People in the world attach value to all 'kinds of objects, ideals and personalities. God, however, is not attracted by external appearances but values only the inner spiritual urges. Here is a simple example.
Parvathi was the most beautiful woman in the world. Conscious of her charms, she
wished to wed the Lord Himself. But the Lord does not succumb to external attraction.
Disappointed by her failures, Parvathi embarked on a very severe penance. Indifferent to sun and
rain, wind and weather, Parvathi concentrated her thoughts on the Lord, wearing out her body in
her tapas. Because of the penance she lost all her beauty. All her physical powers were gone. At
that moment, the Lord accepted her as one half of his body.
What is the inner meaning of this episode? Prakriti (Nature) is Parvathi. This Prakriti is filled
with various kinds of prides: the pride of wealth, strength, beauty, knowledge, virtues, power and
penance. Man's ego is inflated by these different kinds of pride. It is only when man gets rid of
these eight categories of pride will he become acceptable to God. So long as ego prevails, the
power of the Spirit will not be cognised. Without realising the power of the Spirit man cannot
experience the bliss of the Divine.
(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)
(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)
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