the ocean of Sai. We saw how Baba generated curiosity in the minds of His devotees, by allowing them to have a peep into the spiritual realms, where tremendous powers ruled. He also showed through example that any power should be under our control and not the other way around. "Baba had all the eight Siddhis (powers) at His command. He never practiced nor craved for them. They came to Him naturally, as a result of His perfection." That is the secret of Satvik Siddhis.

Sagun Manifestation of Brahman

Though Sai Baba looked like a man, three cubits and a half in length, still He dwelt in the hearts of all.

Sai Ram. He dwelt in the hearts of all. That is the meaning of Spirit. And that is what the "Narayana Suktam' or 'Mantra Pushpa' , the offering of prayers, a Vedic Hymn, proclaimed. He is there in the hearts of all, as Narayana, the Chaitanyam or spark, which gives life. Sai Ram.

Inwardly, he was unattached and indifferent, but outwardly, He longed for public welfare. Inwardly most disinterested, He looked outwardly full of desires, for the sake of His devotees. Inwardly an abode of peace, he looked outwardly restless. Inwardly He had the state of Brahman, outwardly He acted like a devil.

Sai Ram. Hemadpant is trying to describe the state of opposites (duality) and then show that Sai is beyond the opposites. All the arguments about the nature of Brahman are futile. Like a coin has two sides, Brahman, too manifests as Nirgun and Sagun. Nirgun is so abstract a concept that ordinary Sadhakas like us can't really appreciate it let alone use it. Like no amount of philosophy is useful to a man to fill the stomach when he is hungry. At that time, food is what is needed. Similarly when a man is ill, medicine is needed. But when man is continually troubled by the disease of delusion, delusion that he is separate from the rest of the people, Brahma Jnan is needed to remove the delusion. In almost all the Vedic Hymns, this duality is recognized and respected. And all the prayers, rituals etc., are designed to help the person deal with the daily needs. Performing of one's karma or duty is the first step. Expecting a reward is natural. However, slowly but steadily a stage is reached where the faith of the person is built to a stage where he or she no longer expects a reward for the action performed and starts really offering the fruits of the actions at the Feet of Narayana, the Supreme. Sai Ram.

Inwardly He loved Adwaita (union or monism), outwardly He got entangled with the world.

Sai Ram. In the case of Siva, Adi Sankara, Ramana Maharshi or Sai and all other great Jnanis who are fully liberated souls, their enlightenment did not mean that they detached themselves from the day-to-day worldly activities. It just meant that they did what was needed to be done without any expectation of a personal reward. Sai Ram.