Previously Posted
Foreword
When you visit Shirdi you should go to the museum opened by the Sansthan to house the various articles touched and used by Lord Sai Baba. There, you can observe a gramophone of the olden days. This gramophone consists of a turn-table which will rotate by action of a spring which in turn would unwind at a specific speed. A record factored in with song and music is placed on this turn-table. But no sound or music will be heard and there would be silent and a void; unless the arm with the needle is placed on the record. As soon a this is done, you can enjoy the sweet music, the song and its lyrics. It enliven everyone around. It mitigates the sombre silence and fills the void with cheerfulness and gaiety.
Similarly, you are factored in with various aspects in your life and you are rotating on the turn-table called, Mother Earth, which in turn is rotating at specific speed; but you are unable to create any sweet music to liven yourself and the surrounding, unless “the Arm with the Heavenly Touch” is placed on your head. His Blessing is a must to fill the void in your life. This book about all this.
The all conquering love, the splendour and the magnificence of Guru’s grace the importance of self surrender, the significance of steadfast devotion, monumental patience, unflinching faith and the ever rewarding virtue of humility are highlighted in a simple and lucid style in this Book.
Each chapter in this Book has an underlying moral. Principles of high moral conduct have surfaced through ordinary day-to-day incidents. It has put in a nutshell the doctrine of good thoughts, good words and good deeds and the immense benefits you can derive from your active participation in it. It will help you to keep chaos and confusion at bay. This book will serve you as a bridge between “Life” and “Living”. It will help you to lead life in harmony with environment.
The stories of this Book also tell us that even the first ranking devotees who lived with Sai Baba suffered during their lifetime. The only difference is Baba was with them in His Physical Form to help them, today He is with us in His Infinite Form, but He is with us for sure!
Mr. Cyrus H. Merchant in an article in “The Speaking Tree” wrote, “You cannot move mountains, you have to move Him, and He will move mountains for you.” But how will you move Him? Why should He inclined to listen to you? After all, He is the Master of the House. But the stories of this Book also reveal that with pure love, humility, self control and steadfast devotion, devotees were able to move Sai Baba to perform miracles for them and the same has been expressed by Sai Baba Himself, “If you look to Me, I look to you.” Even Bhagwat Gita says, “As man believes in Me, so de I accept him.”
Therefore, dear readers, read this Book to weigh and consider, to ponder and churn the stories over and over again so that they become an inseparable part of your daily life because these alone will serve you as your “guiding lights”. For every Sai devotee this Book is a must among his/her household collection. It will surely be an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. I am tempted to reproduce poet Longfellow’s verse with a minor variation:
"Lives of great men (Saints and Avatars) all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time."
Finally, I bow my head with love and devotion and humbly request Lord Sai Baba to accept my salutations because it is only in His acceptance that I shall find my deliverance. I also pray to Him to bless us all with good health and to guide us always in all our endeavours.
"Lord Sai Baba, when I meditate on Your Form, my mind is filled with delight, And when You are around, darkness gives way to light; You are truly a Guiding Light and a Helping Hand, To the most needy and a troubled man!"
Jai Sainath!
Jimmy Dinshaw Talaty.
Mumbai
(Date:2011)
Love you Deva! Jai Jai Sai!