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Role of saints in spiritual life

CHENNAI FEB.8. If the objective of spiritual life is realisation of God after which there is no more craving for worldly life, then why do saints and preceptors continue to engage in the world? The lives of saints give an insight into this enigma. In his conversations with devotees Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to convey great spiritual truths through homely similes. Once while describing his spiritual experience he said that he tried plumbing the depth of the ocean (God) like a salt doll but because of the grace of the Guru he was transformed into a doll made of stone.

This highlights the fact that the self-identity of the spiritual aspirant is obliterated in his experience of God just as a salt doll dissolves in the expanse of the sea. Then where is the individual to relate about his experience of God? In the case of saints like him it was God's will that he should provide spiritual guidance to others. The spiritual eminence of saints makes it possible for them to retain the vision of God and yet relate to the world. So it is through preceptors that humanity can progress spiritually. They do not engage in worldly life like others because they do not have any desires. Lord Krishna has given the reason in the Bhagavad Gita, "For whatever a great man does, that very thing other men also do; whatever standard he sets up, the generality of men follow the same."

The classic example of a saint assuming the role of a Guru spontaneously happened in Sri Ramakrishna's life. Swami Vivekananda, known as Naren before he became a monk, questioned him when he met the saint, "Have you seen God?" With the certitude of one who was living in God the saint replied that he could not only behold God but also enable him to have the same vision, said Swami Gautamananda in his discourse.

Spiritual knowledge is different from other empirical knowledge in that it cannot be gained from books. Scriptural study under a competent teacher is necessary but only divine grace through the medium of the preceptor can bless one with spiritual experience. Through devotion it is possible to be blessed with the grace of God. Till spiritual knowledge results whatever one learns by study will only remain at the conceptual level. One can understand this with an example. Scriptures describe the world in which we engage in as ephemeral and that God alone is the eternal reality. But, till one experiences God worldly experiences seem more real in comparison.

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