Swami teaches...God-directed activity

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Light and Love

 

Swami teaches...

(16 December 2004)

God-directed activity

Yajna means, 'any activity dedicated to the glory of God', this activity

prescribed in the ancient scriptures. Yajna is a continuous process; every one

who lives in the constant presence of God, and does all acts as dedicated to

God is engaged in Yajna. It can be done in all climes, in all realms, by all

races. Every activity in the world is God-directed, God-ward moving, whether

you know it or not. If God is not the inspirer and motivator, how can the

universe be moving in harmony, wheeling so smoothly?

Three processes go together in spiritual discipline, as laid down by the

sages; Yajna, Dhaana and Thapas (sacrifice, charity and self-control). Yajna is

translated as sacrifice, for, the process of charity or Dhaana is essential in

Yajna. Also Thapas, that is to say, strict regulation of emotions and

thought-processes, to ensure peace and faith.

There are various Yajnas prescribed by the Vedhas. Every householder has the

duty of performing for his own welfare and the welfare of the society in which

he lives, five Yajnas like Pithryajana (Yajna by which the forefathers are

worshipped), Rishiyajna (Yajna by which the sages are honoured, that is to say,

by the study and practice of their teaching), Bhuuthayajna (Yajna by which the

animals and lower-beings are revered, that is to say, by provision of shelters,

fodder etc.) and Dhevayajna (worship of God).

The Vedhapurusha is the Purushotthama (the supremest person) for by His will

He manifested Himself as the cosmos and its components, out of Himself. There is

nothing that is not He; so, how can you be different? In these matters, faith

comes first; it has to. Believe that you are divine; conduct yourselves in

accordance with that sovereign status; then, you will be blessed with the

Anubhuuthi - the experience, the vision, the realisation, the awareness, the

bliss. And, as a result, you are merged in that everlasting Aanandha.

Remember, you cannot have the Anubhava (experience) and the Aanandha (bliss)

first. And, you cannot postpone faith, until you get them. You cannot bargain:

"Give me the Aanandha and then, I shall have faith". See the Purushotthama in

all Purushas. Purusha means, he who lives in the Pura (port, city, or town).

Each one of us is the resident and the sole resident of a distinct house of

God. But, the Purushotthama - the supreme resident in all the cities - is God.

You can recognise this Purushotthama, if you educate yourselves properly.

You perform worship with 1008 names, a rite called Sahasranaama Archana. You

keep an idol or picture before you and offer one flower at a time at the feet of

that symbol of God, repeating the names, one at a time. The one symbol of the

one God is only one, though He can be reached by a thousand names.

To realise the one, the universal absolute, which personalises itself into

God and creation, there is no discipline more valuable and more effective than

Seva. All the 1008 names of the Sahasranaama Archana reach the one. All the

1000 names of thousand-faced society connote only the one God that plays in

those 1000 roles. The one appears as if it is enshrined in the 1000 bodies.

 

You have observed that the Vedhic Pandiths (priestly scholars) are pouring

Ghee into the fire, every time the recitation of a hymn is over. Every day,

when you take food, you are offering eatables to the fire that God has lit in

you to digest food. You have to eat in a prayerful mode, in profound gratitude.

 

You must perform another Yajna too, every day. Pour the egoistic desires and

emotions, passions, impulses and acts into the flames of dedication and

devotion. In fact, that is real Yajna.

You must have noticed that the Pandiths close each day's Yajna with a prayer

that calls for world peace, peace for all mankind, peace and happiness, for

there can be no peace without happiness and no happiness without peace.

"Lokaasaamasthaas Sukhino Bhavanthu", they pray - "May all the world have

happiness, and peace."

 

Peace of mind cannot be gained by wealth or fame or scholarship or skill.

For that, you have to clean the mind, purify the heart, yearn for service of

the divine forms that move around you. Do every deed as an act of worship; make

every thought a longing for Him; change every word that comes from your tongue

into a hymn in His praise. (Extracts with tiny compilation from the Divine

Discourse of Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba "Yajna - What it Teaches." Prasanthi

Nilayam, 11 Oct 1972).

 

Namaste Reet