Sai Sat Charitra-Chapter XXIII-Part 2

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Yoga and Onion

Once it so happened, that a sadhak of Yoga came to Shirdi with . He had studied all the works on Yoga, including the Yoga-sutras of Patanjali, but had no practical experience. He could not concentrate on his mind and attain samadhi even for a short time. He thought that if Sai Baba be pleased with him, He will show him the way to attain samadhi for a long time. With this object in view he came to Shirdi, and when he went to the Masjid he saw Sai Baba eating bread with onion. On seeing this, a thought arose in his mind - How can this man, eating stale bread with raw onion, solve my difficulties and help me?' Sai Baba read his mind and said to Nanasaheb - "Oh Nana, he who has the power to digest onion, should eat it and none else". Hearing this remark, the yogi was wonder-struck and then he fell at Baba's feet with complete surrender. With pure and open mind, he mentioned his difficulties and got their solution from Baba. Thus being satisfied and happy, he left Shirdi with Baba's Udi and blessings.

Sai Ram. In almost all great works like Guru Gita and other holy texts, it is constantly emphasized that the disciple should not question the Guru's habits and behavior. But many common people try to look at the external features of a Guru, His appearance, His knowledge, His ritualistic approaches, His speaking skills etc. and the above story is a good example of a disciple trying to judge the Guru by what he ate and so on. Sai kindly helped that theoretical yogi and showed the true meaning of yoga, union by being mentally one with him and reading his inmost thoughts. He thus helped the yogi demolish the walls that separated him from Sai. By this small miracle, Sai lit the lamp of bhakti and surrender in the yogi's mind and helped him on his path. Sai Ram.