Divine Discourse on 13-04-2005 (Vishu) - Love is God, God is Love, Live in Love

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Love is God, God is Love, Live in Love

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Vishu and Tamil New Year Celebrations, April 2005, Prashanti Nilayam

Text of the Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 13th

April 2005, Vishu, at Prashanti Nilayam, Sai Kulwanth Hall

God is love and love is God. When you hold on to this principle of love and

develop love to love relationship, you will attain the state of non-dualism.

(Telugu poem)

Embodiments of Love! You have come here with a lot of expectation to take part

in the conference. Though your stay at Prasanthi Nilayam is short, your

experiences are profound and you have described them at length in your

speeches. However, you deserve much more.

The day on which all the devotees gather and sing the glory of God melodiously;

the day on which the sufferings of the poor are lovingly removed and all people

live like brothers and sisters; the day on which groups of Dasas (servants of

God) who constantly contemplate on God are served a sumptuous feast; the day on

which noble souls visit us and narrate the stories of God lovingly; enjoy that

day as the real day. All other days are mere death anniversaries. Do I need to

say more, oh noble souls! (Telugu poem)

Embodiments of Love! In this conference, you have dealt at length on various

aspects such as the duties and responsibilities of youth and how they should

mould their character. Let all your activities be suffused with love. Modern

youth fail to understand the true meaning of love. Love cannot exist if there

is a feeling of duality. Ekatma Prema (non-dual love) is true love. Give and

take relationship does not reflect the true spirit of love. One should keep

giving and giving, without expecting anything in return. That is true love. To

retreat in times of difficulty is the sign of selfish love. Yathartha Prema

(true love) will reign supreme only when you give up Swartha (selfishness) and

strive for Parartha (welfare of others). You should know the difference between

Padartha (matter) and Yathartha (reality). Reality transcends matter. Sarvam

Khalvidam Brahma (verily all this is

Brahman). Consider everything as divine and treat the dualities of life such as

pain and pleasure, loss and gain with equanimity. Sukhadukhe Samekruthwa

Labhalabhau Jayajayau (one should remain unaffected by happiness and sorrow,

gain and loss, victory and defeat). Never be carried away by the vagaries of

the mind. When you follow the mind, you see only matter, but not the reality.

Mind is related to matter. You should not have anything to do with matter. When

you associate yourself with the mind, you can never visualise unity. You cannot

develop true love and devotion unless you give up duality. Embodiments of

Love!Understand that the same principle of love exists in you and others. A

true devotee is one who understands the principle of unity and acts

accordingly. Non-dualism is true devotion. Share your love with others without

any expectation. Love everybody only for the sake of love. When you extend your

love to others', you can attain the

state of non-dualism. The love that you experience at physical and worldly plane

day in and day out is not true love at all! True love is that which is focused

on one form, one path and one goal. It is a great mistake to divide love and

divert it in different directions. Love is God. God is love. Live in love. Only

then can you realise the principle of oneness and attain fulfilment in life.

Prema Muditha Manase Kaho Rama Rama Ram… (Sing the sweet name of Rama with your

heart filled with love). You may choose any name you like, but you should call

Him with all love. Love is most sacred, sweet and non-dual. It is a great

mistake to divide such love and associate it with multiplicity. Your love

should remain steady in pleasure and pain. Love and devotion do not give any

scope for differences. All differences are the making of your mind. Develop the

feeling of oneness that you and I are one. Never think that you and I are

different. That is the sign of true

devotion.The letter 'I' stands for oneness. 'You' (individual identity) will not

exist when you develop purity and experience oneness with divinity. Hence, give

up dualistic feeling. The principle of oneness has to be experienced through

love. It cannot be explained in words. But you have not understood the true

meaning of love. You are interpreting it in the physical and worldly sense.

Consequently, your love is never steady. It keeps changing every now and then.

Love should not be tainted with body attachment. Body is made up of matter. All

that is related to matter will never give you peace and happiness. Hence,

transcend the matter and see the reality. Develop Ekatma Bhava (feeling of

oneness). All are one, be alike to everyone. It is a big mistake to attribute

worldly feelings to love. There is no scope for dualism in love.Embodiments of

Love!Your names and forms are different but the principle of love is the same

in all of you. That is

why I address you as the "embodiments of love". Love is always one, it should

not be divided. Consider God as one and love Him wholeheartedly. Such

one-pointed love towards God can be termed as true devotion. Devotees like

Jayadeva, Gauranga and Eknath developed such divine love and sanctified their

lives. Likewise, Mira and Sakhubai had unwavering love and devotion towards

God. They did not worship various names and forms. They followed one path. They

installed one name and one form in their heart and contemplated on their chosen

deity incessantly. Those who are dual-minded and change their path every now

and then are bound to ruin their lives. Hence, never be dual-minded. Experience

divinity with Ekatma Bhava. You may choose any name you like Rama, Krishna,

Easwara, etc., and contemplate on the form. You will certainly reach the goal

of life. Lead your life with your mind always focused on the goal.Once Radha

could not find Krishna anywhere. As she was deeply

attached to Krishna's physical form, she went in search of Him everywhere. She

always yearned and pined for His physical proximity. The name and the form are

one and the same. However, people are unable to enquire deeply and experience

such oneness.The power of love is unparalleled. It is beyond the ken of human

understanding. Love can be understood only through love. Mira's husband Rana

had built a Mandir for Krishna. Being a great devotee of the Lord, Mira was

always found in the Mandir singing His glory ecstatically. Consequently, she

earned the wrath of Rana. He commanded her to leave the Mandir. This came as a

great shock to Mira. She thought to herself, "When Krishna is all-pervasive and

not confined to this Mandir alone, how can Rana take me away from Him?" She left

her home and hearth and set out to Mathura. Where is Mathura? It is not some

geographical location. The heart suffused with nectarine love is Mathura. She

sang, Chalo Re Man Ganga Yamuna Teer (Oh

mind! Go to the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna). Here Ganga and Yamuna

symbolically mean Ida and Pingala (left and right nostrils). The central part

of the eyebrows where Ida and Pingala meet stands for Mathura. This is the

esoteric meaning of the song. She proceeded towards Mathura chanting the Name

of Krishna incessantly crossing rivers, hills, dales and forests. When she

ultimately reached Brindavan, she found the temple doors closed. In spite of

her repeated prayers, the doors did not open. Then she said, "Oh Krishna, my

heart is Your temple. I have installed You in the altar of my heart." She

banged her head against the temple door, calling out to Krishna. She had the

vision of Krishna and merged in Him. King Rana repented for having driven away

Mira from the temple. He prayed to Krishna for forgiveness. People these days

do not enquire into the inner meaning of certain words they use. They are

carried away by the worldly meanings and

interpretations. You should take into consideration the feelings that emerge

from your heart which is true and eternal. This is how Mira experienced oneness

with Krishna. If one wishes to tread the path of devotion, one should hold on to

the principle of love firmly. Ordinary mortals do not have such firm

determination, but a true devotee will never deviate from the path of love

under any circumstances. No other path except love can take us to God. Develop

love more and more. Wherever you are, love is your sole refuge.Embodiments of

Love!Fill your hearts with love and let love be the guiding principle in all

your activities when you return home. When you have love in your heart, you do

not need to worry about anything. God will always be with you, in you, around

you and will look after you in all respects. When you say, "Krishna, I will

follow You." It means that Krishna is separate from you. It is possible that

you will lose your way. Hence, you should pray,

"Krishna, please be with me always." In fact, He is always in you. When you

enquire deeply, you will experience this truth. It is impossible to be away

from Him. Many devotees proclaim, "Oh God, I am in you, I am with you and I am

for you." They repeat these words like parrots, but do not say from the depths

of their heart. Actually, God is never separate from you. Pray to Him

wholeheartedly with the conviction that He is always in you, with you, above

you, below you and around you. When you offer such a prayer to God, He will

certainly redeem your life.We have one more day left. I will explain all these

in detail so that you will understand them better. Do not feel satisfied with

what you have experienced so far. There is much more to be experienced which

will fill your heart with bliss. How can you say that your hunger is satisfied

by eating a little? There is a lot of scope for you to experience divinity in

full measure in the days to come.

Source: http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/13Apr_Discourse.htm

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