Conquer Weakness to Depend on Miracles
When a man after a long period of distress suffers desperation and then suddenly help comes from the most unexpected quarters, he thanks God, calling it an act of divine mercy. Baba’s devotees, in thousands, staying in different parts of the country used to get such help at the most crucial moments of their life. Such divine interventions, in other words, can be called the ‘Grace of the Master’ or ‘Compassion’ or ‘Kripa’. Hundreds of examples have been recorded where devotees have received Baba’s help unexpectedly, far away from Shirdi, not only when Shri Sai was in his physical embodiment, but also today. A very large number of them belong to the intellectual and educated group who would never have believed what they experienced, if such miracles were told by some one else.
Should miracles be the only factor or plinth of faith, even if a Master is capable of creating such miracles?
The first problem that arises when faith is dependent only on miracles created by a Saint or Master is that the devotee becomes miracle dependent. I have seen some devotees not doing what they are ordinarily supposed to do and then praying for help in a crisis. Nature, which is the manifested spirit of God tells human beings, “I have given you a body, a mind and a soul. I have created the facilities on this earth. Put them to the best possible use for your good and that of others”.
Not doing what God has empowered us to do but merely wishing for miracles to happen is treading an illusory path.
Secondly, those devotees who only depend on the powers of miracles of a Master will lose faith if the miracle prayed for does not take place. After all, miracles are also dependent .on the laws of Karma i.e. they are a result of the noble deeds of the past and take place only if the devotee deserves to get such miraculous help. The worst is that if some problems are solved through miracles but later the desired help does not take place, faith gets easily shaken. Undoubtedly, if the faith is based on the power of miracles of the Master, then such a devotee is actually loving the Master’s miracles more than the Master himself. This is conditional devotion whereas true devotion or love for the Master, in the real sense of the term cannot be conditional.
The true devotees, even when they are experiencing the acts of compassion of the Master or miraculous help, neither pray for it nor depend on it.
Tolerating the pleasures and pains of life, they continue to do their best for the cause of the Masters. To them the biggest miracle happens slowly but steadily. They conquer their weakness of mind to depend on miracle and stand out on their own in the world as great personalities of faith.
Source: Excerpts from MAHA SAMADHI DIWAS MESSAGE (2003) by Dr. C B Satpathy