Biography of a Living Legend

Once a lady called up Sai and pleaded for forgiveness and said that she had committed a big mistake. When Sai asked her as to what she had done, she replied that when she was very young, she used to read Guru Granth Sahib, but she would turn and skip many pages. May be because of that, I am facing a lot of problems today and am unhappy. So, please forgive me.
Sai said, “Do not ask for forgiveness from me on phone, instead ask for the same from self, look within, call up your own conscience from where you can find the right path and then you will not repeat the same mistakes!”

Once a devotee came to Sai and said that I often visit Ajmer for my work and many times I have so much free time that I wonder how to use that. I am unable to get a membership of a club to pass my time, so please if you can do Ardas, so that I can get one. 

Sai said, “Why should I do Ardas, I will just make a call instead.” That devotee got the membership on the basis of Sai’s recommendation, for which he thanked Sai and said, “Sai, you are God!”

Sai later said, “A person can pray and ask for anything for betterment of his life, but alas, what he asks for!”

Once one lady requested Sai that please give me peace of mind. Sai said, “By the grace of God you have been fortunate to have everything in life. Then why is it that your mind is not at peace?” She replied, “I do not know the answer but it is a fact that my mind is not at rest.”
Sai then asked her whether she is a member of any club and whether she goes there regularly? To this she gladly replied in the affirmative and said that yes, I am a member of so and so club and I also go there regularly.
Sai advised her, “Also attend Satsang regularly, join this club also, here you are sure to get peace of mind! No one can be wealthier than the person whose mind is at rest and peaceful! When the mind is quiet, only then the fine human qualities come in the fore and there is contentment in life! Always keep the mirror of your mind clean, if that is clean, all wishes too will come true!”

Once an old lady, while bowing for blessings, asked Sai to keep His hand on her head. Sai said, “Satnam.” She again asked Sai to keep His hand on her head, Sai said, “Sab bhali thindo.”  (All will be good). That lady was still not happy and once again requested Sai, to which Sai replied, “Is it that only the hand is mine, but my lips with which I am blessing you, are they not mine? One must have full faith in one’s Guru, its all about true devotion and faith!”

Sai mostly used to go Himself to buy vegetables for Darbar. He would buy from the vendor who keeps the best quality and fresh stock. Sai is always first in buying the newly arrived seasonal vegetables and so lovingly He gets them for the devotees that they always remark that they have never tasted such quality ever! Many times, He gets vegetables which no one has tasted anywhere and the devotees admit that they get to eat such new ones only in Darbar Sahib Halani!
Once while ordering vegetables for the Anneshatra at Pushkar, Sai called the vendor and asked for 1000 kg of cauliflower. The vendor said that he has 2 qualities, one for Rs 40 per kg and the other for Rs 28 per kg and asked Sai, which one to send. Sai in turn asked him as to which one He orders for Darbar Sahib. He had thought that may be for the huge bhandara, Sai may call for the lesser one, but understood that Sai always wants the best for all purposes and never made the mistake of asking Sai this question again!
Also Sai never bargains while buying vegetables. Whatever the vendor charges, Sai pays without going into much detail. Once a devotee asked Sai, what if the vendor cheats you and charges in excess of the correct amount? Sai replied that once my inner instinct prompts this to me that he is cheating, I will stop buying from him!

Once when Sai had gone to Jaipur, there were many devotees who were coming ahead to bow and seek His blessings and then they would move a little back to make way for others. Like other devotees, who were putting some offerings in Sai’s pocket, one person put a 1 Re note and took out a 100 Re one and quietly went and stood a little away. Sai’s instincts are too strong, He realized this instantly and were keeping an eye on him. Sai knew that he does not seem to be a known person, but is standing along with all devotees. While everyone was talking, Sai realized that he was looking at ladies’ purses and other’s pockets. When everyone was laughing, he too was laughing aloud but was keeping an eye and waiting for an opportunity!
Sai said, “I instantly come to know if someone is a fake or a trickster person. Here also, who is a genuine or a fake person, I know everything!” Hearing this, that person started to move out of the crowd and Sai immediately called out aloud, “Catch him, catch him, he is trying to escape!” They all caught him and brought him near Sai. Even before Sai said anything, he removed the folded 100 Re. note from the folded sleeve of his kurta, gave it back and kept pleading for forgiveness!

Sai once mentioned about a man, who came to Him and said that he is opening a  Gaushala , a place where cows are kept and fed. Sai told him, good, it is a good thing. He then said that he had approached many others and collected donations in this regard. Sai too gave him, but sensed something fishy and asked him the location where he intends to start this  Gaushala , also promising him more donation after visiting that place. The man got confused and fumbled in giving directions like after coming out, first go straight, then take a left, then a right, etc. Sai understood that he is unable to give any landmark and that he is not a right person.

This proves that Sai has that vision to accurately judge a person and deal with him accordingly!

Sai were invited at an event, requesting him to give a donation from which grains would be bought & distributed. When He reached there, He was surprised to see loads of wheat and other grains lying on the ground. Sai asked them as to why they are disrespecting them by spreading it on the ground as they are Anndevta, one form of God? They replied that they had to show this to the donors, that from their contributions all these grains will be distributed and they had also called a photographer to click their pictures along with all this. 

Sai asked them, “Why have you accepted such money for which you have to give an account? Why accept such donations, where you are obliged to show proof of its’ use? It should be done depending on what one has and not by copying what others are doing or calling for donations to do it!”

This shows how Sai firmly believes in true values and not a false show off!

In 2007, when there were floods in Bihar, Sai were very concerned, but location-wise and practically everything seemed so difficult. Sai himself set out for inquiring about rail and road transport, but everything was uncertain and unscheduled. Finally, He hired a bus in which 11 devotees set out for Bihar with Sai’s blessings!

The travel was a risky one, especially as no one was familiar with the route. But the confidence and faith amongst the devotees for their Darbar was so very evident! 

First, they reached a place called Baliya, from where they reached Muzafar at 4 in the evening, by studying and drawing maps. Every hour Sai would call up to get updates and keep their spirits up. Sai informed the devotees that Swami Gangaram Sahib, an  udasin  saint from Haridwar, originally from Rohiri, Sindh is now settled here and His disciples are based in Darbhanga. Sai asked them to inform the Saint that they have come and also told them to stay in a hotel and not in anyone’s house. When Sant Gangaram realised that Sai has sent relief for the affected people of the area in the form of a whole bus load of various commodities, He felt very happy. He has a lot of respect for our Sai and lovingly calls Him,  Babajin .

They reached Darbhanga at 9 in the night. There they were informed by the local people that the  bridge leading to the place which was affected by the floods, has broken down. They were told to go via a longer and a very risky route. The devotees thought, why worry, how Sai has made us reach here, He will only help us reach the final destination!

For the time being, all the devotees had only one objective of reaching the relief materials to the needy and affected people in Purniya, the main affected place there. Under instructions from Sai,  packets containing  poha ,  gud ,  chana , candles and match sticks, as there was no electricity around, were prepared. All this was distributed in all different directions to reach every affected person there by wading through the flood waters and under very difficult conditions, but quietly without any sound or noise. 

The locals there were wonderstruck about the fact that after such a difficult journey of 77 hours, if these devotees are so energetic, fresh and doing their bit so happily, how and what must be the status and glory of their Guru!

Sai’s concern for the devotees too was so much that He asked them to return by train, relaxing and sleeping and not by that bus, although the bus had been hired and paid for the return journey too.

The 5  panchas , of local administration there said that although we have not seen Sai, but by judging from His meticulous planning and His concern for the poor and also His devotees, we can only salute Him from our hearts!

Same type of relief work was also done when Madras was hit by a tsunami!

This way, Sai makes the most difficult things so easy and undertakes this type of service without expectation at such high levels!

Nowadays many Ashrams have sprung up and they claim that they are helping the needy people! Sai says that this is not the right way to help. First, they should bless the poor people, so that they should slowly become self sufficient and there remains no need to beg or ask for help. They should also pray for their bright future so that they should not fall ill, be healthy and not be dependent on anyone. But, what is happening is that on one side these people ask and take help and money from others, from which they feed the needy with the real purpose of gaining self publicity and making a name for themselves! This is completely wrong and they must understand that the real meaning and purpose of Ashram is to provide stability and progress!