Shirdi Sai Satcharitra Chapter 18 and 19 - English Audiobook You can also read this chapter here: https://www.shirdibooks.com/sai-satcharitra-chapter-18-and-19 This chapter covers the following: The Stories of Mr. Sathe and Mrs. Deshmukh Encouraging Good Thoughts to Fruition Variety in Upadesh: A Slanderer is Corrected And Remuneration for Labor In the last two Chapters, Hemadpant described how a rich gentleman, aspiring for quick Brahma-Jnana, was treated by Baba. And now in these two Chapters, he describes how Hemadpant was accepted and blessed by Baba, how Baba encouraged good thoughts and fructified them and gives His teachings regarding Self-improvement, slander and remuneration for labor. Preliminary It is a well-known fact that the Sadguru looks first at the qualifications of his disciples and then gives them suitable instructions, without unsettling their minds in the least. And he leads them on towards the goal of self-realization. In this respect, some say that what the Sadguru teaches or instructs, should not be divulged to others. They believe that these instructions become useless if they are published. This view is not correct; The Sadguru is like a monsoon cloud; He pours down profusely, his nectar-like teachings. These, we should enjoy and assimilate to our heart’s content and then serve others with them, without any reserve. We should apply this rule not only to what he teaches us when we are awake, but to the visions he gives us in our dreams. To quote an instance, Budhakowshik Rishi composed his celebrated Ram-raksha stotra based on what he had seen in his dreams. Like a loving mother forcing bitter but wholesome medicines down the throats of her children, for the sake of their health, Sai Baba imparted spiritual instructions to His devotees. His method was not veiled or secret, but quite open. Devotees who followed His instructions attained their objective. Sadgurus like Sai Baba broaden our intellect and show us the divine beauty of the Self, and fulfill our tender longings of devotion. When this is done, our desire for sense-objects vanishes, the twin fruits of Viveka (discrimination) and Vairagya (dispassion or non-attachment) are attained and knowledge sprouts up even in our sleep. We get all this when we come in contact with Saints (Sadgurus), serve them and secure their love. The Lord who fulfills the desires of His devotees, comes to our aid, gets rid of our troubles and sufferings and makes us happy. This progress or development is entirely due to the help of the Sadguru, who is regarded as the Lord Himself. Therefore, we should always be eager to meet the Sadguru, hear His stories, fall at His Feet and serve Him. Now we come to our main story. How Hemadpant was Accepted and Blessed: Mr. Sathe’s Story: There was a gentleman named Mr. Sathe who had attained some publicity many years ago during the Crawford Regime. Lord Reay, the Governor of Bombay at the time, quashed Mr. Sathe’s popularity and Mr. Sathe suffered severe losses in his trade. Other adverse circumstances also gave him a lot of trouble and made him sad and dejected. Restless, he thought of leaving home and going to a distant place. Man does not generally think of God, but when difficulties and calamities overtake him, he turns to God and prays for relief. If his evil actions have come to an end, God arranges his meeting with a Saint, who gives him proper directions regarding his welfare. Mr. Sathe had a similar experience. His friends advised him to go to Shirdi, where so many people were flocking to receive Sai Baba’s darshan, which helped them attain peace of mind and the satisfaction of their wants. He liked the idea and at once came to Shirdi in 1917. Upon seeing Baba’s Form, which was like Eternal Brahma− Self-luminous, Spotless and Pure− his mind lost its restlessness and became calm and composed. He thought that it was the accumulation of merits in his former births that had brought him to Baba’s Holy Feet. He was a man of strong will; He at once began to study the Guru-charitra. When the reading was finished in seven days, Baba gave him a vision one night. It was to this effect: Baba with the Guru-charitra in His hand was explaining its contents to Mr. Sathe, who was sitting in front of Baba and listening carefully. When he woke up, he remembered the dream and felt very happy. He thought that it was extremely kind of Baba to awaken souls like his that were snoring away in ignorance, and make them taste the nectar of the Guru-charitra................. Bow to Shri Sai - Peace be to all