Unwavering Faith

“I solemnly tell you,” said Jesus, “that if you have an unwavering faith, you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig-tree, but that even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be thou lifted up and hurled into the sea,’ it shall be done; (The Bible / Matt 21:21)

What is the meaning of the term “Unwavering Faith”? In simple terms, It implies that you put more faith in God than you do in yourself.; that you have faith in his timing even though you are losing patience; that even if you disagree with his decisions, you nevertheless respect them; that even if you don’t comprehend him, you will still have a wholehearted love for him.

Revered Guruji Dr. C B Satpathy Ji has elaborated in great detail about “Unwavering Faith” with many examples and anecdotes in the magnum opus “Shri Guru Bhagavat”. As quoted in Volume 1,

Shri Guru jaahaara samartha || Taapaain bhayara ki artha
Guru kruparu Guru-shakti || Prachhanne taara thaae niti

[Why should fear have any value for one, whose Shri Guru is ‘Samarth’ (Divinely capable)? Due to the grace of Shri Guru, His (Shri Guru’s) divine powers always remain with the ‘Bhakta’ (Devotee).]

Bhakatara bhaabaanusaare || Gurunka krupaashakti jhare Saamaanya bhaabaku saamaanya || Asaamaanyare beshee jaana

[According to the ‘Bhaba’ (devotional emotion) of the devotees, the ‘Kripa-Shakti’ (power of Grace of Guru) flows. It flows normally for those with normal ‘Bhaaba’, while it is more intense for those with higher spiritual emotions.]

Below is an illustration of “unwavering faith” displayed by Shri Kaka Saheb Dixit, one of the staunch devotees of Shri Sai Baba. The incident was narrated by Shri S. B. Dhumal (as told to him by Kaka Saheb) in the book “Devotees Experiences” by Shri B.V Narasimha Swamiji.

Once Shri Kaka Saheb Dixit’s financial positions were not very good. He discovered that an amount of Rs. 30,000 was due in four days and had no idea how to arrange the money. That evening, he had a dream in which the creditor was torturing him with his claim. He gave the creditor comfort by saying, “Have no fear. Your payment will be made on schedule. I am acquainted with Sir X and Sir Y. thus don’t be afraid “. He quickly awoke and recalled the dream.

He was horrified by his own ungrateful stupidity and folly in relying on the inadequate human support of Sir X, Sir Y, and Sir Z, who would likely let him down at a crucial juncture and leave him in the dark, and his failure to realize that Sri Sai Baba was his one and true sheet-anchor or Providence. He knelt before Shri Sai Baba’s image in tears for his mistake and begged him to forgive him. After that, he was confident that Baba would be the only one to assist him. Since Baba would never desert a devotee in their hour of need, it was up to Baba to save him. However, he was unable to find any money when the day and time for payment drew closer.

Just the day before the due date, as he was contemplating himself in his office, the son of a deceased close friend and banker came to see him and asked him whether Mr. Dixit should invest the 30,000 rupees he had in some portfolio and asked for advice. Mr. Dixit explains to him the difficulty of the proposed investment, and if the investor considers investing with Mr. Dixit himself, he will be the last to take advantage of this closeness with his father to accept a down payment. Mr. Dixit openly stated that his embarrassing condition may not allow him to pay dividend on time. The man however insisted Mr. Dixit take the money, though. He declared that if he can’t assist a close friend in need of his late father, he won’t be a faithful son. In this fashion, he forced Mr. Dixit to take the money who paid his creditors on time. This incident exemplifies Shri Sai Nath’s ability to shape people’s will and intentions to suit his plans to help his devotees.