Sai Baba’s Royal Path

By: Dinesh Chikkaballapur

The one misunderstanding about the Bhagwad Gita that has turned away many sincere seekers is that it only promises enlightenment and asks us to give up the world and its enjoyments.  Sai Satcharita grants us happiness and Moksha.

While the Gita speaks of Self-realization, it also enables you to enjoy life to the fullest, achieve remarkable success in the world as well as happiness. It confers mastery over yourself and the world. It enables you to live like a King, not like a beggar. Like a victor, not a victim.
Sai Baba enables you to free yourself from the persecution of the world and become master of the universe through ‘Shradda’ and ‘Saburi’. Live like a king by discovering the royal secret — knowledge of Sai Baba close behind your thoughts and as a sheet anchor in your power. The world will then transform into your playground. You will enjoy every moment of your life and gain inner strength and growth.

Sai Baba assures the diligent aspirant of both enlightenment as well as worldly success. The Sai Satcharita does not promise a vague, post-mortem happiness. The benefits can be reaped here and now to gain material prosperity, happiness as well as spiritual growth. The accent is on the constancy of thought and consistency of application. And Whatever action you perform, whatever you perceive, offer, give, or strive for, do it as an offering to Lord Sainath the God. Then every ordinary action becomes worship. You will be freed from the bondage of actions that yield good and bad results.

Ignorant of Sai Baba’s blessings as their potential, a few deluded ignore the Sai Maharaj and get caught up with the world and fritter away their lives in the pursuit of petty, insignificant playthings. They condemn themselves to repeated birth and death which brings in its wake misery and suffering. The Mahatmas, great souls, like Sitharam Dixit anchored in the higher Goal, worship the Parabrahman single-pointedly. They dedicate all actions to a higher ideal – Karma Yoga. They cultivate a love for all beings like Mhalsapathy and Shama – Bhakti Yog. They are determined like Nana Saheb Chandorkar in their pursuit till the goal is attained – Jnana Yoga. They then attain total freedom from the pairs of opposites in the world. Thus, worship of Sai Baba is a constant effort at union with Atman, not a casual, occasional prayer or ritual.

Spiritual evolution is not the exclusive privilege of the chosen few. Sai Baba accepts even the most wicked people, the Rajasic, passionate, and Tamasic, lethargic ones, and offers them liberation. Nobody is disqualified provided they choose the right path. Everyone has access to the supreme goal. The highly refined and spiritually evolved ones find it easier to get there. With a serene mind and sharp intellect, they understand the world as ‘Anitya’, impermanent, and ‘Asukha’, joyless. They know they are heir to true and abiding bliss.

Sai Baba ends by encapsulating the entire spiritual path in one statement just like Lord Krishna in the Gita. Fix your mind on me – Jnana Yoga. The intellect fixes realization as the goal and keeps the thoughts focused there. Be my devotee – Bhakti Yoga. Feel for the ideal, pour your heart out to God. Surrender helps calm the mind. It empowers you to go through the ordeals of the world with fortitude. Sacrifice to me – Karma Yoga. Act in a spirit of sacrifice and service for the welfare of humanity. Dedicate your actions to the goal. Prostrate to me – dissolve your ego. Place your head and heart at the feet of the Lord. Thus, with me as the supreme goal, you shall come to me.

The law is – ‘as you think so you become’. People change their lifestyles, clothing, and food. They even relocate to an Ashram or the Himalayas. But pay scant regard to their thoughts which are still in the world. The only thing you need to change is your thoughts. Elevate your thoughts to the Parabrahman and the world will be at your feet. The fringe benefits of spiritual life are material success and happiness.