VALUE OF GRACE

 
Baba explained: "In Sufi terms, religion has four aspects: shariat, tariqat, marifat and haqiqat. Man has to go beyond shariat — the external aspect. The orthodox Muslims consider it unlawful to go beyond shariat. Yet, a Qutub (Perfect Master) has such powers that if he wishes, he can make a person God-Realized in a minute!"

Baba looked at one of the visitors who after listening to Baba's statement was deep in thought. Baba asked him what he was thinking. The man questioned, "How is it possible for a person to gain Realization within a minute?"

Baba elaborated, "Even within a second, all actions can be annihilated and the experience of God instantly given. Bondage to maya (illusion) is always there and karma (bondage) is due to actions. After the actions are destroyed, there is no bondage. Do you think you can obtain Realization in this birth?"

The man replied, "I cannot agree with your statement about karma. How could the effects of actions be done away with in one lifetime?"

"Why not?" Baba smilingly replied. "They can be destroyed by the grace of the Master. If that is not so, of what use is the Guru? What is the value of grace if everyone has to await his turn and time?"

Baba then dictated the story of his youth that changed his life, "I was studying in college and had no idea about Spiritual Truth or Super-Consciousness. An ancient woman named Babajan gave that Super-Consciousness to me in one embrace! Before that, I could not fast for even one day. After her embrace, I remained on only water for eleven months and I was absolutely sleepless. But I did not think that I was fasting or not sleeping. It was all spontaneous and I had no thought of it."

Baba then emphasized, "I have the Experience and from that Experience, I affirm that it is the work of a moment for the Qutub to root out all past actions. The living Buddha, the Lord and Master, can do it in the twinkling of an eye!

"Do not think about it. You will understand all this gradually and know all this to be true. Come back and be with me for six hours in November."

Then describing yoga-samadhi, Baba stated: "Real perception and illumination are permanent, and only the grace of the Master makes a person enlightened. There are so many persons who practice yoga and attain samadhi through it. But this state is temporary. No sooner is a yogi out of samadhi than he becomes aware of the world like any ordinary human being.

"This means that enlightenment is constant and real knowledge is derived from it. Very few can gain enlightenment — seeing God. So what is there to say about the ultimate union with God — Self-Realization?"