APPENDIX
Further Comparisons of
Discourses as originally delivered and in
later officially published
form (See Chapter 3)
Continuation of Comparison 1 (from Chapter 3)
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Discourse Comparison No. 1. Continued from Chapter 3 V.K.Gokak, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai
Baba. The Man and the Avatar, 2nd ed, ....................................................... Individuals are going wrong today, because of
the impact of the Spirit of the Age and the environment. A good deed done in
a particular environment may itself turn out to be a bad one if the setting
is changed. The goodness or badness of a particular deed depends, to some
extent, on its contextual reference. An article which is good in one place
may be dirt in another. Iron which is solid, hard and black becomes liquid,
soft and radiantly bright if it is put into a fire, i.e., if its environment
it changed. Even a good man who keeps bad company may develop a number of
wrong habits and attitudes. On the other hand a bad man in good company may
develop several good qualities and eventually become virtuous. Good company
is essential for the man who wants to grow. Good company promotes in us good thoughts and
desires, the right inclinations. It removes all wicked thoughts and holds in
check base instincts. Hatred can lead to nothing worthwhile. But love leads
us to the good foundations of a good life and society. 10 Man should
neither be afraid
nor make others fear. He who makes
others fear is an animal. He who is afraid himself is no less an animal. Neither
of them is a cultured human being. No one
knows where he comes from and where he is going. We have to go back to the
place where we have come from. Knowing this we must have faith in god. Is the
purpose of live only to be born, eat, sleep, grow, live, work and die? What
is the difference between the man and the animal? Wisdom. Without this man is
no better than the animal. He has science, but he has not wisdom. When we
develop spiritual knowledge, our life will be redeemed. We build castles in
the air. We are here due to past fruits. Every man should understand the seed
of life. We are born without any chains of gold or
pearls around us, but there is one chain we do have ‑ the chain of the
consequences our past lives. The only atonement for this is to think of the
divine principle. This is the reason for our birth.@ on the
face of this earth when the cause we serve is the cause of truth and our way
of life is the way of Dharma? Truth will not bend before any power on earth.
On the other band, every one -has to bow down before Truth. Like Truth
itself, Sathya Sai also will not bend before any ono on the face of this earth.
Others might try to put fear into him. But he is the most fearless ' of
beings. All that is good, by virtue of its goodness, draws to itself all
attacks from Evil. Evil just feels like attacking good and does so. This is
the position that Good itself has to understand and recognise when it wishes
to live in human society. There are many insects of fame in this world
who wish to acquire a reputation. When they see that the name, Sathya Sai,
has caught up in all the four corners of the world, they wish to affix this
name to their own, in the hope that they may be famous. It is my name, after
all, that they affix to theirs and they feel happy. Their happiness makes me
happy. It is my mission on earth to make every one
happy. If a person finds happiness in blaming me,
let him be happy that way. There are some who say 'yes' to Sai and
others who say no'. Some may describe Sai as good; others as bad. This has no reference to me whatsoever. The
good or the filth of it proceeds from their mouth. not me. 11 I am a witness both to the praise and the blame. In all these
matters I am like a fan at work in summer. It gives comfort if it is switched
on. It makes one uncomfortable in the heat, if switched off. But heat and
coolness are relative terms. They have little to do with the fan itself. But
in the way of this world, good and evil are a tangled yarn. Clear as well as
muddy water flow together in the running stream. Always it is the fruit-tree in the orchard
that attracts stones thrown by little children. The fruit-bearing trees have
to remember this fact. To be subjected to a stone. throw is evidence of
fruitfulness, of goodness. Pursuing the path of Love, lot us act fearlessly,
regardless of any consequence because, ultimately, the Truth will prevail. In
fact, Truth will not be Truth and Love, unless there are some obstacles in
their path. There are three maxims which you should take
to heart on this day, the first day of the New Year. The world is an
illusion; do not put your trust in it. Do not be afraid of Death. Do not
forget to remember the Divine all the time. Death is inevitable. If not today, tomorrow
or a hundred years later, it is impossible to escape death. Therefore, one
should never be afraid of death. Again, we must always remember God because he
is there,--enthroned in the lotus of our own hearts. If only we have a
glimpse of Him, it would be impossible to take our eyes away from Him. To be
rooted in Him is to be rooted in reality. Thirdly, do not trust this world because
it,is changing every moment. It is not stable oven for a single second. Every
moment the world is changing and we are also changing with it, except the
unchanging part in us. Man will realise his soul if only he
remembers vividly all that he has passed through. It was only the other day
that he was a child. It was only yesterday that he was young, sowing his wild
oats. It was just yesterday that he grew up into manhood. It is only today
that he is old and that as an old man, he has begun to repent his misdeeds in
youth. What persists through all these stages of growth and decay, when
everything is changing, is his own soul. Sage Purandara Dasa sang of God on these
lines. What happiness, after all, does this body offer? It leads us from
disease to disease, to more serious diseases; from sorrow to sorrow, to
ever-increasing sorrow. Therefore, in the midst of all this destruction and
disease, the one thing to do is to remember the Divine, remember Sathya
Sayeesha and be true to our own dharma.
Life can be turned into something sacred that way. 12. Who is Sathya Sai? This name is not the name of a body. It is
the name of the divine consciousness which is enthroned in the heart, hrudaya sthayi. This consciousness is
universal: it is there for all human beings, not merely the devotees of
Bhagavan. Take the phrase, Sheshashayi,
referring to Maha Vishnu who is asleep on Shesha, the python, in the
ocean. Similarly, Sathya Sai sleeps on Sathya or Truth. Truth, which is
something universal, is the substance of his bed. It is this truth, this
principle of life that animates this body. And this is how you must recognize
the inner significance of all persons and personalities. 13 This is the first day of the New Calendar Year, Ugadi. Ugadi
means the beginning of a new epoch. This is how you should understand it,-not
as the first day of the New Year but as the beginning of a new epoch in our
lives. This is what will make it memorable, not the sweets that we eat on
that day. On this day, we should try and understand the roots of our own
hearts, the springs from which our sensibility flows, the Spirit within ourselves. Let us at
least make a New Year resolution to this effect. Then will the day be
significant and mark a new stage in our lives. Two great forces reside in the body of every
human being. One is Matter which is inert. The other is Consciousness which
is dynamic. The body is the field and the consciousness is its cultivator.
But we have to realise that there is as much force of existence in matter as
in consciousness. There is the force of the Divine in both of them. Man
fulfils himself only when he realises the divinity of both these principles. That which is matter consists of bones,
muscles, flesh, blood,-the entire physical system. That which is called
'consciousness' consists of the mind and the intellect. There are five koshas or sheaths. Of these five, the
first is the sheath that envelops the physical "system,Annamaya. The second envelops our
subtle vital breaths, -the Pranamaya. The third envelops our mental
aspect,the Manomaya. The fourth
covers the archetypal awareness in us, the Vignanamaya. The fifth is the Spirit itself which is full of
delight,-Anandamaya. Without this aspect of consciousness, the
mere assemblage of flesh, blood and bone can lead us nowhere. If we were to
choose between the two, it is better to have consciousness without the body
than have mere flesh, blood and bone without consciousness. Quite a few great
sages sit in constant meditation and forget all about the body. They live in
a constant state of bliss. Life is worthless if we cannot experience this
bliss, Ananda. If we wish to experience this Ananda, we must
have faith in God and faith in ourselves. We must practise non-violence
towards all creatures on earth. We must never hurt the sensibility of any one
through word or deed or thought or feeling. Violence will make beasts of us
rather than men. Violence of this kind
has become a common feature of our lives today through some national
misfortune. For every good thing done, there is a bad one that confronts it.
We shall all lose human dignity and turn into snakes if we behave in this
fashion. Imagine some one protesting if a hotel
charges a few paise more for Idli or for a cup of coffee or it the Transport
Company raises the bus fare by a few paise. Imagine further that this protest
takes an ugly form. You eat and drink and don't pay or pay a few paise less.
You ride the bus and don't pay. This is different from organised strikes.
This kind of irresponsibility will lead society nowhere. Persons who behave
in this way are mean and weak. They do not know how to live. If a man cannot control his impulses or
inclinations and restrain himself in the hour of sorrow, how can he ever live
a good life? It is this kind of irresponsibility that is weakening humanity
in If a mosquito comes and sits on your nose,
you wave it off by your hand. Mosquitoes have, however, the nasty habit of
settling down on the same point from which they have been chased away. So you
wave it off a second time if it sits again on the tip of your nose. The third
time you clap your hands loudly so that it moves away. It is only if the
mosquito thinks of tipping your nose again that you come to grips with it and
finish it if necessary. Self-control is necessary at all times. If we can keep our mind under proper control,
we can discharge any duties efficiently in the interest of society. But man
is unable to cope with his problems. To lose one's temper is to lose one's
soul. One fit of anger nullities all the health that a person has gained
through proper dieting for three months. In fact, the food that we get today
is itself far from nourishing. When in addition, anger consumes our health,
loss of life can be the only result. Man is the child of Rasa or Brahman,-the
Divine. He must therefore be healthy and strong, not live the life of a
weakling. We should set a noble example to society and not imitate blindly
some ignoble action. If a man does not have proper strength of body and mind.
how can society, which consists but of a number of such men, have it? If
society itself is weak, what else can we expect the nation to be? Therefore,
an individual has to safeguard his own health and strength at least in the
interest of a stable society and a strong mother-country. Unfortunately, there are very few individuals
today who have the interests of society at heart. They are all self-centred.
Office-bearers, leaders and chairmen of societica always think of buttering
their own bread and feathering their own nests. None of them have the good of
society at heart. How, then, can society come to any good? The members of
such societies hang upon the words of their chairmen and behave in a servile
fashion because they wish to keep their seats. This kind of selfishness can
lead us nowhere. Bright souls! It is my fervent desire that
today, you should take this oath in all sincerity. Say to yourselves firmly
and finally that you will live your lives in the service of Truth and devote
every moment of your life to 1 the betterment and regeneration of Indian
society and culture. You will experience a supreme sense of fulfilment in an
undertaking of this kind. Extend
your service and consecration to t.he welfare 'of the world itself. Be-full-time, and not just part-time,
devotees. Whenever we find that Bhagavan's popularity has gone down a little
because he has espoused truth and
not a popular cause, we pack up all the photographs. We put Swami in an
envelope and seal him up. This is not what we should do. On the other hand,
like the Pandavas, we should be true to our devotion through thick and thin,
through happiness and sorrow, through good and bad and cling to God and the
Truth. Though their life was full of sorrow, the Pandavas lived their life of
exile in the faith that Sri Krishna would, some day, lift them out of
trouble. Even if this did not happen, the Pandavas were happy that Sri
Krishna was in their midst, for his divine presence itself was a delight. We
should live as the five Pandavas lived with Sri Krishna, their Divine Lord
and Master. |
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Discourse Comparison No. 1 Continued from Chapter 3 SATHYA SAI SPEAKS, Vol XII, 1973-74, pp. 36-42 [Note the (unacknowledged) abridged sections
in these latter pages of the Discourse.] 10 Fear not; frighten not. That is the message of God to man.
Brutes fear; beasts frighten. Man has to be above both the weaknesses. Have
faith in Truth and be fixed in Morality. You need not fear any one, for God will be
on your side. You will not frighten, for all will be seen by you as Divine. "I am the Witness of
activity, not a Participant" Talking of names, let me
mention this too. Some persons who do not care for truth or righteousness
might adopt the name Sathya Sai, raise institutions in that name; they crave
only the outer shell of fame and fortune; but you must know that they are
unconnected with Me and are engaged in acts which I have not authorised. 11 In fact, I am the Witness of activity, not a participant. I am
like the electric fan; switch it on, it gives cool breeze. Switch it off, it
allows you to swelter in the heat. I have no likes or dislikes. Those who
talk ill of Me are also remembering My name and deriving joy therefrom and
perhaps earning a few paise thereby. They are happy when they write
falsehood; you are happy singing the truth. I am unconcerned with either. I
have come on a task which I imposed on Myself. That task will go on, from
victory to victory~ irrespective of praise or blame. It can neither be halted
or hindered. Truth knows no defeat, nor fear No trace of fear can tarnish
the purity of the heart that is shining in the splendour of Truth. 12 I am Sathya Sai. Sathya Sai means--(like the name Sesha Sai
meaning, He who is based on, who reclines on the Massive coils of the
poisonous snake Sesha or the massive coils of objective desires) --- He who
is based on Truth, who reclines on Truth, which the massive coils of
objective desires cannot entangle. Truth knows no defeat, Truth knows no
fear. It marches on heedless of acclamation or declamation. Do not attach yourselves too
much with the world, for, it is ever changing fast and furiously. Be ever
ready to fall into the hands of Death, gladly and gracefully, with gratitude
for the chances afforded while alive. Never grieve, for God is resident in
you as your Truth. Later, in the last stages of your life, when you look back
upon your failures and successes, you will have to say, as Purandharadhaasa
said, "Alas, we do not find Joy in this life as man." Do not spend
your days in such manner. Be warned now itself. Use the days allotted to
journey towards Love, Joy and Peace. 13 The New Year Day is called in this part of the country,
Yugaadhi--- the Inaugural Day of the Age, as if a new big epoch is opening
today. This is an opportunity to contemplate on the vastness of time, of its
speed, of the short span of time which we share, in this life of yours, and
which has to be put to the best use. Contemplate on the beginning of things,
of nature, of life, of man, of the heart---all emanating from God and
journeying towards God. Dwell on the grandeur of this procession from birth to Liberation, through life after
life. Become aware that you, Nature and all that is, was and will be, are
God. To attain this awareness, Love is the surest
means. Do not inflict pain on any one, through word and deed.. Control your passions, emotions and impulses,
especially, anger, envy and greed. They thrive on the ego and make. it a dangerous
weapon. When you are enslaved by your passions, how can you stand forth and
claim respect? Only cowards yield to their senses or passions. Brave men face
up to them and win. The hero is he who overrules his mind and curbs his
impulses; the zero is he who is overruled by them. Stand fast, like a rock
when the waves beat. Have faith in. your ideals, in God. Do not allow faith
to falter when failure comes into your door. Meet it as a new challenge, and
triumph. Your Vishwaas (Faith) must
not, be like your Swaas (Breath);
for swaas comes in and goes out, it
is now in and now out. Let your vishwaas
be firm, with no alternations of entrances and exits. If faith is one
full continuous stream, Grace too will be showered on you in one full
continuous stream.@ Brindhavan |
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Comparison No. 2
Here we have two very different printed versions of a 1993 Discourse.
The 3-4 page excerpts below are sufficient to give the idea of the types of
editing changes. The more spontaneous version is in the left-hand column. The
official edited version is on the right.
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Summer Showers in Brindavan 1993, pp. 1-3
only Chapter 1 From Humanity to Divinity Students and Teachers, Man undergoes many a travail and tribulation
for the sake of bodily pleasures. But the man who realises that he Is the
Self and that the Self is different from the body, is free from pain and
sorrow. There will be no sorrow on earth if humans realise the lofty meaning
of Humanity (Manavatva). The Upanishads have declared that man, who is born
in human society and is brought up by it, becomes worse than birds and beasts
if he does not know the meaning and value of 'humanity'. Mankind is infinite, marvellous and full of
meaning and significance. Man is not the body alone. In fact he is the
conglomeration of Body, Mind and Self.
The Body is the vehicle for action, the Mind is the means for realisation
and the Self, is the witness of both the body and the mind. Hence it is sheer
stupidity to think that man is made of the body alone. The students should first realise how they
should act, think and behave. Man is made of mind. As is the mind, so is the
man. There is an adage in English which says "So thinketh the man, so is the man." It is the bounden
duty of students to realise the profound scope and significance of humanity. Man is
encased in the five sheaths: the Food sheath (annamaya kosha), the Vital
sheath (pranamaya kosha), the Mental sheath (manomaya kosha), the
intellectual sheath (vijnana maya kosha) and the Bliss sheath (anandamaya
kosha).. The Food sheath constitutes the gross body (sthoola shareera)
whereas the Vital sheath, the Mental and the Intellectual sheaths constitute
the Subtle body (sooksharna shareera). Whereas the gross body Is the vehicle
of action, the Subtle body is the vehicle of experience. THE ALL-INFINITE
WILL The Atmic power that vibrates and shines in
the Food sheath is known as Bodily
consciousness; the Atmic power that functions in the Vital sheath is
called Nervous consciousness; the Atmic power that activates the Mental
sheath is known as Mental
consciousness; the Atmic power that shines in the Intellectual sheath is
termed as Intellectual consciousness. The
power that pulsates the Bliss sheath is called Pure Divine Self (Pavithra Purashaartha). This is also known as 'All Infinite Will'. It is this
infinite Will which protects the world. It is Pure Ecstasy. The great sages and seers of The Vedanta declares that he who knows
himself, knows all. You should make the right endeavour to know yourself. You
can know yourself by developing inner vision rather than outward vision. All
sensory activities like sound, smell, touch and taste are only external
activities. We delude ourselves into thinking that these activities are real
and ruin ourselves ultimately. It is by harnessing the mind that we will be
able to realise the Divinity within. Mind is the cause for man's life, sorrow, Joy
and liberation as well. It is the mind that makes us oblivious to Divinity
and lures us to the enchantments of Jagat'
(world). The very meaning of the word 'Jagat' signifies the transient
nature of the world, for 'Ja' means going, and 'Gat' means coming. While
the world changes, man remains changeless. The very word ' [These dubious etymologies have been omitted
from the official version opposite.] [See also Chapter 5] The mind is of four kinds: the Super-Mind,
the Higher Mind, The Illuminated-Mind and the Over-Mind. Man can know himself
when he understands the nature of these four types of mind. One has to travel
from the Super-Mind to Over-Mind to understand Divinity. One has to realise
that the Divine power which pulsates in him is the same as the one that
pulsates in others One can understand 'Manavatva' only by realising oneness. But unfortunately today
man's vision does not extend .beyond body and---mind. We should not depend
too much on the mind, for the mind cannot travel far. Man remains only as man
as long as he rests on the mind. He should attain the state of 'Amanaska',
where the mind is extinguished. Amanaska is one who travels beyond the
physical mind and enters into the realms of the Super mind. Man has to travel
from the gross to the Super causal, crossing the Causal body in between. The
Causal body is of great importance to all of us, for in this state, man can
bring under his control 'Manas'
(mind), 'Buddhi' (intellect), 'Chitta' (reflective mind) and 'Ahankara' (ego). In fine, man is the
repository of all powers, for all powers are encased in him. There is nothing
that man cannot understand in the world as man Is endowed with infinite and
marvellous powers. THE DIVINE UNIVERSAL FORM : Man contains In him the cosmic power which
pervades the universe The power contained in man is the same as the universal
power outside the body which is like a balloon that bloats by the intake of
air. The air inside the balloon is the same as the air outside. When the
balloon bursts, the air inside the balloon merges with the air outside.
Similarly, when the body dies, the Cosmic Divine in man becomes one with the
Universal power outside The Upanishads speak about unity in diversity and
unity in the Infinity. Only when he realises this, man will know that the
Divinity in him and Divinity in the cosmos are one and the same. This is
known as the 'Divine Universal Form'. Today man underestimates his own importance
and humbles himself as a consequence. First and foremost, you must understand
your own Divine Nature. But students of today are exposed to the world
outside, without understanding their own nature. In the world today, the
rapid rise of material progress is paralleled by the enormous rise of
ignorance as well. Ignorance exists as long as ... ............................. |
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SATHYA SAI SPEAKS Vol XXVI, 1993 pp. 164-167
only Brindavan, CHAPTER 17 Man, the mind and
the Aathma STUDENTS and Teachers! Man struggles hard
ceaselessly night and day for the sake of bodily pleasures. One who
recognises that the Aathma (Spirit)
is distinct from the body will not be a prey to any troubles. If, indeed,
every person in the world recognises the nature and purpose of human
existence, these difficulties will not arise. The Upanishaths declare that if
one, who is born as a human, grows up as a human in society, does not know
the meaning of the term maanava (man),
he is worse than birds and beasts. Humanness is a marvellous thing. It is
boundless. It is significant. The term "man" does not refer o to
the physical body. A human being is a composite of body, mind and Aathma. To
perform with the body, to understand them through the mind, and to have, the Aathma as a witness to both
these-these three constitute Maanavathvam
(human existence). Action, Awareness and Realisation - these three
manifest the inner meaning of human life. It is a sheer ignorance to equate human
existence with the body alone. Students have to understand at the outset
how a man should grasp the nature and aim of human existence and have to lead
a meaningful life. First of all, there is the mind. Only the one
with a mind can be called man. "As a man thinketh, so he becomes.@ The five sheaths
that envelop man Man is enveloped by five sheaths: Annamaya (Food), Praanamaya (the Life Force), Manomaya
(the Mental), Vijnaanamavu (the
Integral Consciousness) and the Aanandhamuya
(the Blissful). The physical body is sustained by food. Hence it is
called sthuula shareera (the gross
body). Next comes the Suukshma shareera
(subtle body) which is covered by three sheaths of Life force, Mind and
Integral Consciousness. This subtle body is the basis for the pleasures and
pains experienced by man. All experiences of man are based on this subtle
body. Next comes Aanandhamaya Kosha (the sheath of Bliss). It is the base for the
entire Cosmos. The Cosmic Consciousness that is present in the bodily sheath
is called Abody consciousness.@ This means that even in the gross body, Chaithanyam (consciousness) is present. The consciousness that is
present in the Praanamaya Kosha (The
sheath of the Life Principle) not only indicates the life-principle, but also
proclaims the basis of the vital force. The third is the Aathmik Principle, which illumines the
mind-Manomaya Kosha. The fourth is
the consciousness in the Vijnaanamaya
Kosha. This is the basis for the entire Cosmos. It is called Chith, the all-pervading Cosmic
Consciousness. Transcending all these is the
Pure Divine Self-the Supreme Purusha. This
is the source of all power. It is the embodiment of the Infinite Will. This
is the power that protects the Cosmos. The ancient sages strove to
explore the nature of the Aanandhamaya
Kosha (the sheath of Bliss). They sought to discover how they can
experience Bliss. Maanava means Aathma To begin with, the meaning of
the term Maanava (man) has to be
properly understood. It means Aathma (the
Self). It is from the Aathma that
the five basic elements (ether, air, fire, water and the earth) have emerged.
Man has brought under his control these five elements. Thereby he has become
their master. Failing to comprehend. the basic nature of human existence, man
today has become a slave of his senses. The Vedhaantha has declared that one can know everything if he knows
his own reality. To discover who you are, you have to rid yourself of the
external vision. All the experiences based on the sense perceptions are
external impressions. These are merely reflections of internal responses. To
regard these as real and permanent and to ignore the Divine, which is the
permanent entity, is the cause of man wasting his life. Hence, man has to
utilise the mind to realise his divinity The mind is the cause
(bestower) of man's joys and sorrows. It is also the means of man's Mukthi (liberation). It is the mind
which leads man to progress from the human to the Divine and forget the
ephemeral world. The very name, Four levels of functioning of the mind The mind functions at four
different levels. The first is Super Mind. The second is Higher Mind. The
third is Illuminated Mind. The fourth is Over Mind. Man can comprehend his
real human nature only when he understands these four states of the mind. Super-Mind: An internal enquiry has to be made to understand
this. This calls for turning the. external vision inward. When this is done,
it is realised that the physical body is inert. The mind is a reflecting
mirror. The Buddhi (Intellect), Chittha (Will) and Ahamkaara (Ego) are aspects of the
mind. All these are subject to change. But they are based on something that
is unchanging. The first conclusion to be drawn from the internal enquiry is
that there is an unchanging divine entity in man. From this realisation, one
proceeds to the awareness of a Cosmic Divine. This realisation comes out of
the recognition that the Divine Consciousness experienced by the individual
is also present in all other individuals. This is the Cosmic Power. The
all-pervading Divine Power is one and the same. There is no second power.
Bodies may be multifarious like electric bulbs. But the energy that .makes
them shine is one. When this truth is realised, you have the awareness of the
Cosmic Divine. It is not enough for one to
realise his true Self. He cannot seek his individual salvation. He must ... .............................. |
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Comparison No. 3
The full versions of the 1999 Yugadi Discourse as translated into
English from Tamil (from Telugu), on the left and in the official Sai Baba
Organisation version on the right also show very interesting differences of
editing according to the respective audiences: international and local (Tamil
Nadu).
(Some allowance must also be
made for the fact that the simpler version has been translated Twice!)
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‘The Yugadhi discourse, translated from the
Tamil Sanathana Sarathi (April 1999) is sent herewith. With His Grace, the
Rama Navami one will follow. All errors are your humble servant's. Love ...’ [[sent to the Internet by an Indian devotee]] Swami's Discourse on Yugadhi day, 18.3.99,
at Brindavan A
Heart Expansive as the Ocean is Necessary If the mind has pure thoughts, victory is
certain. But, on the other hand, if the thoughts are polluted, defeat is
inevitable. Embodiments of Love, Thoughts: The permanent property of man is his
thoughts. Thoughts develop from within and arise from inner compulsion. The
inner compulsions are based upon the mind. Therefore, mind takes shape on the
basis of thoughts. When thoughts are pure, man becomes divine. The reason for
the current state of human activities is that thoughts are not proper. Wrong
thoughts and crooked actions have made everything topsy‑turvy. They are
the reasons for the chaos and decline of this land. Man=s mind today is fully occupied
with physical, worldly and temporal issues. This is fully negative. When such
negative thoughts dominate, nothing will fructify. Positive thoughts are
necessary. All thoughts based on Truth are positive. In the days past, before partaking food, they
prayed that AFood is God (Annam Brahma)@. The essence of that food mixes with the
whole of the body and yields strength and satisfaction. When the body is
well, the tendencies of man transmute to the divine and the words you utter
will become sacred. It is the food that we eat that nourishes our body. The
subtlety of the food becomes responsible for the mind. It is the strength of
the mind that is revealed in our speech. Therefore, our sacredness is
illustrated by our body, mind and speech. The cognizable (sthoolam) portion
of food is Brahma. The subtle (sookshmam) part of the food is Vishnu. The
ultra‑subtle (adhisooshmam) part of the food is Siva. The trinity is
thus present in food. Help: Nourishing sacred thoughts, speaking good
words and taking care of the physical health ‑ these certify humanity.
Man today forgets the help given to him by others. To recall with gratitude
the help given by others is a very essential human characteristic. As long as
there is a thread of life left in the body, as long as there is circulation
of blood in the body, man must remain in gratitude for all the help received
by him. Man must never forget the help rendered to him, under any
circumstance. There are two things we must forget: 1) The help given to others by us. When we
help others expecting a benefit in return, we become selfish people. Do not
expect any type of benefit in return. Forget the help you have given to
others. 2) Forget the harm that others have done to
you. When you ruminate over the harm that others have done to you, then you
get thoughts of revenge. This is not the mark of a superior being. You must
keep in mind only the help given to you by others. You must forget the harm
that others have done to you. You must also forget the help you have given to
others. A man, sacred thus, is adarsha maanava. Peace: Man desires to live in peace in this unstable
world. Man strives to find assurance, security and peace in wealth, status or
scholarship. As a wealthy person, as a man given to all comforts in life, you
cannot do as you please and act according to all your compulsions. You will
not achieve peace that way. Wealth will not give you peace. Neither will
status. We think that our comforts and conveniences will give us peace. Such
comforts are incapable of giving peace. Peace takes birth in the heart of man. Heart
is saturated with love. The heart full of love gives peace and security.
Every man must fill his heart with love. Love is God. Love is Nature
(Prakrti). Love is human life. Love is the true human trait. Man without love
is a corpse. We must live soaking our life in love and
grow in love. You must continuously love even your most committed enemy. Even
though he may have caused you very great harm, you must continuously love
him. The Principle of Love: On the basis of this love, the Indian culture
prays that all the people in the world must be happy "Lokaas Samasthaas
Sukhino Bhavanthu". From time immemorial, brimming with spiritual
wealth, Food is God (Annam Brahma): If We have moved away from the path of dharma.
It is very easy to dissert on sathya and dharma. But it is difficult to
understand them. People expatiate on sathya and dharma without properly
understanding them. "Sathyam vadha, dharmam chara" (Speak the
Truth, Conduct yourself correctly) ‑ these two were like the eyes of
the Bharatha Desa from time immemorial. We have crossed several new years. Every
festival has certain rituals and practices associated with it. We clean the
house every year. We don new clothes. We decorate the house with festoons.
There is no progress by keeping only the body clean. We must keep our
thoughts pure and clean. New Year Festival: For the New Year, donning new clothes alone
is not enough. They are not that important. New superior concepts must take
shape and reveal themselves. Decorating the house with festoons alone is
not enough. The house must be decorated with love. We must share love with
everyone who comes to our house. If the New Year is welcome along these lines,
then that becomes the true festival. Why is this sacred day called Yugadhi? Yuga
adhi, the beginning of a new yuga. This does not denote the beginning of
Krutha yuga, Thretha yuga or Dwapara yuga. This denotes the beginning of Kali
yuga. This also denotes the beginning of every year. The word "
Vathsaramu" denotes God. God is worshipped as "Vathsaraswaroopaya
namaha". The form of the universe (prapancham) is vathsaram. God is the
form of time. Vathsaram is an important attribute for God. Therefore, to
purify time, in the beginning of the year, we must develop pure tendencies
and pure thoughts and earn good name. In all places, human values are on the
decline. Fear and weird imaginations are abundant everywhere. Courage and
strength have disappeared. No one else is the reason for this. Your thought
is the only reason for this. Who are your friends?: Your enemies are not anywhere else. Your bad
thoughts are your evil enemies. Thoughts suffused with Truth are your best
friends. We have lost our friends who are our good thoughts. Truthful
thoughts are divine. We must develop friendship with our own compulsions from
Truth (sath). This sath is permanent. It is the Being and always Is. That is,
it is God. Friends and enemies change with time. But the
ever‑present Sath does not change. The ever‑present Sath is
always with you, above you, below you, around you and in you. Embodiments of Love, There is nothing noteworthy in going around
the world. There is no achievement in a lofty status. Thousands of people in From
one place to another, there was a distance of miles. Energetic and
enthusiastic youth were lined up on both sides of the street. Youth: The students in Duty Is God. Work is Worship@. We are prepared to give up our
lives. We must fulfill His Words. That will please Swami.@ Seva‑dal servants: There was a seva‑dal in every nook and
corner of Selfishness is prevalent everywhere. But, you
ask any one of the ten thousand youth seva‑dals at They put into practice the saying "You
cannot always oblige, but you can speak obligingly." They did not say
any harsh words. They did not speak words that hurt others. Through their
sweet words and sweet behavior, they brought good name to the Sai
Organization. Sai Organizations: In the world, you will find harmony,
comraderie, unity and sacredness only in Sri Sathya Sai Organizations. There
are several organizations in the world. But, it is rare to see the
activities, the sweet and pleasant conversations and the dynamic enthusiasm
of the Sai Organizations elsewhere. At Mumbai, the Health Minister approached
Swami. (He said) We have several doctors with us. But there is not much use.
We wish to collaborate with the Sri Sathya Sai Super Specialty hospital. We
could undertake an exchange program whereby doctors from the Super Specialty
hospital will serve in Mumbai and doctors from here could serve there. Every
small service there is undertaken in the spirit of ideal service. There are
several organizations that are active here. But they all operate on
the basis of self‑interest. We have seen many organizations, but the
service done in the spirit of sacrifice that is found in the Super Specialty
hospital is rare to find elsewhere. We spoke with several seva‑dals and
received the same response. Let us not worry about the minor challenges here
and there. The exemplary Sathya Sai Organization must spread all over the
world. Bhagavn does not
expect anything. Other swamis camp at different places to generate funds.
Swamis who have accumulated wealth can be seen. There is no connection
between these and Sathya Sai organizations. We must not have any relationship
with those beggars. Sathya Sai Organization will grow, nourish the spirit of
sacrifice and reflect this spirit. Then only, it is possible to retrieve the
ancient culture of the Bharata Desa. The Real Freedom: That day is not far
away. Very soon, the Bharata Desa culture will be truly retrieved. All
members of the Sathya Sai Organization must develop sacred impulses and act
with those good thoughts. Then only, you will be victorious in your
undertakings. For that, we need to understand only one
thing. Whatever the reason, we must never go with a cap in hand to anyone. If
you need something, ask Bhagavan. He will give. Why do you stretch your hand
and seek from others? People who do this are not devotees at all. They are
mere beggars. We should not be like that. We should be Biggest. Who are real devotees?: We must lead an ideal life. We must engage in
activities that help others. We must help the poor and those that need help.
When we do those service activities, then we can call ourselves devotees. Bhagavan has said many times. What is the
sign of devotion? Good character, good impulses, truth, love for God,
discipline and a sense of duty ‑ the person who possess these six
traits is a true devotee. We must engage in service activities. Home for the elderly: Bhagavan is going to Kadugodi village this
morning. Several elderly people , despite having sons, are suffering from
want of food. Today, Bhagavan is starting a home for the elderly. Anyone can
come and stay here. They can live here comfortably till their last breath. No
body should die shedding tears. The last days should be filled with tears of
bliss. This is the foundation for the next life. All
members of the Sathya Sai Organization must continuously develop the spirit
of sacrifice. There are many people who possess wealth and comforts. They are
wealthy in name only and do not possess an iota of the spirit of sacrifice.
They do not give even a tumbler of water. This is not human life. Renunciation is human
life. Na karmanaa na prjayaa dhanena thyaagenaike
amruthathva maanasuhu Neither through action (karma), nor through
progeny (prajayaa), nor through wealth (dhanam), but through sacrifice does
one attain liberation. No advertisement: Campaign is not
necessary. Neither is advertisement. We must work silently and peacefully.
Bhagavan told Kulwant Roy not to advertise the visit to The truthful
thoughts are like the radio waves. These waves expand and spread through love,
not through advertisement. Sathya Sai
Organization abhors campaigns and advertisements. It does not function for
the sake of advertisement. It is only Love that should bind us as one. It is
our service activity that will broadcast our ideals, not advertisements. This year has no danger: The name of this year is ominous. Pramaadi
naam samvathsaram. It means ‘fraught with danger‘. But, there are no dangers in this year. Only the name means that,
but there will be prosperity in the universe. We can escape the danger
implied in the name of the year. We can achieve what we undertake. We must be
prepared to meet challenges. Yes, we must meet adversities with love. We
must meet them with expanded heart. There is no danger of any type of danger
for either the universe, society or the family. Just because the name is
"pramaadi" it does not mean there will be danger. We find a man
named Dharmaraju being miserly! You are all the embodiments of dharma. Embodiments of Love, The Real Dharma: You can be happy listening to the report of
the seva activities done at Take steps to acquire this happiness. Develop
friendship with God. Who is your true friend? You may have a friend in the
canteen or you might have recorded his address. But no one can give the address
of your friend who is God. If you ask God, "Where do you live?", he
will reply, "In your heart.". God lives in your heart. There is no
need to search for Him. Turn your mind inwards to see Him. You will see Him.
You will get happiness. Love is the basis: Love is the basis for everything. Love should
be selfless. Love is God. God is Love. Remove and cast off all polluted
thoughts. Kick away all bad impulses. Embrace good habits. Develop good
impulses. Spend time in satsang. You must do all these in the New Year. When
you travel this path, you will be able to achieve anything. No difficulties will come your way. No
problems will arise for you. Many are disturbed with the thought of what will
happen this year. Nothing is going to happen. Our good thoughts will reap
good results and bad thoughts will result in bad results. If your thoughts
are pure, you will achieve victory supported by Truth. Embodiments of Love, I bless you that in this New Year, you will
live happily with healthy and long life. Relationship with Other Countries: I said to Vajpayee
that not only In unity in the society, the country will be
united. When the country is united, the world will be united. Undertake your activities keeping in mind
always the welfare of the society and welfare of the country. There may be
differences in principles. But, there should be an underlying unity. This is
the ancient teaching of Bharat: Let us grow together Let us travel together Let us learn together Together, without underlying differences, let
us live in amity Let us live together. The Bharata Desa will prosper then. A heart as expansive as the ocean: Bharata Desa ( Embodiments of Love! Every man is a repository of desire, anger
and greed. These result from the body. The Ramayana describes this well. Ravana was accomplished in penance. He had
unlimited wealth and unparalleled accomplishments. He had physical prowess,
mental acumen and material wealth. Because he succumbed to desire, he lost
everything. His Lanka was burnt and got destroyed. If desire enters the
heart, nothing good will come out of it. Hiranyan: Anger: Hiranyakasipu was a great scientist.
He had traveled to the moon and the sun, and had gone around these. All the
five elements were under his control. Because he succumbed to anger, he lost
everything. He did not become angry at anyone else, he got angry at God.
Because of that, he destroyed himself. Greed: Dhuryodhana had a large kingdom, but
did not give to the Pandavas land the size of a needle‑head even.
Because of this greed, he lost his kingdom and his family. The Ramayana describes the consequence of
desire, Bhagavatam describes the consequence of anger and Mahabharatam
describes the consequence of greed. Three sacred scriptures describe in
detail the results of three bad qualities. The Ramayana: On reading the Ramayana, we must give up our
desires. We must develop full faith in the principle of Rama. Then life will
be brilliant. It is customary to recite the Ramayana over a few days. The
Indian Culture is reflected in each and every subtle teaching of the
Ramayana. A mere reading of the Ramayana does not bear much benefit. We must
imbibe its essence. The essence of Ramayana is the description of the
consequence of the thing called desire. Because of desire, a mighty man fell.
Upon reading the Ramayana, we must keep desires far away. You recite the Bhagavatam and praise the
leelas of Prahlada: Prahlada was ceaselessly reciting the
Narayana mantra. When the elephant went to step on Prahlada, it manifested
itself as Narayana. When the snake bit Prahlada, it manifested itself as
Narayana. When he was rolled down from atop the mountain, the mountain
manifested itself as Narayana. When he was thrown into the sea, the sea
manifested itself as Narayana. "Yath bhavam thath bhavathi" As
your feeling, so you become. God manifests in consonance with your feelings.
Pray with love. Suffused in love, get close to Bhagavan. Then, you will get
superior experiences and benefits. Greed: Dhuryodhana and Duchadhana, both embodiments
of greed, suffered in incalculable ways. They had unlimited wealth. They were
intelligent. But, what was the use? What purpose did their wealth serve?
Where was their courage? Everything disappeared and was destroyed. The five
Pandava brothers, who embodied sathya, dharma, shanti, prema and ahimsa, were
victorious in the end. Truth is the only one that has the capacity to give
victory in the end. Dharma is enough to realize all plans. Where
all these five are present, victory will certainly be there. Victory begets
victory. Defeat will be nowhere near. Victory will chase you. When you follow
sathya and dharma, your victory is assured. Sacred Feelings: Today is the beginning of the New year.
Sacred feelings promote thoughts about God and the principle of love. God
does not have a form apart. He does not have a place apart. Sathyam
bhagavthswaroopam ‑ Truth is God. Love is God. Correct conduct is God.
When you practise this, you will be worshipping God. At that time, without
doubt, God will be present in immediacy and in a cognizable way. There is no
need to doubt this. Love with suffused devotion. Love with full
heart. There should be no pretense or artificiality in love. Love for the
sake of love and become friend with God. You can then love anything. To develop this love in our heart is the only
action we must do. Service done in the spirit of sacrifice is the ornament
for hands. Thyagam hasthasya bhooshanam Sathyam kandasya bhooshanam Truth is the ornament, a necklace, for the
neck. When such ornaments are available , why do you go in search for other
ornaments? Divine Love: This is a New Year. You must understand the
sacred divinity. You must develop sacred love. You must not have narrow
feelings like "me", "my family" and "my
relatives". You must develop a prayer in this New Year, "lokaas samasthaas
sukhino bhavanthu" ‑ Everyone in this world must be happy. Expand your heart. You will experience
blissful life. You will get a life filled with love. Your thoughts are
responsible for your security, equanimity and peace. Love God. Let God be your friend. You will be
victorious in everything. (Swami concluded the discourse with the
bhajan, ‘Bhajana bi na sukha shanti nahi’ |
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[From: eaisai files, Internet] Sai Darshan Home Start New Year with Spirit of Love If the
feelings and intentions behind your actions are good, the results will also
be good. If your intentions are bad, you will certainly meet with failure.
(Telugu Poem) Embodiments of Love! Thoughts are the permanent asset of man.
Thoughts are based on feelings and feelings on the mind. As the thoughts, so
the mind. If thoughts are good, humanity will blossom into Divinity. Today
man's behavior is not good because his thoughts are polluted. As the thoughts
and actions of man have become perverted, the country is passing through
troubles and turmoil. Man has filled his mind with thoughts about mundane,
ephemeral and transient things. This is totally negative in nature. Only
thoughts based on Truth are positive. Spiritual Wealth of Bharat In ancient times, the Bharatiyas, before
partaking of food, used to chant the prayer. Sacred thoughts, good words and noble deeds
are the true human values. But, modern man lacks in human values. Today, man is bereft of gratitude, which is
one of the most essential qualities. He forgets the help rendered to him by
others. So long as man is alive, he should be grateful for the help he
received from others. There are two things you have to forget ‑ the
help you have rendered to others and the harm others have done to you. If you
remember the help you have rendered, you will always expect something in
return. Remembrance of the harm done to you by others generates in you a
sense of revenge. You should remember only the help you received from others.
The one with these sacred qualities is an ideal man. In this ephemeral and transient world, man
always aspires for peace and security. But money, education, position of
authority and physical comforts cannot confer peace and security. Peace originates from the heart. Man can
experience peace and security only when his heart is filled with love. Love
is God, love is Nature, love is life and love is the true human value. Bereft
of love, man is equivalent to a corpse. You should lead a life filled with
love. Love even the worst of your enemies. It is on the basis of the
principle of love that the culture of Bharat has declared: Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu (May
the whole world be happy!). Since ancient times, this sacred Today man is engulfed in selfishness and self‑interest
and is leading an unsacred life. Our ancient seers used to partake of food
with the feeling that food is Brahma, the essence is Vishnu and the one who
partakes of it is Siva. Such a feeling would foster pure and sacred thoughts
in us. Today man has strayed away from the path of truth and righteousness.
People criticize those that follow truth and righteousness. It is very easy
to criticize, but very difficult to understand. The Vedas say: Sathyam Vada,
Dharmam Chara (speak the truth and follow righteousness). Since ancient
times, the Bharatiyas have considered these two as their two eyes. True Spirit of Celebrating Ugadi You would have celebrated many Ugadi (New Year day) festivals in your
life. Certain traditional practices go with every festival, such as having a
sacred bath, wearing new clothes, cleaning the house and decorating it with
buntings of green leaves. Greatness lies in purifying our thoughts, not
merely the transient human body. The significance of a festival does not lie
in wearing new clothes, but in cultivating new and noble thoughts. The house
should be decorated not merely with the buntings of green leaves, but with
buntings of love. Share your love with everyone who visits your house. Only
then we would be celebrating the festival in its true spirit. Today we are celebrating Ugadi, which means the commencement of a new era. It denotes the
beginning of Kali Yuga, not Krita Yuga or Treta Yuga. This is the beginning of Nuthana Samvathsara (New Year). Vathsara is another name of God. That is why God is extolled as Vathsaraswarupaya Namah (salutations
to the one who is the embodiment of Vathsara). Time is God. Vathsara is its cosmic form. So, Time
and Vathsara connote the same
Divinity. The New Year has to be sanctified by sacred
thoughts and broad feelings. Today humanity is stricken with fear and
restlessness. Courage and strength are on the decline, because you have
unsacred thoughts and wicked feelings. Your enemies are not outside. Your bad
thoughts are your worst enemies and thoughts based on Truth are your best
friends. But, today people do not befriend the thoughts based on Truth, which
are essentially divine. You have to make friendship with Sath, the eternal truth. Sath
means Being, the ever existent God. The worldly friends and enemies change
with the passage of time, but Sath
is the true and eternal friend. This friend is always with you, in you,
around you, above you, below you and protects you just as the eyelid protects
the eye. Exemplary Devotion of Embodiments of Love! There is nothing great in going round the
world and getting accolades. Lakhs and lakhs of people in During Swami's drive, thousands of youth of
the age group of 25 to 30 flanked both sides of the road with devotion,
discipline and enthusiasm. Usually one does not find such well behaved youth
in cities like Mumbai and No one exactly knew Swami's schedule.
Therefore, one could find a Seva Dal
in every nook and corner of The Seva
Dal youth were ten thousand in number. Whomsoever I asked, "What do
you want, boy?" the reply was one and the same, "Swami, I want You,
I want Your love." They were very humble in their approach and spoke
softly and sweetly. I often say, "You cannot always oblige, but you can
speak always obligingly." That obliging nature was very much evident in Revival of Ancient
Culture of Bharat
While I was in Mumbai, the Health Minister of
Swami does not ask anything for Himself.
Today there are many Swamis and Ammas who are making money in the name
of spirituality. Sri Sathya Sai Organization has no connection whatsoever
with them. You should not have anything to do with them. Sri Sathya Sai Seva
Organization should progress with the spirit of sacrifice. Only then will the
pristine culture of Bharat be firmly re‑established. It will not be
long before you will be a witness to this. Very soon we are going to revive
the ancient culture of Bharat. All the members of Sri Sathya Sai Organization
should develop sacred thoughts and noble feelings. We should perform all our
actions based on Truth. Then victory will certainly be ours. You
should keep this in mind: never ask anything from anybody. If you want
anything, come to Me, I will give. Only beggars stretch their hands in front
of others, not devotees. You should be 'bigger,' not beggar. Help the poor
and the needy, serve the society and lead an ideal life. Only then you will
be called a true devotee. I have explained to you many times the qualities of
a true devotee. They are: virtues, good intellect, truth, devotion,
discipline, duty. Participate in service activities. This
morning I am going to Kadugodi to inaugurate a Vriddhashram (home for the aged). There are many old people in
the society who are leading a miserable life, since they have been deserted
by their children. Anybody is welcome to this home for the aged. This is
started to see that the old people may lead a peaceful life till their last
breath. One should be in bliss at the time of death, and not be shedding
tears of sorrow. One's last moments are the foundation for one's next birth. All members of Sri Sathya Sai Organization
should cultivate the spirit of sacrifice and service to help others. There
are many affluent people in the society, but few have this spirit of
sacrifice. Life bereft of sacrifice is inhuman. The Vedas said: Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena Thyagenaike Amruthatwamanasu (one
can attain immortality neither by rituals nor by progeny nor wealth; only
sacrifice confers immortality). We do
not need any publicity or advertisement. Work silently. Before leaving for Ushering in an Era of Peace The name of the New Year is Pramadi, which implies dangerous
prospects. But no danger would befall this world. The name may imply danger,
but in reality the world will attain prosperity. We shall escape from all
dangers. Be prepared to face anything with love and
broadmindedness. There are no dangers either for the world or for the nation
or for the society or for the family. A person bearing the name Dharmaraja
may not follow Dharma at all.
Similarly, this year although named Pramadi will not bring any calamities. Embodiments of Love! Do not get elated by listening to what
happened in Love is the most essential of all the
qualities we should possess. So, cultivate selfless love. Love is God, God is
love. Today is the New Year day. In this New Year drive away all bad
thoughts, breed good feelings and spend the time in contemplation of God.
When you tread along this path, you can achieve anything. You will not have
any problems. Many of you are apprehensive of what lies in store for you this
year. Nothing will happen. What we encounter depends on our thoughts. So,
entertain good thoughts and you are bound to be successful. Embodiments of Love! I bless you with a long, happy and healthy
life. Set an ideal to the rest of the country. Very soon all countries will
come together and will attain peace and security. I told
Vajpayee, "Vajpayee, you are a good person, making efforts in the right
direction. But, develop friendship with But, in fact, there is no unity amongst
Bharatiyas themselves. Today, one finds several groups in a single party.
Parties may vary, ideologies may differ, but all should stand united. Never
attach undue importance to parties and ideologies. Keep in mind the welfare of
the nation. The welfare of the world depends on the welfare of the nation;
the welfare of the nation depends on the welfare of the society. So, whatever
you do, bear in mind the welfare of the society and the nation. There may be
differences of opinion, but they should not stand in the way of unity. This
is what the ancient culture of Bharat taught in the beginning. "Let us move together, let us grow
together in intelligence and share the knowledge that we have acquired, let
us five in peace and harmony without any conflicts." (Telugu Poem) Only then Bharat will prosper. Bharat
is the leader and an ideal to the rest of the world in the field of
spirituality. So, all Bharatiyas should foster broad feelings. Today the
country is facing problems because people have become narrow‑minded.
The Worst Enemies of Man Every human being has the evil tendencies of Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobha
(greed) etc. in him. The great epics, the Ramayana, the Bhagavata and the
Mahabharata teach us very good lessons to control lust, greed and anger,
which are the enemies of man. Ravana, who had mastered al the 64 branches of
knowledge and was a great scholar and a mighty warrior, lost his life and
caused the ruination of his entire clan because of lust. It is not enough if
you merely read the Ramayana; you should grasp its real significance. Hiranyakasipu was a great scientist. Today
scientists have traveled only up to the moon, but Hiranyakasipu could travel
even to the sun. He had control over all the five elements, but he became a
victim of his anger. His anger was directed at God Himself. Ultimately, what
happened? He ruined himself. He subjected his son to all sorts of trials and
tribulations and sought to kill him by many means, like throwing him from the
hilltop, casting him into the sea, putting him in a pit of poisonous snakes
and making the elephants trample upon him. As Prahlada was chanting the name
of Narayana ceaselessly, all the obstacles became Narayana for him and he
came out unscathed. That is why it is said, Yath Bhavam, Tath Bhavathi
(as is the feeling, so is the experience). God manifests on the basis of the
feelings of the devotee. If you pray to God with purity of heart and love,
you will experience God. In the Mahabharata, Duryodhana personified
greed. He refused to share the kingdom with the Pandavas and denied them
their rightful share. Due to this greed, he perished along with his entire
clan. These three illustrations echo the need for
the eradication of the feelings of lust, anger and greed. The Pandavas
emerged victorious because they practiced all the human values of Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa. If you follow the values, success will follow
automatically. Cultivate the Spirit of Love Today New Year has begun. With sacred
feelings and divine thoughts, cultivate the spirit of love in you. God is not
found separately in a temple or in an Ashram
etc. Truth is God. Love is God. Dharma
is God. When you worship God by following these principles, He will manifest
Himself then and there. There is no doubt about this. You should love God
wholeheartedly. Pray to God and make friends with Him. You can achieve
anything if you have God as your friend. What you have to learn today is to fill your
heart with love and adorn your hand with the ornament of sacrifice. Sacrifice
is the jewel for the hands, Truth is the necklace one should wear. You must
develop the habit of adorning these jewels in the New Year. In this New Year,
develop divine love and foster peace in the country. You must pray with a
broad feeling: Loka Samastha Sukhino
Bhavantu (May the whole world be happy!). Start the New Year with this
prayer. Then you will lead a blissful and peaceful life full of enthusiasm.
To lead such a life, you have to cultivate noble thoughts. So, love God, make
friendship with Him and you are bound to be successful in all your endeavors. Bhagavan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, ‘Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahi ...’ |
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