Date: 5 Feb 1998 Chinese New Year-Place:

Buddha's Gospel of the Good Life
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Embodiments of Divine Love!

Man today is acquiring various types of knowledge. Among these he is learning how to live and act like lions and other animals.

What is the meaning of knowledge (Jnana)? It is not mere acquaintance with numerous books. Even the acquisition of information about all the objects in the animate and inanimate is not knowledge. True knowledge is awareness of the relationship between the individual and collective (Samashti) and their oneness.

Men today do not recognize the nature their humanness. How can they recognize their inherent divinity?

It is only when man is aware of his humanness that he will be competent to recognize his divinity. How then, is man to reach humanness? What is the means? Buddha undertook various inquiries to discover the Divine and came to the conclusion that it is only through mastery over his senses he can achieve this. Man has to make the right use of his senses for sacred purposes to realize his divinity.

"Samyag-Darsanam'

Hence, Buddha declared that the first requisite is Samyag-darsanam (Having the right vision). The implication of this statement is that, having been bestowed with the great gift of eyes, man should use them for seeing sacred objects and holy beings. But, on the contrary, by using his eyes to look at unsacred objects and evil persons, man fills himself with bad thoughts and becomes a prey to evil tendencies. What one sees influences the feelings in the heart. The state of the heart determines the nature of one's thoughts. The thoughts influence one's life.

Hence to lead a good life the first requisite is a pure vision. Man has to cultivate sacred outlook. As a result of looking at cruel, ugly, and wicked scenes man leads an animal existence. The very first inquiry one should make is to ascertain what is pure, edifying, and godly that he should see. Whatever he sees leaves its imprint on man. Few realize the effects of this.
Human life today is racked by anxiety, misery, unrest and troubles of various kinds. The root cause of all this is that man is witnessing what is repulsive, wicked and demeaning. For transforming one's life, the first requisite is a proper vision. The eye (netra) is comparable to a spiritual text (Sastra) and one's vision (drishti) determines one's views of the Cosmos (Srishti). Hence to acquire the highest knowledge one has to purify the vision. This means one should avoid seeing what is obnoxious. One should strive to see only that which is sacred and pure. What man sees is like seeds sown in the heart. Evil scenes give rise to evil thoughts. Good scenes evoke good thoughts. When sacred scenes are implanted in the heart there will be no room for bad feelings or thoughts to grow in the heart.

Purity in Speech

This was the first lesson Buddha taught. Buddha wandered all over the country in search of spiritual peace and liberation. After many years of inquiry he came to the conclusion that the secret of spiritual wisdom was not to be got from scholars or by study. He realized that spiritual understanding could only come from mastery of the senses. From developing sacred vision, man should proceed to Samyag Vachanam (sacred speech). Buddha declared that only sacred thoughts could lead to sacred speech. Buddha declared that the tongue should not be used recklessly to utter whatever one thinks. The tongue has been given to speak the truth, to expatiate on what is sacred and pure. The tongue has not been given to man to pamper the palate with delicious sweets. It is not given for talking as one likes. It is not to be used for causing displeasure to others. Nor is it to be used for indulging in falsehood. The tongue has been given to man to speak the truth, to be sweet to others, to praise the Divine and enjoy the bliss derived from such sacred speech.

There are people who devote their entire time to reading all kinds of books, without trying to put into practice what they learn from such reading. What is the use of such reading? Buddha spoke out against scholarship unrelated to the good life. He carried out a great deal of study and met many great men. He listened to many discourses. He realized that true knowledge could not be got by these means. He realized that a pure, unsullied consciousness confers the highest knowledge. True knowledge is derived from a pure inner consciousness (Antahkarana).

The Quest for Peace

This year (1998) is dedicated to Peace. How is this Peace to be achieved? The first requisite is purification of one's vision. The second requisite is the cultivation of sacred feelings within, which will be conducive to purity in speech. Harmony will promote a climate of peace. The well being of society is bound up with the transformation of the individuals composing it. Righteous individuals alone can build a righteous community. A pure mind is essential for pure thoughts, pure vision and pure speech.

The country today has plenty of persons who talk a great deal and display book knowledge, but do not practice even a fraction of what they have read or speak about. It is such people who are responsible for the lamentable plight of the nation.

Good actions and Sadhana

Buddha emphasized goodness in action (Samyag-Karma). The mark of good action is harmony in thought, word and deed. When there is no such harmony, the action belies what is said or thought.

Buddha went on to declare that good action is conducive to good spiritual progress (Samyag-Saadhana). Good deeds constitute genuine spirituality. Mere formal worship or ritualistic practices do not constitute spiritual striving. These religious practices are good in a way. But they do not constitute spiritual Saadhana. True spirituality consists in the unity of thought, word and deed in all their purity and sacredness.

"Samyag-Jivanam"

Buddha declared that when spiritual striving of this nature has been completed, there is Samyag-Jivanam (leading a pure life).

This is how the five organs of perception (Panchendriyas) should be used to achieve the supreme goal of life. Good vision, good thoughts, good speech, good deeds and good spiritual endeavor are the prerequisites for a good life (SamyagJivanam).
In this context, the meaning of spiritual striving should be properly understood. Essentially spiritual striving calls for the shedding of all bad qualities and the cultivation of good thoughts. Spiritual sadhana means cultivating good thoughts and undertaking good deeds.

To achieve happiness man embarks on acquiring various kinds of knowledge and pursues various occupations. He seeks happiness through marriage and having children and building a mansion for his residence. But is he happy thereby? No.

Buddha's message to Ananda

In his last moments, Buddha summoned his stepbrother Ananda to impart to him his final message. Ananda was the son of Gautami (Buddha's stepmother). Placing his palm on the head of his younger brother, Buddha said: "My dear child! I came to the world to teach (the Truth). If anyone asks, 'Where is God?', the answer is: 'He is everywhere'. Truth is God. Speak the Truth. Do not harm anyone. Recognize that the highest Dharma is non-violence (Ahimsa)."

What is Dharma? Is it celibacy or the duties of a householder or a renunciant or a sanyasi? These are transient obligations, which have to be observed as incidental duties in the journey of life. The Supreme duty is refraining from causing harm to anyone. This truth is proclaimed in the scriptures in the exhortation: "Speak the truth. Speak what is pleasing (Sathyam bruyaath; priyam bruyaath)." Thus pleasing speech is declared as a supreme duty.

Buddha told Ananda that this truth was learnt by him from his own experience. He said: "When I left the palace, my father (the King) was told that I was doing a great wrong in renouncing the family. My parents, kinsmen and others tried to put pressure on me to return to the ties of family life. These wrong efforts on their side made me more determined to pursue the spiritual path. In the quest for spiritual peace several ordeals have to be overcome. Today I have found the Truth about life. What is it? The sanctification of the five senses is the way to Truth. If the senses are polluted, of what avail are spiritual exercises? When the water in a tank is polluted, all taps will only give polluted water. Your heart is the tank. Your vision and thoughts are impure. Your speech is foul. When the heart is polluted in this manner, the senses are bound to be sullied."

When the heart is filled with good thoughts and feelings, all that comes out of the senses - your speech, your vision, your actions - will all be pure. That was why Jayadeva exhorted the God-given tongue to use its sweetness to proclaim the glory of God by chanting the Lord's sweet names: Govinda, Damodara and Madhava. One should always speak sweetly and never use harsh words.

People today are immersed in worldly pursuits to secure transient pleasures but few are interested in spiritual pursuits, which will give them everlasting bliss. When people experience spiritual bliss (Atma-Ananda) all other forms of happiness will automatically come. People immersed in mundane pursuits have no time for spiritual matters. The Gita exhorts mankind to turn away from the ephemeral attractions of the misery-laden world and to seek the Divine.

You must realize the greatness and preciousness of human life. You witnessed the lion- dance earlier. The external trappings were those of lions but the persons who performed the dance were young men. It is not the external form that matters but the human element behind it. Flaunting the human form without displaying human qualities is meaningless. You must cultivate human values such as good vision, sweet speech, good thoughts and good actions, which constitute the good life. Only then you will be a total human being.

After getting enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Gaya, Buddha embarked upon his mission of preaching. Once two of his disciples were accompanying him. Buddha noticed that they were looking at some women who were bringing water from a river. Buddha chided them for their misconduct and expelled them from the Sangha- He said that while walking on the road the eyes should be concentrated on the road in front and should not go astray. [Swami condemned the habit of young men to look at cinema posters on roadside walls while going on bicycles. Such actions are often the cause of serious accidents.]

Buddha declared that the good life leads to liberation (Nirvana). This is the sacred consummation for a good life. In this state, a man is tree from desires and actions prompted by them.

[Addressing the devotees who had come from overseas as well as those from all parts of India, Bhagavan said:]

Having taken human birth, all human beings should foster human values. In the Sathya Sai Organization we have given the highest place to human values. It is only when human values are fostered that divine values cam emerge.

Before his passing Buddha taught his stepbrother, Ananda, the transience of worldly pleasures and the meaninglessness of a purely mundane existence.

When Ananda started weeping, noticing the imminent passing of Buddha, the Enlightened One asked him: "What for are you weeping?" Ananda said: "I am weeping because your passing is imminent". Buddha told him that he should not worry about what happens to the body that is perishable and full of infirmities. He exhorted Ananda not to bother about the body or the mind, but lead a life based on the dictates of the conscience. Giving this advice, Buddha breathed his last.

Many high-souled spiritual leaders like Buddha have shown mankind the path they should follow for reaching the highest goal of life. Bharat has been the unique birthplace of many such saints and sages. Bharat has been the land of men and women known for their purity and holiness. It is the birthplace of sacred beings like Harischandra and others who adhered to the path of truth at any cost. These truths are valid even now.

The New Year

Today you celebrate the New Lunar Year. The year is described as Samvatsara in Sanskrit. This term is also one of the names of God. Hence the advent of the New Year should be hailed as the advent of the Divine. Without recognizing this divine significance of the New Year there is no purpose in celebrating it with lavish decorations and sumptuous feasts. It is not the feast that is important. It is the ideal that is to be pursued which is important. Today what is important is the quest for peace within, which can be got only by internal purity.

Human actions have been divided into five categories of which those prompted by the heart are the highest and others done with egoistic motives are inferior. Whatever is done should be done wholeheartedly so that it gets sanctified.

Restraint on Speech

[Emphasizing the value of silence and speaking as little as possible, Swami said that since January 1 He had been restricting His speech to a minimum, confining His words to what was necessary. Swami went on to say:]

I am restricting my talking with others even in the interview room. What is the reason? I want to set an example to others by practicing what I preach. My life is my message. I must show the way. Many do not understand my actions. But, when they do not understand, they should remain silent. But, instead they misinterpret my actions. That is a great sin.

From today, you must resolve to use your eyes properly, to see only the good. Why use binoculars to see distant objects? If your vision is impaired, do not lament over it. Consider even blindness as a blessing. It your hearing gets worse, do not moan over it. How much of the noise of the world is worth hearing at all? What use is there in listening to the cacophony of mutual abuse? Welcome the fact that you are saved from listening to such gossip.

Whatever your disabilities, look upon them as gifts from God. All things will turn out to be for your own good.

Advice to Devotees

Devotees have gathered here from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan. You may have come with many problems and worries. Leave all of them here and return to your places with your hearts filled with bliss. Leave all your bad thoughts and feelings and fill yourselves with the peace and joy of Prasanthi Nilayam. Coming here with restless minds you should not go back in the same state. Prasanthi (Supreme Peace) is very valuable for man. Today peace is not to be found anywhere in the world. You find only pieces (divisions) everywhere. Peace is to be found only here. Carry it with you. This is a place hallowed by the vibrations of numerous good devotees. Many noble souls have spent their lives here. Fill your hearts with their noble thoughts. Do not bother about what others may say. Develop self-confidence and proceed towards self-realization through self-sacrifice. Ignore incidental troubles, which are like passing clouds. Think about God alone. There is nothing more vital than that. Try to acquire Divine Love. Love is God. Live in Love. The best way to love God is to love all, serve all. All are embodiments of God.

Foster love. Adhere to Truth. Follow Righteousness. Achieve Peace. This is the special benediction of Swami on this day on all. Wherever you may go, speak softly and sweetly Thereby you will earn the esteem of society. This is the most valuable reward you have to secure this New Year.

The Gift Swami Wants

You have presented many things as 'gifts' to Bhagavan. This 'Tiger Map' is one of them. That is not the gift I want. Hand over to me your 'tigerly' qualities. That is the gift I would like. The tiger is a cruel animal. Rid yourself of all cruel feelings and offer them to me. Lead the life of a useful, harmless, sacred cow. It gives nourishing milk in return for cheap grass.

Embodiments of Love! You have come here from long distances, undergoing many discomforts. Return with joy in your hearts and share your joy with the people in your places in an unselfish spirit. A life of selfless love will lead you to liberation.
Listening to your bhajans today gave immense joy to one and all. Community singing sets up vibrations that will cleanse the atmosphere.

[Bhagavan concluded His discourse with the song: "Bhajana binaa sukha santhi nahi." ]

5 Apr 1998 Ram Navami Place Brindavan

Potency of Rama's Name
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Sweeter than sugar,
Tastier than the cream from curds,
Growing in sweetness like honey,
As the name is chanted,
Verily it is nectar itself.
Meditate, all ye, on the sacred name of Rama!

Embodiments of Love!

Rama is the friend of the universe. He is its protector. He is its patron saint. To comprehend the nature of such a unique ideal personality is not quite easy.

It is easier to count the waves of the ocean than to describe the qualities of Rama.

Ramachandra is the Indweller in all beings. The cosmos is one vast mansion. Humanity is one family (or community). Only the person who recognizes this relationship between the cosmos and mankind can understand the Rama Principle.

The earth lies at the feet of every human being. It is the same firmament that is above every person. All breathe the same air. The water that people drink is the same for all. Only those who recognize this unifying principle will seek to understand the Rama Principle.

The Vedas taught two kinds of Dharma (codes of right conduct). One is termed "Pravrithi" and the other is termed "Nivrithi". "Pravrithi" (the outward path) is related to worldly activities. It prescribes the qualities needed for leading the life in the mundane world. "Nivrithi" (the inward path) teaches knowledge of the Self (Atmajnana). One who knows the difference between the two is dauntless.

"Pravrithi" indicates how any particular task should be performed. "Nivrithi" (the inward path) indicates in what state of mind the work should be done.

For example, when a person is hungry, "Pravrithi" tells him to eat food and appease his hunger. "Nivrithi" teaches what kind of food he should eat, what is good for his health and what is injurious, and how it should be consumed. "Pravrithi" and "Nivrithi" are thus related to what is external and what is internal. All that you see, all that you hear, all that you think is related to the "Pravrithi" path. The "Pravrithi" path creates confusion in the mind, disturbs the intelligence and prevents one from pursuing the right path. "Pravrithi" tends to turn man away from God.

Ravana's Lament

Life is a kind of struggle. You have to face conflict of opinions. But Ayodhya is a place free from strife and controversy. No enemy could enter it. The human heart is the symbol of Ayodhya. All conflicts and divisions arise in the mind. It is the mark of "Pravrithi" (the outward path) that it generates conflict and brings about alternatively union and separation.
Because of this fact, man today is a prey of unrest and is bereft of peace. Ravana is an example of such a person who ruined his life in this way. He was perpetually following the "Pravrithi" path. Unable to conquer his desires he sacrificed his sons. Unable to subdue his desires ("vaanchalu") he ultimately ruined his entire clan ("vamsa"). With no control over his passions, he forfeited his kingdom itself. In the final reckoning, this was the lesson Ravana gave to the world: "Oh people of the world! Failing to control your attachments like me, unable to limit your desires like me, do not ruin yourselves as I have done. Ultimately I am also leaving the world. What remains in the world? Only infamy. All the renown goes to Rama. Therefore, strive to earn good reputation. Do not give room to ill-fame." That was the lesson Ravana taught. The Rama Principle destroys all sins and redeems life. Everyone should seek to realize the Rama Principle.

Rama moved about in the world as an ordinary human being. He exemplified the ideal life. Yet all considered him as an ordinary human being. But, do ordinary people live like Rama? Rama was one who, while appearing to lead the life of an ordinary man, led the life Divine. He demonstrated the ideal life of a spiritually realized person.

Today the world needs the message of the Ramayana. Why? Because children do not heed the words of parents. Parents do not set worthy examples to the children. Preceptors do not teach the right course of conduct to the disciples. The disciples do not offer the due respect to the teachers.

Today businessmen, administrators, rulers and citizens are all tarred by the same brush. The world is replete with discord. People have forgotten the great message of Rama. They have poisoned life at its source. They have forgotten the Divine, with the result that they are immersed in misery.

Prayers to God

How do people address their prayers to God today? They pray for bodily comforts and mental peace. These desires are natural. But there is something unnatural about the way it is done. Prayers are offered to the image of the Lord of Serpents in stone! They pray: "Oh Lord of Serpents! Remove my troubles." But when the serpent appears before them as a live cobra, they use the stone idol to kill it.

Today this is the plight of the Divine. Who can determine what is the nature of Divinity? None can do it. The nature of the Divine can be determined only by the Divine and not by anybody else. Thyagaraja recognized this truth in his song, "Oh Lord! How can anyone decide what you are?" Thyagaraja went on to derive the name "Rama" from the two letters Ra and Ma in the two mantras associated with Vishnu and Siva (The two mantras are: Namo Narayanaya and Namah Sivaya). The two mantras, without the syllables Ra and Me, become meaningless. Ra and Ma are thus the life-giving letters in the two mantras.

Power of Rama's Name

Rama's name is thus the life-giving essence of the two great mantras. The term "Rama" has another esoteric significance. It consists of three syllables: Ra + Aa + Ma. Ra signifies Agni (the Fire-god). "Aa" represents the Sun- god (Surya). Ma represents the Moon-god (Chandra). The combination of the three letters constitutes the Rama name. Ra, representing the Fire-god, burns away all sins, Aa, representing the Sun-god, dispels the darkness of ignorance. Me, representing the Moon-god, cools one's temper and produces tranquillity. The name Rama has the triple power of washing away one's sins, removing one's ignorance and tranquilizing one's mind. How is the profound meaning of this sacred name to be imparted to mankind? This can be done only by the Divine coming in human form and demonstrating to mankind the power of the Divine. Rama's name signifies the harmony in thought, word and deed. Rama demonstrated this harmony by his thoughts, words and deeds.
The Rama Principle embodies numerous powers and potencies.

The Ramayana is not a sacred text to be used only for ritualistic reading ("parayanam"). The Rama Principle is all pervading like the Cosmic Spirit. In olden times people used to say that their inner secrets are known only to the Indwelling Rama Spirit (Atma-Rama). The Self is called "Rama". Rama means "one who pleases". How can you give a specific form to one who pleases or delights?

The Human Destiny

In the Divine epic of the Ramayana there is a special profound message. That message is: man must lead the life of a human being, men must seek oneness with the Divine. Man should harmonize the three qualities in him (Sathva, Rajas, Thamas). In every human being all the three natures - human, divine and demonic - are present. But most men today ignore their humanness and divinity and foster only their demonic nature.

Man, in fact, should strive to manifest his divinity, and not display his weakness or his demonic qualities.

Rama chose to go to the forest to fulfill the pledge of his father, and thereby subjected himself to many difficulties. It may be asked: Did he go to the forest under any compulsion or out of his own resolve, or with a sense of dissatisfaction, or merely to comply with his father's pledge? No. Rama set out for the forest with the same sense of serenity and joy with which he looked forward to his coronation. Rama demonstrated the spirit of equanimity. He showed that pain or pleasure, profit or loss, victory or defeat, were the same to him. In human life pleasure and pain, happiness and sorrow alternate all the time. It is not a good quality to welcome pleasure and turn away pain. You must welcome sorrow in the same joyous spirit in which you greet happiness. Happiness has no value unless there is also sorrow. That is why it is said: "Pleasure is not secured by pleasant measure". Pain is needed to secure pleasure. Rama demonstrated to the world the truth of this concept.

In every act Rama set the example. In individual conduct, in the discharge of duties to the family and in fulfilling the obligations to society Rama demonstrated the ideals to be followed.

All should begin with fulfilling the obligations of the individual. The duty of the individual is to manifest the divinity within him. As an individual Rama revealed the divinity in him by his ideal conduct.

Brahma's Benediction

When Valmiki completed his Ramayana, Brahma declared that his epic would last as long as the mountains stand and the rivers flow. The inner meaning of Brahma's benediction is that the Ramayana will be cherished as long as men (mountains) and women (rivers) exist on earth. The Ramayana will last as long as human society exists. People should acquire the capacity to comprehend the eternal truths embedded in the Ramayana. Ignoring the eternal truths of the Ramayana, Bharathiyas are wasting their lives in the pursuit of worldly concerns.

We celebrate this day as the birthday of Rama. How are people celebrating the day? They perform some special puja. They adorn themselves with sacred marks. But, for doing these things should you wait for the birthday of Rama? No. Whatever your age is, at all times and in all places, you must be engaged in thoughts of Rama.

Valmiki, after completing the composing of the Ramayana, summoned the sages in his Ashram and asked them who were there capable of propagating the immortal and sacred epic to every nook and corner of the world. The sages were nonplused. They declared: "Guruji, we are old men. We are at the end of our span of life. We are incapable of conveying the Ramayana to the length and breadth of the world". Valmiki was downcast. At that stage, the twins, Lava and Kusa, arrived on the scene. They told Valmiki: Guruji, we have been listening to what all has been spoken here. We are prepared to convey the Ramayana to every place." The sage was immensely happy.

Lava and Kusa

Lava and Kusa were princes of royal blood. They carried in their hands tambourines. They set out on the great task of propagating the Ramayana, chanting the slokas all the way. Are there any today who will undertake such a task? Many will fear being mocked at by the public. Even persons who may wish to do bhajans in public are afraid of being jeered at. Devotees should be able to transcend such considerations. Why should anyone, who is doing something holy, be afraid of public ridicule?

People should be prepared for any sacrifice for the sake of the Divine. The joy to be derived from chanting the Lord's name is ineffable. Without the constant remembrance of God, there can be no experience of the Divine.

Whatever the name that may be chanted, when it is done wholeheartedly the fruits of it will be certain. Everything should be done with a pure heart.

Three Mothers and Rama

The Ramayana story is replete with ideals. During my recent visit to Madras, I spoke about the story of three mothers - Kausalya, Rama's mother, Anjanadevi, the mother of Anjaneya (Hanuman) and the mother of the sage Agasthya.. When the three met, Kausalya asked Anjaneya's mother, "Mother! Who are you?" She replied: "What! Don't you know? My son is well known to the whole world, Hanuman. Hanuman is present wherever Rama's name is uttered. Rama and Hanuman have inseparable attachment to each other. They are one soul in two bodies. I am the mother of that Hanuman. He leapt over the mighty ocean to Lanka."
On hearing these words, Agasthya's mother observed: "Whatever your son did is not anything so great. Your son leapt over the ocean. My son drank the ocean in a gulp. I am the mother of Agasthya."

Both then told Kausalya: "You are the mother of Rama, whose name enabled Hanuman to leap over the ocean and Agasthya to drink the waters of the ocean."

As they were engaged in this conversation, Rama came there and remarked innocently: "How is it you mothers are waxing eloquent about me?" Though he was the incarnation of the Lord Narayana Himself, he moved about as if he was simple son. He told them: "Hanuman could cross the ocean because of his intense devotion. Agasthya could drink the ocean because of his intense penance. I was in no way responsible for their accomplishments. I am not so great as all that. I am an ordinary human being. The name given to me is the source of all power. I am only an instrument. It is my name that helps to accomplish everything. This name is filled with all potencies. This body of mine moves because of the power of the name. Therefore, regard me as only an instrument."

After Rama left, Kausalya observed: Mothers! My son speaks as if he is an ordinary being. But he is the reservoir of all knowledge and there is nothing he cannot accomplish."

Mother and Son

Kausalya, who had this opinion of Rama, felt differently when Rama came to tell her that he was about to leave for the forest to fulfill the pledge given by his father to Kaikeyi. The mother was full of joy at the prospect of the coronation of Rama. Rama told her: "Mother! I have come to give you some happy news. I am not only the Lord of Ayodhya, I am now the Lord of the whole jungle in the country. I am getting ready to reign over the forest."

Kausalya could not understand the implications of Rama's statement. While she was wondering what it was all about, Lakshmana came there. Lakshmana always followed Rama like a shadow. Likewise Sathrughna always accompanied Bharata. Lakshmana and Sathrughna were the children of mother Sumitra. But they were full of humility and attached themselves respectively to Rama and Bharata.

Rama's Advice to Lakshmana

Lakshmana was greatly agitated as he entered. Addressing Rama, he said: "Brother! Your calmness is no doubt a great virtue. But not in affairs like this. The whole world is looking up to you. For the sake of one individual you are embarking on this undertaking. I cannot accept this. I shall destroy Dasaratha and Kaikeyi and crown you king this very moment."

On hearing this, Rama said: "Lakshmana! Don't get agitated. Calm yourself. This calmness (santham) will protect you. It is your glory and greatness Forbearance is the supreme virtue. It is the crowning quality of the sages. Therefore, calm yourself."

Kausalya and Sita

Lakshmana then related to Kausalya what all had happened. Hearing the whole story, Kausalya collapsed on the spot. When she recovered consciousness, she declared: "Rama! I cannot live for a single moment without you. You are prepared to carry out your father's words. I cannot stand in your way. But I appeal to you to take me with you."

Rama then told her: "To a wife her husband is verily God himself. You cannot leave your husband in any circumstance. Your husband is everything for you. As long as he is alive, you cannot leave him. He is now plunged in sorrow over my impending departure. You cannot leave him. You must serve him and offer him solace."

Sita came there soon after. She was no ordinary woman. Daughter of Emperor Janaka, she was known as "Vaidehi", a person with no attachment to the body. Listening to Rama's advice to his mother, Sita burst into laughter and remarked: "You teach one thing to your mother and the opposite to me. When I said I wanted to follow you, you tried to dissuade me. You advised me to devote myself to the service of your aged parents. But, when you met your mother, you asked her to treat the husband as God. Are you not then a God for me? Is there one rule for one woman and another for another woman? Moreover, you are called Ramachandra. Chandra means moon. I am the moonlight for you. How can the moon be in the forest and the moonlight be in Ayodhya? The moonlight must be with the moon. Therefore, you must take me with you".

Rama's Dilemma

Rama had to pacify the demand of the mother and the wife in the softest manner. After pacifying them, Rama set out for the forest. In his wanderings in the forest, seeing the demonic atrocities of the Rakshasas, Rama felt that he had been ostensibly sent in exile really to deal with these evil forces. "The Rakshasas are hindering the sacred activities of the ascetics. I must destroy the Rakshasas so that these sages will be left in peace to practice their austerities", thought Rama. One problem arose in his mind in this context. In destroying the Rakshasas, is it proper to kill women? Rama had received the answer to this question from Viswamitra when as a young lad he had been taken by the sage to guard his yajna and he wanted to know whether it was right on his part to kill Thataki, a demoness. Viswamitra assured him that there was nothing wrong in killing a wicked person even if she happened to be a woman. To protect the pious, the righteous and the holy persons engaged in sacred activities there was nothing wrong in destroying even women. When Rama asked the sage whether there had been any precedent in this respect, Viswamitra related the case of Prahlada's son Virochana, who killed the demoness Manthra who was committing many wicked deeds against the rishis and their families. There is nothing wrong in repudiating one's mother, father, husband or preceptor if they come between the devotee and God. When Kaikeyi came between him and his devotion to Rama, Bharata utterly denounced her. One must be prepared to sacrifice everything for God.

Role of the Avatar

The Rama Principle is infinitely potent. The powers of the Divine are immeasurable. God comes down in human form to redeem mankind. Birds and beasts act according to their natural instincts. Man alone tends to violate the laws of Nature and act against the laws of Dharma (right conduct). It is to teach and punish man who goes astray that the Divine comes in human form. He teaches the highest ideals and leads an ideal life to set an example.

Embodiments of love! God incarnates for the sake of redemption mankind and not for His own sake. He needs nothing. He has everything. He comes down to tell humanity its divine origin and to exhort men to return to God by following the Love Principle. Through love you can achieve anything. It is this message that has to be understood today: the role of the Avatar in leading mankind through love to a Godly life.

There is no use in observing Sri Rama's birthday once in a year and being satisfied with a good feast. Every moment marks the Lord's advent, because human beings are being born continually. Every human being is an incarnation of the Divine. The Divine dwells in every being. Therefore, dedicate every moment to the thoughts of God. When you do this, in due course you experience the Divine. You will be free from delusions and you will be divinised. Man is born to merge in the grace of the Divine and not to immerse himself in mundane pleasures.

Let each one carry on his or her duties. Dharma protects its protector and destroys it destroyer. Strive to proceed from the human to the Divine.

Embodiment of Love! It is not possible to describe the boundless attributes of the Rama Principle. The name of Rama has been adored for aeons. Humanity has been in existence for many lakhs of years. Unfortunately, humanity is yet to realize its true nature. What is this nature? It is the Principle of Love. Human life should be suffused with love and rounded off with love. Life should be given up with tears of joy and not tears of sorrow.

This is a sacred day. Remembering its sacredness, you must all make your lives sublime.

[Bhagavan concluded His discourse with the bhajan: "Prema muditha manase kaho:Rama! Rama! Ram! ]

Date : 4 Apr 1998 --- Occasion : Divine Discourse --- Place : Kodaikanal

Man, Truth, Love and God
------------------------

Its only from Truth that the entire creation has come out.
There is nothing in the world without the basis of Truth.
This is Suddha Sathwa (Pure goodness).
Behold ye people!
(Poem by Swami)
God is Sathya Swaroopa (embodiment of Truth). You find that human nature is a combination of Sathya and Dharma. When man is not able to comprehend his own human nature, how can he know the Divine? Everyone should, therefore, make efforts to know the human nature. It is Nirmala, Nischala, Nisswartha (blemishless, unwavering, and unselfish).

God in Man's Spiritual Heart

God is in every human being residing in his spiritual heart which is on the right side of the body while the physical heart is on the left. It is only a single seat sofa and not a double seated sofa or musical chair. So, God is close to everyone being seated in the spiritual heart. When you realize this, you will have the feeling of blissful happiness. The heart is the seat of compassion and God is embodiment of compassion. While so, man cannot have hatred towards any being at all. Man has to make efforts to progress on the path of Truth and Righteousness.

God has no consideration of caste, age, sex or nationality. Take the elements earth, water, fire, air and ether. Have these elements any distinction of caste or nationality? They are embodiments of the Divine.

You should never misuse the elements or waste them. Names and forms are many but the Atmic Principle is one. You should understand this. This is the fundamental law of Nature. Though names and forms vary, there are some common features in all. Hunger is common to all, though the types of food are many. In a hospital there are many different types of patients. All are not given the same food. For instance, diabetics will not be given sugar or sweet preparations. World is a hospital. The humanity is suffering from different diseases, physical, mental and psychological. Three- fourths of the diseases are only psychological. What is the treatment needed? It is only "daiva chintana", filling the mind with the thought of God. You should never separate God from you. A man with dual mind is half-blind. We should practice the principle of oneness. There is only one God spoken of as many. Unity in diversity should be comprehended. Human quality should reflect Divinity. You should curb animal thoughts and breed Divine thoughts. There are two types of persons. Those with animal and human qualities always show hatred, jealousy, greed and anger. The other type with human and divine qualities will always be happy, peaceful and full of love. They will always adhere to Truth. Without such quality, spiritual pursuits will be of no avail. You should always say to yourself "I am human, I am not animal". Jealousy is rampant to a considerable extent amongst people today. This is the root cause of anger, hatred and other evil qualities. If a person owns a car and travels in it, don't be jealous. Satisfy yourself that you have your legs to help you walk. If one is in a big house, don't get jealous. Be contented and happy with the dwelling place you have, though small. You should thus kill jealousy. Jealousy is contrary to human nature. It is artificial and not pertaining to heart which is natural. Virtues and vices are reflections of your good and bad thoughts. Physical heart is on the left side while the spiritual heart is on the right. This will help you in the right direction. It is compassionate. But man breeds desires which contaminate the heart. These should be checked and restrained to a limit. The body and all the sense organs have limitations like the temperature, BP, capacity to see, hear etc. Veda says "Na Sreyo Niyamam Vina". We should observe discipline in life.

Limitations should be observed in everything. If you have enough minimum resources like food, shelter and raiment you should be satisfied. To maintain bodily health and get enough energy for your day-to-day activities you should take food. You should not indulge in overeating causing indigestion. If you exceed limit in anything, it may lead to dangerous consequences.
If you realize that God is residing in your heart, you will not dare to indulge in bad activities at all. The evil qualities are only acquired and are not in you. You are embodiment of only love and compassion. The bad influences are just like passing clouds which obstruct the vision of the sun. Though the vision is blocked the sun is always shining. When clouds clear you can see the sun in its full effulgence. Similarly, the veils of ignorance covering the heart must also be cleared. One should cultivate patience which is not commonly done in the present day life. Haste makes waste, waste begets worry. So one should develop patience to avoid worry. Our mind is compared to the moon; when thoughts arise it is eclipsing the real nature just as the moon is eclipsed by the shadow of the earth. If you keep the heart pure of the malaise of evil qualities, you will have no worry at all. You should not allow wicked thoughts to stick to you. In a pond, along with lotus flowers that bloom, you have leeches also thriving, which suck your blood. Lotus cannot sustain without water. So also human life cannot sustain without love. But you should not let the leeches of worry breed in your heart of love. You can travel in a boat on the surface of water but should not allow water to enter into the boat. You should not allow the attachment to worldly objects enter into your boat of life.

You are all embodiments of God. God is all-pervasive. You cannot classify some as divine and some others not divine. All are reflections of the same Atma which is common to all. This Atmic Principle is also Sun-principle and Truth Principle (Surya thathwa and Sathya thathwa). When one follows Sathya, Prema will be the reflection. When you walk on the road, your shadow may fall on bad patches like drains, garbage, etc., but you are not affected by it. You should proceed unmindful of the path of the shadow. So also you must follow your heart with good feelings unmindful of obstacles that may appear to come in the way. You should practice truth. You should be grateful to a person that came to your rescue in times of crisis. You should not forget the help done by others. There are two things that you should forget. Forget the harm done by others to you as you will then be harboring vengeance to retaliate. Secondly, forget the help you did to others as that will make you expect reward from them and result in disappointment when it is not forthcoming. By observing these two norms, the purity of your heart will be maintained.

"I am Atma, You are Atma"

Adi Sankara said, "There is no mother, father, no relatives or friends. The only reality is 'you'. Therefore, be careful and awake to the Reality." You should not worry about the family as these are passing clouds. Vyasa was a great sage who gave the eighteen Puranas, Ithihasa and Brahma-Sutra. But when his son Suka left the house in pursuit Brahmajnana, Vyasa ran after him shouting "Oh son! Stop. Do not go away". Suka stopped and told his father, "I am not your son. You are not my father. I am Atma, you are Atma. Why are you under illusion?" So, you must gradually give up all attachments and turn only to God. Having love in your heart, when you put on the Divine glasses everything will be Divine!

You are filled with worries throughout your life. Birth is a worry, life itself is a worry, family, child, failure, sickness, old age, death, mystery are all worries. These are all imaginary and psychological. You say "My body, my mind, my hand, and my worry." Does this not mean that you are separate from worry? It is your own creation. You are only one. You are Atma, the Truth. Truth is God. There is only one God who is described in many ways. Everyone should realize this Truth by spiritual sadhana. This involves sacrifice Vedas declare that you can attain immortality, not by any means other than sacrifice. You have to develop the spirit of sacrifice. Thyaga (sacrifice) is yoga. Doing your duty efficiently is yoga. Throughout life you should go on doing your duty without aspiring for results. When you give to others, you should have the attitude you are not the giver and the other is not the receiver. It should be considered as an opportunity that is offered by the Divine.
Develop love. Follow Truth and Right Conduct (Sathya and Dharma). You will shine as the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. You should not feel you have no powers. You should have self-confidence which will lead to self-satisfaction which in turn encourages self-sacrifice resulting in Self-realization. You must ensure that your self-confidence is unshakable. What is self-confidence? Self is Atma. This is conscience. Because of senses it is not realized. It should be associated with higher consciousness and not the consciousness which pertains to the senses. Man should try to realize the supreme heights of consciousness. Consciousness is uniformly present in all. It is "chaithanya". When people turn towards the worldly objects which are transient, they pursue the negative path. When they turn towards the Self, it is positive path.

Human Values and Nirvana

The human body is constituted of the five elements, five sheaths, five vital airs (pancha bhootas, pancha koshas and pancha pranas). Man has also got five faculties - Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Santhi (Peace), Prema (Love) and Ahimsa (Non-violence), which are termed human values. Having been born as a human, it is a pity that one does not realize these values. Anger, hatred and lust are not human values at all. These are animal qualities unbecoming of a human being. With truthful thoughts one can become a good person. But one without thoughts becomes a 'Sadhu', wise person. He will always be in peace. Thoughts are the root cause of Asanthi (lack of peace). First of the human values is 'Sathya' or Truth. If this is absent, you lose one part of the human nature. If you don't follow 'Dharma' you lose two parts. If you lose 'Santhi you lose three parts and when you have no 'love' you have lost the entire human nature and the body will be one with all limbs amputated.

Sathya, the first value, is like the head and one who fails to follow Truth will be a headless torso. Dharma is like the shoulder and one without this will not be able to do anything having become handicapped. (He loses Bhuja-balam). One without Santhi is akin to a man without stomach. How can one take food, which is essential to provide energy for living when there is no stomach? If you lose these three, the life is without love and becomes valueless. Love is essential for life. One without love is only a living corpse!

Nowadays, you find hatred rampant everywhere. There is no love. The seat of love is the spiritual heart on the right of the body. Nobody bothers to recognize this. The absence of love leads to absence of unity. When there is no unity, there is no purity and without purity, divinity cannot be realized. Now what people generally do is to breed enmity and narrow feelings of community. If there is love, the divisive feelings of community and enmity will not be there. Even when one greets another as "Hello", it is of low caliber and is only artificial and superficial not coming from the heart. If you want to develop love, you must go on adding to your circle of friends, loving and serving all. It should be expansion and not contraction. It may extend to cover the entire humanity. "Ekatma Sarvabhoothantharatma". The one Atma is there in all beings. This is the basis of the Brahma thathwa, (Principle of Divinity). When love is lost everything is lost in life.

Love in speech is Sathya
Love in action is Dharma
Love in thought is Santhi
Love helps in the consummation of these three values.

Embodiments of Love! You are struggling only to acquire ephemeral worldly attainments such as wealth, fame, status and position.

To foster human values, you have to control your senses. Merely studying scriptures, undertaking pilgrimages and meeting saints will not help you to achieve realization. Buddha did all these spiritual exercises could not achieve the goal. Finally he learnt that one has to turn his vision within with the help of the eye of wisdom to attain Nirvana.

Buddha proclaimed that the word 'man' should be interpreted thus:
M - stands for Maya, which has to be controlled and got over.
A - stands for Atma - understand the Atmic Principle
N - stands for Nirvana - attain Nirvana.

When you get over the illusion of 'Maya' and understand 'Atma', you get 'Nirvana' - liberation. Therefore, Buddha preached sense control and eradication of desires as of primary importance. He advocated good vision, good speech, good hearing, good action, good thoughts as essential for human beings.

Whatever sadhana one may do, it will be wasteful if there is no sense-control. You should know the divinity that is immanent in everyone. Though many are aware of this truth, they do not follow this in practice. For example, though everyone knows that one should speak the truth, they tell lies to escape from a problem or to have success in business. If you tell a lie to escape from a temporary problem, later on you will have to face a bigger permanent problem. You should control this temptation of telling lie to got over a temporary situation.

Take the example of Harischandra. He sacrificed his kingdom, wife, son and everything and he himself served as a slave in a crematorium. When Viswamitra gave an offer to Harischandra that he would give all his possessions if he told just one lie, Harischandra flatly refused to deviate from Sathya even if it cost his life. That is why Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him giving him back his throne, revived his dead son back to life and restored his wife and made him rule the kingdom with renewed fame. Because of his extraordinary adherence to Truth, he is even now remembered as "Sathya Harischandra".
Nowadays people resort to telling lies fearing that they may got into trouble otherwise. Why should you fear to speak the truth? You have to fear only when you commit mistakes. Today there is fear rampant everywhere. Life is fear-stricken! You should practice Sathya and Dharma. If you practice these, you need not fear. Whenever you are not able to utter the truth, you may desist from speaking and keep silent.

Once a sage was doing penance in quest of Truth. One day Lord Shiva wanted to test this sage. He came in the guise of a hunter who was chasing a deer. The deer passed through the place where the sage was seated. A little while later, the hunter approached the sage and asked him whether he had seen the deer that passed in that direction. The sage was in a dilemma. If he spoke the truth, the deer would be slain by the hunter. If he did not speak the truth, he will be infringing the code of conduct. So he prayed to the Lord to show him the correct path to save him in such a situation. Suddenly vibration occurred in his mind and he told the hunter "The eyes see something. But they can't speak. The tongue speaks but cannot see. Under these circumstances, what can I say?'. Lord Shiva appeared before him in his true form and blessed him with liberation.
So you should not utter untruth simply to escape a situation. If there is difficulty, be silent.

Conscience and Consciousness

Conscience is limited as an adjunct of the body. How does this merge with Consciousness ? You have a balloon with air inside. It you go on blowing more and more air into it, the walls become thinner and finally it bursts. Then the air inside merges with the air outside. This is merger of the limited air, finite with the infinite.

You go on expanding your love. Don't confine it to your own circle of kith and Kin. Then finally the merger with the infinite will occur. This is liberation.

Start the day with love,
Fill the day with love,
End the day with love,
This is the way to God.

Just as sugar, which is sweet, when mixed with water, tea, coffee or anything imparts sweetness to the dish, Prema (Love) also is sweet (madhuram) and will impart its sweetness to your words, actions and thoughts. Love is the foundation, Truth is the wall, Santhi is the roof of your life's mansion. Truth based on love is the best Dharma.

Love is there in everyone naturally. Instead of directing it towards your wife, children and relatives, direct it towards God. By this diversion you will get whatever you want. The heart is given by God. Offer it to Him. You need not have any fear. Surrender your body to Him as this is also a gift of God. Every action should be underlined by Prema(Love). Do seva with love. You must cultivate the feeling that you belong to God.

God is your Old Friend

You need not glorify God because that may keep you at a distance from God. God is not new. He was there before your birth and He will be there eternally. Where is the need to glorify Him? You must take Him as your old friend. When you acquire friendship newly with a person you speak to him with respectful words. When he becomes an old friend you treat him with liberty and privilege. Consider God also as an old friend, so that you can enjoy the liberty and be free with Him.
Devotees think that they can please God by describing His glory. This is not true. You can melt His heart only with love. Plant the seeds of love and let the water of good qualities flow on the dry land so that the seeds will sprout and fed by rain of love grow into a tree sheltering all.

Embodiments of Love!

You are all basically embodiments of love only. There is no one in the world without love. One will love at least his own kith and kin and another may love money. Anyway, the basis is love which is divine. You are a combination of love, peace, truth and God. You are mutually related to one another through the bondage of love in spiritual path. You must uphold Dharma by Truth and Love. "A seed to sprout should be sown in earth or field. Sow the seed of love in the field of your heart. It will grow as a tree and yield fruit of bliss."(poem.) Prema thathwa is Jnana thathwa and Dharma thathwa. Understand and practice it.

Date : 4 Apr 1998 --- Occasion : Divine Discourse --- Place : Kodaikanal

Man, Truth, Love and God
------------------------

Its only from Truth that the entire creation has come out.
There is nothing in the world without the basis of Truth.
This is Suddha Sathwa (Pure goodness).
Behold ye people!
(Poem by Swami)
God is Sathya Swaroopa (embodiment of Truth). You find that human nature is a combination of Sathya and Dharma. When man is not able to comprehend his own human nature, how can he know the Divine? Everyone should, therefore, make efforts to know the human nature. It is Nirmala, Nischala, Nisswartha (blemishless, unwavering, and unselfish).

God in Man's Spiritual Heart

God is in every human being residing in his spiritual heart which is on the right side of the body while the physical heart is on the left. It is only a single seat sofa and not a double seated sofa or musical chair. So, God is close to everyone being seated in the spiritual heart. When you realize this, you will have the feeling of blissful happiness. The heart is the seat of compassion and God is embodiment of compassion. While so, man cannot have hatred towards any being at all. Man has to make efforts to progress on the path of Truth and Righteousness.

God has no consideration of caste, age, sex or nationality. Take the elements earth, water, fire, air and ether. Have these elements any distinction of caste or nationality? They are embodiments of the Divine.

You should never misuse the elements or waste them. Names and forms are many but the Atmic Principle is one. You should understand this. This is the fundamental law of Nature. Though names and forms vary, there are some common features in all. Hunger is common to all, though the types of food are many. In a hospital there are many different types of patients. All are not given the same food. For instance, diabetics will not be given sugar or sweet preparations. World is a hospital. The humanity is suffering from different diseases, physical, mental and psychological. Three- fourths of the diseases are only psychological. What is the treatment needed? It is only "daiva chintana", filling the mind with the thought of God. You should never separate God from you. A man with dual mind is half-blind. We should practice the principle of oneness. There is only one God spoken of as many. Unity in diversity should be comprehended. Human quality should reflect Divinity. You should curb animal thoughts and breed Divine thoughts. There are two types of persons. Those with animal and human qualities always show hatred, jealousy, greed and anger. The other type with human and divine qualities will always be happy, peaceful and full of love. They will always adhere to Truth. Without such quality, spiritual pursuits will be of no avail. You should always say to yourself "I am human, I am not animal". Jealousy is rampant to a considerable extent amongst people today. This is the root cause of anger, hatred and other evil qualities. If a person owns a car and travels in it, don't be jealous. Satisfy yourself that you have your legs to help you walk. If one is in a big house, don't get jealous. Be contented and happy with the dwelling place you have, though small. You should thus kill jealousy. Jealousy is contrary to human nature. It is artificial and not pertaining to heart which is natural. Virtues and vices are reflections of your good and bad thoughts. Physical heart is on the left side while the spiritual heart is on the right. This will help you in the right direction. It is compassionate. But man breeds desires which contaminate the heart. These should be checked and restrained to a limit. The body and all the sense organs have limitations like the temperature, BP, capacity to see, hear etc. Veda says "Na Sreyo Niyamam Vina". We should observe discipline in life.

Limitations should be observed in everything. If you have enough minimum resources like food, shelter and raiment you should be satisfied. To maintain bodily health and get enough energy for your day-to-day activities you should take food. You should not indulge in overeating causing indigestion. If you exceed limit in anything, it may lead to dangerous consequences.
If you realize that God is residing in your heart, you will not dare to indulge in bad activities at all. The evil qualities are only acquired and are not in you. You are embodiment of only love and compassion. The bad influences are just like passing clouds which obstruct the vision of the sun. Though the vision is blocked the sun is always shining. When clouds clear you can see the sun in its full effulgence. Similarly, the veils of ignorance covering the heart must also be cleared. One should cultivate patience which is not commonly done in the present day life. Haste makes waste, waste begets worry. So one should develop patience to avoid worry. Our mind is compared to the moon; when thoughts arise it is eclipsing the real nature just as the moon is eclipsed by the shadow of the earth. If you keep the heart pure of the malaise of evil qualities, you will have no worry at all. You should not allow wicked thoughts to stick to you. In a pond, along with lotus flowers that bloom, you have leeches also thriving, which suck your blood. Lotus cannot sustain without water. So also human life cannot sustain without love. But you should not let the leeches of worry breed in your heart of love. You can travel in a boat on the surface of water but should not allow water to enter into the boat. You should not allow the attachment to worldly objects enter into your boat of life.

You are all embodiments of God. God is all-pervasive. You cannot classify some as divine and some others not divine. All are reflections of the same Atma which is common to all. This Atmic Principle is also Sun-principle and Truth Principle (Surya thathwa and Sathya thathwa). When one follows Sathya, Prema will be the reflection. When you walk on the road, your shadow may fall on bad patches like drains, garbage, etc., but you are not affected by it. You should proceed unmindful of the path of the shadow. So also you must follow your heart with good feelings unmindful of obstacles that may appear to come in the way. You should practice truth. You should be grateful to a person that came to your rescue in times of crisis. You should not forget the help done by others. There are two things that you should forget. Forget the harm done by others to you as you will then be harboring vengeance to retaliate. Secondly, forget the help you did to others as that will make you expect reward from them and result in disappointment when it is not forthcoming. By observing these two norms, the purity of your heart will be maintained.

"I am Atma, You are Atma"

Adi Sankara said, "There is no mother, father, no relatives or friends. The only reality is 'you'. Therefore, be careful and awake to the Reality." You should not worry about the family as these are passing clouds. Vyasa was a great sage who gave the eighteen Puranas, Ithihasa and Brahma-Sutra. But when his son Suka left the house in pursuit Brahmajnana, Vyasa ran after him shouting "Oh son! Stop. Do not go away". Suka stopped and told his father, "I am not your son. You are not my father. I am Atma, you are Atma. Why are you under illusion?" So, you must gradually give up all attachments and turn only to God. Having love in your heart, when you put on the Divine glasses everything will be Divine!

You are filled with worries throughout your life. Birth is a worry, life itself is a worry, family, child, failure, sickness, old age, death, mystery are all worries. These are all imaginary and psychological. You say "My body, my mind, my hand, and my worry." Does this not mean that you are separate from worry? It is your own creation. You are only one. You are Atma, the Truth. Truth is God. There is only one God who is described in many ways. Everyone should realize this Truth by spiritual sadhana. This involves sacrifice Vedas declare that you can attain immortality, not by any means other than sacrifice. You have to develop the spirit of sacrifice. Thyaga (sacrifice) is yoga. Doing your duty efficiently is yoga. Throughout life you should go on doing your duty without aspiring for results. When you give to others, you should have the attitude you are not the giver and the other is not the receiver. It should be considered as an opportunity that is offered by the Divine.
Develop love. Follow Truth and Right Conduct (Sathya and Dharma). You will shine as the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. You should not feel you have no powers. You should have self-confidence which will lead to self-satisfaction which in turn encourages self-sacrifice resulting in Self-realization. You must ensure that your self-confidence is unshakable. What is self-confidence? Self is Atma. This is conscience. Because of senses it is not realized. It should be associated with higher consciousness and not the consciousness which pertains to the senses. Man should try to realize the supreme heights of consciousness. Consciousness is uniformly present in all. It is "chaithanya". When people turn towards the worldly objects which are transient, they pursue the negative path. When they turn towards the Self, it is positive path.

Human Values and Nirvana

The human body is constituted of the five elements, five sheaths, five vital airs (pancha bhootas, pancha koshas and pancha pranas). Man has also got five faculties - Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Santhi (Peace), Prema (Love) and Ahimsa (Non-violence), which are termed human values. Having been born as a human, it is a pity that one does not realize these values. Anger, hatred and lust are not human values at all. These are animal qualities unbecoming of a human being. With truthful thoughts one can become a good person. But one without thoughts becomes a 'Sadhu', wise person. He will always be in peace. Thoughts are the root cause of Asanthi (lack of peace). First of the human values is 'Sathya' or Truth. If this is absent, you lose one part of the human nature. If you don't follow 'Dharma' you lose two parts. If you lose 'Santhi you lose three parts and when you have no 'love' you have lost the entire human nature and the body will be one with all limbs amputated.

Sathya, the first value, is like the head and one who fails to follow Truth will be a headless torso. Dharma is like the shoulder and one without this will not be able to do anything having become handicapped. (He loses Bhuja-balam). One without Santhi is akin to a man without stomach. How can one take food, which is essential to provide energy for living when there is no stomach? If you lose these three, the life is without love and becomes valueless. Love is essential for life. One without love is only a living corpse!

Nowadays, you find hatred rampant everywhere. There is no love. The seat of love is the spiritual heart on the right of the body. Nobody bothers to recognize this. The absence of love leads to absence of unity. When there is no unity, there is no purity and without purity, divinity cannot be realized. Now what people generally do is to breed enmity and narrow feelings of community. If there is love, the divisive feelings of community and enmity will not be there. Even when one greets another as "Hello", it is of low caliber and is only artificial and superficial not coming from the heart. If you want to develop love, you must go on adding to your circle of friends, loving and serving all. It should be expansion and not contraction. It may extend to cover the entire humanity. "Ekatma Sarvabhoothantharatma". The one Atma is there in all beings. This is the basis of the Brahma thathwa, (Principle of Divinity). When love is lost everything is lost in life.

Love in speech is Sathya
Love in action is Dharma
Love in thought is Santhi
Love helps in the consummation of these three values.

Embodiments of Love! You are struggling only to acquire ephemeral worldly attainments such as wealth, fame, status and position.

To foster human values, you have to control your senses. Merely studying scriptures, undertaking pilgrimages and meeting saints will not help you to achieve realization. Buddha did all these spiritual exercises could not achieve the goal. Finally he learnt that one has to turn his vision within with the help of the eye of wisdom to attain Nirvana.

Buddha proclaimed that the word 'man' should be interpreted thus:
M - stands for Maya, which has to be controlled and got over.
A - stands for Atma - understand the Atmic Principle
N - stands for Nirvana - attain Nirvana.

When you get over the illusion of 'Maya' and understand 'Atma', you get 'Nirvana' - liberation. Therefore, Buddha preached sense control and eradication of desires as of primary importance. He advocated good vision, good speech, good hearing, good action, good thoughts as essential for human beings.

Whatever sadhana one may do, it will be wasteful if there is no sense-control. You should know the divinity that is immanent in everyone. Though many are aware of this truth, they do not follow this in practice. For example, though everyone knows that one should speak the truth, they tell lies to escape from a problem or to have success in business. If you tell a lie to escape from a temporary problem, later on you will have to face a bigger permanent problem. You should control this temptation of telling lie to got over a temporary situation.

Take the example of Harischandra. He sacrificed his kingdom, wife, son and everything and he himself served as a slave in a crematorium. When Viswamitra gave an offer to Harischandra that he would give all his possessions if he told just one lie, Harischandra flatly refused to deviate from Sathya even if it cost his life. That is why Lord Shiva appeared before him and blessed him giving him back his throne, revived his dead son back to life and restored his wife and made him rule the kingdom with renewed fame. Because of his extraordinary adherence to Truth, he is even now remembered as "Sathya Harischandra".
Nowadays people resort to telling lies fearing that they may got into trouble otherwise. Why should you fear to speak the truth? You have to fear only when you commit mistakes. Today there is fear rampant everywhere. Life is fear-stricken! You should practice Sathya and Dharma. If you practice these, you need not fear. Whenever you are not able to utter the truth, you may desist from speaking and keep silent.

Once a sage was doing penance in quest of Truth. One day Lord Shiva wanted to test this sage. He came in the guise of a hunter who was chasing a deer. The deer passed through the place where the sage was seated. A little while later, the hunter approached the sage and asked him whether he had seen the deer that passed in that direction. The sage was in a dilemma. If he spoke the truth, the deer would be slain by the hunter. If he did not speak the truth, he will be infringing the code of conduct. So he prayed to the Lord to show him the correct path to save him in such a situation. Suddenly vibration occurred in his mind and he told the hunter "The eyes see something. But they can't speak. The tongue speaks but cannot see. Under these circumstances, what can I say?'. Lord Shiva appeared before him in his true form and blessed him with liberation.
So you should not utter untruth simply to escape a situation. If there is difficulty, be silent.

Conscience and Consciousness

Conscience is limited as an adjunct of the body. How does this merge with Consciousness ? You have a balloon with air inside. It you go on blowing more and more air into it, the walls become thinner and finally it bursts. Then the air inside merges with the air outside. This is merger of the limited air, finite with the infinite.

You go on expanding your love. Don't confine it to your own circle of kith and Kin. Then finally the merger with the infinite will occur. This is liberation.

Start the day with love,
Fill the day with love,
End the day with love,
This is the way to God.

Just as sugar, which is sweet, when mixed with water, tea, coffee or anything imparts sweetness to the dish, Prema (Love) also is sweet (madhuram) and will impart its sweetness to your words, actions and thoughts. Love is the foundation, Truth is the wall, Santhi is the roof of your life's mansion. Truth based on love is the best Dharma.

Love is there in everyone naturally. Instead of directing it towards your wife, children and relatives, direct it towards God. By this diversion you will get whatever you want. The heart is given by God. Offer it to Him. You need not have any fear. Surrender your body to Him as this is also a gift of God. Every action should be underlined by Prema(Love). Do seva with love. You must cultivate the feeling that you belong to God.

God is your Old Friend

You need not glorify God because that may keep you at a distance from God. God is not new. He was there before your birth and He will be there eternally. Where is the need to glorify Him? You must take Him as your old friend. When you acquire friendship newly with a person you speak to him with respectful words. When he becomes an old friend you treat him with liberty and privilege. Consider God also as an old friend, so that you can enjoy the liberty and be free with Him.
Devotees think that they can please God by describing His glory. This is not true. You can melt His heart only with love. Plant the seeds of love and let the water of good qualities flow on the dry land so that the seeds will sprout and fed by rain of love grow into a tree sheltering all.

Embodiments of Love!

You are all basically embodiments of love only. There is no one in the world without love. One will love at least his own kith and kin and another may love money. Anyway, the basis is love which is divine. You are a combination of love, peace, truth and God. You are mutually related to one another through the bondage of love in spiritual path. You must uphold Dharma by Truth and Love. "A seed to sprout should be sown in earth or field. Sow the seed of love in the field of your heart. It will grow as a tree and yield fruit of bliss."(poem.) Prema thathwa is Jnana thathwa and Dharma thathwa. Understand and practice it.

Date: 1 Jan 1998 New Year Place : Prashanti Nilayam

Transform Yourselves and Transform the World
--------------------------------------------

The Cosmos is controlled by God;
God is subject to Truth
That Truth is subject to the authority of
sacred and noble beings.

Men today must become embodiments of Truth. They must have mastery over Truth.

"The entire creation emerged from Truth (Sathya). Everything merges in Truth. What is there in the cosmos without it's basis in Truth? This is the pure Truth of Being (Suddha Sathva) oh man" [Telugu Poem].

Every man has his origin in Truth. He is sustained by Truth. And he merges in Truth. He is the embodiment of Truth. When every individual recognizes this truth, the whole world will be permeated by Truth.

What man should seek today is not pleasure. Nor is his goal sorrow. Man should bring under his control the source of pleasure and pain. More than pleasure, it is pain that awakens the wisdom in man. If you study the lives of great men, you find that it is out of trouble and pain that they derived wisdom. Without sorrow there can be no wisdom. It is pain that teaches many wise lessons to man.

Not realizing this profound truth, man pursues pleasure endlessly. No doubt man needs to be happy. But how is happiness to be achieved? It is only when sorrow is overcome that man realizes happiness. Hence everyone should welcome sorrow in the same spirit in which he greets happiness. "Pain and pleasure are intermingled. No one can separate them. Pleasure is never alone by itself. When pain is relieved, pleasure is experienced." [Telugu Poem]. Wherefrom does pleasure come? When pain is got rid of, pleasure is secured.

In our country today the young boys and girls are the inheritors of the prosperity or poverty of the nation. The future progress of the nation depends on them. Hence, these boys and girls are the true wealth of the nation.

It has to be realized that man is the architect of his own pleasure and pain. Hence he should face with equanimity whatever happens to him - good or evil.

God is described as Siddhiswaroopa - the embodiment of wish fulfillment. He is also described as Amogha - One without a limit or measure. This means that the power of the Divine is infinite. He is also known as Aprameya - the immeasurable. Hence, everyone should treat whatever happens to him as a gift from God. Pleasure and pain should be treated alike as Divine gifts. There is a unique joy in this process.

In daily life we tend to treat defeat, loss or grief as calamities. But, nothing occurs in the world without a cause. Hunger is the cause for eating. Thirst is the cause for drinking. Difficulties are the cause of sorrow. If man is to enjoy enduring happiness, he must discover the source of such happiness. That source is love (Prema). There is nothing greater than love in this world. Everything has a price. The price to be paid for enduring happiness is Divine Love. Without Love, no object can give you real happiness.

Hence, the primary wealth for man is Love. Everyone should seek to acquire this wealth. With this wealth anyone can enjoy enduring bliss.

We witness in the world all kinds of pains and sorrows. But none of these is permanent. Every term of pain is followed by pleasure. The experience of pleasure is refined and enhanced by the earlier experience of pain. Like the refinement of gold by melting in a crucible, pain divinises the pleasure that follows it.

The New Year or a new month does not bring with it any new joy or sorrow. As Sandipan Chatterjee (who had spoken earlier) said every moment is new. Every second is new, because it heralds the march of time. A year is in fact a succession of seconds turning into minutes, days and months.

It is only when every moment is cherished as new, will the new year become new.

The sacred way in which every moment is spent will determine the fruitfulness of the year.

Transformation

If you wish to lead a sacred life and have sacred experiences, you must engage yourself in sacred actions. The good and evil in the world can be changed only by the change in men's actions. Transformation of society must start with transformation of individuals.

This morning the students recited a Vedic prayer about students living together in amity and acting in unison. But they did not mention the crucial passage in the prayer which declares: Let us live in harmony free from conflict" The Vedic hymn stresses that unity can come only when people live together without discord. Hence everyone should give no room for conflict or unrest but lead a life of harmony and love with others.

God is Love

God is ever love incarnate. His love permeates the world. The universe is termed Visvam because of the Lord's presence in the entire cosmos. One of the names of the Lord is Vishnu. Etymologically the word refers to one who is present throughout the universe. God is the cause and the cosmos is the effect.

The Lord is also known as Atma, which means light or effulgence. The Lord is the dispeller of the darkness of ignorance.
Every word used in the ancient scriptures has profound inner meaning. This profundity is characteristic of the Bharathiya spiritual heritage. Very few are interested in exploring these profundities. Most people confine themselves to ritualistic worship for a brief time every day. They do not even attempt to know what for they are performing these rituals. There is no meaning in performing these rituals without understanding the purpose and goal of life. The ultimate purpose of all spiritual exercises is to realize the Love Principle (Love of the Divine). To foster love is the purpose of all spiritual endeavor. In no circumstance should love be given up or ignored. Where there is love, there can be no hatred, grief or want.

Time is passing. You are all growing in years. But there is little change in your attitudes. Purity in thought results in purity in knowledge and wisdom. Self-Realization can come only through spiritual wisdom (Jnana).

Task before students

Many in the world acquire wealth, fame and position. But what have they achieved in terms of the goal of life? Their failure is due to lack of understanding of the unity that underlies the apparent diversity. It is a mark of spiritual goodness to recognize the divine in everyone. Prahlada declared that you can find God wherever you seek Him. His father, Hiranyakasipu, was a great person because of his attainments. But he failed to achieve goodness because of his denial of the Divine. A similar difference can be seen between Rama's goodness and Ravana's greatness.

The lesson for students today is that they should follow the sacred path of righteousness. They should work for the welfare of society. Students should cultivate three qualities. They should cherish love for all living beings; they should cultivate all good qualities; they should acquire all useful knowledge. Love is the basis for these three qualities.

Embodiments of Love!

See that your love for God does not fluctuate according to whether your wishes are fulfilled or not. Remember that you reap the fruits of your actions, according to whether they are good or bad. Love of God alone can confer enduring bliss. Eschew bad qualities like hatred and envy.

Fill your hearts with Love

Today marks the beginning of the year 1998. At least from today fill your hearts with Love. Look upon all as God's children. Sri Krishna has declared that all human beings are sparks of Himself. This means that everyone should lead a godly life. Everyone should express his love to some persons everyday. Thereby the whole world will be filled with love.

Ponder for a moment on the phenomenon you are witnessing here today, with thousands gathered from all parts of the world. What is the reason? You are seeking to find something here which is lacking in your native land. What is that? It is Divine Love. You are missing it in your place. You have not found it in yourself. Hence you have come here, like a sick man going to a hospital. Now that you have come here, take back with you Divine Love. Fill your hearts with that Love. Carry it with you wherever you go like a sick man who carries his medicines with him. Let Divine Love guide you like the mariner's compass points ever towards the Divine. Dedicate all your thoughts and actions to the Divine. Thereby you will be divinising your entire life. It is by leading such a godly life that our ancients left a glorious heritage. Boys and girls today should fill their minds and hearts with such sacred ideals and transform the entire society into a loving community.

Unity in Sport

You are aware that on December 30 players from many countries came to Prasanthi Nilayam to take part in a cricket match. All of them had taken a resolve to play the game in a sporting spirit, with a pure mind and with due regard to the rules of the game. They played the game in this sublime spirit. Not only did they enjoy the game, but they filled the large mass of spectators with joy. Our young students showed great interest in the match.

Among the spectators were large numbers of people from neighboring villages and towns. Sports and games have a well-defined role in influencing young people. Life is a Game, Play it! Life is a Dream, Realize it! Life is Love, Enjoy it! Life is a Challenge, Meet it! People must be ready to face all the ordeals in life. The capacity to face the challenges of life is given to man alone.

Sanctify all actions

Every act in daily life can be sanctified by dedicating it to God. By dedicating all thoughts to God man can achieve peace. There is no need to wait for a suitable time for embarking on this exercise. The time is at your beck and call. Great people do not wait on Time. They make time their servant.

Endowed with a sacred body man is misusing it. Human life is like a bamboo which has many knots in the form of desires for wealth, wife and children. These knots have to be removed.

From the new year, you have to understand the true meaning of humanness and transform your life. You will then be true servants of the nation. Play your part in every field of public life, keeping your heart pure and unsullied.

Students! Remember that you are in a `golden age' in your lives. Do not waste it. Do your duty. Love and revere your parents. Serve society. Adhere to the good qualities associated with right education. Be happy and make others happy.

From this new year onwards, when students cultivate humility, reverence for elders and love towards all, I shall feel very happy.

At a meeting of the Central Trust yesterday, I told the members including Sri Indulal Shah, that I had no interest in property. Do not involve me in any connection with these properties. I do not wish to have any connection with money or property. My only concern is with my devotees. Telling them all this, I signed the papers.

"You are my property"

You are my property. When I have this boundless property, why should I have any interest in material assets? Students are my property. Nothing can give me greater pleasure than what I get from seeing the students lead ideal lives. That is the return I expect from you. No fee of any kind is received from you for your education. But I want you to pay one special fee - that is love. When you offer that fee, you will be offering everything, as it were.

Lakshmana surrendered to Rama totally, declaring that he was offering his family and everything he possessed to Rama. Everyone should follow Lakshmana's example. He revered his elder brother's wife as his mother.

The eyes should see only what is good. The hands should be engaged in good actions. The ears should hear no evil and listen only to what is good. Talk no evil. Talk only what is good. Think no evil. Think what is good. Do no evil. Do what is good. This is the way to God.

The eyes should see only sacred objects. The whole world will be transformed when your vision becomes holy.

Lead a godly life

This is New Year Day according to the Gregorian calendar. We have other New Year days according to the practice in different parts of the country. There is no need to bother about the year as such. Devote every moment to actions that will please God. Develop love for God, which will confer every blessing on you. This is exemplified by the life of Harischandra. He sacrificed everything in the cause of truth. And ultimately he got back everything by the grace of God.

On this New Year Day I wish you all every happiness and prosperity. The ancients used to bless those who come to them with long life of 100 years and good health. They wished the people long life so that they may lead worthy lives. Lead a long life, happy life, peaceful life, loving life and divine life. Redeem your lives by practicing Divine Love.

[Bhagavan concluded His discourse with the bhajan: "Prema muditha manase kaho Rama, Rama, Ram!"]

Date : 25 August 1997 Occasion : Krishna Janmastami Discourse

The Goal of Human Life
----------------------

The chief aim of human life is to realise the latent divinity within and having experienced it, to propagate its greatness in society.

As oil contained in til seed, ghee in milk, fragrance in a flower, juice in a fruit and fire in wood, so does God stand witness in all mobile and immobile objects of this vast universe. This indwelling divinity in everything in this apparent world cannot be described in concrete terms. It is awareness, spirit, Atma or Brahman that pervades all over the universe, as the thread that ties together many precious gems.

What is meant by human life, and what is its goal or significance? No man seems to be interested in knowing these. He is too obsessed with his food and comforts to pay any attention to the essential and eternal proof behind them. The chief aim of human life is to realise the latent divinity within and having experienced it, to propagate its greatness in society.
Even to write a small letter you spend a lot of time thinking deeply as to what, who, how and why it is written. So we have to think about the nature of divinity before we experience it. The Vedanta says, the knower of the Brahman becomes Brahman. As you think, so you become. You assume the very form you contemplate on. The robber Rathnakara became noble. Though he had no idea of divinity, by strictly following the advice of a saint, he contemplated on the name and form of Rama. He, as Valmiki reflected the brilliance of Rama. The tiny tot Prahlada, by continuously thinking of Narayana bore the effulgence of Narayana on his face. Darwin identified in Henslow an ideal teacher with sacred thoughts. He took his teacher as a model for emulation and followed him in his thought, word and deed. As time passed by, Darwin resembled his teacher Henslow. Therefore to become a true human being, you think of good thoughts, do good deeds and enquire into the nature of goodness. In the Vedantic parlance it is said, "O man, you are not the product of the five elements. You are not merely a human being. You are the spark of Divinity." In order to realise Divinity, you should have divine thoughts. Many pious people know this truth. Yet they feel they are passing through anxieties, difficulties and problems. God has none of these.

We are all sparks of the divine, but very few of us have realised it. Every one should recognise and conduct himself in full knowledge of his own latent divinity. In the absence of this knowledge, his life degenerates into that of an animal. Once he realises himself as part of the divine, he stands in prospect of experiencing eternal bliss or supreme happiness. Divine thoughts originate in the human heart. Krishna acted as the charioteer to Arjuna at the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Suddenly Arjuna was possessed by despair. He asked Krishna, "If I lose all the friends and relatives, what kind of kingdom am I likely to come by? I always think of you. Why should I have these difficulties?" He wanted to turn back from the battlefield. Krishna then counselled him to think of the Lord at all times and in every place. Smarana is the process of thinking at a specific period of time and at a particular place. Anusmarana is thinking of God always. Krishna wanted Arjuna to think of God without the limitations of time and place. He said, "Think of me continuously. Even in the warfare, think of me. That is the only thing that will come to your rescue."

However, it is not easy for everyone to know the divine within. A Principal holds responsibility for all the things - furniture, equipments, etc. - in the college. He takes care of them. The moment he is transferred he is no more concerned with any of them. They belong to society. The Principal is only a guardian. He takes care of them as long as he is the Principal. They do not belong to him. This kind of possession is called Marakam.

The same Principal collects his personal belongings and takes them with him when he is transferred. He doesn't leave behind even old slippers or broomsticks. Such a feeling of personal possession is called Tharakam.

Human life is spent between these two- Tharakam and Marakam. We can experience all; but nothing truly belongs to us. All things are God's gifts. We hold responsibility for them until we leave. Each of us can take care of them as my family, my children, my wife, etc. It is part of our duty, but we cannot identify ourselves with them. We often consider them erroneously as the basis of life.

Arjuna made Krishna be seated as a charioteer. No. God should be seated in the altar of our heart. We are only the Yantra, machine or instrument. God himself is the Mantra. We should practise Anusmarana, chant continuously the name of God. The effect of the Mantra chanted within should be reflected outside. All that we see outside is only the reflection of the inner being. When Krishna explained this to Arjuna, Arjuna pleaded ignorance as an ordinary human being to comprehend such an exalted philosophy. Krishna is not just the figure of 6 feet height. Arjuna, who represents human nature requires more inner experience to realise the true nature of God.

There was a time when Gopala was just a playful boy of 6 years in Gokulam. Once it rained heavily; no one could withstand the rain. There was no shelter nearby. Gopala said, "I will lift this hillock, let all of you come under it." All those who had faith in Krishna's divinity assembled there. They had no doubt that whatever God says will happen. There were a few who doubted Krishna. They felt that he was after all a small boy, the mountain was so big. How could he lift and bear the weight of the heavy mountain. Those who doubted remained frustrated and they suffered.

On another occasion, Balarama resorted to a trick to make his mother Yasoda understand the divinity of Krishna. He complained to his mother that Krishna had eaten mud. Yasoda caught hold of Krishna's hand and started enquiring why he had eaten mud. She asked, "Don't you find butter and lots of other eatables in the house? Then why did you eat mud?" To educate his mother on his true nature, Krishna said, "Am I a foolish child or mad to eat mud. You consider me no more than a child." With this, he opened his mouth and revealed all the worlds there. She took fright at the sight and started wondering if she was dreaming. She had such strong feeling of maternal attachment. So long as we have body attachments, we have doubts of divinity.

The body is really the temple of God. Relying too much on the temple, we have forgotten the presiding deity within. A car can never run on its own. It needs a driver. God is the driver; and our body is the car. With exclusive body feeling we can make no progress. Body itself is only the gift of God. It is only the instrument of the indwelling divinity. This feeling of oneness with God is indispensable for any spiritual advancement.

Gopikas remained enjoying this spirit of oneness with God. They could not bear the separation from their Lord. Krishna sent Uddhava as his messenger to them. He went to them and requested them to listen to the message he had brought from Krishna. Gopikas replied, "Uddhava, our heart is full of love for Krishna. His name dances on our tongue, our eyes are eternal witness to his divine powers. Every part of our body is charged with him. We have only one mind, one thought and one love. We cannot diversify; we cannot modify. Better you return." Such was their single-minded devotion.

There is no place where Krishna is not there. All words are Mantras. Once in Brindavan, when Krishna was singing and playing with them, he suddenly vanished. Gopikas rushed to every flower and tree, bush and brake and enquired of them, "The one of dark complexion, with eyes like lotus flowers, who showers compassion, who adorns peacock feathers on his hair and who is full of love, has he hidden behind you?" All objects in nature are familiar with Krishna. Of this Gopikas had no doubt.

Krishna had drawn the hearts of Gopikas to himself. The heart of a Gopika resembles the butter that is soft, sacred, pure and sweet and so capable of giving great joy. Therefore Krishna stole the hearts of Gopikas. Mother Yasoda once asked Krishna, "Krishna, you don't eat what is served at home. You visit the houses in our neighbourhood and steal butter from the houses. This creates problems and sometimes even fights. Don't you relish butter at home?" This episode has an inner significance. Butter stands for the pure sacred hearts of the Gopikas , who have no body attachment. They have the form of Krishna imprinted in their hearts. They are at peace, though their mothers and husbands object to their devotion to Krishna.

Yasoda on the other hand had only the attachment of a mother to Krishna. Attachment and possessiveness lead to ego that is capable of ruining man as a treacherous enemy.

Unfortunately man does not make efforts to understand his true divine nature. He ruins himself because of too much attachment. He is carried away by the things in the ephemeral, external world. Therefore, he remains grief-stricken. Once he develops the strong feeling that he is the spark of the divine, he will cease to be sad. His faith in God should be total and holistic.

In Italy, there was one Antony, a great devotee of God, who was rightly famous for making perfect violins. He took one full year to make one violin. His friends wanted him to speed up with his manufacture, to manage a reasonable living. He never felt it that way. He said, "God is perfect. Whatever I do must also be perfect. Then only God will be satisfied." Every activity should be done to perfection, with the sole intention of pleasing God. That is the right attitude to work.

When we pray to God, it should be free of seeking fulfilment of our personal desires. We should never pray for curing us of diseases, or for wealth or position. The world is full of these things. We should pray for something that we don't have. We don't have Peace. Peace is with God and no one else has it. He is the embodiment of peace. So let us pray to God for peace. Again, we have only momentary happiness. We don't have permanent happiness or bliss. God is the supreme master of it and he can give it to us. Let us pray for bliss. Antony was such a devotee who craved for the peace and bliss of God and nothing else.

Thyagaraja's devotion to Rama is well known. He lived his life in constant contemplation of the name of God. When his sufferings became unbearable, he was sorely tested. He doubted his own devotion and his Lord, Rama's power. On further enquiry he reached clarity of mind and regretted his despair. He got reaffirmed in his faith in Rama. He was convinced that his devotion was not wavering. As for Rama, if there was no power in him, could that monkey cross the ocean at a single jump by chanting the name of Rama? Would Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth adore him? Lakshmana and Bharata are intelligent. They serve Rama sacrificing every imaginable pleasure. He concluded that the name and form of Rama are indeed mighty. He prayed forgiveness of his Lord, for his moment of hesitation. Disbelief follows a devotee like a shadow. He has to strengthen his faith to escape from its evil influence.

Sri Krishna revealed his divinity through his innumerable miracles and expressions. God responds to the sacred thoughts and feelings of a devotee. The Ganges flows to the full always. But we can collect water only to the capacity of our container. If you carry with you a small tumbler, you can fill that. If you take with you a big vessel, you can collect more water. Therefore, we must widen our hearts, which are like vessels.
Divinity cannot be comprehended by the practice of worship and rituals. Meditation, penance and worship are good deeds and we do get results from these practices. But these in themselves do not constitute spirituality. True spirituality is connection of Atma to Atma. Atma is the eternal truth and we will realise eternal bliss by concentrating on it. It is permanent, free of birth and death. There is neither a beginning nor an end for it. It neither kills, nor gets killed. It is an eternal witness in everyone.

Human life is given to an individual to realise the divinity within, and not to relapse into animality. While singing Bhajans we change tunes; but do we undergo any change in our feeling? Without elevated thoughts and feelings, recitation of Bhajans are of no avail. They are as mechanical as the playing of a tape recorder. Only when the mind and heart are transformed, the aim of singing bhajans is achieved. When you sing a bhajan, you should enquire whether your singing will make anyone feel happy. It should melt the hearts of the listeners. Bhajan singing should never be undertaken for boosting one's own image as a singer. Tunes and drum beats are external activities. But the aim of bhajan singing is the transformation of the mind, realisation of God, Madhavatwa.

Community singing was first started by Guru Nanak. The entire gathering joined in chorus with one feeling. This spirit of oneness is absent in bhajan singing now-a-days. Do not sing in your own way or for your own sake. Study the nature of the assembly and the occasion and sing appropriate songs. Every such good activity carries with it the life sustaining principle. In the absence of this principle, the activity is useless.
So we should grow more and more in perfection, as God is in our own hearts. Saint Kabirdas said, "Rama, I can't meditate or practise japa. But I have love; with that one principle I shall bind you." God submits himself only to love. Without love, all forms of worship are useless.

Love is life. Therefore, we should develop love which is our life. Gopikas said, "Oh Krishna, our hearts have become a barren land. Play on your Murali so that seeds of love may germinate and the rain of your love may irrigate our hearts." Radha said, "Krishna, sing with words full of nectar, and talk to us sweetly so that our hearts will be full of love. Collecting the essence of the Vedas, transforming it into sound, pour it though your Murali."

Now, what is that Murali, the divine flute? It is our body with nine openings. It has no obstacles. There is no matter inside the flute. "O God, make our body your flute, without any desire inside." Thus did Gopikas pray to sanctify their hearts.

Our sincerity and devotion should be totally turned towards God. We have sacred thoughts on festival days. The following day we have none. Every moment is sacred. If we have sacred thoughts always, we can lead a sacred life. God is all pervasive. He is present everywhere. When you see a man, remember God is in him. You normally see the form of a man in front of you, but you don't see the God within him. You must learn to identify God in everything.

Air is all around you. But you don't see it or catch it. Can you deny its existence? Without air how can you live? There is air, even if you are not able to see or catch it. Likewise, there is God all around you, though you neither see nor catch him. How to attain him? Once you have a pure heart God will step in. So develop a sacred heart. The feeling of oneness that God is present in all is sacred. Whoever you accuse, it amounts to accusing God. The love you bestow on anyone is the love you bestow on God. This is a pious life.
God said, "I have incarnated to protect the pious people." Who are the pious people? They are in terms of dress, for instance those who wear ochre robes? A true Sadhu is one who has a sacred heart. Change of heart, not dress, is the criterion of sacredness.
What is the meaning of KRISHNA? The name suggests three different connotations. The first one is Krishyati iti Krishna. Ploughing the land is Krishi. The heart is the field full of weeds of bad thoughts. They must be weeded out, and then, the heart should be filled with love and, and sowed with seeds of God's name. The second is Karshyati iti Krishna. Krishna is the one who attracts. Krishna attracts everyone by his word, play and music. The magnetic power of attraction is in everyone.

All are the forms of Krishna. And the third is Kushyati iti Krishna. He is the embodiment of happiness and he radiates that happiness to all. All are forms of Krishna and so, God wants us to be happy. We are thus the embodiments of bliss, and yet we do not know that. We should make every effort to realise the bliss within us. Bliss is the natural quality of man. Therefore when we find our friends happy, we don't ask the reason for it. But when we find any of them sad we enquire the reason for it. So we should always be happy. When worry or sadness confronts us, we should remember that God is never sad. We are the sparks of God and so we will have nothing to do with anxiety, worry and sadness. When we entertain sacred thoughts, we will become blissful.

We should practise in this direction to reach the goal. Wearing talismans and turning the beads of japamala on the hand, we allow our mind to wander. Such observances are useless. We should make our minds sacred. Every work we do must be considered as God's work, must be offered to him and done to please him. Nothing should be considered as mine or thine.
Everything belongs to God. As a Principal or Headmaster on transfer leaves all the things in his campus without any sense of belonging, so we should treat everything in the world. We have not brought them when we came, nor can we take them back when we leave this world. God gives them to us in the middle. He wants us to discharge our duty, putting the available things to optimum use. This is the message of God, to be strictly followed. Once we have this feeling we can experience divinity.

Embodiments of Love! God is love. God gives it to human beings. Rightly did Gopikas say, "Oh God! We offer to you our hearts that you gave us. What else can we bring to be offered at your feet?" That sacred thought is the true offering. Never think that you have given so much to God. A man often boasts of his charity. He says, "I fed 500 people; I distributed 500 saris and 500 dhoties to people." All these accounts need to be stated to the Income Tax officials, not to God. God sees the spirit behind the offerings. With strong feelings of love, if you offer nothing more than leaves of Tulsi, that is enough. Love is the true value. Things offered without love serve no purpose. Offer things wholeheartedly to God. You should become the embodiment of love, the Brahman.

As you think, so you become. Darwin, Prahlada, Narada and Valmiki thought deeply and reached great heights. Chanting the name of your favourite deity, dedicate your life to God. You need not give up anything. You do your work, thinking it as God's work. Krishna wanted Arjuna to do battle, taking the name of God. Only when your thoughts are pure and sacred, you can truly be human. If you are full of cruelty and animality, you are human only in form.
If a tiger steps into a cowshed, the cows will not survive. Pious thoughts are like the cows that get destroyed at the onslaught of tiger-like wicked thought. So don't give scope for any wicked thought. Then only pious thoughts and noble feelings will grow. You fix a door to a house, to permit your relatives and friends inside the house and ward off donkeys and pigs from entering it. Likewise, if bad thoughts seek an entry into your head, drive them out immediately.

The Sanskrit word for man is Manava, which means one who has faith. Faith is basic to all human experience. When your good safari suit is worn for sometime, you give it for a wash. You should have faith in the washerman. When you have a haircut, you have faith in a barber. You trust your goldsmith to make your jewels. You have faith in the market as a safe place to transact. But you have no faith in God that he will protect you. This is the human weakness. But where is God? He is in you. That means you have no faith in yourself. If you have no faith in yourself how will you have faith in others? If you don't have faith in others, it does not matter. You must have faith in God. Other relations will come up to the burial ground. Only God's name will follow you here and hereafter. Only God protects you as he is always in you, with you, around you and above you. Even in different times, God protects you. Other relations stay with you as long as you have money to spend on them. Lives of all great men reveal how God protects people in times of difficulties.

Sometimes, in times of difficulties, we tend to blame God and criticise him. Ramadas of Bhadrachalam serves as a good example. With the money Tanishaw gave him for the purchase of horses, he constructed a temple and bought jewellery for the idol of Sita and a crown for Rama. Tanishaw imprisoned him for misappropriation of funds. So Ramadas languished alone in the jail. Once in his despairing mood Ramadas was provoked to blame God Rama. He started accusing Rama: "I have constructed a temple for you. I made a necklace for Sitamma at 10,000 varahas. Another 10,000 I spent in getting a crown for you. Now, you are shining to great advantage. But, whose contribution is it that makes you so impressive?" He soon realised his folly in blaming God and begged his forgiveness for allowing his personal sufferings to overpower him. After all, they come and go as passing clouds. Though we love God intensely, sometimes we hate him.

Jaya and Vijaya were the door-keepers of Narayana at Vaikunta. Because of a curse, they had to leave their lord and take birth as demons. They prayed to Narayana to help them regain their service to him. Separation from their Lord even for a moment was unbearable to them. Narayana counselled them to keep on accusing and criticising him to expedite the process of their getting back to Narayana. They were great devotees, they could follow that path.

But criticism is not the right path to reach God. Thinking of God with love just once, is more efficacious than thinking of him with hatred a hundred times. God descends on earth to teach the lesson that we should accept whatever he gives us. He incarnates to raise us to the level of God and to guide us in the right path, so that the rare gift of human life is used to realise the goal of life.

Sacred festivals like Krishna Janmastami and Rama Navami remind us of our responsibilities. Cows graze in the pastures speedily and when they retire they masticate their food. Similarly on sacred occasions devotees witness many sacred things taking place at the Mandir. When they go back to their places, they should recall the teachings of Bhagavan and put them into practice. It is important that they practise what they have listened to from Bhagavan. Every human being is divine. Whatever is done is God's work. Sing the glory of God and sanctify the time.