The Master was to give His masterstroke then. Swami asked this senior professor seated nearby, “You have worked in a company, isn’t it?” The professor replied in the affirmative.
Swami then asked him, “What different types of employees were there in your company?” The professor replied that there were two types of employees, one temporary and the other permanent. Swami then asked, “What is the difference between the two in terms of their payment?” The professor replied that the temporary employees were paid on a day to day basis, while the permanent employees had structured pay with basic, HRA, periodical increments and bonuses as well. Swami then said, “In the same way, for permanent devotees, I too shower constant grace, give bonuses and most importantly ‘dearness allowance’. Not just that, I also give them pension for their life (t)hereafter! But nobody seems to be interested in being a permanent devotee!” A Worshiper Vs A Devotee The difference between a worshiper and a devotee is that, a worshiper however ardent and sincere in his worship of the Lord, is rooted in fulfillment of his desires or some personal benefit. A devotee, on the other hand, has no reasons to love God. This is, perhaps, why Swami sings, ‘No reason for Love, no season for Love, no birth, no death.’ The classic example to elucidate this difference would be the lives of Ravana, the greatest worshiper and Hanuman, the greatest devotee. Understanding Bhakti Through 'Vibhakti' Swami had given the definition of bhakti as ‘Bhakti means where there is no vibhakti from God.’ The Sanskrit word vibhakti means separation or division. Bhakti literally means 'no separation'. When we are asked to indicate the number two with our fingers, we (in India) would raise the index and the middle finger in separation. But if we join the two fingers with absolutely no gap between them, then it would be ONE and not two. That is bhakti. While there seems to be a Lord and His devotee, they are but in a state of union all the time. The merging of the apparent two into one is also called yoga, and the separation, viyoga! “Vinayakudini gudi lo matram choosthe, akkade kanipistharu. Vinayakuduni nee atma roopam lo choodali. Appude meeru ekkada vellina akkada untaru” (If you see Vinayaka as stationed only in temples, He will appear only that way to you. You must see Vinayaka as Atman, then you will find Him wherever you are.” A devotee is never separate from God, as he worships the Lord as his true Self or Atman. Even as the bhaktas sing the glory of their Beloved, they are constantly aware that their beloved is not someone separate from them, but their own true Self! Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s words: (a) ‘to take a plunge’ into the Cosmic uncertainty is to dive beyond the idea of a ‘partitioned’ me, beyond the body and mind, a separate name and form. When I readily say God is everywhere, then how am I exclusive of God? (b) to lose myself in the process is to merge my identity with my Beloved, my Sai! Ganga and Godavari are rivers with their own identity, but when they merge in the ocean, they no longer retain their individual name or form; however sacred they may have been! <http://www.ssso.net/pnews-2015/SI240715.jpg> Embodiments of Love! The hard-working farmer has no fear of starvation. The one who chants the name of God has no fear of worldly worries. The man of few words will be free from enmity. Through excessive talk people fall prey to quarrels. Hence everyone should cultivate moderation in speech. Restraint in ...speech is conducive to friendly feelings. The one who is careful in his behavior, doing all actions after due deliberation, will have no fear of danger. All these precepts are related to education. True education consists in knowing how to lead a peaceful life. This is the mark of every educated person. In addition to furthering your career, you should aspire for world peace, for all of you are part of the world community. Your well-being is intimately tied to that of the world. Hence you should give up all narrow feelings and acquire the feeling of unity with everyone and fellowship with the Divine. - Divine Discourse, 14 Jan 1996. The Universe will be safe, secure, peaceful and prosperous only when your conduct is good.-BABA. <http://www.ssso.net/pnews-2015/SI230715.jpg> People say that service to humanity (manava seva) is service to God (Madhava seva). That is true. But although the service of humanity is holy, unless it is merged in the bigger ideal, people won’t benefit, however huge the service.... Mere repetition of the slogan is useless if service is done without faith in the divinity of people and with an eye on name and fame and the fruits of one’s action. Whatever actions one undertakes, if one constantly has as companion the contemplation of the Lord, and faith in the essential divinity of people, then the statement about service to humanity and service to God being the same is justified. Without thoughts of God (Madhava), how can service to God originate? Instead, whatever is done with the Lord in mind, along the path of truth and according to aspects of dharma, has to be considered as selfless service (seva) to the Lord. - Prema Vahini, Ch 71. True service springs out of selfless love and it must scatter love in profusion. -BABA. <http://www.ssso.net/pnews-2015/SI220715.jpg> When the Lord’s will, the needs of spiritual seekers, and the teachings of great persons produce their combined effect, the happiness of the world will be assured and undiminished. If all humanity prays together with unity for unrest, injustice, disorder, and falsehood to be transformed into peace, tru...th, love, and mutual service, things will certainly become better. Worrying is fruitless. There is no other way out. This is no occasion for despair. It is against the essential nature of people to plead weakness and want of strength. Therefore, giving up the search for other means, people must try prayer, service to others, and mutual love and respect. They should delay no longer; they will soon acquire contentment and joy. - Prema Vahini, Ch 70. Have constructive thoughts; consoling words; compassionate acts.-BABA. -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "saimsg" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
