The Eleven Assurances
Baba Himself
has said, not a syllable is empty. His words are
filled with meaning. So did HE exclusively state
eleven points, thus assuring HIS devotees?
His Holiness Narasimha Swamiji, the blessed soul who
is revered by many as the Apostle of Baba, and verily
deserves the title, is the one, who was instrumental
in spreading the truth in the form of books and pamphlets,
as much as he could. He has written many books, describing
the spiritual life of Baba. Thus, was born, as one among
the many books, titled, "Baba's Charter and Sayings"
and published as early as 1939. Note that this book,
has various sections. They being, Sai Baba's Charters,
Moksha Marga, Atma Vichara (Who are you?), What is God,
Sadhanas under which there are sections pertaining to
the Importance of Faith and Having a Guru, Reading of
Holy Books, Naama Japa, Dakshina etcetera. And the other
sections include, Baba's Indifference to Wealth, His
Hospitality, Transience of Life, death, etcetera. Now,
let us consider the first section - Baba's Charter's
and Sayings. This consists of the priceless words uttered
by the Maha Avatar Shirdi Baba Sai, as mentioned in
the Sat Charita itself. THESE ARE NOT ELEVEN IN
NUMBER. They are numerous. And this section itself branches
out to many.
Baba promising in the Name of Dwarakamayi
where is mentioned the wordings appearing in the twenty
second chapter of Sat Charita, verses 47 to 55. Where
Baba says to Balasaheb Mirikar, assuring and foretelling
the impending danger, that was to befall him in the
form of a snake. At that time Baba asked Mirikar a curious
question: "Oh, this is our Dwarkamayi. Do you know it?"
Balasaheb did not understand that question at all. Baba
said: "Now look! This is our Dwarkamayi. This is our
Dwarkamayi! When sitting in the lap of the Masjid, she
safeguards the children and there will never be any
question of worrying. This Masjidmai is very kind. She
is the Mother of all the innocent and faithful devotees.
Anyone may face any difficulty, She will readily protect.
Once a person settles in her lap, all his difficulties
are solved. He who lies in her shadow, he will be on
the throne of happiness. This is that Dwarka, Dwaravati!
" Then Baba gave him udi and kept His protective hand
on his head, after which Mirikar got up to leave. Baba
again thought of putting a question to Mirikar: "Do
you know the long 'bava' (serpent)? and its mysterious
powers?" Then He closed His fist and took His left arm
near the elbow of his right arm, and holding it moved
it around and said, "he is terrible like this! But what
can he do to us? We are Dwarkamayi's offsprings. Nobody
can comprehend her activities. Just quietly watch her
wonders. When Dwarkamayi is there to protect, how can
the long 'bava' dare to attack? The strength of the
attacker is not comparable to that of the savior? How
can it be explained! "
And to elucidate on the phrase,
Once a person settles in her lap, all his difficulties
are solved. He who lies in her shadow, he will be on
the throne of happiness. Do you know what it is to settle
in the lap of the Masjid Mai? Not merely walking to
a building called Dwarakamyi and physically seating
yourself there. It is the surrender which a seeker orbs
himself with ~ the state of true acceptance, receiving
the blows and blessings with simple calmness, striding
through the highs and lows of life with absolute faith
and serenity, thus surrendering oneself to the Guru
and to remain thus, ever after (lying in Her shadow).
How many are we who have settled in the lap
of Dwarakamayi, let alone lying in her shadow?
The next saying from Chapter thirty four,
verses 22 to 25. Where Baba talks to the parents of
the boy suffering from tubercular bone abscess, saying,
Those who come and resort to this Masjid shall never
suffer anything in this life. Now, be carefree. Take
udi and apply it on the abscess. Within four to eight
days, he will get relief. Have faith in God. This is
not a Masjid but Dwaravati. He who steps here will get
health and joy, within no time. You also will get this
experience. It is impossible that whoever comes here
is not relieved. He who climbs the steps of this Masjid
will accomplish his objective. Know that. Again, yes,
as we had just seen, the one who settles to the Masjid,
will be the one who resorts to the Masjid. There shall
definitely be no suffering to the one, who leaves it
all and goes to the Masjid Mayi. The whole definition
of joy shall change. The one who resorts will never
go through any pain or suffering. The words of Baba
still stand true, and it will, as long as the waves
rise in the seas. Our Masjid Mayi is very kind and merciful,
as He says. He shall see to it that the devotees get
relieved of his concerns in worldly affairs, and thus
the one who climbs the steps of the Masjid shall accomplish
his objective. The objective of a seeker is always redefined
by his Master. We all, by now know the purpose of His
avatar. Our Fakir has come to grant each and every seeker
of His, the ultimate storehouse of joy, the taste of
realization. He grants them their material wants, so
that they begin to ask Him what He wants to give them.
And again, in chapter twenty five of the Sat Charita,
verses 105 to 108. Even when I pass away, believe in
My words. From My tomb My bones will give you assurance.
Not only I, but my tomb would be speaking, moving and
communicating with those who surrender themselves whole
heartedly to me. Do not worry that I shall be hidden
from your eyes. You will hear My bones speak and discuss
your welfare. Always remember Me only. Believe in Me
heart and soul. Pray without selfish motives and you
will attain your welfare. Our Lord is ever living and
we all know the fact, He is a Teacher par excellence.
Like our timeless saint Kabir has said, 'He is a True
Teacher Who can bring the vision of the Formless to
the vision of these eyes.' And our Baba has time and
again proved that true, and lives up to it. To This
Samartha Sadguru Who can bring the vision of the Formless
to the seeker's eye, He needs no form at all. He requires
no physical body to do His work. He has discarded the
body at will, and continues to be ever active and vigorous
even now and shall be, ever after. The words, 'tomb'
and 'bones' in His statement above, are to make the
simple devotees cognize His state of living, even after
discarding His physical body.
And from Chapter six, verse, 34 Those who whole-heartedly
worship Me and lovingly always serve Me, I look after
their well-being. This I know to be My motto. And from
the same chapter, verses 35 and 36 reads thus: There
will never be shortage of food and clothing. Therefore
do not hanker after them. One should seek honor at the
door of God; and should beg only from God. Ask only
for His Blessings. Worldly prestige should be left aside.
Following that verse, is also mentioned in verses 36
to 41, the following. The same is also cited by Narasimha
Swamiji in the very same book. One should seek honor
at the door of God; and should beg only from God. Ask
only for His Blessings. Worldly prestige should be left
aside. Why are you satisfied by the honor given to you
by society? And why are you infatuated by that? Rather
seek through intense devotion to move your chosen deity
to compassion and to express your joy through copious
streams of satvik bhava. May you find joy in such striving.
Let all the faculties be seized with such a devotional
urge so that the passions of the senses may be transformed
completely and sprout devotional worship. What desire
will then remain? May such devotion be your constant
pre-occupation leaving no relish for anything else.
May the mind be engaged in constant chanting of My name
and let everything else be forgotten. Then there will
be no thought of body, home and wealth. The heart will
be fixed on the infinite happiness. The mind will be
balanced and serene; and it will find fulfillment in
itself. A contented mind is the surest sign of association
with the holy. How can a wandering mind be considered
as being surrendered to God? We as humans prone to follies
have ignored the complete saying. May the mind be engaged
in constant chanting of My name and let everything else
be forgotten. Nevertheless, Baba shall never let His
children go lacking for food or clothing.
And in Chapter twenty eight, verses 199 and 200, where
Baba replies to Mega saying thus. And we all know of
Megha's austere devotion. How he had in all entirety
placed his burdens on Baba. "I do not need a door to
enter. I have no form or dimension. I am always everywhere.
For the one who places his burdens on Me and has become
one with Me, I manipulate all his actions like the actions
of a marionette."
From Chapter forty, verses 31 and
32, where Baba says, in the pretext of asking Shama
to communicate to Bapusaheb Jog in response to his invitation.
He who remembers me is always in My mind. I need no
conveyance – a carriage, or a horse, a plane or a train.
I appear without an instant's delay, when I am lovingly
called. And there are many and more instances, this
day, where our Lord has appeared in some way or form,
without an instant's delay.
From Chapter forty four,
verses 151 and 152, He, who constantly remembers Me
after completely surrendering to me, I owe him a debt
which I will repay by uplifting him. I am in bondage
to him who does not eat or drink anything without offering
it to Me first and who constantly meditates upon Me.
I constantly care for him who only longs for Me and
for him no one is equal to Me. I act according to his
wishes. How many of us are we who long for Him and only
Him, and constantly meditate upon Him?
Well, that said, all these and few other verses from
the Sat Charita, go to make the first section of the
Charters and Sayings, as compiled by honorable Narasimha
Swamiji. But, it is only from these above verses, the
eleven verses as you get to see, inscribed in most temples
and published in booklets, are taken and they were modified
when being passed around. If you observe, they are not
uniform across all temples. Because, these above verses,
were subject to slight changes as with time and as and
when handed down, not all retained their original version.
It is wise to self-analyse how qualified a seeker one
is. Do we follow word to word of all that Baba said,
that one should worry of being not fulfilled yet. Contemplate!
Has He not told this?
Along with this, there are several other dictums in
the Sat Charita, which when read with faith and taken
to heart, will definitely prove useful, in expanding
the awareness and thereby, easing the path ahead.