Chapter 12, Leela 3: Mrs. Nimonkar

Leela:

Mr. Nanasaheb Nimonkar, Watandar of Nomon and Honorary Magistrate, was staying at Shirdi with his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Nimonkar were spending most of their time in the Masjid with Baba and serving Him. It so happened, that their son fell ill at Belapur and the mother decided, with Baba's consent, to go to Belapur, and see her son and other relatives; and stay there for a few days, but Mr. Nanasaheb asked her to return the next day. The lady was in a fix and did not know what to do; but her God Sai came to her help. While leaving Shirdi she went to Baba, who was standing in front of Sathe's wada with Mr. Nanasaheb and others, and prostrated at His Feet and asked His permission to go. Baba said to her, ""Go, go quickly, be calm and unperturbed. Stay comfortably at Belapur for four days. See all your relatives and then return to Shirdi."" How opportune were Baba's words! Mr. Nanasaheb's proposal was overruled by Baba's decree.

 

Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20^th Edition 2002), p68

 

Teachings from Leela:

1)    Baba cares for all his devotees equally, regardless of gender

Baba treats all souls equally. Everyone has the right to live happily, and to have their own wishes and dreams. It was Mrs. Nimonkar’s wish to spend a few days with her son and other relatives, for which she, due to the social conventions of the time, had to get approval from her husband.  In fact, she could not even communicate her wishes freely to her husband. Baba intervened, by fulfilling her wishes in a manner that her husband had to fully accept. Despite the unequal rights under which Mrs. Nimonkar lived due to her gender, Baba made sure that his devotee’s wish was fulfilled.

We all have the right to freedom and to do things as per our wishes, as long as we do not hurt anyone, regardless of our age, gender or other differences. In Hindu tradition, even God does not intervene when it comes to one’s actions and its consequences. He grants us this free will.  We too, as human beings, must not interfere in each other’s lives and force our will over others.

2)    Baba shows his love by fulfilling his devotees’ unspoken wishes

Both husband and wife were deeply faithful devotees of Baba.  Mrs. Nimonkar wished to stay in Belapur for a few days, but her husband had asked her to return the next day. She was in a dilemma; she had agreed to return as she did not want to hurt her husband's feelings. Baba intervened in such a manner that the wife’s wishes were fulfilled without upsetting the husband.

 

Putting into Practice

Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.    

1.    Baba cares for all his devotees equally, regardless of gender

Each of us is fundamentally an atman temporarily residing in a physical body.  The atman has no characteristics upon which we hang our own biases.  It has no gender, race, skin colour, age, religion or creed.  When you look at others, try to focus your attention on their atman, not their body.  This will help you to get over any gender or other biases you have.

 

2.    Baba shows his love by fulfilling his devotees’ unspoken wishes

My dad used to say that there are three kinds of people in this world.

·         Devata: those who do things for others without being asked.

·         Manushya: those who do things for others when asked to do so.

·         Shaitan: those who do not do anything for others even when asked to do so.

Try to be the person who reaches out to help others even before they ask for it.

 

Mantra:

Om, Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ
Sarve santu nirāmayāḥ
Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu
Mā kashchit duḥkha bhāgbhavet
Oṁ Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ, Shāntiḥ

Meaning:

May all be prosperous and happy
May all be free from illness
May all see what is spiritually uplifting
May no one suffer
Om peace, peace, peace

 

This above mantra is from the Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/seekingshanti/2015/09/hinduprayerforeveryone_globalgoals/

I would encourage all of you to please share your interpretations, learnings and experiences on how you have put this leela into practice.

 

Om Sai Ram.

 

Chapter 9, Leela 2: European Gentleman

 

Leela:

One European gentleman of Bombay once came to Shirdi, with an introductory note from Nanasaheb Chandorkar, and with some object in view. He was comfortably accommodated in a tent. He wanted to kneel before Baba and kiss His hand. Therefore, he tried thrice to step into the Masjid, but Baba prevented him from doing so. He was asked to sit in the open court-yard below and take Baba's darshan from there. Not pleased with this reception he got, he wanted to leave Shirdi at once and came to bid good-bye. Baba asked him to go the next day and not to hurry. People also requested him to abide by Baba's direction. Not listening to all this, he left Shirdi in a tanga. The horses ran at first all right, but when Sawul well was passed, a bicycle came in front, seeing which the horses were frightened and ran fast. The tanga was turned topsy-turvy and the gentleman fell down and was dragged some distance. He was immediately released; but had to go and lie in Kopargaon hospital for the treatment of the injuries. Because of such experiences all people learnt the lesson, that those who disobeyed Baba's instruction met with accidents in one way or the other, and those who obeyed them were safe and happy.

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Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20^th Edition 2002), p51

 

Teachings from Leela:

1)    When approaching a Spiritual Master, you must leave behind your ego, expectations and your sense of entitlement

The gentleman wanted things done his way. For his comfort, he believed he was entitled to stay in a tent, a wish which was fulfilled. He also came with the expectation that because he wished it so, he would be permitted to approach Baba, to kneel before him, kiss his hands, and sit with him a while. When approaching a spiritual master, or for that matter, any opportunity for spiritual growth, you must approach them with utmost humility and without any expectations.

2)    Prasada Buddhi

The gentleman was not pleased with the reception he got from Baba and wanted to leave Shirdi at once. Baba knows what is best for us and we must accept it. Just as we accept prasad in the temple, graciously and without complaining, we should accept all situations, pleasant or unpleasant, that come into our lives, as prasad from Baba. Be grateful for whatever is received without evaluating the effort or reward. Make the best of whatever the result, without complaining about the nature of the outcome.

There is a saying – If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

 

Putting into Practice

Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.

1)    When approaching a Spiritual Master, you must leave behind your ego, expectation and your sense of entitlement

Approach the spiritual master with a lot of humility and an open mind, not with an ego, expectations and a sense of entitlement.

Here are some tips for you to keep in mind as you contemplate upon this teaching:

Do you find yourself believing that you are somehow unique or special in your spiritual quest? Do you find yourself expecting more from Baba than what is ordinarily provided to other devotees? Such feelings must be overcome in order to continue your spiritual progress.

2)    Prasada Buddhi

Accept all that comes to you in your life, pleasant as well as unpleasant. You should no longer ask “why me?” Or “why is this happening to me?”. In this way, you develop the attitude of prasād buddhi. This awareness has to be maintained constantly so that it becomes a permanent part of your attitude.

 

I would encourage all of you to please share your interpretations, learnings and experiences on how you have put this leela into practice.

 

 

Om Sai Ram.

 

Chapter 7, Leela 4: Baba’s All-pervasiveness and Mercy

 

Leela:

"In the year 1910 A.D., Baba was sitting near the Dhuni on Divali holiday and warming Himself. He was pushing fire-wood into the Dhuni, which was brightly burning. A little later, instead of pushing logs of woods, Baba pushed His arm into the Dhuni; the arm was scorched and burnt immediately. This was noticed by the servant Madhava, and also by Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama). They at once ran to Baba and Madhavarao clasped Baba by His waist from behind and dragged Him forcible back ward and asked, ""Deva, for what have You done this?"" Then Baba came to His senses and replied, ""The wife of a blacksmith at some distant place, was working the bellows of a furnace;her husband called her. Forgetting that her child was on her waist, she ran hastily and the child slipped into the furnace. I immediately thrust My hand into the furnace and saved the child. I do not mind My arm being burnt, but I am glad that the life of the child is saved."

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Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20^th Edition 2002), p42.

 

Teachings from Leela:

1)    Act calmly even when anxious or under stress.

As described in The Life and Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba, Translated by Indira Kher (a verse-by-verse translation of the Dabholkar’s complete Pothi into English), Page 57, verse 78:

"Hearing her husband call out to her, the smith's wife began to blow the bellows vigorously, out of fear, while holding the child..."

When the blacksmith’s wife heard her husband call out to her, she reacted out of fear and haste instead of staying calm.  As a result, her mind was not alert and she completely forgot that her child was on her waist. Baba wanted to point out in this leela to practice Sthitaprajna.

Sthita means firmly established in. Prajna is the combination of Pra (higher) and jñā (jnana), meaning a higher state of mind where one is clearly aware of the reality of Brahma, his own true nature, and his dharma.  Sthitaprajna is a state of mind where the person has developed the ability to have a stable (equanimous) mind that can act calmly even under stress. This type of person is in a state of equilibrium while facing the ups and downs of life.

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/01/shri-krishna-on-sthitaprajna-or-ideal.html

In the second chapter, verse 54 of the Bhagavad Gita:

Arjuna asks:

sthitaprajñasya kā bhāṣā samādhisthasya kēśava.

sthitadhīḥ kiṅ prabhāṣēta kimāsīta vrajēta kim..2.54..

Krishna answers:

uḥkhēṣvanudvignamanāḥ sukhēṣu vigataspṛhaḥ.

vītarāgabhayakrōdhaḥ sthitadhīrmunirucyatē..2.56..

Meaning of Arjuna’s question:

What is the description of a man of steady wisdom who is Self-absorbed?

Meaning of Krishna’s Response:

He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after pleasures, and is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.

https://indiaspirituality.blogspot.ca/2013/04/qualities-of-sthitapragna-self-realized.html

2)    Baba is always on the alert to help his devotees

Baba will immediately respond (even if the danger is just a split second away) and help his devotees during an emergency, even though he is physically at a distant place. Showing no concern about his own injury, he quickly pushed his hand into the dhuni to save the life of his devotee. This shows how he is watching over us each and every moment, and will quickly respond to avert our dangers in life if necessary.

 

3)    Baba takes on the sufferings of his bhaktas

Even though Baba had the capacity to stir food in a boiling pot with his bare arm (see leela 38.1, Baba's Handi), his arm never got burnt.  However, in this leela his arm did get burnt, the reason being that he took on the karma of his bhakta. He was glad to save the life of the child and did not mind his arm being burnt in exchange. The Karma of the child and the parents still existed, but Baba was able to divert its effect and take on the consequences upon himself.

 

Putting into Practice

Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.

1)    Act calmly even when anxious or under stress.

No matter how serious your situation is, always stay calm and alert. Staying calm under pressure will improve your ability to focus on the right things, at the right time, and in the right way. It will help you to make more effective, intelligent and emotion-free decisions. Such a person will not lose control of his/her senses and avoid becoming a victim of situations.

While this idea appears very convincing why are we not able to practice it?

Learn from the Tortoise

Lord Krishna provides a simple method by which we can avoid such situations in our life. He points to the example of a tortoise. A tortoise (kūrma) is endowed with a capability to withdraw all of its body into the shell the moment it senses some danger. Since it is covered with the hard shell outside it is protected from any physical damage that could happen to it. After some time it slowly withdraws its four limbs outside. Lord Krishna advises us to take a similar approach in life.

 

We become the victim of a situation simply because of our inability to control our senses.

Lord Krishna suggests that the moment we sense that a situation is getting out of control, we need to immediately withdraw our senses as a tortoise does. A sthita prajña trains his mind to behave exactly the way Lord Krishna has advised. The idea here is not to instantaneously react to the situation. We must respond with full awareness and deliberation during an unpleasant situation, such as an angry conversation or a fight. With this alone, more than 80% of our problems will be solved. We will not regret our action later. We will have avoided an unpleasant situation of compromising the honour and respect of the people involved in the situation. We will have also avoided unnecessary mental stress and loss of credibility.

 

A practical way to implement this is to create a little gap between the stimulus (the action provoking us) and our response. This is what modern‐day psychologists also advise. Typically, they advise us to mentally count to 10 before giving a response to a situation. A better way is to remember Lord Krishna and the tortoise example. That not only saves us from the situation but also showers on us the divine Grace of Lord Krishna. We will have also laid the first important step in building a happy family, better relationships, and a more contended self.

 

http://www.iimb.ernet.in/sites/default/files/03%20Avoid%20being%20a%20victim%20of%20situations_1.pdf

 

2)    Baba is always on the alert to help his devotees

If you are going through life under stress, difficulties and problems, remember that Baba will come to your rescue in a split second when he thinks it is necessary. Always remember him even if you think that trouble is just a split second away.

 

3)    Baba takes on the sufferings of his bhaktas

If you find yourself in an unhappy situation facing the advent of suffering, remind yourself that Baba will take on some of your suffering if it becomes intolerable. Remember him often.

It also becomes your duty to keep your deeds clean so that you do not create new bad karmas, the consequences of which Baba will have to suffer unnecessarily, as he is bound by his duty to protect you.

When you find yourself in a situation where it appears you have got away with less harm than potentially could have happened, consider the possibility that Baba took on some of the consequences. On contemplating this, you will realise that your faith in him deepens.

You will also realise that in taking some of the consequences Baba has made some room for you. Instead of being fully occupied with the allotted suffering, you have been given the gift of time, which you should make the best use of, by applying it towards your spiritual growth.

 

I would encourage all of you to please share your interpretations, learnings and experiences on how you have put this leela into practice.

 

 

Om Sai Ram.

 

Chapter 7, Leela 3: Baba's unique way of curing diseases

Leela:

He started practicing medicine in the village, examined patients and gave medicines. He was always successful, and He became famous as a Hakim (Doctor). A curious case may be narrated here. One devotee got his eye balls quite red and swollen. No Doctor was available in Shirdi. The other devotees took him to Baba. Other Doctors would use ointments, Anjans, cow’s milk and camphorated drugs etc., in such cases. Baba’s remedy was quite unique. He pounded some ‘BEEBA’ (Some Carpus Ana Cardium i.e. marking nuts) and made two balls of them, thrust them on in each eye of the patient and wrapped a cloth-bandage round them (eyes). Next day, the bandage was removed and water was poured over them in a stream. The inflammation subsided and the pupils became white and clear. Though the eyes are very delicate, the BEEBA caused no smarting; but removed the disease of the eyes. Many such cases were cured and this is only an instance in point. ".

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 Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20^th Edition 2002), p41.

 

Teachings from Leela:

1)    Baba performed a miracle in order to develop Shraddha in his devotees

Baba could have used regular medicine in the above leela to cure the illness in the eye, but he chose to use an unusual way of curing the disease. Even though beeba is supposed to be harmful to the eyes, it did not cause any harm to his devotee, but cured the disease. In this leela, Baba performed this miracle to increase his devotees Shraddha in him.

 

2)    Baba has the capacity to change the harmful effects of any difficulties in his devotee’s life, turning them into benefits instead

Even though, on the face of it, it seemed like beeba could harm the devotee’s eyes, it actually cured them. Baba transformed the harmful effects of the beeba, changing them into a cure for the devotee.

 

 

Putting into Practice

Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.

1.    Baba performed a miracle in order to develop Shraddha in his devotees

To strengthen your own Shraddha, you can look to this leela and other leelas just like it where Baba performed miracles. Contemplate upon the miracles by putting yourself in the place of the devotee in the leela to deepen its significance for you.

Once Baba has taken devotees under his wing, he will work with them, even if it takes many life-times, to help them in their spiritual journey to moksha.

 

2.    Baba has the capacity to change the harmful effects of any difficulties in his devotee’s life, turning them into benefits instead

In your difficult times remember Baba and surrender all your difficulties to him. He will change the harmful effects of your problems into benefits for you.

 

I would encourage all of you to please share your interpretations, learnings and experiences on how you have put this leela into practice.

 

 

Om Sai Ram.

 

Chapter 9, Leela 3: The Tarkhad Family (father and son)

Leela:

Mr. Ramachandra Atmaran alias Babasaheb Tarkhad, formerly a Prarthana-Samajist, was a staunch devotee of Sai Baba. His wife and son loved Baba equally or perhaps more. It was once proposed that Master Tarkhad should go with his mother to Shirdi and spend his May vacation there, but the son was unwilling to go, as he thought that in case he left his home at Bandra, the worship of Sai Baba in the house would not be properly attended to, as his father being a Prarthana Samajist, would not care to worship Sai Baba's enlarged portrait. However, on his father's giving an assurance of oath, that he would perform the worship exactly as the son was doing, the mother and the son left for Shirdi on one Friday night. 

Next day (Saturday) Mr. Tarkhad got up early, took his bath and before proceeding with the Puja, prostrated himself before the Shrine and said - ""Baba, I am going to perform the Puja exactly as my son has been doing, but please let it not be a formal drill."" After he performed the Puja, he offered a few pieces of lump-sugar as naivedya (offering), which were distributed at the time of the lunch. 

That evening and on Sunday, everything went on well. The following Monday was a working day and it also passed well. Mr. Tarkhad, who had never performed Puja like this in all his life, felt great confidence within himself, that every thing was passing on quite satisfactorily according to the promise given to his son. On Tuesday, he performed the morning Puja as usual and left for his work. Coming home at noon, he found that there was no Prasad (sugar) to partake of, when the meal was served. He asked the servant - cook, who told him that there was no offering made that morning, and that he had completely forgotten then to perform that part of the Puja (offering naivedya). After hearing that he left his seat and prostrated himself before the Shrine, expressed his regret, at the same time chiding Baba for the want of guidance in making the whole affair a matter of mere drill. Then he wrote a letter to his son stating the facts and requested him to lay it before Baba's feet and ask His pardon for his neglect. 

This happened in Bandra at Tuesday noon. 

At about the same time, when the noon Arati was just about to commence in Shirdi, Baba said to Mrs. Tarkhad, ""Mother, I had been to your house in Bandra, with a view to having something to eat. I found the door locked. I somehow got an entrance inside and found to My regret, that Bhau (Mr. Tarkhad) had left nothing for Me to eat. so I have returned from there without eating anything."" 

The lady could not understand anything; but the son, who was close by, understood that there was something wrong with the Puja in Bandra and he, therefore, requested Baba to permit him to go home. Baba refused the permission, but allowed him to perform Puja there. Then, the son wrote a letter to his father, stating all that took place at Shirdi and implored his father not to neglect the Puja at home. 

Both these letters crossed each other and were delivered to the respective parties the next day.” Is this not astonishing?..

Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20^th Edition 2002), p53

Teachings from Leela

1. When you make an offering to Baba he actually receives it 
   By pointing out Mr. Tarkhad’s forgetting to offer naivedya on a given day, Baba proved to his devotees that even though he physically never left Shirdi, he knew of every offering of prayer and naivedya to him no matter where it was being offered. When something is offered to Baba with love it does not go unacknowledged or unaccepted.     
   
   
2. Do not let any one spiritual practice restrict you from progressing in your bigger spiritual journey 
   Even though Master Tarkhad had an opportunity to meet Baba in person he was reluctant to go to Shirdi as he was more worried of his daily spiritual practice of worshipping Baba’s portrait at home.
   
   Daily spiritual practice is an important step towards your spiritual journey, but do not be so tied up to it, that it affects your ability to move forward to your next step.
   
   One’s spiritual journey is a natural progression as one grows in understanding of God. Through this leela, Baba wanted Master Tarkhad to progress in his spiritual journey so he taught him that, instead of being obsessive about performing prayers to his Guru’s portrait at home, he should appreciate having the opportunity of praying to his Guru in person in Shirdi. Baba blessed Master Tarkhad by advancing him to the next step in his spiritual journey and made him perform the puja in front of him.  

Putting into Practice

Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.

1. When you make an offering to Baba he actually receives it 
   Whenever you perform routine prayers to Baba, always remember that Baba is right in front of you. For all of us, our minds wander in different directions when we are praying, but if we keep on reminding yourselves that this is not Baba’s portrait or murti, but Baba himself sitting in front of you, then your focus and attention towards Baba will surely increase.     
   
   
2. Do not let any one spiritual practice restrict you from progressing in your bigger spiritual journey 
   Remember the bigger picture in your spiritual journey. What is your goal in this life? When an opportunity comes in front of you to make spiritual advancement, recognise it and make the best use of it. The universe will provide you with opportunities, but it is up to you to accept them and move forward.
   
   For instance, the following nine forms of Bhakti are in order of progression where each form of bhakti is more subtle and advanced than the previous one:
   
   
   ·         Sravana (hearing of God's Lilas and stories), 
   ·         Kirtana (singing of His glories), 
   ·         Smarana (remembrance of His Name and presence), 
   ·         Padasevana (service of His feet), 
   ·         Archana (worship of God), 
   ·         Vandana (prostration to the Lord), 
   ·         Dasya (cultivating the Bhava of a servant with God), 
   ·         Sakhya (cultivation of the friend-Bhava) and 
   ·         Atmanivedana (complete surrender of the self).
   
   
   In addition, you may be presented with opportunities that are from a different path than your current one. For example, someone who is following the bhakti marg may come across an opportunity from the jnana marg. Be ready to accept this. 

I would encourage all of you to please share your interpretations, learnings and experiences on how you have put this leela into practice.

Om Sai Ram.