Leela:
There was an old woman by the name of Radhabai. Hearing of Baba's fame, she came to Shirdi with the people of Sangamner (a city near Shirdi). She took Baba's darshan (an opportunity to see a holy one or an image of a deity) and was much satisfied. She loved Baba deeply and resolved in her mind that she would accept Baba as her Guru and take some upadesh (initiation, instruction) from Him. She knew nothing else. She determined to fast unto death, so long as Baba did not accept her and give her any upadesh or mantra (verses from the Vedas chanted or sung as a prayer).
She stayed in her lodging and refrained from eating or drinking for three days. Shyama was frightened by this ordeal of the old woman and interceded with Baba on her behalf.
He said, “Deva, what is this You have started? You drag so many persons here. You know that old lady. She is very obstinate and depends on You entirely. She has resolved to fast unto death if You don't accept and instruct her. If anything, serious happens, people will blame You, and say that Baba did not instruct her, and consequently she met her death. So, take some mercy on her, bless her and instruct her.”
On seeing her determination, Baba sent for her, changed the turn of her mind by addressing her as follows, “Oh mother, why are you subjecting yourself to unnecessary tortures and hastening your death? You are really My Mother and I am your child. Take pity on Me and hear Me through. I will 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 a keen desire never to leave him but to stay 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 pice (a former monetary unit of India worth one sixty-fourth of a rupee) as dakshina (an honorarium given to one’s guru). I gave at once”.
“If you say that as My Guru was perfect, why should He ask for money and how should He be called desireless? I replied plainly that He never cared for coins. What had He to do with them? His two pice were (1) shraddha (faith based upon knowledge and trust) and (2) saburi (patience). I gave these two pice to him and he was pleased”.
“I stayed with My Guru for 12 years. He brought Me up. There was no dearth of food and clothing. He was full of love, nay, He was love incarnate. 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 object 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 pice of dakshina.”
“Saburi (patience) is the other pice. I waited patiently on My Guru for a very long time 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, casts aside all fear, and ultimately gives you success. Saburi is the mine of virtues, consort of good thought”.
“My Guru never expected anything else from me. He never neglected me but protected me at all times. I lived with Him and was sometimes away from Him; still I never felt the want or 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 riverbank, 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 upadesh from anybody. Make me the sole object of your thoughts and actions; and you will, no doubt, attain paramartha (the spiritual goal of life). 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 (daily spiritual practice), nor proficiency in the six shastras (manuals of instruction, books of knowledge, religious treatises), are necessary. Have faith and confidence in your Guru. Believe fully that Guru is the sole Actor or Doer. Blessed is he who knows the greatness of his Guru and thinks him to be Hari (the Preserver), Hara (the Destroyer) and Brahma (the Creator) Incarnate.”
Instructed in this way, the old lady was convinced; she bowed to Baba and gave up her fast.
Based on Shri Sai Satcharita, The wonderful life and teachings of Shri Sai Baba, Translated by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji (Mumbai: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, 20th Edition 2002), p97
Based on Shri Sai Satcharita, The Life and Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba, G. R. Dhalbokar, Translated by Indira Kher (Slovenia: Bird Publisher, 2009), p155
Teachings from Leela:
1) When you are determined to get something from your Sadguru that is unreasonable, He will lovingly make you understand that He cannot fulfill your desire
Radhabai was determined to fast unto death, so long as Baba did not accept her, and give her any upadesh or mantra. Just like a child who makes a firm determination to get something from his parents and the parent knows that it is not within their purview to do so. They will then explain to the child and help them understand in the most loving manner that it is not possible for them to fulfill their every desire.
Baba too very lovingly explained to Radhabai that as His own Guru did not give Him any mantra-diksha (mantra that a Guru gives to a disciple as part of the initiation process), He too could not give one to her, and very politely requested her to end her fast.
2) Sadguru never expects anything from His devotee; even the dakshina is for the devotee’s benefit
Though Baba asked for dakshina (an honorarium given to one’s guru) from some of His devotees, He was totally non-attached to it. Whether anybody saluted Him or not, or whether anybody gave Him dakshina or not, it was the same to Him.
A true Sadguru does not expect any material thing from His disciple. Baba explained to Radhabai that His Guru never cared for coins but asked for two items (1) shraddha (faith based upon knowledge and trust) and (2) saburi (patience). These two virtues are complementary. Each is both the cause as well as the effect of the other; and both are the means as well as the end of the other. Between them they contain a complete code of conduct for life.
Read the article Shraddha and Saburi, Faith and Patience
When the disciple gives, it is the disciple himself who is the ultimate beneficiary. The Sadguru is like a force that speeds up the spiritual progress of His disciple. Your Sadguru gains nothing from it. Such saints have nothing to gain from this world as they are jivan-muktas (those who have already received moksha, the freedom from the cycle of birth and death).
Why did Baba collect Dakshina
In chapter 35 of the Sai Satcharitra, Baba spoke to Kaka Mahajani regarding why He collected dakshina from someone:
"I only ask and take from him whom the Fakir (God) points out. If any one is indebted formerly to the Fakir, money is received from him. The donor gives, i.e. sows his seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in future. The giving of dakshina advances vairagya (non-attachment) and thereby bhakti (devotion and love towards God) and jnana (knowledge).
Below are a few instances in which Baba collected Dakshina:
Dakshina in the form of Amount Promised to God
Here is a beautiful leela from the Sai Satcharitra, Chapter 36, where Baba asked for a specific amount of dakshina from a devotee who had in the past, promised that amount to God:
Once two gentlemen came from Goa for taking darshan of Sai Baba, and prostrated themselves before him. Though both came together, Baba asked only one them to give Him Rs.15 as dakshina which was paid willingly. The other man voluntarily offered Rs. 35. This sum was rejected by Baba to the astonishment of all.
Shama,
who was present, asked Baba, "What is this? Both came together, one's dakshina
you accept, the other, though voluntarily paid, you refuse. Why this
distinction?”
Baba replied, "Shama, you know nothing. I take nothing from anybody. The
Masjidmayi (The presiding Deity of the Masjid) calls for the debt, the donor
pays it and becomes free. Have I any home, property or family to look after? I
require nothing. I am ever free. Debt, enmity and murder have to be atoned for,
there is not escape".
Baba then narrated the background of the first gentleman, which explained why
he was asked to give Rs.15:
As first he was poor and took a vow to his God that he would pay his first month's salary if he got an appointment. He got one on Rs.15/- p.m. Then he steadily got promotions, from Rs.15/- he got Rs. 30, 60, 100, 200 and ultimately Rs.700/- per month. But in his prosperity, he forgot clean the vow he took. The force of his karma has driven him here and I asked that amount (Rs.15/-) from him as dakshina.
Dakshina in the form of Namaskaras (bows)
A leela in Sai Satcharitra, Chapter 18-19, gives an example of Baba asking for dakshina but accepting Namaskaras in lieu of money:
Hemadpant :- I have come with a message from Baba. He has asked me to return with Rs. 15/- as Dakshina from you, also to sit with you for a while and have a pleasant chitchat and then return to the Masjid with you.
Shama (with surprise):- I have no money to give. Take my 15 Namaskaras in lieu of rupees as Dakshina, to Baba.
On seeing them, Baba asked Hemadpant to give the Dakshina brought from Shama. He replied that Shama gave Namaskaras in lieu of Rupees and that he was there in person. Baba said, "Alright”.
Dakshina in the Form of a Leela Itself
In one intriguing leela, the dakshina started out as a puzzle, and then became a leela.
Baba asked Ratanji to give Him dakshina of Rs. 5, and then mentioned that, as He had already received the sum of three rupees and fourteen annas, He only needed the balance of one rupee and two annas.
Ratanji was mystified by Baba’s claim that he had already paid Him a part of the amount, as this was his very first visit to Shirdi. Eventually, Das Ganuji was able to solve the mystery of this amount, as it exactly matched the amount spent by Ratanji on the reception of Maulisaheb, a Muslim saint, before he started on his visit to Shirdi.
It is to be noted that, though Baba collected a lot of money by dakshina, He distributed the whole amount that same day, and by the next morning, became a pauper as usual.
After receiving thousands and thousands of rupees as dakshina over many years, He had only Rs. 9 in His possession at the end, all of which he gave to a devotee just before attaining maha-samadhi.
Our Dakshina to Baba
Our dakshina owed to Baba, as His disciples, is not monetary, but to follow His teachings of shraddha (faith based upon knowledge and trust) and saburi (patience). We must all be diligent in paying these dues to our Sadguru.
Putting into Practice
Here are some suggestions on how we could use this leela in our daily lives.
1) When you are determined to get something from your Sadguru that is unreasonable, He will lovingly make you understand that He cannot fulfill your desire
We all
might have some impulsive desires and expect our Sadguru to fulfill them.
Alternately, we may be experiencing a devastating event, such as the imminent
loss of a loved one, and may not have come around to accepting the inevitable.
Your Sadguru might not be able to fulfill all your desires, no matter how reasonable they may seem to you, so do not be disheartened. Remember this leela, that it is not always possible for your Sadguru to fulfill all your desires, and put all your shraddha (faith based upon knowledge and trust) in your Sadguru to do what is best spiritually for everyone concerned.
2) Sadguru never expects anything from His devotee; even the dakshina is for the devotee’s benefit
If you promise Baba (or any deity) to give money, perhaps as part of something you are asking, make sure you do everything possible to fulfill your promise and give the money.
In most cases, Baba is asking for two things from you: shraddha (faith based upon knowledge and trust) and saburi (patience). As His devotee, you must strive to at least give Him this much.
What is Shraddha
In these blogs, I have been translating shraddha as “faith based upon knowledge and trust” when others simply translate it as “faith”. This is because when people hear of “faith” they think of it as “blind faith”.
A more accurate understanding of shraddha is “enlightened faith” and “trust” (see Shraddha - Trust Pending Verification). It is the faith you have in someone that you have gotten to know, understood their abilities, and developed trust. An example of this would be the faith and trust you might have in a reputed surgeon to perform a procedure.
Developing Shraddha in your Sadguru
As you get to know your Sadguru, the more shraddha you will develop for Him. Also, Baba has His own methods of making His qualities known to you.
Here are some steps you can take to develop your shraddha in Him.
1)
Read about your Sadguru’s spiritual accomplishments, the evidence
of Him being a jivan-mukta (those who achieve the ultimate
realization of absolute reality, which is Brahman, the One
Universal Consciousness, during their lifetime), and the evidence of the
various siddhis (spiritual, seemingly magical, powers or capabilities which are
obtained through rigorous and advanced spiritual practices) He has
demonstrated.
2)
Read accounts of devotees’ experiences, such as those in the Sai Satcharitra, and contemplate
on the sacrifices He made for them and what this tells you about the qualities
of your Sadguru.
3)
As you have your own spiritual experiences, contemplate on them in
the same way.
4) Contemplate upon that fact that He has chosen to help you, which makes you immensely fortunate.
What is Saburi
Saburi is usually translated as patience. Additional translations are patient self-control, restraint, endurance, and tolerance.
In your spiritual life, it is the resolve to endure periods of personal difficulty with calmness and equanimity. Your saburi is made possible by the shraddha you have in your Sadguru with the firm conviction that it is He who will carry you through in your difficult times, by holding your hand throughout your difficult journey, no matter how long it takes.
Saburi is an important quality needed to reach any goal in life. This quality becomes even more important for a seeker on the spiritual path, lest he lose his stride and leave the path halfway.
Developing Saburi
Spiritual maturity automatically comes with saburi as a side benefit. This maturity could be achieved either through jnana marg (path of knowledge) or bhakti marg (path of devotion).
Both paths result in:
1) Loss of individual ego –movement away from self-centeredness
2) Reduced attachment to people and objects – reduced need to favour particular people or objects over others
3) Love towards all living beings equally – the ability to love everyone equally with the same intensity as you loved individuals that you were attached to
4) Appreciation of the World as God – being able to see God in everyone
The more time you spend on your spiritual growth, the easier saburi gets. In fact, as you become more and more spiritual, you find it easier to accept whatever happens in your life. There is no need or want of anything, and so no issue with waiting patiently.
The ultimate of Jnana path is a state wherein, all the perceptions of duality are removed and Advaita means "not two" or non-dual, which is to say that all instances of consciousness are simply one universal consciousness, known as Brahman. Realizing first-hand that one's true identity is not body or mind but is the infinite one universal
The ultimate step in Bhakti is Atma-Nivedana (complete surrender to God). There are nine forms of bhakti. The seeker offers everything to God. He has lost all ego. He accepts grief, sorrow, pleasure, or pain as prasad (gift) from God.
Developing Spiritually through the Jnana Marg
For those of you interested to know more about Jnana Marg, I recommend studying Advaita Vedanta.
One way to do this is to join classes offered by several great organizations, such as Chimnaya Mission, Ramakrishna Mission, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam
Another way is to self-study.
For more advanced study, here are some books recommended by Baba to specific devotees, or mentioned in the Sai Satchritra:
· Bhagavad Gita
· Geeta Rahasya, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by Lokamanya Tilak
· Adhyatma Ramayan
· Jnaneshwari
· Chhandogya Upanishad
· Panchadasi (a well-known Sanskrit treatise on Advaita philosophy by the famous Vidyaranya Swami).
NOTE: Baba was very insistent that it was not sufficient that you just read these texts. You had to work hard to achieve deep understanding and then put the teachings into practice in your everyday life.
Developing Spiritually through the Bhakti Marg
Bhakti develops through practice. One great way to lean into bhakti is to get involved at your local Sai temple or bhajan group. Volunteer your time and perform your tasks selflessly and with full shraddha. Being in satsang (staying in the company of others who have shraddha and who like to talk only about topics related to bhakti) helps too.
Making Use of Multiple Spiritual Paths
These paths are complementary, and you can make more progress by utilizing both at the same time.
In addition, Karma Marg (the practice of selfless service without expectation of reward or recognition) is amazingly effective in working on the individual ego.
The path of knowledge requires an intellect so pure, powerful, and intense, that can be cultivated through Jnana, which can be achieved through knowledge of Advaita Vedanta.
Bhakti requires you to see God or your Sadguru, the infinite formless consciousness (Brahman), in every being you encounter.
My dad used to say that Jnana is kind of a glue that holds Bhakti within you otherwise there is a possibility that in your trying times, Bhakti might slip out.
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.
