Light and Love
Swami teaches... 26-30 September 2007
Part 3. The Eternal Witness Dwells Constantly In Your Heart
There is nothing wholly bad or wholly good in Creation. There are few who do
not commit mistakes; there are few who do not perform good deeds. Both good
and bad, beneficent and maleficent, constructive and destructive, are ever
present everywhere. Body, mind, and intellect are merely instruments.
Understand the principle that makes instruments function.
In order to achieve anything it is by being receptive to intuition,
inspiration messages from inner sources what call human to experiences,
practice. Swami's Teaching is the source, what evokes human's inner
resources.
Living in spirit, going with the flow of life not only includes listening to
and obeying the inner voice of your Self, but also being constantly vigilant
for those promptings and impulses that seem to be pushing you in a certain
direction.
Follow your conscience, and therefore your inner guidance with complete
confidence and joy, knowing your best interests are being cared for with
unconditional Love, as an integral aspect of the flow of the infinite
Universe.
Known quantum physicist David Bohm succinctly observed, the outermost layer
of the Universe, the physical Universe as observed by science is as "frozen
light" what is pictorially the God's fingerprint in time and space.
There is no teacher greater than the Conscience.
There is no preceptor greater than Time.
God is Time from Atmic aspect of view. That is why God is extolled as Kalaya
Namaha, Kala Kalaya Namaha, Kala Darpa Damanaya Namaha, Kalatheethaya Namaha,
etc.
Sita renounced Ayodhya, the palace and all the dreams of happiness she
had,..and followed Rama into the forest, when he was exiled; but, the sight
of a golden deer aroused her latent desires, and she had to face a series of
calamities as a consequence of the emergence of 'attachment' to worldly
objects. Time had conspired to keep the roots of desire alive in her heart.
Everything in the Universe has natural rhythm given by time. When you are
enjoying the beauty of nature whenever yoy are, become silent. Feel the
powerful energy of nature around you and integrate it into your being.
Alternatively, for example, hold your hands together, palms facing downwards
above the whatsoever plant and relax. Soon you will certainly feel the
fluctuation of energy from the plant - as a tiny spark of the Absolute, God.
Most people are failing to achieve their full potential, happiness, wealth,
health, and desires through a lack of understanding of the way in which the
Divinity operates in its immutable way. In addition, a lack of understanding
is often motivated by selfishness, and the uncontrolled demands of the ego*
and a smoggy outlook to whole Creation in general .
Every being has an equal God given right to exist. Natural humility,
instinctive reverence, continuous contemplation on God, and His glory -
these shall be your deeksha (path of dedication) for acquiring raksha
(security). Be always immersed in the Divine, not in deep wine. Believe that
Dharma or moral rectitude will never play false; it will ensure greater joy
than can be gained through all other means.
Rama destroyed Ravana; it was a victory of one head over ten; concentration
over distraction. Ravana craved for Prakrithi (Sita) discarding the Purusha
(Spirit) which gave it values and meaning, viz., Rama. If you crave for
Prakrithi, the objective world, you degrade yourself, you deny your reality,
and you join Ravana's brood. Do not also imagine that the Lord is outside
Prakrithi, or even of you, who are really a part of the objective world. He
is in you, behind you, beside you, before you. He is the eye of your eye;
the I of your I. Yearn for the Yoga or union with Him, through the
unwavering awareness of His being the real You. Yearn for Yoga; and whatever
bhoga (pleasure) you really need will be offered to you in due course.
True Yoga lies in unifying your Love with the Divine control of desires
leads to sense control, which in turn leads to Divinity. Sage Patanjali said
that controlling the vagaries of the mind is yoga and allowing the senses to
have their own way is roga (disease).
Yoga is attained not by bhoga (worldly pleasures), but by thyaga
(sacrifice). Yoga does not mean leading the life of a recluse in a forest.
Some people mistake physical exercises like sitting cross-legged, standing
on one leg etc., for yoga. True Yoga lies in unifying your love with the
Divine. According to the Divine outlook, truth is neethi (morality),
righteousness is reethi (procedure), and sacrifice is khyathi (fame). All
these three constitute manava jathi (human race).
God does not need or desire to be worshipped or to receive offerings, and is
not influenced by flattery or praise. God does not require intermediaries to
be positioned in the physical world between Him and "common human" in order
to interpret, represent, and convey the "will" of God.
Therefore, God does not want anything from you. He also never insists on
your doing meditation or yoga. He only wants you to fill your hearts with
principles of Love and Sacrifice.
Swami has no sense of distinction between devotees who worship Swami's Form
or other forms. Do not imagine that your task is to propagate Swami and His
Message. Create the spiritual attitude; promote spiritual discipline. It
does not matter what name you use, or what Form they concentrate. Through
some Name and some Form, lead them into the path of faith and sadhana
(spiritual discipline).
All can come near, all who crave for heat and light. The heat of this
splendor will destroy the chill of sensual pleasure; the light will scatter
the darkness of ages.
Cultivate Prema (Love) towards all; that is the way to gain nearness. Swami
does not measure distance in terms of meters or miles. The range of Love
decides distance for Swami. He does not care for the brick and mortar
structures in which devotees live; He cares to visit and reside in devotees’
hearts. Prasanthi Nilayam is not Swami's residence; when devoted to Swami
hearts are transformed into Prasanthi Nilayams, they are Swami's residence.
Many years ago (1968) He declared that later, it may be difficult to
approach Swami, as people are coming towards Swami in full unending streams,
and devotees may have to take Swami's darshan from miles away. This is bound
to grow into a Vishwa-vriksha (a World-tree), that sheds shade and shelter
on all.
Acquire Swami as your Charioteer. Earn that unfailing Grace, by your
sincerity, simplicity, and sadhana. Turn your intellect, your emotions, your
feelings, your activities towards Swami, and then certainly, His picture
will be imprinted on your heart.
You even do not need to ask God for anything.
If you have purity of heart, He will Himself take care of you, just like a
mother who attends to the needs of the child without its asking. (Only those
with ego and those immersed in worldly life ask).
Below is an example from Gita.
Bhishma the grandfather of both the clans (Pandavas and Kauravas) that were
battling for supremacy in the field of Kurukshethra, had led the Kaurava
hosts for eight days, but victory was not in sight. Therefore, the eldest of
the Kauravas, Dhuryodhana, approached him and prayed for a more terrific
onslaught on the enemy, to be guided and directed by him. Bhishma replied
that it would be either death or victory for him, the next day.
Knowing this, Krishna persuaded the Pandava Queen, Droupadi, who was imbued
with the deepest devotion to Him, to accompany Him to the camp of Bhishma at
dead of night. She entered the tent of Bhishma, with her face hidden behind
a veil. Krishna had asked her to leave her sandals behind, lest their
pit-a-pat should disturb the silence and alert the guards. He wrapped them
in a silken kerchief and carried the bundle under His arm.
Droupadi moved into the tent and fell at the feet of Bhishma, who blessed
her, spontaneously as was his wont, "May you have many years of happy
married life!"
Droupadi revealed herself as soon as she was blessed thus; she prayed that
the Pandava brothers, her husbands, might be saved from his arrows. Bhishma
guessed that Krishna must be the author of this stratagem. "We are but
puppets in His hands," he said and when he found Krishna at the entrance to
the tent, he inquired what the bundle contained. Imagine his dismay when he
was told that the Lord had condescended to carry under His arms the sandals
worn by His devotee. Sincere devotion, unshaken faith - they can never fail
to earn Grace.
Droupadi had the faith to surrender unreservedly. Five Pandava brothers who
were her husbands are the five vital airs of human body (the Pancha-pranas)
which activate and vitalize the body. She is the Energy that sustains the
Pranas, by constant vigilant care.
You would have observed a dancer making rapid movements with her hands and
legs while dancing but attention is always focused on the rhythm. Likewise,
your mind should always be fixed on God while discharging your duties.
Vahe Guru means that there is only one guru and He is God. He is the goal.
Do not go hither and thither from one guru to another. Under all
circumstances, hold on to God steadfastly. You can call Him by any name.
In the word Guru, ‘gu’ stands for Gunatheetha (attributeless) and ‘ru’ for
Ruparahita (formless). So, Guru is formless and beyond attributes. So, God
is your true Guru.
It is impossible to understand God what is beyond human's perception.
However, it is possible to perform all activities with Love dedicated to
God. However, just as it is impossible for a newborn babe to attend degree
classes, so also it is not possible to attain the supreme state of Love
instantly). It is imperative to undertake these practices - pravritti -
until one turns one's vision inward - nivritti.
Below is the story of Rani Jhansi Lakshmibhai. She had a small child. When
she was left with no other choice but to go to the battlefield, she tied the
child to her back, took a sword, and waged a fierce battle with her enemies,
riding on horseback. However, all the while, what was uppermost in her mind
was the well being of her child. Similarly, you must necessarily discharge
your worldly duties, but at the same time, your mind should always be
focused on God. This is the meaning of the maxim, “Hands in the society,
head in the forest.”
The Manusmrithi (Code of Manu) which regulates daily life for the individual
sanctifies, and salvages every moment is today cast away as an obsolete
guide; its social and moral codes today are practically condemned as
outdated. Life, for the modern human, has to be an uninterrupted round of
joy.
Today the whole world is engulfed in troubles and turmoil on account of
injustice, falsehood, and unrighteousness. In general, humanity is currently
stuck in this paradox of human behavior.
Most people nowadays are more interested in
the history of film stars than in the history of yogis and paramahamsas,
ascetics of the highest order, who can save you from the disaster of
deep-seated ignorance.
The future of the world, good or bad, depends on your conduct. The country
will be safe, secure, peaceful, and prosperous when your conduct is good.
What the world needs today is not affluence and material comforts but men
and women of noble character and wide spiritual outlook that the same God
dwells in all humans’ hearts. They would be satisfied with the minimum
requirement of food, clothing, and shelter. They would be understood that
without giving, no one could gain. How can anything great be achieved
without overcoming internal and external obstacles?
*The ego is a vital aspect of individuality, for life and indeed for
conscious awareness. Therefore, it is not right fully to destroy ego, but to
tame ego, to transcend its influence, bringing it under control in order to
serve its intended purpose by accentuating its necessary positive attributes
while suppressing the destructive attributes so detrimental to personal
evolution and progress. To transcend the ego is to be aware that everyone
without exceptions is equal, and to live and interact with people and
situations accordingly.
(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 4. "Yanthram & Manthram,"
Chapter 9; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 8 "Acquire Me as charioteer," Chapter 28;
Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 13. "Not twice, but thrice!" Chapter 2; Sathya Sai
Speaks. Vol. 23. "Message of the Vedas," Chapter 24).
Namaste - Reet
Light and Love
Swami teaches... 22 -25 September 2007
Part 2. The Eternal Witness Dwells Constantly In Your Heart
It is not easy for nonprofessionals to understand the Vedas. However,
whether they are understand or not, Vedas truth permeates the Universe. They
embody the Sabda Brahmam (Cosmic Sound). They are not confined to a
particular place, time, or person. They pervade the Cosmos.
Sage Vyasa codified Vedas in four groups. They have propagated and practiced
in three sections.
The Karma Kanda (dealing with rituals), Upasana Kanda (dealing with forms of
worship) and Jnana Kanda (dealing with the path of knowledge).
"You have the right only for the performance of actions," declares the Gita.
These actions have to be in accordance with dharma (righteousness). When
human's actions achieve ripeness, they become upasana (worship). When the
worship is offered with full devotion and love for the Divine, it becomes
jnana (pure knowledge).
Just as a flower by stages becomes a ripe fruit, similarly through karma,
upasana and jnana, the final stage of Self-realization is reached. It is to
enable the common people to go through these three stages that the puranas
and epics were produced as aids to spiritual advancement.
Vyasa had many disciples who were learning the Vedas from the sage. Chief
among them was Vaisampayana. After completing his studies under Vyasa,
Vaisampayana established a gurukula (preceptor's ashram) for imparting Vedic
knowledge.
/Often gurukula is regarded as some kind of special educational
establishment. It is not so. Gurukula was the dwelling place of the guru and
it was also the abode of the sishyas (the students)/.
In olden days, education was imparted to students in the gurukulas. Students
had to rely entirely on their memory power and concentration to acquire
knowledge, since there were no papers, pens, pencils, etc. to jot down what
the teachers would teach. Their learning consisted of merely listening to
the teachers, yet they could acquire high education.
It is significant to note that the ancient gurus and seers used to observe
silence. Only then the latent energy develops. This was the sole aim of
sages and seers in undertaking various spiritual practices. Once the latent
energy develops, your memory power as well as the power of concentration
will increase. (However, if you indulge in excessive talk, you will be
losing a lot of energy).
There were special rules in gurukulas. For example, the guru, after taking
his meal, would distribute the food as prasadam to the students who used to
spend their entire time with the guru. The preceptor initiated the students
in the spiritual quest. The preceptors of those times would give even their
lives for deserving disciples, but would give no quarter to those who were
proud and ill-behaved.
By legend, one day, the sage Yajnavalkya came to Vaisampayana's gurukula.
Yajnavalkya was a brilliant intellectual with keen intelligence. Yajnavalkya
was proud about his intellectual attainments and this was responsible for
his downfall. Yajnavalkya developed indifference to his studies and started
behaving in an unbecoming manner. Vaisampayana was noticing all this.
Displeased with Yajnavalkya's conduct, Vaisampayana called him to his
presence one day and told him, “Yajnavalkya! You have no right any longer to
study in this gurukula. Before leaving, you give back all that you learnt
here." Yajnavalkya, who realized his mistakes, disgorged all that he had
learnt. The Thithiri birds ate the vomit. Then the birds began to recite the
Vedic hymns, which came to be known as Taithriya Samhitha (samhitha
literally means "collection").
There are two traditions relating to the Vedas. One is known as the Brahma-sampradayam
(the Brahmic tradition). The other is Aditya-sampradayam (the Sun
tradition). What Yajnavalkya gave back is known as the Brahma-sampradaya. It
is also known as Krishna Yajur-Veda.
Subsequently, feeling penitent about his misconduct, Yajnavalkya did penance
in the form of worship of the Sun, giving up food and drink. In this manner
he was atoning for his misconduct.
The Sun-God (Surya) appeared before him in the form of Vaaji (a sacred
horse) and told him, “Child! What has happened is past. Remember it is a
grievous crime to be disloyal to your preceptor or ungrateful to the Divine.
You should not indulge in this kind of behavior. Be careful in the future."
Saying this, the Sun-God himself taught the Vedas to Yajnavalkya.
(Why did Surya appear before him in the form of Vaaji? Yajnavalkya's
ancestors were noted for their offerings of food to the hungry; hence they
got the name Vaajasam. For this reason, the Sun-God assumed the form of
Vaaji and taught the Vedas to Yajnavalkya). This Veda is known as Sukla
Yajur-Veda. It is also called Vaajanaskanda. The Yajur-Veda thus was divided
into two parts: Krishna Yajur-Veda and Sukla Yajur-Veda.
Another ancient story tells, that sage Kanva also established a gurukula in
order to impart teachings to the inmates of the ashram. Sakuntala was one
such inmate, who grew up under the loving care of sage Kanva. One day, king
Dushyantha happened to visit Kanva’s ashram. There he met Sakuntala and
married her.
Bharata was born to the couple. Having been born and brought up in a palace,
King Dushyantha was inclined toward worldly pleasures. On the other hand,
his son Bharata, who was born and brought up in Kanva Ashram, was a
repository of moral, spiritual, and ethical values.
Bharata became a paragon of all virtues and good character because he
received ideal education right from his childhood.
On the other hand, Dushyantha had worldly and material wealth. He was a
mighty emperor. What was the use of all that he possessed when he lacked
character?
In olden times, people felt:
If wealth is lost, nothing is lost,
If health is lost, something is lost,
If character is lost, everything is lost.
On the contrary, modern youth feels that if wealth is lost, everything is
lost and if character is lost, nothing is lost.
The modern system of education has become computer oriented. There is craze
for computers everywhere. You are not a computer. You are a composer. After
all, what does the computer do? It does whatever you program it to do.
God-gifted brain is the real computer.
Body is gifted to undertake righteous actions and set an ideal to society,
not for sleeping, eating, drinking, and making merry. Think in terms of
collective benefit, not individual benefit alone.
Serve human, until you see God in all people; then, what you do will be
elevated as worship. Sage Vyasa said, that helping others is merit, harming
others is sin. This is the essence of all sacred texts. Serve, without any
expectation of reward. That is Nishkama Yoga. Work silently; definitely, God
will shower His grace on you.
Neither by penance nor by pilgrimages
Nor by going through sacred texts
Can one cross the ocean of Samsara.
Only through service can one redeem oneself.
Let parents and teachers tell the children what they cannot learn by
themselves, by observation, namely, the stories of Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana,
the Bhagavatha, and the Mahabharatha. Tell them also stories from the Bible,
the Buddhist texts, the Zend-Avesta and the Quoran.
That a horse has four legs is a fact which one need not teach the child; it
can discover it in a moment. What is not known to the children are the
stories and verses that embody the native culture.
The tender age is the best for this kind of instruction. Tell them the
importance of Om and its significance, as the basic sound of all creation.
It is meaningful symbolic sound; it is quite unlike the useless jargon,
which children learn today, in the very first lesson at school, for example,
Ba, Ba, Black Sheep! Ding Dong Bell; the Pussy is in the well!
The world is becoming more and more deeply immersed in irreverence and
cruelty. Codes of decent behavior are being ignored and laughed at. The
material is receiving greater attention than the moral and spiritual. Faith
in the victory of truth, justice, and goodness is fast disappearing; the
distinction between good and bad is seldom recognized.
Nevertheless, Human has immense latent capacities, waiting to be tapped and
used. Human feels the urge to love all beings, to share joys and grieves, to
know more, and satisfy the curiosity of intellect, to peep behind the awe
and wonder that Nature arouses in him/her. Human is able to gather
information about all kinds of things from all comers of the world, but,
human is unaware of what happens in the comers of own mind.
Unaware of your Divine status, you revel in low company; you toil and sweat
as the slave of mean passions which drag you into disgrace.
Now, in your ignorance, you feel small, you feel miserable, you feel that
the wicked, the greedy, the cruel, are all happier than you and
unjustifiably so. You feel it is unjust that you who are so truthful, so
loving, so well, should suffer. Just ponder over this. Are they as happy as
you imagine, and are your condition so bad as you picture? Just investigate
and you will find out for yourself. They are only painted pots of poison;
the paint of honey is just a thin coating, a mere show. Their hearts know no
peace; they are as miserable as you are, if not more.
Avoid being attached to the elemental passions, that the elements
constituting you urge you into. How long are you to sit content with the
minor role of a clown or a clout? Are you not ashamed? Have you no ambition?
Why smother your genuine talents under a self-imposed mask? All these are
zero roles; take on the role of the hero, which is your right, and shine.
Be like the lotus, which though born in the slush at the bottom of the lake,
by sheer will-power rises above the waters to see the Sun and be inspired by
its rays.
Do not cloud your minds with cheap desires, transitory hungers, and thirsts
that need but morsels or mouthfuls. Yearn for the enthronement of your soul
as the unquestioned Monarch of the Universe, when you merge in the
Universal; celebrate your triumph over the foes within that hamper your
march to victory.
Do not derive comfort by filling the stomach with savory and sweet dishes.
Derive it by filling the brain with the teachings, by saturating the mind
with faith in them, by shaping thoughts, feelings, emotions, impulses,
attitudes, and activities - all in accordance with them.
Creative powers of people are infinite aspects of God that flow through you.
Enter on a course of spiritual discipline; your experience itself will tell
you the validity and the value of that course. Install a radio receiver,
select the wavelength of the station you propose to listen to, switch on
correctly to that wavelength, and you hear the program clear and distinct.
Your ear will tell you the accuracy with which you have tuned.
Similarly, take on a form of mantra; pronounce it and meditate on it with
accurate care and steady attention; tune in to the voice of within you. One
of the obstacles in the way of the spiritual aspirant is the satire and
criticism poured on him/her. Do not pay heed to their advice or their barbs.
They are experts only in the silly short-lived trivialities of social life
or sensual pleasure and prefer to make use of their time in seeking to find
fault with others rather than to celebrate their success.
Never forget that Atma is the inner core, the Divine Spark, more minute than
the minutest, more magnificent than the most magnificent. To observe the
minute you must use a microscope; to bring the remote nearer your eye, you
seek the help of a telescope; these are yantras (material instruments). The
instruments that help you to visualize the core that has such strange
contradictory attributes are called mantras - formulae that save you when
you meditate on them. They are also called tantras (ceremonies and rites)
when their practical application has to be emphasized. Faith in the efficacy
of these mantras, and in the utility of the procedure prescribed, as well as
in the existence of the core are all essential for success.
Every human individual aspires to be blissful. Bliss cannot be attained
easily. Bliss is Brahman, which is steady, pure, eternal, and beyond
dualities. Most of people have forgot, that, faith is essential for that.
By epic Bhagavad Gita Meera asked her mother, as a tiny girl, "Mother! We
are playing a game. The other girls have all given out the names of the man
each will wed; who is to be my husband - tell me, I must tell them his
name"?
When she worried her for some little time, the mother blurted out, "This
Giridhar, installed in this shrine, He is your husband. Go".
Meera dedicated herself with greatest faith to the Lord Giridhar (Krishna)
from that moment and saw everywhere, at all times, only His complexion and
His compassion.
The body is the bridegroom for the Life principle, which is the bride; this
is the wedlock in every life. As the body enfolds guards and fosters life,
the Lord maintains the vital principle enshrined in human, so that it may
realize Him.
"Quite simply God is the entire Universe and everything contained within the
Universe, existing in the form of pure Energy; conscious, intelligent Energy
in Whom we live and move and have our Being; thus we live in the presence of
God" (Adrian Cooper).
(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 4. "Yanthram & Manthram,"
Chapter 9; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 8 "Acquire Me as charioteer," Chapter 28;
Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 13. "Not twice, but thrice!" Chapter 2; Sathya Sai
Speaks. Vol. 23. "Message of the Vedas," Chapter 24).
Namaste - Reet
Light and Love
Swami teaches... 19 - 21 September 2007
Part 1. The Eternal Witness Dwells Constantly In Your Heart
The world is a gigantic play designed and directed by the Lord to instill in
human the sense of awe, reverence and wonder, so that, drawn by its beauty,
charm, and mystery human being is enabled to visualize the source of all
this beauty, all this exhilaration and all this enticing mystery.
You are the formless, the infinite, come in the role of the finite, the
formless infinite as the formful infinitesimal, the Absolute pretending to
be the relative, the Atma (the Divine Self) behaving as the body, the
metaphysical masquerading as the merely physical. Live in the consuming
conviction that you are the Atma.
That is the hard core of the Eternal Teaching of Vedas. The Atma it is that
sees through the eyes, hears through the ears, and handles through the
fingers, moves through the feet. Nothing can affect its purist, or tarnish
its glory.
Atma is the Reality of everyone, however, distinct they may appear in
physical form and mental equipment.
You watch the waves on the ocean. Each wave appears to be different from
another and unrelated to it. Yet the water in all of them is the same.
Likewise, though names, forms, thoughts, and actions may be different, all
of them are like waves on the Atmic Ocean of Sat-Chit-Ananda
(Being-Awareness-Bliss). This Sat-Chit-Ananda is present in everyone in a
subtle form.
You are in the Light. You are the Light. The Light is in You. The Light is
Yourself. When this awareness arises in the heart, it will lead to oneness
with Brahman.
Ignorance of Light can be cured by knowledge; darkness can be destroyed only
by Light. No amount of argument or threat or persuasion can compel darkness
to move away. A flash, that is enough; it is gone. Prepare for that flash of
illumination; the light is there already, in you. Since it is heavily
overlade by repressing factors, it cannot reveal itself. "The liberation
from night" which happens when the light is revealed, is called Moksha.
/'Mo' indicates Moha (delusion; being deluded by the scintillating, the
gaudy, the transitory, the temporary trash); and, 'ksha' means kshaya
(decline; disappearance, destruction)/.
Someone was told to the fellow, "There, inside that well, lays your shadow."
He said, "No; it cannot be." Nevertheless, he decided to go and verify the
fact. He walked up to the well and peeped in. Therefore, he found it was
true. The well had his shadow inside. Poor fellow, he did not know that the
shadow would be there only when he looked in.
Do not test maya. Try to locate it maya will present itself. You can avoid
it only by denying it; you can escape only by concentrating on the
substance; do not attach any value to the shadow, whether inside the well or
outside it.
Illusion haunts human as kaama or thrishna (desire). Desire calls for sabdha,
sparsha, ruupa, rasa, gandha (sound, touch, form, taste, smell) the
qualities of five elements of which human is the complex; (sabdha of space,
sparsha of air, ruupa of fire, rasa of water, and gandha of the earth).
To escape the pull of these alien attractions and material pleasures, faith
in God as your inner Reality and the source of immense power is essential.
You evaluate oranges in proportion to the juice they contain. So too, a
human is worthy of honor in proportion to the knowledge of the Self he/she
has acquired. Without it, all profession of renunciation, all pretence of
devotion, all performance of charity is but tongue-deep or skin-deep.
Has you actions exhibition-oriented or has it been genuine? Is your faith in
the rightness of service patent in every act of yours?
( It is not the resolution that matters; it is resoluteness. Resolution is
just a string of words. You may know the 700 slokas of the Bhagavad Gita by
heart; but the time you spent in learning it by rote, and in reciting it, is
all a waste, if you do not resolutely act upon even a single sloka. That
learning might even be handicap; for the skill has affected your head, and
made it swell with pride).
If you serve with your whole heart, the result will be Ananda (the Divine
Bilss) for you; half-hearted work will give only superficial joy or fame.
Remember that the God you worship by this work is resident in your own
heart. Others may or may not see; but the ever present God sees and notes
all that you do or feel.
By myth, there was a rich man once who owned a rice mill. He heard a pandit
(scholar) expound that the service that God appreciates most is the gift of
food to the hungry. Therefore, he decided to serve food to the poor in his
village. However, he had no mind to use good varieties of rice for the
purpose. He felt that any rice is good enough for them. So, he got the rice
that was rotting - he did not care even to remove the worms that infested
it; he cooked it and served it to the hungry poor, who ate it and suffered
many illness as a consequence. His wife expostulated with him and told him
that good food given to 10 persons would be more meritorious than bad food
given to hundreds. But, he was in no mood to listen to sound advice.
The wife therefore hit upon a plan to him. She placed on his plate every day
food that was rotten and full of worms. When he grew angry and castigated
her, she replied, "The pandit said that everyone has to suffer for the
injury he causes others. You have to eat, in the other world, rotten food,
full of worms. I am giving that type of food to you, even now, so that you
may get used to it. It will help you to eat the consequence of your evil
deed." At this, the husband realized his iniquity; he repented for his
wrongs and learnt better ways of service to the poor.
You are sharing the joy of serving others, doing good to others, according
to your capacity and skill. "A man is ethical only when life, as such, is
sacred to him, that of plants and animals as that of his fellow men, and
when he devotes himself helpfully to all life that is in need of help"
(Albert Schweitzer).
Render your life worthwhile through service to human and service to society.
That is the most important aspect of surrendering the Self.
We are all one, irrespective of the countries we belong. Bulbs may vary, but
the current is the same. The same wind is referred to as breeze, whirlwind,
storm, typhoon, hurricane etc.
Likewise, countries, bodies, and feelings may vary, but the principle of
Atma is one and the same in all. All are born of the same mother Earth,
breathe in the same air, and drink the same water. The Sun sustains the
creation on the Earth by giving light and life. The Sun is one and does not
vary with the nation on which he sheds his light. Recognize the unity in
diversity and act accordingly.
Unity is the greatest strength. Therefore, work in unison. Swami's famous
saying is, “Where there is unity, there is purity. Where there is purity,
there is Divinity.”
Your duty is to emphasize the One, to experience the One, in all that you do
and speak. Have the feeling of one-ness permeating every act of yours.
(Remain calm and unperturbed when someone abuse you. You may ask, what
happens then to the strings of abuse? Like the letter sent by post and
refused by the addressee, it returns to the sender).
Whatever you do is God’s work. For example, the process of inhaling and
exhaling is in itself a spiritual practice. This process of inhaling and
exhaling 'So Ham' repeats itself 21,600 times a day. It means your inner
voice is reminding you 21,600 times a day that you are God. Unfortunately,
you are not receptive to this message. Do not limit God to your shrine. God
is your life breath.
Body, mind, senses, and intellect are all negative in nature. Only the
conscience is positive. Just as the mike is useless without the current, so
also are the body, mind, senses, and intellect without the conscience.
God is all-pervasive. It is based on this that the Veda declares, "With His
hands, feet, eyes, head, mouth, and ears pervading everything, God permeates
the entire Universe." God is one for all people though He may be worshipped
under different names and forms.
He is the eternal witness. He is present in you, just as the power of vision
resides in your eye. Not even a blade of grass can move without His Will.
There is a reason behind whatever God does. Without understanding the
principle of cause and effect, people blame God for their suffering.
Understand the truth that you yourself are responsible for the pain or
pleasure that befalls you.
Develop the sacred feeling that God is the doer and the enjoyer too. God is
the one who beats and also the one who gets beaten. Consider everything as
God’s Will. Have the firm conviction that difficulties and suffering are the
ways and means by which God purifies you.
Identify yourself with the Atma, not the body, which is like a water bubble.
The entire Creation is a mono-action play of God. It is God's way of shaping
us, in the Divine mould. However, human revolts at the first blow of the
sculptor's hammer. He leaves off one Divine Form and transfers loyalty to
another Form, which he/she believes to be more propitious.
True spiritual sadhana (spiritual exercise) lies in considering every work
as God’s work, not only in doing japa, tapa or dhyana (soft repetition of
the name, penance, meditation) .
(People are under the mistaken notion that japa, tapa and dhyana constitute
spiritual practice. They do meditation without knowing what it is. They feel
that they are meditating on God not knowing who God really is).
People often mistake concentration for meditation. Concentration is
associated with the senses, whereas meditation is beyond senses.
Meditation should not be confined to a particular time and place. It is a
way of life. Whatever is done with the spirit of love is meditation.
(Sitting in meditation for hours together without expressing love for fellow
beings is no meditation at all).
The ultimate objective of true meditation is to achieve such a profound
level of inner consciousness as to become one with a God is a state
”Samadhi" where everything and everyone is an integral part of everything
that is the initial Source. The Principle of Rhythm and Harmony affects
everything in the Universe.
True spiritual practice lies in joining hands with rest of the community and
working for the progress of society as a whole.
The Vedas and Sastras teach the process by which you can discover it for
yourself if you are so inclined. Reflect upon what you have heard,
especially from these who convey to you the gems contained in the ancient
scriptures, tested on the touchstone of experience all along the centuries.
The Vedas are the most ancient among the world's scriptures. They are the
roots of human culture and striving and enabled human to have an over-view
of the Universe.
Manu (by legend the author of the codes of righteous conduct Dharma Sastras;
son of Surya, i. e. the Sun, the present progenitor of mankind) has
declared: "All knowledge, all the principles of right living, all qualities
are derived from the Vedas."
Veda is derived from the verb Vid, to know. Knowledge of the Supreme is
Veda. It represents Atma jnana (knowledge of the Spirit), Brahma jnana
(knowledge of the Universal Consciousness), and Advaita jnana (knowledge of
the One that subsumes the many). These different terms are synonymous.
Sanathana Dharma (Eternal Universal Religion) recommends the three-fold
course of listening, recapitulating, and concentrating. Listening makes you
learned only. Concentrated meditation on the meaning of the thing-heard
gives you the fruit of the teaching as intended by the Teacher.
The Vedas have indicated what are to be followed and what are to be avoided.
(Unfortunately, today people follow what is prohibited and have given up
what should be followed. Today, faith works like a seesaw, which goes up and
down. With a faith, which comes and goes, you cannot discover the
unchanging, eternal reality).
The Vedas teach that sathya, dharma, santhi, prema, and ahimsa are the true
human values. Without these values, life is meaningless. These values are
the five life principles of human - prana, apana, vyana, udana, and samana.
Each value cannot exist without the other.
The Vedas are infinite and boundless. Because of their profound meaning,
those who studied the Vedas went through an arduous exercise. The preceptors
were men of severe austerity. Vedas have come down through an oral tradition
from a succession of gurus and sishyas (preceptors and disciples). Great
care has to be taken in reciting the Vedic hymns, observing the rules
regarding accent, pause, and rhythm. The gurus of those days were utterly
selfless, pure-hearted and dedicated to the Divine. They dedicated their
lives to imparting Vedic knowledge to the students.
The Upanishads are the culmination of the Vedas. (They are also known as
Vedanta). The Upanishads have offered three kinds of yoga for humanity. With
regard to actions, Karma Yoga commends the dedication of every action to
God. As regards Upasana Yoga, what is required is wholehearted devotion to
God, with purity in thought, word, and deed. As regards Jnana Yoga, "Sarvam
Vishnumayam Jagath" (the cosmos is pervaded everywhere by the Lord) i. e.
the Divine is in every being. This awareness is jnana.
The Gita emerged from the Upanishads. It expounds the karma, upasana and
jnana (the threefold path) in three sections of six cantos each. Thus from
the Vedas to the Upanishads and then to the Gita the eternal teachings has
come to divinize humanity. The Gita does not belong to any one nation or
people. It is for all humanity.
(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 4. "Yanthram & Manthram,"
Chapter 9; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 8 "Acquire Me as charioteer," Chapter 28;
Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 13. "Not twice, but thrice!" Chapter 2; Sathya Sai
Speaks. Vol. 23. "Message of the Vedas," Chapter 24; Sathya Sai Speaks.
Namaste - Reet