Om Sai Ram

Namaste to all the devotee's and children of Baba

I would like to share an experience that I was blessed with by the grace and love of our beloved Lord Sai Baba

It was around August of 2019 when I was overwhelmed with offer from a long time friend of mine who was venturing into his start-up and wanted me to join as a co-founder for it. I've known him since a very long time and know about his experience and capabilities and the first thought that crossed my mind was I should accept it. At that time I was a new devotee of Baba and decided that each and every decision of my life should be taken by Baba and I would fully accept it. Although I had this firm conviction that Baba will decide for me but I did not have a way to know Baba's answer. I had also began reading Sai Satchritra for the first time ever. I thought 'Okay I'm puzzled and Baba will answer my question in the next chapter of Sai Satchritra'. I had finished reading 24 chapters until then and began reading 25th Chapter. Before I began reading I just prayed to Baba to help me with my doubt and to my astonishment I came across Damu Anna's story in 25th Chapter. Damu Anna had doubts like me. I'll quote the exact text from the Sai Satcharitra below:

"A Bombay friend of Damu Anna wrote to him, that they should do some cotton-speculation business in partnership which would bring them about two lacs of rupees as profit. (Damu Anna says in his statement made about the year 1936 to Mr. B.V.Narasimha Swami that the proposal about speculating at Bombay in cotton was from a broker who was not to be a partner, and that he (Damu Anna) was to be the sole adventurer: - vide P.75 of the Devotees' Experiences Part II). The broker wrote that the business was good and involved no risks and that the opportunity should not be lost. Damu Anna was oscillating in his mind. He could not at once determine to venture in the speculation. He thought about this and as he was a devotee of Baba, he wrote a detailed letter to Shama giving all the facts and requested him to consult Baba and take His advice in the matter. Shama got the letter next day and when he came with it at noon to the Masjid and placed it before Baba. He asked Shama what the matter was, and what the paper (letter) was about. He replied that Damu Anna of Nagar wanted to consult Him about something. Then Baba said - "What does he write, and what does he plan? It seems that he wants to catch the sky and that he is not content with what God has given him; read his letter". Shama than said, "The letter contains what you have just said now. Oh, Deva you sit here calm and composed and agitate the devotees and when they get restless, you draw them here, some in person and others through letters. If you know the contents of the latter, why do you then press me to read it?" Baba said - "Oh Shama, read it please. I speak at random and who believes Me."

Then Shama read the letter and Baba heard it attentively and said feelingly - "The Shet (Damu Anna) has gone mad; write to him in reply that nothing is wanting in his house. Let him be content with the half loaf (bread) he has now and let him not bother himself about lacs." Shama sent the reply which Damu Anna was anxiously waiting for. Reading it, he found that all his hopes and prospects about lacs of rupees as profit were dashed to the ground. He thought that he had done a mistake in consulting Baba. But as Shama had hinted in the reply that there was always much difference in seeing and hearing and that, therefore, he should come to Shirdi personally and see Baba. He thought it advisable to go to Shirdi and consult Baba personally about the affair. So he went to Shirdi, saw Baba, prostrated himself before Him and sat shampooing His legs. He had no courage to ask Baba openly about the speculation, but he thought in his mind, that it would be better if some share in the business should be assigned to Baba and said in his mind, that if Baba were to help him in this transaction, he would surrender some share of profits to Him. Damu Anna was thus thinking secretly in his mind, but nothing was veiled from Baba; everything past, present and future were clear to Him as an Amalaka fruit in hand. A child wants sweets, but its mother gives bitter pills; the former spoil its health, while the latter improve it. So the mother looking to the welfare of her infant, coaxes it and gives it bitter pills. Baba, kind mother as He was, knew the present and future prospects of His devotees, and therefore reading Damu Anna's mind, He openly spoke to him - "Bapu, I do not want to be entangled in any such wordly things (sharing profits)." Seeing Baba's disapproval Damu Anna dropped the enterprise. (2) Grain-Dealing

Then he thought of trading in grain, rice, wheat and other groceries. Baba read also this thought and said to him, "You will be buying at five seers and selling at seven seers a rupee". So this business was also given up. The rice in the prices of grains was kept up for some time, and Baba's prophecy seemed to be falsified, but in a month or two there was abundant rain everywhere and the prices suddenly fell down; and, therefore, those who stored grains suffered a severe loss. Damu Anna was saved from this fate. Needless to say that the cotton speculation which was conducted by the broker with the help of another merchant also collapsed with a severe loss to the adventurers. After seeing that Baba had saved him from two severe losses in cotton and grain speculations, Damu Anna's faith in Baba grew strong and he remained a true devotee of Baba till His passing away and even now. " http://www.saibabaofshirdi.net/satcharita/sai25.html

Now note that a friend of mine similar to Damu Anna's story had this offer for me quoting that there's no risk and also another co-incidence is that my friend's start-up also is related to food although my work was technical (related to IT). After reading Damu Anna's story and it's conclusion, I made up my mind that I won't accept the offer even though it looked very lucrative. I thought Baba's word is final and no one should doubt it. So I kept on delaying and never told my friend that I would join him

Now fast forward to 2020. Coronavirus has hit the world economy with a downward trend and risked people's life. Countries being shutdown and being a start-up it's difficult to get funding in such a setup. Funding was already a problem and I got to know that his start-up was also stuck in some legal matters that will further affect the growth. Believe me when I got this news, I felt so thankful and grateful to Baba that he guided me through this and I kept my current job. This was the point in my life that Baba made me surrender to him completely with one pointed devotion and faith

Hope this story inspires you and grows your faith in Baba even more. Trust in Baba completely. Baba is our Father/Mother and the Best Friend we could ever ask for. His compassion and love knows no bound. I hardly knew Baba when I had this experience and I cannot fathom the amount of love he has showered on me and taking care of me just like a Father would do to his child. I feel soo much protected and loved after such an experience. I feel that Baba is always with me and protecting and loving me all the time I would like to tell you all that always Remember Baba. He had and will always Love you without any condition or discrimination. It's our karma that at times blocks the good things we need in life. But by remembering Baba and doing his Naam Jaap and meditation and most importantly by loving Baba we are always in sync with him and the bad affects of Karma are reduced. Remember that the only goal of our life is to merge with Baba and material benefits are provided to us to ease our journey in merging with Baba. Material benefits are not the primary purpose of life but acts as a supplement to dissolve in Baba and his love

Apologies if the post was too long. I still feel that no amount of words can do justice to my experience and Baba's love for his child

Always at the lotus feet of Baba. May Baba bless you all :)

Om Sai Ram