Enabler of Spiritual Evolution
If we make Shri Sainath our sole refuge, he would make us realize that ‘Brahman is the Reality and the world an illusion’. As depicted in Shri Sai Satcharitra, during his tenure in Shirdi, Baba, through the physical act of grinding, annihilated the sins, mental and physical afflictions and miseries of His innumerable devotees. It was the firm conviction of Baba that Knowledge or Self-realization is not possible, unless devotees get rid of their impulses, desires, and sins; the three Gunas, viz… Sattva, Raja and Tama; and ego.
As explained in the book ‘Baba May I Answer’, Sadguru gives the ability of God realization to the deserving human beings. His first function is to evolve them, stage by stage. Sadguru removes all the impediments in the path of Spiritual evolution of any human being who comes in contact with Him in any way. He breaks the wrong and illusory concepts (maya) of a devotee, collected through many past lives. When ignorance is dispelled by Guru the disciple’s inner knowledge gets automatically illuminated. For a man who thinks he is the most intelligent person, Sadguru wipes out his ego of intellect till he realises that his intellect was full of follies.
As quoted in Shri Sai Satcharitra,”The peculiarity of Sai Baba’s darshan is that by His darshan our thoughts are changed, the force of previous actions is abated and gradually non-attachment of dispassion towards worldly objects grows up.”
The following lines from Shri Guru Bhagavat summarizes the role of Sadguru in the life of his devotees:
Joga bhrashta bhaktaku taani || Aaananti nija passhe puni
Shikhaai dibya shudhaachaara || Pragati karanti bhaktara
Bhakta gurunka ichaare || Paapa saathe sangrama kare
Nija manaku kare jaya || kaatithaae moha O bhaya
[He draws into him Yogabhrashtas (unripen spiritual practitioners) and evolve them by imparting Knowledge on pious and spiritual ways of existence. The devotee struggles (to get rid of) his sinful proclivities (within him) following the wishes of the Guru. He conquers his own mind and gets rid of attachments and fears.]
Sources:
1. Shri Sai Satcharitra
2. Shri Guru Bhagavat Vol. 2 by Dr. C B Satpathy