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Love is the way
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Where has this bloodless dejection come from, not entertained by
noble men, and not leading to heaven- but rather to ignominy, how has it
so overpowered you in this crisis!?
-Bhagavad Geetaa 2:2
PREMA AND THE TRIPLE PURITY
Embodiments of Divine Love!
He who recognizes that the Atma in him and in all beings is one and the
same dwells in the constant presence of God, whether he is a
householder or a renunciant, whether he is alone or in a crowd.
Everyone has to recognize the divinity that is inherent in all
human beings.
The sage Narada declared: "Love is the embodiment of ambrosia ("Prema
amritasya swarupah"). In the mundane world, man considers the
four "Purushaarthas" (the four goals of life) as the means to
Liberation (Moksha). This is not correct. Dharma (Righteousness), ;
Artha (material wealth), Kama (the satisfaction of desires) and
Moksha (Liberation) which are considered the four aims of human
existence, are not all. There is a fifth aim for mankind which
transcends even Liberation (Moksha). This is "Parama Prema" (Supreme
love). This Love Principle is Divine.
Love and God are not distinct from each other. God is love and love is
God. It is only when the truth of this Love Principle is understood
that the meaning of human existence can be realized.
[Swami then sang this poem]
The Sai Lord is the embodiment of Love, who
taught the Love Principle,
proclaimed the equality of all beings,
and revealed the preciousness of humanness.
In a home where three persons live, if they have harmony amongst them
and cooperate with each other, verily that home is heaven itself,
where divine bliss reigns. If, on the contrary, the three
persons lack harmony and adjustment, dislike each other and behave
as enemies, there can be no hell worse than that.
PURITY IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED
Heaven and hell are dependent on the conduct of people. The body is a
home wherein reside three entities called mind (manas), speech (vaak),
and limbs, (organs of action). True humanness consists in the unity of
thought word and deed. ln Vedantic parlance, this unity was easy
described as "Trikarana Suddhi" (triple purity). True liberation
(moksha) consists in giving expression in words to the thoughts
which arise in the mind and to practice what one says. The ancients
considered this triple unity as a form of yoga. "Manas ekam, vachas
ekam, karmanyekam mahaatmaanam" (Those whose mind, words and deeds
are in complete accord are high-souled beings). "Manas anyath vachas
anyath karmanyanath duraathmaanam" (The wicked are those whose thoughts
differ from their words and actions).
Hence every person should strive to achieve unity in thought, word and
deed. That is the hallmark of humanness.
This profound truth is proclaimed by the Vedantic pronouncement that
the body is a temple in which the eternal Atma is the Indweller. The
Veda is dualistic. Vedanta is monistic. (Advaita). The essence of
Vedanta is the triune unity of thought word and deed. In this unity,
true bliss can be experienced. It will also demonstrate the spiritual
basis of divinity.
PRECEPT AND PRACTICE
There are today countless numbers of scholars who expound the Vedanta
and they have numerous listeners. The outcome of all this is precious
little. This is because there is no practice of the teachings of
Vedanta. All study of Vedanta is of no avail if the precepts are not
practiced.
People have to find out what are the easy methods of putting into
practice the precepts of Vedanta. The easiest way is to cultivate
harmony in thought, word and deed.
[Sai sings]
Can the world's darkness be dispelled
by talking about the glory of light?
Can a diseased man's afflictions be
relieved by praising panaceas?
Can a destitute's poverty be relieved by
listening to the greatness of wealth?
Can a starving man's hunger be appeased
by descriptions of delicacies?
Rather than listening to a ton of precept, it is better to practice
one ounce of teaching.
SELFLESS SERVICE THE MEANS
What we have to practice today is something very easy and very subtle.
The spirit of service is the royal path to be followed. How is this
spirit of service to be cultivated? The Gita lays stress on the word
"Suhrid" (friend). Who is a true friend? Can he be utterly selfless?
Will he help you without expecting any return? Whether it be one's
mother, husband, wife or son , they love you for their own selfish
reasons. A totally selfless friend cannot be found in the world. It is
hard to find anyone who renders service totally without self-interest.
God alone is totally selfless as friend and benefactor. God has been
described as "Suhrid" - a friend who is your alter ego. God seeks no
reward of any kind. There is no trace of self-interest in Him. God
alone can be utterly selfless and loving, expecting nothing in
return.
THE ROYAL ROAD
If you ask a friend where he is residing, he will give a certain
address. But this address relates only to the residence of the body.
But the true residence of one is his Atma (the Self). This Atma is
the embodiment of Love. Therefore, you have to dwell in Love and live
in Love. You must dedicate your life to that love. If you devote your
life to the pursuit of impermanent things, you will only get
ephemeral things. You must seek what is lasting and permanent. What
is it? When you take to the royal road of following God's injunction,
you will realize all your desires.
You must remember, however, that these desires only bind you the
more you cherish them. The bonds get reduced when desires are
reduced. There must be a limit to desires.
CULTIVATE VAIRAGYA
Similarly there must be restraint in developing attachments. There is
grief when a person dies in a family. Is death the cause of grief? No.
It is the attachment to the dead person that is the cause of grief.
The process of getting rid of attachment has been described in
Vedantic parlance as "vairagya." Gradually attachments should be
eliminated. In the journey of life the less luggage you carry the
greater the comfort you experience.
It may be asked : how is it possible to reduce attachments and
desires in worldly life? The answer is : Carry on your business or
other activities in a spirit of dedication to the Divine. All actions
should be done with the conviction they are dedicated to the Lord.
This is an easy path to follow. Consider all actions as actions
performed by the power of the Divine, whether it be seeing or
hearing or speaking or doing. Without the power of the Divine, can the
eyes see or the ears hear?
THE DIVINE SOURCE
The primary requisite for Man to realize the divine potency in him is
the source of all the faculties and talents in him. This is true
whether one is an atheist, a theist or an agnostic. No one in the
world can get on without this energy. It may be called by
different names. Names are not important. The energy is one. It is this
divine energy which directs mankind on the right path. Men should
strive to recognize the Presence of the Divine even in small things.
In his speech earlier today Anil Kumar spoke about the Sai
Organizations. The Sai Organizations are carrying on their activities
with devotion and dedication. But they do not try to find out what
should be the ideal to be achieved. "Are you engaged in this work for
your satisfaction or for the satisfaction of Divine?" This is the
question they should ask of themselves.
In this context an incident from the Bible may be recalled. Once a
devotee went to Jesus and asked him: Oh Lord! What is the power by
which one can protect Oneself ? Jesus replied: "Son! When you love
GOD, that power itself will protect you." In the Bhagavad Gita,
Arjuna asked Krishna, "What should one do to earn the love of the
Lord?" The Lord replied: "You simpleton! You imagine you are
loving GOD. The truth is GOD is seeking a true devotee."
Crores of people all over the world are in quest of God. But where are
they searching for Him? In my view, the very idea of a quest for God
is mistaken. There is no need for you to search for God. God is
omnipresent. He is everywhere. Devotees imagine they are
searching for GOD. This is not true. It is God who is in search of
devotees. "Where is the devotee to be found who is pure in thought,
word and deed?" God is searching for such a devotee.
You need not search for God. God is nearer to you than your mother and
father. You yourself are divine. How can you go in search of
yourself? This is the mistake you commit. When everything is
permeated by the Divine, who is the searcher of the Divine? It is
because the world has lacked men who could proclaim this Vedantic truth
with authentic experience that it has sunk to such degrading levels.
"LOVE ALL : SERVE ALL"
lt is needless to search for GOD. Verily you are the Divine. Strive to
realize this truth. There is a simple and easy way. Have the
faith that every human being is an embodiment of the Divine. Love
everyone. Serve all. The best way to love God is to love all, serve
all.
You must love everyone because God is in everyone. Every human
being is a manifestation of God. On the cosmic stage every man
identifies himself with the form and name given to him. But he does not
realize what is his true form and name.
Last night you witnessed the film in which Anjalidevi acted the role
of Sakkubai. ln the film she appeared as Sakkubai and not Anjalidevi.
But both are one and the same person. God takes on a human form and
appears as a human being. But when the human being recognizes his
basic divine nature he becomes the Divine. As long as one thinks he
is a mere human, he remains a human. But when he considers himself as
Divine with deep conviction, he will be transformed into the Divine.
GOD AND THE COSMOS
Hence, thoughts and feelings determine what you are. Change your
thoughts. If you give up your world outlook and view the world from
the spiritual point of view, the world (Viswam) and the Divine
Vishnu) will become one. Therefore, change your viewpoint. Instead
of altering his vision (drishti) man wants to change creation
(Srishti). No one can change creation. It is one's vision that has to
be changed.
If you wish to experience oneness, you have to see the cosmos through
the glass of spiritual oneness (Ekaatma-bhaava). Otherwise, the
world will appear as a bewildering multiplicity because you will be
seeing it through the glasses of the three Gunas - Satva, Rajas,
Thamas. Put aside these three glasses. Wear the glass of
"Ekaatmabhaava," the feeling of unity in Spirit. Love is one. "The
Supreme is One though the wise call it by many names."
SWAMI AND DEVOTEES
The Divine has to proclaim this unity when GOD comes in human form
and lives and moves among human beings. The Divine has no likes or
dislikes. He has no distinction of "mine" and "thine." He is beyond
praise or censure. How then should the Divine (in human form)
conduct Himself? Everyone should understand this. Many bemoan the
fact that Swami does not speak to them despite their frequent
visits. "Is Swami angry with us?" they ask. These are not mental
aberrations. They are due to total ignorance. Such questions arise in
their minds only when they have not understood Swami's real nature.
I have no antipathy towards anyone. I do not hate anyone. All are
mine. And I belong to everybody. But in dealing with devotees, I have
to behave like a doctor who prescribes a specific diet for each
patient. For instance there is a patient suffering from diabetes. He
should not consume sweets. If a devotee feels, "I enjoy sweets, why
should the Sai Mother prohibit me from eating sweets?", the answer
is that it is for his own good. If Swami did not have the patient's
well-being in view, He would let him suffer by giving him sweets. It
is out of love for the devotee that the Sai Mother denies sweets to
him. Swami adopts these different regimens in the interest of
curing the devotees' ailments.
STUDENTS AND SWAMI
There are others with a different kind of grievance. For instance,
the students often complain that Swami does not talk to them because He
is angry with them. I have no anger towards anyone. Whether you
believe it or not, I do not know what anger means. But, occasionally I
appear as if I am very angry. This is unavoidable because without
such assumed behaviour on my part, the students will not heed my words.
I tell them to behave in a certain way. Some students heed my words
and try to act up to them. Some others go against my injunctions. ln
such a situation, I have to ensure respect for my words. Of what use
is it to speak to those who attach no value to my words? I don't intend
to devalue my words.
Truth is the life of the plighted word. My words bear the imprint of
truth. I cannot depart from truth. I don't speak to those who attach
no value to my words. This should be realized by those who complain
that Swami does not talk to them. When people heed my words, I am
ready to help them in every way and confer happiness on them. I do
nothing for my own sake. This is my truth.
FOR YOUR SAKE
The Super-Specialty Hospital has been built at the cost of many crores.
Was it for my sake? Similarly, the University has been established by
spending crores of rupees. For whose sake? This magnificent hall
(attached to the Mandir) has been erected to protect devotees from heat
and rain. Am I sleeping in this hall? Everything I do is for your
sake. l am surprised that you do not recognize this. Can devotees be
so lacking in intelligence? There is no trace of selfishness in me
anywhere. I have no fear of any sort. Only the guilty man is racked
by fear. I have done no wrong to anybody and so I have no fear. But I
am subservient to devotees.
Not realizing this truth some people imagine that Swami is angry or
ill-disposed towards them. Get rid of such mistaken feelings. Be
convinced that whatever Swami tells you is for your own good and
act up to it. I gain nothing by your good behaviour. I don't lose
anything by your misconduct. Because I love you I do not want
you to suffer from the consequences of your misconduct.
UNDERSTAND GOD'S LOVE
Turning to God's love, let me make it clear that 99 percent of
devotees do not understand what this (Prema) means: This love is
construed in a worldly sense. This leads them astray, The
attachment between husband and wife, mother and child, between
friends, between kith and kin, all are loosely described as Prema, but
these attachments are the result of temporary relationships and are
by their nature transient. Prema is `Trikaalabaadhyam.' Love is
that which lasts through all the three categories of time - the past,
the present and the future. Such love can exist only between God and
the devotee and cannot apply to any other kind of relationship.
It is not easy for you to comprehend the true nature of God's love.
You are aware only of worldly attachments which are subject to ups
and downs. What is liable to such changes cannot be called love. True
love is unchanging. It is Divine. Love is God. Live in love.
Embark on this path of love. You are liable to feel elated over
trivial pleasures or depressed over petty losses. God's love is
permanent and unvarying. Try to understand that love. How is it to be
done? By cultivating the feeling that whatever happens to you, whether
pleasant or unpleasant, is for your own good. When you have that
conviction, the value of God's love for you goes up.
SPREAD GOD'S NAME
Most people feel the boundless joy of God's love as long as they
are in the presence of Swami. But this feeling evaporates once they
are in the environment of the outside world. You must see that the same
sacred environment exists wherever you may be by carrying your devotion
wherever you go and spreading the Divine message to every nook and
corner of the country. Chant the name of the Lord wherever you are, in
the village, in the street, in every home and in your speech and songs.
This is the way to ensure that your love of GOD remains unshaken and
unabated.
God derives no benefit from this, as He has no desires. He wants
nothing. lt is only for your own good. "Uddhareth Aatmanaa Aatmaanam"
("Elevate yourself by your own self-effort'). Failing to recognise
this truth, many people imagine that Sai Baba is holding Akhanda
bhajans and celebrating various festivals to glorify his name. They
are utterly foolish persons. Sai Baba seeks nothing from anyone. You
improve yourselves. Become better. Experience your bliss. Make your
lives sublime. Utilise these festivals and devotional activities for
this purpose.
SATHYAM, SIVAM, SUNDARAM
Embodiments of love. As love is verily your form, manifest it in every
way. Share it with others.
The Lord is the Indweller in the heart ("Hridayavaasi").
[Sai Sings]
Sarvabhoothodharam Saantham
Sarvanaamadharam Sivam
Satchithaananda Roopam Advaitam
Sathyam Sivam Sundaram
The sustainer of all beings, Peace incarnate;
the bearer of all names, Sivam;
Embodiment of Sat-Chit-Ananda,
the One without a second
He is Truth, Goodness and Beauty.
The Greek philosopher Plato - who was the teacher of Aristotle, under
whom Alexander studied - declared three things as fundamental
verities: Truth, Goodness and Beauty. These are the same terms as
"Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram" used by the Indian sages to describe the
Divine.
Thus in all religions and philosophies through the ages, these three
have been declared as the forms of the Divine Atma. Truth is the form
of the Divine. Love is the form of the Divine. Righteousness
(Dharma) is the form of the Divine.
THE MOTHER AND THE MOTHERLAND
The first impulse that emanated from man was love (Prema). All other
things came thereafter. Every child that is born develops immediately
love for the mother. Every child tries to recognise at the outset the
mother and the father. In the same manner every individual should
recognise the land of his birth and his cultural heritage (Samskriti).
One's nation and one's culture should be revered as one's parents.
The nation is one's mother. One's culture is the father. This
profound truth was proclaimed by Rama when he declared: "The mother
and the Motherland are greater than Heaven Itself." Love the
mother. Love your country's culture. These are the two primary
duties of every man. They should be the main aims of life.
When people follow this path of truth and righteousness, love will
sprout naturally in their hearts. All knowledge and scholarship are
of no avail if there is no practice of virtue. Practice at least one
of the teachings and experience joy.
Embodiments of love: Devotees from East and West Godavari, Guntur
and Krishna districts rejoiced in the celebration of what they
described as the Golden Jubilee of the Sai Movement. There is no need
to seek a reason for experiencing joy. "Sarvadaa sarvakaaleshu
sarvathra Harichinthanam" (Always, at all times and in all places
contemplate on Hari. Make every moment a holy day. Invest every word
with the power of a mantra (sacred formula). Sanctify the ground you
tread on. Make this the mission of your life. Without wasting a
single moment use all the time you can find to spread the message of
the Lord's name to every nook and comer of India. Today we are
witnessing corruption, violence, wickedness and malpractices
everywhere. The basic reason for all these is selfishness. Insatiable
desires are at the root of these evils. By chanting the Lord's name,
desires can be reduced, while legitimate wishes get fulfilled.
Sakkubai prayed and yearned to go to Pandharpur for darshan of
Panduranga. She endured all kinds of troubles and indignities and
earned the Lord's grace. How can you get GOD's grace without undergoing
trials? You know what severe processes gold goes through from the
crucible onwards before an ornament is made. There can be no happiness
without pain. When you desire the welfare of someone, you must be
prepared to let him face the ordeals which are necessary before he can
experience what is good for him. Pleasure and pain go together in this
world. In the Gita the Lord says He is both the Kshetra (the body) -
and the Kshetrajna (the Indwelling Knower).
What people have to learn today is to give up attachments to the things
of the world and seek the love of GOD. When one cultivates the love of
God, renouncing worldly things becomes as simple as leaving hold of a
handkerchief. Clinging to property is difficult. Giving it up is easy,
when people have understood the meaning of God's love.
Let people, wherever they may be, in villages or towns, cultivate
faith in God, develop love and share it with one all. Then they will
experience ineffable bliss. Liberation will not come though meditation
or penance. Love is the only means. When you render service with
love, it will become meditation, penance and all else. Love is the
fifth "Purushaartha", the supreme goal of life. Love is also the
panacea for all the ills that afflict society today. Hate is the
cause of all ills. Hence hatred should be banished, as declared by
the Gita.
Don't give room for any evil feelings in your heart, which is the seat
of God. Dedicate your minds to God. In due course, you will merge in
the Divine and become one with God.
[Bhagavan concluded His discourse with the bhajan: "Bhaja
Govindam." Swami then addressed a few words to the devotees from
Andhra Pradesh exhorting them to carry the message of
Namasmarana to every place in Andhra Pradesh and make this their
main task in life.]
-from Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Discourse in the Poornachandra
Auditorium the evening of January 14, 1995
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