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10: Sai: Who is Sai?
In this episode, we explore the life, miracles, and teachings of Sai Baba through the lens of 'Sai Satcharita,' a collection of stories by his devotee, Hemad Pant. Delve into the profound in...
10: Sai: Who is Sai?
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Alam to America Hinduism for the Multicultural Soul
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Episode 10 Who Is Sigh From Sigh Chiritra Chapter 3
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Welcome to our deep dive into the world of Sai Baba.
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Today we're exploring his life, miracles and teachings.
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And what better way to do that than to go straight to the source?
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Straight to the source.
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Free Sai Sigh Chiritra, a collection of stories documented by one of his devotees, Hemad Pant.
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Yeah, and what makes this book so captivating is its first hand perspective.
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It's not just a dry biography, it's a devotees' intimate account offering us a window into Sai Baba's world through the eyes of someone who walked beside him.
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Imagine having that kind of access.
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It's like we're getting a personal tour of history.
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Now this book doesn't just launch straight into miracle stories.
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It starts with Hemad Pant's burning desire to document Sai Baba's life.
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But he's riddled with self-doubt.
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He's thinking, am I even worthy of this?
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Of taking on this task?
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Right, and so Hemad Pant teams to a close confidant of Sai Baba, Mother Raudesh Bandai,
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and asks him to present the idea to Sai Baba.
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It's essentially like pitching a book proposal, you know?
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To a divine being.
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Exactly, to a figure revered as a divine being.
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That's a book pitch I wouldn't want to deliver.
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So what happens when Sai Baba hears this proposal?
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Well, Sai Baba's reaction is powerful.
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He becomes visibly emotional, blesses Hemad Pant, and applies Udi, sacred ash to his forehead.
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But here's where it gets really interesting.
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Sai Baba says, you are merely an instrument.
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It is I who am making this happen for my devotees.
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That's a pretty profound statement.
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It's like Sai Baba is saying, I'm the author, working through you.
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Does this tie into any of Sai Baba's broader teachings?
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Absolutely.
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This speaks to the concept of divine inspiration and surrender.
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Central to Sai Baba's philosophy, he assures his devotees that he will guide and care for them, you know, if they surrender to his will.
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This book, in a way, is a manifestation of that promise.
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So through this book, Sai Baba is reassuring his devotees, promising to guide them every step of the way.
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Yes. And this theme of unwavering support is echoed in another story.
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This time about Hemad Pant's financial struggles after retiring from government service.
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Oh, okay.
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He's visiting Shirdi during the Guru Pornamath Festival.
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Which is a significant occasion where devotees honor their spiritual masters.
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And Hemad Pant isn't even there to ask for help just to be in Sai Baba's presence.
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Another devotee, Anach and Chanakar, senses Hemad Pant's anxiety and spontaneously prays to Sai Baba on his behalf.
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So Anna had a strong sense of compassion, looking out for a fellow devotee.
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I'm curious, how did Sai Baba respond to this unexpected prayer?
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Sai Baba reassures Anna, promises that Hemad Pant will find a new job.
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He emphasizes the importance of doing good deeds, avoiding negative influences, and most importantly, praying with complete devotion.
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It sounds like a very reassuring message.
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Yeah.
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You know, the Sai Baba was aware of Hemad Pant's struggle, even before being asked, really speaks volumes about his compassion.
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It seems like Sai Baba is emphasizing a balance between personal effort and divine grace.
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Exactly. It's not just about surrendering all responsibility, but doing your part, you know, while trusting in a higher power to guide and support you.
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Now, you mentioned Guru Pornamath. Could you explain the significance of this festival for someone like me, who's just beginning to explore Sai Baba's teachings?
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Sure. Guru Pornamath is a beautiful tradition in Hinduism and other Indian religions.
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It's a day dedicated to expressing gratitude and reverence to our gurus, you know, our spiritual teachers.
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The full moon and the hinder month of Ashada, usually falling in July or August, marks this special day.
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So Hemad Pant, choosing to visit Shudhi during Guru Pornamath, adds another layer of meaning to his story, wouldn't you say?
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Absolutely. It highlights his devotion to Sai Baba as his Guru and perhaps subconsciously his hope for guidance and support during a challenging time.
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This concept of surrendering worries to a higher power is also evident in a more lighthearted story involving a Rohillaman who arrives in Shirdi and becomes deeply devoted to Sai Baba.
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Yes. This story is a great example of how Sai Baba used simple everyday situations to impart profound teachings.
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This Rohillaman starts chanting Allaho Akbar very loudly every morning and evening and this as you can imagine starts to bother the villagers who go to Sai Baba to complain.
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So did Sai Baba side with the villagers and tell them and to be quiet?
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Not at all. He defended the Rohillaman explaining that his chanting was a way to ward off his bad wife.
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His bad wife? Was there actually a woman bothering him?
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This is where the story takes a deeper turn. Sai Baba wasn't referring to a literal wife, but to Dhribudi,
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which translates to bad thoughts, negative intellect.
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He was explaining that the Rohillaman's chanting was his unique method of controlling his negative thoughts.
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Oh, interesting. It's fascinating how Sai Baba uses this simple analogy to illustrate such a profound concept.
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It's as if he's saying you don't need elaborate rituals or practices to find peace.
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Sometimes a simple, sincere, active devotion can be just as powerful.
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Exactly. And this story beautifully connects to the broader theme of finding your own path to inner peace, even if it seems unconventional to others.
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This reminds me of modern mindfulness techniques and the emphasis on finding practices that resonate with you personally.
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It seems Sai Baba was ahead of his time in advocating for personalized spiritual practice.
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Absolutely. And what's even more intriguing is how he links this individual journey to his own omnipresence.
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Sai Baba states, I know everything that you do. I am the inner ruler of everyone and I am seated in your heart.
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That's a bold statement. He's not just a distant deity. He's an active force within each of us.
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Yeah. I'm curious. In Sri Sai Satcharita, does he elaborate on this concept of his universal presence?
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Oh, he does. He describes himself as the wire-puller of the show of this universe, the mother origin of all beings,
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and the harmony of three goonas, the propeller of all senses, the creator, preserver, and destroyer.
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Wow. Those are some powerful titles. Could you break down what he means by three goonas for those of us who might not be familiar with that concept?
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Sure. The three goonas, Satcharajas and Thomas, are fundamental forces or qualities that make up all existence and Hindu philosophy.
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Sattva represents purity, light, harmony, rojas and bodies, passion, activity, restlessness, and Thomas symbolizes inertia, darkness, ignorance.
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So, Sai Baba is saying he's the balance of these three fundamental forces, the driving force of the entire universe.
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Precisely. And he's suggesting that understanding this concept can bring us closer to understanding our own nature and our place in the cosmos.
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It's like Sai Baba is not only reading minds, but orchestrating events to fulfill people's desires. It makes you wonder how he managed to keep up with everyone's thoughts and needs.
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Right. And it reinforces his earlier pronouncements about being the wire-puller of the universe. It's as if he's subtly working behind the scenes to guide his devotees and provide for them, even in seemingly insignificant ways.
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It's fascinating, but it also raises a question. If Sai Baba possesses this incredible awareness and power, why is there still so much suffering in the world? Why not just wave his cosmic wand and fix everything?
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That's a question that has perplexed spiritual seekers for centuries, right? If there's a higher power, why do bad things happen?
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It touches upon the complex concepts of free will and karma. Even if Sai Baba has the ability to intervene, perhaps he also recognizes the importance of allowing individuals to make their own choices, even if those choices lead to suffering.
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So, it's not about him being indifferent to suffering, but rather about respecting our capacity to learning grow from our experiences, even the painful ones.
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It's a challenging idea, but it aligns with the notion that we're not merely puppets in a cosmic play. We have agency and our choices have consequences.
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So, I Baba's role perhaps is not to shield us from all hardship, but to guide us through it.
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Like, it's like he's saying, I'm here to support you, but you also have a part to play in shaping your destiny.
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Exactly. It's a dance between, you know, divine grace and personal responsibility.
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I'm starting to understand why Sri Sai Saita has resonated with so many people for so long. It grapples with these timeless questions about faith, suffering and the nature of reality in a way that feels relatable even today.
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And it does so through stories, which is such a powerful way to connect with people on a deeper level, right?
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Stories have a way of bypassing our intellectual defenses and speaking directly to our hearts.
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So as we close out our deep dive into Sri Sai Saita, we invite you to think about how Sai Baba's teachings might speak to you.
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Could simple practices like repeating on Sai Ram or reflecting on his stories bring a sense of peace, purpose, connection?
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Explore these ideas and see where they lead you on your own journey.
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Thank you for joining us.
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This podcast is based on the book, Sai Chiritra Simplified by Eshwar Joshi Awalgaonkar.
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It was the number one new release on Amazon in 2020 and went on to become the number one best seller in an Eastern religious category on Kindle.
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To know more, visit the website ishwar.guru. That's ISHWAR.GURU