Bhagawan's Discourse on 19th February 2004 at SAI KULWANTH HALL Prasanthi Nilayam

[Guest guest]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONCENTRATION OF MIND ON THE DIVINE IS REAL SADHANA

(Text of the Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 19th

February 2004 at Sai Kulwanth Hall)

Nachiketha, son of Vajasravas, prayed to Lord Yama to teach him Atma Vidya.

Then, Lord Yama said, “Oh the son of immortality! Listen. First establish your

link with the source from which you have come into the world.” He also advised

Nachiketha that since the body was perishable like a water bubble and the mind

was fleeting, both of them must be discarded, meaning, no importance should be

attached to them and efforts be made to realize the fundamental Truth.

The Lord of Kailasa has manifested his Divine form with the crescent moon

adorning his head, the cool water of the Ganga flowing between the matted

locks, with his radiant eye in the middle of the forehead and the purple neck

gleaming like the sheen of a blackberry. He wears serpent bracelets and a snake

belt, his entire body is smeared with Vibhuti, his forehead is adorned with a

kumkum dot, his ruddy lips glow with the juice of the betel, diamond-studded

gold earrings dangle from his ears and his whole swarthy body glows with divine

effulgence. (Telugu Poem)

“Nachiketa! You need not search for Lord Easwara for He is very much present in

you”, said Lord Yama.Dear Students and Devotees!

You have to understand the true significance and philosophy underlying the

festival of Sivarathri. First realise that you are not the physical body which

is perishable and impermanent. You have to look at this objective world with

Jnana Chakshu (the eye of wisdom), not with the Charma Chakshu (physical eye).

The animals, insects, birds and beasts are looking at this world with their

physical eyes. If you also look at this objective world with mere physical

eyes, what difference is there between you and those beings? You will then

simply remain an animal, bird, beast or insect. You will not be able to realize

your true nature, which is beyond the physical world. You have to comprehend the

transcendental reality which is beyond the body and the mind. This is possible

only with the help of Jnana Chakshu (the eye of wisdom). The body is like a

water bubble. It will disappear one day or the other. You are not the

body that has birth, growth, decay and death ultimately. Therefore, Lord Yama

exhorted Nachiketha to realize the Atma Thathwa that has no birth and death.

Then, the question arises as to what is Atma? Atma has no form. It is infinite,

indescribable and immeasurable.Nirgunam, Niranjanam, Sanathana Niketanam, Nitya,

Shuddha, Buddha, Mukta, Nirmala Swarupinam (Atma is attributeless, pure, final

abode, eternal, unsullied, enlightened, free and embodiment of sacredness).Such

an Atma Thathwa is immanent in every individual, nay every being, in the form of

consciousness. Your life as a human being will acquire a meaning and purpose,

only when you realise the conciousness. Enquiries relating to worldly matters

are meaningless and an exercise in futility. Lord Yama exhorted Nachiketha to

realise that principle, having realized which he would have known everything

else. The body

has birth, growth, decay and death. But, Atma has no such qualities. It is the

eternal witness to everything in this Universe. You have therefore to realize

that Atma Thathwa. Thus taught Lord Yama to Nachiketha.

The Atma is eternal without birth or death. It has no beginning, middle or end.

It is omnipresent and eternal witness. (Telugu Poem)

Look! There are several electric bulbs glowing here. Though the bulbs are of

different sizes, colours and capacity, the electrical energy manifesting as

light through them is one and the same. Similarly, the same divine power is

present in every living being and makes it function. That is Atma Thathwa. I

often refer to the terms Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Right Conduct), Santhi( Peace)

and Prema (Love). Sathya is the electricity, Dharma is the wire through which

the electric current passes. Santhi is the bulb and Prema is the effulgence. If

you want to attain Atmaananda (Atmic bliss), you have to follow Sathya and

Dharma. That is why, the ancient culture of Bharath exhorted humanity Sathyam

Vada (speak Truth) and Dharmam Chara (practise righteous conduct) In contrast

to this noble principle, what is happening today? Sathyam Vadha (Truth is being

killed) and Dharmam Chera (Righteous Conduct is being imprisoned). No, No. This

is not humanness. Speak truth and observe righteous conduct.Lord Yama told

Nachiketa, “This human body which is like a water bubble is bound to burst one

day or other. Therefore, realize that Atma Thathwa which is real and eternal”.

You have to recognize that Atma Tathwa, not by your Charma Chakshu (physical

eyes), but by the Jnana Chakshu (eye of wisdom) Then, the question arises as to

what is Jnana (wisdom)? Is it physical knowledge or secular knowledge or

knowledge relating to the objects of nature? No, none of these. Experiencing

the principle of non-dualism is true wisdom (Advaita darsanam jnanam). Atma

transcends the name and form. Lord Yama, therefore, exhorted Nachiketha to

attain Atma Jnana. Today, people are going mad in search of spiritual

knowledge. They adopt umpteen number of practices and bodily postures and call

it spiritual

sadhana. But, none of these can help to attain Atma Jnana. What is important is

Prema (Love) which is the undercurrent of all forms of spiritual sadhana.

Realising the perishable nature of this Deha (body), one has to realise the

indweller (Dehi), who is none other than the eternal Atma.

The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner or later but

the indweller has neither birth nor death. The indweller has no attachment

whatsoever and is the eternal witness. Truly speaking, the indweller who is in

the form of the Atma is verily God Himself.(Telugu Poem)

The true and eternal Atma Thathwa is immanent in one’s own body. It can be

realized only by the Jnana netras (eyes of wisdom). You have to gradually give

up Dehabhimana (attachment to the body) and cultivate Atmabhimana (love towards

the Atma). You think you are the body and develop attachment to it. So long as

the process of inhalation and exhalation continues in the body, you consider it

as yours. Once the process comes to a halt, you do not know what is happening

around. The human body, though of perishable nature, teaches one great lesson,

namely, “SOHAM” (you are nothing but the eternal Atma Thathwa). When you inhale

your breath, you make the sound “So” and while exhaling you make the sound

“Ham”. The inhaling process represents life and exhaling represents death. If

you wish to overcome life and death, one moment is enough. You have to give up

body

attachment, which I am demonstrating right before you day in and day out. This

body which I have taken upon Myself is undergoing several types of suffering .

Just as you suffer from physical ailments, this body also suffers. But, I do

not attach importance to this suffering. Several students and devotees have

expressed anxiety and concern that I might undergo a lot of suffering while the

Linga emerges from My body. No doubt your apprehensions are true, but, I do not

feel any suffering. In fact, it is only when I identify Myself with the body, I

undergo pain. Since I am not the body, I do not suffer any pain.For example,

this is a handkerchief (holding a kerchief in His hands) As long as you

consider this kerchief as yours, you pick it up, wipe your face and carefully

put it back in its original place. Just because the kerchief is yours, do you

accept if there is dirt on it? No, never. You at once discard it. In the same

manner, you should realize that you are different from

the body. You should not attach any importance to the suffering of the body. All

those objects which you consider as yours have to be discarded one day or the

other. When you do not consider something as yours, you do not feel any pain in

discarding it. This body underwent several types of suffering, the recent one

being a fracture in the hip bone.The body is afterall a conglomeration of

Indriyas (senses). Whatever has happened is only to the body and not to Me.

When you adopt such type of attitude you will get peace. For example, when you

find an ant crawling on your hand, if you try to scratch it, you will have more

pain. After all why should you have to suffer so much on account of a small

insect like an ant crawling over your body? It is only because you are under

the illusion that you are the body. The eye sees something. But what it sees

may not be real since it is bound to undergo change after some time. What the

ears have heard may undergo change after some time. In

the same way, the food we eat will also undergo change after a few hours. There

is nothing that is permanent in this world. You have to realise this truth. You

have to enquire as to what is it that remains unchanged in the past, present and

future. If I teach you this truth by quoting big Sanskrit Slokas and Mantras,

you may not be able to understand this simple truth. If this is related to your

day-to-day experience, you will understand it better.Some time back, when My hip

bone got fractured, I was taken to the hospital. The doctors were planning for

performing a major orthopaedic surgery. I told them, “You can do whatever you

wish to. This body is yours. I am not the body. I am not under the control of

the body I am I.” The doctors performed a major operation on this body. But, I

did not suffer any pain. Whatever pain was there, only the body suffered, not

Me. If you also adopt similar attitude, you will not feel any pain. Therefore,

reduce your Dehabhimana

(attachment to the body) gradually.All of you are undertaking some sort of

sadhana. What exactly is the real meaning of sadhana? sadhana is not merely

acquiring knowledge about the nature of body. In fact, you have to forget about

the body and concentrate on the Atmic Bliss. How do you attain that bliss? It

can be attained only through Prema (love). If only there is pure love, all your

suffering will be removed. Therefore, cultivate pure and selfless love.

Supposing, you came across a person on the road who is inimical to you. If you

hate him and move away from him considering him as your enemy, the distance

between you and him increases further. On the other hand, if you greet him

lovingly saying “Hello! how are you?, naturally he would respond with love.

Thus, when you both greet each other lovingly, there is no scope for hate

persisting anymore. As is your feeling towards others, so is their feeling. The

same idea is contained in the Vedic

declaration: “Yadbhavam thadbhavathi” (As is your feeling, so shall you become).

Today, we are directing all our negative feelings on others. We should not

however bear any ill-will against anybody. Whatever negative feelings are

there, they are just passing clouds. They come and go. The sun may not be

visible while it is under thick clouds. The moment the clouds move away, the

sun is visible. Similarly, when your negative feelings scatter away, what

remains is pure love. You can achieve anything in this world with love. In

fact, you can get the entire world under your control through love. People say

they are sitting in meditation, both morning and evening. But, what kind of

meditation is going on? What benefit are they deriving out of it? How long is

its effect lasting? Not even a moment. Remember, all worldly matters are like

passing clouds. Therefore, do not enagage yourself much in them.Once Chaitanya

Mahaprabhu was walking through the market place, chanting the

divine name. In fact, he was dancing in ecstasy. Some people on seeing him

thought he was a madcap. They snatched away his mridanga. But, he did not

resent for this. He started chanting the divine name while beating the cymbals.

The irate onlookers took away the cymbals also. Even then he was not bothered.

He thought perhaps God did not like his beating the cymbals. He resolved not to

touch the cymbals which he thought were not to the liking of God. He consoled

himself saying whatever musical instruments were taken away from him, were not

to God’s liking. God’s will prevails ultimately. Such was his faith. From then

onwards he gave up all worldly attachments and concentrated on Premathathwa

(Principle of Love), which none could take away from him. One has to aspire for

that which cannot be taken away by others. That is Pure Love. A printed matter

on a piece of paper cannot be separated from it. Likewise, your heart should be

like a pure white paper and love the printed

matter. These two are inseparable. Cultivate such love.

Love is your sole refuge wherever you may be, in a forest, in the sky, in a city

or a village, on the top of a mountain or in the middle of deep sea. (Telugu

Poem)

Wherever you may be, divine love will protect you always. Cultivate such type of

love. That is the real sadhana. sadhana is not something that is associated with

dhana (money). sadhana stands for Salokya, Sameepya, Sarupya and Sayujya.

Unfortunately today people do not understand the real meaning of

sadhana.Students! You are reading big books written by elders. However, mere

reading will not help. When you read a pustaka (book), whatever is contained in

it will enter your mastaka (head). That means both the pustaka and mastaka

become one. You should not stop at that. Whatever has been stored in the

mastaka must get into the heart, where it will remain for ever.Embodiments of

Divine Atma!

Atma is Divine. Never forget this aspect. Some people find happiness in physical

sadhana. But, the pleasure they derive out of it is only physical and temporary

in nature. All that is associated with time is bound to disappear one day or

the other. You have to attach yourself to that which is permanent, eternal and

real. God’s love is beyond all description. It is supreme. On the other hand,

the physical love is momentary and is associated with physical relationship.

Whatever is associated with the body comes and goes. But, pure and selfless

love which emerges from the heart comes and grows. You have to cultivate such

love. It will never diminish. You need not have to beg for this from somebody.

You cannot purchase this from the market either, since it is not a saleable

commodity. God is the only source from which love flows. It is available only

in His shop. Therefore find out a way to reach Him. Unfortunately,

today people do not aspire to acquire such pure love in spite of being very near

to the source of such love. They do not even realise that this invaluable gift

is available right in front of them. People crave for worldly favours and

objects, thinking there is great happiness in possessing them. No. They can

never give real happiness. The happiness arising out of worldly things is only

momentary. Only God’s love is the eternal principle. Therefore love such Divine

Love. You do not get it anywhere else except from God.

God has neither birth nor death. He has neither beginning nor end. He is present

in all beings as the eternal witness.(Telugu Poem)

God’s love is the only Truth. It will never change. Worship such changeless

Truth. Seek refuge in that Truth. That is the only real sadhana for attaining

liberation. What is meant by ‘Moksha’ (Liberation)? Is it living in some

palatial building with air-conditioned rooms, located in the heaven above? No,

not at all. To get rid of Moha (attachment) is true Moksha (liberation) You

have to give up the body attachment in the first instance. Once you get rid of

body attachment, you will naturally develop Vairagya (renunciation), which will

ultimately lead you to liberation. Love is the only path that can lead you to

liberation.You might have heard the story of Mandana Misra, a scholar of great

repute. His wife, Ubhayabharathi, too was a great scholar. When Adi Sankara was

proceeding on his victory march, he met Mandana Misra and entered into a

scholarly debate with him. It was decided

that Mandana Misra would take to Sannyasa if he was defeated in the debate.

Ubhayabharathi was chosen to be the adjudicator of the contest. Will anyone

accept such a proposal wherein the rival’s wife acts as the adjudicator? But,

Adi Sankara had no hesitation to accept her as the adjudicator, for he knew

that Ubhayabharati strictly adhered to the principle of truth in letter and

spirit. She was impartial in her judgement and declared Sankara to be the

winner. Mandana Misra took to Sannyasa in accordance with the terms and

conditions of the debate. Ubhayabharati, being his Ardhangi (better half),

followed suit.Ubhayabharathi lived in a hermitage near the bank of river Ganga.

Many women became her disciples. Every day in the morning, they used to go to

the bank of the Ganga to have a bath. On the way, there lived a Sannyasi, whom

people considered as Brahma Jnani (the knower of Brahma). He had renounced the

world to attain true wisdom.

Howerver, he was very much attached to a dried bottle-gourd in which he used to

preserve water. One day he was lying down, using it as a pillow, lest someone

should steal it. Ubhayabharathi observed this and asked her disciples as to who

he was. One of the disciples said that he was known as Brahma Jnani. Then

Ubhayabharathi remarked, “Though he is one of wisdom, he is attached to his

bottle-gourd which he is using as his pillow.” The so-called Brahma Jnani heard

their conversation and became angry. When Ubhayabharathi and her disciples were

returning from the Ganga, he threw away the bottle- gourd on the road, just to

show that he was not attached to it. Seeing this, Ubhayabharathi at once

remarked, “I thought there was only one defect in him - Abhimana (attachment).

Now I realise that he has another defect also - Ahamkara (ego). How can one

with Ahamkara and Abhimana be a Jnani (one of wisdom)? Her comment was an eye

opener for the

Sannyasi. Immediately he fell at the feet of Ubhayabharathi and prayed to her to

teach him true knowledge.To visualise multiplicity is Ajnana (ignorance) and to

visualise unity in multiplicity is Jnana (wisdom). Ubhayabharathi imparted such

sacred teachings and transformed the individuals. As she understood the

principle of unity, she ultimately attained liberation. On the other hand

Mandana Misra could not attain liberation as he was immersed in worldly

feelings. Ubhayabharathi started preaching and propagating the path of wisdom.

She became the guru of one and all. A true guru is one who dispels the darkness

of ignorance and lights the lamp of wisdom. That which remains changeless in all

the three periods of time is true wisdom. People accepted Ubhayabharathi as

their guru because her thought, word and deed were in complete harmony.

Manasyekam vachasyekam karmanyekam mahatma naam (Those whose thoughts, words

and deeds are in perfect harmony are

noble ones).Manonaashanam (annihilation of the mind) is what you should strive

for. You should have desire for God and nothing else. You should not get

entangled in the worldly relationships. That is true wisdom.The teachings of

Ubhayabharathi spread far and wide and she became highly reputed for her

wisdom. Even today there are many such people of wisdom. Without men of merit

and wisdom, how can there be light in the world? However, wisdom cannot be

acquired from individuals. It can be acquired only by developing love for God.

A beggar who comes to our doorstep begs for alms saying “Bhavati Bhikshan

Dehi.” He addresses Dehi (indweller) and not Deha (physical body). In this

manner, you can learn a profound spiritual truth even from a beggar.

One may acquire a high academic qualification such as M.A. and B.A. and attain

exalted positionOne may amass wealth, perform acts of charity and attain name

and fameOne may have physical strength and enjoy a long and healthy lifeOne may

be a great scholar studying and preaching the Vedas,None of them can equal a

true devotee of the Lord. (Telugu Poem)

No doubt, worldly education is also essential to eke out a livelihood, but it

cannot impart true wisdom. Only Atma Vidya (knowledge of the Self) can grant

you everlasting happiness. However, secular education is also essential to take

care of your physical needs. You should not give it up altogether. Worldly

education is Negative and spiritual education is Positive. Both are essential

for happiness here and hereafter.Students! You should become masters in both

forms of knowledge, secular and spiritual, like Ubhayabharathi. But always

remember that only Atmic knowledge is the true knowledge. Once you acquire it,

you would have acquired everything else.Last night I came to the Sai Kulwant

Hall at 1 o’ clock. It is during this auspicious time that the divine lingas

emerge from Kailasa. The lingas emerge of their own accord at the divine will.

I saw several students and devotees singing Bhajans with great

devotion. But who are the real devotees? I observed that only a few people were

singing with real devotion and a pure heart constantly contemplating on the

divine name. There were thousands of people participating in the Bhajans. But

not all of them are real devotees. Their body was present in the hall but their

mind was not fixed on God. They were mechanically participating in Bhajans. This

is not real devotion. Wherever you sit, whether in the prayer hall, or

elsewhere, if your thoughts are fixed on God, then you are a true devotee and

you will attain His grace. If you feel sleepy, you can sleep. There is no

objection. However even in sleep, may your thoughts be fixed on divinity.Is it

not because of your love and devotion towards God that you came all the way to

Prasanthi Nilayam to participate in Sivarathri Bhajans? I can understand your

devotion. A true devotee does not need any conveniences. He does not wish any

type of comforts. Wherever you go, keep the mind under

your control and direct all your thoughts towards God. That is real devotion.

That is what Ubhayabharathi taught to her disciples. If you also cultivate such

devotion, your lives will be sanctified. Do not divert your attention on

physical comforts. Always chant the Panchakshari Mantra, “Om Namah Sivaya.” If

you merely chant with lips it will merge into worldly sounds. On the other

hand, if you chant the divine name sincerely with full concentration of your

mind, it will spread all over the world. Chanting of the divine name with full

concentration by the mind is real sadhana. (Bhagavan concluded His discourse

with the Bhajan, “Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahi…”) 

Source: Prasanthi Nilayam Website( http://www.sssct.org/Discourses/2004/19th_Feb_04.htm)

Download printable version 

 

 

 

Graphics courtesy kissdesign

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want.