“To My Fellow Pilgrims”

“To My Fellow Pilgrims”

Have you heard our Baba speak?

Have you heard our Baba speak
At public meetings anywhere?
He never calls it speech;
Nor will you name it so!
He does not raise His voice, harangue,
Or rouse the mob or rail or flail;
He does not hesitate, He will not calculate,
Hum and haw and pause and ponder,
Making you wonder why you came!
He does not wait and wander,
Collecting thoughts, contriving notes;
He does not waste a moment, decorating speech
In showy lace and frills, clothing borrowed texts
In shimmering gauze. He is no orator, pompous, proud,
Clamoring for claps, publicity‑mad!

He will not circumambulate, declaim…or, even…‘speak’!
He is the Rain‑cloud, bringing Life
To the parched ones here below!

He ‘talks’… He ‘talks’ to you, and you,
and every single you that has gathered there;
To every single Arjuna, with heavy heart and empty hand,
Afraid to fight the battle of Life on to Victory.
You feel He has come for you, to you.

You see Him, silently looking around!
The searchlight eye full circle swings!
How lucky you are there!
He smiles; He wins you by that smile!
You scarce can take your eyes from off that Face,
So alluring, so Divine!
You scarce can pull your heart from off His grip;
The clasp is cool comfort!
The silence deepens…
Though thousands have been squatting, waiting,
For hours and hours…
Himalayan stillness; twilight calm!

Premaswarupulara!
The Golden Hour has come!
Heaven’s Gate ajar!
The voice is sweet as honey
Hived by Heavenly bees from Parijata trees!
His call is clarion clear!
O! ‘Tis thrilling, ’tis filling rapture in the soul,
Flowing like the Ganga, freeing the bound,
Yielding rich reaping, for just ploughing and sowing
Welling and swelling like Gersoppa Falls,
Yielding vast power, for just wheeling and wiring!

His talk is a cascade, so limpid and pure,
Teaching, never preaching, unravelling all knots,
Stilling the questionings ere they emerge in mind;
Defining, refining, consoling the pining,
Commanding, yea, demanding the bending of pride,
Sparing no one, be he ruling or serving.

Chiding, reprimanding the fool, and fanatic;
Joking and coaxing, poking fun at all hoaxing;
Quoting from what He said in the past ages,
Detailing facts of His incarnating—
Resplendent poetry, spontaneous, sublime,
Painting pictures of transcendent Truth,
Parable, proverb, scintillating bright,
Tinkling, twinkling, tintinnabulating lilt,
Every hour a minute, every minute a second;
Every word a mantra, every phrase, Sutra,
A Gayatri a sentence, Upanishad a speech!
For He is no well or tank or river!
His is the ocean of Wisdom Divine!

Oh! His words shower mercy, like morning dew
On every heart‑bud awakening from dreaming.

He is feeding your roots and speeding the sap,
Sprouting the buds, painting the petals,
Perfuming them well, inviting the bees,
Ripening the pods, with each word of His!
There! The meaning of His word, a tiny seed
Drops on your rock‑like heart! And wonder of wonders!
It germinates there! … sprouts and puts forth leaves!
The silken half‑blind baby‑roots do run about
Tickling the stone, jabbing, pleading for suckling!
Succeeding at last, it grows; and, growing into a tree,
Your rock is broken into clay!

His talk, you will find, is cooling, not freezing
Warming, not burning; raining, not flooding;
Healing the ailing and hearts bewailing;
Soothing, not searing; no toxin, but tonic;
Balming and calming; all fact and no fiction!

Every sentence spreads joy and scorches gloom,
Impelling attention, compelling assent,
Dispelling dejection, repelling sloth,
Attracting you nearer, detaching from bonds,
Infusing courage, and fusing creeds,
Imposing no doctrine, composing all feuds,
Informing (so charming!), never harming, disarming!
Sifting the responding, lifting the desponding.

Stressing on ‘Doing, Behaving and Living’,
Appealing for ‘Feeling, Believing and Acting’.

Calling all listening, to spurn imitating,
Vainly disputing, blind leading the blind,
Knocking at Paradise through power and pelf,
Or boasting of branches of family tree,
And seeking for peace, in earning and spending
And wanting and panting and hoarding and guarding.
As you hear Him talking, you quietly resolve
To take a step forward on the pilgrim road;
Unfold your wings and soar into the sky!
You feel you are a Lion, cheated into bleating!
A diamond, set in dirty lead!
Engaging in no fray, enraging no foe,
He is welcoming all, who are thirsty or starving,
Or limping, or blinking, or climbing and sliding,
Raising the stooping, embracing the drooping
Assuaging pain, assuring His Grace.

He reminds us all of the road we have missed.
He describes the joy of the journey’s end.
He opens our eyes; He strengthens our limbs;
He heartens the struggling, groping his way,
Awakening the sleeping, making the sitting stand,
The standing to walk; the walking to reach!

Proclaiming, revealing, announcing to all
Asserting His coming for our burden assuming,
Redeeming the wayward, the downcast, diseased;
Underlining the Truth, undermining the false.

Ah! What is this? What luck! What Grace!
Even as He talks; ‘it’ blossoms into song,
Oh! Captivating Song! He teaches us to pray
Tranquilizing all the furious waves,
Steeling the nerves and strengthening the will,
Attuning our soul to Dharma! Sathya! Prema!

And when it stops
And you open your eyes,
You find them full of tears!
Your neighbor weeps like child for mother,
But Why? Look up and see; He has left the dais!
Be proud you had the chance. From this moment, I know
You are bound to be an ascending, attempting, adventurous soul.

Arjuna, resuming arms for the fray
With Krishna leading the horses aright­—
How lucky you heard Him talk!

~N. Kasturi
(Poem read in the Holy presence on 16‑10‑58)
Source: Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 1

To My Fellow Pilgrims

Life is often described as a journey, but for those who walk with faith, it becomes a sacred pilgrimage filled with lessons, hope, and inner awakening. To My Fellow Pilgrims is not merely a phrase; it is a heartfelt call to every soul searching for peace, truth, and divine connection in this ever-changing world. Each traveler on this spiritual path carries different burdens, dreams, and experiences, yet all are united by the desire to discover a deeper meaning in life. Through moments of joy and hardship, faith becomes the guiding light that helps us move forward with courage and devotion.

The beauty of To My Fellow Pilgrims lies in the understanding that no one walks alone. Every prayer whispered in silence, every act of kindness offered with sincerity, and every tear shed in devotion strengthens the invisible bond among spiritual seekers. In the company of fellow devotees, hearts become lighter and minds become calmer. The wisdom shared through sacred teachings and divine experiences inspires people to remain steadfast even during difficult times. Many seekers who visit Devotional India often discover stories of faith that encourage them to continue their spiritual journey with renewed confidence.

As pilgrims of life, people encounter many distractions and challenges that test patience and belief. Yet, the message of To My Fellow Pilgrims reminds everyone to remain humble and compassionate. A true spiritual journey is not about reaching a destination quickly; it is about transforming the heart along the way. When love, forgiveness, and gratitude become part of daily living, every step turns meaningful. Spiritual seekers who explore the teachings shared on Devotional India often realize that inner peace can only be achieved through selfless service and unwavering devotion.

The journey of faith also teaches acceptance. There are moments when answers do not arrive immediately, and paths appear uncertain. During such times, To My Fellow Pilgrims becomes a message of encouragement, reminding devotees to trust divine timing. Patience and faith together create strength that no worldly challenge can break. Every spiritual experience, whether joyful or painful, carries a lesson meant to guide the soul toward wisdom and enlightenment. This realization inspires countless readers of Devotional India to remain hopeful and spiritually connected.

Another important lesson hidden within To My Fellow Pilgrims is the value of unity. Spirituality transcends differences of language, culture, and background. Devotees from different walks of life come together through shared devotion and mutual respect. When hearts unite in prayer and compassion, the world becomes a kinder place. The teachings of saints and enlightened masters continue to inspire pilgrims to spread love rather than hatred and understanding rather than judgment. Such timeless values are beautifully reflected through the spiritual reflections found on Devotional India.

Every seeker experiences moments of doubt, yet faith always provides strength to rise again. To My Fellow Pilgrims serves as a gentle reminder that the divine presence is always near, guiding every sincere heart through darkness toward light. The path may not always be easy, but perseverance and devotion make the journey worthwhile. Pilgrims who walk with truth and humility gradually discover that the real temple exists within the heart itself.

In the end, To My Fellow Pilgrims is a message of hope, love, and spiritual companionship. It encourages every soul to continue walking the sacred path with courage and faith. Through devotion, kindness, and inner reflection, life transforms into a beautiful spiritual journey filled with divine grace. May all seekers continue to inspire one another and move forward together with peace in their hearts and light in their souls.

-The Birth of our Beloved