Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, a revered spiritual guide and embodiment of Krishn-love, has dedicated his life to revealing the path of Divine love and devotion. In this exploration of the Grace of a Master, he illuminates how the association of a true Saint, though rare, offers the necessary guidance and support that elevate seekers toward Divine consciousness and love.
As Swami Prakashanand Saraswati describes…
“Mahasatsangastu durlbhogamyomoghshch…” (Narad-Bhakti-Sutra 39)
“The association of a real Saint is rarely received, and his Divineness is even more rarely conceived. Though the depth of his Divineness cannot be completely understood by any human being, the one who surrenders to him sincerely, surely attains God.”
This verse by Devarshi Narad describes the rareness of a real Saint. Among thousands of preachers in the world, true Saints are very few. Some Saints come to this earth to reveal the secrets of devotion and act as Spiritual masters. Though it is not impossible to be blessed with their association, it is nevertheless difficult, because a Saint is Divine and people are of material nature, so their thoughts do not coincide.
Some people do not feel the need to seek the guidance and Grace of a Spiritual master. They try to find God directly with their own efforts. But the material and Divine phenomena are diametrically opposite in nature. With a material mind it is as impossible to understand or experience Divinity as it is to see through your ears or hear through your eyes. To understand and experience God, one must have a Divine mind, Divine senses, and Divine intellect. That is exactly what a Saint possesses.
In the presence of a Saint, the inner qualities of a person quickly react. Just as the untidiness or orderliness of a room is clearly seen in the light, but remains concealed in the darkness, similarly in the presence of a Saint, a person’s inner qualities are naturally revealed.
Evil-hearted people oppose and criticize Saints without any valid reason because their hearts cannot bear the Divine radiance. There are many examples in history of how Saints, (like Meera Bai, Goswami Tulsidasji, Swami Haridasji, and others), were tormented and harassed by impious people.
Sensualists do not feel much attraction to a real Saint. But if they come across such a preacher who has inner selfish ambition, they feel attracted, because of the similarity of their personal natures. A preacher whose heart is full of material ambitions, desiring praise, and adoration, could only induce worldliness in the minds of his followers.
But if a person is sincere, good-hearted, and seeking God’s love, a real Saint inspires him with deep feelings of love for God and a gradual diminishment of worldliness, which leads to the experience of divine-love-consciousness. This loving affinity for God is a rare and precious gift from the Spiritual master, the value of which is beyond compare.
When a higher Divine power comes to earth as a Saint, it is even more difficult to recognize his greatness. Appearing with a great Divine force on this earth, he imparts waves of Divine-love vibrations which purify the atmosphere. A person who faithfully associates with such a Saint receives an enhanced consciousness of Divine-love.
The opportunity to receive the guidance and Grace of a genuine Spiritual master is praised by our scriptures and innumerable Saints. The joy that is received from association with a Master whose heart is an embodiment of Krishn-love is unequaled, and his holy association is a blessing from Radha-Krishn.
In this way, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati emphasizes the profound benefits that come from a true Spiritual master’s grace. Such a Master, who radiates Divine-love, awakens in sincere seekers an awareness of God’s love and a rare sense of spiritual fulfillment that transcends the material world.
