When Baba arrived in Shirdi, many did not recognize Him as God. Young kids thought He was a queer person and would often pelt Him with stones. Do you know what Baba would do to those kids? Baba was strong as a wrestler but instead of getting angry with them, He would seek each child out and offer sugar candies. Such was Baba’s love.

In Puttaparthi, too, Bhagwan Shri Sathya Sai Baba taught the same message — the message of love. Once, one of His devotees was traveling by plane and the same was hijacked by terrorists. As bullets were flying across, the devotee nervously connected with Baba in her heart. She asked for Baba’s guidance. Surprisingly, none of the bullets were touching her or her husband. That is the shield of Baba’s protection.

Baba suggested a strange solution. He asked her to look at the terrorists with love. The devotee followed Baba’s instructions and as one of the hijackers came close to her, he pointed his gun toward her. She looked at him with intense love. No sooner did she do so, he became extremely nervous (overpowered with love) and the gun fell off his hand. Needless to say, both husband and wife were unharmed during the entire episode.

By The Editor, Sai Sandesh

Anger is a human quality. The Divine Lord is devoid of anger. He is pure love, bliss, and happiness. At times, Baba did feign anger to transform His devotees and that would be like a mother scolding the child for its own benefit. Even the mother’s “feigned anger,” however, is filled with selfless love. There is not a trace of hatred interlaced with anger.

In both Sai avatars, Baba appeared angry to human understanding, but in reality He was acting out of pure love. To quote a few instances: Once, a saint called Gadge Maharaj came to Shirdi because he was having some trouble starting a divine project. As soon as Baba saw Him, Baba let loose a volley of angry words. The onlookers were perplexed but Gadge Maharaj starting laughing and was very happy (because he could understand a fraction of Baba’s glory). As soon as Baba spoke those words, all the difficulties in way of the Maharaj’s project disappeared. This was the reason why Gadge Maharaj was so happy. How Divine are Baba’s acts.

In Puttaparthi, too, Baba would often act in this manner to transform His children. Once, a married woman came to Baba with a strange problem. Her husband was very suspicious and he would always doubt on her. Baba called the couple for an interview and explained to the husband that his wife was pure and holy like mother Sita. Despite Baba’s intervention, the husband’s mind was filled with unnecessary doubts.

When the couple was returning to their home, the husband was sleeping in the train. Suddenly, he was awakened to a strange phenomenon. In the train, an orange light appeared from nowhere and from that light emerged Baba. He sat on the man and started beating him up, repeatedly telling the man to believe the fact that his wife was pure and holy. Finally, the husband relented and assured Baba that he will never doubt her again. No sooner did he do so, Baba blessed the couple and disappeared. After some time, Baba was telling devotees that He never gets angry. At that time, Kasturi, a close devotee of Baba, jested: “Baba are you sure you never get angry? What about that poor husband you beat up?” Baba burst into laughter and explained that the mild beating was to transform the man and not to hurt him.

Such is Baba’s love. We can never understand Baba, but we can always stand-under Baba, always surrendered to His divine will. Whatever He does will be for our own good. Baba can never harm His children. Impossible!

By The Editor, Sai Sandesh

We are accustomed to instant and easy ways to accomplish our goals. Fortunately, Baba has shown us two shortcuts that truly work: selfless service and constant chanting of God’s Divine Name. Saints and religious leaders in all parts of the world perform intense prayers to please God and once they achieve self realization, many return to the world to serve others selflessly.

Aren’t we fortunate that Baba has put us on the path of selfless service from the very beginning itself? Serving God that is present in every man is a sure way to please God, as He is easily pleased with selfless service.

Once, there was a devotee of Lord Vitthal. He had performed intense prayers and had gained the ability to converse with Lord Vitthal at will. The Lord would appear to His child instantly, whenever He was called.

Once, it so happened that a big saint was visiting the village where this devotee resided. The saint was famous for his magnificent powers and was said to have achieved the highest stage of self realization. A huge assembly had gathered in his presence. The saint had a queer method to evaluate his followers. He would take a small hammer and knock it lightly on the head of individual followers (as if checking a coconut). After doing so, he would declare “ripe” or “unripe” depending on the individual’s spiritual progress. When he tested the devotee of Lord Vitthal, he proclaimed “UNRIPE!” in a thunderous voice.

The latter was shocked and ran to his prayer shrine, where the Lord appeared to his devotee instantly. When the devotee questioned to the Lord, Vitthal said that He agreed with the saint’s assessment. Now, the devotee was shocked. After intense prayers, he had obtained the vision of the Lord. What more was left to be achieved?

The Lord then directed him on the right path and he understood that the highest state is one where the individual recognizes his unity with God and the entire creation (all beings). Now, he started practicing his new-found knowledge and progressed very rapidly.

After some time, it so occurred that the devotee was called to participate in a conference of sages. While the meeting was progressing, an old and sick dog arrived there and snatched a piece of bread that was to be offered to the deity.

While others in the room wanted to beat the dog for the sacrilege, the devotee ran behind the dog with a container of ghee (clarified butter). He ran behind the dog, screaming like a mad man: “Vitthal, don’t eat the bread without the butter, or it will get stuck in your throat.”

Instantly, everyone understood that he was RIPE beyond description.