Om Sai Ram friends,
Over the past few years, I realized that a Shirdi Saibaba temple is a place to relax, have some peace of mind and come back home. I like to walk around in Saibaba temple. I like to see people as I work from home and all I see from morning until even are my Amma, house maid Santha akka, and Pasi- the street dog who comes home to sleep.
Once in a while, some Saibaba temples organize Sai Satcharitra parayan among group of devotees. While I appreciate it, I also believe that reading and listening Sai Satcharitra is beautiful but speaking about Shirdi Saibaba’s stories casually is a completely different thing. I have seen some people telling their personal experiences or dreams. But I hardly see devotees sharing Saibaba’s stories during his lifetime in Shirdi.
Example – Let’s say you remember a story or good Sai experiences and speak share that with one or 2-3 of your friends, that becomes a natural way of remembering Saibaba. I used to tell such stories once in a while to devotees I personally like. Not that, I remember these stories but even if I do not remember the stories, I try to communicate it to few whom I like.
We can’t go and say Sai stories to random devotees but we could pick few who might like to listen to.
Having said that, I spend almost 2-3 hours in Saibaba temple until 9 PM. These days, I try to carry my laptop so that I can spend 20 to 30 minutes to do any work I left behind. But working in laptop sitting inside car is not comfortable too. Since I spend almost 2 hours in temple, I listen to some videos or podcast related to my work. Sometimes, I listen to political news as I desire to see Rahul Gandhi as Prime Minister of India in 2029 and I mean it.
So, basically, I believe it’s not necessary that you only do stuff related to Saibaba when you are in temple. I do some work here and there in temple like sweeping and cleaning and hence I try to use my time properly. I also love chanting in mind and chanting aloud whenever I am in temple.
I often remember this. One of this elderly devotee passed away before few month. One of this guy said, “Oh, he is such a nice man. He used to tell Sai stories”.
I was annoyed as I also know this elderly devotee and I don’t think he was keen in telling Sai stories. Yenda kadha vidureenga. May be, he has said some stories once or twice in 10 years. he he . I never knew.
I also believe more and more youngsters should visit Saibaba temple for showing devotion on Saibaba. I see a few come to temple as a time pass or to chat with their friends. While there’s nothing wrong in chit-chat in temple, I believe devotion is something else. One should experience Saibaba in the temple. This is possible only when you choose your own way of relating your mind to Shirdi Saibaba.
Why I do not like online Sai Satcharitra parayan?
It’s not that I do not like anything online. Just that, when you have someone organizing stuff and having a WhatsApp group for that, I feel we loose our privacy in that process. I always like to be alone in the way I experience Saibaba. Whenever my Mother is not well, I open Sai Satcharitra and read it. I like doing it.
Is Sai Satcharitra the only book you should read?
I personally believe Saibaba encourages any good thoughts and deeds. So, he should be happy when you read anything good. You could read any good books, articles or blogs. It could even be on history, science, tech or economy. While only spiritual books takes you closer to God, the other books does solve it’s purpose in ensuring you learn whatever is good for your life and career. I say this because some people repeatedly read Sai Satcharitra. They should read if they like to but if they feel they should read other books, they should read that too.
Coming back to Sai stories, whenever you learn about a Sai story, repeat the story in your heart. Imagine how it would have been before 100 to 150 years when Sai lived and did his leela.
I sometimes feel like telling Sai stories to my friends in temple. I forgot many stories these days but trying to remember a few.
Focus on your work.
Read what’s good for your life.
Learn Sai Stories and imagine them in your heart when you are alone or visit Saibaba temple.
You may not have anyone to listen to Sai stories but when you remember Sai stories, you will be blessed.
I also look for anyways to say some good words to devotees in temple. Do anything that makes them feel better. A Saibaba temple is like a school. You get trained here to apply else where you go across the world.
Om Sai Ram
Venkat
