|| Shri Hari ||
SAINTS AND THEIR SERVICE
(Sant
aur unki Seva)
continued....
Just as when a philosopher's stone is rubbed against another ordinary stone, then initially all the mud and dirt on the stone rubs off and once the dirt is removed, thereafter, on direct contact with the philosopher's stone, the ordinary stone turns to gold. In the same way, time and again having satsang the dirt in the form of sins, will be destroyed, and in the end one will attain salvation. You may have seen in Rishikesh, Uttarkhand, where there are round stones and pebbles in Gangaji. The sharp mountainous rocks, as they get splashed around, wobbling and rolling over in the ferocious flow of Gangaji have become beautiful and round. They have not put in any effort, neither did they desire to become round. Simply by lying in the path of Gangaji, they have become smooth and round. In the same way, if you lie at the feet of Saints (take refuge in them), then in the end salvation is inevitable.
There are two types of faiths - (1) Steady and (2) Unsteady Steady faith is in that in which there can never be any thing lacking. But faith that is unsteady, keeps fluctuating. The steady faith has the scope of increasing, but it can never decrease. Even the faith that is not steady, can increase and over time can transform into steady faith, because even in unsteady faith, there remains the natural and innate spark of faith, that becomes steadfast and gradually becomes faith.
Time and again on associating with a saint, on gaining knowledge of his qualities and influence, and on following his instructions, feelings-sentiments and faith in him unfolds , and in the end, steady faith in him develops.
A saint is everlasting. There is no such time on earth and in the atmosphere, that there is not a "yati" ascetic, a "sati" (pure chaste wife), righteous person "dharmaatma" and a "sant" (saint). Even in this day and age you can meet a saint, and you can meet such saints, that will see to your spiritual progress. But how can they meet us? We do not even have a deep longing to meet them! Therefore we must increase that inner longing that we want to meet a genuine saint.
During a saint's lifetime, if there is no one who is the kind to take advantage of his teachings, then too, his principle will remain steady in the atmosphere, by which in the future if there is anyone born that wants to benefit from the saint's teachings, then he can do so.
It is not that all saints are one and the same. Even though there is no difference in their natural state, however due to their "varna", "ashram" (stage in life), associations, self-study, nature, their methods and spiritual practices, etc., and due to differences in their spiritual discipline, even in a state of realization, their beliefs, conduct and method of discourse one can see differences.
Saints do not make anyone their disciples. However, if anyone considers themselves to be their follower, then who can stop them in doing so? Having faith in God, when a person accepts a particular saint with a true heart, and begins to follow him, then it becomes God's responsibility. But the acceptance and belief must be genuine. It means that in the aspirant's mind there must be faith and desire only of God Realization and simultane, he is committed to abiding in the principles. Then the aspirant having no insistence of his own, and having no worldly aspirations, he can never be cheated anywhere. In this way, if the faith is genuine, and God recognizes that the person's salvation is possible through faith in this saint, then he will make that faith firm and unshakable. However if he is not a saint, and on having faith in him, there is the possibility of it being detrimental to the aspirant, then God will shift the aspirant's faith and trust somewhere else. Because even if an aspirant does not know, but God knows both the saint and the aspirant, and unknowingly too, it is God's Nature to see to the eternal well-being of all. Therefore in both states his salvation is a certainty, since he has complete trust and faith in God that "God will definitely make me attain salvation." In this manner, he continues to have unflinching faith in God. By Eklavya's sentiments, he attained success. In reality, faith and devotion are the only real things. One cannot attain God by negating. On the subject of saints, it is the same thing. By negating we may decide not to make someone a Guru, but with faith and devotion if we accept a saint as a Guru and serve him, abide in his instructions, and associate with him, then we will surely benefit.
Narayan! Narayan !! Narayan !!!
From book in Hindi "Jeevan ka Kartavya" by Swami Ramsukhdasji.
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT
-
Date : 10th April, 2013
(Sant
aur unki Seva)
IF YOU HAVE BENEFITED FROM THESE MESSAGES,
KINDLY FORWARD TO OTHERS.