May 17th
In Darbar Sahib, once an aged lady came and bowed to Sai. She took out Rs 10 and gave to Sai as an offering, which Sai refused to accept.
Eyes filled with tears, she requestingly told Sai that I have collected this amount penny by penny. Please have mercy on me and bless me by accepting this small offering. Sai said, “I know everything and hence I am not accepting.” But as she repeatedly kept insisting, Sai took one rupee, returned Rs 9 to her and said, “This rupee of yours is equivalent to a lakh for me.” She was too overwhelmed at Sai’s such compassion for her.
After she left, Sai said, “It is a sin to accept a poor devotee’s offering, which they have collected with so much effort and this adversely affects our own karmas.”
May 24th
Once a devotee invited Sai for his daughter’s marriage. Sai explained to him that if I come, along with me my devotees too would come and this would result in extra expenses. Instead, you utilise that money for your daughter’s benefit.
A similar instance had occurred at the time of Guru Ramdas Sahib, the fourth Guru in succession to Guru Nanak Sahib. A relative of His invited Him for his daughter’s marriage. He knew that if He goes, many devotees too would accompany Him and that will result in unnecessary expenses for the girl’s side. Accordingly, He decided to send Shri Arjundev, His son.
In the same way, our Sai too rightly guided the devotee, this is His greatness, His grace!
May 31st
Many devotees often request Sai to visit their house and also have bhandara there. Sai first thinks and assesses as to how well off and affording the devotee is, then accepts the invitation. For others, Sai does not prefer that they should be burdened with extra expenditure, with that closeness He advises them to bring from home a plate of cooked meal and mix it with the Darbar bhandara. This way, Sai says, not only would He have it, but even other devotees will eat the same.
Sai also say that if it is difficult to cook or health does not permit, the devotee can also add a bowl of flour or rice or ghee, etc in Darbar’s store and same way it would reach Sai and other devotees too!
Even in Ajmer, Sai never goes to the house of a disciple, devotee or a friend. He asks them to prepare whatever they wish and bring it to Darbar, where all can share and eat together!
There cannot be a better example of concern for devotees and righteousness of action!
Jun 7th
A Sindhi Sant Samelan was organised in 2007 at Haridwar. When the bhandara was laid for the Saints, Sai realised that it had not been laid for the devotees.
When Sai asked the organisers, one Saint amongst them replied that first we bigger Saints, then other Saints will eat and then it will be laid for the devotees.
Sai disapprovingly said, “If the bhandara is not laid at the same time for all, I shall not eat here, rather go to a nearest five star to have my meal. Bhandara should be laid for all Saints and devotees at the same time. Who are they, they are our sevadharis who work so hard in organising these events, how can they eat in the end?”
At that instant, Sai organised the bhandara for the devotees under His personal supervision, and then He sat along with them to eat.
Such high principles are quoted by many, but we know that our Sai is one of them, who actually follows it practically!