Perhaps the new devotee is surprised to find that all suffering does not end when one finds the Lord. When the initial discovery is made, we might believe that the future can hold only joy and peace. But this is an unreasonable expectation, soon dispelled. In fact, it is by the grace of the Lord that he points out our faults so that we may correct them.

It may be that our pain is increased as we progress more quickly through our "lessons". This is especially the case for "close devotees", who are seen as examples of Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings. Each of us must live up to a high standard of behavior. An ideal devotee, such as Prahlada, may suffer as a lesson for others in faith and devotion. That devotee demonstrates the value of the spiritual path in developing equanimity. If we fail to exemplify the high ideals, which we espouse, our punishment is strict, for the Lord has taken special interest in our progress and will not be satisfied with meager progress.

The Lord does not give his devotees more suffering than they can manage. The Lord protects and nurtures devotees on the path. Whatever suffering may come, it will not be more than the devotee can bear. The Lord is committed to the progress of his dear ones.

God protects his devotees. His devotee is near and dear to God, and he carried the devotee safely through life.

Conversations

Inner peace alone confers lasting joy. The evanescent pleasures of the material world grant no lasting satisfaction. Our effort must be to experience the fountainhead of self-confidence and detachment, which inspires us to greater spirituality. Our enthusiasm of today must grow into steady practice. Regular effort in the face of all obstacles ensures victory. Difficulties on the road must be welcomed as means to secure God’s love and to demonstrate our worthiness to achieve higher goals.

You should not allow yourselves to be overwhelmed in any way by difficulties and sorrows, doubts and disappointments. You must have faith. Have confidence in yourself and strive to understand well the nature of God’s love. To secure that love is the sacred goal of human life.

Sanathana Sarathi

An easy and painless life would offer us little satisfaction. We would never know the exhilarating struggle for achievement or the sparkling joys of discovery. Although suffering is not a virtue and we should not seek it out, it does help us to understand the primacy of the spirit and the illusion of material glitter. Perhaps we should not be so quick to shun adversity; for through suffering alone do we realize the pain of attachment and the bliss of self-understanding.

Do you think I would confront you with pain were there not a reason for it? Open your heart to pain, as you do now to pleasure, for it is my will, wrought by me for your good. Welcome it as a challenge. Do not turn away from it. Do not listen to your mind, for mind is but another word for "need." The mind engenders need; it manifested as this world, because it needed this. It is all my plan; to drive you by the pangs of unfilled need to listen to my voice which, when heard, dissolves the ego and the mind with it.

Sanathana Sarathi