Mr. Clerk

In 1913 I first came to Sai Baba at Shirdi. That was because some friends told me that my elder brother’s lunacy which could not be cured by doctors could be removed by the grace of Sai Baba. So I brought him here. First he slightly improved and we were asked to go away. But his trouble resumed its vigour after we returned to Bombay and he began to give trouble to his mother and others. So I wrote to Baba and was directed to go again to Shirdi with my brother I came with him and left him here. Mr.Amidas Mehta was looking after him and I send 30 rupees a month for his support. After some months stay, by merely attending Baba’s Arathi and taking his Asirvadh, Udhi and Thirtha my brother improved. This was remarkable as all sorts of reason was medical and other treatments had failed to cure him, while Baba’s grace without any medicine cured him. Our faith in Baba became stronger and I was always having his small picture with me in my room. I occasionally visited Baba in his life time. But that was only for earthly benefits I was much younger in those days. I was away at Basra first and then in 1917 and 1918 I was at Suez, leading a merry and reckless life and had no serious thoughts. It is after Baba passed away that I am developing my attention to the inner and nobler life. I never asked Baba for help in the spiritual direction. First my brother’s mental malady and next the need to get my two younger sisters’ married, etc, were obsessing my mind. It is for such things I sought Baba’s help and I trusted in him fully and he was merciful enough to grant all I asked for and a great deal more. My sisters got married and as for myself I was never left in want.

In 1920 I got married and that was by Baba’s grace. I was getting only 100 rupees (60 plus 40) and could hardly maintain a family. Yet but Baba’s grace I got married. I have one son and one daughter. My wife is very sickly. I have constantly prayed to Baba for her. Recently one month back she was in so desperate condition that I intently prayed to Baba pleading that if she died, my mother, a poor old lady of 70 would die of the shock. By Baba’s will my wife recovered; but my mother who had no visible illness at first except old age developed double pneumonia and passed away. My father passed away in 1904.

Baba used to come often in my dreams when I was 12 years old. (I was always looking at his picture and bowing to him.) If he came in my dream, that was a sure indication to me that some evil or other that was afflicting me or about to befall me was removed or averted. My experience with Baba was very happy. Whenever I went into his presence, I forgot everything. I had no trouble, no anxiety, no care, no fear. Everything was blotted out and I passed a blissful time in his company. That was most wonderful. Even now if he comes in dream vision, that effect is reproduced. He was so kind and all knowing, as I may shown even in his dakshina matters. I was very poor when I went to him. At first in 1913 I was on 60 rupees. He would ask me for dakshina. At times he would take away all I had in my pocket. Once 8 rupees was cash I had in my hand. He took it away as Dakshina. After I said that I had no objection to part with every pie, he did not go on asking any dakshinas from me. I never came to harm by giving away what I had. He blessed us by what he gives and even by what he takes away from us. I spent very little time here and had so very few visits during his life time that I have no spiritual experiences. I have not studied religious works, i.e. Gathas even now. I cannot say how Baba would affect a learned Parsi versed in Parsi sacred works.

We have to know God and unite with him. So we must begin at the bottom with right thoughts which would lead to right actions and ultimately to God. We pray to God as symbolized by the Sun, the Ocean and Fire standing before any of these three. Regard for Zoroaster does not conflict with worship of Sai Baba. Zoroaster merely organised a pre-existing faith and reformed it by removing the abuses which crept in by the remissness of priests. We pray to Baba and get various earthly benefits. I do not know if there is anything in Parsi religion or religious books against this course being adopted by us.