Annihilation of Ego initiates Self-Surrender
Shri Sai Baba was very different from other saints. He never had to go into trance or any higher position or knowledge to achieve anything. He was every moment exercising a “double consciousness”, one actively utilizing the Ego called Sri Sai Baba and dealing with other Egos in temporal or spiritual affairs, and the other, entirely superseding all Egos and resting in the position of the “Universal Soul or Ego”; He was exercising and manifesting all the powers and features incidental to both the states of consciousness. Other saints would forget their body and surroundings and then return to it. But Sri Sai Baba always was in and outside the material world. Others seemed to take pains and by effort to trace the contents of others minds and read their past history. But with Sri Sai Baba this was not a matter of effort. He was in the all knowing state always. It is not merely his power that endeared him to his devotees. His loving care combined with those powers made Shirdi, a veritable paradise to the devotees who went there. Whosoever went there felt safe, that nothing could harm them. When Baba was present at Shirdi in his mortal coil, every devotee when they visited him, forgot the physical pain, mundane concerns and anxieties, in Baba’s presence. Hours would pass and the devotees would be in a blissful unconsciousness state – a truely unique experience.
Shri Moreshwar W. Pradhan was an ardent devotee of Baba. He was a Judge in Bombay High Court. By the end of May 1910, Pradhan went to Shirdi accompanied by Chandorkar’s two sons. He took with himself three or four gold sovereigns (guineas, as they were called) and some notes. He got a note changed with the objective of presenting silver rupees in case Baba asks for dakshina. He had 20 rupees in cash and the rest in notes. When he arrived at Shirdi, Baba was standing on the road near the Lendi bagh and Pradhan and others prostrated before Baba. He was put up at the Sathe wada and there had the company of Rao Bahadur H V Sathe and Mr. Noolkar, (who were staunch devotees of Baba). Later Shri Pradhan went to the Masjid and offered Baba, the flowers, garlands, and fruits he brought with him. Describing his first contact with Baba, Shri Pradhan writes, “When I looked quietly into his face and eyes, I felt confirmed in my impression that Baba is a really great saint and said within myself, Thank God. I have come. This deep impression was quite opportune. Baba at once put my faith to the test.”
Baba asked Shri Pradhan for Dakshina. Instead of giving him silver rupees as he had intended, when he changed the notes at Kalyan, he put a sovereign (gold coin) in Baba’s hand. Baba received it, turned it in his palms. He did so thrice and asked Shri Noolkar each time, “What is this?” Noolkar replied “Baba, this is a guinea”. Baba then asked him “What is it worth?” and Noolkar replied “It is worth fifteen rupees”. Then Baba returned the coin to Shri Pradhan saying “I do not want this. Keep it and give me fifteen rupees”. He put the coin into his purse and gave Baba fifteen silver rupees. By doing so, Baba returned him the gold coin consecrated with his divine touch. Baba took the silver coins counted them over and over and declared that, there are only ten rupees and asked Shri Pradhan to give five more rupees. Describing this second test of faith on Baba, Shri Pradhan writes, “A lawyer accustomed to confrontation and criticism would naturally defend himself against the aspersion that he gave only ten rupees and assert that he paid a larger sum. But, I meekly accepted Baba’s declaration and without any inclination to dispute Baba’s words gladly gave him the rest 5 rupees in my pocket”. Pradhan remembered that he had or had originally intended to give Rs. 20 to Baba and as per his desire Baba took the sum from him and then Baba did not ask for more. Now he was convinced that Baba is really a divine saint.
The moment a devotee has a thought or ‘bhava’ in his heart for Baba or calls Him mentally, a vibration or a ray of subtle thought form instantly reaches the Sadguru. As Baba used to say ‘Be wherever you are and do whatever you like, I will know it even if I am thousands of miles away from you’.
Source: Devotees Experiences of Shri Sai Baba by B.V NARASIMHA SWAMIJI