Swami teaches... Self-confidence in the beam of spiritual awareness

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram

Light and Love

 

Swami teaches.... (03 March 2005)

 

Self-Confidence in the Beam of Spiritual Awareness

 

The conflict between persons who accept God and deny Him, those who declare

that God is to be found in this or that place and those who affirm that He can

be found nowhere, is neverending; it has continued throughout the ages. One

has to remember that while it is unnecessary to awaken a person already awake

and easy to awaken a person who is asleep, we cannot awaken, however much we

try, a person not wanting to awaken!

Nowadays many, many persons who have no experience or knowledge of

spiritual science and no conception of the Divine, make pronouncements on such

subjects into which they stray. Denial of the Divine cannot negate it. Logic

cannot reveal it. All the tirades now being made on the Divine are from

atheists who are opportunists. People with a disease in the nose cannot

appreciate the fragrance of a flower. Those who cannot appreciate or recognise

the Divine are suffering from an Illness which handicaps them to do so. It

is true that people have achieved some progress physically and scientifically

but not moraliy. Selfishness, ignorance and avidhya (absence of wisdom) are the

causes of it. Also absence of self-confidence is the cause of miseries and

troubles in the world.

Despite all his achievement in the physical world, how far has human been

able to develop hishuman qualities? This is the question facing the world

today. If people study the ancient historyof Bhaarath, they will realise the

importance which the ancients, attached to Truth.

True education what has spiritual basis should serve to develop a broad

outlook and an all-round view of life from ancient times to today. The two

eyes give a picture of a vast expanse of space, but they cannot see the face to

which they belong! They are Important instruments of the body, but they cannot

see the entire body. When you wish to see your face and back, you have to keep

one mirror in front and another one behind you, so that in the front mirror you

can see the reflection of your back also. So, too, when you desire to know your

reality (face) and your future (back), you have to adjust the mirror of

'Self-confidence' (confidence that you are the Self) in front and the mirror of

Divine Grace behind you. Without these two, to affirm that you are aware of your

Truth or of your destiny, is sheer fantasy.

 

The Divine is now denoted by various words that are common currency in

limited humanvocabularies. They name phenomena revealing the Divine,

'miracles’, ‘magic’, 'wonders’, etc..Of course, human cannot contain in mind

more than there is possible to hold. It is not possible to express in words

the in-expressible. Only those who have dived deep and contacted the underlying

principle of Love, can picture Divinity with some clarity.

The Divine has to reveal Itself largely shaped and modified by the nature of

the times, the region and the cultural environment. The signs and wonders that

Swami manifests are given names that do not connote the purpose or effect. They

can be called chamathkaara, that lead on to samskaara (purificating acts), which

in turn urge one on towards paropakaara (helping others) and finally result in

saakshaathkaara (divine vision). Once the person Is drawn near, the process

of samskaara starts. Human being can be transformed into a noble, efficient,

happy and disciplined member of society by the implanting of good thoughts,

good feelings, good deeds and good emotions. Such transformedpersons will

spontaneously engage themselves in the task of promoting human welfare.

Theywill be promoters of the Divine ideals.

 

Limits and bounds are essential for smooth social life. So, you should

welcome discipline, and not crave for lives that do not honour limits for every

facet of behaviour. One reason forindiscipline is the superior role of money

created business houses, temples of Lakshmi, the Goddess of Riches, instead of

remaining temples of Saraswathi, the Goddess of Learning.

 

Person may desire something good. The desire has to be developed into a

deed. This requires Kriya sakthi or the power of action. Above all, Realisation

depends on Jnana sakthi, or the force and clarity of Wisdom, the self-confidence

that flows from the mastery of the situation. This is a gift of grace from God,

installed in the heart. The Gita asserts that His hands and feet are

everywhere; so are His eyes, head and face. When a person denies God, he is

denying himself. You must foster faith in God what will plant in you, humility,

courage and reverence.

One may be a big person and another a beggar. But, theTruth that is underlying

in both these persons is the same. If you realise that truth, all will become

one.

 

Modern education should not be equated with book knowledge or the

acquisition of skills for leading one's life in the world. Education should

foster morality, righteousness and character and should be the life-breath of

human beings. Education makes a seeker of Truth compassionate. The modern

student is unable to determine what is the basis of life and what is important

in it.

Most of the troubles tormenting the world today stem from loss of

Aathma-Vishvaasa (self-confidence). Humanity today is plunged in a grave

crisis. The eternal verities proclaimed in the scriptures have assumed bizarre

forms. Sacred nature is divorced from humanity. The ancient wisdom is in

eclipse. Perverted knowledge is growing. In such a situation, how can ethical

and spiritual values appeal to youth?

First and foremost, cultivate faith. Further, there should be harmony

between your thoughts, words and deeds. Where there is no harmony between these

three, your behaviour would be demonic. Self-confidence is the foundation for

the building of faith and harmony between thoughts, words and deeds; it remains

below the surface of the earth. Self-satisfaction represents the walls;

self-sacrifice, the roof and selfrealisation, the life. Without the foundation

of self-confidence and self-respect self-realisation cannot be achieved.

Therefore, build up your self-confidence slowly. Self-respect comes only out of

spiritual sadhana and it will continue to be your companion throughout whole

life. Therefore, cultivate the divine quality of self-respect, self confidence.

 

Devotion should manifest itself in every action. Everything done out of love

for God and as an offering to God becomes devotion. The nine different forms of

worship are only means to cultivate devotion. But the goal of all of them is to

experience oneness with the Divine.

God manifests in human in three forms described as, Bhur-Bhuvah-Suvah. Bhu

is the padhaartha (material form). Bhuvah is Spandhana Shakthi or Praana

Shakthi (Life Principle). Suvah is the form of Prajna. Prajnaa Shakthi is the

radiation which, through Praana Shakthi (vibrating power) gives the material

form represented by the body. God manifests in all these three forms. The

Life Force Prajnaa Shakthi (radiation) causes vibration to act. This Prajnaa

Shakthi is conscience. It occupies a special place in the body. God, in the

form of conscience, activates the body. If only human being understands this

truth of spirituality he will never indulge in bad deeds. The human body is

bound by time, karma (work) and duty. The body is just an instrument. Everyone

has the responsibility to do his duty. Thus Vedas declare.

In ancient times, even the demons used to study the Vedas. However, they

could not comprehend the truth contained in the Vedas and hence led a life of

untruth. Demons like Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakasipu and Narakasura were highly

learned and well-versed in various disciplines of knowledge. They could reach

up to the moon, the sun, and even the stars and could understand their

functioning. They had mighty power and knowledge, but they proved futile

because of their negative qualities.

In olden days, people distanced themselves from demons and demonic

behaviour. Hiranyakasipu tried his best to stop his son Prahlada from chanting

the divine name of Lord Narayana. But Prahlada was always immersed in the

contemplation of the Lord. Prahlada was dear to Lord Narayana, whereas his

father Hiranyakasipu was dear to demons. He was an emperor of wicked qualities

and evil deeds.

 

Some people appear to be of sathwic (pious) nature externally, but they are

full of wicked qualities. You should beware of them and not join with bad

company. Offer them a namaskar (salutation) and move away. A question may

arise here, as to why we should offer our salutations to the evil people. We

salute the good people, not to lose their company. We also salute the evil

people with a request that they move away from us. One may be highly devoted,

one may have mastered the Vedas, but all these will be of little consequence if

one doesn’t give up negative qualities.

A small example. Years ago, a gentleman came here and proclaimed that Sri

Sathya Sai Baba was God. Not only that, he also proclaimed and propagated that

not only Sri Sathya Sai Baba, but every living being was permeated by divinity.

 

After some time, when some of his desires could not be fulfilled, he

propagated that Baba was not God. This type of double-speaking is a demonic

quality.

For Swami there are no bad people. Those who develop negative feelings

without enquiring into the good and bad of things in this objective world, will

only spoil their own life. All are equally dear to Swami. Some people may have

some doubts. But, they must be made to see reason with a proper explanation and

counselling. As far as possible, you should not give room for doubts; for, so

long as doubts persist, you will not have peace of mind.

The human values inherent in us must be given expression to. They have to be

propagated.They must become part and parcel of our daily life and reflect in our

behaviour.

Knowledge should beget wisdom like the lightning in a cloud. This light

should spread all over the world and bring about spiritual unity among

humanity. All changes in the educational syllabi or other changes in the

economic and political spheres are of little value. There should be change in

the mental attitude of the people, as the prelude to a change in the national

scene.

True science should foster the well-being of the people and promote unity

amongst them. Unity will lead to purity and both will lead to Divinity. Today

we have only Community (caste). It is this communal feeling that is the cause

of conflict. There is a need to underline that Truth and Righteousness are

inter-related. Together they constitute humanness. (Reet's compilation from,

Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 13. "Signs and wonders," Chapter 25. Sathya Sai Speaks,

Vol. 21. "Beyond Degrees: God's Love," Chapter 6. Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 26.

"Education should develop human values," Chapter 35 and "Trust in God: the

Sole Protecto," Chapter 14. Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 35."The best way to love

God is to love all and serve all," Chapter 21 and "Unity in diversity - the

Fundamental Truth," Chapter 18).

 

Namaste - Reet