108 Quotations on Faith in God [12]

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108 Quotations on Faith in GodFrom Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Divine Discourses

– 12 –

There is only one God and He is Omnipresent. True, but to concentrate on the

Omnipresent, some fixed point or preliminary form is needed. And to conceive of

the Divine as present everywhere at all times, the mind of man is to be

clarified and purified by means of certain psychological processes called

saadhanas (spiritual efforts). This is the reason why not only among the

followers of Hindhuism but also among Christians and Buddhists, regular rituals

are prescribed for the worship of idols of God. Cynics question the validity of

this type of adoration and say that will only confirm faith in a superstition.

"Can God be a stone or a piece of paper?" they ask. This attitude is not

correct. By adhering to the traditionally laid down ritual worship, many

aspirants have attained the vision of the Omnipresent and stayed in that

Incommunicable

Bliss.

In fact, puuja (formal worship, at regular hours, with the recitation of

hymns and songs) is the very first step in the spiritual pilgrimage. Many

seekers have undoubtedly achieved an awareness of God by years of asceticism

among jungle caves. But, starting early with puuja and continuing with

scrupulous care, the rites of archana, bhajana and aaradhana (offering of

flowers with repetition of God' s Name, singing His glory and adoring Him as a

living presence) are more fruitful and satisfying.

Meerabai, Sakkubai, Suurdhaas, Kabeerdhaas, Shankaraachaarya and many other

saints and realised souls have proved in their lives that the time, attention

and energy spent, in these religious practices is well spent. By aaradhana only

were they able to visualise the Divine in the specific form which they used as

the instrument.

– Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Divine Discourse on 06.02.1979Sathya Sai Speaks,

Volume XIV, Chapter 19: Colour on canvasOnline:

http://sathyasai.org/search/volume14/sss14-19.pdf

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