Transcendence of the Ego

Aum Sairam

Through various acts, advice and examples, Baba advised his children tofollow the path of dharma which means transgressing the limitations ofour small ego. Keeping in mind Sri Sai Baba's advice we may all striveto transcend limitations of our mind and body. In the path ofspiritualism transcendence is necessary. Transcendence of what?Transcendence of the fetters of body and mind. This can only beachieved by controlling the compulsions of body like hunger, lust andthe mental compulsions of mind like greed, jealousy, anger, hatred etc.When one by one the mental fetters fall off, two elements of mind likedesire and feeling pertaining to those compulsions also vanish. Thesoul slowly but imperceptibly then enters into a state of pureconsciousness. At this stage he goes beyond all bodily fettersincluding birth and death. He also crosses the barriers of time andspace. The progress in the path of spirituality is the march of thedivine consciousness from its primordial state to the original divine self.

All species controlled by time, in terms of birth and death, includinghuman beings are a part of that creative process. Life after life theyevolve ultimately to reach that state of God where from they emanated.Except God, no one and nothing in this world is perfect. All theimperfect beings and things in the world, which includes all species,get birth, because they are imperfect. Life after life they go onperfecting themselves, little by little. The meaning of life is toendeavor to become perfect. Self analysis, self-study, self-orientedactions towards that goal and prayer to Sadguru to lead in that path isthe only way to progress meaningfully in life.

Saints and the people truly following this spiritual path always think,not only of their own evolution but also about the evolution of allhuman beings or other species around them. Any action (in thought,speech, activity), which helps in the evolution of the self or othersis a good act called virtue [punya] and any action detrimental to suchgrowth is an evil act called sin [paap]. It is very difficult to followsuch a path in a world as ours and therefore, the process of evolutionof human beings is so slow, spread over a number of lives.

We must use our imperfections of yesterday and try to evolve towards alittle more perfection. Knowing that no ordinary mortal is totallyperfect, we try to find a model of perfection which is epitomized inSadguru or Perfect Master. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba was in such supremestate of perfection. He possessed such powers or siddhis, which no onecan imagine, however he maintained a humble life. Humility, simplicityare not weakness, they are the biggest strength one can possess in thepath of spiritual development. Let us
remember this.

Allah Malik