The Paradox of Purity: Why Deep Devotion Triggers Impure Thoughts
The Leela
In the sacred town of Gondawale, a distressed devotee stood before the great Saint Gondavalekar Maharaj. His hands were folded, but his spirit was trembling. Tears streamed down his face as he confessed a torment that many feel but few dare to speak aloud.
"Maharaj," he choked out, "You told me to chant the name of Lord Rama constantly. I have followed your command day and night. But... the more I chant, the more my mind is flooded with filth. Impure thoughts, desires, and anger—things that never troubled me before—are now tormenting me. Why is this happening? Is my devotion flawed?"
Maharaj looked at him with infinite compassion and offered a powerful analogy:
"Imagine a burrow deep in the ground where six or seven venomous snakes reside. During the day, they hide in the darkness. At night, they slither out to hunt and return to rest. As long as they are undisturbed, the burrow seems peaceful."
He paused, his eyes piercing through the devotee's confusion. "Now, suppose a saint sees this danger and pours boiling acid into that burrow. What will happen? Will the snakes stay inside? No. They will hiss, thrash, and rush out in a frenzy to escape the heat."
"My child, the holy name of God is that acid. When it enters the dark cave of your heart, the hidden snakes of vasanas (tendencies), past desires, and impurities cannot remain dormant. They are not entering you from the outside; they are rushing out from within you because they can no longer withstand the purity of the Name. Do not fear the hissing snakes; rejoice that the burrow is being cleansed."
? The Conflict / Doubt
Why does a sincere aspirant, who seeks only righteousness and worship, suddenly find their mind besieged by an overwhelming wave of negative and sinful thoughts?
It seems contradictory: If I am moving towards the Light, why is the darkness increasing? This internal conflict suggests that perhaps spiritual practice is backfiring, or that the soul is powerless against the crushing weight of Karma Tantra (the mechanism of past actions).
The Revelation
Baba provides a profound, two-fold explanation for this spiritual crisis. It is not a sign of failure, but a necessary process of purification and ultimate surrender.
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The Illusion of Independence: We believe we are the doers, thinking, "I will only do good." However, Baba clarifies in Sai Satcharitra that we are bound by the Karma Tantra of countless past lives. Old habits and karmic debts shadow us. When we try to be pure, these old debts surface to be cleared.
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The Acid Test for the Virtuous: For a highly advanced or virtuous devotee, Baba Himself orchestrates this turmoil. Why? To crush the subtle ego of "I am a good devotee." By allowing impure thoughts to arise, the devotee realizes their own helplessness and surrenders completely to God.
"The soul says, 'I am powerful, I can do whatever I wish.' ... But if the soul were truly independent, it would engage in actions only for happiness 24 hours a day... Yet, sorrow relentlessly pursues it."
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Deepening the Call: When a devotee is horrified by the impurities in their mind, their prayer becomes desperate and raw. They stop relying on their own strength and cry out to the Guru. This intensity is exactly what Baba seeks.
"Baba intentionally plants the seed of an impure thought in his mind... The more Baba sows such thoughts, the more the devotee pleads before Him... and his devotion deepens."
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The Metaphor of Disrobing: The Gopika Vastraharan (stealing of clothes) by Lord Krishna is not physical; it is metaphysical. God strips away the "clothing" of our dignity and ego. When we are made to feel naked and ashamed by our own mind's erratic behavior, we hide nothing and surrender everything. That is when the Lord extends His protection.
Scriptural References
📖 Sai Satcharitra Chapter 13 (Verses 23-30), Chapter 33 (Verses 132-134)
Watch the Discourse
In the sacred town of Gondawale, a distressed devotee stood before the great Saint Gondavalekar Maharaj. His hands were folded, but his spirit was trembling. Tears streamed down his face as he confess...
Leela Narration
In the sacred town of Gondawale, a distressed devotee stood before the great Saint Gondavalekar Maharaj. His hands were folded, but his spirit was trembling. Tears streamed down his face as he confess...