The Sai Teachings

Picture this inward journey as walking through a four storied building to get to the top – the ground floor being the union with God through Action, and the other floors being Devotion, Wisdom and Detachment. When it is just a nascent fruit, it is Action. That is, all are capable of the activity, and so it is the first step in spirituality as well. When it matures and is rendered free from egoism and greed, it becomes worship, and so, it leads one onto the second floor, Devotion. When it is ripe and sweet, that is to say, when the devotee achieves complete self-surrender, then it is the acquisition of Wisdom. When the fruit drops from the tree, it marks full Detachment; the fourth floor of God's mansion is then reached. - Divine Discourse, Oct 9, 1964.