TESTING LIMITLESS FAITH

[Guest guest]

TESTING LIMITLESS FAITH

"It is to be noted here that doubts and difficulties surround us, just to move

us and confirm our faith. we are tested as it were. If we only hold on steadily

to Baba, with full faith, and continue our endeavours, our efforts will be

ultimately crowned with success." -Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. XXIX.

Milarepa, the great Tibetan yogi! Whose name has run around the globe. There is

a touching incident. One day, Milarepa comes to his Guru and begs to be

accepted as a disciple. The Guru, Marpa, says to him: "Do you have sufficient

faith?"

Milarepa answers: "Master, my faith in you is beyond words."

"How much faith do you possess?" asks the Guru.

"As much as the limitless skies," is the answer.

The Guru hears the words but wants to put the disciple to a test!

"Here are some bricks," he says to Milarepa, "with them build a platform at this spot."

Milarepa sets to work immediately. He builds a beautiful platform which he feels

should please his Guru. When the Guru arrives, he exclaims: "What a fool you

are, Milarepa! You have wasted all your time and energy. I did not want a

platform here, at this corner, but at the other corner."

Milarepa says to himself: "I clearly remember the Guru pointing to this spot;

bet let not my faith be shaken. I must be wrong. The Guru is always right!" He

dismantles the platform and starts building a new one at the other corner.

After a few days, the second platform is ready and Milarepa approaches his Guru.

Once again, the Guru is dissatisfied and says: "What a silly fellow you are! I

never wanted the platform here."

Milarepa feels irritated, but controls himself and says: "Let me not doubt the

Guru!" He builds a third platform.

The process is repeated several times. And now Milarepa can take it no longer.

He loses his patience. His faith is completely shaken. He wants to run away

from the Guru. The Guru’s wife learns of it: she comes to his rescue.

"The Guru is only testing you!" she says to him. "It was you who told him that

your faith was limitless as the skies. Where is your faith gone?"

Milarepa’s faith renewed. He builds yet one more platform. When it was ready,

the Guru embraces him, saying: "You are truly my child. Let me share with you

the secret which I have shared with none else."

Milarepa sits at the feet of the Guru and receives from him what only a Guru can

pass on to his disciple. He is enlightened. He is emancipated from the seemingly

endless cycle of birth and death which is, inevitably, a cycle of suffering and

pain, but from which, alas, many of us do not yet wish to be liberated.

May some of us be inspired to cultivate this great quality of faith. The Guru is

too loving to punish and too wise to make a mistake. Therefore, let us learn to

accept all that comes out of his hands as Prasadam. In sun and rain, in

pleasure and pain, in loss and gain, let our trusting heart learn to pray:

"Give me a place at Your Lotus Feet, Baba!"

Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.

TAMASO MA JYOTIRGAMAYA.....

A successful industrialist, who was interviewed on his fiftieth wedding

anniversary. He said: "A man is always as young as he feels, but seldom as

important."

We, so many of us, feel important. We think the world cannot get along without

us. We think it is we who are looking after our families, our businesses, the

institutions founded by us. What would happen to them if we passed away? We

need to remind ourselves of the truth that we are but instruments – broken

instruments – in the Hands of the Great Cosmic Power that holds the Universe

from end to end. We are but so many zeros. If we stand to the right of the

Great Power who is One (1), the value will increase: without Him we are

nothing!

 

Mail – CNET Editors' Choice 2004. Tell them what you think.