How is one to recognize a saint? The simple straight forward answer to recognizing a saint is that our spiritual practice intensifies in his association; we develop divine qualities and we develop objectivity and impartiality in our conduct. When we gain knowledge of the essential nature of Divinity, our faith increases in Truth-Scriptures, God, Great Souls, Life beyond, and Dharma (spiritual truths, righteousness) and when constant remembrance of God takes place, than for us this person is a saint. One must only seek such gains from a saint, and seeking such spiritual gains from them is true gains.
The following five points have to be followed for benefiting from God – Divine Name repetition (Naam Japa), Meditation (dhyaan), Service (seva), following their command, and their association. But to seek and gain from saints, only the following three are relevant – association, following orders and serving them.
Saints and great divine souls (mahatmas) never say to meditate (dhyaan) on their form or to repeat their name (naam japa), and those who promote their own name and meditating on their form, they can never be a saint. A real saint will only instruct to repeat the Divine Name of the Lord and to meditate upon God. Yes! he does not object to the following three – serving, following his direction and to his association. He is a bit hesitant about being served, and as far as possible he does not take service from others.
From “Jeevan ka Kartavya” in Hindi, by Swami Ramsukhdasji.
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