Constant remembrance of God - Sufism - Hinduism

In the book, Unravelling the Enigma, Shirdi Sai Baba in the light of Sufism, came across the characteristics of a true Sufi written by a Sufi Master Shekh Mahammad.

The true living Sufi is the one who has eliminated anger and lust. Constantly he remembers Allah even while breathing in and out. He avoids useless talks and He enjoys happiness in solitude. He does not show pride in in His Sufi achievement of extinguishing thirty-six stages [of obstacles on path of realizing God], by his own effort. He is entranced with love [of God] and He has lost his consciousness in meditation.

This brought about the memory of the last post about Shirdi Sai Baba's anger in the last post. Also mentioned in the post is that perfect Masters like Sai Baba does not have a trace of anger or lust. They are totally free of them.

Yet anger is shown due to the tremendous compassion they have for the devotees and all living beings. The anger is directed to free the one from calamities and from effect of bad karmas. The anger is totally absent for any living being, for them it is total compassion, and out of this compassion the anger is shown. The anger seen by our physical eyes is in fact tremendous love and compassion from His side. Since the absence of pride it does not even deter Him that few devotees accustomed to judge saints (the linked post gives us great message or teaching from Sai Baba about why not to judge a saint and stick to our Sadguru) through their scriptural knowledge. They might say, 'O the scriptures say that the saints are free from anger and He is showing anger."

Another very important thing for us to remember is the constant remembrance of Allah or God. Even when they breath in and out. A very good account of the same is given in the sacred text Shri Sai SatCharitra, chapter 45.

Sai Baba says, "How can he sleep on the plank? It is not easy to sleep up on the plank. He who has many good qualities in him can do so. He who can sleep 'with his eyes wide open' can effect that. When I go to sleep I ask often Mhalasapati to sit by My side, place his hand on My heart and watch the 'chanting of the Lord's name' there, and if he finds Me sleepy, wake Me up. He can't do even this. He himself gets drowsy and begins to nod his head. When I feel his hand heavy as a stone on My heart and cry out - 'Oh Bhagat', he moves and opens his eyes. How can he, who can't sit and sleep well on the ground and whose asana (posture) is not steady and who is a slave to sleep, sleep high up on a plank? On many other occasions Baba said, out of love for His devotees - "What (whether good or bad) is ours, is with us, and what is another's is with him."

In this few lines lies the great treasures for those interested in Spirituality and Love of God or Shri Sai Baba. The constant remembrance of God has been much emphasized. Many things are indicated . Firstly the constant remembrance of God gives many good qualities. The remembrance of God is not just for temples and when we sit and do puja or kiratn or Naamsmaran or performing Aartis or doing parayanas. It should be done every moment. While working, talking or doing anything that requires us to do. Solitude is best for us for remembering God. Time in solitude must be seeked for this purpose.

In Shri Sai SatCharitra chapter 18 and 19 Sai Baba pointed us for not idling our time in gossip and useless talks. To one engaged in such useless talks Sai Baba warned him and us.

Sai Baba pointed out to him a pig that was eating filth near the fence and said to him - "Behold how, with what relish it is gorging dung. Your conduct is similar. You go on reviling your own brethren to your heart's content. After performing many deeds of merit, you are born a man, and if you act like this, will Shirdi help you in any way?"

It is clear that Sai Baba warns us that spending time in gossip or useless talks like relishing the gorging of dung.The pilgrimage and sadhans also does not help much if it is done. Most efforts should be put on remembrance of God. Also is indicated while speaking about Mhalasapati, the importance of awareness of our body posture or asana while we are awake. If we are constantly aware about the posture or asana while we are awake we could be free of many negative thoughts and remeberance of God becomes easy. The body, the hands the fingers take different postures while in different moods. Constant awareness on our body posture can free us from getting unconsciously getting into downing and negative moods and get ourselves remembering the love and grace of God. On getting in negative and disturbing moods we can remeber Sai with more intensity and ask him to free us form the same with Shraddha(Faith) and Saburi (patience), He is there to free us!

Om Sai Ram.
Sat Chit Anand Sadguru Shri Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai.