Guru and nothing but the Guru
It is a special characteristic of Shri Shirdi Sai to encourage divine thoughts and feelings in his devotee in the form with which his devotee is comfortable and confides in. There are many stories in Satcharita testifying this. When one devotee visited Baba, He appeared to him in the form of his Guru Gholap.
To another one, He appeared as his chosen deity Shri Rama.
To another one He gave darshan as Swami Akkalkot Maharaj.
Baba clearly directed one to anchor themselves on any one object and put full focus on it and not run after each and every form they come across.
But he advocated caution and testing of the object before settling down and accepting that form as their Guru or spiritual teacher.
Further Baba also said that having accepted one as their Guru, always be faithful and be confident about their Guru and not be perturbed by hearing about other Guru's, whatever be the merits or demerits of their own Guru.
In other words, keeping focus on one object to the exclusivity of others is the key inspite of lures and attractions by others. Like a mother or may be more than a mother one's Guru is aware of ones needs and what is good or bad for one.
The Guru is ever watchful of our actions and will guard us from failures and pitfalls only when we have exclusive faith in him.
Faith differs in its intensity and practice.
Some think that performing mere rituals is faith in divine.
Some think that giving some x amount of time or praying for some x amount of days or years is faith. They are unaware that the level of faith that is asked by the Guru is much more intense than mere superficial definitions of faith.
Faith in one's Guru is severely tested time and again till the devotee is reduced to accepting Guru as part of one's life and can't think of living without the Guru. In other words the devotee and the Guru merge into one.
The Guru need not be physically present to impart training to the devotee. They have the power and capability to educate and take care of their devotees anywhere and at anytime.
They transcend all boundaries known to mankind and are not bound by mere physical laws of nature. Such a Guru is Shri Sai Samarth. Having taken him as one's Guru there is nothing more to fear.
Developing faith in Him and evolving our patience becomes our lifelong struggle.
source saibaba.org
subhasrini
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI!!!
Let us pray at the feet of Sai Baba who is the incarnation of all gods and protector of all, to show mercy on us, and increase our devotion towards him.
Topic: Guru and nothing but the Guru (Read 1682 times)