Shri Sai Satcharitra - Chapter XIII - Part I

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More Sai Leelas - Diseases Cured - (1) Bhimaji Patil - (2) Bala Shimpi - (3) Bapusaheb Booty - (4) Alandi Swami - (5) Kaka Mahajani - (6) Dattopant of Harda.

The Inscrutable Power of Maya

Baba's words were always short, pithy, deep, full of meaning, efficient and well-balanced. He was ever content and never cared for anything. He said, "Though I have become a Fakir, have no house or wife, and though leaving off all cares, I have stayed at one place, the inevitable maya teases me often. Though I forgot Myself I cannot forget Her. She always envelops Me.

The Maya (illusive power) of the Lord (Shri Hari) teases God Brahma and others; then what to speak of a poor Fakir like Me? Those who take refuge in the Lord will be freed from Her clutches with His grace". In such terms Baba spoke about the power of Maya. Lord Shri Krishna has said to Uddhava in the Bhagwat that the Saints are His living forms; and see what Baba had said for the welfare of His devotees in the next para.

"Those who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished; take to My worship. If you always say 'Sai, Sai' I shall take you over the seven seas; believe in these words, and you will be certainly benefited. I do not need any paraphernalia of worship - either eight-fold or sixteen-fold. I rest there where there is full devotion". Now read what Sai, the friend of those, who surrendered themselves to Him, did for their welfare.

Sai Ram. Though fully liberated from the shackles of Maya, Sai used to talk of Him being troubled by Maya, for the sake of His devotees. In a way, He identified Himself with His devotees and was guiding them indirectly, just as He sided with Rohilla when he was shouting kalmas from the Holy Quran at the top of his voice. In that instance, He said that Rohilla is troubled by his wife and by that meant the durbuddhi, evil mind, which is the result of Maya.

Sai was no doubt free from all the troubles of Maya but spoke thus for the sake of His devotees like us. Bookish knowledge is of no use in overcoming Maya. Pureness of heart, obtained by surrender to Guru/God is the only sure means for overcoming Maya. See how Baba identified Himself with Sri Krishna in the next paragraph.

In the earlier paragraph, He identified Himself with His simple devotees. Here, He is identifying Himself with Sri Hari. That is how, He is able to give the assurance that continuous remembrance of Him is the simple and sure means of getting across this Bhava Sagara of Maya.

Faith begets power. And as Sai said, only those whose demerits have vanished or atleast those whose merits have become preponderant, take to His worship. Very soon, they realize that Sai is ready to take all their burdens on Himself and true surrender is what is needed from their side. And as they surrender, they experience His grace more and more. As the pot (mind) becomes empty (of intellectual egoism), the pure nectar of the Guru's Grace can fill in.