Proximity of Saints, con't...

(This is the continuation of the previous article on faith Proximity of Saints) I broke this into three articles since it was running a bit long.

Proximity of Saints, continued...

When I was recently in Moscow, I was asked by a Russian Orthodox Priest who attended my lecture, “How can we love God?” I told him, “I’m not sure. I don’t know God, myself. But I have been in contact with those who were God-loving souls. My advice is seek out someone who loves God and follow his path.”

We are asked to seek out God-loving souls wherever they are.  The company of such saintly persons is desirable. This is not a sectarian message. Such souls may be found in any walk of life, within or without a temple, mosque or church. This is a joyous idea. If faith functions as the eyes of the soul, where can I get faith? Find a faithful soul and try to get some light from him or her. They will lead you to a higher light, to their source. Keep going until you get to the source. This is possible through association with saints or sadhu-sanga.

The most important factor

As Śrīdhara Mahārāja has said:

 “On the whole there is only one most important factor - sadhu-sanga. So many things are all interdependent but first importance is to be given to sadhu-sanga. But sadhu-sanga is also affected by the results of so many previous events. So many things are all interdependent but still some points have been given more stress. More importance has been given to firstly sadhu-sanga, then Sastra, then Saraņagati, then prayer. Though many things are there, a complex and interdependent interhelp, but still if we are to select some principle thing for our help the first thing will be sadhu-sanga, association with those more advanced than myself, and next importance will be given to the Sastra, the advices of the great sadhus. With these two we shall take practical steps in Saraņagati. Saraņagati is real when it is sincere. And sincerity means, “I am helpless. By self-analysis I am helpless.” As much as I consider myself to be helpless my prayer to the Lord will be accordingly intense, and the help from that side will come to that degree. Sanga means serving attitude, not physical contact but serving. Higher things can be contacted only through the relationship of serving tendency, not otherwise.”

“If we get the association of a real sadhu even for a moment, then that may turn the direction of our life. A sadhu is like a very valuable gem. What he gives is far more valuable than anything in this world. One may have gems, diamonds, money or a kingdom but they are not valuable to all. This is all mortal even though they may be valuable to a particular class of human thought. There are so many things in creation that are nothing to the sadhu. But anandam, sweetness, has a general value. It is necessary even for the tree, the creeper and even the stone. In whatever position the seeker may be in, he will be highly satisfied.

Get that and get everything

Yasmin prapti sarvam idam praptam bhavati – if we get a little of that, we think that, “No other thing but this can satisfy me. This is the thing for which I have been striving for after so many lives together. Now I have found the object of my search.” We can find higher things only through the connection of service. If we want the association of things of a higher type then we must offer ourselves to their service. We must keep this broad thought always in mind. I cannot utilize it as if it is my servant. But I shall offer to be a servant of Him, if I really want His association. Only through service can I be connected with Him. I shall work for His interest. His interest will be more valuable than that of mine.”

 

---

[i] সকল ছদিয ভৈ স্রদ্ধদেৱি গুন গৈ যন্র ক্র্প ভক্তি দিতে পরে sakala chadiya bhai sraddhadevi guna gai yanra krpa bhakti dite pare, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, Śaraṇāgati

[ii] ৱিপদ উদ্ধরন বন্ধু-গন  vipada uddharana bandhu-gana: Bhaktisiddhānta Saraswati Ṭhakura, Vyāsa-Pūja address