Nearness to God

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Nearness to God

 

Perhaps the new devotee is surprised to find that all suffering does

not end when one finds the Lord. When the initial discovery is made, we

might believe that the future can hold only joy and peace. But this is

an unreasonable expectation, soon dispelled. In fact its is by grace of

the Lord that he points out our faul;ts so that we may correct them

 

It may be that our pain is increased as we progress quickly, through

our " lessons " This is espcially the case for " close devotees " ,who are seen as

examples of Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings. Each of us must live up to a high

standard of behaviour. An ideal devotee, such as Prahlada, may suffer as a

lesson for others in faith and devotion. That devotee demonstrates the value of

the spiritual path in developing equanimity. If we fail to exemplify the high

ideals which we espouse, our punishment is strict, for the Lord has taken

special interesr in our progress and will not be satisfied with meager progress.

 

" People, those outwardly " distant " from Swami, he tells, but not so severely as

those " near " . People judge Swami by his " near " devotees and so those individuals

must follow very strict standards of behavior " Baba

 

The Lord does not give his devotees more suffering than they can manage. The

Lord protects and nurtures devotees on the path. Whatever suffering may come, it

will not be more than the devotee can bear. The Lord is committed to the

progress of his dear ones.

 

" God protects his devotees. His devotee is near and dear to God, and He carries

the devotee safely through life " Baba

 

Inner peace alone confers lasting joy. The evanescent pleasures of the material

world grant no lasting experiences. Our effort must be to experience the

fountainhead of self confidence and detatchment which inspires us to greater

spirituality. Our enthusiasm of today must grow into steady practice. Regular

effort in the face of all obstacles ensures victory. Difficulties on the road

must be welcomed as means to secure God's love and to demonstrate our worthiness

to achieve higher goals.

 

" You should not allow yourselves to be overwhelmedm in any way by difficulites

and sorrows, doubts and disappointments. You must have faith. Have confidence in

yourself and srtive to understand well the nature of God's love. To secure that

love is thesacred goal of human life " Baba

 

An easy and painless life would offer us little satisfaction. We would never

know the exhilarating struggle for achievement or the sparkling joys of

discovery. Althrough suffering is not a virtue and we should not see it it out,

it does help us to understand the primacy of the spirit and the illusion of

material glitter. Perhaps we should not not be so quick to shun adversity, fore

through suffering alone do we realize the pain of attachment and the bliss of

self understanding.

 

 

" Do you think I would confront you with pain were there not a reason for it?

Open your heart to pain, as you do now to pleasure, for it is my will,wrought by

me for your good. Welcome it as a challenge. Do not turn away from it. Do not

listen to yourmind, for mind is but another word for " Need " . The mind engenders

need; it manifested as this world, because it needed this. It is all my plan, to

rive you by the pangs of unfullied need to listen to my voice which, when heard,

dissolves the ego and the mind wit it " Baba

 

Next.....Surrender....Fullness of Faith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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