Shri Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter 31-Part 1 (Contd)

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Sai Ram. Baba did not get enraged with Vijayanand but with his fickle nature. A sanyasi should be totally indifferent to comfort or discomfort and danger if any to physical welfare. He should not mind even death since he knows that death and birth are in God's hands and therefore should not be afraid. The word Sanyas means "Well established" (establishing the nature of Atma in one's mind).

A person who is firmly established in truth (Aham Brahmasmi, Sivoham etc. ) is called Sanyasi, not necessarily one who wears Kashaya (Ochre) robes. A sanyasi who is easily deflected from his goal is of no use to himself and to the society.The sense of unity with the Paramatma is supposed to be well established and in such people, there is no place for fear or lassitude. One should not take Sanyas casually. Sai was indicating the same. Sai Ram.

He stayed in Shirdi for two days when he got a letter from Madras stating that his mother was very ill. He felt very dejected and wanted to be by his mother's side; but he could not leave without Baba's permission. So he saw Baba with the letter in hand and asked for His permission to return home.

The omniscient Baba knowing the future said to him - "If you so loved your mother, why did you take Sannayasa? With fondness or attachment, ill becomes an ochre garb. Go and sit quiet at your lodging, wait with patience for a few days. In the Wada there are many robbers, bolt your doors, be very vigilant, the thieves will carry everything.

Baba was alluding to our knowledge of ourselves. The thieves and robbers are our sense organs and attachments to the body, mind, ego etc. Wada means the mind. Bolting the doors represents good control over thoughts, Yama, Niyama etc. The first firm steps on the path of spirituality can be taken only after getting control over one's mind. Sai Ram.

"Wealth and prosperity are transient and the body is subject to decay and death. Knowing this, do your duty, leaving all attachment to the things of this world and next. He who does this and surrenders himself to the feet of Hari (Lord) will get free from all troubles and attain bliss. The Lord runs and helps him who remembers and meditates on Him with love and affection.

Your store of past merits is considerable, so you have come here. Now attend to what I say and realise the end of your life. Being desireless, begin from tomorrow the study of Bhagwat. Do three 'saptahas' i.e. three reading during three weeks, conscientiously. The Lord will be pleased with you and destroy your sorrows, your illusions will vanish and you will get peace." Seeing that his end was approaching, Baba prescribed that remedy and made him read 'Ramavijaya' which pleases the God of death.

Next morning after bathing and other purifying rites he commenced to read Bhagwat in a secluded part in the Lendi garden. He completed two readings and thereafter felt much exhausted. He returned to the Wada and stayed in his lodging for two days and on the third day he breathed his last on Fakir (Bade) Baba's lap. Baba asked the people to preserve the body for a day for a good reason. The police afterwards came and on making proper enquiries gave permission for the disposal of the body. It was buried in a proper place with due rites. In this way Baba helped the Sannyasi and ensured him Sadgati (salvation).

Sai Ram. Since Baba knew the future, He arranged for the proper path for the Sanyasi, so that he attained sadgati. His store of past merits was indeed considerable. Sai Ram.

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