The first Leela in Chapter 26 is about Bhakta Pant, who, in order to avoid committing Guru Droha, takes permission from his guru before visiting Shirdi for Baba’s Darshan. The next story is about the epileptic son of a devotee named Harish Chandra Pithale, and how Baba cures the boy of his disease. Lastly, there is the story of Ambadekar, who decides to end his wretched life, but is given a copy of the Shri Swami Samartha's Charita, which helps change his mind, and prevents him from taking his own life.
In this chapter, a devotee named Bhakta Pant, who had received initiation from another guru, wishes to have Baba's Darshan. But, he is worried that he may be doing Guru Droha. So, when he was invited by his friends to accompany them to Shirdi, he first took consent from his guru before proceeding to Shirdi. When they reached Shirdi, everyone entered the Dwarka Mai and had Darshan, but Pant fell down unconscious. After he was revived, Baba reassured him saying, "Whatever the situation, never leave the place of your own guru." What a wonderful lesson for him and for all of us, as these days, there are many gurus and we tend to constantly change our gurus.
The second Leela is about Shama’s visit to Nagpur, where he meets Tajuddin Baba (whom Baba used to call 'the Golden tree'). Upon his return to Shirdi, when Baba asked him about the places he had visited in Nagpur, Shama eagerly tells Baba about his Darshan of Shri Narayan Maharaj in a tiny village of Bhet in Kedgaon. He tells Baba that Narayan Maharaj had a big Darbar and thousands of people went for his Darshan. He repeated this again and again. After being silent for some time, Baba said, "Aple baap to aple baap (Only our father is our father). No matter how much he may beat you, shout at you, disagree with you or punish you, he will always have sympathy and empathy for you and no one else will. I am your father. So what do you have to do with others?" In his characteristic way, Baba taught Shama a valuable lesson, which was: Do not look down or talk ill of others, especially a Satpurush, for the ill effects of it will be experienced by future generations. Your guru and father should be treated with love and respect. Do whatever Seva you can for both of them and have total faith in them. (Reference: Shri Sai Leela, ank 5, year 17, 1940.)
The next story is about Harish Chandra Pithale, who worked as a salesman in the Ghram Company. After a short illness in April 1910, his eldest son died, leaving behind his wife and a little son. The family was grief-stricken and did not know how to find solace. At that time, they attended a Kirtan at the house of a co-employee named Raghunath Tendulkar. The Sai Baba Kirtan was performed by none other than Das Ganu Maharaj. By the end of the Kirtan, Pithale’s entire family became totally devoted to Baba. They were so eager to have Baba's Darshan that they kept singing "Darshan de Sai Baba" from morning till night. That was one of Das Ganu's Bhajans. Then, after a long wait, they were able to visit Shirdi. At Shirdi, Harish Chandra and his family sat near the Dhuni Mai. As they got up to go to the Wada, his third son, Dwarkanath, who had been suffering from a convulsive disorder, got an attack right there and nearly fell into the Dhuni Mai. With great presence of mind, the child’s mother held her child in time. The mother was frightened and distraught, and she wept inconsolably. Baba said, "Aai, don't be frightened. Allah Malik will make him alright." And taking Udi from the Dhuni, He applied it on the child’s forehead. Dwarkanath recovered, and thenceforth, never had a convulsion again. Before leaving Shirdi, Baba gave three rupees to Harish Chandra, saying that He had already given him two rupees in the past, and now He is giving him three rupees, and asked him to worship the coins. Here, Baba identifies Himself with Swami Samarth, who had given his father the two rupees. (Reference: Sai Leela magazine, ank 7, year 4, 1926.)
Baba absolutely disapproved of any devotee contemplating suicide. In chapter 26 of the Shri Sai Satcharita, there is a story of a man named Ambadekar, who was so fed up with his wretched and destitute life that he decided to end his life. However, at that juncture, Shagun Meru Naik came to him, and gave him Swami Samarth’s Charita. Ambadekar read the Charita, which changed his mind and he did not follow through with his plan. Baba firmly says, "Never ever contemplate suicide, no matter how hard life is, as you will have to come back again to complete that part of your wretched life. Also, you will keep your ancestors hungry and unhappy, as you will not be there to perform Shradh." Suicide is a selfish act committed to evade suffering, or escape from duty and obligations to others and to God. It has far-reaching consequences for the individual's soul. It is a violation of the covenant with God and neglect of your duty. Hindus believe that human life is very precious as it is obtained a...
