(July-August 1991)
Whatever may be the calibre of an individual, 'Guru' is a must for attaining the real knowledge of universe. To get a proper 'Guru' especially for spiritual progress is rather a difficult task. Such 'Guru' not only gives proper advice to his disciple but makes him free from the bondage of worldly existence and from the cycle of birth and death. If one is lucky enough to get a proper 'Guru' the job doesn't end there. The disciple has lo pass through acid tests arranged by the 'Guru'.
Even an omniscient and omnipresent personality like Sai Baba dedicated His life at the feel of His 'Gum'. He often used to talk about His 'Guru', making either explicit or implicit reference to Him. One Khashaba Dcshmukh's mother commenced indefinite last with an intense desire to get blessed by Sai Baba with 'Guru mantra'. So finally Baba called her and told, "Oh mother, why are you subjection yourself to unnecessary tortures and approaching death'.' You are really My mother and I am your child. Take pity on Me and hear Me through. I tell you My own story, which if you listen carefully, will do you good. I had a Guru. He was a great Saint and most merciful. I served him long, very long; still he would not blow any Mantra into My ears. I had keen desire, never to leave him but to stay with and serve him: and at all costs receive some instructions from him. But he had his own way. He first got my head shaved and asked Me two pice as Dakshina. I gave the same at once. If you say, that as My Guru was perfect, why should he ask for money and how should lie be called desireless? I replied plainly that he never cared for coins. What had he to do with them? His two pice were (1) Firm Faith and (2) Patience or perseverance. I gave these two pice or things to him, and he was pleased."
"I
resorted to My Guru for 12 years. He brought Me up. There was no dearth of food
and clothing. He was full of love or say, he was love incarnate. How can I
describe it? He loved Me most. Rare is a Guru like him. When I looked al him, he
seemed as if he was in deep meditation, and then we both were filled with
Bliss. Night and day, I gazed at him with no thought of hunger and thirst.
Without him, I fell restless. I had no other subject to meditate, nor any other
thing than My Guru to attend. He was My sole refuge. My mind was always fixed
on him. This is one pice of Dakshina. Saburi (Patience or perseverance) is the
other pice. I waited patiently and very long on My Guru and served him. This
Saburi will ferry you across the sea of this mundane existence. Saburi is
manliness in man, it removes all sins and afflictions, gets rid of calamities
in various ways, and casts aside all-fear, and ultimately gives you success.
Saburi is the mine of virtues, consort of good thought. Nishtha (Faith) and
Saburi (Palience) are like twin sisters, loving each other very
intimately."
"My Guru
never expected any other thing from Me. He never neglected Me, but protected Me
al all times. I lived with him, and was sometimes away from him; still I never
fell the want or absence of his love. He always protected Me by his glance,
just as the tortoise feeds her young ones, whether they are near her or away
from her on the other side of ihc river bank, by her loving looks. Oh mother,
My Guru never taught Me any Mantra, then how shall I blow any Manira in your
ears? Just remember that Guru's tortoise-like loving glance gives us happiness.
Do not try to get Mantra or Upadesh from anybody. Make Me the sole objecl of
your thoughts and actions: and you will, no doubt, attain Paramartha (the
spirilual goal of life). Look at Me whole-heartedly, and I in turn look at you
similarly. Silting in this Masjid. I speak the truth, nothing but the truth. No
Sadhanas, nor proficiency in the six Shastras, are necessary. Have faith and confidence
in your Guru. Believe fully, that Guru is the sole Actor or Doer. Blessed is he
who knows the greatness of his Guru and thinks him to be Hari, Hara and Brahma
(Trimurti) Incarnate."
Baba expects
only the two coins i.e. Nishtha and Saburi from His devotees.