Swami teaches....Part 117
|
Light and Love We exist for society and society exists for the good of all. Try to sanctify your life by doing service and spreading joy and comfort all around. In worldly matters, every action has a subject, object and predicate, as in the statement. Discipline must accompany you everywhere like your shadow. Discipline is the life-breath of human. It is like the spine for the human body. Participation in sports and games, for example, is necessary for students health and recreation. Some students refrain from taking part in sports and games on the pretext that they are not interested in winning prizes. This is not genuine detachment, but only a form of laziness. Life is a game! Play it! Students think that sports events are confined to a few days in January. On the contrary, they should regard life itself as one continuous game.
Students should combine normal
studies with the refinement of their way of living through
samskaras (elevating actions). This refinement cannot be got
from teachers or books, but only by one's daily conduct.
This statement is valid for all people, young and old. The body is important in the spiritual process. The Gita has declared that the body (kshetra) and the indwelling knower (kshetrajna) are one. Hence, people should engage themselves in sacred actions that will promote the welfare of society and uphold its reputation. To transform society, the first requisite is individual transformation. Purify your heart. Then society will also become pure. A spiritual edifice is built on the foundation of self-confidence. The walls are made up of self-satisfaction. Self-sacrifice is the roof. Self-realization is fulfillment in life. Swami asks to fill devotees minds and hearts with these sacred spiritual truths and go out into the world to spread the spiritual message in every street and every alley. You may carry on your vocational duties. But along with it, render social service. See the Divine in the people whom you serve. (Even an agnostic occasionally invokes the name of God). What you must aspire for are not buildings, positions or factories or industries. A good character is the greatest wealth you can acquire. More vital than the five pranas Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa are the vital life-breath for every one. Of these the greatest is Prema (Love). Love should express itself in service to society. One duty that is common to all human beings on different stages of spiritual paths: the duty dictated by the heart (hridaya-dharma). Fill your hearts with love. Through this you can accomplish anything.
Start the day with Love, Fill the day
with Love, End the day with Love - this is the way to God.
Such is Swami's famous declaration for humanity. Be aware that even on the level of society cheating, lying, terrorism, killing, are not conducive to prosperity, but to unrest and confusion. Hate breeds fear; hate is the seedbed of anxiety, scandal and falsehood. It drains your mind of peace. You may have light without oil, fire without smoke, breeze without a bearer fanning you, a chillness in the air of your room in the sizzling heat of summer but, unless you are at peace with yourselves and with those around you, your pulse will be quick and your blood will be racing in rage and rancor. This is mainly caused: 1. People like act on faith in a hundreds of trivial things in daily life but why don't they have firm faith in the Vedic dictum that they are one with the Divine -Tath Thvam Asi (Thou art That)? Because immersed in sensual pleasures, they are oblivious to their real potency and state. 2. In this mundane world, what people regard ordinarily as jnana (knowledge) is not proper jnana. Atmajnana (knowledge of the Self) alone is true knowledge what shines as the peace with yourselves and with those around you. All that is acquired as knowledge about the things of the world is not jnana. Jnana is that which remains after the mind is stilled. Greek philosopher Socrates (469 - 399 B.C.) has also said, "We must behold things as they are. And having thus got rid of the foolishness of the body, we shall be pure and hold converse with the pure, and shall in our own Selves have complete knowledge of the incorruptible which is, I take it, no other than the very truth"
(Socrates was condemned to death by
the tribunal in Athens because of his clear and honest way
of thinking and expressing himself. Socrates did not write
anything. Most of his teachings are reported by his disciple
Plato). (Intersting to note that the modern science (close to spiritual outlook) has discovered this phenomenon concern to physical vacuum. This vacuum has infinite possibilities as from nowhere. It is presumably not really empty, but instead filled with "virtual" particles that constantly blink in and out of existence. This virtual reality follows from a quantum rule that says probable events influence real outcomes. It is possible for particles and anti-particles to pop out of nowhere and then quickly annihilate. Nobody ever sees this happen, but the sum of all this quantum probability is a real energy). Real equality among people has to be achieved not by the equal distribution of material things but by the cultivation of Love, which promotes a sense of the Divinity that is inherent in all beings. A life without love is meaningless. The more you love, the more it grows. Love is the fruit which is born from the flower of your good deeds. (Without love from the hearts, hatred can be replaced occupies its place). The equal distribution of wealth through socialism is declared as the ideal, but is it possible to bring about such equality? Even if material wealth is distributed equally, can you ensure equality in desires and aspirations? Only when you have equality in terms of desires and aspirations can you get true equality? By taking away a part of a rich person's property and giving it to a poor one, you may give satisfaction to the latter, but what about the dissatisfaction caused to the person who has been deprived?
Whatever possessions and luxuries one
may have, During that period no evil spirit appeared. Then came Arjuna’s turn, and Krishna watched the scene from a distance. To Arjuna’s surprise, no evil spirit appeared while Krishna was there. Krishna then explained to Arjuna that evil spirits were only a reflection of one’s hatred and fear, and when one is free from these, no evil spirit would appear or do any harm. Krishna revealed that the Divine existed even in so-called evil spirits and that if a person gets rid of the evil qualities within, the evil spirits can do no harm. One’s anger assumes the form of a demon. If you develop love, everything you confront will have the form of love. This was the lesson Krishna taught the Pandavas. In making an offering to Krishna, the mantra that is used is Kleem Krishnaya Govindaya Gopijanavallabhaya Swaha. On the eve of Makara Sankranthi is interesting to explore the full significance of this mantra. Kleem means the earth. It is the first element. Krishnaya signifies water. Govindaya signifies fire (agni). Gopijanavallabhaya signifies air (vayu). Swaha signifies space (akasa). Thus, the mantra represents all five elements in the cosmos as manifestations of the Divine. The cowherd maidens, through this mantra, taught the world that God should be adored as the omnipresent Divine everywhere in the cosmos. Hence, in every atom, all the time, in every particle, the Divine is present. The Gita also declares that Bhishmacharya, lying on a bed of arrows after he fell wounded, waited for the commencement of Uttarayana (Makara Sankranthi) to give up his spirit to the Lord. He lay on the bed of arrows for 56 days. This signifies the sacredness of this day. This is the very moment to fill hearts with the Divine feelings.
(Reet's
compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 3. "The day they
got the light," Chapter 28; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 18.
"Equality through Love," Chapter 28; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol.
26. "Sanctify sports and games," Chapter 2. Sathya Sai
Speaks. Vol. 31. "Promotion of unity: Students’ duty,"
Chapter 2; Sathya Sai Baba. Discourse at the Summer Course
in Brindavan, on 28-5-1991. at Brindavan, on 30-5-1991).
Swami
teaches... 12 January 2008 They taught human to do karma as a sacred duty and leave the result to Gods thus avoiding two evils - the evil of pride and the evil of frustration: pride that the act was a success, frustration when it did not succeed. It also contributed some positive good; the karma was done well, as well as the individual can execute it, for all karma was transformed into worship of the Supreme. This attitude must be implanted in human. Human being has acted the role of clown or servant or an extra much too long; it is time he/she took on the role of a hero for which he/she is destined. The sense of values has to be restored and faith in the Divinity of humans has to be restored. That is the task for which Swami has come. (Today even several pandits who have great scholarship have no happiness; the scriptures that they have mastered are designed to confer peace of mind, contentment and unshakable joy, but, the repositories of that scholarship are a very discontented group today. They have the umbrella in their hands, no doubt, but it does not protect them against rain or shine. So, even they have to be made aware of the excellence of the knowledge they are carrying, and its curative property). The wise have declared: "There is only the One it is called by different names." It is changeless. The Vedas have declared, "There is an effulgent, that is shining in the heart of everyone." It is because of this Divine effulgence that the ears are able to hear, the mouth is able to speak and the eyes are able to see. Human life is an aspect of experience with purpose to obtain peace in mind and spiritual enjoy as awareness which illuminates from within everyone. It is wise to discover own unique purpose in life. Observe, how you fuse with the natural flow of the Universe, with the Divine play, life itself. (Usually people reside in the realm that best harmonizes with their mind vibrations and spiritual awareness and spend their time among others of like mind and spirit. Swami's devotees have to be united and of one mind, free from hatred and spite, factionalism and greed).
There is a reason why every green
leaf of plant is unique and every person is unique. May be
The Great One creates unity in forms infinite diversity in
order that an infinite variety of experience may be gained.
Every individual has the right to be who he/she are (Atma,
God) and to follow the universal human values and code of
conduct put by Swami. Swami has also noted that for some individuals there is no need to seek God in a temple, mosque, or church. God is enshrined in every human heart. Ritualistic worship without feeling of Oneness is not the true mark of devotion. The essence of devotion is the feeling of identification with God. One should give up the impermanent physical objects and realize the Atma that is permanent. This alone is true sadhana - not various forms of worship and meditation, which are without feeling of the Divine Oneness not genuinely concentrated on God. Unfortunately many people go on expensive pilgrimages to all sorts of places, forgetting that God is the dweller in their hearts.
Of course, at the same time we
cannot ignore the significance of sacred places, temples,
rituals, pilgrims, etc... These are for many people the
pinpointers of the Divine Love, inspiration, enlightenment
on the path of spiritual awareness and peace in mind exactly
as Vedas and Swami's Teaching are. Through these ritualistic
places and methods of worship the feeling of identification
with God have to arise. (Democritus believed that things were built up from irreducible pieces. Isaac Newton himself thought that light was not a wave, but rather a collection of tiny "corpuscles." Physicists have recently acquired tools with sufficient resolution to see nature's inherent graininess). Is light a particle, not a wave? The answer is yes and no. Light acts like a wave when you do an experiment looking for a wave property (like scattering through a pinhole). It behaves like a particle if you test for a particle property (like colliding with electrons).
Several physicists explain the nature
of waves by Bohmian Interpretation (Also known as the De
Broglie–Bohm interpretation or the pilot wave
interpretation). This theory postulates that every particle
not only has a wave function but also exists as an actual
particle riding along at some precise but unknown location
on the wave and being guided by it.
"You get what you ask for," is a
common refrain in modern quantum physics. "You get what you
ask for," is a common refrain in Swami's Teaching too. Thousands of thinkers have trying to make sense of human behavior. Swami about 70 years is teaching the humans to acknowledge their real true Divine Nature through different methods, examples, ways, aspects and Vedic wisdom. (However, most humans still don't know 'who' they are). "Who am I?" What happens after death and what is birth, what is death? Do not worry about rebirth because that is not in your power. Strive to ensure that your end is pure and sacred. That calls for sadhana. Many imagine that the quest for God is sadhana. There is no need to search for God. When the God is all-pervading, inside and outside, where is the need to search for Him? The only sadhana one has to practice is to get rid of the An-atma bhava (identification of the self with the body). An-atma is that which is impermanent. When you give up the impermanent, you realize what is permanent and eternal. Swami explains the art of Being and puzzles of existence in easy words. This truth has been spread across millennia by Vedic and other ancient sages what Swami has entwined pictorially into His Teaching. One example. By legend ancient disciples have many questions to the great sage Pippalada. One of them asked, "What happens when one is asleep? When a living being is asleep, what happens to all the qualities of prana? Pippalada explained to the disciple Saurayani that just as when the Sun sets, the sun's rays are effulgent again the next morning, when a human is asleep, all the activities of the sense organs are merged in the mind. Because of this, human is unable to see the external world, is not able to speak or hear, or think. However, in this sleeping state, the pancha pranas, five vital breaths (prana, apana, samana, vyana and udana)* are active in the form of five internal fire-principles. In that state, the processes of inhaling and exhaling go on, with the help of the prana (breath) and the samana (vital air). In the sleeping state it is the jivi (the individual spirit) that enjoys the rest and the bliss of that state. The occurrences in the past and the present are experienced in the form of dreams. Moreover, the consequences of activities in previous lives, which have become part of spirit but are not known to person, are also experienced in dreams. Hence, in the sleeping state, what is experienced relates to the pancha bhutas (the five physical elements). It is the jivi who experiences the calmness and happiness of the sleeping state. In the dream state, jivi creates all that he/she experiences, and enjoys self-created experiences. The mind is responsible for the experiences in the waking state and in dreams. While Pippalada was giving this explanation to Saurayani, the disciple Sibi approached the sage and asked, "Swami! The scriptures declare that one who utters the Pranava (Om) at the time of death, attains the immortality. Is this possible?" Sage Pippalada replied: "The entire cosmos is filled with Pranava, a manifestation of the Paramatma (Supreme Spirit). The Pranava constituted by the three sounds A+U+M pervades the three worlds represented by the terms: Bhu, Bhuvah (which is above the Bhu-loka) and Suvah (the top-most of the three worlds). The three Vedas Rig, Yajur and Sama have emanated from the Pranava. The three Vedas in their hymns glorify the Pranava. Thus, the Pranava is the all-pervading primordial sound. The Pranava is also described as the embodiment of eight forms of Aiswarya (divine wealth): Sabdabrahmamayee, Characharamayee, Jyothirmayee, Vaangmayee, Nithyanandamayee, Paratparamayee, Mayamayee and Srimayee. This means that all the sounds in the world are echoes of the primordial Om. Those who chant the Pranava (Om) as a physical sound will get only physical benefits. The scriptures declare that those who recite the Om with concentrated mind, reach the Chandra-loka, the region presided over by the Moon-god. (The Chandra-loka does not mean the Moon as conceived by the Americans and the Russians). Makara Sankranthi is a perfect time to recite the Om with concentrated mind and transform it to illuminate in the light of Atmic Reality. Swami's Teaching is pictorial and (by my experience) creates different imaginations which are as real and often causes some concentration in mind what is difficult to explain with words. "Imagination is everything; it is the preview of life's forthcoming attractions" (Albert Einstein).
"Imagination is the beginning of
creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you
imagine and at last you create what you will" (George
Bernard Shaw). The scientists are concentrating all their attention on the physical and the phenomenal world. Many researches of yesterday have become obsolete today. Hence, there is no absolute certainty regarding scientific findings. What is considered true today may turn out to be incorrect tomorrow. But spirituality stands for what was true yesterday, what is true today and what will be true for all time to come. In most cases science is caught up in this constant process of rejecting the old and discovering the new. But in the realm of spirituality, there is nothing like old or new. It is ever full, ever-whole. All scientific investigations are based upon the intellect. All spiritual explorations are based on the heart. In the spiritual field, human alone is supremely important, not the machines. As a rule, scientists put their faith in machines. The spiritual seekers place their faith in mantras. One is a scientist, the other is a saint. The saint believes in purnatva (fullness). The scientist is content with half the circle. Spirituality represents the full circle. The beginning and the end meet in the full circle.
But when scientist's intellect turns
to the spiritual wave, the collaboration is possible. Many
modern scientists have demonstrated a new outlook concern
to the Universe, objects, processes and events in It.
The scientist puts into the computer
what he/she knows. However, computers are easily destroyed
with bad-does, viruses, spy ware, etc... Are 'information' and technical tools are open the core of human nature? Has human's nature evolved together with more information and more technology? The answer is No!
There is considerable progress today
in various fields - scientific, economic, political and so
on, but all human's actions are motivated by selfishness.
Human being has become a plaything in the hands of own
selfishness. There is no unity among people. Unity can come
only through thyaga (sacrifice), not through the pursuit of
desires and comforts. (Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 3. "The day they got the light," Chapter 28; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 18. "Equality through Love," Chapter 28; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 26. "Sanctify sports and games," Chapter 2. Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 31. "Promotion of unity: Students’ duty," Chapter 2; Sathya Sai Baba. Discourse at the Summer Course in Brindavan, on 28-5-1991. at Brindavan, on 30-5-1991). * explanation of words in previous parts of serial or : http://www.sathyasai.org/refs/vahiniglossary/pentries.htm Namaste - Reet
Swami
teaches... 9 - 11 January 2008 In this land of Bharat, it is the essence of the cultural heritage that has been given down as Sanathana Dharma. Makara-Sankranti festive day has been celebrated from ancient times as a day of fulfillment and joy. Every festival is a social occasion, arising in society, flourishing in society, and promoting the well being of society. With social changes, festivals also have undergone changes. This sacred and auspicious Makara Sankranthi is a divine occasion for people to transform their lives so that they may experience the divinity, the grandeur and greatness of human birth. Makara-Sankranti festival is an extremely important one for Bharatiyas (Indians). It is a festival to celebrate the glory of the Sun God. The Sun moves every month from one sign of Zodiac to the next. Sankranthi, meaning “sacred change”, occurs every month as the Sun moves from one house of the Zodiac to another. But special sacredness attaches to the movement of the Sun to Capricorn. Makara-Sankranti day marks the entry of the Sun into the sign of Capricorn in his Northward journey (Uttarayana). On Sankranti day, the farmers rejoice over the fullness with the newly harvested crop of the granaries in their homes. The Sun shines in every human body, illuminating the chakras. Of all chakras, two are most important: the Hridaya (heart) chakra and the Sahasrara chakra. Vedas state that everything exists in the human heart (mind) and not in the external world. Based on this, the one that is in the Sushumna state is hailed as Hiranyagarbha ("Hiranyagarbhaya Namah"). In that state lies unbounded bliss. Hiranyagarbha means One who is pregnant with gold. A characteristic of gold is that it remains unchanged. (What is this gold? It is a piece of earth. But as earth is available freely everywhere, it is treated as of no value. But as gold is found somewhere within the bowels of the earth, it is accorded special value, it is practically changeless).
Likewise, however long it may remain
on the Earth, the Hridaya (heart) is not subject to change.
This is not a reference to the physical heart, but to the
spiritual heart what has infinite potentialities. Light that
illumines from this heart spreads joy and peace. The Hiranmaya principle is the reality. This reality is covered by Maya (delusion) created by the individual. It arises out of ignorance.
(You mistake a rope for a serpent in
twilight. The mistake is due to the absence of light. The
unchanging reality was the rope). What do the eight petals of the heart represent? They are: Love (Prema) , Truth (Sathyam), Forbearance (Sahanam), Sacrifice (Thyaga), Compassion (Daya), Beauty (Sundaram), Bliss (Ananda) and Peace (Santhi) which are adored as eight consorts of Krishna. God is the embodiment of all these eight attributes. Sacrifice is the most important of them. The Sahasrara chakra has a thousand petals. Each petal carries sixteen phases (kalas). Thus the Sahasrara chakra is said to represent 16,000 cowherd maidens (gopikas).
The Vedas declare that the Sun from
the 'eye' of the Cosmic Person and the Moon emerged from the
'mind' of the Virat-purusha (Cosmic Person). So by Vedas the
Sun represents the illumination in the eye. When the vision
encompasses the creation, the eye becomes a sacred
instrument (for the understanding of spiritual truths). The
Moon in the Vedic sense represents the Mind-principle. Your vision should be turned towards that which is unchanging. All the things of the world are transient and perishable. That is why, Krishna declared in the Gita: "Having taken birth in this impermanent and sorrow-ridden world, worship Me!" The entire Universe is subject to change sometime or other. Only the consciousness in the heart is permanent and real. What is done wholeheartedly by that consciousness leads to immortality. Birth and death are incidental to life. Disciple Bhargava, who had sought to understand the mystery relating to birth and death and the truth about the (Northward and Southward journeys of the Sun and the nature of bright and dark fortnights in a month, satisfied with the knowledge he had acquired from the sage Pippalada. The sage explains, that for the world of external phenomena, the presiding deity is called, Viswa. The deity presiding over the internal organs is known as Hiranyagarbha what is located in the heart of every person. It is the Mind principle** that has been described as Hiranyagarbha.
What is the reason for the difference
between the external and the internal? It has to be
recognized that the mind represents a highly sacred
principle. When the mind, filled with agitations,
contemplates on God, it achieves inner peace. Hence, the
seers have declared that human proceeds from peacelessness
to peace, from peace to illumination, from illumination to
recognition of the Supreme Effulgence, which is the Brahmam
(Absolute). One who pursues the path of sadhana, reaches the Surya-mandala (realm of the Sun) and proceeds from there to the region of all-pervading Brahmam. To acquire Brahma bhava (the awareness of Brahmam) means being aware of this infinite vastness. Today's science is engaged in trying to explore the infinitesimally minutest particle in matter. Spirituality is concerned with exploring the Infinite what is vaster than the vastest. It is concerned with "expanding" the consciousness. Brahmam means the Infinite. The ancients attached the highest value to good character. They considered that if character was lost, all was lost. Today, people consider that if wealth is lost all is lost. To do anything in the world, one must have competence (yogyatha). For the practice of righteousness (dharma), one must have competence. According to own fitness, human embarks on righteous action. To achieve fame human must qualify himself to deserve it. Character is the root cause of all happiness. Hence, to get happiness, or go to heaven or earn a good name, one must acquire the requisite worthiness. All that you have seen and experienced in life will appear before you in your mind, the moment you try to recall them. This means that the entire universe is within you. All that you see is "a reflection of the inner being." All that you speak is a reflection of inner thoughts. All that you do is a reflection of inner action. Hence, to act according to your inner impulse is Dharma. It is to express in words what you think, and to act according to your words. This unity of thought, word and deed is Dharma. (Most people act from a temporal perspective without the benefit of seeing the infinite chain of causes and effects behind each activity and forget the unity of thought, word and deed). Manavathva (humanness) means the complete harmony of thought, word and deed. (If there is divergence between thought, word and deed, what is the outcome? Fruitless action). To speak what you feel inside is Sathya (Truth). To contemplate on what you experience in your heart is Santhi (Peace). To understand properly the promptings of the heart is Ahimsa (Nonviolence). Consideration for all emanating from the heart is Prema (Love). Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa are reflections of feelings emanating from the heart. A mirror, though clean, may not reflect your image if there is no special coating behind it. So also the heart may be pure, but there should be a coating of Love behind it to facilitate reflection of God. Everyone should realize that the body has been given to us for performing selfless service. Human was saved by this emphasis of Nishkama karma (selfless action), from unending desire and inexplicable sorrow. (Now like water, human flows ever downward, and at the least disappointment, breaks into bits and drops). The ancient sages emphasized the importance of Karma yoga, the discharge of one's duties in life in a dedicated spirit. Through Karma yoga human achieves control of the senses and develops the qualities of universal Love, forbearance and compassion. Take up social service in your homes. That is the way to make use of your studies and put Swami’s teachings into practice. Practice what you preach. This is true service. It should be realized that nothing in creation is intended for the exclusive use of any one person. We should therefore discard the feeling: "These things have been given for my exclusive use, they are my own."
(Reet's compilation
from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 3. "The day they got the
light," Chapter 28; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 18. "Equality
through Love," Chapter 28; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 26.
"Sanctify sports and games," Chapter 2. Sathya Sai Speaks.
Vol. 31. "Promotion of unity: Students’ duty," Chapter 2;
Sathya Sai Baba. Discourse at the Summer Course in Brindavan,
on 28-5-1991 at Brindavan, on 30-5-1991). Recent biomedical research has revealed that the heart is not only a pump, but a highly complex, self-organized information processing center with its own functional "brain." With each beat, the heart continuously communicates with the brain and body via the nervous system, hormonal system, bioelectromagnetic interactions, and other pathways. It is now known that the signals the heart sends the brain can influence perception, emotional processing, and higher cognitive functions. The researches have shown that emotion-related changes in the heart's rhythmic activity are correlated with distinct changes in these variables.
More: |
|
|