Worshipping Baba?
Baba’s name denotes to many of us respite, relief, love, adoration, and devotion, sometimes fear too. This fear comes from the fact, the extent of attachment we feel for Baba. We know that Baba is God who walked, lived amongst us to be exemplary for us and to lead us. It was not for Him to preach but to practice.
For me too it is still a process of grasping the meaning of things which Baba did. Which look mundane to us? Few things still baffle me and pain me lot.
In my search for Baba’s family (all the devotees of Baba and followers of Baba) I only came across lot of devotion and a practice to worship Baba, which was often tolerated by Baba. Apart from trying to preserve the heritage of Shirdi and the belonging's of Baba are we loosing out on Baba?
Most temples of Baba have shops which sell ‘peda’ (sweet made with condensed milk and sugar). We spend money to buy ‘peda’ and flowers as offering's for Baba and are happy to share it with everyone around us as ‘prasad’ (food offered to God and later shared by the devotees). Often travel long distances, spending lot of money to visit a temple.
Different sadhanas are prescribed in our scriptures for different ages. Tapa (penance) is recommended for Krita age, Jnana (knowledge) for Treta age, Yajna (sacrifice) for Dwapara age and Dana (charity) for Kali (present) age.
Of all kinds of charities giving food is the best one. We are much perturbed when we get no food at noon. Other beings feel similar under similar circumstances. Knowing this he who gives food to the poor and hungry is the best donor or charitable person.
Baba’s name denotes to many of us respite, relief, love, adoration, and devotion, sometimes fear too. This fear comes from the fact, the extent of attachment we feel for Baba. We know that Baba is God who walked, lived amongst us to be exemplary for us and to lead us. It was not for Him to preach but to practice.
For me too it is still a process of grasping the meaning of things which Baba did. Which look mundane to us? Few things still baffle me and pain me lot.
In my search for Baba’s family (all the devotees of Baba and followers of Baba) I only came across lot of devotion and a practice to worship Baba, which was often tolerated by Baba. Apart from trying to preserve the heritage of Shirdi and the belonging's of Baba are we loosing out on Baba?
Most temples of Baba have shops which sell ‘peda’ (sweet made with condensed milk and sugar). We spend money to buy ‘peda’ and flowers as offering's for Baba and are happy to share it with everyone around us as ‘prasad’ (food offered to God and later shared by the devotees). Often travel long distances, spending lot of money to visit a temple.
Different sadhanas are prescribed in our scriptures for different ages. Tapa (penance) is recommended for Krita age, Jnana (knowledge) for Treta age, Yajna (sacrifice) for Dwapara age and Dana (charity) for Kali (present) age.
Of all kinds of charities giving food is the best one. We are much perturbed when we get no food at noon. Other beings feel similar under similar circumstances. Knowing this he who gives food to the poor and hungry is the best donor or charitable person.
Don’t we remember Baba expressing pleasure when Mrs. Tarkhad fed a hungry dog during her meal time? Baba said to her ‘act like this and this will stand you in good stead. First give bread to the hungry and then eat yourself’
(Chapter 9 p 55)
(Chapter 9 p 55)
Courtesy_ Shri Sai Baba’s Teachings & Philosophy by Lt Col. M. B. Nimbalkar
Similarly we know what Baba said to Laxmi Bai Shinde, who was annoyed because Baba gave the bread and vegetables urgently cooked for Baba to a nearby dog, ‘why do you grieve for nothing? The appeasement of the dog’s hunger is the same as mine. Though some speak and others are dumb the hunger of all creatures is the same. Know for certain that he who feeds hungry really serves ME with food’. (Chapter 42 p 233)
Sai Baba was always practical and realistic in his advice. While eulogizing on charity he also warned about overdoing it and becoming a debtor (Bhakti Leelamrit, ch. 32 by Das Ganu Maharaj)
Courtesy_ Shri Sai Baba’s Teachings & Philosophy by Lt Col. M. B. Nimbalkar
God Himself comes and lives with us and show’s us the way but did such an effort make an impact on us and transform us from being a routine devotee to a good human first?
Please share your experiences and views on this.
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