In this reflective conversation, Sai Baba Answers on Universal Purpose, touching upon one of the deepest spiritual inquiries: does life hold a single truth for all, or does each soul walk a path uniquely its own? Sitting beneath the neem tree, Baba responds not with rigid philosophy, but with living metaphors, leaves falling at their own time and rivers flowing in different ways toward the same ocean. His words remind seekers that the universal purpose is vast and unchanging, yet within it lies the intimate, individualized journey of every soul. Through this dialogue, Baba gently invites reflection on how destiny and free will, sameness and difference, all harmonize in the grand movement toward the Source.
Is There a Universal Purpose in Life or an Individualized Purpose?
It was a quiet afternoon in Shirdi. A gentle breeze stirred the dust on the path leading to the Lendi Bagh, where Sai Baba often walked in solitude. The traveller followed, his mind heavy with contemplation. He had searched for meaning everywhere, scriptures, teachers, and within his own heart, but the question remained unanswered.
As he approached Baba, who stood gazing at the neem tree, he finally spoke, his voice laced with longing.
“Baba, is there one universal purpose for all, or does each soul have its own path?”
Sai Baba turned, His eyes kind yet piercing, as if seeing beyond the question itself. He gestured for our traveller to walk with Him.
Baba bent down and picked up a handful of dry leaves from the ground. Baba said, “These leaves come from the same tree, yet each falls at its own time, in its own way. Some land near the roots, and some are carried far by the wind. Tell me, child, do the leaves have the same purpose?”
Our traveller thought for a moment. “They all come from the tree… yet their journey is different.”
Baba nodded. “Like the tree, there is a great purpose that holds everything together. That is the universal purpose, life itself. But within that, each leaf, each soul, moves differently. That is the individualized purpose.”
The traveller’s brow furrowed. “Then how do I know my purpose? Should I follow the same as everyone else, or must I seek my own?”
Baba smiled. “If a river asks, ‘Should I flow to the ocean like all rivers, or find my own path?’, what will you say?”
The traveller pondered. “Every river reaches the ocean, but no two rivers flow the same way. Some move swiftly, some take winding paths, some merge into others before reaching their destination…” His eyes widened in realization.
Baba placed a hand on our traveller’s shoulder. “That is the answer. There is a vast purpose, returning to the Source, to Truth, to love and wisdom. But how you get there, that is your journey alone. Some will walk the path of devotion, some of wisdom, some of service, some of silence. No two paths are identical, yet all lead home.”
The traveller felt a deep peace settle within him. “So, there is both a universal purpose and a personal one. We are all flowing toward the same truth but in our own way.”
Baba smiled, the light of the setting sun reflecting in his eyes. “Yes. Every path has its purpose, just as every seeker has their own journey. Doubts are natural, My child, they are the stirrings of a mind searching for truth. But instead of worrying about which path is better, walk with sincerity. In the end, all true seeking leads to the same shore.”
The Answer
There is both a universal purpose and an individualized one. The universal purpose is the return to Truth, wisdom, and love, the realization of the Divine. But each soul has its own way of walking that path, shaped by its karma, tendencies, and choices. Like rivers flowing to the ocean, all reach the same destination, but no two journeys are the same.
A Final Thought
“If all rivers meet the ocean, does it matter which path they take? Or is the real question, will you flow with awareness, or will you resist the current? ”
Contributed by: Murali P K – Author of Shirdi Sai Baba – The Guiding Light for the New Age (Volume 1)
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Posts in this Series
1️⃣ Sai Baba Answers About Human Suffering
2️⃣ Why Is God Worshipped in Different Forms?
3️⃣ Existence and Reality – Sai Baba Answers
4️⃣ Why Does the Universe Seem Fine-Tuned for Life?
5️⃣ Is There Life Beyond Earth? Sai Baba Answers
6️⃣ Sai Baba on The Unseen Laws of the Universe
7️⃣ Sai Baba on Consciousness Beyond Science
8️⃣ Sai Baba Answers – Consciousness Beyond Death
9️⃣ Sai Baba Answers on Near Death Experiences
🔟 Sai Baba Answers on Spiritual Experiences and Parallel Worlds
1️⃣1️⃣ Sai Baba Answers – Can We Talk To The Dead
1️⃣2️⃣ Sai Baba Answers On Recurring Dreams
1️⃣3️⃣ Sai Baba Answers on Knowing God
1️⃣4️⃣ Sai Baba Answers on Kindness to Animals
1️⃣5️⃣ Sai Baba Answers on Destiny
