Satsang SRI SAI BABA - Method of Instruction by B.V.Narasimha Swami

(contd....)
One peculiarity characteristic of Baba and other saints
and sages is the employment of riddle and symbology
to rouse curiosity and fix the resultant discovery of
Truth, deep and firm in the hearts' mind. When
Anantha Rao Patankar complained to Baba that, with
all his wide study of the sastras, peace of mind had
not been attained by him, Baba's answer was "Once
a merchant came here. In his presence a quadruped
passed its stomata i.e. nine balls of stool. The
merchant anxious to attain his quest spread his
cloth beneath its tail, gathered all the nine balls
and took them away. He got concentration {and
peace of mind)". Patankar discovered that Baba
directed him to "navavidha Bhakti." i.e. the nine
forms of devotion and adopted the same as his
means for attaining peace.

When a Sub-Judge had been convicted and sentenced
to imprisonment for corruption and came to Baba for
his help in his criminal appeal, Baba said "Sow
margosa and reap margosa." The Sub-Judge could
not understand His advice. But it is a patent reference
to the Law of Karma which had brought on its early
results in the case of the sub-judge who was thus
advised to make up his mind to bravely and joyously
suffer the results of his own action so as to start his
account with a dean sheet for the next course.

To a man who had brought Custard apples (Seetha
Phal) as presents, Baba said Gnana (Marga) is
Ramphal. Bhakti Marga is Seetha Phal. Seetha phal
has its pulp almost on the surface and is easy to
get at. The surface of Ramphal is harder and the
pulp is not easy to get at. Ramphal should ripen
and be plucked on the tree, for if it falls down it is
spoiled. So if a Gnani falls, he is ruined.

To Hari Seetha Ram Dixit who had during his
morning contemplation a transient appearance
(Sakshatkara) of Vittal and who went to Baba to
get an assurance as to its significance, Baba said
at once, "Kaka did not Vittal Patil come? Have
you not seen him? That Vittal is very elusive. Tie
Him fast. If by inadvertence you lose sight of Him,
He will vanish in a second." Thus Baba confirmed
Kaka's idea that it was Vittal Pandarinath that had
vouchsafed to him a momentary glimpse of Himself,
but added that such sakshatkaras are very transient
and have to be frequently sought and kept before the
mind to make God a permanent possession: that is,
to become the Ever-lasting One into which one has
to merge, without any further return.

yath gatva na nivarthanthe
That Dharma Paramam mama