Grace of the Master Or ˜Compassion Or ˜Kripa

[Guest guest]

When a man after a long period of distress suffers desperation and then suddenly

help comes from the most unexpected quarters, he thanks God, calling it an act

of divine mercy. Babas devotees, in thousands, staying in different parts of the

country used to get such help at the most crucial moments of their life. Such

divine interventions, in other words, can be called the ˜Grace of the Master or

˜Compassion or ˜Kripa " . For example Shyama, an ardent devotee of Baba at Shirdi

was bitten by a snake. Baba without use of any medicines saved him only by a

command. Mainatai, the daughter of Nana Saheb Chandorkar at Jamner had serious

delivery complications but a man sent by Baba reached the house of Chandorkar

with the help of mysterious Tangewalla with Babas Udi at the most critical

moment. Chandorkar, a Magistrate, with all his pride and intellect was just

shocked. Hundreds of examples regarding Babas help received by his

devotees unexpectedly, far away from Shirdi, not only when Shri Sai was in his

physical embodiment, but also as on today have been recorded. A very large

number of them belong to the intellectual and educated group who would never

have believed what they experienced, if such miracles were told by some one

else.

 

Herein comes the main question about the faith in the Master. Should miracles be

the only factor / plinth of sch faith even if a Master is capable of creating

such miracles?

 

The first problem that arises when faith is dependent only on miracles created

by a Saint or Master is that. the devotee becomes miracle dependent. I have seen

some devotees not doing what they are ordinarily supposed to do and then praying

for help in a crisis. For example, if a child is not studying well, instead of

taking care of his education through the available means, and time, they run to

the temples more frequently to get blessing for the childs success as if a

miracle would solve their mundane problems. Nature, which is the manifested

spirit of God tells human beings, I have given you a body, a mind and a soul. I

have created the facilities on this earth. Put them to the best possible use for

your good and that of others. The house in which we stay, the food we eat, the

electricity we use, the doctor we consult, as much as the temple we visit all

are created by God. Not doing what God has empowered us to do but merely wishing

for

miracles to happen is treading an illusory path. Secondly, those devotees who

only depend on the powers. of miracles of a Master will lose faith if the

miracle prayed for does not take place. After all miracles are also dependent

..on the laws of Karma i.e. they are a result of his noble deeds of the past and

take place only if he deserves to get such miraculous help. The worst is that if

some problem are solved through miracles but later the desired help does not

take place, faith gets easily shaken. It is again in the nature of mind that

human beings are prone to think more of a single negative quality of a. man even

if he has many other positive qualities. They lament on a single failure

forgetting that they had many successes in the past. Undoubtedly, if the faith

is based on these powers of miracles of the Master, then such a devotee is

actually loving the Masters miracles more than the Master himself. This is

conditional devotion whereas true devotion or love for the Master, in the real

sense of the term cannot be conditional.

 

On the other hand, the true devotees, even when they are experiencing the acts

of compassion of the Master or miraculous help, neither pray for it nor depend

on it. Tolerating the pleasures and pains of life, they continue to do their

best for the cause of the Masters. To them the biggest miracle happens slowly

but steadily. They conquer their weakness of mind to depend on miracle and stand

out on their own in the world as great personalities of faith. " .....