The Master and Disciple
The first necessary quality to be a disciple is to have complete faith that whatever the Guru is doing in relation to the disciple is in his best interest.
The second is to try to follow the advice and instructions of the Guru to the best of one’s abilities. If problems arise during carrying-out of such instructions of the Master, then it should be tolerated and conveyed to Him.
The true Guru will always give a solution to the problems faced by a disciple under every circumstance. The Guru will show the path which is suitable and easy for a devotee to follow in the complex and difficult world.
Where the Guru is not in a physical form, there it would be proper to go through His preaching and find out the answer. That is why frequent reading of Shri Sai Satcharita is always prescribed by me to all the devotees of Baba.
The Guru is always hidden in the disciple. When the worldly covers are taken out and the mind is purified then the real image of the Guru is reflected in the disciple. There is no difference between the disciple and the Guru as they live in each other in a subtle form.
It is said that the disciple cannot find a Guru, but the Perfect Master finds out His disciple certainly. As Baba said, ‘I draw my devotees from thousands of miles’.
In our life full of difficulties it is a true endeavor to develop the qualities of compassion, forgiveness and service. Selfless service to all living beings is the goal of the Guru. It may be concluded that initially one should begin with obeying on smaller duties given to him by the Guru, and gradually one should move ahead for bigger jobs.
The Sadguru knows that his disciples will commit mistakes due to their ignorance known as maya. Sadguru always remains alert to stop the devotees from getting into the entrapment of maya. Because of his own mistake if a disciple falls into the danger, the ‘Sadguru’ directly or indirectly helps him to come out of it.
Source: BABA: May I Answer by Dr. C B Satpathy. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers Pvt.Ltd (May 1, 2009)