By : Chikballapur Shankarnarayan Dinesh
Is life predestined? Or is it in our hands? With competition intensifying, changes accelerating and many unpredictable and uncontrollable factors determining results in today’s complex world, many people are reexamining the belief that the individual can shape his destiny.
A brilliant student, for instance, despite diligent studies, gets average marks, whereas a mediocre student, with last-minute cramming, gets high grades. Are we unwitting players in a cosmic lottery, with chance as the supreme arbiter? Or are results handed down by a Sadguru as Sai Baba?
In this connection Sai Baba made eleven promises which he is keeping true to his words to this day and for sure this will continue forever. His promises are eternal. Baba has given eleven guidelines which we will understand to make our life a noble one. Some of these guidelines are those that Baba being a saint was following them Himself and others are those that He expected devotees to be aware.
1. Shraddha
Shraddha is Bhakti or intense love. But this is starting of spiritual path where duality exists, and some ambitions are there for this life. Shraddha is attitude towards higher in form of belief.
2. Saburi
This is mentioned as ANANYA BHAKTI in Narada Bhakti Sutra. Saburi is void of Karma phala for worldly gains. This is second and ultimate step to reach Baba with humility.
Baba tells Hemadpant when he goes to market and eats groundnuts without taking name of Baba. Also, Baba tells this to Thembe swamy when he feels guilty after eating coconut in journey back to Shirdi which was supposed to be given to Baba. This coconut was given by Vasudevanand Swamy of VishakPatnam.
3. The way baba protects and listens to prayer of devotees: Baba Either fulfills the wishes of the devotees immediately or takes some time to fulfill, or never complies the request. Also, Achara (Performance), Vichara (Thoughts), and Prachara (Preaching) are to be in consistence with each other.
4. Principles of character: a) Equanimity (Samta), b) Mercy (Kshamata), c) Empathy (Mamata), d) Humbleness (Namrata)
5. Baba had control over five elements. Earth, Air, Space, Fire, and Water
Baba was commander of five main elements viz Bhoomi, Akasha, Vayu, Jala and Agni. His very name takes care of our disasters. Hence Sai is everything to us.
6. Bhagavan: Baba had a) Aishvarya (Wealth) b) Keerti (Fame) c) Shourya (Power) d) Dharma (Righteousness) e) Gyan (Wisdom) f) Vairagya (Dispassion)
7. Baba desired to follow few norms:
1. Be merciful towards animals.
2. Don’t be harsh on people coming for alms.
3. Don’t fast as I am residing in you and it hurts me.
4. Always be soft in nature and don’t be angry or harsh
5. Do Nama japa regularly
6. Do Annadaan to needy people
7. Never claim that your religion is superior to others
8. Baba had siddhis akin to Hanuman’s Ashta siddhi
1. Anima (Be Humble)
2. Garima (Stay Committed)
3. Mahima (Think Big)
4. Laghima (Forgive and Forget)
5. Prakasha
6. Prakamyam
7. Ishtitvam
8. Vishtitvam
9. Staunch devotees of Baba 9 gems or silver coins
1. Mhalsapati
2. Shyama
3. Tatya Kote Patil
4. Nana Saheb Chandorkar
5. Das Ganu
6. Kaka Saheb Dixit
7. H.V. Sathe
8. Bapusaheb Buti
9. Hemadpant
10. Golden coin among devotees – Upasini Maharaj
11. Eleven assurances Baba had given while living are still experienced by people till now and the prominent ones are:
1. I am ever living to help and guide all who come to me, who surrender to me and who seek refuge in me.
2. There shall be no want in the house of my devotee
When we completely rely on Sai Baba, some people fear that lazy people may opportunistically argue, “As Baba takes care, why work hard?” and so become irresponsible and fatalistic. However, devotion to Sai Baba does not justify fatalism because the Mahabharata clarifies, “Destiny determines the results of our actions, not our actions themselves.”
When people are uninformed about the role of destiny in determining results, failures make them feel hopeless. “I am worthless and cannot do anything well,” they say, even when they have the potential to perform well in the future. Consequently, today, many needlessly suffer from an inferiority complex, low self-esteem, depression and self-pity.
Sai Baba in the Sai Satcharitra has stated that though we don’t determine the result, we do play a significant role. The farmer must plough the field for favorable rainfall to produce crops. Similarly, we must endeavor for destiny to produce results. Hence, Sai Baba urges us to perform our duty without attachment.
Leave a Reply