Mission of Saints

The purpose of a divine incarnation is to protect the good and destroy the wicked, but the mission of the saints is quite different. To them, the good and the wicked are alike. First, they feel for the evil-doers and set them on the right path. They are like Maharishi Agastya to the bhava sagar (the ocean of worldly existence) or like the sun to the darkness of ignorance. The Lord (God) dwells in the saints. In fact, they are not different from Him. Baba is one of these saints who incarnated for the welfare of the devotees. Supreme in knowledge and surrounded with divine luster, He loved all beings equally. He was unattached. Foes and friends, kings and paupers, were the same to him.

For the sake of His devotees, Baba was ever alert to help them, but the devotees could never approach Him unless Baba meant to receive them. If their turn did not come, Baba would not acknowledge them, and His ‘leelas’ could not reach their ears. How, then, could they think of seeing Him? Some men desired to see Baba, but they did not get an opportunity to take His darshan until His mahasamadhi. There are many such individuals whose desire for Baba’s darshan was not thus satisfied. If, however, these persons, believing in Him, would listen to His leelas, their quest for Baba’s darshan would be, to a great extent, satisfied by hearing His leelas. If some people went to Shirdi by sheer luck and took Baba’s darshan, were they able to stay there longer? No! Nobody could go there of his own accord, and nobody could stay there longer if he so wished. They could stay there only so long as Baba permitted them to stay, and had to leave when asked to do so by Baba, so everything depended on Baba’s will.

(Chapter XII)

Lord Shri Krishna has said to Uddhava in the Bhagavad Gita that the saints are His living forms. This is what Baba said for the welfare of His devotees,

“Those who are fortunate and whose demerits have vanished; take to My worship. If you always say ‘Sai, Sai’ I shall take you over the seven seas; Believe in these words, and you will be certainly benefited. I do not need any paraphernalia of worship. I rest there where there is full devotion”.

(Chapter XIII)

There are many Saints, who leaving their houses, stay in forest, caves or hermitages and remaining in solitude, try to get liberation or salvation for themselves. They do not care for other people, and are always self-absorbed. Sai Baba was not of such a type. He had no home, no wife, no progency, nor any relations, near or distant. Still, He lived in the world (society). He begged His bread from four or five houses, always lived at the foot of the (Neem) tree, carried on wordly dealings, and taught all the people how to act and behave in this world. Rare are the Saints who, after attaining God-vision, strive for the welfare of the people. Sai Baba was the foremost of these kind of saints and, therefore, says Hemadpant:

“Blessed is the country, blessed is the family, and blessed are the chaste parents where this extraordinary, transcendent, precious and pure jewel (Sai Baba) was born.”

(Chapter XVI & XVII)

Like a loving mother forcing bitter but wholesome medicines down the throats of her children for the sake of their health, Sai Baba imparted spiritual instructions to His devotees. His method was not veiled or secret, but quite open. The devotees who followed His instructions got their object. Sadgurus like Sai Baba open our (eyes of the) intellect and show us the divine beauties of the Self, and fulfill our tender longings of devotion. When this is done, our desire for sense-objects vanishes, twin fruits of Viveka (discrimination) and Vairagya (dispassion or non-attachment) obtained; and knowledge sprouts up even in the sleep. All this we get, when we come in contact with Saints (Sadguru), serve them and secure their love. The Lord, who fulfills the desires of His devotees, comes to our aid, removes our troubles and sufferings, and makes us happy. This progress or development is entirely due to the help of the Sadguru, who is regarded as the Lord Himself. Therefore, we should always be after the Sadguru, hear His stories, fall at His Feet and serve Him.

Man does not generally think of God, but when difficulties and calamities overtake him, he turns to Him and prays for relief. If his evil actions have come to an end, God arranges his meeting with a Saint, who gives him proper directions regarding his welfare.

(Chapters XVIII & XIX)

There have been institutions of saints in this world from time immemorial. Saints incarnate in various places to carry out the missions allotted to them, but though they work in different places, they are, as it were, one. They work in unison under the common authority of the Almighty Lord and are fully aware of the work each is doing, adding assistance where necessary.

(Chapters XXI)

The mission of the saints is to give liberation (Self-realization) to devotees, and for Sai Baba, a divine incarnation, it was His prime mission. Those who take refuge in His feet have all their sins destroyed and their progress is certain. Remembering His feet, Brahmins from holy places came to Him, read scriptures, and chanted the Gayatri mantra in His presence. We, who are weak and without any merits, do not know what bhakti is, but we know this much, that though all others may leave us, Sai won’t forsake us. Those whom He favors get enormous strength, knowledge, and the ability to discriminate between the ‘unreal’ and the ‘real’.

(Chapters XXX)

Shri Sai Satcharita