Sairam friends,
How Shirdi Saibaba Cares for us?
Day before yesterday, there was a heavy rain in Coimbatore. I wanted to take print out of my niece’s internship offer letter to keep in Saibaba’s feet and keep during Saraswathi Pooja at home. Almost all the shops were closed. Finally, I found a shop and thanked the lady there. Later, when I reached the temple and gave the paper’s to the priest, he started asking if my Car will unlock from Dwarakamai. I told him that I am not sure and gave him the car’s key. He tried and it opened. Since, I already gave the Car keys to him, I asked him to keep that also in Saibaba’s feet.
After the night aarti, he returned it. I always wondered why devotees keep their vehicle’s keys in Saibaba’s feet in temple. I have never done that all these years though I place it near Saibaba’s photo or my Father’s picture at home.
There was a traffic jam and I felt its better to take another route to home. The road I took suddenly started having water log on it. Another car was behind me and honked like an idiot. I wonder how I judged that it’s better to take reverse and get back to safer road. A part of me was willing to move forward. But then, I felt my car sounds like floating. So, I told the guy behind that there’s too much water and he also reversed his car. There was a guy in the workshop near by whom I asked if the water is okay to cross. He also told me, better to reverse and go back in another road.
So, I took another road and reached home safe.
I told my Amma that I am not sure why I took the new route to home and thankfully, Sai gave me buddhi not to go forward in water. That’s when I realized maybe, Sai knew that I am going to take the wrong route and made me take right decision.
I still wonder why I wanted to take a try and drive forward in the water. I have never been careless but these days, I am not clear in whatever I do. I think deeply about my life and my past when I drive.
Saibaba cannot always save us. We have to do what’s right. I took this as a lesson on not to worry much or think deeply while driving.
Other day my Sister asked me if I wish to buy a 7 seater car and she would like to send money for the same. I told her it’s very expensive and wanted to think about it. I like my small car as it’s old and hence I don’t have to worry much even if it gets scratches. When my Appa was there, he will ask me to clean it when I do not do it, he himself cleans and I join him. I still remember the way he does it.
Grief has no solution. We have to endure it
When my Appa passed away in 2021, I was not able to accept what Sai did to me. In the next couple of week, I visited the Saibaba temple in Coimbatore and cried a lot standing near the main hall. My Amma was not well and hence I had to take care of her. I had always been devoted but all my religious belief came to stand still as I realized no matter what we do, how much we pray, we have to go through some sufferings in life.
How we diverted our mind
1.Usually, people assume that when they are pained, they could visit a temple or engage in some spiritual practice. When it comes to me, it was always a part of my day to day life.
2.I used to show video of a Japanese man who travels in his mini van to some place everyday, cooks dinner, sleep and cooks breakfast the next morning. It’s a silent video. For the next 6 month, every night, we watch these videos which made us feel better.
3.Couple of other YouTube channels made us feel relaxed.
4. The message is certainly not watch YouTube when you are depressed. What if someone reads this after 100 years?
The message is that, we should not assume that spirituality and religion alone has solution for all our problems. Do not get into bad habits but do whatever makes you feel better.
You could read any good books, listen to music, create something useful for yourself and others, engage in a good deed or simply walk. None of these has to do anything with religion but it could bring peace of mind to you.
I forget a lot these days
These days I am forgetting a lot. I go to kitchen planning to get something and once I am there, I had to ask myself “What do I want?” Then, I say myself, Okay, I need this and get it.
My forgetfulness is so chronic that couple of month back, in Shirdi Saibaba temple, one of this security gave me Rs.200 and asked me to hand it over to another staff in temple who was working in a shop. I took the money and went inside the temple forgetting to hand over the money. Later, I remembered, came back out and gave him. How can I forget like this in 2-3 minutes?
If my Amma asks me to buy something in shop, I will type it as a chat so that I won’t forget.
Every Saturday night, after shej aarti, I used to give Good day biscuits to one of this lady who sings in bhajan as a prasad. So, I try to keep good day biscuits in my bag on Saturday before I start to temple. Sometimes, I don’t even remember it’s Saturday. So, I tell her that I forgot to bring.
Some worries about life
I became like this since I often worry thinking about my life. Three days back, my Amma said she feels like she will die and getting scared. I told her not to think like that and think positive. She’s deeply worried about me and started saying even if she’s not there, I should speak to my Sister every week and be supportive all my life. I scolded her and asked her to think positive. We both could not sleep and finally slept at around 3.30 AM.
My niece got an Internship
My niece is doing her second year in university in the US and got a offer letter for her internship in a reputed bank. I told my Amma that she should live long to see Katya doing well in her career and being happy. The other day, I printed the internship letter and placed under Saibaba’s feet in temple and also in our Navratri gollu. Whenever my parents returns from US, they bring her books for our Saraswathi pooja. So, we have her nursery books to current internship letter.
Does spirituality and religion have all the solutions for your life?
Religion and spirituality does offer some solution for all the problems but eventually, we should become desireless and saintly in order to find peace in spirituality. Are we matured enough to be desireless and accept any kind of difficulties in life. If not, then, we will always find it hard to accept failures or facing set-backs even when we are devoted to Gods or Saints. So, it’s better to have a balance.
It’s better to be yourself. Instead of being extremely religious and suddenly giving up your belief, it’s better to accept life as it comes and live your life the way you want to. Just do not get into bad habits. Anything else you to do make yourself experience peace of mind is fine.
Spirituality does have solution when you are in a mindset to seek spiritual solution. But there are times when you feel really pained, worried and depressed when you feel that all this spiritual
Got Sandal paste offered over Saibaba’s statue
Last night during shej aarti, one of this guy gave me sandal wood paste offered over Saibaba’s statue. Before going to sleep, I remembered it and asked my Amma to have it. She said it’s a good quality sandal wood paste. Actually, real sandal wood paste should be rubbed on a sandal wood tree trunk and the paste is taken. All that we get in shop is not natural.
I was thinking why I am often forgetting things and that’s because I worry a lot. I had not even listened to any music for the past couple of years and even if I had, it was spiritual. I felt nostalgic and wanted to listen to one of my all time favorite song.
Billy Joel – She’s Always a Woman to me
She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child
But she’s always a woman to me!
I like the humming segment in the end of the song!
I reached home as I listened to it repeatedly for few times.
I wanted to write this article as I felt many people are confusing spirituality to the only way you could feel better. Sometimes, a good book, good music, and a good walk alone could calm you down and make you feel better.
Do not look for solutions in spirituality alone. Just be yourself!
You could write to me from contact page
Venkat
91-9787618752
