God – A Matter Of Experience

Aum Sairam

Sri Sai Baba's language was truly mystic for he talked back and forth between the absolute mode and the mode of surrendered servant or even bond slave of the Lord. In the former mode, He made such statements as: "I am formless and everywhere" and, "I look equally on all. Not a leaf moves except my grace". In the latter mode of surrendered instrument of God, he declares:" Without God's permission nothing can be made by me", and "Sri Sai Baba is but phaladata [giver of the fruit or dispenser of the result]. However, his message is clear both on fear and hope that if one becomes God or Sri Sai Baba's devotee the one will be under his protective wing and need no fear. If then the devotee has patience, his hopes will be realized and in due course, he will indeed be raised spiritually. This blessing is not to be confused with worldly benefits such as material prosperity, fame, power or even health, although these may in fact occur as by-products. The promise is for the achievement of the Sufi goal of mystical union with God, or the realization that one was never in truth separation from God.

Among many quotations in this vein of protection and guidance, Sri Sai Baba said: "if you make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will gain paramartha - the supreme goal. Some visitors came to see Sri Sai Baba at first merely out of curiosity to see a miracle-worker, and then gradually they started coming to listen to what Sri Sai Baba was teaching. Nana Chandorkar, for example, began listening to Sri Sai Baba this way, and eventually gained complete confidence that Sri Sai Baba did indeed demonstrate the qualities of divinity. Others however, such as Dasganu, although he had great respect for the Saint and had been shown many phenomenal miracles, could never quite come to terms with admitting Sri Sai Baba's divinity.

Allah Malik