There are some Beings- you cannot put them into any bracket. You cannot say that they belong to this bracket or that bracket; they are this kind or that they are that kind. They are of all kinds. They can come from anywhere and go off anywhere. You can never say what they will teach at a given time. You cannot imitate their actions. They are a certain variety of spiritual Beings, who have come completely perfect only for the purpose of setting an example, and teaching people. They are not people who had to, at least in that life, do any ‘sadhana’. Although people like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa were also born perfect, they went through a certain period of sadhana. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa did twelve years of intense sadhana. Sai Baba of Shirdi spoke about different kinds of sadhana which He did in His younger days.
This sadhana is intended to set an example to others. It is not meant for themselves. These Beings set an example to those who watch them and see how they lead their lives. It is for those who are spiritually inclined, and those who would like to achieve spiritual fulfillment.
For instance, Baba used to say that he practiced Guru Yoga. That means, complete attention on the teacher. Baba used to mention His Guru, a man called Venkusha who lived in the Nizam’s provinces which was in that part of Andhra Pradesh which was close to Maharashtra. He was the Zamindar of that province. In His youth, Baba lived with this person, Venkusha, for quite sometime and all the sadhana that He did was to sit and look at His Guru wide-eyed and nothing else. He said that He looked and He looked and He looked. He also listened to what was taught to the others.
Venkusha was a very great bhakta of Balaji/ Tirupati/ Venkatachalpathi. He was completely dedicated to his sadhana and he was so much into it that it was the most important thing for him. For instance, it is said that, one day he was sitting and watching, looking out of his house, when he saw a young woman going to fetch water. Suddenly, he got lustfully attracted to her in spite of having decided not to have any such thoughts. So, he went into the house, took out a skewer and put out his own eyes, saying, “Eyes that don’t listen to me. Have no right to exist!” He was a sadhaka of that caliber-very strict!
So, Sai Baba used to say that He used to just watch His master- watch him and watch him and watch him. Then, one day, His master told Him. “ You don’t have to look anymore. Whatever I have, has been given to you.” Baba went into samadhi! And when He woke up, He felt that He was not different from Venkusha, His teacher.
He also referred to the other practices that He had done and the trials that he had gone through when His teacher had tested Him. Many of His stories are very cryptic, it is difficult to get exactly what He is meaning to say.
There is one story, that one day He and three of his co-disciples, were going along in the forest, when, the teacher came suddenly and said, “Now I am going to test you all. I am going to tie you up upside-down in the well.” The three co-disciples ran away saying, “What kind of discipline is this? We don’t want it!” But Sai Baba said, “O.K., if that is what you want to do to me, I am ready for it.” He surrendered. So, His legs were tied up and He was made to hang with His head down, barely touching the water. If He had put His tongue out, He would have almost touched the water, but He could not do it. He was left like that for three days. Every now and then His Master used to come and ask Him “Are you ready?” and He would say, “Yes!” His Master would ask, “Are you feeling uncomfortable?” Baba would reply, “No!” Master would ask, “Do you want to drink any water?” Baba would say, “No!” Baba used to call this ‘Sirisha Yoga.’ It is a peculiar word. There is no such term known in Yoga.
So, having faced all these trials and tribulations, Baba was ready to put up with anything that was asked of Him. The result was that His mind had become inseparably one with the mind of His Master. So there was no further sadhana that was required of Him.
Now this is the ‘Guru Yoga’ that many teachers have taught. The teaching of Sai Baba of Shirdi was entirely that. The most important sadhana here is to worship the Guru, look at Him, meditate upon Him, and also follow the teachings that He has given, the most important of which is to consider all other living beings as part of yourself, because, if you don’t have that, then all this worshipping is of no use. This is important.
Many people used to come to Him and bring money, or this and that. Some used to fall at His feet too, but Baba could see through and through and know who is who. In fact, there were some who used to sit quietly in a corner, in the wadas that they had around there, doing their own japa and meditation. They did not even go to see Baba, but He would go to them, tap them on their head and say. “Ah! You are doing your work now. This is what Sai is here for. This is very important, not just singing praises and doing what we want.”
In our life, our sadhana is very important and this is what He wants: only then is worshipping the teacher of any use. If that is not there, then there is no use. If for thirty-five or forty years, we are close to someone who we consider a great teacher, like the Sai Baba of Shirdi and we worship Him; but if our lives do not change, as His teaching is meant to do and if we remain the same, as selfish as ever before, as angry as ever before, as petty as ever before- then it all comes to naught!
‘Saburi’ and ‘Shraddha’ are the two words written on His samadhi. Saburi means complete patience, especially in sadhana where one has to go through so many trials and tribulations. Sometimes, people take up sadhana very enthusiastically, but the moment some trouble comes upon them, then they leave their sadhana. They run off because they think that either the problem has come because of their sadhana, or, they think, “First, let me put this right, then I will go back to my meditation.” It never happens because sorrows, troubles and tribulations are part of our lives. When we are born into this life itself – how we come out of the womb is itself a big trauma. In fact, the psychiatrists say that many of the mental diseases that people have now are because of the trauma of birth. Because we have to come out of a little place, the body is almost strangled and pushed out. From that time to the end – till we go- it is the same. So one can never expect in this world to be hundred percent free of material problems. Impossible! No one has lived like that.
So, that should not discourage us from our spiritual sadhana. Of course, sometimes, it happens that to keep us on the path of our sadhana, God and great teachers help us to achieve certain things materially- that is there, but at some point, when there is a true ‘sadhak’, then some tests are given to find out what he considers more important – that or this. If one goes through those tests and comes out, then one moves a step forward in spiritual life. We may also pray to the teacher, or pray to God and say, “Please save me from these problems.” We may be saved- there is no denying that. But, saburi means, “this has been given to me. Let me bear with it. It has been given by Him. No matter what happens, I will stick to my sadhana. I’ll stick to my meditation.” That is called saburi- Patience .Also, have patience in the face of criticism. Even when greatly agitated, try to be patient. Things will take care of themselves. We can never say when the Grace of God comes, so we cannot be impatient but, of course we should be eager to get it. We should also wait patiently.
There is a story of a man who looked like a mad man. He was going around a tree, singing the praises of God, when Narad, who always travels all over the world, saw this man going around the tree. The man saw Narad and said, “Oh! You are coming from Narayana. Please tell me, when will I achieve the darshan of Narayana?” Narad said, “It will take about a hundred births for you to get a darshan of Narayana!” Immediately, the man clapped his hands and said, “Wonderful! I am going to get the darshan of Narayana in about a hundred births, which is not possible for one to get after thousand births!” He went mad with ecstasy crying, ”Only hundred births!” That is saburi- patience! That comes only with humility. But there are some people who practice sadhana for one year, or one month, and say, “Ah! I have done intense sadhana, now I must see God!” But we have to work for it. Sri Ramakrishna Himself did twelve years of intense sadhana. So, that is saburi.
Shraddha means absolute one pointed attention. It has been translated as ‘Faith’ also. It actually means absolute, one pointed attention; complete attention on your goal. That is shraddha.
If both shraddha and saburi are there, then definitely, there is no problem in sadhana. What happens often is that, when there is shraddha there is not enough saburi and sometimes saburi may be there, but no shraddha. Both are necessary. Absolute, one –pointed total attention is required in our path, along with infinite patience.
While we practice our sadhana, if we sometimes get some powers, or see lights or hear sounds- do not think that God is going to come! There are many people who have many powers, but have not yet had the darshan of the Lord. It is not the same; it could also be separate- there may be someone who shows no capacity for the so-called ‘Siddhis’, but might have achieved the darshan of the Lord. What about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu-did He exhibit any siddhis? No- there was only His God and Himself! We are not denying siddhis. Siddhis are some powers that a person acquires. But when there is a great saint like Sai Baba, some happenings may take place spontaneously. He never said, “I will do this for you, I will do that for you.”
Whenever people went to Him with any problem he only said, “Allah Malik Hai!” or, “Fakir bhala karega!” By ‘Fakir’ here, He did not mean Himself, He was referring to the Lord. But in His presence, certain things happened by themselves, spontaneously. He never demonstrated anything to show that He was somebody great, or to attract people- Never! It just happened.
So, sometimes there may be a mad man, looking absolutely crazy, sitting in one corner, in the bus stand or in the street somewhere, who may not show any powers, but he could very easily be a advanced, spiritual person. What I am trying to say is that one need not have any extra, fancy trimmings. Many of the Avadhootas – like Gajanan Maharaj of Maharashtra, were all great saints.
So, shraddha and saburi – both are necessary.
Sai Baba always gave vibhuti from the dhuni. So we’ll all go afterwards and take some vibhuti from the dhuni.
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