SABURI
SABURI Giridhara Laal Shyaama Gopaal Natavara Laal Madana Gopaal Mathura Naathaa Krishna Gopaal Shree Madhusoodana Murali Gopaal Yashoda Key Baal Nanda Gopaal Eeshwaraamba Priya Sai Gopaal(O! Blue-hued Gopaal, who held the Govardhana mountain, Great dancer, the lovely little cow-herd; Lord of Mathura, with the flute, Beloved child of Yashoda, of Eeshwaramba.)
|
SHRI SAI SATHCHARITHA"Sada Nimbarvrikshasya mooladhiwasat, Sudhasravinam tiktamapi-apriyam tam, Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam sadhayantam Namameeshwaram Sadgurum Sai Natham" |
|
mhalsapati |
Chapter XVI |
bhagojishinde |
Qualifications for Brahma-Jnana or Self-Realization
All persons do not see or realize the Brahman in their life-time. Certain qualifications are absolutely necessary. (1) Mumuksha or intense desire to get free. He, who thinks that he is bound and that he should get free from bondage and works earnestly and resolutely to that end;and who does not care for any other thinks, is qualified for the spiritual life. (2) Virakti or a feeling of disgust with the things of this world and the next. Unless a man feels disgusted with the things, emoluments and honors, which his action would bring in this world and the next, he has no right to enter into the spiritual realm. (3) Antarmukhata (introversion). Our senses have been created by God with a tendency to move outward and so, man always looks outside himself and not inside. He who wants self-realization and immortal life, must turn his gaze inwards, and look to his inner Self. (4) Catharsis from (Purging away of) sins. Unless a man has turned away from wickedness, and stopped from doing wrong, and has entirely composed himself and unless his mind is at rest, he cannot gain self-realization, even by means of knowledge. (5) Right Conduct. Unless, a man leads a life of truth, penance and insight, a life of celibacy, he cannot get God-realization. (6) Preferring Shreyas, (the Good) to Preyas (the Pleasant). There are two sorts of things viz., the Good and the Pleasant; the former deals with spiritual affairs, and the latter with mundane matters. Both these approach man for acceptance. He has to think and choose one of them. The wise man prefers the Good to the Pleasant; but the unwise, through greed and attachment, chooses the Pleasant. (7) Control of the mind and the senses. The body is the chariot and the Self is its master; intellect is the charioteer and the mind is the reins; the senses are the horses and sense-objects their paths. He who has no understanding and whose mind is unrestrained, his senses unmanageable like the vicious horses of a charioteer, does not reach his destination (get realization), but goes through the round of births and deaths; but he who has understanding and whose mind is restrained, his senses being under control, like the good horse of a charioteer, reaches that place, i.e., the state of self-realization, when he is not born again. The man, who has understanding as his charioteer (guide) and is able to rein his mind, reaches the end of the journey, which is the supreme abode of the all-pervading, Vishnu (lord). (8) Purification of the mind. Unless a man discharges satisfactorily and disinterestedly the duties of his station in life, his mind will not be purified and, unless his mind is purified, he cannot get self-realization. It is only in the purified mind that Viveka (discrimination between the Unreal and the Real), and Vairagya (Non-attachment to the unreal) crop up and lead on the self-realization. Unless egoism is dropped, avarice got rid of, and the mind made desireless (pure), self-realization is not possible. The idea that 'I am the body' is a great delusion, and attachment to this idea is the cause of bondage. Leave off this idea and attachment therefore, if you want to get to the Self-realization. (9) The necessity of a Guru. The knowledge of the self is so subtle and mystic, that no one could, by his own individual effort ever hope to attain it. So the help of another person-Teacher, who has himself got self-realization is absolutely necessary. What others cannot give with great labour and pains, can be easily gained with the help of such a Teacher; for he has walked on the path himself and can easily take the disciple, step by step on the ladder of spiritual progress. (10) and lastly the Lord's Grace is the most essential thing. When the Lord is pleased with any body, He gives him Viveka and Vairagya; and takes him safe beyond the ocean of mundane existence, "The Self cannot be gained by the study of Vedas, nor by intellect, nor by much learning. He, whom the Self chooses, by him It is gained. To him the Self reveals Its nature", says the Katha Upanishad.
Devotees Experiences
Initially only Mahalsapati used to sleep in the mosque with Baba, but once Tatya became intimate with Baba he also began sleeping there every day and when Baba started spending alternate nights in Chavadi, Tatya slept in the mosque whenever Baba was there. But Baba never permitted anyone other than Mahalsapati and Tatya to sleep in the mosque. In his Sri Sai Satcharitra Hemadpant describes the way these three slept in the mosque like this.
“Vasudeva (Vishnu) always lives in the hearts of mahatmas. Those devotees who have the good fortune of staying in the close vicinity of such mahatmas are blessed. Tatya and Mahalsapati are two such blessed souls who slept with Baba in the mosque. How great is their merit that they had such enormous good fortune, for Baba had the greatest of liking for them both and loved them equally. These three would keep their heads to the east, west and north and sleep with their feet touching each other. They lay down and kept talking to each other till the late hours of the night. If anyone dozed off the other two would shake him awake. If Tatya fell asleep and started snoring, Baba and Mahalsapati would shake him, push him about and wake him by pressing hard his head, legs or back. Tatya slept with Baba for fourteen years in this manner, leaving his parents at home. How can we measure the love Tatya had for Baba? In the same way can anyone put a value on the love Baba had for Tatya? Those sweet days were unforgettable. Even though those days have gone, the sweet memories of them linger on. When Tatya’s father passed away, the responsibility of the house fell on Tatya and from that time on he slept at home.”
Baba’s love and kindness will always fall copiously like a gentle rain on devotees such as Tatya and Mahalsapati. Their reminiscences give us all a great experience of Baba’s love.