numii.net

Surrender completely to God.

God has agents everywhere and their powers are vast.

What is our duty? To behave properly. That is enough.

If you are wealthy, be humble. Plants bend when they bear fruit.

Whenever you undertake to do something does it thoroughly or not at all.

When you see with your inner eye. Then you realize that you are God and not different from Him.

Life

Birth: Where and when Sai Baba was born is unknown. Some claim Baba was born on 29 September 1835.

Realization: How and when Sri Shirdi Sai Baba got enlighted is not known. He is believed to be incarnation of Lord Shiva. He was unique in the sense that he lived his message through the essence of his being.

Death: Shirdi Sai Baba died on October 15, 1918.

Teaching Style: Sai Baba left no written works. His teachings were oral, typically short, pithy sayings rather than elaborate discourses. In fact, he did not even provide formal initiation, despite requests from some of his devotees. He delivered spiritual teachings to his visitors, recommending the reading of sacred Hindu texts along with the Qur’an, especially insisting on the indispensability of the unbroken remembrance of God’s name.

Fame:
Shirdi Sai Baba was an Indian guru and yogi and one of the greatest saints ever born in India. His main aim in life was to make people realize the eternal truth “Sabka Malik Ek” (One God governs all). Many devotees believe that he was a Sadguru. There are many stories and eyewitness accounts of miracles he performed. He is a well-known figure in many parts of the world, but especially in India. Baba preached at Shirdi all his life and performed numerous miracles to convince people that God exists. He healed people’s diseases, provided moral and material comfort to his Devotees. Baba helped bring Unity and Harmony between all communities. He said that God is one, but called by different names. He said that follow your own religion and seek the truth. He started an ever-burning dhuni fire, and distributed its udhi (ash) among his followers. In his life and teachings he tried to reconcile Hinduism and Islam. Sai Baba lived in a mosque, which he called Dwarakamayi, practiced Hindu and Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions and was buried in a Hindu temple in Shirdi.

Legacy: The spiritual guru and redeemer of mankind, Sai Baba of Shirdi has been one of the greatest influencing gurus of the Modern times. As among the most popular Indian saints with an ever growing following of devotees, Sai Baba inspires an unflinching faith on his devotees with his clear cut mission to provide not only a spiritual awakening, but also saving the mankind from suffering and ignorance. He remains a very popular saint and is worshipped by people around the world and revered by several notable Hindu and Sufi religious leaders.

Teachings

The main aim of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba was to spread the feeling of unity and brotherhood throughout the world. He preached that there is only one God, who is the master of all the human beings. God loves each and every person, irrespective of his/her vices or virtues. Similarly, we should also love each other, irrespective of the religion, caste, creed, etc.

He advised to lead a moral life, help others, love every living being without any discrimination, treat them with love and develop two important features of character: faith and patience. In his teachings Sai Baba emphasized the importance of performing one’s duties without attachment to earthly matters and being ever content regardless of the situation.

Sai Baba said that God penetrates everything and lives in every being, and as well that God is the essence of each of them. He emphasized the complete oneness of God which was very close to the Islamic taw hid and the Hindu doctrine, e.g. of the Upanishads. Sai Baba said that the world and all that the human may give is transient and only God and his gifts are eternal. Sai Baba also emphasized the importance of devotion to God – bhakti – and surrender to his will. He also talked about the need of faith and devotion to one’s spiritual preceptor. He said that everyone was the soul and not the body. He advised his disciples and followers to overcome the negative features of character and develop the good ones. He taught them that all fates were determined by karma (work).

Sai encouraged charity and the importance of sharing with others. He said, “Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them with due respect. God will be certainly pleased if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting. If anybody wants any money from you and you are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark at him like a dog.”

According to him, “I give people what they want in the hope that they will begin to want what I want to give them (knowledge of the Ultimate).” He then taught values of total surrender to the Almighty Master and experiences his grace.