The Virtue of Patience

It is only human to be gloomy and depressed when things do not go "our" way. Let us remember on this holy day about the demands of Sadguru Sainath, the unique Saint God of Shirdi. The two pennies that Sai demands from His children has a lot significance impregnated in it. Shraddha and Saburi that literally translates to faith and patience. 

Faith may be a function of one's religious disposition or it may be felt just by sheer knowledge of experiencing the returns of benefits. Earlier, we talked about faith as an emotional gratitude that one expresses for the rewards Sadguru bestows on His follower. We all know how we started believing in Sainath. Faith, as the emotional gratitude is just the beginning of a long testing time. Now, let us talk about patience. Saburi, patience is endurance; an active phase of courage and waiting.

This is a phase where one's faith is tested, repeatedly. This is a phase where faith in Sadguru undergoes constant evaluation and re-evaluation. This duration enables a devotee to re-examine his/her personal encounters with the Lord only to come out spiritually wiser. 

Patience is the testing ground for faith. In other words, the patience sustains and strengthens the faith. Patience is the voluntary effort that comes out of one's faith. Thus, patience is an important part of Saadhana. Faith without patience is no faith at all. 

Sri Hemadpanth said it well, "Let the world go topsy-turvy, hold on to the feet of Sadguru". So, let us sustain and strengthen our faith by believing in the virtue of patience and resorting to the best recourse, His holy feet.