Swami's birthday is Nov. 23rd and Thanksgiving in America is on Nov. 24th. We should be thankful that the Avatar was born on this day but there are so few Americans who even know His name. Swami was born to save humanity and yet humanity is in really bad shape right now. If He has saved it, no one knows that. I heard someone say once that He saved us from a nuclear attack. Pakistan is sitting there with those bombs aimed at India so it could certainly be true. Why else could He have taken birth? Well, He said that He didn't come to start a religion. A new vital religion might have saved humanity especially with His thousands of wonderful bright college students who would have peopled the world and brought us into the golden age. But He didn't want that now.
So how has He saved humanity? Well, I know that He saved me, that's one. I know that He saved my friends Carol and Wendy and Barbara, that's three more. Oh and He saved Akasha and Dana and Fran too. He said that the only way humanity can be saved is by saving one by one. Each heart must find the Truth and live His teachings. I thought at the time He said this that it would take a long time but now it seems almost impossible to believe in this transformation. I believe I personally have been saved, transformed. As I look back on my life I can see that I was very selfish and unloving most of my life even though I was a social worker in California before going to India. I loved my clients but wasn't loving with my family. Now I just try to follow His teachings. In fact, maybe the teachings which He gave us will eventually save humanity. The teachings were not new but the very simplicity of those teachings may help us to be better people. So many times I say the words...help ever,hurt never, when I feel like turning away from someone in need. Or I will think to myself, 'love all, serve all' when I see a homeless person on the street. I think these small experiences have been what has saved me.
Perhaps no one knows His name over here but in my heart I can thank Him every moment for His grace, His tremendous grace. We're talking abut 30 plus years of constant grace. He has given me my life. Gratitude is too small a word for what I feel. All that I am, all that I ever will be I gained at His Lotus Feet. He is my constant companion now. I'm sorry that more Americans haven't had this transformation. Many Christians believe they will go to heaven and be with Jesus when He comes to take them to their home. I guess they have been saved from...what, from Hell? I think hell is right here on earth and that if we believe in goodness and mercy and compassion and kindness, as Swami has taught with His simple words, everyone could be saved from the hell all around us now. I wish He hadn't left so early. I don't think a day passes that I don't think, 'Oh Swami, if you were only still here on earth.' And yet I know that He is and was and will be forever perfect. He left at the exact right time. Maybe He was tired of baby sitting His devotees. Maybe the shock of His departure will force us to accept the truth and live His teachings. BE STILL AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOD. I think that's in the bible and Christians ignore it just like all of us Sai devotees ignored it until now. We can't anymore though because He is inside and we have to follow.
Yes, gratitude is a great thing, as is trying our best to follow the teachings of all Masters - which is very similar. I am sure many millions of people have been saved by their own favorite forms of God. As for a special 'Golden Age' promised by numerous saints over the course of thousands of years, I have my doubts! The best we can do is be good ourselves, to make the world a bit brighter.
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