Just Keep Me in Your Heart

February 15, 2018August 10, 2018 0 Comments

baba

Dr. Satpathy has commented time and again through various writings and speeches that, Baba never cared for wealth or for presents. What he really wanted was, love – deep, intense, passionate, wholehearted love. The following experiences of a staunch devotee of Sai Baba, Justice M. B. Rege conforms it.

One Guru-poornima day, numerous devotees came to Baba, and as usual, placed a book before him so that he might return it after consecrating the book with his blessing for them to study and benefit. Baba, however, took up a book brought by one man and gave it to another, as he often does. On that occasion every one had a book in hand, except myself. Baba then looked at me and said pointing to the books:- “In these books, they want to find God, Brahma.There is however, Bhrama, i.e.confusion or delusion in these books. You are alright. Do not read books, but keep me in your heart. If you unify (or harmonize) head and heart, that is enough.” So I have not been indulging in any regular study of religious books. I content myself with what has led me so far.

Stating another experience Justice Rege recalls:

It was probably in 1912 that I went to Shirdi on some festive occasion. At Manmad, I noticed that devotees are carrying with themselves a grand basket of flowers, garlands etc. I was full of agony and remorse as I had forgotten to bring a garland when I was going to see my Guru, who was everything to me. We all went to Shirdi and at the mosque, I noticed that Baba was loaded with garlands and I was in anguish for not carrying a garland for him. Baba lifted up a bundle of the garlands with his hand and said, “All these are yours”. How kind of Baba! What love was showered on me! – kind, merciful love!

The following incident narrated by justice Rege conforms how the omniscient Sadguru used to keep a watch on the thoughts of his disciples:

It was probably in 1915 Ramanavami, while planning for a trip to Shirdi, I went into the Indore cloth bazaar to look for a present – worthy of being presented to Baba. I found a fine lace-embroidered muslin chaddar – It was 5 feet square with embroidered body and 8-9 inches of lace border all round. It was very nice and could be folded into 6″ x 6″ x 1″ packet. I took the chaddar with me to Shirdi and kept it inside my shirt. Devotees usually go and present Baba with clothes hoping that the same may be returned to them with Baba’s blessings and in most cases Baba used to return the clothes. I thought that if Baba cared for my love he should not return the chaddar to me but should keep it and wear it. When each devotee went and presented their cloth, it would be openly bestowed and placed on Baba and then at the end, the attendants would call out, “Whose is this?” and return it. In order to avoid the return, I had taken my tiny packet and when I bowed to Baba, I slyly shoved the packet under his mattress (gadi). When all clothes were returned, no one noticed the chaddar beneath the mattress. Baba got up and said “Clear off all that lies on the mattress and dust it“. When the mattress was removed, the muslin packet was found. Baba picked it up and said, “What is this? Muslin!”. He then spread the chaddar and said, “I am not going to return this. This is mine”. He then put it around his body, looked at me and said, “Don’t I look nice in this?” I was immensely happy as the ever affectionate, merciful Baba had fulfilled my desire and accepted the present – as a confirmation of the fact that I was not different from him.