Shraddha Saburi Devotion, Perseverance

2. Sai Baba's Teachings
Sai Baba of Shirdi is the epitome of
reverence a guiding force who generates
supreme faith and confidence among his
devotees looking for salvation and in quest of
coming out of the drudgery of living. As a
divine mother he is saturated with love for
those who seek him. With his mission of
making people about the divine
consciousness and transcending the limits of
mortal body, his teachings are guiding his
devotees to the path of salvation. People are
blessed who follow his teachings.

3.  Among the teachings
of Sai Baba of Shirdi
there are the cardinal
principles of Sai Path
called ‘ Shraddha '
and 'Saburi'. Sai Baba
looks for these two
qualities in his
devotees. Here are
the teachings and
philosophies of Sai
Baba of Shirdi

4. Shraddha
'Shraddha' roughly means faith with love and reverence.
Such faith or trust is generated out of conviction, which may
not be the result of any rational belief or intellectual wisdom,
but a spiritual inspiration. According to Sai Baba of Shirdi,
steadfast love in God is the gateway to eternity. Baba's
teaching, both direct and indirect explicate the significance
of 'Shraddha'. Baba reiterates the spiritual guidance of Shri
Krishna to Arjun - "Whosoever offer to Me with love or
devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering of
pure love is readily accepted by Me".

5. Saburi
'Saburi'; means patience and perseverance. Saburi
is a quality needed throughout the path to reach the
goal. This quality must be ingrained in a seeker
from day one, least he looses his stride and leaves
the path half way
Purity
For Sai Baba it was not the purity of the body but
inner purity that mattered. No amount of physical
and external cleansing would serve any purpose if
the man remained impure in mind and heart.
Therefore, Baba cautioned His devotees not to
make austerity as an end itself, lest they should
indulge in physical mortification.

6. Compassion
Himself an epitome of compassion and love, Sai Baba
taught compassion among his disciples. Baba often told
His devotees, 'Never turn away anybody from your door,
be it a human being or animal'.
Complete Surrender to the Guru
Sai Baba put Guru on a high pedestal of reverence. For
Him Guru was the profound base of the path of devotion.
Pointing to his physical frame, "This body is my house. I
am not here. My Guru (Master) has taken me away". He
asked for complete surrender to the 'Guru'.

7. Sai Baba's Teachings through 'Udi' and 'Dakshina'
Udi
Udi or the sacred ash was produced from the perpetual
fire called 'dhuni' lit by Sai Baba in Dwarkamai at Shirdi.
Explaining the meaning of life He would refer to Udi and
taught that like Udi all the visible phenomena in the world
are transient. Through this example Sai Baba wished to
make his devotees understand the sense of
discrimination between the unreal and the real. Udi
taught the devotees discrimination or vivek.
Dakshina
Sai Baba would demand 'Dakshina' or alms from those
who visited him. This explained the sense of non-
attachment to worldly things. Hence Dakshina taught the
devotees non-attachment or Vairagya.

8. His most concise message for one and all
alike was "Why fear when I am here".
Saibaba said that he was a slave in the
service of those who loved him.
He was ever living to help those who turn
to him and that he has to take care of his
children day and night.

9. Saibaba's mission was to restore belief in
god and according to him, "I give people
what they want in the hope that they will
begin to want what I want to give them
(knowledge of the Ultimate)." He then taught
values of total surrender to the Almighty
Master (ALLAH MALIK EK- The only ONE)
and experiences his grace.

10. .
 Saibaba encouraged
charity and said,
"Unless there is some
relationship or
connection, nobody
goes anywhere. If any
men or creatures come
to you, do not
discourteously drive
them away, but receive
them well and treat
them with due respect."

11. Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi was unique in the sense
that he lived his message through the essence of
his being. He lived among the common people
adorning a torn kafni (long robe), sleeping over a
mat while using brick as his headrest and got his
food by begging. Such was his smile that radiated
a mystical charisma and deep seated inward look
that hypnotized the people who visited him

12. Sai Baba encouraged his devotees to pray, chant
God's name and read holy scriptures - he told
Muslims to study the Qur'an and Hindus texts like the
Ramayana, Vishnu Sahasranam, Bhagavad Gita
(and commentaries to it), Yoga Vasistha. He advised
his devotees and followers to lead a moral life, help
others, treat them with love and develop two
important features of character: faith (Shraddha) and
patience (Saburi).

13. He also criticized atheism.
In his teachings Sai Baba
emphasised the
importance of performing
one's duties without
attachment to earthly
matters and being ever
content regardless of the
situation.