Shirdi Sai Baba’s Eleventh Assurance

Shirdi Sai Baba’s immense love and compassion for people is evident in the Eleven divine Sayings/Assurances given by Baba that provide profound insights and clarity to anyone looking for guidance in their life.

Of the Eleven Assurances given by Shirdi Sai Baba, the Eleventh Assurance is “there shall be no want in the house of my devotee.” While this assurance may seem like a wish-fulfilling promise where Baba grants abundance to all, it actually directs us toward accepting what we have and not longing for desires.

Baba’s Eleventh Assurance

This lesson of contentment and acceptance of ourselves as well as the situations that life has brought to us is shown in Chapter 20 of the Sai Satcharitra where Sai Baba sends His beloved disciple, Das Ganu, to learn this lesson of contentment from a maid-servant living in another devotee’s home. Das Ganu found this maid-servant, Namya, singing a beautiful song while cleaning vessels wearing only a torn rag.

On seeing her impoverished condition and her jovial temperament, Das Ganu felt pity for her and got her a new sari. She wore the new Sari and out of great joy, danced around playing with other girls. The next day, she came back with the old and torn rags but looked as merry as she did the previous day. On thinking deeply over this incident, Das Ganu realized that a man ought to be content and enjoy whatever God has bestowed on him in the firm conviction that He besets everything and that whatever is bestowed on him must be for his higher good.

Baba teaches contentment

Mohanji on acceptance

The Eleventh assurance of Baba and the total acceptance of oneself is also elaborated by Mohanji in this video, where he explains how the circumstances of one’s life should be accepted as grace or blessing and one should strive to evolve beyond it. Mohanji describes “poverty consciousness”, where the mind of the person is always focused on what the person is lacking as opposed to the acceptance with gratitude of what is given to the person. 

Acceptance leads to abundant grace

As Mohanji explains, acceptance starts with accepting everything in life as grace or a blessing and avoiding comparisons and competitions with others. If we resist or reject the circumstances of life, we are constantly in conflict and diminish ourselves. This leads to shrinkage whereas acceptance, gratitude, love, and compassion bring expansion. The expansion further increases the grace factor. This flow of abundant grace with the acceptance of life leads to “no want in the house of Baba’s devotees.”

A powerful analogy from Mohanji: “Accept everything that Baba gives - whether a stone or diamond. Both are OK because Baba gave it. Something from a Master always enhances our life. When a Master gives something to us, that is more precious and its effect lasts lifetimes and liberates a person.”

This helps us realize that there is no “right” or “wrong” - whether in ourselves or in the circumstances of our life. A Master knows what is best for our path to liberation and will help provide this to us.

May we all experience the abundant grace of Baba by maintaining an unwavering conviction that He has charted our life's path, and we walk this path with complete acceptance.

The Sai Miracle Meditation

A powerful way to deepen our connection with Baba is with the "Sai Miracle Meditation"

This profound meditation, in the voice of Mohanji, guides us through beautiful imagery and chants from the Shirdi Temple.

We can do the Sai Miracle Meditation individually and also with a group. One of the advantages of meditating with a group is that the group’s collective energy field can enhance our personal experience.