Sai Satcharitra- Shirdi Sai Baba Wooden Plank(Chapter 45)

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Wooden plank Baba's Bed-Stead, and not Bhagat's

In His earlier days, Baba slept on a wooden plank, 4 arms in length and only a span in breadth with panatis (earthen lamps) burning at the four corners. Later on He broke the plank into pieces and threw it away (Vide Chapter X).

Once Baba was describing the greatness or importance of this plank to Kakasaheb. Hearing this the latter said to Baba - "If You still love the wooden plank, I will again suspend or hang up one in the Masjid again for You to sleep at ease." Baba replied - "I won't like to sleep up, leaving Mhalasapati down on the ground." Then Kakasaheb said - "I will provide another plank for Mhalasapati." Baba - "How can he sleep on the plank? It is not easy to sleep up on the plank. He who has many good qualities in him can do so. He who can sleep 'with his eyes wide open' can effect that. (Established in consciousness)

When I go to sleep I ask often Mhalasapati to sit by My side, place his hand on My heart and watch the 'chanting of the Lord's name' there, and if he finds Me sleepy, wake Me up. He can't do even this. He himself gets drowsy and begins to nod his head. (Not established in consciousness due to ignorance) When I feel his hand heavy as a stone on My heart and cry out - 'Oh Bhagat', he moves and opens his eyes. How can he, who can't sit and sleep well on the ground and whose asana (posture) is not steady and who is a slave to sleep, sleep high up on a plank?

On many other occasions Baba said, out of love for His devotees - "What (whether good or bad) is ours, is with us, and what is another's is with him."

Sai Ram. Baba was indicating the sadhana that needs to be gone through by a sadhaka if he aspires for higher powers in the spiritual domain. It is also interesting to note that the same Mhalsapathi could sit with the body of Baba in his lap for nearly 3 days! That was possible only because Baba's grace was flowing through Mhalsapathi at that time. Baba also was indicating that one should not be jealous of the powers and siddhis of other aspirants but should stick to one's own sadhana and be content. Sai Ram.

Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all

Sai Satcharitra

Sai Satcharitra is an autobiographical account of Shirdi Sai Baba, a spiritual teaching in itself looked upon by spiritual seekers. In this write up which is a part of Chapter 4, the wooden plank on which He slept is explained. A seeker with a spiritual vision can make out the underlying symbolisation that Baba sleeping on the wooden plank suspended from above refers to Him being established in consciousness. Baba's explanation as to why Mhalasapati can not use the wooden plank clearly points out him not having reached the highest state of consciousness owing to ignorance.

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.