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strength to aain the goal of life: union with God through love, which allows us transcendence over pain and limitation.
Many understand this reality of life, and some even lead their lives with this understanding as a guide to meaningful action. Many others follow a spiritual path half-heartedly, while others are anesthetized to the miracle that is life and let time dwindle away. Swami, emphasizing the importance of intensity, says, “Time is God; don’t waste time. Your life is like a block of ice in the hot sun, melting at a fast rate; use your time wisely.” So we must remember to be focused and intense on achieving the goal of divine love.
Stepping Aside
Swami tells us that we can be in touch with God’s love when we look for Him in others and love Him in others. This remarkable exercise sometimes brings out uncomfortable feelings when we apply it to people we dislike. This dharmic activity also deepens and purifies our love as well as protects us, as we see in the following story. If we find that we are unable to apply this practice in certain situations, we may try Phyllis Krystal’s unique approach of stepping aside and leing Swami love through her. In this way, we can have a special experience of Swami’s love that allows us to transcend frightening situations.
Phyllis Krystal, a well-known author of several books about Sai Baba and his teachings, has talked about the possibility of leing Swami come through us. Once when talking to her I said, “Phyllis, you give talks all over the world and say that you step aside and Swami comes through. Does he really come through you?” Smiling, she answered, “Yes, that is the only way I can give talks.” I said, “When I step aside, I seem to stumble around. How do you do it?”
“Well,” she said, “I wasn’t always so confident. As a child, I was quiet and always in the background. Then I married Sidney. Sidney was a lawyer, a wonderful man, with a strong
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