Chapter 11, Leela 3: Haji Sidik Falke

Leela:

One Mahomedan gentleman by name Sidik Falke of Kalyan, after making a pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina, came to Shirdi. He lived in a Chavadi, facing north, and sat in the open court-yard of the Masjid. For nine months, Baba ignored him, and did not allow him to step into the Masjid. Falke felt much disconsolate, and did not know what to do. Somebody advised him not to be disappointed; but to try to approach Baba through Shama (Madhavarao Deshpande), a close and intimate devotee of Baba. He told him that as they approach the God Shiva through his servant and devotee, Nandi, so Baba should be approached through Shama. Falke liked the idea and implored Shama to intercede for him. Shama agreed and on a convenient occasion spoke to Baba about him thus:- "Baba, why don't You allow the old Haji to step into the Masjid, while so many persons freely come and go, after taking Your darshan; why not bless him once?" Baba replied "Shama, you are too young to understand things. If the Fakir (Allah) does not allow, what can I do? Without His grace, who will climb into the masjid? Well, go to him and ask him whether he will come to the narrow footpath near the Barvi well." Shama went and returned with an affirmative answer. Again Baba said to Shama,"Ask him whether he is willing to pay me the sum of Rs. 40,000/- in four instalments." Shama went and returned with the answer that he was willing to pay even 40 lacs. Again Baba said to Shama- "We are going to butcher a goat in the Masjid, so ask him, whether he would like to have mutton, haunch or testicles of the goat." Shama returned with the answer that the Haji would be happy to receive a small crumb from Baba's kolamba (mudpot). Hearing this Baba got excited and with His hands threw away the earthen jars and kolamba and straightway advanced to the Haji and lifting His Kafni up with His hands said - "Why do you brag and fancy yourself great and pose yourself as an old Haji? Do you read Koran like this? You are proud of your pilgrimage to Macca, but you do not know Me." Being thus scolded, the Haji was confounded. Baba then went back to the Masjid, purchased a few baskets of mangoes and sent them to the Haji. Then again Baba went to the Haji and taking out Rs.55/- from His pocket, gave them to the Haji. From that time, Baba loved the Haji, invited him for meals and the Haji, thereafter, came into the Masjid whenever he liked. Baba gave him at times some rupees, and thus the Haji was enlisted in Baba's Darbar.

 

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), p65

 

Teachings from Leela:

1)    Even though it might appear that Baba is not responding to his devotees, he is in fact working on them internally to advance their spiritual development

Having completed his pilgrimage to Mecca and Madina, the Haji was still lacking important qualities required to gain spiritual progress. Baba wanted him to understand them and help him in his spiritual journey.

The Haji had an inflated ego and feeling of pride from his achievement, for which he felt superior to others. He assumed that, after his pilgrimage, he was entitled to get a personal audience with Baba. Baba worked on him internally to get rid of his inflated ego and to uplift him spiritually.

It appeared to take nine months for Baba to accept the Haji as his devotee, but in actual fact the Haji went through great spiritual transformation over that time. When Baba tested him at the end of the nine months, the Haji demonstrated that he had no attachment to wealth and had developed great humility.

Even though it looked like Baba was angry with the Haji, by not allowing him to enter the masjid, his heart knew no anger. He only had the Haji’s best interest in his heart. He did not mean to harm him in any way, but was in fact helping him to grow spiritually. Baba had accepted him right from the beginning and was causing the transformation within him which increased his sense of detachment and freedom from his ego.

Baba did this by putting him in a situation in which he had to spend time to self-examine his attitudes and to improve them. The self-struggle to understand why Baba was angry with him, led him to a better understanding of himself and to take steps to improve himself.

It took the Haji nine months to make this transformation and to understand what Baba really wanted him to know. If Baba would have tested him with the three questions on the first day he arrived in Shirdi, his answers would have been very different. Due to his contemplation for nine months, a transformation took place and he realised that it was not enough to just perform the pilgrimage, and that he had further spiritual growth to achieve.

This is what the Haji learned in nine months and Baba confirmed this by asking him three questions:

Question 1: Baba wanted to know if the Haji was willing to take on difficult tasks towards his spiritual progress.

Answer: The Haji confirmed that he was willing to tread the difficult path of spirituality prescribed by Baba.

 

Question 2: Baba wanted to know if the Haji was still attached to money

Answer: The Haji confirmed his detachment to wealth by indicating  that he was willing to pay even 100 times more than what was asked for by Baba

 

Question 3: Baba wanted to know if the Haji had learnt humility

Answer: The Haji confirmed that he had no expectations of getting anything material from Baba and was happy to receive even a small crumb from Baba's kolamba (mudpot).

 

Then Baba wanted to test him further to determine that if he really meant what he said, or was he just saying nice words to please Baba. In order to do so, Baba advanced towards him in anger and accused him of being proud of his pilgrimage, while examining his mind for the Haji’s true feelings. Baba realised that the Haji truly meant what he said and thus outwardly accepted him into his durbar.   

 

Putting into Practice

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

1)    Even though it might appear that Baba is not responding to his devotees, he is in fact working on them internally to advance their spiritual development

Even though it might appear that Baba is not responding to you, he is working on your spiritual progress internally. You must not give up or lose faith in Baba. Just like the Haji did not give up hope for nine months, stay firm in your faith and work hard towards it.

Just like the Haji spent time in self examination, you too should examine your own attitudes and look for areas of improvement.

You could start by examining your attitude about the world and about yourself, start looking for little ways to improve yourself, and then work to correct some of those areas of improvement.

 

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.