What is the difference between a great saint and a true saint?
What is meant by a great saint? If someone sits on a higher seat, is he a great saint?
Even if a saint doesn’t have all saintly qualities, yet if many souls benefit from him then he is a great saint.
A saint sitting in a corner might be a hundred percent pure, yet no one might benefit from him. He is a true saint but not a great saint.
The intentions of a true saint and a great saint are different.
A great saint is a leader. He takes many souls on to the path of Bhagwan. He is great, that doesn’t mean he is flawless.
A true saint is flawless. That doesn’t mean he is taking many souls onto the path of Bhagwan.
Shreeji Maharaj has said that however big someone is, if he doesn’t do anything for us, and he doesn’t show us the right path, then there is no use of him.
If a saint is making other saints great as well, then he is great. If a saint is not allowing others to become great, then he is not great.
If a person studies a lot but if he doesn’t share that knowledge with anyone, he is called an “educated person” but not a “great person”. He passed all levels and that is good. But how many benefited from him? And after taking benefit, how many became great like him? That is an indication of greatness.
Maharaj once asked, “Who is eligible to be great in our satsang?”
Muktanand Swami replied, “If someone is strong in morality, he is eligible to be great in our satsang. His greatness glows with morality.”
Maharaj replied, “Swami, morality can be even in a non-devotee. Can we call him a great in our satsang?”
Maharaj continued, “The one who has unconditional and exceptional bhakti to Bhagwan is eligible to be great in our satsang.”
What is the indication of greatness here? By seeing him many souls should follow him.
If someone is strong in morality, by observing him, people will follow morality. If someone is strong in bhakti, by observing him, many people will do more bhakti. As he is tied with Bhagwan, he will lead others toward Bhagwan, though he might be in short of other saintly virtues like knowledge and detachment.
How many people took the benefit of your saintly qualities and virtues?
References:
- Chosathpadi Katha Part 29 (Pad 47-50).