Bhagawans' Divine Discourse on 28/04/1999 in Sai Sruthi, Kodaikanal
Bend the senses End the mind This is the principle governing the Bharathiya culture. Every Bharatiya is inheritor of this legacy. The inheritors should adopt this principle in true spirit and get liberation. The person who abuses another and the one who is abused are one and the same. What will be the result? It amounts to abusing oneself. The abuser is Atma and the abused is also the same Atma. Who reprimands whom? The principle of Atma is the same in all. Basing on this, scriptures declared that Truth is one only but spoken of as many. For example, there
is water in the tumbler before me. Tamilians call it 'Thanneer',
Telugu people call it 'Needu',
Hindi people call it 'Paani'
and English people call it 'water'.
Though it is called in
Even though lakhs
and lakhs of years have passed since human life came into the world, man
is not yet able to know the Truth about himself. The creation is the manifestation
of the will of God. "Ekoham Bahusyam," the one God manifested Himself
in multitudinous forms as He himself
The Srishti (creation) came from Parameshti (Super Power). An individual man is part of Samashti (society), he is not separate from it. Without Srishti, no Samashti and without Samashti there cannot be the individual (vyakthi). Prameshti is the cause of Srishti. You should understand correctly the relationship between God and man. Just as man has limbs such as hands, feet, head etc., which constitute his body, man is also a limb of society; society is the limb of Nature (srishti); Nature (creation) is the limb of God (the creator). Thus you will see the relationship is so intimate that man is part or limbs of God. All human beings are just limbs of the same body of God. If one realizes this, one will not abuse or criticize others, as they are also limbs of the same body. Once a noble and
saintly man was proceeding to a village. Another person who followed
him went on abusing the former, using strong words of condemnation and
calumny. The noble person never heeded these abuses. He did not show
any sign of worry or anger at the heap of abuses hurled
The person who was abusing the noble man was moved by this action of the latter and thought to himself "He is beyond praise and blame. He has kept his cool in the face of even grave provocation. He must be very great and is worthy of worship." With these thoughts he fell at the feet of the noble man and exclaimed, "Sir, even though I abused you so much, you never showed the slightest sign of anger." The noble man replied, "The Atma in you and I is the same. So abusing from the Atma aspect is abusing yourself. If you look from the body aspect, by abusing the body, I should welcome it because I am myself disgusted with the body which is full of foul smelling excreta and other matter." Thinking that you
are the body is 'Brma' or illusion [Brahma is God; Brma is illusion].
This means you are seeing multiplicity in unity. On the other hand,
when you see unity in multiplicity, it is "Brahma Thathwa". If you want
to know Brahmam or God, you have to first know the creation or
Narada could reach
Kailash, the abode of Shiva or Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu in a trifling
moment. Once, on his visit to Vaikunta, Narada met Vishnu and paid
his obeisance. Vishnu wanted to test him and said, "Narada, you have
no work to do. Of course you sanctify the time by
Narada said, "Water is great and the best as it occupies three parts of the world, while earth occupies only one part." Vishnu said, "Sage Agasthya could swallow he entire water in one gulp. Is he not greater?" Narada said," Yes Agasthya is great." Vishnu interjected, "Agasthya is just a star in the vast expansive sky." Narada said, "Yes, sky is greater." Vishnu went on further to say , "Vamana asked Mahabali for that extent of land measuring to three steps by his foot. Vamana grew up as Trivikrama and measured the whole world by one foot and the sky with other foot. As he had no other place for the third step, Mahabali offered his head, and Vamana placed his foot on his head. Is not Vamana's foot greater than the sky?" Narada had to say, "Yes, The Lord's foot is greater than anything." Vishnu still pursued and said, "Such huge feet of Lord assumes tiny form and get enshrined in the devotee's heart." So the devotee's heart is greater than even the Lord's feet. The infinite Lord assumes the form of an atom to be enshrined in the heart of a devotee. That is why He is described as "Anooranooyaan, Mahatho maheeyam". He is tinier than the tiny atom (microcosm) and bigger than the mighty universe( macrocosm). How can you describe the full the glory of God? You must make efforts to understand the culture of Bharat. This teaches you that there is no use of getting fame that one is great. One should get the fame that he is good. In Ramayana, Ravana was hailed as a great man; but Rama was hailed as good. The great man sees man in God. The good man sees God in man. Goodness is to see the divine in every one. The vedas declare, "Sarvam Kalu Idham Brahma" ; "Isawasyam Idham Sarvam" ; "Sarvam Vishnu Mayam Jagath". The one that finds God in human is divine, but the one that considers God as human is a bad man. What is the difference between man and God? One that sees individuality is man. But God sees all as His manifestation. An ordinary man always sees the differences. A noble person sees the Samashti or the society. Still better people look at the entire srishti as creation. A paramahamsa is one who sees God everywhere. His heart is like a lotus. What is the nature of Lotus? Though it is coming out mud and sustaining in water, it never allows mud or water to stick to it. Similarly, the Paramahamsa never cares about the past which is akin to mud, and future is akin to water. Just as the Lotus does not allow mud or water to stick to it, Paramahamsa does not allow either the past or future to bother him but lives only in the present. Such a precious human life is wasted by people now. The reason for this is two fold: one being ego and the other attachment. Another great enemy of man is jealousy which is between ego and attachment. However great one may be, whatever scholarship one may have acquired or whatever virtues one may have acquired, once jealousy sets in, all the virtues an scholarships will be of no avail in saving him from ruin. A well grown tree lush with green leaves and blossoming flowers will be completely ruined and become dead if the pest enters and affects the tree well down to the roots. Jealousy can be compared to this pest. The Kauravas in Mahabharatha
were fully charged with jealousy. Jealousy makes a man unhappy,
when the others are prosperous or wealthy and healthy, Jealousy has
three off springs of lust, anger and greed. The sister of jealousy (Asuya)
is Anasuya, that is one with good qualities.
Asuya, or jealousy is fraught with limitless danger. It ruins man completely. It is contrary to the culture of Bharat. Bharat follows the Upanishadic principle, Sahanaa
Bavathu
Let
us grow together and move together
Look at the words of Bharatiya culture. Culture is one that refines. Today our people have forgotten this. They are going down to animality. You should make efforts to live as human beings reflecting humanity. Man is indulging in many spiritual practices too. You should remember that the body is like a tender banana leaf. In this leaf, the nectarine principles of five pranas (vital air) and the five senses are there. These serve as the food (Pancha-Paksha-Paramaannam) consisting of the cooked rice with five types of dishes. To whom are you offering this food? You are offering it to the demons (You are indulging in the enjoyment of Carnal pleasures with five senses.) When this body becomes old and shattered, you offer it to God. This is utter misdeed. When you are young and your body is tender with all vitality, you should offer it to God. How? By following the principles of Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Santhi (Peace), Prema (Love) and Ahimsa (non-violence). You have to lead a virtuous and useful life when the body is like tender banana leaf which is so soft and smooth and attractive. You have to offer all your activities to God and do your work as worship to God even while you are young. Some people postpone their worship of God to the stage after retirement. Where is the guarantee that you will have time even then? Some people want to work even after retirement. No doubt, you must do your duty to your family and discharge your duty in the filed of your profession or service. But always feel the presence of God in your heart. The term "Manava" for man implies the following: Maa
- means ignoraance.
You must conduct yourself without ignorance. Another meaning is: Maa
- Not nava (You
are not new) You have been through several
lives. You know naturally how to lead a useful and worthy life.
For example, a cow yields a calf. Immediately the calf
goes towards the udder to suck milk. This is the case even among
humans as baby after birth goes
You have taken many
births but you are yet to realise God. Mere repetition of Rama Nama
is not enough. You should have full faith (Viswaasa).
Viswaasa is Swaasa
(Breath). Faith is like breath.
Without
breath you cannot live
Without faith one cannot be blissful. You have to progress in the above order to enjoy bliss. Bliss is always in you, around you, behind you, in front of you. What is it that you are searching for when you already have this bliss in you? The way to experience this Bliss is what I mentioned in the beginning: Bend the body, Mend the senses, and end the mind. This is the principle of life. You must lead such a meaningful life and reach your goal. "Karthavyam Yoga Vichyathe" Doing your duty is yoga. People do not want yoga but want 'Udyoga' (Job). In the job you may get promotion but you have to face retirement too. But in yoga, there is neither retirement nor promotion. "Yogaha Karmassu Kousalyam" - Yoga is discharging your duty efficiently. God has ingrained mystery in creation. No one can deny the beauty in Nature. At sunrise the sky looks golden in hue. Creation is so beautiful. If the creation is so beautiful, how more beautiful should the creator be? The mystery of Divinity is indescribable. So long as you are alive and fit you should do your duty and spend time with feelings of Love. 'Samvathsara' meaning year is one name of God. So time is form of God. You say ,"New Year". The kaala or time is coming in a new form. God, when He incarnates in form of man, it is a new era. But God is present in every heart. Atma is enshrined in body. Body and Atma are interdependent. You must keep body in sound health to experience the bliss of God and not to fritter away in eating, sleeping and not to reveling in carnal pleasures. All works to be done as offering to God, and to please God, avoiding those which will not please God. You should not wait till your hair becomes Grey, you have wrinkles and folds in your face and your limbs become shaky. Start early, Drive slowly, reach safely; is the principle you should adopt even for life's journey. You should start your Sadhana even while you are young. The body is like a leather doll and it may wither away any time. Chinmaya (Awareness), the Prajnana is within this minmaya- The precious jewel of Divinity is enshrined in this iron chest of body. You keep only precious jewels in an iron chest. In this leather puppet the most precious Atma is dwelling. That is infinite Bliss which is Atmananda, Adwaithananda, Amritananda, Amaraananda, and Brahmananda. All these are in body. You need not visit holy places for getting the Ananda. It is in you. Don't bother about problems. They are like passing clouds. The permanent cloud is beyond body. Embodiments of Love: You are all embodiment of Divine. God is in you as spirit. Make good use of your time in Truth, righteousness with full knowledge of God is in your Heart. Keep it pure, free from anger and hatred. Fill your head with Love. You should
ask for only bliss and peace from God. It is said in Geeta:
You have to pray for proximity to the Divine. By Prema (Love) you can capture the world and also God. You must pray to God, for by getting Him, all little things you can also get as He is the creator of all. Once a king prayed to God for progeny as he had no issues. While praying he said, "Oh God, I want to see a great grand son before I breathe my last". In this prayer, you may note many things. It contains first he has to live for such a long time; he should have the kingdom; he should get a son, and the son should get a son who will be his grandson. This grandson has to get a son to be his great grand son and he has to live till then. If only one prays to God, he should pray for welfare of all, giving him chance to love all and serve all. Man is troubled with many types of worries. Life is a worry; birth, death and so on. How can one be free from worry? Divine Love is the only panacea for this all of worry. It is only by yearning from within that you get this divine love. You must make effort to get Divine Love. [Bhagavan concluded
the discourse with Bhajans:
- Notes taken down by Sri. Srinivasa Raghavan |
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