Faith

We live in an era of turmoil when humanity is beset by everything that diverts it from God. Rank materialism asserts its deadly philosophy upon one and all. “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.” “We cannot see God, therefore, there is no God.” “God is dead!” “Our astronauts have orbited the earth high up in the sky, yet they did not see God there or any of the angels!” “Soon our rockets will probe the universe and we shall come to know all that is to be known about life and creation!” Words such as these echo all over the world today. The old and the young repeat them like parrots. There seems to be a desire not to know, or an inhibition against admitting the existence of a power that controls the universe.

Pride has come into the hearts of men, a conceit born out of the triumphs of science. Men feel that they have at last, become masters of nature! But it is only mastery of sorts over the external, because people are still largely slaves to their internal enemies of lust, anger, greed, worldly attachments, arrogance, and envy. In the minds of men today, religion, scriptures, belief in the Almighty, prayers, and worship are all relegated to the scrap heap, and looked upon as ancient superstition or ancient bigotry.

At such a time in world history, when the future is murky and fogged with the doubts and disbeliefs of today, when there is so much spiritual darkness, a ray of hope shines forth, to illumine our souls. The Lord, in His mercy, has kept His word—to come to earth whenever unrighteousness begins to overpower righteousness. He is with us again, incarnated in the human form that took birth in Puttaparthi 42 years ago, in order to guide, soothe, and liberate. Though He is present everywhere, immanent in every atom of creation, few realize His omniscience.

Most of us struggle in the lower depths of sense gratification, perhaps aspiring to emerge into the purer world of the spirit, yet always slipping back into the maw of worldly enticements. The mission of this Avatar [incarnation], proclaimed by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Himself, is to raise us beyond worldly entanglements, liberate the sincere seeker, and to restore the ascendancy of right over might.

It is paradoxical that many who understand the possibility of God incarnating on earth in human form, cannot understand or accept His latest appearance. They may study the scriptures, worship His previous incarnations or revere His messengers of past ages. They carry out all ritualistic practices enjoined in their religions even if they do not understand the real significance of what they are doing. They believe in the word of God as spoken through the scriptures upon which they have been raised, but do not realize that the Avatar today, though His earthly body and language are different, has brought the same message to us now that He did to the erring humanity of the past. They disbelieve the testimony of their own senses or reason, or of those of His devotees living today. Is it not strange how faith can induce belief or disbelief without even the basis of personal experience?

Yes, faith is powerful. But it should be born out of awareness, not blindness. Nothing is as enlightening as personal experience. Faith based on such a sure foundation is an instrument with which the seeker accelerates his progress toward the goal of liberation. Faith not only helps our spiritual progress, but also harnesses our latent abilities or powers in order to meet the ordeals of life. An instrument, however, is always a two edged weapon—it can help or harm, create or destroy. Thus, faith that is based on reason, tolerance, and sincerity of purpose works real wonders with the devotee and his spiritual practice.  The form that his worship takes does not matter; it is the attitude and earnestness that count. Just as there are many different paths reaching the summit of a mountain, God can also be approached in many different ways. But, “faith” that is blind to reason, virtue, or tolerance and subject to pride or conceit, becomes a potent instrument of self-deception and eventual self-injury.

During His incarnation in Shirdi, Baba said, “If any of these (the nine forms of worship) is faithfully followed, Lord Hari [Vishnu] will be pleased and will manifest Himself in the devotee’s home. All sadhana [spiritual effort], like japa [recitation of God’s names] tapas (penance), yoga [spiritual practice], and studying the scriptures are quite useless unless they are accompanied by bhakti [devotion]. Knowledge of the Vedas [ancient scriptures], or fame as a great jnani [knowledgeable person], or merely singing bhajans is of no avail. What is wanted is loving devotion.”

The foundations of true and loving devotion are laid on the bedrock of devotion. As devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba know from their own experience, He can miraculously manifest in their homes in many different ways! It is doubtful if any other Avatar or messenger of God has ever granted His boons so profusely to so many in so tangible a form.

Yes, such is the power of faith. It is said, “Faith moves mountains.” Bhagavan makes these words come true. The vibhuti [holy ash] and the talismans, rosaries, photographs (sometimes still wet and dripping, “straight from Sai Studios” as Baba laughingly jokes), sweets, prasad [consecrated food], and anything else He creates casually by a wave of His hand for His devotees, are not evanescent, immaterial things that evaporate in time, nor are they products of imagination, hypnotism, or hallucination. They are as solid and material as any other object made up of the elements and as durable.

The only difference is that Baba’s gifts are instantly created when He so wills; but what a wonderful difference this is! The prasad that He creates by the wave of that hand is as material as any other food you might take, but how much more delicious and fragrant it is!

The miracles of apparent “coincidences” are also legion, where unexpected boons are granted to the deserving or their wishes are fulfilled. Baba does all this and more with so much informal grace and charm, that to witness such manifestations induces deep feelings of awe, reverence, and humility.

Baba has clearly expressed repeatedly that “all faiths are facets of the One truth.” He has also added that in this Kali Yuga (the Iron age), the recitation of the Lord’s name may be done with any name that is dearest to the individual. In this connection Baba has said, “In the Treta Yuga [era when Rama incarnated], it was Sita-Rama; in the Dwapara Yuga [era when Lord Krishna incarnated] it was Radhe-Shyam. Now, it is sarva-nama [all names]!”

Then why does fear still exist? Is it because faith is really lacking and denial buttresses faltering beliefs? Is it because of pride in what one is, or has? Regrettably, it appears to be so. It is unfortunate that faith in reverse converts itself into bigotry and intolerance, even fanaticism, so that it prevents the grace of God from reaching those who are also in great need of it.

The world needs spiritual unity and not further sub-divisions and compartmentalization. We must endeavor to reconcile apparent differences between systems of religious thought, recognizing that these differences are only external, and do not apply to the inner meanings. The unity in the religious philosophies of the world must be realized, while maintaining the distinctiveness of approach or expression. Unfortunately religious factions all over the world have divided human beings into rival antagonistic faiths, communities, creeds, and groups. In this dispute of who is superior, God is entirely forgotten.

Baba reminds us of the need for faith in ourselves and in our glorious human destiny. We often delude ourselves into identifying our self with the body and its quixotic dramas. We feel that we are free, when we are not. Yet, in the realm in which we are really free, we consider ourselves hopelessly imprisoned. We are not the limitation of the body, but rather that which is eternal, omniscient, and omnipotent. We are free to opt for the attainment of that state. We may realize this in an intellectual capacity but to realize it in actuality is the true destiny of our life, the miracle we may be individually and personally privileged to experience through the grace of Bhagavan Baba.

Baba has said, “You have some freedom of action. A cow, tied by a rope to a tree can roam around with that length as radius and eat the grass growing within that space. Even a question paper given at an examination asks you to answer ‘any six questions.’ You must use the intelligence and imagination you have been allotted, to the best purpose; then the Giver will be pleased to give more.”

Faith is the instrument that we must discover for ourselves. Baba, in His mercy, gives us many opportunities to do so. God does not need our faith. He exists and His will prevails irrespective of our faith or disbelief in Him. It is we who need to have faith in Him.

A personal calamity or a catastrophe of nature sends man scurrying for safety wherever he thinks he can find it. God’s hand is seen then. But, with faith in His dispensations, each of us can face our allotted parts in the drama of life with fortitude and calmness, secure in the knowledge that our salvation is assured by Him. We must employ our intelligence to develop this faith, so that we may use it as a key for our deliverance.

Each year, during the auspicious Maha-shivaratri at Prasanthi Nilayam, Baba blesses the many thousands who gather there with the privilege of witnessing the unique miracle of the Lingodbhavam [emergence of the lingam. During this holy night He manifests the creative force that is the very substance of the universe, the basis of all creation—a microcosm of the cosmos. It is Divinity itself that is manifesting, blessing, and assuring us all, that we need only have true faith in Him to reach our destination of supreme, eternal bliss.

~Pestonjee Pocha
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Feb. 1968