Satsang Right way to Read 'Sai Satcharitra' - By Lt. Col. M.B. NIMBALKAR

Right way to Read 'Sai Satcharitra’
By Lt. Col. M.B. NIMBALKAR

O send unto me
One of Thy chosen ones
Who may teach me
The alphabet of Love,
Without it,
The knowledge of all our libraries
Is dark as
Teach me to walk
The way of love
And though the path be covered with flames,
And its goal be fana, extinction, death,
I shall not swerve!
For, in dying, I shall be born
Into the life that no separation knows!
Devotee read Satcharitra twelve times, yet he did
not get the expected results. I asked him to read
in my presence and he started reading like a
mail train trying to cover its journey as fast as
possible. Actually, devotees read in this manner
like a parrot, which is not correct. If the
religious book or the Stotra has to have the correct
result, it must be read or recited slowly fully
understanding its meaning and in a mood or
emotion appropriate to its contents.

Namadev says about Jnaneshwari: 'At least one
stanza is experienced.' Namadev uses the word
'experienced' and not read. Even if one stanza is
understood and brought into action, one's life will
be highly illuminated.
Hemadpant in Sai Satcharitra says: "Mere
reading is not enough. It must be brought into action,
otherwise it would be like pouring water on an
inverted pot" (Ch.21) and further: "What is the use
of worship without love and reading without meaning?
All waste of energy." (Ch. 14).

There are three examples in Sai Satcharitra where
Sai Baba himself has explained to His devotees how
to read a religious book:
a) In Ch. 18, when Sathe had finished Guru-Charitra
Saptaha, Sai Baba gave him a dream vision "Baba
with Guru Charitra in His hands was explaining its
contents to Sathe, who was sitting in front and
listening. When Sathe did not understand the
meaning of this vision, he requested Kaka Dixit to
consult Sai Baba. Thereupon Sai Baba explained
that Sathe should read the book in seven days
again - this time slowly and carefully understanding
its meaning as He Himself demonstrated in the vision.

b) In Ch.41, Sai Baba appeared in B.V. Deo's dream
and asked him to read Jnaneshwari in His presence.
He also advised him not to read it hurriedly but to
read it slowly and understanding the meaning of
every stanza.

c) In Ch-21, we find Sai Baba telling Vinayaka Thakur
who had received ‘Vichara Sagar’ as follows: "What
Appa told you was all right but these things have to
be practiced and lived. Mere reading won't do. You
have to think and carry out what you have read
otherwise it is of no use."

For understanding the meaning, concentration of
mind is necessary. So while reading Sai Satcharitra
one should avoid thinking of mundane matters.
Similarly to achieve the best results, peace of mind
is necessary. In this connection, Hemadpant in Ch.21
narrates the case of Anantrao Patankar, who inspire
of studying Vedas, Upanishads etc., had no peace
of mind. Sai Baba advised him to follow the merchant
who when a mare passed her stool, immediately
gathered nine balls of stool and got peace of mind.
Later Dada Kelkar explained to Patankar that nine
balls excreted are nine forms of 'Bhakti' - namely
Sravan, Kirtan, Smaran, Padasevan, Archana,
Namaskar, Daasya, Sakhyatva and Athama Nivedan.
In short, studying the scriptures and expounding them
are quite useless unless they are accompanied by
devotion.
In conclusion, let us remember, Jnaneshwar's advice:
"Listeners should experience this narration with a
careful and soft mind like young chakor birds piking
up tender particles of nectar out of the rays of the
moon in autumn season."