The pain of a Devotee

Sri Sathya Sai The pain of a Devotee

Om Sri Sai Ram

One of the students of Vrindavan was suffering from severe case of Asthma. He had on numerous occassions written to Baba to cure him of the ailment. When Baba did not seem to reply, he became increasingly frustrated.

He tried to ask Baba about his ailment in darshan lines but some way or the other he could not establish proper contact with Baba.

The following night he had a severe attack of asthma — he couldn’t sleep, he couldn’t breathe due to severe choking.

He looked at Baba’s photograph (every room has such photograph) and asked him: —

“Do you see how I am suffering? Do you even know how I am feeling now? No, You don’t. Because if you would have, You wouldn’t remain a silent spectator to my suffering. I will show you how it feels.” .

So saying He, with great difficulty moved himself towards Baba’s photograph and closed Baba’s nose and mouth and said–

“Do you now understand how it feels; hu (with a sense of anger in him.)?”

A few moments later he felt a little dizzy and swooned (fell unconscious).

His roommates woke him up next morning asking —

“Why did you leave your bed and sleep here near Baba’s photograph? ”

The boy got up looking at Baba’s photo but did not open his mouth expecting a thorough reprimand from his room mates in case he revealed what he had done during his asthma attack.

During evening darshan Baba, having gone through the seating of devotees, came towards students, went straight to the boy and held his hand. In a moment the students found Baba breathing hard.

Realising that Baba was taking his disease, the boy cried out —

“Baba, I wanted you to cure me, not take my disease on you? Please don’t suffer for my sake.”So saying, he tried to free himself off Baba’s grip.

BUT ONCE YOU ARE IN BABA’S HOLD, CAN ANY POWER IN THE WORLD FREE YOU FROM THAT GRIP? Baba held on for 2 minutes and then started breathing normally.

Baba looked at the boy deeply and said –

“Do you think I need your letters to know what’s happening with you? I knew about your asthma. Your karmic effect got transferred to me. 20 years of suffering for you is only 2 minutes of suffering for me.”

Then he turned to all the students and said–

“HAVE FAITH ON ME. BABA IS HAPPY YOU DID NOT GIVE UP YOUR FAITH. GIVE UP EVERYTHING TO ME. DO MY BIDDING. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WAITING FOR YOU. BE GOOD INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE IN SOCIETY. I BLESS YOU ALL.”

The pain of a Devotee

Devotion is not always a path of flowers, peace, and easy answers. Sometimes it is a silent road filled with longing, tears, questions, and deep emotional struggles. Sri Sathya Sai The pain of a Devotee reflects this inner journey of a heart that loves the Divine but still feels the weight of separation, uncertainty, and human suffering. A true devotee does not always ask for wealth, comfort, or success. Often, the devotee asks only for strength, patience, and the feeling of divine presence during difficult moments.

The pain of a devotee is different from ordinary pain. It comes from love, surrender, and the desire to stay close to God in every situation. When life becomes heavy, the devotee may wonder why prayers seem unanswered or why suffering continues despite faith. Yet this pain does not always weaken devotion. In many cases, it makes devotion deeper. Sri Sathya Sai The pain of a Devotee shows how spiritual love can survive even when the mind is tired and the heart feels broken.

A devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba often believes that nothing happens without divine knowledge. This belief brings comfort, but it also tests patience. When problems appear one after another, the human mind becomes restless. The devotee may smile in front of others but cry silently within. Still, somewhere deep inside, there remains a small flame of faith. That flame says, “Swami knows my pain. Swami is with me.” This feeling becomes the strength that carries the devotee through darkness.

Sri Sathya Sai The pain of a Devotee is not only about sadness. It is also about transformation. Pain often removes pride, softens the heart, and teaches compassion. A person who has suffered deeply can understand the suffering of others more easily. Through pain, the devotee learns humility and patience. Instead of blaming life, the devotee slowly begins to ask, “What is Swami teaching me through this experience?” This change in thinking is where spiritual growth begins.

Many devotees experience moments when they feel distant from the Divine. They may miss the physical presence of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, his voice, his smile, and his loving glance. This feeling of separation can be painful, especially for those who built their lives around his teachings. But true devotion does not end with physical distance. Love for the Guru becomes alive through remembrance, service, prayer, and following his message in daily life.

The heart of a devotee often carries many unspoken prayers. Some prayers are for family, some for healing, some for peace, and some simply for guidance. When answers come late, faith is tested. Sri Sathya Sai The pain of a Devotee reminds us that divine timing is not always the same as human expectation. What seems like delay may be preparation. What feels like loss may become a lesson. What appears as silence may actually be a deeper form of guidance.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings placed great importance on love, service, truth, peace, and right conduct. For a devotee, pain becomes easier to bear when it is connected with these values. Serving others, feeding the needy, speaking kindly, forgiving someone, or helping a person in distress can turn personal sorrow into spiritual strength. In service, the devotee often discovers that healing does not always come by receiving comfort; sometimes it comes by giving comfort to others.

Sri Sathya Sai The pain of a Devotee also expresses the emotional conflict between faith and fear. The devotee believes in Swami’s protection, yet the mind still worries. The devotee trusts divine grace, yet the heart still trembles during difficult times. This does not mean devotion is weak. It means the devotee is human. Spiritual life is not about never feeling pain; it is about holding on to faith even while feeling pain.

There are moments when a devotee may sit quietly before Swami’s photo and feel tears flowing without words. Those tears are also a prayer. Sometimes the soul speaks through silence better than language. The pain that cannot be explained to people can be offered at the feet of the Divine. In that surrender, the devotee feels lighter. The problem may not disappear immediately, but the heart receives courage to continue.

Sri Sathya Sai The pain of a Devotee teaches that devotion is not measured only during happy days. Real devotion is seen when life is difficult and still the heart says, “Swami, I trust you.” This trust is not blind weakness; it is inner strength. It is the courage to believe that every experience has meaning, even when that meaning is not visible yet.

A devotee’s pain becomes sacred when it leads to surrender. It becomes powerful when it leads to service. It becomes beautiful when it deepens love instead of creating bitterness. Through every struggle, the devotee slowly understands that Swami is not only found in miracles, temples, bhajans, or memories. Swami is also found in patience, kindness, forgiveness, and the quiet courage to keep walking.

In the end, Sri Sathya Sai The pain of a Devotee is a story of love that does not give up. It is the journey of a heart that may cry, question, and struggle, but still remains connected to the Divine. Pain may test devotion, but it can also purify it. When the devotee offers every tear with faith, suffering becomes a bridge between the human heart and divine grace.