Dasara Divine Discourse on 21st Oct 2004: Cultivate good habits to command respect in society

[Guest guest]

Some people keep awake the whole night of Sivarathri by playing cards. Can this

be called Jagarana (vigil)? If one abstains from food on account of quarrel

with one's wife, can it be called fasting? The fisherman goes on watching

intently to trap the fish in the net. Can this be termed meditation?(Telugu

poem)Embodiments of Love!Several people play cards throughout the night in

order to keep themselves awake on the holy night of Sivarathri. Once I enquired

of an officer, "How did you spend your time last night?" He immediately got up

and answered, "Swami! I spent the time very happily." I further enquired what

sort of happiness he derived. He replied, "Yesterday was Sivarathri. I played

cards throughout the night and enjoyed very much. I did not have even a wink of

sleep." I questioned him again, "How can you derive the fruit of holy Sivarathri

by spending your time playing cards throughout the night?" The officer

gave a wonderful reply, "Since I was busy playing cards throughout the night and

was therefore free from all worries; I thought I was happily spending time last

night." You might have observed the fishermen laying their nets in the pond and

waiting with single-pointed attention hoping for some fish to fall in the net.

Can you call their intense gaze as concentration? Can it lead to Mukti

(liberation)? The understanding of concentration and meditation by man today

can be compared to the fisherman's single-pointed effort to catch fish. Another

example: A person was heavily drunk and had lost his body-consciousness. Can you

call it Thanmayattwa (total identification with divinity)? One more example; a

person quarrelled with his wife and abstained from food. Can you say he was on

a ritual fast? Some people resort to such acts of Thanmayattwa and

concentration and live in a fool's paradise. One can imagine as to what extent

man has degenerated himself taking

to bad ways and distortions! Did you ever analyse the nature of the human body?

It consists of sweat, urine, excreta, bad odour, flesh and blood. It is prone

to decay and death ultimately. Every second, only bad matter and bad odour are

generated in the body. What is there to be proud of such a decaying body? One

has to realise the true nature of such an evanescent human body and make the

best use of it. Do you know why God has given us the human body? Is it for

indulging in evil acts and wasting the precious life? No, no. The body is given

to us so that man should strive to attain Divinity; not for misusing it. You

should realise for yourself to what sacred purposes it is to be used. From the

time one gets up from the bed till he goes to bed in the night, man's time is

spent in worldly pursuits. He does not have time to think of God even before he

goes to bed.The human body is a sacred instrument given by God and it has to be

sanctified by contemplating on God at least

one or two times a day. What kind of activities are to be undertaken so that man

may derive happiness and joy? The most appropriate answer to this question would

be that his senses should be engaged in constant contemplation of God. The eyes

must always see good things. The ears must be engaged in hearing good things.

The tongue must be made to speak always sweet and noble words. It should chant

the divine name. Thus, every limb of the body must be put to proper use and

sanctified.Dear students! Normally, I do not like to speak about My physical

self. However, I am revealing certain aspects of My daily routine with the hope

that they will serve as guidelines for you. I wake up four times during night.

Usually I get up from bed at 12 hours at midnight, brush My teeth and also

clean the tongue and mouth thoroughly. Again, I repeat the process at 1.30

a.m., 3 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. The boys who sleep in My room to attend to My needs

during the night may find it

inconvenient sometimes as their sleep is disturbed. However, I strictly adhere

to this routine so that My tongue, mouth and teeth are always clean. I feel

happy only when My tongue and mouth are clean. A clean tongue helps in

maintaining purity of body and mind. You might have observed Me talking to a

number of people, everyday. I will spend even 20 minutes instead of 10 minutes

talking to those who keep a clean tongue and whose mouth does not emit bad

odour. On the other hand, I do not talk to those with bad odour even for two

minutes. During our sleep, bacteria get generated and they stick to our tongue

and teeth on all sides of the mouth. They have to be removed by proper brushing

of the teeth and a thorough cleaning of the tongue and mouth. Only then can we

be healthy and happy. Apart from physical cleaning, our tongue must be engaged

in speaking sacred and pure words. Following this principle, I am putting My

tongue to proper use by engaging Myself in sacred activities. It is

only after I clean My body properly, I come out of My chamber. By the time I

come out of My room, a boy looking after the kitchen brings the ragi gruel. I

partake of the gruel and feel very happy and energetic. Except this ragi gruel,

I do not take any other item during early morning. I do not have breakfast.

After taking the gruel, I once again clean my mouth. Then, I drink some fresh

water and come down. Several people may be wondering as to what I have for My

breakfast. Nothing; I have no taste for snacks at all! A glass of cool water is

all that I like to have. Thereafter, I spend some time happily with devotees,

giving darshan and talking to some; I also give interviews to selected people.

I am always pure in body and mind. My words are pure, My thoughts are pure and

My acts are pure and sacred.One important aspect to be borne in mind by people

who are called for interview. While I enter the interview room with such a pure

and sacred body, I notice that some

people sitting there in the group, are in the habit of smoking. Please be

cautioned that I do not allow people smoking. I strongly disapprove the habit

of smoking. Immediately I pick up such people and ask them to go out. The wife

of a smoker may plead with Me, "Swami! He is my husband; if you send him out,

what is there for me to represent to you?" I firmly reply, "Whether it is

husband or son, whoever he may be, one should not enter My room with bad odour

and the smell of cigarette. You tell him to go out, clean his mouth and come

back. Then I shall speak to him." Such people will go out immediately, clean

themselves and come back in ten minutes. Then I speak to them endearingly.

Several people try to cover the bad odour emanating from their body, by using

some perfume. There is a small story in the puranas, which is relevant in this

context. Goddess Parvati did great penance hoping to marry Lord Easwara. She

tried all sorts of methods to entice Easwara, i.e., by putting on good

dress, applying perfume, etc. But, Easwara did not yield to her wishes. Then,

she sought the help of Manmatha (cupid) to wean Easwara to her side. Even then,

Easwara did not budge an inch. On the contrary, he took Manmatha to task for

trying to help Parvati. Immediately, Parvati realised her fault and regained

her poise. She meditated on the Divine form of Lord Easwara which is Nitya

(eternal), Suddha (unsullied), Buddha (enlightened), Mukta (liberated), Nirmala

Swarupinam (embodiment of purity). She came back to her normal, natural and pure

self. Easwara then turned His vision towards her and accepted her. They were

married on an auspicious occasion with the consent of her parents.A human being

should always be natural and pure. He should not be artificial, wearing gaudy

dress and applying perfumes and colours. This may be necessary to a certain

extent. But, of what use is it to apply perfumes when the body is full of bad

odour? My body

always emits natural effulgence and divine fragrance, because I never entertain

bad thoughts. "A sound mind in a sound body" is the principle I follow. In

order to teach such good habits to others, I always maintain My body and mind

in a pure and unsullied condition. Sometimes, I wake up the boy sleeping in my

room at 12 hours at midnight and again at 1 a.m. This may cause some

inconvenience to the boys. They may feel a little inconvenience during that

particular moment, but soon forget the same and attend to Swami's needs. Thus,

the body must always be kept in a clean and fit condition, since it is a sacred

instrument provided by God. Since I give utmost importance for cleanliness of

the body, others would also like to emulate Me. By following My good habits and

moving along with Me, people command respect in society. Markandeya was a great

devotee of Lord Easwara. But, he had a short span of 16 years of life. Like any

other boy of his age, he used to spend a lot

of time in play. He was very happy in the company of other boys, unaware of his

impending death. When his parents realised that he would be completing 16 years

shortly, they felt very sad that he was nearing his end. They were immersed in

sorrow and started shedding tears. Markandeya enquired of his parents, "Why are

you crying?" Realising the futility of concealing the information from their son

any longer, they replied, "Son! Our relationship with your mortal body ends

today. Lord Easwara granted you a short span of life of 16 years, which will

come to an end today." Markandeya felt very much disappointed since he spent

all his time till then in play, in the company of other boys. Realising that he

had still a few more minutes of time, he took bath and went to the temple of

Easwara. There he started chanting the Divine name of Easwara with a pure

tongue. Meanwhile, it was time for sunrise. Easwara and Parvati were discussing

among themselves the impending death of Markendeya.

Parvati enquired from Easwara, "Swami! Markandeya's life is fast coming to an

end. Why delay in saving his life? His parents are immersed in great sorrow."

Easwara then suggested that Parvati should enter the scene and play her role in

prolonging the life of Markandeya. Parvati then lifted the child and made him to

sit on her lap. Markandeya had the good fortune of sitting on the lap of the

Divine Mother, which entitled him to win the grace of Lord Easwara. Easwara

came there and blessed Markandeya that he shall be a chiranjeevi. Thus, he

earned the grace of both the Divine Mother and Father. In the meantime,

Markandeya's parents arrived there to see what had happened to their son. Their

joy knew no bounds when they found their son hale and healthy. They expressed

their happiness thus: "Son! It is only due to your devotion and complete

surrender to Lord Easwara that you are able to overcome death and earn the

Divine grace for becoming a chiranjeevi. You protected

yourself, we could not do anything in this regard." God does not need anything

from the devotee, except devotion and complete surrender. He expects from a

devotee a sacred body, sacred words, sacred vision and selfless activity. When

a devotee offers these things, God gives Himself up to that devotee. One's

body, mind and actions should always be pure, so that God is attracted towards

him. It is not by the different forms of worship or other rituals that God's

grace can be obtained. Even the mother expects the child to cultivate a pure

heart. Frequently, I recite the following poem to remind man of the futility of

struggling for merely filling one's belly:Oh! Man! You struggle hard for the

sake of filling your belly, you acquire many forms of knowledge in various

fields; examine and enquire for yourself what great happiness you have achieved

by spending all the time from dawn to dusk in acquiring worldly knowledge and

earning wealth, while forgetting

God.(Telugu poem)I always sanctify My time by engaging Myself in activities

beneficial to the society. Right from My childhood, I cultivated Spartan habits

and followed strict regimen. This I had already explained in a poem on an

earlier occasion thus:Get up early in the morning at the crowing of the

cock,Have a bath after your morning ablutions,Wear a proper dress,Eat properly

and moderately,Go to school and study diligently,Earn a good name,Don't move

out when it is raining, And never go near the ditches,Take part in games,Run

and play.If you abide by all these rules You will have both health and wealth.

(Telugu poem)In those days, people were not used to snacks. The cooked rice was

soaked in buttermilk on the previous night and taken as breakfast next morning

with a little salt.Several boys keep their study tables very unorganised, with

the books strewn all over. They make it clumsy

and dirty. But, I used to keep my books always neat and tidy. Whatever I am

relating today is based on My personal experience only.In those days, very few

boys were in a position to purchase new books when they were promoted to a

higher class. Every four or five years, the textbooks were changed. I always

used to keep My books neat. Hence, boys studying in the lower standard and

promoted to the higher standard at the end of the academic year used to take My

books. During a particular year, a poor boy approached Me and asked for My

books. I advised him to go and have a bath in the Chitravathi river and then

come. He did accordingly. Then, I showed My books to him. In those days there

was high syllabus even for lower classes, like history, geography, civics, etc.

On seeing My books, he commented, "Raju! you do not seem to have touched your

books even once. They appear brand new." The cost of My books totalled to

twelve rupees, but the poor boy was not in a position to pay even

that much. Then I told him "My dear! I am selected for the scout camp by our

teacher. I have to purchase khaki dress and shoes. Besides, there are some

other items of expenditure. I don't have money to incur that expenditure. Nor I

would like to ask My parents. What I need at the moment is five rupees.

Therefore, pay Me five rupees and take away the books." The boy felt very

happy. He immediately paid the amount. In those days, currency notes were very

rare. Therefore, he brought the entire amount in small coins packed in a piece

of cloth. It was tied in an old cloth, which gave way unable to bear the weight

of the coins. The coins were strewn all over the room, making a big sound. On

hearing the sound, the lady of the house came there and enquired, "Where did

you get all this money? Did you steal from my trunk?" So saying, she slapped

Me. The poor boy standing there explained to her, "Mother! I gave those coins

to Raju towards the cost of his books which I purchased from him." She

did not believe his words and took away the entire money. The next day all My

classmates were going to Cuddapah for participating in the scout camp. I was

studying in Kamalapuram, when this incident happened. I told My teacher that I

would start the next morning and join the group there. Early in the morning I

set out on My journey by walk. I walked a long distance and before I could join

My colleagues, they had left for their breakfast. As for Myself, I did not have

even a paisa in My pocket. What do I eat for My breakfast? I thought I would

manage somehow without eating anything. I purposely avoided My classmates then,

lest they may question Me whether I had breakfast. They were searching for Me.

There was a masonry tank nearby in which water was stored for cleaning the cows

and buffaloes. I was feeling very tired, hungry and thirsty, having walked all

the way. But, I could not help. I washed My face with that dirty water and

drank some. Then, I noticed that someone had left

behind a packet of beedies (country cigarette) and a one anna coin on the tank

there. The beedies were, of course, of no use to Me. Therefore, I threw them

away. I took the one anna coin and converted it into four small coins (botlu or

kanis). Four kanis in those days were equivalent to one anna. As I was

returning, I noticed a person sitting on the roadside playing cards spread over

a cloth and inviting passersby to bet on a particular card. He would offer

double the amount, if we were able to win. No doubt, this was a sort of

gambling, which I would advise everyone to refrain from. But, I was completely

helpless at that time. I therefore put one coin on different cards. Every time,

I was winning the bet and getting double the amount I invested. Thus, I played

the game till I could make sixteen Annas (one rupee). Then I thought that was

the end of the game and returned with the money already earned. Since I was

feeling hungry, I purchased three dosas with one bottu. In those days

dosas were available at the rate of one for a dammidi (1/3rd of a bottu). Thus,

I managed with two bottus a day eating dosas. I joined the scout duty along

with My friends. During night, I kept the bundle of coins under My head and

slept on the sandy floor. Since I was very much tired, I was lost in sound

sleep. Meanwhile, someone noticed the bundle under My head and took them away

when I turned to the other side. When I woke up the next day, I noticed that

the cloth bundles containing money were stolen away by somebody. I had no money

to buy even one dosa. My classmates were very much dejected at My plight. They

were in fact crying. They pleaded with me to eat at least one dosa, which they

would buy for Me. But, I flatly refused. I told them that I was not hungry,

since I did not like to avail Myself of others' help. Especially, I did not

wish to touch others' money. So, I left that place.Another incident happened

during My childhood. Once My hand was swollen and it was

giving Me a lot of pain. I did not reveal it to anybody. I tied a bandage Myself

with a wet cloth. The next day, Seshama Raju's (Swami's elder brother) son died.

He gave a telegram to Venkama Raju (Swami's father). Venkama Raju immediately

rushed to see Seshama Raju. The Griham Abbayi (Venkama Raju) started from

Puttaparthi and reached Bukkapatnam, and from there to Kamalapuram. By the time

he reached Seshama Raju's house, all in the family was immersed in sorrow over

the death of his son. I too had to pretend to be sorrowful, since I was beyond

sorrow and joy. The Griham Abbayi enquired from Me, why I was having a bandage

on My forearm. I tried to explain away very casually as if nothing had

happened. I told him there was a slight pain in the joint and therefore I put

the arm in bandage. There was a lady belonging to the Vysya community in the

neighbouring house, who used to make her living by preparing dosas and selling

them. She tried to reason with Griham Abbayi, saying,

"What! Venkama Raju! I know you are sufficiently well-off so as to get Raju

educated at your place. Why should you put him to so much trouble by keeping

him under the care of his elder brother at such a distant place? You do not

know how much the boy is suffering here. He has to fetch drinking water from a

distant place carrying two big pitchers with the help of a Kavadi on his

shoulders, daily." Thus, she narrated several incidents where I had to undergo

physical strain and suffering. Griham Abbayi was deeply moved on hearing My

plight and immediately called me and said, "My dear son! You start immediately

and come along with me. Let us go back to Puttaparthi." All the family members

loved Me. He therefore, lamented, "I never beat you till date. You are

undergoing so much suffering here." I tried to console him by saying, "No, No.

What these people say is not true. No one here is putting Me to any trouble at

all! If I come away with you now, there will be none to help in the

domestic chores here. It is not proper for you to take Me away from this place

right now. You may go and I will follow you later at an appropriate time."

Thus, I never revealed the fact that the pain in My arm was due to the injuries

inflicted on Me in Seshama Raju's house. I never had the habit of complaining

against elders. I always tried to protect the dignity and honour of the

family.In those days, I was struggling very much due to paucity of funds for My

education. Often times I had to manage with empty pockets. In the same village,

there used to be a businessman by name Kotte Subbanna. He used to run a

provision shop in which some Ayurvedic medicines were also sold. Once, a new

Ayurvedic medicine by name "Bala Bhaskara" was put up for sale in his shop. It

was a new and very efficacious medicine. It could fetch him a good profit if

popularised. He, therefore, requested Me to shoulder the responsibility of

making propaganda for this new medicine. I

agreed to his request, but asked for some more information about the medicine.

Then I composed a song about the efficacy of the medicine and gathered a few

children of My age to go round the nearby villages with placards in their hands

and singing the song composed by Me. I led the team of boys. The song ran as

follows:There it is! There it is! Oh, children! come, come!There is the

medicine Bala Bhaskara;Be it an upset stomach or a swollen leg;Be it a joint

pain or flatulence;Be it any ailment, known or unknown;Take this Bala Bhaskara

for an instant cure!If you wish to know where it is available,There is the shop

of Kotte Subbanna;It is in that shop that you can pick it up.Come here boys!

come here!It is an excellent tonicPrepared by the famous physician Gopalacharya

himself,Come here boys! come here!(Telugu song)By the time we completed our

propaganda tour of the nearby villages, all the stock of medicines

in Subbanna's shop was exhausted. He felt very happy. Then he called Me and

expressed his happiness saying, "My dear Raju! Due to your efforts, all the

stock of medicines in my shop was sold out in no time. I am grateful to you."

When Griham Abbayi requested Me to follow him to Puttaparthi, I told him that I

could not go with him since Seshama Raju's family was in a sorrowful state due

to the loss of their son. "It is not proper for Me to leave them at this

juncture. You please go to Puttaparthi. Later, I will join you, I said." Griham

Abbayi shed tears of joy for My sense of responsibility and noble feelings. He

said, "Dear son! I had never come across small children explaining such noble

thoughts to elders. How noble and great are your qualities! You are teaching me

such great things. How sweet and wise your words are! Your nobility alone will

protect you." Saying thus, he left for Puttaparthi. However, ever since he

reached Puttaparthi, he used to send messages daily

requesting Me to go over there. He was remembering all those complaints made to

him by our Vysya neighbour about My difficult life in Kamalapuram and was

feeling very sorry for My plight. Meanwhile, a few more days passed. I had to

sit for My examinations as well. So, I thought it would not be wise to get back

to Puttaparthi at this juncture without attending the examinations. Moreover, I

had My friends to be taken care of in the examinations. We three were friends –

Ramesh Suresh and Myself. We sat on the same bench in our classroom. Ramesh and

Suresh used to sit on either side of Me. They were dull in education. I told

them, "I will write the answer for the questions on your answer books. You just

sit silently in the examination hall."All the three of us went into the

examination hall. Our roll numbers were quite afar from one another. Therefore,

we had to sit at different places in the examination hall. There was no chance

at all for us to communicate with each

other. My friends were very unhappy and dejected. I conceived a plan to help

them. First of all, I finished writing My answer sheets within no time. Then I

took additional sheets and wrote the answers for the questions for both Ramesh

and Suresh, in their own handwriting. Then, I kept all the three answer sheets

on the table of the examiner. The result of our examination was announced on

the third day. In those days, the examination results were announced soon after

the examination; not like the present day when it takes months together to

announce the results. All the three of us passed in 1st class. Whatever answers

were there in My answer sheets, the same were found in the answer sheets of the

other two boys as well. But, none could accuse us of copying, since our roll

numbers were very different and our seats distant from each other. Mine was

number 6, whereas another boy's was 108. The third boy's roll number was still

far. However, our teacher Mahboob Khan realised that I

helped the other boys to perform well in the examinations. But he did not reveal

that news to anyone. While we were coming out of the classroom, the teachers

followed us and congratulated us for securing first class in the examination.

They shed tears of joy. Thus, I made everyone including my teachers and

classmates happy and returned to Puttaparthi. My friends Ramesh and Suresh

expressed their wish to accompany Me to Puttaparthi. They, in fact, insisted on

following Me. I advised them that, they could join Me if they so wished, but

they had to leave Me in Puttaparthi and get back to their places. I used to

advise, guide and correct My fellow students during My stay in the school.

Never did I waste My time in the school. I always endeavoured to sanctify it. I

used to talk sweetly and softly with everyone.By the time I reached Puttaparthi,

people could notice that a strange ailment had taken over Me. I used to talk

something to Myself. People around Me thought that I

was mad. Several people offered several suggestions to get Me cured of this

strange disease. At the end, all people unanimously decided that I should be

taken to a Bhootha Vaidya (witch doctor) for curing Me of an alleged possession

by a demon. That sorcerer got My hair shaven off and inflicted two deep cuts on

My scalp in the form of an X. Then he poured lime juice on the bleeding cuts.

It gave Me great pain and an unbearable burning sensation. But, I did not give

vent to My feelings and silently suffered all this torture. In fact, I was

laughing at his foolish treatment. Then, he decided to put Me to more

suffering. He brought Kalikam (a sort of poisonous substance) and put it in My

eyes. Thus, he put Me to several kinds of torture. Venkamma (Swami's elder

sister) who accompanied Me to this sorcerer's place could not bear to see Me

undergoing this suffering. She therefore ran to Griham Abbayi and pleaded with

him, "Father! You don't put Sathya to this inhuman

treatment. This man is inflicting great pain and injury on the boy. Enough of

torture you take him away immediately to Puttaparthi." I was brought back to

Puttaparthi. From then on, I underwent occasional bouts of a "strange ailment".

On Thursdays, I used to answer some questions and enquiries of people in the

name of Baba. Ever since that sorcerer shaved off My hair and put two deep cuts

on My scalp, till today I did not have a haircut. Some people think that I trim

My hair. No, never. My hair grows naturally. I am having this type of hairstyle

for the last 70 years. The ensuing birthday is My 79th birthday. Till today, I

did not suffer from any disease. My teeth and eyesight are intact. Till a few

years ago, those accompanying Me were, in fact, running to catch up with Me. I

can still walk very fast, but the doctors put a condition that I should not.

The reason being that I was operated sometime ago when I had a fall on the

floor. They put a steel rod joining My hipbone and put

sutures over it. That is why I was advised against My walking fast.

Nevertheless, I have been able to attend to My daily routine. I do not give up

any item of My daily activities. I am giving interviews to visitors. I am

moving along the Darshan lines, giving Darshan to devotees. There is absolutely

no hindrance to My daily activities. I have already spoken so long. There is a

lot more to speak, if I wish. I have been maintaining My body all these years

in a perfect shape. It is possible that I might have caused some trouble to

some people in the process. But, they do not mind. They do service to Me, even

though I dissuade them.Today is Durgashtami day. Tomorrow and day after are

Mahanavami and Vijayadasami festivals. I have a lot of work to do. I have to

talk to the Purohits (priests) conducting the Yajna. Besides, there are other

important matters to be attended to. After finishing My work, I will again talk

to you. Did I not tell you

that students are My property? I care so much for them. If they are happy, I

will also be happy. I have a piece of advice to you. Never give up Namasmarama.

Do constant Namasmarana wherever you are.(Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with

the Bhajan, "Hari Bhajana Bina …")

Source: http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/21_Oct_04.htm