Sai Devotion

Aum Sairam

In nature, when two individuals meet, either they are attracted to or repelled by each other, i.e., they meet as friends or foes. Their respective strength, position, powers, sympathies and attitude towards external objects will determine the question of friendship or enmity. In the case of divine beings, the attributes in question include superior power, vast strength and protection or help to all creatures. So, normally fear and awe are the first responses to be aroused when such a creature encounters the divine. These responses are followed by gratitude and service, and the creature may subsequently rise to or be risen to the level of being in friendship and love with the divine. The spirit of perfect unreserved surrender ending in merger accompanies this.

The ladder of salvation begins with fear and humility and ends with transmutation of the fearing and separate individual self into the supreme self. Fear, like many other emotions, is seen to be a transient phase. Fear, though natural at first or early stages of contact must pass or be changed into higher emotions and sentiments. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. However, it cannot even in the lowest forms, remain unalloyed fear. In higher cultures especially, it is seen to be soon transformed to awe. Awe, which recognizes the sublimity of Divine power, marks a distinct cultural advance. Even awe must be transient. If not, one would contemplate their life’s time on witnessing God’s miracles and stay at distance from God. It is unhealthy for one to remain longer in this stage of spiritual ladder.

As fear is the most common, almost normal beginning of devotion, it is held to be a virtue. However, it is a virtue only at one stage. Fear is the teething ring or a rattle that has to be shunned away at one point in order to see the higher states of bliss.

Allah Malik