Contentment and Equanimity

Aum Sairam

Devotees seek Sri Sai Baba in anger and in peace. Sadguru is sought during times of distress as well as at times of festivities. The compassionate father also reveals Himself to the devotee full of love and compassion. The demands put forth in front of the wish-fulfilling tree are fulfilled. Everything asked shall be received sooner or later. Faith also teaches the other requisite namely patience.

However, the peace experienced at Sadguru's feet is always challenged. The pursuit of Sadguru does not make one immune to the perils of Karma. Sri Sai Baba said, "If you have not done anything wrong in this life, you probably did some actions in your past life and you are bearing the consequences now". Several stories in Shri Sai Satcharitra and other works on Sri Sai Baba refer to the incidents in which a faithful devotee is fully tested and stressed to the extreme before being brought back to normal by Sri Sai Baba, the "Karma Dwamsi", the destroyer of Karma. Such episodes reinforce faith in Sadguru and in the process the state of contentment is experienced. A complete understanding of the role of Sadguru in karmic cycle should naturally lead one to the state of contentment. Is there anything beyond the state of contentment that one experiences in Sri Sai Baba's path? Yes! Equanimity!

True contentment should transform itself into equanimity, the active state that constantly defies the lure of pleasures and the fear of pain. If it does not, then the contentment experienced in Sadguru's fold is probably just an imagination, far from realization. The difference between contentment and equanimity is subtle yet significant. Contentment is the result of faith and patience while equanimity is accomplished through Sadhana, the active pursuit, by Sadguru's grace.

Allah Malik