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| Shirdi Sai Baba |
Once, at the Kaupineshwar Temple in Thane, Dasganu was singing kirtan and praises in the name of Sai Baba. Amongst the audience was present a man named Cholkar who worked as temporary staff at the dewani court in Thane. Hearing Dasganu's kirtan, he was moved and said an inward prayer to Sai Baba, "Oh Sai Baba! I am a poor man. I struggle to feed my family every day. I pledge to myself that if I successfully clear my judiciary examinations, I shall express my gratitude by coming to Shirdi at your holy feet and distributing rock-sugar candy to all."
With Baba's grace, Cholkar passed his examinations and was thereby appointed as permanent staff in the court. Now the only thing to be done was to fulfill his promise. Not only was Cholkar poor, but his family was an extended one too. Thus, even though he wished to go to Shirdi, he could not manage to gather enough money to make the trip along with all his family members. The thought of his prayer and promise to Sai Baba kept repeating itself in his mind. He finally decided that he would save from his meager monthly salary to gather enough money to visit Shirdi.
That is what he did, and finally one day, he reached Shirdi. He lay down before Baba in full prostration and offered a coconut to him. He also distributed rock-sugar candy to all present there. Then, he said to Baba with reverence, "My heart is now filled with joy; all my dreams have already been fulfilled by the hand of your divine grace." Bapusaheb Jog was present in the mosque to offer hospitality to Cholkar. When both began to leave, Baba suddenly said to Bapusaheb, "Make sure you stir in a lot of sugar in your guest's cup of tea." Hearing these words from Baba, Cholkar's heart swelled with joyful surprise and his eyes filled with tears. He once again paid his loving obeisance to Baba.
Bapusaheb was confused for he had no idea what Sai Baba had meant when he had asked him to mix an excess of sugar in his guest's tea, but Cholkar had instantly known what Baba was referring to. Cholkar had secretly promised, along with his promise to distribute rock-sugar candy that he would completely give up sugar from his diet. Sia Baba's jocular words instantly gave him a direct cue that Baba was aware of his unspoken commitment that he had made to his own self, proving that the Master was no different than his own inner self - the world of inner conscience that hears every thought and every good intention echoed in the depths of its fathomless inner space. This incident deepened Cholkar's faith and spiritual conviction about the omniscience of Baba's presence.
Baba often used to say, "If you remember me with devotion, I will be with you all the time." Here as much as Baba is referring to his individualized Presence in the path of dual worship, he is also referring to the non-dual Higher Mind which is awakened when one invokes an object of higher ideal with sincere devotion. True devotion happens when the instinctive emotional energy of the mind working in the lower consciousness field is transmuted to match the higher frequencies of cosmic love. While emotion is inseparable from sub-conscious expectations, devotion is unconditional. It is pure surrender to the cosmic Beloved.
Baba further says, "Although I am in this physical body, yet, every incident in this entire world unfolds in communion with me. I reside in your heart eternally. I am a knower of your thoughts. Worship Him, who dwells in the heart of every living being as much as He dwells in yours. They are indeed very fortunate who have a glimpse of my expansive nature." Oh, what a great lesson was given to Cholkar by Baba. Just as God is always beside his devotee to fulfill all his wishes similarly, every sacrifice of a devotee or even the desire of sacrifice is heard by God and is a source of His joy. He is the eternal friend of every heart. Our Eternal Beloved.
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