The story of Boss Dharamsee in Chapter 35 suggests that a spiritual community is built through profound, individual transformations rather than group programming. Dharamsee arrived as an outsider with a "clinical scrutiny," separate from the gathered devotees. It was Baba's direct, personal intervention—knowing his innermost thoughts, his dislike for seeded grapes, and his skepticism—that created a bond. The miracle was tailored for him, as Tarkhad's grapes remained seeded. This personal experience caused Dharamsee's "ego to drop away" and be replaced by "love for the saint." As the text states, his "eagerness to come to Shirdi became like a firm determination." Thus, the community grows organically, one person at a time, through the master's grace in addressing the unique spiritual needs of each individual.
How does the story of Boss Dharamsee illustrate the way a community of devotees is formed around a spiritual master like Sai Baba?
📖 Chapter 35