Your Difficulties Are Mine

Each of us carries many burdens in our lives relating to worldly matters. Various servitudes of life including income, family, children, guilt, health, etc. plague us so much that it can hinder our path for spiritual advancement. However, Baba comforts His devotees with his dictum (ninth assurance), “If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.”

In Chapter 7 of Sai Satcharitra, Mrs. Khaparde, a devotee of Baba, was frightened when her son caught the Bubonic plague. She went to Baba and asked Him for permission to leave Shirdi.

Baba said that the sky was beset with clouds; but that they will melt and pass off and everything will be smooth and clear. So saying, He lifted up His Kafni (the bottom half of his outfit) up to the waist and showed to all present, four fully developed bubos, as big as eggs, and added, "See, how I have to suffer for My devotees; their difficulties are Mine." Baba’s unconditional love for His devotees can be clearly seen in this incident where Baba takes on the sufferings of His devotees who have completely surrendered to Him.

Baba takes on the illness of a devotee

How to cast our burden

Casting the burden on Baba is not a mere handing over of the burden to Baba hoping that Baba will solve it. As explained by Mohanji in this video, a person needs to cast their burden with complete surrender.

This complete surrender of the burden needs to be with the faith and conviction that Baba will bear the burden. The person must not look back or carry the burden on and off again without an unshakeable conviction that Baba will surely carry it.

Unburdening leads to transformation

Mohanji explains that this unburdening with conviction and surrender liberates the person from the karmic burden and leads to transformation.

This path to transformation via unburdening is exhibited in a story seen in Chapter 50 of the Sai Satcharitra. Once a devotee named Pundalikrao was entrusted with a coconut by Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati, known as Shri Tembye Swami. The Swami gave the coconut to Pundalikrao as an offering to Baba and asked Pundalikrao to give it to Baba as a gift. On the way to Shirdi, the coconut broke by mistake. When Pundalikrao reached Shirdi, Baba asked him to give what the Swami had sent. Pundalikrao held Baba’s Feet, confessed his guilt and negligence, repented and asked for Baba’s pardon.

Baba pardoned him and added, “Now you need not worry yourself any more about the matter. It was on account of my wish that the coconut was entrusted to you and ultimately broken on the way. Why should you take the responsibility for these actions? Do not entertain the sense of doer-ship in doing good or bad deeds. Remain entirely pride-less and ego-less in all things and thus your spiritual progress will be rapid.”

Transformation by non-doership of actions

Baba thus unburdened Pundalikrao instantly of his guilt and repentance and also advised him to get rid of doership in actions. The doership that brings “me” and “mine” in the mind brings about entanglement, pain, and suffering. So, while Baba teaches to cast our existing burdens on Him, He also teaches to not keep burdening ourselves constantly and to be free from pride and ego in all actions. This will result in spiritual progress and ultimately liberation.

Bringing Baba's Presence to Virginia

Construction is underway to bring Shirdi Sai Baba's idol and presence to the beautiful Appalachian mountain area of Virginia.

The upcoming temple at the Mohanji Center of Benevolence in Virginia will be consecrated during a powerful Prana Prathista ceremony on April 21, 2024. This temple space will serve as a place of rejuvenation and connection to Baba for all who walk on these grounds.

We invite you to participate in bringing Baba's Presence to life for the benefit of all.