Chapter 10 - A Deeper Understanding - a podcast by Sai Babas Devotee Speaks

Chapter 10 is especially dear to me. When I read this chapter, I felt vindicated, in a way - vindicated on what I was suggesting was Sai Baba's deeper message beyond the miracles that He performed. A message that He wanted so much to share with us and that is why He uttered those famous lines - "I give people what they want, so that they may want what I truly want to give them." What is it that He truly wants to give us? It is Knowledge, wisdom, self-realisation, and liberation. So, Chapter 10 has enormous significance because of this. I will read out five or six sentences that indicate this. Also, I would like to add here the depth of knowledge and wisdom that Hemadpant had for putting these words down. Like in most chapters, Hemadpant praises Sai Baba in this chapter too, but here, the praise is towards Brahman, non-duality and the Source, or Consciousness.

Here is the first one - "Firmly committed to non-duality within, He was yet involved in the complexities in the world." Hemadpant has very clearly stated that Sai Baba was firmly committed to non-duality within, yet He was involved in the complexities in the world. This clearly establishes not only Baba's non-dual state, which we all know, but the fact that Baba was a man of the world and acted from that centre.

Then, Hemadpant goes on to say - "Sai is a mine of self-knowledge. Filled with pure joy is Sai's person. Cling to Him for protection instantly, to be able to cross over the ocean of worldly life safely." The emphasis here is on crossing over the ocean of worldly life, and all the trials, tribulations and challenges which life brings forth on this journey.

Hemadpant starts the sentence by saying that "Sai is a mine of self-knowledge." It is the self-knowledge, which is Sai Baba's very being, which he himself bestows upon His devotees. And it is that self-knowledge which enables one to cross over the ocean of worldly life safely. This is so beautiful!

Once again, Hemadpant writes: "The most constant undifferentiated Supreme Spirit, which is personified in Baba, is boundless and infinite, and fills this entire universe from Brahma right down to a tiny grub." So, in other words, Baba is the source of all there is. This is again the non-dual wisdom. All there is is the Source, the Consciousness, the undifferentiated Supreme Spirit personified in Baba. This is the totality of what is, meaning, Baba is the totality of what is. Nothing is separate from Baba. Now, the question is - do we view our lives like that, whatever happens in our life, especially the unpleasant things? We, as devotees of Baba, need to understand that this too has happened by His will. And therefore, He will give us the strength to face such situations in life.

The next one that Hemadpant has emphasised on is: "Baba prescribed no Yogasanas, no Pranayama, no violent suppression of the sense organs, no Mantra, Tantra or Yantra Pooja." In other words, Baba did not prescribe a specific practice as a Sadhana. This is what I have been emphasising in the talks that you might have heard so far. Baba's life and teaching point to a 'way of being' throughout the day, not just as a practice, although this non-dual wisdom (and Baba as the totality of what is, and the Supreme Spirit personified as Baba) is very clearly a way of our being when we are anchored in Baba's teachings. Another way to look at it is that our entire life becomes a spiritual practice, and not just a limited practice of Mantra, Tantra, Yantra, and so on. That is what the Teaching is about.

And finally, I would like to end on the last two sentences of this chapter. "He who knew how illusory this worldly life is, and was constantly engaged in blissful self-absorption, with the mind like a flower in full bloom, before Him, I prostrate in obeisance." In other words, what Hemadpant is saying is - He who knew how illusory this worldly life is (he is referring to Baba). This is a very important pointer. In spiritual teachings, a common phrase used is - This Life is but a dream. This is the living dream of life. And here, Hemadpant says, "He who knew how illusory this worldly life is, and was constantly engaged in blissful self-absorption, before him I prostrate." In other words, once again we come to this point that nothing in life can give us true happiness. Why? Because it is transient. It is temporary. It is fleeting. It is an illusion. It disappears in our deep sleep. How real could it be? Even in our dream state, we have forgotten about our waking state. Baba was engaged in blissful self-absorption because He knew how illusory this worldly life is. It is such a shining example for us to follow.

And lastly, Hemadpant ends on - "He who gives Brahma Jnana, or Supreme Knowledge, by applying the collyrium of knowledge into the eye - that great Sai, I bow to in obeisance." What is this Knowledge? It is the understanding which has been imparted throughout the Satcharita. Not just incidents of miracles, but understanding what those incidents are communicating to us. Not bookish knowledge, but the Divine Knowledge that the stories in the Satcharita are imparting to us when they describe Baba's state, His way of being, Baba's Leelas. What is being imparted to us is the Supreme Knowledge. Therefore, by reading the stories again and again, we find that they operate at different layers of subtlety. From the most basic reading, and seeing an event as it happens, to going deeper into that incident, gleaning the message conveyed through the incident. That is what this journey with the Satcharita is about.

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