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outer world into the peaceful depths of the inner. The outer form of God appears to be part of the external world. This external form, however, is special because it is none other than our own hearts. By focusing on it, we are captured by God’s exquisite love, bringing aention inward where we find our own divinity.
Following desires for external objects is the outward path. Loving God is the inward path. Developing a relationship with God and loving Him is the way to bring the mind’s aention inward where it can be absorbed in all-consuming love.
Sai Baba Caught My Attention
On my first trip to Swami, when frustrated by hearing what I thought were his simplistic talks about morality, I was treated to a small dose of Swami’s omnipresent love, which turned my aention inward. When he gave me two small pieces of candy and told me “Sweets, sweets, eat,” my frustration with the outer world turned to the joy of devotion in the inner world.
The Inner Path of Devotion
Love for God (in any name or form) is called “devotion,” and Swami describes nine steps along the way to achieving it. These steps include the following.
• Saying God’s name (any name of God keeps the mind ever aached to Him)
• Singing to Him
• Hearing stories about His greatness
(as we are doing in this book)
• Prostrating before Him
(the mind surrendering to the heart)
• Offering everything to Him
• Worshipping His feet (practiced mostly in the East)
• Serving Him by serving others
• Relating to Him as a friend and kinsman
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Surrendering to Him