One Gurupoornima for the Books—Call to Action
When it rains, it pours—Sai’s love that is. The Lord is showering His blessings and giving of Himself in an unprecedented manner. Indeed, if ever there was a pertinent time to be in His presence, it is now, as His advent enters its most comprehensive phase.
Addressing the devotees as “Embodiments of love” eight times during a single discourse delivered on Gurupoornima day, July 2, 2004, Swami gave the congregation the ultimate gift if you will—His infinite love.
This benediction came on the heels of a week of festivities, including several stellar presentations from worldwide Bal Vikas groups. More importantly, this gift of love was granted even as Sai demonstrated His unqualified love for His devotees, sitting through hours of presentations and photo sessions. Not a single child was left unnoticed.
At the end of it, in a speech that He delivered standing on His feet for nearly an hour, He implored us, entreated us, and blessed us so we may fulfill the purpose of our lives—to share with others the abundant love He has so freely given us.
If this call to action seems like a tall order, at the very least we can ruminate, introspect, and try to figure out our responses. Clearly, responses will vary and depend on every individual’s place in their respective spiritual journeys.
And that would be quite alright. As He points out often, “Every bud blossoms in its own time.”
Nonetheless, it is incumbent upon us as recipients of His grace to reflect on what it means and what it takes. Often, Sai says that we should be like a flute so the Divine may play His music through us. It could be understood to mean that we become conduits for the Divine love to flow through us to others.
In other words, the pristine water of Divine love that has been given to us should not be allowed to stay static in the pool of our hearts. Stagnant water loses its purity and attracts unwanted elements to nest in its bowl. In contrast, flowing waters are pure and life sustaining.
Likewise, if we can let the blessings of the Divine love freely flow out of us and spill over to every being that we come in contact with, we would become instruments of the Divine will to some extent.
It is not a whole lot to ask of us, is it? It is doable to manifest in our lives some of the blessings we receive and even take for granted.
Indeed, the love that Sai is talking about is one that He says is “expansion.” It’s palpable, it is alive, it is life transforming, and it’s all-embracing.
It is not that hard to start small and gradually let this Divine love define and personify us. Then, the Divine love that is being showered on us will not be in vain.
The bottom line is Sai is encouraging us to see Him as He is—embodied in all the beings around us. And to that end, become conscious participants in His divine love that is shared with all. That is all the action He wants of us.
~Saroja Girishankar
New Jersey, USA
