Face Inner & Outer Obstacles
Faith is very essential for the pilgrim on the spiritual Path. Man is now caught up in temporary and trivial preoccupations in the too short interval between birth and death, and he deceives himself by placing faith in these, rather than on truer and more lasting realities and experiences. He does not hold on to discrimination and deeper realities, and is carried away by every gust of doubt or disappointment.
The baby is calm and unaffected on the lap of the mother since it has faith in the mother. The mother points out to someone as its father, to another as its grandpa, to another as its sister or brother, and the child accepts these statements without question. The mother creates the faith in the father for the child. So, too, Mother Nature proclaims that there is a Father who has designed and who is energizing and motivating these worlds, but man does not accept this, for he has lost the capacity of faith.
People are going about now advising that one should believe only things that one has ‘seen’ and ‘experienced.’ Something happens somewhere and the news is published in the papers. It is believed without question. So, too, believe in the experience of seers and sages who had no other purpose than discovering the truth and sharing it with others who are unaware of it. In India we have had millions who believed in God and in the seekers of God, and have themselves realized the truth of God. This has made their lives happy and contented.
Of course the seeker has to encounter many obstacles both inner and outer. But each one of them is a challenge that must bring out his latent faith. Where there is no darkness, there can be no appreciation for light. Without the pangs of hunger no one will seek food. It is the possibility of death that makes the mother most carefully nurse her sick child…
The Avatar (Divine Incarnation) is the power of the Supreme Soul that has put on the raiment of kriya shakti and yoga shakti (power of action and power of divine communion). Generally, the process of incarnation is described as a ‘coming down’ from a higher status to a lower one. But, no! When the baby in the cradle weeps, wails, and clamors for help, the mother stoops and takes it up in her arms. Her stoop is not to be described as a ‘coming down.’ If you earn the necessary credentials, the Incarnation will come and save you. If, on the other hand, you multiply your demerits and descend lower and lower, how can you be saved? Have love and divine bliss in your heart. Bliss comes from pure sight, pure hearing, pure speech, and pure actions.
That is the reason why one saint advised his followers, “Do not ask God for anything. Let Him deal with you as He wills.” Earn the qualifications—holiness, purity, faith, universal love; then He will approach you on foot to console, comfort and save! Purity of heart and mastery over the senses, if you have these two credentials, grace is your right.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 14 Pp 89-91
