"The Saadhaka must have as his objective the state of mental preparation,
for the realisation of Godhead at any moment. That is to say, his heart must be
cleansed of despair, free from hesitation and doubt, and open to the waves of
bliss that surge in from all sides, in God's universe. Love brings the waves
in, ever expansive as they are! Follow the directives, with faith and
sincerity. That will help you to realise the purpose of life. Since every act
has its appropriate reaction, beware of evil intentions, wicked words, acts
that harm others and therefore harm you, and so live that you revere all as
moving temples of the divine.
Narasamma, who passed away recently, is a good example for you. She was a
pure devotee. She came to Parthi, 30 years ago; and once having come, she never
turned back to Madras, with any longing for her home, her belongings or her
kith and kin! She was friendly with all and put up gladly with all sorts of
people. I used to reprimand her often, "Narasamma, why do you welcome all these
people into your room and allow them to disturb the Saadhana and silence you
need?" But, her heart was large and it was difficult to restrain her. She spent
all these years, happily here; and, now she has settled here, as her eternal
home.
I wrote a letter to her from Goa. I did not write to any one else from
there. I wrote only to her. I wrote, "Narasamma, I am with you, beside, before,
behind; and I am guarding you as the lids guard the eye. Do not be worried in
the least, that I am not there. Since your body is getting weaker and weaker,
be ready for any eventuality. Avoid thoughts of the body, be ever full of
thoughts of God. Carry on in that manner". When the body gets overripe, it
rots, it is thrown away. Her body became ripe, overripe and it even suffered
due to over- ripeness. So it had to be disposed away. But, her Seva and
Saadhana - these do survive.
Perhaps you wondered why I did not come to give her Dharshan , even
though she was praying for it so long! Her fortune was not this kind of
Dharshan, standing before you, as I do now. But, I certainly stuck to my
promise to her, that I shall give Dharshan to her, during her last moments. I
came, I stood before her, I gave her the blessing Prasaadha (consecrated gift),
I asked her to put into her mouth the Vibhuuthi (sacred ash) I created and gave
her; and, some persons round her bed at the time came to know about it. For
they asked Narasamma, "What is it you are putting into your mouth? and
Narasamma told them, "Swaami came just now and gave me Vibhuuthi Prasaadham."
Until the last breath, she was fully conscious.
Narasamma died at seven minutes past eleven in the morning here at
Prashaanthi Nilayam, and there at Whitefield, I mentioned to Peddhabottu (who
has come there and is staying there), at seven minutes past eleven, "Your
Narasamma has gone!"
Her nature, her heart that corresponded with her nature, her achievement
which was characteristic of her heart and its purity - all bore fruit. It is
difficult to understand the beauty of such a life and to find analogies by
which one can explain it.
The path depends on the principle, they say. Follow good principles,you
are led along to the good fruits. So, tread the path of goodness and achieve
good results. That is My advice.
- From Swami's Divine Discourse in Prashanthi Nilayam, 18th April 1971
Om Sai Ram
