Author: Sevak

Whenever Sai used to go to Jaipur, a devotee’s friend would always accompany him for Sai’s darshan. That person’s son was getting admission in an engineering college, but he did not have the money to pay his fees. He approached his Guru, other saints and some such charitable institutions, but could not get any assistance. Three months passed and the college authorities served a final reminder that if fees are not paid, his name will be struck off. The boy was very good in studies and hearing this, he told his father that if he is dismissed from college, he will commit suicide.
At that point of time, the father could not think of any other way, except approaching Sai and he was somehow sure that he will get help here. He came to Darbar Sahib at Ajmer and narrated the whole story to Sai. He also told Sai that his business was not doing too well, his elder son’s salary from a private firm was just enough to run the house and the annual fees were Rs 60,000. Sai asked him to have faith and leave it to God! Sai inquired about the details from the college, made sure that the person was speaking the truth and then sent the fees to the person by a draft.
The father was overjoyed that his son can now pursue his career and thanking Sai also informed that the college authorities wanted to do darshan of such a generous saint! Sai refused his request by saying that He is not a public Guru, He is only there for His devotees!

Once two people came to Darbar Sahib and asked for blessings from Sai, in order to secure admission in school for their children. Sai blessed them by saying, what He mostly says, have faith and leave it to God!
Later, when the lists were announced, one person’s child got admission, whereas the other one’s did not. He rushed to Sai, Sai explained to him, “That other person is a disciple and as per the Guru Shishya relationship, I was duty bound to answer his prayer! Keeping in view my friendship with you, I tried for you also, but it could not happen.”
Sai has always been so kind and generous towards His disciples!

A devotee once asked Sai, when a person has some tension or worries, he often tends to do something which is not right, please suggest a solution.
Sai said, “The best answer for this is to always forgive and let go. When you are under some pressure, you must stop your mind from reacting wrongly and must explain to your mind to forgive, even if someone has spoken or behaved badly with you. If anyone is hurt in any way because of you, ask for forgiveness. In the house if any two people or son and daughter-in-law are having an argument, you must ignore or simply leave that room or place. We must explain to our mind that it is their problem, why must I be affected. Even if we tend to listen to it, we will be affected, so best is to ignore.”
That devotee further asked if there was any other solution. Sai said, “For that, you need a Guru! When we are ill, it is the doctor who gives us medicine, but it is we, who have to take it. Same way for following the right path, Guru’s teachings are there, but we have to follow them! A doctor treats the body, I treat the mind!”

Some years back, when Sai were about to turn 60, He once mentioned that, “I had come to Darbar when I was only 3 years old! I have been handling all the affairs of Darbar Sahib and whatever I have been doing, it is for the happiness and joy of the mind. It is my advice to you all that whatever work you do, do it happily and you will remain in bliss!
Some are interested in huge bank balances, some enjoy playing cards, same way what gives me happiness is to organise free medical camps for the needy, or organise bhandaras, Katha Kirtan, and such activities of service, of seva!
If our mind is happy, we can make others happy too! See how I make you all laugh all the time! I cannot write, because I feel, only hearts which are sad can write. I can only sing because when there happiness within, there is no pressure or tension on the brain!”

Regarding work, Sai has said that it is our duty to put efforts in whatever field we are involved in. Out of total 84 lac species, it is man alone who needs to work to earn his living. Rest all also get food, but they do not have to work for it. Accordingly the Lord has given proper hands to human beings, so that they can work. If we do our work sincerely with our hearts in it, we will always live in bliss! Human beings should also do such things that are good for all. Like if we help an old person cross a road or provide some help to a poor person, we feel so happy throughout the day!
Sai gives an example of Lord Dattatray, who had 24 Gurus and out of that one was a goldsmith. Once it so happened that the goldsmith was so engrossed in his work that he did not even realise when a full procession of the ruling king passed from there. When someone came and asked him whether the procession had passed from there, he said he did not know.
Sai says that the mind of the goldsmith was fully engrossed in his skill. We too must do whatever we do with such concentration. Once we focus our mind correctly, we will achieve whatever we are aiming at!

Once a devotee asked Sai, “You have so many responsibilities on you, you work so much, still there is no stress or tension on your face. How do you manage to remain happy and smiling always?”
Simple and short answer from Sai, “Whatever work I do, I do it for happiness and such work gives me happiness!”

Sai always advises His devotees to focus on the duty allotted to them. He cautions them not to think about anything else, especially about duty given to others as it may disturb the overall discipline and create hard feelings. Devotees too have spent so much time with Sai, that they understand and appreciate these values and concentrate on the work given to them. Their hearts are filled with love and joy and with these feelings they serve the people at large during camps and bhandaras.
At the end, Sai always sits with them to eat, using same plates, saying that we are all one family. When one Saint surprisingly asked Him as to how He takes food from same common plates used by His devotees, Sai smilingly replied, “Even Lord Krishna had eaten from common dishes, then why not me?”

Bhandara is organised on every Satyanarayan at Darbar Sahib Halani, Ajmer. Once, on one such occasion, Sai were overlooking the preparation including cooking, distribution, etc and remarked that everything is going on well.
One devotee asked Sai, “I have heard that while distributing prasad, Kalyug makes an entry and people break the line, start fighting, etc. But here I observe that no such thing is happening, all are standing in the queue quietly and there is no crowding or unrest. Even the sewadhsris are standing alert in their position without any flutter!”
Sai replied in a clear voice, “Why will Kalyug come here? It is seen at many places that there is discrimination and favouritism either during meals being served to Saints or to guests or the sewadharis often favour their known people. Due to such reasons, Kalyug enters. We here have thrown Kalyug out. It only enters where there is falsity and discrimination, here in our Darbar there is always truth and equality!”

Sai says that selfless service, nishkam seva, never goes a waste.
Citing an example He said, once while travelling from Ajmer to Jaipur, His taxi broke down near a place called Dadu. It was winters and evening time. Sai tried to stop some vehicles, but no one stopped. Sai waived and tried stop one jeep which was going towards Ajmer, but he too did not stop. After going ahead about 200 meters, he turned back, as during those days it was not 6 lane roads or there were no dividers as such. He got down, came and asked, “Are you the Saint from Halani Darbar Sahib? Forgive me I could not recognise you because of your coat and in a hurry went ahead. Please order me, where is it you want to go.”
Sai told him that His taxi broke down and He is in a hurry to catch a flight from Jaipur. That person loaded the luggage in his jeep and while talking to Sai during the journey, told Sai that both his parents had undergone the eye surgery in the camp organised in Darbar and they were very pleased with the seva there.
After reaching the destination, when Sai asked him as to how much to pay, he refused to take anything, saying that, as it is my jeep was going empty, and we are also indebted to you! But inspite of this, Sai gave him the fare and then left!

Once during the Ulhasnagar camp, one lady had come to meet Sai. When she saw the sewadharis so involved and busy in their seva, she told Sai, “Please give me the addresses of these devotees, so that when we organise a camp, I can write to them and call them.”
Sai smilingly asked her, “Do you know who they are? They are all disciples of our Darbar. They have left aside their work, business, etc and come here. They are not paid employees, they are all well off with their own cars, etc and at home they probably don’t even fill their own glass of water! They are here because of their devotion for their Guru and dedication for seva. I do not take work from them by ordering or treating them like servants. They come here on their own due to their love, I never call them. In fact, many of them are on my waiting list, eager to come.”
After listening, the lady felt ashamed and walked away with her head down.