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Light and Love
Swami teaches... 23 - 25 February 2007
Part 1. Keep Devotion and Faith
From the Sath (Existence, Being) has emerged all there is,
The Sath permeates the whole of creation,
Nothing exists without the power of Sath,
Behold the glory of this eternal Sath.
People need today the Spirit of Sacrifice, devotion to God and love
of the Motherland. Because people are filled with pride,
selfishness, and self-interest, they are ceasing to be human.
It is supremely important that the qualities of devotion to God,
patriotism and self-sacrifice should be developed among the people.
For this, the first requisite is the elimination of "my" and "mine."
The readiness to sacrifice one's pleasure and comforts for the sake
of the nation should be promoted. When there are many high-minded,
spiritually oriented people, the nation will achieve peace and
security.
We who are crossing the ocean of Samsara (the chain of birth and
death, worldly life) need to cultivate the art of swimming through
contemplation on God. However, learned we may be, if we do not have
this training and cultivation, we are bound to sink. Life is a boat,
which enables us to cross the ocean of Samsara with the aid of
meditation on God. Devotion and faith are the two oars with which
you can take the boat across the sea of Samsara.
A person once told Dr. Johnson, the famous English thinker, that he
could seldom get time to recite the Name of God, what with the
hundreds of things he had to do from morning until nightfall and
even far into the night. Dr. Johnson replied with another question.
He asked how millions of people found space to live upon the face of
the Earth, which is two-thirds water and the rest is too full of
mountains, deserts, forests, icy regions, river beds, marshes and
similar impossible areas.
The questioner said that human somehow struggled to find living
space. So too, said Dr. Johnson, human must somehow find a few
minutes a day for prayer to the Lord.
"What is the difference between human and God?" it is asked. The
answer is: the individual jivi is a changing entity. God is
unchanging and eternal. However, every individual jivi is a carrier
of the same and alone reflection of the God, (Cosmic Consciousness,
Atma), within.
There are bulbs of different colors and their voltage also differs.
However, whatever the color and whatever the voltage, current that
flows is the same. This kind of thinking is highly essential today.
The world needs an ideal, as a human body requires recoupment. Body
is an assembly of various organs. No single organ can constitute a
body. When the various organs get separated, the human body gets
weakened and even loses its existence. Similarly, if a nation is
split up into different parts, it gets disintegrated. There may be
different states in a nation but there should be feeling of one
nation throughout the country. We should develop a habit of
visualizing unity in diversity.
The Lord is a mountain of Love; any number of ants carrying away
particles of sweetness cannot exhaust His plenty. He is an Ocean of
Mercy without a limiting shore. Bhakthi (devotion) is the easiest
way to win His Grace and also to realize that He pervades
everything; in fact, is everything! Sharanagathi (total surrender),
leaving everything to His Will, is the highest form of bhakthi.
A child told the mother when she went to bed at night, "Mother! Wake
me up when I get hungry." The mother answered, "There is no need,
your hunger will itself wake you." So too, when the hunger for God
comes, it will itself activise you and make you seek the food you
need. God has endowed you with hunger and He supplies the food; He
has endowed you with illness and He grows the specifics you need.
Your duty is to see that you get the proper hunger and the right
illness and use the appropriate food or drug.
When bhakthi is just emerging as a sapling, a fence is needed to
protect the tender plant; that fence is Sanathana Dharma (Eternal
Religion) and its rules, regulations and restrictions, directions
and commands. When the fruit is green, it will not fall even when
the gale is furious; but when it is fully ripe, it drops to the
ground even in the silence of the night. A small fire will go out in
smoke even if a little green is placed on it, but the forest fire
will reduce to ashes even the greenest tree, which impedes its
fierce march. What is needed is the conquest of the ego.
There are three types of devotion.
1.The vihanga method, where like a bird swooping down upon the ripe
fruit on the tree, the devotee is too impatient and by the very
impatience he/she loses the fruit, which falls from his hold.
2.The markata method, where like a monkey, which pulls towards it,
one fruit after another and by sheer unsteadiness is not able to
decide, which fruit it wants. The bhaktha too hesitates and changes
his/her aim much too often and thus loses all chances of success.
3.The pipeelika method, where like the ant which slowly but steadily
proceeds towards the sweetness, the devotee also moves direct, with
undivided attention towards the Lord.
Some actions of devotion as examples.
The mendicant goes along the streets, singing the glories of the
Lord. He has the sounding cymbals, two of them, the eternal duet of
good-bad, joy-grief, pain-pleasure in his right hand and he twangs
the thambura (stringed musical instrument) of Samsara with his left.
Samsara is the tune to which his songs have to be adjusted; it is
the sruthi (sacred revelations orally transmitted from generation to
generation, musical note). But both the sruthi and thala (marking of
time) are for the purpose of heightening the effect of the song
which issues from his mouth, the song of the glow of God as his way
of faith and devotion to God.
An another example.
By legend once, a Brahmin was crossing a riverbed near which some
men were washing clothes. Finding a nice new silk shawl on his
shoulder, they fell upon him in a group, shouting that it belonged
to the Palace and had been given to them to be washed, but had been
stolen and had not been traced. The poor Brahmin yelled 'Narayana,
Narayana,' when the blows rained on him and so, Narayana rose from
His Seat in Vaikunta (heaven) and proceeded forward; but in a
moment, He walked back and resumed His Seat much to the surprise of
His Consort who asked Him the reason for the strange behavior.
Narayana said, "I wanted to help that poor Brahmin who has fallen
into a den of scoundrels, but he has started beating them, blow for
blow; My Help is no longer needed."
There is a widely prevalent habit now of judging others and labeling
them as theists or atheists. What do you know, what can you know of
the inner working of another's mind?
An ancient story tells there was once a queen who was a great
devotee of Rama; she felt so sad that her husband, the Raaja, never
even uttered the name of Rama and had no bhakthi. She had vowed that
the first occasion on which she got evidence of his bhakthi or at
least respect for Ramanaama, she would conduct puja (ritualistic
worship) in all the temples and feed the poor on a lavish scale.
Then, one night, while fast asleep, the Raaja uttered the name of
Rama thrice plaintively and prayerfully.
She heard the Namasmarana and was happy at the discovery of her
husband's devotion to Rama; she ordered general rejoicing throughout
the kingdom and the feeding of the poor. The Raaja did not know the
reason for the celebration for he was only told that it was an order
of the Raani, which the officers carried out. Similarly, ahusband
may not be aware of the excellence of a wife's spiritual
attainments.
The Raaja who spoke in his sleep the sacred name of Rama felt very
sorry, according to the story, that he let Ramanaama out of his
mouth, for he believed that no one should know of his 'love' for
Rama. Many will not shout about their Guru or their favorite Name
and Form. Whether you declare them to others or not, keep them ever
in your consciousness.
There is another fragment.
A couple was proceeding through a thick jungle on pilgrimage to an
inaccessible shrine. The husband saw on the footpath a precious
stone, shining brilliantly when the sun's rays fell upon it from
between the leaves. He hastily threw some sand over it with a
movement of his foot so that his wife may not be temped to pick it
up and become a slave to the tinsel. The wife saw the gesture and
chided the husband for still retaining in his mind a distinction
between sand and diamond. For her, both were the same.
You are fully aware of the characteristics of the Kali Yuga (age of
conflict) we are passing through. You find around you injustice,
irregularities, immorality and untruth with all their devilish
attributes and atrocities.
Nevertheless, we have to march ahead in spite of all these with a
quiet, tolerant, and benign attitude towards life. Almost all the
fields and occupations of life are polluted with these poisonous
feelings, but the field of education being the most prominent organ,
needs our special attention.
The main reason for this disorder is that the human's mind has
haunted and dominated by two devilish blemishes, viz., selfishness,
and ambition. These forces are standing in the way of human beings
in realizing the human values, which go to make up humanity. It is
not becoming of a human to exchange the valuable life - as precious
as gem - for worldly desires and ambitions, which are as worthless
as a coal stone. Human becomes immortal neither by deeds, nor by
progeny nor by wealth. What makes individual eternal is the spirit
of sacrifice.
Why must you compete and quarrel? Nothing in this world can last as
such for long. The Buddha diagnosed this correctly. He declared,
"All is sorrow; all is transient; all are but temporary contraptions
of ephemeral characteristics." Why should these finite things as
fatally fascinate you? Strive to gain the eternal, the infinite, the
universal. One day, you have to give up the body you have fed and
fostered. Trivial thoughts and desires award only sorrow; holy
thoughts and desires award the Divine peace. Therefore, cultivate
good and beneficial feelings and desires. Keep away from bad company
and bad thoughts. Realize the holy purpose of life through pure
thoughts and words and selfless service to your fellow-beings.
This human birth is a rare chance. Use it for spreading joy, not
grief. Of course, it is natural for human to resent, to grow angry.
But you should not allow anger free and furious scope.
The raging floods in the Godavari have to be restrained by bunds,
and dams so that the water may reach the sea without scouring the
fields on either bank. You must set limits to your own anger and
hate, and honor those limits.
Every person must engage in sadhana with devotion, discipline and a
sense of duty. Do not feel that your role is low and the other
person's high. Do not be depressed when you find your role is minor;
do not be proud when you discover that your role is a major one.
Give your best to whatever role is allotted to you. That is the way
to earn Grace.
Bring bhakthi and lay it here and take from here spiritual strength.
Bring what you have, namely, your sorrows and grieves, worries and
anxieties, and take from from Swami joy and peace, courage and
confidence.
In this Avatar (Divine incarnation), the wicked will not be
destroyed; they will be corrected and reformed and educated and led
back to the path from which they have strayed. The white-ant
infested tree will not be cut; it will be saved.
(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 1. "Sharanaagathi,"
Chapter 2; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 13. "Thirty-five and sixty-five,"
Chapter 10; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 15, "Light and warmth," Chapter
10; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 19. "The ways of the Divine," Chapter 6
and "Sanctified by three Avatars," Chapter 19.; Sathya Sai Speaks,
Vol. 21. "Earn God's Love," Chapter 4).
Namaste - Reet
Light and Love
Swami teaches...26 - 28 February 2007
Part 2. Keep Devotion and Faith
Tossed about on the bitter ocean of mundane existence;
Going hither and hither without a rudder or a compass,
If only you steady your mind for a moment
The Lord will send you, Oh human, His rescue boat.
Bharath's culture is rooted in the Vedas and serves as example for
the other countries. Music and literature have come from the Vedas.
The Sama Veda is the primal source of music. Rig Veda is the source
of all literature. Rig Veda teaches the lesson of serenity and
stresses that peace is like rose water scent; when it is sprinkled
on us, smell it but do not drink it - that is to say, accept it and
thrive on it. Rig Veda asks to examine ourselves whether we have the
illness and if we have, accept the blame and benefit by it.
Devotion is the form of the Divine. Hence, Lord Narayana declared,
"I do not dwell in Vaikunta or in the hearts of yogis. I am present
wherever my devotees sing my praise, Oh Narada!" So heaven is not
some remote place, where people are virtuous and of good character
will find Paradise.
The Lord resides not only in the hearts of
devotees, but also in the hearts of the evil-minded. Once, the child
Prahlada approached his mother, Lilavati, and told her, "Mother,
there is only one difference between me, who is a devotee of Hari
(God; destroyer of sins) and my father, who hates Hari. Ever
contemplating on the nectarine sweetness of the Lord, repeating His
name, and constantly remembering Him, I am immersed in the bliss of
love of the Lord, like one intoxicated. My father, in his hatred of
Narayana, has turned his heart into stone and installed Him in it."
The Lord, who dwelt in the heart of Prahlada,
who loved Narayana, and the Lord who was in the heart of
Hiranyakasipu, who hated Narayana, was one and the same. Drinking
deep the nectar of Divine Love, Prahlada quenched his heart's thirst
and found bliss. Installing the Lord in his stony heart,
Hiranyakasipu was unable to allay his burning thirst and experienced
endless worries.
Human has to live in faith to experience
happiness. Where there is happiness there is peace. Realising that
the Divine is omnipresent, the devotees make their lives sublime by
singing the glories of the Lord and ever dwelling on His name. That
will make people self-respecting individuals. Receiving a favor
means to be bound to the giver. Grow with self-respect and dignity.
That is the best service you can do to yourself and for the Lord
within.
Prahlada declared in the Bhagavatha: "There is
no room for the suspicion that the Lord is here and not there. He
can be found wherever He is sought, because He is immanent in
everything in the Universe. Saint Tyagaraja said the same thing when
he sang: "Where is your dwelling place, Oh Lord Wherever I turn I
behold you. You are present everywhere. You are omnipotent and
all-knowing."
The Divine is present not only in human beings. He dwells in birds
and beasts and in all living things. So Tyagaraja sang: "Did not a
woman devotee (Aparanji) teach a parrot to recite the name of Rama
and enjoy your glory?"
The knower of Brahman becomes Brahman Himself. Valmiki, who wrote
the Ramayana, was so much immersed in the Rama principle that the
inmates of his ashram noticed effulgence in his face reflective of
the splendor of Rama Himself. The face is a reflection of the inner
being. Whatever thoughts and emotions fill a human; they are
reflected, in his/her face. Moses,' who was ever dwelling on
the glories of God, reflected in his face the radiance and splendor
of the Divine. This has revealed in the Bible. Charles Darwin, who
was a devoted student of Henslow, followed his teacher's exemplary
life and became, in later years, a great scientist recognizing the
inextricable relationship between human and God.
It is interesting to note that on the 12th of February 2007 the
world marked Darwin Day, the 198th anniversary of the evolutionary
theorist's birth. This Day was also 148th Anniversary of the
publication of his famous book,"On the Origin of Species."
By modern science evolution of life is coded into DNA. Latest
discoveries have led to deeper insights how organisms change over
time and transmit those changes to succeeding generations. However,
evolutionary theory as other scientific theories is incomplete
without spiritual knowledge.
Darwin Day symbolically pointed to the bridge
between science and faith. Celebration of Darwin Day as underlines
that religion and science need not be at contradiction. (More
complete information http://www.darwinday.org/).
The ways of the Lord in granting relief to devotees in distress or
trouble are infinitely varied and often baffling. Below is an
example about wisdom of Krishna to solve a complicated problem
between Pandavas and the sage.
On one occasion, the Pandavas during their exile from the kingdom
had strayed into the forest of Romarishi.
Romarishi was a sage whose body was covered
with hair so long, that it spread as a carpet into the surrounding
forest. There was a holy tree in that forest, yielding a very
special fruit. The unique quality of that fruit was that once it was
tasted one would not have hunger for years and years. But that fruit
should not be plucked, it should be eaten after it dropped by
itself. So, waiting for the fruit to fall, Romarishi was doing Tapas
there.
One day, when Dharmaraja and Draupadi were on a
stroll in the woods, Draupadi happened to look at this particular
tree and saw the luscious big fruit hanging from it. "Can we not
take this," she said to her husband, "so that all of us could share
it today?" Then Dharmaraja shot an arrow and the fruit fell to the
ground. Holding his bow in his right hand, he went to lift the fruit
with his left hand. It was so heavy he could not move it. Draupadi
also tried to help. Dharmaraja used both his hands, still the fruit
would not move. In the meantime, Arjuna also came there and all
three tried to lift that fruit, but it would not move. The two
younger brothers also came and tried to help lift the fruit but
however hard they tried it was no use; it would not move. Finally
the strong man, Bhima came. He asked the others to move away and
said, "I will lift this." Nevertheless, even Bhima could not
succeed.
Meanwhile the hair of Romarishi, which had spread over all that
area, began to stir. Because these six people were trampling about
trying to lift the fruit, Romarishi felt the disturbance as strands
of his hair were being trodden and pulled. He realized that there
was someone trying to steal the fruit and he became very angry.
Immediately his long hairs started to come together and coil round
the Pandavas and tie them up.
Draupadi realized the danger, and immediately
prayed to Lord Krishna. Draupadi called on Lord Krishna whenever she
sensed any trouble. Krishna appeared before her. Draupadi fell at
His Feet and prayed to Him for help to protect the Pandavas from the
danger that was about to engulf them. Krishna told Draupadi there
was nothing He could do, since Romarishi was a great sage. As Lord,
He resided in the hearts of all rishis, including Romarishi; so how
could He do anything against the wishes of that Rishi? However,
Draupadi held on to His Feet and said, "You alone can save us. You
can do anything you wish to do, in all the three worlds!" Then
Krishna said, "All right, I will help you, but all of you should be
totally silent, not say a word; you should do exactly as I tell
you."
Krishna went to each of the Pandavas and
whispered His plan, in their ears. He told them: "I will now go to
Romarishi's ashram; a little later, you must follow me there."
In the meantime, Romarishi was furious with
anger. He was about to curse the poachers. At that very moment,
Krishna entered the Ashram. Romarishi fell prostrate at Krishna's
Feet. He was overjoyed to see Him and asked Him, "What is it I can
do for you, Lord?" Krishna kept Romarishi occupied, making a few
casual inquiries, till the Pandavas arrived.
As soon as the six reached the Ashram and
entered it, Krishna fell at the feet of the Pandavas. The Pandavas
were feeling very embarrassed, but remembering Krishna's command,
they said nothing. Romarishi, seeing Krishna fall at the feet of the
visitors, also fell at their feet. Then Krishna introduced the
Pandavas to the Rishi.
As Romarishi listened to the words of Krishna
praising the greatness of the Pandavas, he totally forgot his anger.
When Krishna explained these were the people who were tempted by the
fruit he awaited, Romarishi was so transformed that he said, "Let
them take the fruit. I would like them to have it." By eating that
fruit, the Pandavas were able to live without hunger for a long
time.
The Love of God is the foremost reward to be attained in human life.
It is more precious than all the wealth in the world. All wealth and
position are obtained by the Love and grace of the Divine. The value
of Bhagavad-prema (the love of God) can be realized if the meaning
of the term Bhagavan is rightly understood. Brahman, Parabrahman,
Sabda are among the terms used as appellations of Bhagavan.
Bhagah means "the One who is repository of all Divine attributes and
is uniquely worthy of adoration." Ga refers to "One who has all the
excellences and who creates, sustains, and reabsorbs everything."
The letter Bha has two meanings: Sambhartha and
Bhartha. Sambhartha means "One who is competent to make Nature the
instrument of the creative process." Because He is also competent to
sustain what is created, He is called Bhartha. Bha has other
meanings as Shanthi (peace), light, effulgence, illumination. Ga
means "all-pervasive." Vaan (or Vanthudu in Telugu) means "One who
is capable." Hence, the term Bhagavan means, "The One who is capable
of lighting the Divine effulgence, the illumination of wisdom, the
Eternal Inner Light of the Soul."
There is nothing on the Earth or beyond it,
which is equal to the Divine Love. To make all endeavors to earn
that Love is the whole purpose and meaning of the human existence.
To lead a happy life, human needs peace of mind. The mind is like
the turbulent Ganga. It has to be restrained by the use of brakes,
as in a fast-moving vehicle. Dhyana (meditation) is the brake
devised for the control of the mind. Dhyana means one-pointed
concentration. All the diseases, which afflict human, are the result
of agitation in the mind. The enormous growth of disease in the
world today is due to the loss of peace of mind. To get rid of
illness and to lead a calm, healthy life, human has to cultivate
mental peace.
Human's mind has three kinds of capabilities.
One is Anekaagratha (a wandering mind).
Another is Soonyatha (vacancy, emptiness).
The third is Ekaagratha (single-pointed
concentration).
What is Soonyatha? It is the state in which the mind goes to sleep
when something edifying is being said. The mind is unresponsive to
what is good and beneficial. Such a state of mind is called Tamasic.
It is the blindness of ignorance. Anekaagratha is an equally
undesirable mental state. It also degrades human.
Then there is one-pointed concentration of
mind. This is what everyone needs most today. Unfortunately, today
the spirit of commercialism is rampant even in the fields of sports
and entertainment. When the idea of making money is predominant,
concern for health recedes to the background.
"Art" has come from "heart," but today the
heart has been divorced from the arts. One purpose of Swami's
Teaching is from the whole heart with the help of the Divine power
to restore this for humanity.
From His Teaching as echoes, "Give because you
love. Recognize the light in all beings. Let our energies flow
outward. Give of your time, your help, and your love to others."
Swami stresses that we should try to make our lives meaningful by
sacrificing personal comfort for the sake of our fellow beings.
Today we think of our rights and responsibilities. On one side, we
have the so called individual freedom and fundamental rights, and on
the other, we have our responsibilities and duties to be performed.
We are no doubt anxious about our individual freedom in the same
proportion. We should do full justice to our social obligations and
establish the reputation of our country and its culture. Human
cannot live in isolation like a drop of oil on water surface. Human
is a product of society. Human has to live in it, grow with it and
work for it with the devotion and faith to the omnipresent God.
With your faith and devotion is necessary to be aware that human
being must be yoked to Samsara and broken; that is the training,
which will teach that the world is unreal; no amount of lectures
will make you believe it is a snake unless you actually experience
it. Touch fire and get the sensation of burning; there is nothing
like it to teach you that fire is to be avoided. Unless you touch
it, you will be aware only of its light. It is light and heat both;
just as this world is both true and false, that is to say, unreal.
(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks,
Vol. 1. "Sharanaagathi," Chapter 2; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 13.
"Thirty-five and sixty-five," Chapter 10; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.
15, "Light and warmth," Chapter 10; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 19. "The
ways of the Divine," Chapter 6 and "Sanctified by three Avatars,"
Chapter 19.; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 21. "Earn God's Love," Chapter
4).
Namaste - Reet
Light and Love
Swami teaches...1 - 3 March 2007
Part 3. Keep Devotion and Faith
Bhakthi and the attitude of surrender that is its final fruits will
give you great courage to meet any emergency; such courage is what
is called renunciation.
The story of Mohajith is a good example of this
highest type of detachment.
Mohajith, the prince, went to a sage in the forest and sought
guidance in the spiritual path. The sage asked him whether he had
conquered attachment as his name indicated. The prince said that not
only he, but every one in his kingdom had. So the sage started to
test the truth of this claim. The sage took the prince's robes,
soaked them in blood and hastened to the palace gate with the
gruesome stow of the murder of the prince by some ruffians in the
jungle. The maid whom he met refused to hurry with the news to the
Royal apartments because she said, "He was born, he died; what is
the special urgency of this news that I should interrupt my regular
routine and run to the king and queen?"
When at last he got an audience and was able to
communicate the sad news to the father, he sat unruffled, whispering
to himself, "The bird flew off the tree on which it had alighted to
take rest." The Raani too was unmoved. She told the sage that this
Earth is a caravanserai, where people come and stay for the night
and when dawn breaks, one by one, they tramp their different ways.
Kith and kin are the words we use for the attachment to the
travelers cultivated in the caravanserai during the short term of
acquaintance.
The wife of the "dead" prince was also
unaffected; she said, "Husband and wife are like two pieces of wood
drifting down a flooded river; they float near each other for some
time and when some current comes between, they are parted: each must
move on to the sea at its own rate and in its own time. There is no
need to grieve over the parting of the two; it is in the very nature
of Nature that it should be so."
The sage was overjoyed to see this steady and sincere airagya
(dispassion) in the rulers and the ruled. He came back to the forest
and told the prince that while he was away, a hostile army had
invaded his Kingdom and slain the entire royal family and captured
his Kingdom and enslaved his subjects. He took the news calmly and
said, "All this is bubble, impermanent, flimsy. Let it go the way of
the bubble. Guide me to reach the Infinite, the Imperishable."
Such courage comes out of the Grace of the
Lord; it needs generations of learning and struggle. Meanwhile, you
must start with the first step, the cleansing of the mind and the
cultivation of virtue. Even if you do not start with that step, at
least do not laugh at those who do, and discourage them. Then, do
not depend upon others for doing your work, like attending to your
personal wants. Do them yourself; that is real freedom. Never accept
anything 'free' from others, pay it back, in service or work.
By modern science, the physical world is pictorially being
"disturbed" by our thoughts. By quantum physics subatomic particles
behave differently when humans "watch" them. Humans as co-create the
physical world through the power of minds. The human body is carrier
of Atma. Atmic power, which, like everything in the physical
Universe is a reflection of the inner world, appearance of Atmic
power. From Atmic aspect our own outer body, is a reflection of our
own inner world. All that we can manifest into the outer, physical
world has to be at first manifested within the inner world.
By modern science, we consciously use the power
of the mind. During the meditation or even concentration or
contemplation on certain topics, we are most closely in
communication with our subconscious mind, as interaction with Cosmic
Consciousness in purpose to reach closer to the desired objects,
situations, events, appearances.
What is beyond this power of mind from spiritual aspect?
Never forget that the devotee is inseparable from God. When he/she
is filled with the Love of God and is totally forgetful of
him/herself, experiences oneness with God. Prahlada was such a
supreme devotee. He was a Rakshasa (demon) by birth. His form was
human. His heart was centered on God. Prahlada combined in himself
these three elements. He adhered to the culture of Bharath and shone
as an ideal to his people. In following the four Purusharthas -
dharma, artha, kama and moksha - Prahlada combined the pursuit of
artha (worldly interest) with dharma and linked them to kama
(desire) for the attainment of moksha. Because of this, moksha
itself sought Prahlada.
Though born among demons, three notable figures
have achieved distinction in the pursuit of the Purusharthas and
sanctified their lives. They are Prahlada, Bali, and Vibhishana.
By ancient scriptures, Virochana was the son of the great devotee
Prahlada. He was, however, different from his father. He was a
staunch materialist. He followed the hedonistic philosophy of
Charvaka. Emperor Bali, who was the soul of goodness and purity, was
Virochana's son. He looked after the welfare of his people as if
they were his own children. He earned the love and esteem of his
citizens, whom he regarded as limbs of his own body. There was
complete harmony between the people and the ruler.
(In the world, there are many number of persons
who derive inspiration from Prahlada and Bali. There are also many,
who take the cue from Virochana. The Jagat (world) will not be what
it is, if such variations did not exist).
By legend, Bali once embarked upon the performance of a great
sacrifice known as Viswajit (conquest of the Universe). This
provoked the apprehension of Indra (the Lord of the Devas i.e.
celestials beings, deities) and the Devas. In all ages, there have
always been people, who are envious of or antagonistic to those who
are prosperous, eminent, or extremely good. The latter have had to
face troubles from such envious persons.
(Rama was subject to many hardships from
evil-minded persons. Harischandra suffered many ordeals from a Rishi.
The Pandavas, who were the very embodiment of dharma, had to endure
numerous troubles caused by the envious Kauravas. Jesus, who was the
personification of self-sacrifice, was a victim of the hatred of
those who were envious of his popularity and resented his teachings.
The prophet Mohammed had to flee from Mecca because of the enmity of
some people who were opposed to his message).
Bali wanted to ensure peace and prosperity for the entire world
under his beneficent reign and commenced the Viswajit Yaga for this
purpose. The Devas became apprehensive and jealous when Bali was
performing this yaga. They approached Lord Narayana and prayed to
Him: "Bali, who is demon by birth, is attempting to bring the whole
Universe under his sway by performing the Viswajit Yaga. You must
save the world from this danger of the whole world coming under the
rule of Rakshasas, by diverting his mind from this course.
The Lord, who knew the greatness of Bali, his noble qualities and
his devotion to God, formally acceded to the Devas prayers but
decided to confer the highest blessings on Bali. For this purpose He
incarnated in Siddhasram (a hermitage shown to Rama and Lakshmana by
Viswamitra) as Vamana (dwarf incarnation of Vishnu) and went to
Bali's yajna-sala to ask for a gift. Pure-hearted as he was, Bali
could instantly recognise the radiance on the face of the young
Vamana. He asked Vamana: "Swami, what is it you seek at this Yajna?
I have decided to renounce everything I possess to redeem my life."
Vamanamurthi was short in stature, but the
whole Universe was immanent in Him. He asked for an apparently small
gift from Bali - nothing more than three lengths of ground measured
by his feet. Bali felt that for a ruler of the vast earth, this was
too small a gift and he agreed. That very moment, Vamana assumed the
immeasurable form of Trivikrama, the Supreme Lord of the three
worlds. With one step, He covered the entire Earth. With the second
step, He covered the whole of space and asked Bali where He should
place his foot for the third step. Bali knelt before the Lord and
said: "Oh Lord! What can I offer you except the body and heart,
which you have given to me? I pray to you to place your foot on my
head." Bali was thus the supreme embodiment of self-sacrifice, who
did not hesitate to offer everything he had to the Lord.
Seeing the anguish of his loving people at this turn of events at
the Yajna, Bali made one request to the Lord before he was sent to
his heavenly abode by the Lord's third step. He said: "Oh Lord! I am
indeed happy that I have been sanctified by your divine feet and
achieved the bliss of liberation. However, I do not wish to leave my
loving people in the agony that they are feeling. Please allow me
once a year, in the month of Sravan, during the consolation of
Sravana, to visit my people." He asked for this boon out of his
boundless love for his people. The Lord granted this boon.
From this boon the Onam festival was born. It
signifies the enormous love Bali had for the people of his realm.
Bali, who appears on that day from the netherworld, is considered as
appearing in the new garb of love of the people for whose sake he
was coming.
All through history, the devotees of God have had to endure many
ordeals and privations, but they never lost their faith in God.
The people of Kerala should be proud of the fact that their land is
sacred in many ways. It has created by an Avatar of the Divine. It
is the land where Prahlada and Bali were born. It witnesses the
advent of the Vamana Avatar.
Probably it was the purpose, why Swami with His
own presence recently directed to perform the ARMY namely in Kerala.
By another legend Kerala is a land that has won the love of the Lord
in a special way. In olden days, it has noted for its devotion and
godliness. Kerala is also known as Parasurama Kshetra. How did it
acquire that name? Parasurama is one of the avatars of Vishnu. When
Parasurama's father (Jamadagni) was beheaded by a Kshatriya king,
his mother Renuka, cried in anguish: "Rama! Rama!" Parasurama, who
was away from the ashram, could ethereally hear the cries of his
mother from afar and rushed home. He counted that his mother had
called his name twenty one times. On reaching the ashram he saw his
father's head severed from the body. The horrible crime had been
committed by Kartavirya's sons. Parasurama took a vow to wage war
against the vile Kshatriya rulers twenty one times and end their
rule all over the Earth.
Parasurama accomplished his mission by
defeating the Kshatriya kings twenty one times and came to his
ashram to pray to his ancestors for restoring his father's life. The
sage Bharadwaja, to whose gotra Jamadagni belonged, appeared before
Parasurama and restored Jamadagni to life by placing the head and
body together.
After this, Parasurama felt that the purpose of
his advent had been achieved and as he had no desire to be a ruler,
he made a gift of all the territories he had conquered to the Sage
Kashyapa.
He felt that having given away everything, this
would not be right for him to remain on the land he had gifted. He
decided to reclaim land from the sea and settle down on that
territory for the rest of his life. It is this area that is known as
Parasurama Kshetra - also known as Kerala. He performed penance on a
mountain called Mahesa, which is situated in Kerala, a land with
sacred traditions.
The natural beauty of Kerala cannot be
described in words. It has to be seen and enjoyed. Kerala has been
uniquely blessed by Providence.
In such a sacred and well-endowed country, the
whirligig of time has wrought some changes. The passage of time and
the vicissitudes of circumstances have affected the minds of people.
Differences have arisen between people and hatred has grown among
various sections. In spite of these changes, however, the spirit of
devotion among the people has remained.
Today when we find the educational trends over the world going
astray and causing anxiety to parents and society. We need to
reiterate our old values, according to which an education based on
our cultural heritage can alone lead one to real education - Atma
Vidya - the state of selfrealision.
It is the duty of every human being to
understand and respect his parents. Similarly, in a nation it is the
duty of every national to assimilate and appreciate the historical
and cultural background of the nation and consider these two factors
as his father and mother. Students and similarly all people of the
Earth should have faith in omnipresent God (i.e. Atma, Cosmic
Consciousness, Swami's Cosmic Form) and bow their heads only to the
Divine. They have to adhere to basic qualities such as truth,
righteousness, forbearance and self-sacrifice, which are common to
all people without regard to nationality, creed or language.
(Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks,
Vol. 1. "Sharanaagathi," Chapter 2; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 13.
"Thirty-five and sixty-five," Chapter 10; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.
15, "Light and warmth," Chapter 10; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 19. "The
ways of the Divine," Chapter 6 and "Sanctified by three Avatars,"
Chapter 19.; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 21. "Earn God's Love," Chapter
4).
Namaste - Reet |
