Nearness to God

[Guest guest]

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+`

 

--- End forwarded message ---