Month: January 2020

In 1984, Baba Gobinddas Sahib was unwell and was advised by the local Doctor to be shifted to Mumbai under an experienced Doctor. Accordingly Baba Sai was admitted to Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai.  The trustees of the hospital said they would feel honored if Baba Sai would use the room allotted for the trustees. Sai Sadhuram Sahib did not approve of this favour and instead arranged for a private room.  Sai recalls, that once the Chairman of the trust had come for Baba Sai’s darshan.  At that time BabaSai was resting, so the Chairman was denied entry into the room.  Had they availed of the favour, then anyone including a person of lower stature would have walked in at any time for Baba Sai’s darshan and it would be difficult to refuse. Sai are very careful and cautious about accepting favours and being obligated to anyone.

Every morning dhodha & moong is distributed at Darbar Sahib. This tradition has been continuing from Sindh Darbar till the present day. It is said that this Prasad has great significance. This Prasad makes sorrowful people forget their sorrows. It is said that faith & shraddha can make an unhealthy person healthy.

Right from the beginning the food of the Darbar has been very simple. Once someone complained to Baba Gobinddas Sahib that Savitri was using jeera (cumin) in her cooking.  Baba Sai asked Savitri if she was learning new methods of cooking. He said that we have never used such spices like jeera in our cooking right from the time of Sindh. The result will lead to illness. She replied, Sai Sadhuram Sahib had asked her to make tasty vegetables. Hearing this Baba Sai called Sai and asked Him if He had permitted her to use jeera, to which Sai replied that to be satisfied we need to eat tasty food.  If the food is not tasty the guests will order pakoras from outside and satisfy themselves.  That too is part of our expense. On hearing this Baba Sai said that from this day the responsibility of the Bhandara will be on Sai. Baba Gobinddas Sahib said, “Like Shah Sahib had left the reins of his horse in the hands of his Lord, similarly we are handling over the responsibility to you. Now in whichever way want you can spin the wheel”. From that day Baba Sai never interfered in the matters of the Bhandara nor on the quantity of vegetables which were cooked and distributed.

Besides the tookro (dhodha & moong) Sai would see to it that every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner variety of delicacies were made and served.  The tea which was initially prepared twice a day in the morning and evening was now prepared whenever anyone wanted it so that the guests do not go out to eat and drink tea and spend their money unnecessarily. He would happily serve the people. Sai says He gets immense pleasure in feeding, rather than in eating Himself.

In 1983 Sai accompanied by some disciples went to Khatmandu for a vacation and stayed at Shangrila Hotel. There the manager of the Hotel gave everyone tokens of Rs.5000/- for gambling at the Casino. The disciples were very tempted but Sai cautioned them not to accept the tokens because if they lose they will be tempted to put in their own five thousand to win, but if they win they might fall into the habit of gambling. For example, a person with only one peg might develop the habit of drinking. 

In this world there are many temptations so from a very young age one must learn to control themselves. It is easy to get into bad habits but difficult to overcome them. Sai smilingly says that till today there is no school or class which teaches bad habits. Schools classes and Satsangs are there to guide us to conduct ourselves well. 

In 1974 Sai Sadhuram Sahib visited Bombay. He was supposed to return to Ajmer but there was a railway strike, so He planned to return by plane. He requested Shri Gobindram Bhambhani, a disciple to purchase His ticket. In those days the air fare was Rs.264. Sai calculated and gave him the exact amount. On reaching Ajmer Darbar He told Baba that He had sufficient money with Him and so had already paid Shri Godindram Bhambhani for the ticket. Inspite of that Baba Gobinddas Sahib sent a letter to the disciple, to make sure that the money had been paid. Baba Sai did this to show Sai His vigilance and wanted Sai learn about discipline. Sai has grown up in the midst of both – love, affection and a strict upbringing.

In 1980 the second edition of history of Halani Darbar was printed and presented to Sai, when Sai went through the written text, He told the disciples to rewrite it. He said that many people would be reading the history, hence it should be factual and not just full of praises of the Gurus of Halani Darbar. He requested them to concise the book from 1000 pages to 200 pages. This shows us that Sai never approved of unnecessary praise, show and pomp. Sai’s thoughts were always deep rooted, which reflects His high thinking caliber.

From his early childhood Sai have been immersed in Naam. He has control over his mind. To steer from temptation one should have a tremendous will power. Sai recalls an incident of his youth in Hardwar, where he met naked (Nago) fakir. Sai asked him what he had in his mouth, the fakir replied Gutka. Sai asked him how much it had cost him, and the later answered it was for Rs.15. He normally had it 5-6 times in a day as there was some drug in it which was intoxicating. Sai asked him what was the use of this. The true intoxication should be the Lords name, everything else is false. Intoxication is ephemeral. But the pleasure of Naam is everlasting and eternal truth “Naam Tumhari Nanika Chad Rahe Din Raat”.

Sai tells us that as a youth he visited many 5 star hotels, which was a haven of all worldly vices, eg.: paan, supari, cigarette. But never did the desire to indulge arise because of the strict and disciplined upbringing by Baba Sai. When a disciple asked Sai how he managed to abstain from such temptations, Sai said that to reach this state one has to have a strong will power and self-control.

Sai further explains that when the wick is ready all that is required is a spark in the form of a Guru. This is also the culmination of good karmas from our previous births. This facilitates a smooth journey on the spiritual path.

In many Darbars, families offered their children who would be later groomed for the spiritual path. Few are trained to preside for the gaddi, but not all have the inclination. Many of these children by the time they reach youth, get attracted to the worldly ways. On this difficult path you need good karmas and tremendous control over your mind.