In Our Inmost Heart
To write about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is like trying to make an attempt to describe the infinite, unfathomable ocean of Godhead. Who dares to reveal the mysteries hidden beyond the grasp and comprehension of the human mind? Those who know the beauty of glorious Divinity stand spellbound in awe and wonder. Their lips remain closed by a magic power.
Words will only be mere expressions of a dual existence, whereas that which is, is beyond all forms and qualities.
Likewise Baba is that—though apparently in a bodily frame for the sake of those devotees who want to love the Lord in form and cherish an intimate relationship with His magnificent presence. For these lovers, Baba is like Krishna toward Radha, Meera, the gopis [cowherd maidens], Arjuna, yogis, saints, and sages; attracting with His magnetic power their sole attention and being—and enclosing all manifestations of the universe in His cosmic heart.
The bliss that devotees experience in His nearness cannot be compared to the paltry joy derived from worldly pleasures.
He is close to those whose heart is pure, whose nature is saturated with love, faith, and a humble but fiery aspiration for the highest attainment of God-consciousness.
To the afflicted and downcast, Baba is Shiva [one of the holy trinity who in His compassion and mercy, drinks the poison of any sin and bestows refreshing delight in the waters of the all-purifying river Ganga.
As Rama, Baba brings our stumbling feet back onto the path of righteousness and light.
His fatherly care and motherly affection know no end.
He is there, always comforting us, lifting us up from the bonds of human limitations, cutting asunder the shackles of birth and death, and making us realize who we really are.
Thus, Baba, in His glory, can never be understood by the petty limited intellect.
Whether conscious or unaware, He is never far from us, because He dwells in our inmost heart. He is all gods in the one all-pervading, omniscient, omnipotent Divine consciousness.
This ocean of infinite light has its own self-sufficiency. His arms are stretched open only to receive the innumerable streams of life that He Himself has made for the utter game of creation, preservation, and destruction, and for the glorification of His mighty Self.
Hence, there are no words adequate to describe Baba, His being and reality. He Himself has stated that none will ever know or understand Him.
Yet, there is a comforting glow of hope in those hearts whose burning aspiration and love for the Lord will never cease to grow. For them, the day will dawn and the gates to the sanctuary will open. All struggles and pangs of separation will come to an end and they will behold and merge into the light of all lights, the splendor of all splendors, the beauty of all beauty. Then there will be only He, Swami, sat-chit-ananda [truth, consciousness, and bliss], That.
~Gabriella Steyer
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, March 1967
