Swami teaches.. Divinity - the fundamental principle, follow it

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram

Light and Love

 

Swami teaches.... (21- 22 April 2005)

 

Divinity - the Fundamental Principle, Follow It

The Universe is visible to the naked eye. It consists of mobile and immobile

objects called Prapancha, since it is a manifestation of the Pancha Bhutas (five

elements: earth, water, air, fire and ether). There is no world without the five

elements. It is on this basis that Divinity is extolled as the embodiment of

sound, mobility and immobility, light, speech, eternal bliss, supreme majesty,

delusion, and wealth These are the attributes of the five elements, which

sustain the world. The Spirit or the Atma, which is the very form of God, is

not visible to the naked eye, but the Five Elements can be seen, heard, felt,

and experienced by one and all.

The Viswa (Universe,Totality, Whole creation ) is made up of five elements.

The Veda says, with thousands of heads, thousands of feet and thousands of

eyes, Divinity pervades everything. Humanity are humans only in form, but

divine in spirit. Body is like a water bubble. Do not follow the body and the

mind; follow the conscience. Conscience is the Atma (Self). As long as you live

in this world, you have to discharge your duties using your body and the mind as

instruments for the Divine Self.

 

The Vedas describe divinity as that which does not move but appears to be

moving and that which exists everywhere but cannot be perceived. It is

tantamount to somebody going in search of own self elsewhere. Human does not

realise that the five elements present in him/her are the very forms of Divine.

The life principle that flows through each and every nerve of the body is verily

divine. The life principle that sustains our body is Prajnana. On this basis, it

is said, Prajnanam Brahma.

The same thing is reflected in another divine axiom, Ayam Atma Brahma. It

can be interpreted as 'I am Atma and Brahma'. The third one is Tat Twam Asi.

Tat denotes that which is outside, and Twam stands for innate divinity. It

means that the same divinity is present within and without. That which is seen,

heard and experienced outside is nothing but the reflection, resound and

reaction of the inner being. When reality is within, why crave for its

reflection outside?

Sanathana Dharma (the Eternal Religion) is the essence of the lessons

enunciated in all the Vedic texts. This Dharma (righteousness) is the source

and spring of various systems of philosophy, codes of morality and even of the

different forms and streams of literature. Through these means the Dharma has

taught that human being cannot live in peace, until one knows what ought to be

known, one casts away what has to be cast away, and reaches the goal one has to

reach. The four Vedas teach us who and what we really are and how we are

related to the world around us. This is the greatest gift that the Vedas offer.

This is the end of all enquiry, the aim of all scientific search.

Speech, Mind and Breath are the three most vital instruments for adoration

and awareness of Truth and Knowledge. Among the Vedas the Rig-veda highlights

speech; the Yajur-veda highlights the mind; the Sama-veda highlights breath.

Just as these three elements pervade the world, the three Vedas reveal

three-fold Cosmic principle which is the reality of every atom in the Universe.

They do this in simple language, using easily understandable similies and

metaphors. The Vedas prescribe the ceremonies, rites, rituals and actions

necessary for the prosperity and progress of mankind, here and hereafter.

Vedic hymns are not intended for empty worship by rituals. They have been

recorded by sages to help, practise and to experience. The sages had recognised

this factor and therefore, the Vedas have survived untarnished until today.

Their practice became Yajnas (sacrificial rituals). Their prayers became songs.

Vedas extol in their hymns time as Kalaya Namah, Kala Kalaya Namah,

Kaladarpa Damanaya Namah, Kalateetaya Namah, Kalaswarupaya Namah,

Kalaniyamitaya Namah (Salutations to the embodiment of time, to the one who has

conquered time, to the one who transcends time and to the one who ordains time).

Human is the embodiment of time, the master of time. In Vedic times, the

population was in thousands and our ancients considered that all heads, all

eyes and all feet belonged to the Purusha (the Cosmic Being). The ancient sages

and seers stressed on the need for unity and cooperation among the human beings

what is the essence of human life. Such divine principle of unity is forgotten

today.

The motto of Bharatiyas has been from ancient times Loka Samastha Sukhino

Bhavantu (May all the people of the world be happy). To experience true

happiness, person should develop firm faith. Where there is faith, there is

love. Through love person can practise righteousness. Righteousness leads to

truth, which in turn leads to God who is the basis of bliss. Truth is the basis

of God. Righteousness is the basis of truth. Love is the basis of righteousness.

Faith is the basis of love. (But people today have no faith in themselves.

Human has progressed in the worldly sense, but morally has regressed. People

are not able to give up his narrow-mindedness and criticism of others. Today

human has become as a bundle of desires. Ages have gone by and the world has

undergone change but there is no transformation in the human heart. The number

of noble souls who visualise unity in diversity is on the decline).

 

The ancient sages and seers stressed on the need to have faith. But today,

people have become blind having lost the eyes of faith. What are the two eyes

of man? One is the Sastra (scriptures) and the other is Dharma (righteousness).

Do you know why God has given you the eyes? They are given also in purpose to

see God. But there are some people who close their eyes and start meditating

even while sitting in front of God. Such meditation is false piety. People who

close their eyes in front of God might have been blind in their previous births

or will certainly become blind in the coming births. Open not only the physical

eyes, but also the eye of wisdom.

Since ancient times, the Bharatiyas never considered God as a separate

entity. They believed in the Vedic statement: Sahasra Seersha Purusha

Sahasraksha Sahasra Pad (God has thousands of heads, eyes and feet). All

the sacred texts have described God as having human form. It does not mean that

God is confined to a human form. But human cannot visualise God in any form

other than a human being. Pictorially, if a buffalo wants to worship God, it

can think of Him only as another buffalo having a gigantic form. Similarly, a

frog thinks of God as another gigantic frog. In reality God is present all

over. Each form is composed of five elements. Develop faith that God is in the

form of five elements. All forms that are attributed to Him are human's own

creations and imaginations. God is depicted to be having four hands. If God

were really to be born with four hands, people would certainly put Him in

exhibition. What is the inner meaning of God having four hands? It is to make

you understand that God is the master of sound, time, power, and heart that He

is depicted to be having these insignia in His hands.

God is filled with broad feelings. It is not possible for anybody to

comprehend God's Will. Unable to understand the Divine Will, people forget the

reality and lead themselves into difficulties. They are carried away by worldly

objects and ignore Divinity. Take Divinity as the fundamental principle. You are

the embodiment of Prajnana. (Consciousness, Knowledge) what is within you. It is

not something that you acquire after you are born. It is with you right from

your birth. This knowledge is with you always and it shows you the right path.

The most important is to have faith in own Self. Develop self-confidence

what is the foundation, self-satisfaction is the wall, self-sacrifice is the

roof and self-realisation is life. No one can live in a building without roof.

Roof cannot be laid without walls, and walls cannot be raised without

foundation. So, self-confidence, self-satisfaction, self-sacrifice are

veryessential for self-realisation. When you undertake any task with a sacred

heart, you will certainly meet with success. Swami is the living proof for

this. Swami does not expects anything from anybody. He derives one benefit,

i.e., He feels happy when everybody is happy.

 

Sage Vyasa has given the essence of eighteen Puranas in two sentences,

Paropakara Punyaya, Papaya Parapeedanam (one attains merit by serving others

and commits sin by hurting them). When you help others, you will receive help

tenfold. If you harm others, you will be put to harm ten times more. Keep this

in mind. Sanctify all the limbs of the body in selfless activities. But it is

not that easy to practice. There is always some self-interest in whatever human

does. Self-interest is also necessary, but it should be within certain limits.

Knowledge has its consummation in the discovery of Truth. Truth which

survives Past, Present and Future unaffected. Truth and Spiritual Wisdom are

without end, eternal and limitless. The Vedas arevocal expressions of both

these.

What is Adhyatmika (spirituality)? It is not just contemplating on the

primordial Spirit. Spirituality lies in destroying the bestial nature and

rising to the level of Divine. But instead of ascending to Divinity, human

being is degenerating to animality. One should have the total faith that there

is God within anyone.

There was a person named Antony, who used to make violins for his

livelihood. He used to take one full year to make one violin. Once his friends

chided him saying, "Antony, if you take one full year to make one violin, how

will you be able to support your family?" Antony replied, "Brothers, what I am

doing is God's work, who is the embodiment of perfection." That is why Antony

Stradivary's violins became very famous.

Gratitude and honour what felt Stradivary to God, is the most fundamental

virtue of man. People while performing Suryanamaskaras, extol the Sun god in

various ways. The effulgence of the Sun god is present in our eyes in a subtle

form. One without the sense of gratitude can be called a blind person. Whoever

he/she may be, one should always remain grateful to one's benefactor.

 

The Gita recommends 'inaction in action' and asserts that 'inaction is the

most rewarding action' for those who strive for supreme peace. This attitude is

named Karma Sanyasa (non-attachment to action).

Action or activity is generally associated with the body only, but the mind is

also busy with the world. The Atma alone is the unaffected witness. So, the

secret of 'inaction in action' lies in taking refuge inthe Atma and in

recognising all living beings as fundamentally Atma. The wise acts solely for

the promotion of peace and goodwill in the human community with no

consideration of I and Mine. The ego is deep rooted in human during countless

previous lives. It grows fast in this life also, seeking sensual pleasure,

possessions in plenty, applause and appreciation, authority over others, fame

and fortune. It can be removed only by relentless enquiry into our Reality.

The body needs a second principle to guide it but that principle, the Atma

(Eternal Spirit) is Onewithout a second. When the attention is diverted from

the 'body-mind-senses complex' thesplendour of Atma becomes brighter and

brighter. The body seeks gathering and possessing; theAtma seeks giving and

showering Light, Love and Grace. Attachment to the upadhi (sheath) isthe

greatest obstacle for samadhi (communion with Divinity) which is the ultimate

goal of aspiritual aspirant. Wisdom dawns when one realises, that the body is

the place of temporary habitation. Activity finds fulfillment when wisdom

dawns. Karma is the path by which spiritual wisdom is attained. Wisdom in

action is the highest Karma. Worthwhile activity must result in purifying the

mind.

 

You probably know Adi Sankara a great scholar in all forms of knowledge.

Yet he propagated the path of devotion. Once while he was going to the river

Ganges with his disciple, he noticed a person sitting under a tree and trying

to learn the concepts of Panini's grammar by rote. He turned to man: "Oh

foolish man, chant the name of Govinda, the rules of Panini grammar will not

come to your rescue when the end approaches." Sankara authored many Vedantic

texts, but ultimately he also took to the path of devotion. Namasmarana

(chanting of God's Name) is the easiest path to liberation. This was his

teaching. Persons who have dedicated their lives to spiritual search and

success have to discover the Atma in themselves and others. The discovery will

confer sympathy and compassion and promote loving service.

A tree has a trunk covered with bark and myriad roots to feed it and hold it

firm. It has branches spreading in all directions, tapering into twigs. It has

millions of leaves which breathe and borrow energy from the Sun. It fulfills

itself by attracting bees to fertilise the flowers into seeds. All this variety

of colour, fragrance, taste, smell and softness, of strength and toughness and

tenderness has emanated from one single seed. All creation has emanated

similarly from God. This is the Reality inherent in all. Be firm in that

faith. (Reet's compilation from: The Divine Discourse by Bhagawan Sri Sathya

Sai Baba "The Life Principles of Man." 9 October 2001, Prashanthi Nilayam;

The Divine Discourse by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on the occasion of Ugadi

Festival. 13 April 2002, Brindavan,Whitefield; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 20.

"Loving service forever," Chapter 1).

 

Namaste - Reet