If listening to the Sai Satcharitra makes one 'eternally liberated,' why does the text also talk about the difficulty of 'crossing the ocean of worldly existence'? This sounds like a contradiction.

According to the teachings in Chapter 48, these concepts represent different facets of the spiritual path rather than a contradiction. The text states that by listening to the Sai Satcharitra, 'the listener and the speaker become eternally pure; their sins and merits are destroyed, and both become eternally liberated.' This describes the ultimate potential and purifying power of the scripture. At the same time, the text also provides the practical means for achieving this state, noting that 'by serving Sai’s feet with a devotional spirit and remembering Sai... crossing the ocean of existence becomes easy and certain.' Therefore, listening to the stories grants liberation, while devotional service is the method that makes this difficult journey 'easy and certain,' breaking the bonds of karma.