How Do You Know God Is Everywhere
Hislop: What is meant when Swami says to a departing devotee that, ‘Swami will be with you wherever you are; Swami is in your heart?’
Sai: The situation can be compared to a man and a stick floating in the ocean. Both have the same motion, up and down with the waves; but the stick does not know what is happening, whereas the man is conscious of the movement. The movement of the stick could be compared to a person in America in whose heart God resides but who has never been here to visit Swami. The conscious movement of a man swimming in the ocean could be compared to an American who has visited here and then returned home. Now there would be conscious spiritual experience and that would be the case whether we consciously invited that experience or not.
There are three stages to knowing God. One is intellect, which is just imagination; one is drawing near; and third is union with God. Another example: The river merges with the ocean, but if one takes sweet water from the river and places it in a sealed plastic bag and places that sealed bag in the ocean, there is no mixing of that water with the ocean. Such a condition could be compared to one’s state before coming here, but after coming here it is as though the sweet water were not held separate from the ocean but were merged and mixed with the ocean. This is the mixing stage, here. Swami is the servant of all, which He enjoys much more than being a master.
Hislop: How does this faith arise that God is everywhere?
Sai: No. Faith comes first and then experience…. Faith is natural to each person. Each person has some faith in himself, some confidence in himself. And the core of his being, of himself, is atma [Self]. From this is the foundation of faith in himself. A small example: One does not remember his birth and mother tells him the date. He does not know by himself, but through faith he accepts what mother says. Father may not have been present at that event, but mother gave birth. She does not need to ask anyone.
Some reflection will indicate that for the coming into being of the universe there must also be a basis. God is that basis. He knows. He need not ask anyone. In that subtle area, beyond body and intellect, only faith can exist. Faith is natural with each person, and so also is love. Love is directed to various objects and to various persons, but love of God is the essential factor. Looking at that tree we note that the many branches, leaves, and twigs have one trunk as the factor common to all of them. The trunk in turn relies on the roots. To try to water each leaf and each branch would take much time and the water would be wasted. But if we direct all the water to the roots of the tree, then each branch and leaf and twig will naturally receive moisture in the way that is best for it.
As it is now, people say they love friends and relatives but do not love God. God is the basis of all individuals. He is the root from which all have their being. It is best to love God first and to love Him with all one’s heart. Then your love will naturally include the various individuals.
Source: Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
