Namaste - having spent some time together when you left the question you asked just remained... about the saint and the realized Being.... and so here is an extended answer.....
TS: I guess the attraction to see a saint or realized one is because I do not feel I am a saint or realized yet. My love of God is so deep and so I like to be in the presence of those who are realized or saints. G: so now this is a big one to answer.... about saints and realization..... First let's start with the definition of a saint... 1) in India sadhu's or (renunciates) ... are called saints... 2) a realized Being is called a saint In judeo Christian terms a saint is someone that effaces self and that lives a life of sacrifice for the good of mankind.... so let us begin with each of the different ideations of sainthood and see where the realized Being fits in...... the easiest to begin with is of course the term saint that is used to denote one that is realized.... this one of course fits..... now to the more difficult to unwravel...... as to referring of the renunciate life.... the realized Being no longer actively renounces... they are settled within and when nothing is held there is nothing to renounce..... therefore That One that is realized would not be termed a saint under that understanding...... there is no active renunciation that remains.... Next the judeo christian view.... for the realized Being there is no self to efface... nothing remains within.... and there is no longer any self to sacrifice.... when no-self remains what may be sacrificed? a saint lives in the ideation of humility and sacrifice.... the realized being has no sense of self identification and therefore no sense of humility nor may sacrifice remain as there is no self to sacrifice.... sainthood may exist prior to realization but if realization is to be entered into humility and sacrifice must be layed at the altar and yes be willing to be transcended..... to be sacrificed.... so no the realized Being is not a saint in those terms..... he could not be..... impossible.... the realized Being returns to the state of absolute normalcy.... simply living the mystery of unfolding life..... there is no longer any external knowledge.... nor ideation of sacrifice..... nor ideation of humility.... although perhaps a natural sense of humility may peek through.... as they know that there is nothing to be known.... nor is there any higher nor lower among anyone..... so in that sense perhaps those around may see them as humble..... but within themselves there is the uttmost simplicity.... not striving to change the world nor seeking God or works.......but simply Being as it IS..... Every moment the hand of God moves - it is the great Mystery. Perhaps others will adjudge one Realized as being a Saint - but they do all things out of Flow not out of a persona attempting to reach something or be something. Love and Blessings Sat*Chit*Anand Shanti-Shanti-Shanti OM
