JOY THE ESSENCE OF ALL

Aum Sairam

It is always our tendency to be elated when there is pleasure and dejected when there are calamities. We run to God if we suffer, but when there is pleasure, we are lost in the objects of pleasure, these however who know the sacred art of maintaining their balance in pleasure or pain always remain in that eternal joy. Who is there who has not his share of suffering? How to react to suffering depends on us. Saints, with their equanimity advise us in many ways how our reaction to the outward challenges should be. Humility and Joy always go together. “One who is humble to all, contains the 'Endless' within him “says Saint Tukaram. Really, the essence of bliss lies in humbleness. But we deprive ourselves of this joy when we are impatient, greedy, and proud and puffed up, susceptible to fits of anger, narrow minded and are concerned with the immediate selfish interests. Sri Sai advised all about keeping 'patience'. SABURI the patience is so aptly advised by him. This patience is evident in our daily life if we are having endurance, forbearance, tolerance, forgiveness, inward strength. This patience is the essence of the most important sadhana, i.e. Viveka, or discrimination. Inner strength is a friend not only in difficulty but also in happiness and pleasure. In order to understand the nature and structure of saburi, the patience, we must always remember our eternal nature of joyousness. We lose the sight of this essential joyous nature of our soul and try to find it in ephemeral objects. He, who does not lose sight of this joyousness, is fearless, without which joy has no place in life. Joy is the alpha and omega of all virtues. In our daily life, this joy is evident as contentment. Not to allow this joy to be disturbed is real meditation, the real turning inwards. As God is joy, so we as souls are joy-His eternal indivisible parts. There is joy everywhere. This permeating joy is expressed by saints in their sacred words. It is for us to realize it in ourselves as well as others.

Allah Malik