Stories from the ‘Sakayan’

These stories were translated from the ‘Sakayan,’ a book written in Hindi by Bibi Lajo, Baba Sawan Singh’s housekeeper for many years.

In the city of Amritsar, the mother of Sri Madan Singh had been seeking God from a very young age. She had met many saints and sages but had never been satisfied with any of them. One night Sri Gaja Singh came to Amritsar and stayed overnight with Madan Singh, a fellow devotee. That night when Madan Singh and Gaja Singh were talking about their Master, Madan Singh’s mother heard them and said that she did not agree that their Master was a realised person. She said that though she had visited different places and had met many saints, she had never been satisfied. Sri Gaja Singh told her that if she really wanted to see a Saint she should come and visit their Master. The old lady accepted the invitation, but unwillingly. The next day they all went to the place where the Master was staying.

Master was surrounded by devotees. The mother at first sat silently, but she could not resist the tremendous flow of Love which was coming from the Master. She was overwhelmed by Master’s Love and took initiation from Him. In a very short time she became a very advanced soul. Hazur respected her for her achievements.

One day when she was visiting the Amritsar temple, Hazur appeared to her and gave her sweetmeats – a token of blessing. When she saw the Master, she thought that if she could bring her family, they also would be able to see the Master and receive His blessings. So she went home; but when she returned to the temple with her family, she found no one. In the evening, she came to the Master’s place.

When Hazur saw her, He laughed and said to me,

Here comes the Mother. Let us hear what she has to say.

He said to her,

Welcome, Mother. How are you doing? Are you doing your meditation well?

The mother touched Master’s feet and started talking about her efforts at practising His teachings. During the conversation she started accusing Master of being a thief and a cheat; but Master just laughed and laughed. I asked the Master if Mother did not know how to speak.

The Master told me,

No, daughter, Mother is a very advanced soul. She is a Great Lover. Only lovers talk like this. Mother is in Divine Love.

Then He asked her,

When did I deceive you, Mother?

Mother told Him about her experience at the temple, and how when she had returned with her family He had disappeared, and asked Him if that behaviour was not deceiving.

Master said,

Listen, when you remembered me I came to you; when your mind went back to your family I left you. Why did you let your consciousness drop from Divinity to the worldly level? If you hadn’t left me, I wouldn’t have left you. So whose fault is it – yours or mine?

Mother folded her hands and told the Master that she would never let her consciousness drop to the worldly level again. Hail to the Master Who fed grass to the lions! The lady who was so much against Him once, by His blessing became a Great Devotee and Lover of God. Hail to the Master Whose Glory is boundless!

*****

Sardar Chanan Singh and Ganda Singh were the chief organisers of Master’s work in Koite. All the people from Koite who came to receive initiation came through them. Once, in Koite, a person who was a drunkard and a meat eater came to receive initiation. When Master went to choose among all the people standing in line, this drunkard was also there, and he requested the Master to bless him with initiation. Master looked at Sardar Chanan Singh questioningly. Sardar Chanan Singh lowered his eyes; he could say nothing. He thought that if he recommended this man to the Master, he would not be able to keep his word, and consequently would bring blame on the Satsang. But if he did not recommend him, then he would be taking away his chance of receiving initiation.

The Master looked at the person and asked,

What about meat and wine?

The man said that he wouldn’t use them anymore. The Master asked him to promise this and then initiated him.

After his initiation, the man tried to go straight, but after a while couldn’t resist his old habits and began to indulge in them. One night Hazur came to him in a dream and slapped and kicked him for not keeping his promise. When he woke up, he found his whole face swollen and his body full of black and blue marks. He was still lying on his bed when he saw Sardar Chanan Singh passing by. He started calling his name, but Sardar Chanan Singh did not want to go near him because he had not kept his promise. He went there unwillingly, and the man told him about his dream. Sardar Chanan Singh explained to him that he had taken shelter in a True Master Who had accepted responsibility for him, and he had better repent and reform. Later this person renounced the world and became a Sadhu. Hail to the Master! Who made renunciates out of evil persons.

*****

One day when Master had returned from visiting His disciples and was sitting on the balcony, I went to see him. He said to me affectionately,

Daughter, I have received a letter. Let me read it to you.

The letter told of Ram Singh, who was a very devoted person and had been serving Master as an electrician. Then he went somewhere else, got a good-paying job and earned a lot of money. It is the nature of money to delude people. One day Ram Singh had a desire to go to a prostitute. When he left his house to go to her, Master appeared to him; but he did not pay attention. When he entered her house, Master appeared to him again, but still he did not care; he expressed his desire to the prostitute and gave her five rupees.

Then Master appeared a third time – right between Ram Singh and the prostitute. The Master slapped Ram Singh on the face so hard that he became unconscious. The prostitute could not see the Master, and she was very much afraid; she tried to make him conscious. When Ram Singh finally regained consciousness, he apologised to the girl for his wrong desire. He told her that his body, mind and wealth belonged to his Master, and he had committed a great sin by trying to misuse his Master’s trust. He asked her to return his money, which she did, exclaiming that she would never let anybody like him in again.

Ram Singh went home and wrote the whole incident to the Master, concluding that he did not leave anything out in his efforts to do wrong, and the Master did not leave anything out in His efforts to stop him from doing wrong.

Hail to the Master! Who helped and protected His disciples from falling. People talk about miracles; Master performed them.

After reading the letter, Hazur said to me,

Daughter, Saints are blessing people a great deal in this age; they bless people even though they do not deserve it.