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Swami teaches....Part 12
Link to Swami Teaches....Part
11 All human beings
are brothers - sisters and are children of one mother - the
Universal Divine Mother. Therefore, we must develop this
sacred feeling and try to help everyone. The progress of
the nation, the community and the family, depends on the
proper education of women. The country can be lifted to its
pristine greatness only through women mastering the Atmavidya,
the science of Realisation of the Reality. If the nation must
have lasting prosperity and peace, women have to be trained
through an educational system which emphasises moral conduct,
moral qualities. The cause for the present fall in moral
standards and absence of social peace is the neglect of this
aspect of women's education. Past, present
or future, for all time, women are the backbone of progress;
the heart of the nation, the very breath. They play the
chief role in the dharma of life here below, a key role that
is charged with holiness. Her mission is to lay down the
canons of rightness and morality. She must provide children
with moral and spiritual training. When the mother is imbued
with Dharma, the children get the benefit and they get
similarly saturated. When she is skilled in morals, the
children learn to be moral. The Vedhas
declare that the mother and the father have to be revered as
divine; they must consider the children too as divine, and
foster the blooming of that divine principle. Whether one is
doing it sincerely or not can be left to each one's
conscience. You are the best judge of your sincerity. The
mother's is the first face that the child sees; 'Ma' is the
first syllable that its lips utter; it is also the last.
The role of
motherhood is the most glorious and the most responsible.
The mother is the pillar of the home, of society, of the
nation and so of humanity itself. Mothers should know the
secret of mental peace, of inner silence, of spiritual
courage, of contentment, which is the greatest wealth, and
of Aadhyaathmic (spiritual) discipline which gives lasting
joy. The mother
should teach the children the value of Naamasmarana
(remembering God), and of mental and physical cleanliness.
She should be like the mother in the story told by
Vivekaanandha, who advised her son to call upon Krishna in
the woods, while going to school alone and helpless. Female
education is needed to sweeten the hearts of the future
mothers of this land with humility, faith, discrimination
and fear of evil. To light the path they tread towards
truth and virtue. Knowledge can develop discrimination,
inspire the springs of service, prompt inquiry into the
Reality, promote the search for the Absolute. On the other
hand, it might feed and strengthen the roots of falsehood,
hypocrisy, cruelty and injustice. It might turn Love into
poisonous hatred and Truth into a bone of contention.
Whatever subject a woman might have studied and mastered,
whatever the degree she has won, whatever the status of
her husband or of herself, she must hold fast to these
truths; real charm consists in good character; morality is
the very breath of woman; modesty, the very live force;
adherence to truth is her daily duty. The Aanandha that
can be derived by unselfish scattering of love is a rare
elevating experience. It is a very valuable Saadhana. The
ideal of Seva must be inculcated in the hearts of the
students and they must acquire not only the enthusiasm to
serve but they must earn proficiency in the ways of
helpfulness. Modesty and devotion to God are the real
jewels for womankind. Women preserve the traditional
values of our culture and keep the nation on an even keel.
If they fail, it would be famine, not
prosperity. If the
women of a country are happy, healthy and holy, the men
of that country will be hardy, honest and happy.
Thyaagaraaja has sung that even the strongest of heroes
are Kaanthadhaasas (swayed by the wishes of women) and
hence, every woman has a very crucial role to play in
individual and social uplift through obtained skill
of the technique of mental calm and social harmony and
service and economic contentedness. Let them develop a
dread of falsehood, of sliding into moral error.
Let the
girl-students will become aware of the joy that service
to those in distress can give, service without a thought
of the benefits that may follow from the sympathy shown.
Let them learn to lay aside the egoism that poisons the
Seva of even veterans in the field, who go about
extolling themselves as founders and promoters, for the
service of the poor and the maimed, of this institution
and that. The joy of the Seva is the act itself. The
fruit of the Seva is the removal of egoism, not its
multiplication. Woman is honoured
in India as the Lakshmi of the home, as the Dharmapathni or
companion in the pilgrimage towards God and self-realisation,
and as the mistress of the house. There are some
points what need the clarification concern to spiritual
activity of women. Are women
entitled to seek Brahmavidya? If women do not deserve this
knowledge, how did Vishnumurthi teach Bhudevi the mystery of
the Gita? How did Parameswara teach Parvathi the Gurugita? "Dharovaacha"
"Parvathyuvaacha", such statements reveal that Dhara and
Parvathi took part in the discussions and put questions to
clarify the points. The Yogasastra and Manthrasastra were
both taught to Parvathi by Iswara. This must therefore be
correct, authorised by the Sastras, is it not?
In the
Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad, it is mentioned that Yajnavalkya
taught Maitreyi, the Brahmavidya. In the
Brihadaranyaka, there is mention of such effulgent women-sages
as Gargi and Maitreyi and in the Mahabharatha, the names of
Sulabha and Yogini are found. Women should be inspired by
their moral rectitude and their steadfastness and then walk in
that path; then, only does the question of reaching that
height arise. Choodala, Madalasa and other such women attained
Brahmajnana, being in the Grihasthasrama itself. Women can by
Sadhana attain that unwavering unequalled auspicious Brahmam;
this is made clear in the Yogavasishta and also in the Puranas.
Doubts will haunt only those who have not studied the Sastras
properly. Novitiates, householders, recluses, all among women,
have by their pure hearts and holy conduct, attained the goal.
All women should strive to acquire these two. "The Acharya, or
the spiritual guide, is ten times more worthy than the teacher
of arts and sciences. The Father is ten times worthier than
the Acharya, the Mother is a thousand times worthier than the
Father". This is the declaration of Manu in the Manusmrithi.
That Smrithi is the binding text for all Dharmasastras; it is
the very basis. See what a great honour it pays to the
mother! Lakshmi, the patron of Wealth, is a female deity. When
addressing letters to women, it is customary to begin, "To...
equal to Lakshmi, in every way...". Women are entitled to
universal respect. Causative Appearances of God-head like Rama
and Krishna, religious teachers like Sankara, Ramanuja and
Madhwa, bearers of Wisdom like Buddha, Jesus Christ and
Muhammad - were they not all born of women? Their mothers were
embodiments of holy glory and they gave the world sons who
transformed it. Women who follow in their footsteps and lead
pure consecrated lives can claim the right to Brahmajnana, and
no one can deny it to them. In fact, the Atma
is devoid of all differences as between men and women. It is
Nithya, Suddha, Buddha, Swayamjyothi; i.e., it is eternal pure
consciousness itself, and self illumining. Women can reach the
status of those holy women only when they become aware of the
nature of the Atma. The patron
deities of Vidya (Saraswathi), of Wealth (Lakshmi) and of
Jnana (Parvathi) are all women! Therefore, it is unbelievable
that women have no right to spiritual discipline, leading to
merger with Brahmam and to the final emancipation from
bondage. A lion asleep is unaware of its nature. So too, man
asleep in the coils of Maya is not aware of his being the
Splendourful Atma. In this stage of ignorance, he elaborates
more on his prejudices and he gives his likes, the stamp of
Sastras! The Sastras will not declare so at any time.
(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Baba.
The Divine Discourse "Radiate Rays Of Love." Ananthapur, 8
July 1971. Sathya Sai Baba. The Divine Discourse "Shikshana."
Venkatagiri, 9 September 1958. Sathya Sai Baba. The
Divine Discourse "Seek Work, Worship and Wisdom - Avoid
Wealth, Wine and Women." Brindavan, Whitefield, May 1973.
Sathya Sai Baba. "Dharma Vahini." Chapters V and IX .
Each one's power is within him/her; it is
not possible to give such power to another person. One does not
have to search for spiritual power, going around the world and
spending a lot of money. Be in your own house, develop it in
yourself, such spiritual power is in you!
You are not one person, but three,
the one you think you are (physical); the one others think you
are (mental); and the one you really are spiritual is God.
When you are able to realise that, and when you are able to
develop the spiritual power from within you, then you will see
God.
Know that Sai is Omnipresent and so,
He is present in every living thing and you. Adore everyone as
you adore Sai. This is easy if you feel that your duty is part
of your worship, that you are offering it to the Sai in the
other person. Your duty is to your own Self.
Faith in God is to be translated
into action. It is an imperative act of worship to discharge
faithfully all one's duties and responsibilities. It will be
dangerous if the right work is not done by the right person
at the right time. You must be eager to do your duty as best
as you can.
Peace and bliss are within you
they are not something which is external to you. You may
think of going to the Himaalayas for getting peace. Your
body may go to the Himaalayas for getting peace; but your
mind may be left behind in the city. How to get peace, where
is the help and support to this situation? It is the good
company, who can help you.
The easiest and the most
fruitful method of keeping yourself free from dust and
rust, is the Sathsang (holy company). The company of the
good and the godly will slowly and surely chasten and
cleanse the persons prone to stray away from the straight
path towards Self- Realisation. Care has to be taken to
see that you select and stick to the proper company. The
Sathsang you join must be purer, more venerable, and
sticking to higher ideals of virtue and truth than you
yourselves.
(When a smoker joins a group of
non-smokers, there is every likelihood of his giving up
that bad habit; but, when a non-smoker falls into a den of
smokers, he is certain to become a victim soon! Such is
the subtle influence of the company one keeps. You must
take all the trouble and welcome all the patience needed,
to seek Sathsang and remain therein).
Life is like a train journey.
Children have a long way to go; but, the elders have to
alight from the train pretty son. You must learn to make
your journey comfortable and happy. Do not carry heavy
unwanted luggage, with you. That' will make the journey
miserable. Do not indulge in faultfinding and in picking
quarrels with others. Don't desire to have the best things
for yourselves only. Share with others around you the good
things you are given. Anger, hatred,
Human being sees multiplicity, he
engages himself in manifold activities, he is pulled in many
directions, he is distracted and distressed. He has no time
to meditate on the One Basic Truth. He is confused by the
kaleidoscopic transformations. He is tossed between hate and
love, attachment and repulsion.
Many people think that concentration is the same
thing as meditation, but there is no such connection
between concentration and meditation. Concentration is
something which is below your senses, whereas meditation
is something which is above your senses. But many are
under the false impression that concentration is identical
with meditation, and they take to a wrong path.
Concentration is something which we use involuntarily in
our daily, normal, routine life. If one wants to drive a
car, unless one has concentration, one cannot drive a car
on the road. All the normal routines, like walking,
talking, reading, writing, eating, all these things we do
only as result of concentration.
What we have to practice is something which is beyond
these normal senses. We must rise from being below the
senses (that is the state of concentration) to the senses
(that is, the middle position, called contemplation); and
from there we must rise above the senses, that is called
meditation.
During the meditation aspirants and
seekers of spiritual truth must to sit straight and to sit
quiet. When the body is straight and quiet, the mind inside
is also straight and quiet. If one cannot control the body,
how is possible to control the mind? The basis for the mind
wandering is that your physical body is also continually
wandering. So the first thing one has to do is to give up
this continual wandering of the physical body.
Avoid touching others. The meaning
of this rule will not be apparent on the surface. But it is
highly significant from a deeper sense. The ancient sages used
to seek secluded spots and engage themselves in meditation.
The mason is there is a divine energy within the body, a kind
of current flowing in it.
When a person is meditating, a
divine energy is generated in him. That is the reason why when
a person sits in meditation, he uses a wooden plank one inch
above the ground, spreads a deer-skin on it and covers it with
a cloth. The cloth serves as a cushion protecting the
meditator. This kind of meditation is called Sukhadhyana
(meditation in comfort). The wooden plank acts as an
insulator, preventing the energy from passing down.
You are affected by whatever you
touch. For instance, if you touch fire, it scalds. But when
the fire is extinguished, the residue is mere charcoal. When
you touch charcoal, your hand becomes black. Thus, in either
case, the contact is not beneficial.
Most people live superficial lives.
They are like logs of wood tossed up and down by the waves of
the sea, insensitive, dull, Thaamasik. Haste lands them in
waste; waste increases worry. They have no time to sit and
meditate on the reality of their own existence, their own
knowledge and their own joy. They don't take even the first
step towards their self-inquiry. How then can they derive
self-satisfaction, at their vastness, indestructibility,
infinite power and wisdom?
Ignoring the unity of all mankind
in the Atma people relish in quarrels and factions
and classifies some among his contemporaries as friends and
some as foes. It is one's own likes and dislikes, prejudices
and passions that is reflected back, that creates all this
reaction of love and hatred, all this resounding echo of
factiousness and friction. Friendship and enmity arise from
your heart; they are labels fixed by you, not marks which
other people are born with. The same person is the thickest
friend of one and the mortal enemy of another.
Swami teaches.... (19 February 2005)
"I am the Atma"
"I am the beginning, the middle
and the end of all things. In this universe there is
nothing that is not Atma." declares Krishna in the
Bhagavad Gita.
Without the "I", the world will
have no existence. If there is no "I," there is no
creation. The terms, "I", Atma and Brahmam are all
synonymous. The "I" not associated with the mind is Atma.
The "I" associated with the mind is mithyaatma
(pseudo-self). What is this "I" ("nenu" in Telugu)? It is
the basis (Uniki). Because the same basic entity exists in
all beings, it is called
There are two "I's" in
everyone - the "I" that is associated with the mind and
the"I" associated with the Atma. Consciousness of the
Atma is the real "I." When this "I" is wrongly
associated with the mind, it becomes Ahamkara (the Ego).
When the "I" associated with the Atma experiences Atmic
bliss, it realises that the universal consciousness is
One, though it may be called by different names. When
you eliminate the Anaatma-bhaava in you (that is, the
body consciousness), you will have the Atma-bhaava
(consciousness of the Universal), within you. Without
this consciousness all sadhanas are of no avail.
It is this Chaitanya (Atmic
i.e. Cosmic consciousness) which makes the cosmos
function. For the entire creation, consisting of
living and inanimate objects, this consciousness is
the basis.
The Atmic principle is the One
that pervades the entire Cosmos. It is the Universal (Cosmic)Consciousness.
It is impossible for it to be present in some and not in
others.
When you want to understand the
nature of consciousness, you have to understand one part of
it, namely, Conscience what is a Witness. It is also known
as Awareness. A witness requires a basis for its
functioning. That basis is that of which you are "conscious"
in the waking state. There are these three levels of
understanding. Being "conscious" (of the objective world),
the Conscience and the Consciousness.
For the purpose of earning a
living, among all embodiments of Atma one may be labourer,
or an official, or a trader, or a farmer. These differences
are based on the occupations pursued by different persons.
They have no permanent significance.
The primary cause for the chaos of
divisions, conflicts, disorder and violence in the world
today is the absence of the sense of oneness among men.
There is urgent need for cultivating the spirit of love
which will serve to promote the feeling of oneness.
All that is experienced by the
body and the mind has no real connection with the Atma.
Relying on the light coming from the Sun, many people
perform different actions. Some may do good deeds and some
others may be indulging in bad actions. The Atma is
unaffected by the consequences of these actions, just as the
Sun is not affected by the activities done with the help of
sunlight. The Sun is a witness. Likewise the Atma also is a
witness to what is done by the body and mind.
But human, because of identifying
him/herself with the body and other organs, attributes all
their activities to the power of the Atma. For all this, the
mind is the root cause. It is the mind that assumes these
multifarious forms.
If the world is to be transformed,
we must begin with the individual. To start with, the
individual must reform himself. Without the individual
realising his true nature, all other accomplishments are of
no avail. Turning the mind towards the external world can
only breed sorrow. Enduring bliss can be got only by
directing the mind towards Atma (God). Without mental
transformation all other changes are meaningless. Without
changing your qualities, you remain in the same state as
before.
In human being there are sixteen
black spots: the six enemies (lust, anger, greed,
infatuation, pride and envy), the two Gunas, Rajas and
Tamas, and the eight types of mada (conceit) based on
lineage and scholarship, wealth, youth, beauty, position
and penance. It is only when man gets rid of these sixteen
evil traits that he will be able to realise his oneness
with
Today many preceptors are
acquiring possessions. In this situation it is difficult
to say who are gurus and who are disciples. People today
tend to be naive in their actions. Whenever they see some
aged persons, they seek some mantra (spiritual message)
from them. What is the mantra they really need? It is the
understanding of their true nature. This mantra is within
them. Each contains within himself the mantra, tantra and
yantra (the spiritual message, the method of practising it
and the instrument for implementing it). Your process of
breathing contains the mantra you need: “So-Ham", "I am
That," "That is I." What is the yantra (the instrument)?
It is your physical body. What is the tantra? Your heart!
When you have in you all the three, why go to anyone for a
message?
Once you direct the mind towards
the Atma, you have learnt the supreme mantra: "Aham
Brahmaasmi" (I am the Brahmam). Whatever you do, eating or
walking or seeing or speaking, do it with the Atmic
consciousness.
Your true guru is God alone.
He transcends all gunas. He is beyond all forms. He is
the only one who can dispel the darkness of ignorance
and light the lamp of Prajnaanam (Supreme Wisdom).
For experiencing this Guru,
there are no restrictions as to time, place or
circumstances.
He is the One, the God of gods,
who is hailed as father, mother, teacher, knowledge and
wealth and all else. He is the Supreme whom you must seek
by your sadhana. God alone can transform your spiritual
efforts into a transcendental experience. You have the
vision of the Divine (saakshaatkaara). The vision does not
come from outside. It is within you, because the Divine is
omnipresent. God is everywhere. You are God. There is
nothing higher in the world than yourself.
It is enough if you develop the
conviction that you and the Divine are one - "Aham
Brahmaasmi." Cultivate steadfast faith in this Divine
oneness through love what will lead you to Self-realisation. Firmly
believe that the Divine is in everyone and constantly act
on this belief. Only by continual practice can you develop
this sacred attitude. (Reet's compilation from,
Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol 23. "The Guru within," Chapter 25;
"Message of the Vedas," Chapter 24; "Know thyself,"
Chapter 19). Sai Ram
Namaste - Reet to be continued |
