Shraddha or Devotional faith

[Guest guest]

" Shraddha or devotional faith is the most difficult state of mind to

achieve. If one has absolute faith in his Guru then sooner or later

he will even look like the Guru with all His attributes. However,

the seed of faith takes a lot of time to generate and to grow. It

may take years or even a few lives. Full faith in Baba does not

come, as quickly as one desires it to be like Shravan, Kirtan,

Poojan, Dhyana, etc. The Navadha Bhakti i.e. the multifold type of

bhakti is not bhakti per se. They are either methods of bhakti or

reflections of bhakti or both. Further, externality of devotion may

not necessarily indicate the internality of devotion.

 

Some people, at times say that only if Baba desires then bhakti will

grow in their hearts. By saying so they make Baba responsible for

generating bhakti in them. In the ultimate analysis it is true that

Baba generates bhakti in a devotee's heart. But, if the person so

desiring conducts himself in a manner that Baba desires, then the

type of bhakti he seeks will certainly be generated by Him. If one

starts praying to Baba for bhakti and yet continues to conduct

himself in an unethical manner forbidden by Baba, then how do we

expect Baba to generate bhakti in his mind? To this some people say

that even bad conduct is created by God and unless He desires this

can't be controlled. This time also the burden is squarely on Baba

or God and the devotee does not want to take any responsibility even

for his own conduct. Even under these circumstances Baba can control

his conduct and generate bhakti in him, provided he leaves all other

aspects of his life on Him and awaits patiently for Him to guide his

destiny. Faith or surrender means leaving everything on Baba – body,

mind and soul. But partial surrender will lead to partial bhakti,

and its partial results only. If one is sincere enough and fully

surrenders to Baba then He will control his desires and conduct.

Under these circumstances neither he should work nor seek anything

himself but leave everything to Baba in totality. Then, if he is

prepared to bear the consequence of this state of utter inaction

then Baba will certainly control his conduct and give him the type

of Shraddha he seeks. There are many examples of many devotees in

Shirdi, at the time of Baba, who had left everything on Sai

including all their material and spiritual needs, and Baba did

provide these to them. If one cannot come to this state of utter

inaction then, he should go by the normal path of Navadha Bhakti and

should be responsible for his own conduct to start with. God has

given enough intelligence to human beings in comparison to animals,

to discriminate between good and evil. Such practice will slowly but

definitely grow devotion in him imperceptibly.

 

However, this slow growth means waiting patiently under all

circumstances on the mercy of Baba, which is nothing but Saburi.

Saburi is, therefore, an essential factor for the generation,

sustenance and growth of devotion. Both faith and patience are

complementary to each other. Faith without patience will bring loss

of faith at frequent intervals of time and will not allow its

growth. Similarly, only patience, without actual faith, is an

exercise in futility. A balance in both will bring about even growth

of both in a person.

 

Faith again means trying to do what we have been asked to do by Baba

and resist from doing what has been forbidden by Him. Even if we

fail a number of times it does not matter, the main point is whether

we are using our God given faculties to their maximum limits. When

we want to use our faculties, time and energy for getting close to

Baba we have to cut down on many other activities. Therefore, the

person who wants closeness with Baba should always try to reduce the

non-productive, capricious and non-essential activities like late

night parties, addiction of any type, uncontrolled thought, speech

or action, etc. Such improvements will not only gradually control

the mind but will also save time and energy for more purposive and

creative activities, like study on Sri Sainath, meditation on Baba

and His worship in any form. The devotees should always try to

improve their inner qualities of patience, faith, tolerance,

egolessness, and gradually, closeness with Baba will increase. But,

the most important two qualities which are fundamental, as often

said by Baba, are " Shraddha and Saburi " . " …….

 

Baba Said....

 

" The donor gives, i.e. sow seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in future " .

 

 

Baba is every where just feel him and keep on saying

`Om Sai Ram' to whom so ever you meet.

 

OM SAI SRI SAI JAI JAI SAI!!! Let us pray at the lotus

feet of Bhagwan Baba who is the incarnation of all

gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and

increase our devotion towards him

 

Jai Sai Ram

Swamy Mahadevan

Bow to Shri Sai-Peace be to all

Baba Bless you ever!!!