When others try to prevent you from doing this, whatever plans they weave and whatever contrivances they employ, resist them at the cost of your own lives. Do not deny yourself that divine awareness, that divine ecstasy. This exhortation echoes through the stream of spiritual values of the Indians (Bharathiyas).
Pull down the barriers that stand in the way and obstruct the free flow of the culture of this land, which confers such sweetness and strength. Clear the channels through which it flows and cleanse them. Then it can follow its course, unimpeded.
Sai’s resolve and the message of God’s love
Sai has willed that this country, India (Bharath),
has this spiritual discipline (sadhana).
For too long a time the theistic dharma of this land has stopped moving. For
too long a time its characteristic has been static. Now, it has to be made
dynamic. It must vitalize the daily life of every human being. It must enter
and fructify the palatial king’s dwelling and the lowly huts of the poorest in
the land.
The theistic dharma is the treasure of everyone; everyone has the right to inherit it and benefit by it; having been born as a human, one has a valid claim to share it. For this reason, Indians have to take it before every door and welcome everyone in every home to share it.
Just as the air that we breathe in God’s creation is available to all, the dharma of the awareness of God and His power and mercy has to be available to all. Indians must hold on to this wide outlook and the universality and unity of this message.
The conflicts between disparate faiths and beliefs will disappear of themselves and peace and love will be restored on earth. Imagine a house full of darkness for centuries. You may enter the house and pray to the darkness to leave the premises, or shower abuse on it for days, or frighten it by threatening force.
The darkness will stay; it cannot be diminished at all. It will not yield to your tactics. It cannot be scared out. But light a lamp, and it will flee that instant. The lamp of wisdom can save a person from age-long darkness.
One must recognize this truth and, once it is recognized, shape life accordingly. People have an immensity in them; this is the core of Indian (Bharathiya) thought. It is really a mystery how anyone came to regard themselves as condemned to fall! A person might strike us as demonic or divine; in both, the Atma is the reality to the same extent.
You can’t say the Atma is less in one and more in the other. When faults are found in someone, you have to conclude that there are deficiencies in behavior, that is all. Don’t conclude that there is no divine Atma in that person.
As a result of the company one keeps or the inefficiency of the society in which one grew, faults have grown. They are not native to one’s nature, which is Atmic. You have to provide the person with good company and beneficial surroundings and persuade them to enter them. On no account should you condemn the person as a born incorrigible and keep them apart.
Essence
In the first part, Swami insists on
facing all challenges which surface in the spiritual path.
Swami Sivananda Maharaj writes on obstacle in Spiritual sadhana,
“On the spiritual path you must be prepared to meet with
hundreds of failures. In the beginning it may appear to be very hard,
thorny, precipitous and slippery. It is the razor path. You will fall down many
times, but if you are sincere and earnest in your practice, you will rise up
quickly and walk again with more zeal, boldness and cheerfulness.
Ever stumbling block will become a stepping stone to success or
ascent on the hill of spiritual knowledge. Every fall will give you additional
strength to rise up to a greater height on the ladder of yoga. Do not lose
sight of the goal. Do not miss the ideal. Do not be discouraged. You will
soon get spiritual strength from within. The indweller will guide you and push
you up.
Trials are to strengthen aspirants. You will grow quickly if you can adapt
yourself to any kind of environment and circumstance. If God gives trials, side
by side He also gives new strength, patience and fortitude to bear the trials.
There is no reason to lament. Say once more, “Thy will be done.” All the saints
and sages, prophets and seers had to pass through tremendous struggles and
severe ordeals before they reached the goal.
Your spiritual growth is gauged by the extent of your victory over external
circumstances and environments, troubles and difficulties, adverse conditions
and antagonistic influences. A yogi always keeps a balanced mind in all
conditions of life and at every moment. He is adamantine because he stands on a
firm basis – the eternal, unchanging, immortal soul – and so he is called
steadfast.
Doubts or uncertainties are great obstacles on the path of self-realization,
even for an advanced student. Be firm and unshakeable in your faith and
conviction to transform yourself. Face these passing obstacles and allow
nothing to disturb you. Again and again the battle must be won.
To grow in yoga is not an easy matter. Sadhakas must take to the path sincerely. Always feel that you are just a beginner and strive diligently to acquire the primary virtues of kindness, charitableness, patience and forbearance. Be ready to serve others with humility and put up with provocation and abuse without retaliation.
Remove harshness and rudeness from your nature. Courtesy and politeness must
become part of your very essence. Then alone the hardened heart becomes
softened and good sentiments and spiritual energy arise in it. Where there is
kindness, humility and purity, spirituality springs up, saintliness shines,
divinity descends and perfection manifests itself.”
We will focus on the second part of Swami’s writing in the next post.
Love.
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