Question & Answer sessions with HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – 2015
Guru tests firmness of faith
Question :
Human birth is very rare. To get a Sadguru like Sri Swamiji is even more precious. A girl becomes close to Swamiji having served as a volunteer. She gets forced into marriage by her parents. She finds that her husband does not believe in Guru and prevents her from having Guru’s darshan. She cannot live without seeing Guru, and cannot convince her husband that having a Sadguru is extremely valuable. How is she to survive in her marriage? You may say, ‘Guru is always in your heart’. But despite that, is it not necessary to experience the actual physical presence of Guru?
Answer :
Finally a human birth has come. Sadguru like Appaji enters. Life is fulfilled. What more is needed? We are very happy. Next, one gets married. This happens not only for girls. Even boys suffer the same fate when the wives oppose their going to Guru. After marriage the husband does not allow the wife to go to the ashrama. The girl cannot stay without seeing Swamiji. How is a girl to handle such a situation? She quotes Swamiji’s words that He is always in her heart, and yet asks me this question, saying that seeing Swamiji in person is necessary.
She is right. But not all situations are in our control. Husband threatens to end the marriage if she goes. Parents cry. The girl has no financial independence. Not that she should leave him. Once the marriage vows are taken with fire as witness, despite problems, one has to endure and move forward with the hope that things will improve in the future. Often, things do improve. Some won’t even allow Swamiji‘s photo to be kept at home. They say He should not even be thought of, or His voice heard.
Some girls pray to Swamiji, “Husband and in-laws are opposing. What should I do?” Swamiji says, “I am in your heart. Let them not know that you pray to me. They will change. Many people who opposed earlier, turned out to be strong devotees later. Perhaps your husband is your guru. Perhaps Sadguru is testing to see if you will maintain your devotion even while remaining at a distance.”
A disciple should be ready for everything, and not wish to have things her own way. Sometimes unpleasant circumstances occur. Stand firm. Then Sadguru will give His full blessings. He will give such a clear darsan in your heart, that it will give you more happiness than seeing Him in person. Keep hope. Many persons have changed, who were not devotees at first. Now they come more frequently than the wife who is otherwise busy. It is all the divine play of Sadguru. There is nothing to fear.
Jaya Guru Datta