Welcome

Shirdi Sai Baba says, "He who surrenders himself to the Feet of Hari will get free from all troubles." But the problem for us is to understand what surrender is, and how to implement it in practice so that our prayers are effectively fulfilled by Baba.

Surrender is the process of merger of consciousness of our self with the universal Consciousness of God; obviously, we can't even understand what it is, leave alone accomplishing it ourselves.

If we could find a spiritual tool that will help us surrender to the universal Consciousness, we'll be definitely pleased to use it so that we can get assistance from Baba in facing the challenges of our life, won't we?

I have been using one such tool, which I prefer to call AWARENESS CHANTING, to increase the effectiveness of my prayers for a decade with reasonable success rate.

I have designed a Prayer called SHIRDI SAI BABA AWARENESS CHANTING SARANAGATI PRAYER (posted in this blog as an article below) to incorporate Awareness Chanting so that we can surrender our consciousness of our self to the universal Consciousness of God with considerable ease.

~ umasreedasan

GOLDEN WORDS OF SHIRDI SRI SAI BABA

GOLDEN WORDS OF SHIRDI SRI SAI BABA

1. On Shamaji’s request on behalf of Hemadpantji to write the biography of Baba:

            “Let him make a collection of stories and experiences and keep notes and memos; I will help him. He is only an outward instrument. I should write Myself My autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees.
 He should get rid of his ego, place it at My feet. He, who acts like this in life, him I help the most. What of my life-stories? I serve him in his house in all possible ways.
            When his ego is completely annihilated  and there is left no trace of it, I Myself shall enter into him and shall Myself write My own life.
            Hearing my stories and teachings will create faith in devotees’ hearts and they will easily get self-realization and bliss.
            Let there be no insistence on establishing one’s own view, no attempt to refute other’s opinions and no discussion of pros and cons of any subject.”


2. In apparent reply to Hemadpantji’s argument regarding the necessity of Guru for one’s spiritual progress:

            Next day, after Hemadpant’s meeting with Sai Baba, Kakasaheb went to Baba and asked whether he should leave Shirdi.
            Baba said, “Yes”.
            Then someone asked, “Baba, where to go?”
            Baba said, “High up.”
            Then the man asked, “How is the way?”
            Baba said, “There are many ways leading there; there is one way also from here. The way is difficult. There are tigers and wolves in the jungles on the way.”
            Kakasaheb asked, “But, Baba, What if we take a guide with us?”
            Baba answered, “Then there is no difficulty. The guide will take you straight to your destination, avoiding wolves, tigers and ditches etc. on the way. If there be no guide, there is the danger of your being lost in the jungles or falling into ditches.”


3. On Shamaji’s request on behalf of Hemadpantji to write the biography of Baba:

            “If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And, if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees, who are attached to Me heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories. Believe me that if anybody sings My leelas, I will give him infinite joy and ever-lasting contentment.
            It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me and who does worship Me faithfully, and who remembers Me and meditates on Me constantly. How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worship Me, who think of My stories and My life and who, thus, always remember Me! I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of death.
            If My stories are listened to, all the diseases will be got rid of. So, hear My stories with respect; and think and meditate on them, assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if it has wholehearted and complete faith, it will be one with Supreme Consciousness.
The simple remembrance of My name as “Sai, Sai” will do away with sins of speech and hearing.”


4. One day at noon when devotees were returning to their lodgings, after the arati:

            “Be wherever you like, do whatever you choose, remember this well that all what you do is known to Me. I am the Inner Ruler of all and seated in their hearts. I envelope all the creatures, the movable and immovable world. I am the Controller – the Wire-puller of the show of this universe. I am the Mother – origin of all beings – the Harmony of three Gunas, the Propeller of all senses, the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer.
Nothing will harm him, who turns his attention towards Me; but Maya will lash him, who forgets Me. All the insects, ants, the visible, movable and immovable world, is My body.”


5. Baba’s general advice to his bhaktas as recollected by Hemadpantji:

            “There will never be any dearth regarding food and clothes in any devotees’ homes. It is my special characteristic that I always look to and provide for the welfare of those devotees who worship Me whole-heartedly with their minds ever fixed on Me. Lord Krishna has also said the same in the Gita.
            Therefore strive not much for food and clothes. If you want anything, beg of the Lord. Leave worldly honours. Try to get Lord’s grace and blessings and be honoured in His court. Do not be deluded by worldly honour.
            The form of the Deity should be firmly fixed in the mind. Let all the senses and mind be ever devoted to the worship of the Lord; let there be no attraction for any other thing. Fix the mind in remembering Me always, so that it will not wander elsewhere, towards body, wealth and home. Then it will be calm, peaceful and carefree. This is the sign of the mind, being well engaged in good company. If the mind is vagrant, it cannot be called well-merged.”


6. On Mrs.Tarkhad’s giving bread to a stray dog:

            “Eating that lovely bread I am heartily contended and I am still belching. The dog which you saw before meals and to which you gave the piece of bread, is one with Me; so also other creatures . I am roaming in their forms. He who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved. So, abandon the sense of duality and distinction and serve Me as you did today.”


7. Baba’s general advice to his bhaktas as recollected by Hemadpantji:

            “Ram and Rahim are one and the same; there is not the slightest difference between them; then why should their devotees fall out and quarrel among themselves?”


8. Baba’s general advice to his bhaktas as recollected by Hemadpantji:

            “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.”


*****

Get Your FREE eBook "Golden Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba"

A decade and a half back I selected instructions and life events of (followers of) Shirdi Sai Baba in eighteen groups each, and compiled them into a write-up for my ready reference and periodic recital programs in the pursuit of my spiritual and material goals.

 The selection criterion I used was simple - those instructions and life events of Baba that will contribute to the surrender of my Consciousness to the universal Consciousness. It took fifteen years for spiritual Enlightenment to happen to me, and all along those fifteen years that write-up was so much useful for me to learn, practice and perfect the technology of Surrender by separating and expanding my Consciousness and merging It with the universal Consciousness.

In these fifteen years my family, social and professional life has become more and more peaceful due to the influence of the content of that write-up.

I have used that write-up to prepare this book titled, "Golden Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba"



~umasreedasan.

*******


9. On demand from Shamaji to impart mantra or upadesam to an old lady who had determined to fast herself unto death so long as Baba did not accept her and give her any upadesam or mantra, after completion of three days of fasting:

“Oh mother! Why are you subjecting yourself to unnecessary tortures and approaching death? You are really My mother and I am your child. Take pity on Me and hear Me through. I tell you My own story, which if you listen carefully, will do you good.
 I had a Guru. He was a great saint and most merciful. I served him long, very long; still he would not blow any Mantra into My ears. I had keen desire never to leave him but to stay with and serve him; and at all costs receive some instructions from him. But he had his own way.
            He first got My head shaved and asked Me two paise as dakshina – His two paise were shraddha (firm faith) and saburi (patience and perseverance). I gave these two paise to him and he was pleased.
            I resorted to My Guru for 12 years. He brought Me up. There was no dearth of food and clothing. He was full of love. How can I describe it? He loved Me most. Rare is a Guru like him.
            When I looked at him, he seemed as if he was in deep meditation and then we both were filled with bliss. Night and day I gazed at him with no thought of hunger and thirst. Without him I felt restless. I had no other subject to meditate, nor any other thing than My Guru to attend. He was My sole refuge. My mind was always fixed on him. This is one paisa of dakshina.
            Saburi is the other paisa. I waited patiently and very long on My Guru and served him. This saburi will ferry you across the sea of this mundane existence. Saburi is manliness in man, it removes all sins and afflictions, gets rid of calamities in various ways, and casts aside all fear, and ultimately gives you success. Saburi is the mine of all virtues, consort of good thought. Shraddha and saburi are like twin sisters, loving each other very intimately.

            My Guru never expected any other thing from Me. I lived with him, and was sometimes away from him; still I never felt the absence of his love. He always protected Me by his glance, just as the tortoise feeds her young ones, whether they are near her or away from her on the other side of the river bank, by her loving looks.
            Oh mother! My Guru never taught Me any mantra; then how shall I blow any mantra in your ears? Just remember that Guru’s tortoise-like loving glance gives us happiness. Do not try to get mantra or upadesam from anybody.
            Make Me the sole object of your thoughts and actions; and you will, no doubt, attain Paramartha. Look at Me whole-heartedly; and I, in turn, look at you similarly. Sitting in this Masjid I speak the truth, nothing but the truth. No sadhanas, nor proficiency in the six shastras, are necessary. Have faith and confidence in your Guru. Believe fully that Guru is the Doer. Blessed is he who knows the greatness of his Guru and thinks him to be Hari-Hara-Brahma incarnate.”


10. On Hemadpantji’s completion of narration of the above incident to Baba (Shamaji had earlier told Hemadpantji the above leela when Hemadpantji, on his thought that even after completion of seven years of stay with Baba he is still waiting for His instructions, was sent to Shamaji’s residence by Baba):

            “My method is quite unique. Remember well this one story and it will be very useful. To get the knowledge of the self dhyanam is necessary. If you practise it continuously, the vruttis will be pacified. Being quite desireless, you should meditate on the Lord Who is in all creatures, and when the mind is concentrated, the goal will be achieved.
Meditate always on My Formless Nature, which is knowledge incarnate, consciousness and bliss. If you cannot do this, meditate on My Form from top to toe, as you see here day and night.
            As you go on doing this, your vruttis will be one-pointed and the distinction between the dhyata, dhyanam and dhyeyam will be lost; and the meditator will be one with the consciousness and be merged in the Brahmam.
            The tortoise is on one bank of the river and her young ones are on the other side. She gives neither milk nor warmth to them. Her mere glance gives them nutrition. The young ones do nothing; but remember their mother. The tortoise glance is, to the young ones, a downpour of nectar, the only source of happiness. Similar is the relation between the Guru and disciples.”


11. Baba’s general advice to his bhaktas as recollected by Hemadpantji:

            “Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away; but receive them well and treat them with due respect.
            Sri Hari will be certainly pleased, if you give water to thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting. If anybody wants any money from you, and you are not inclined to give, do not give; but do not bark at him like a dog.
            Let anybody speak hundreds of things against you; do not resent by giving a bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy.
            Allah Malik; nobody else is our Protector. His method of work is extraordinary, invaluable and inscrutable. His will will be done and He will show us the way and satisfy our heart’s desires.
            It is on account of rinanubandham that we have come together; let us love serve each other and be happy. He who attains the supreme goal of life, is immortal and happy; all others merely exist.”


12. On Hemadpantji’s dispute with a fellow devotee over whether poisonous creatures like scorpion and snake should be killed:

            “God lives in all beings and creatures whether they be serpents or scorpions. He is the great wire-puller of the world and all beings including serpents, scorpions, etc. obey His command!
Unless He wills it, nobody can do any harm to others. The world is all dependent on Him and no one is independent.
So, we should take pity and love all creatures, leave off adventurous fights and killings and be patient. The Lord is the Protector of all.”



13. Baba’s promise to his bhaktas as recollected by Hemadpantji:

            “Believe Me, though I pass away, My bones in My tomb will give you hope and confidence. Not only Myself but My tomb would be speaking, moving and communicating with those who surrender themselves whole-heartedly to Me.
            Do not be anxious that I would be absent from you. You will hear My bones speaking and discussing your welfare.
But remember Me always, believe in Me heart and soul, and then, you will be most benefited.”



14. On initiating Shamaji with the sacred Vishnu Sahasra Namam:

            “Oh Shama, this book is very valuable and efficacious; so, I present it to you, you read it.
 Once I suffered intensely and My heart began to palpitate and My life was in danger. At that critical time I hugged this book to My heart and then, what a relief it gave Me! I thought that Allah Himself came down and saved Me.
So, I give this book to you, read it slowly, little by little, read daily one namam at least and it will do you good.”


15. On the request of a sannyasi from Chennai to permit him to leave Shirdi so as to be with his mother who fell ill:

            “If you so loved your mother, why did you take sannyasam? Fondness makes ill of 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 and be very vigilant, the thieves will carry everything. Wealth and prosperity are transient, and the body is subject to decay and death. While 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 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.”



16. Before curing a Dr.Pille’s swollen leg infested with guinea worms causing him unbearable pain:

            “Lie calmly here and be at ease. The true remedy is that the result of past actions has to be suffered and got over. Our karma is the cause of our happiness and sorrow; therefore, put up with whatever comes to you.
Allah is the sole Dispenser and Protector, think of Him always. He will take care of you.
Surrender to His Feet with body, mind, wealth and speech, and then see what He does!”


17. After curing plague of Shamaji’s relative overnight:

            Shamaji came to the Masjid and after saluting Baba said, “Deva, what is this play of Yours? You first raise a storm and make us restless, and then, calm it down and ease us.”
            Baba replied, “You see, mysterious is the path of action. Though I do nothing, they hold Me responsible for the actions, which take place on account of adrishtam. I am only their witness.
            The Lord is the sole Doer and Inspirer. He is also most merciful.
Neither I am God, nor Lord. I am His obedient servant and remember Him often.
He who casts aside his egoism and thanks Him, and he who trusts Him entirely, will have his shackles removed and will obtain liberation.”



18. On Laxmibai’s resentment that Baba gave the whole bread she offered Him, to a dog:

            “Why do you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog’s hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has got a soul. The creatures may be different; but the hunger of all is the same, though some speak and others are dumb.
            Know for certain that he who feeds the hungry, really serves Me with food. Regard this as an axiomatic truth.”


19. Baba’s general advice to his bhaktas as recollected by Hemadpantji:

            “He who loves Me most, always sees Me. The whole world is desolate to him without Me, he who tells no stories but Mine; he ceaselessly meditates upon Me and always chants My name. I feel indebted to him who surrenders himself completely to Me, and ever remembers Me. I shall repay his debt by giving him salvation.
I am dependent on him who thinks and hungers after Me and does not eat anything without first offering it to Me. He who thus comes to Me, becomes one with Me, just as a river gets to the sea and becomes merged with it.
So, leaving your pride and egoism and with no trace of them, you should surrender yourself to Me, Who is seated in your heart.”

“You need not go far in search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists in you, as well as in all beings, a sense of Being or Conscious of Existence – That is Myself.
Knowing this, you see Me inside yourself as well as in all beings.
If you practise this, you will realize all-pervasiveness, and thus attain oneness with Me.”

“He who carps and cavils at others pierces Me in the heart and injures Me; But he who suffers and endures, pleases Me most.”


20. Baba’s general advice to his bhaktas as recollected by Hemadpantji:

            “There are innumerable saints in this world; but our father is the Father. Others might say many good things; but we should never forget our Guru’s words.
In short, love your Guru whole-heartedly, surrender to Him completely and prostrate yourselves before Him reverentially; and then, you will see that there is no sea of mundane existence before you to cross, as there is no darkness for the sun.”


~ compiled by umasreedasan from “Sai Satcharitra” by Sri Hemadpant.

 All devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba are welcome to join the free online Prayer Service conducted by me - for details you may visit my new blog http://lampofmanifestation.blogspot.com.

 Blog: www.AwarenessChanting.blogspot.in 
email: umasreedasan@gmail.com

******************************

Get Your FREE eBook "Golden Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba"

A decade and a half back I selected instructions and life events of (followers of) Shirdi Sai Baba in eighteen groups each, and compiled them into a write-up for my ready reference and periodic recital programs in the pursuit of my spiritual and material goals.

 The selection criterion I used was simple - those instructions and life events of Baba that will contribute to the surrender of my Consciousness to the universal Consciousness. It took fifteen years for spiritual Enlightenment to happen to me, and all along those fifteen years that write-up was so much useful for me to learn, practice and perfect the technology of Surrender by separating and expanding my Consciousness and merging It with the universal Consciousness.

In these fifteen years my family, social and professional life has become more and more peaceful due to the influence of the content of that write-up.

I have used that write-up to prepare this book titled, "Golden Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba."

~umasreedasan.

*******************************************
Labels: