Swami teaches... Dharma upholds the Universe

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram

Light and Love

Swami teaches.... (23 -27 August 2005)

Dharma Upholds the Universe

Every country develops its own system of Vijnana (knowledge). In all

systems there are certain good traits that are common like morality, character,

truth, sacrifice and forbearance. The Bharatiya system of education contained

five elements' conduct, tradition, religion, art and study. The value of this

system of knowledge is measured by the degree of righteousness which is

promoted. The progress of knowledge in the world is determined by the progress

of righteousness. The well-being and advancement of a country depend on the

combined progress of Dharma and Vijnana.

The knowledge developed by each country is essential for it. This should not

be underrated. According to its historical circumstances and the requirements of

the place and the time, each country develops its own store of Vijnana

(knowledge). No one has the right to criticise it. Each country evolves its own

code of righteousness and its corpus of knowledge and culture based on its

conditions and needs and this is the proof of its validity. Each system of

knowledge, however, is designed to promote the human personality.

No scientist has the competence to criticise the Indian texts dealing with

philosophy and metaphysics. Science today claims to discover some truth, which

on later investigation is found to be untenable. A science which is constantly

revising its theories, cannot sit in judgment on the eternal verities presented

by the Indian sages in Vedanta. If you examine the speculations of European

philosophers from Kant to Spencer, you will find that compared to the downpour

of philosophic thought presented by the three schools of Vedanta Dvaita

(Dualism), Advaita (Nondualism) and Visishtaadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism)—the

speculations of these philosophers are a mere trickle. There is no common

ground between philosophy and the physical sciences today. No doubt it is

necessary to pursue the study of physical sciences. But one should not get

puffed up by one's scientific knowledge. Realising that there are innumerable

other things which are yet to be learnt, the scientist should cultivate

humility and modesty. It is true that anybody cannot run the cart of life on

a single wheel. No bird can fly with a single wing. Likewise human needs

mundane knowledge for carrying on worldly affairs and Brahma-Vidya (Spiritual

knowledge) for his spiritual welfare. Acquire knowledge of the physical

sciences; that is necessary. At the same time seek spiritual wisdom also. You

have to conduct your life based on both these kinds of knowledge.

The most important area of study is 'self-management'. The individual who

cannot manage him/herself, how is possible going to manage anything else? No

one can be an island unto him/herself. No individual or family can exist

without depending on society. Today, there are lakhs of people in authority

or engaged in politics, business or other walks of life. Almost all of them are

concerned only about themselves and their families and few are imbued with a

social consciousness. What is the cause of all the evils plaguing society? It

is the lack of sense of social responsibility. Every individual has to

recognise own duty to society and understand that without society anybody

cannot lead a family life. Everyone should feel: “I am a part of the

society. My well-being is bound up with the well-being of others." These words

are not easy to realize. All notise that with the rapid advance of science and

technology in the world, there is a corresponding decline in peace and

security. Certainly there is no use in attempting to establish a new system of

education or a new social system. By these means the current problems cannot be

solved. This is morality and devotion to truth can solve these problems.

Character and truth lead to the emergence of spirituality in the divine human

personality. Human life has come from the divine. When you dedicate your life

to God and adhere to the path of righteousness you can sanctify life and

achieve peace, happiness and prosperity. Like the lightning that flashes

from clouds, wisdom should shine forth from education. Deem your heart as the

sky. In that sky, your thoughts are the clouds. The mind is the Moon, your

intellect is the Sun. The clouds are passing clouds, not permanent. If you have

forbearance, the clouds will pass and then you will be able to see your true

Self. Then your mind and intellect will shine brightly.

The great sages attached no value to wealth or possessions or intellectual

abilities, but esteemed only righteousness as of supreme value. It shows their

concern to demonstrate to the world the truth that the world is based on Dharma

(Righteousness) and that Dharma is vital for the life of human. In this way,

Bharatiya Vijnana, (science, supreme knowledge) containing the essence of all

Sastras (scriptures), laid down the goal of all human endeavour in the form of

a divine sutra (maxim). Bharatiya Vijnana encompasses all potencies. Bharatiya

Vijnana is suffused with Dharma (Righteousness). Dharma is the primary maxim of

life. It is life itself. What is Dharma? It is said: “Dhaarayati iti Dharmah"

(Dharma is that which bears or supports everything). This derivation is not

adequate. In every object, there is a vital principle running like a thread.

One pictorial example. Here is 'fire'. What is it that 'fire' bears within it?

Heat and light. Only when heat and light are present, can you regard it as Agni

(fire). If heat and light are not present, it will be a piece of charcoal and

not fire What, then, is the Dharma (the vital principle) of 'fire'? To manifest

heat and light.

What is the Dharma of human? It is a life of sacrifice on the basis of

morality and integrity. How should the Dharma be practised? With purity in

thought, word and deed. True humanness consists in the harmony of thought, word

and deed. (Today it is because there is no unity of thought, word and deed among

people, Dharma has declined. As a result Vijnana has lost its true form.

Security has become scarce. Morality and integrity have disappeared.

Mammon-worship reigns supreme. The absence of work ethic - the spirit of work -

is responsible for this situation).

It is Dharma which upholds the Universe. Everything abides in

righteousness. Dharma is a term which is all embracing. What is the need, it

may be asked, for propagating Dharma when it encompasses everything. The reason

is that, though Dharma is present everywhere, it is covered by ignorance and

pride, like fire that is covered by ashes or water by moss.

The presence of this Dharma cannot be established by sense of perception or

through inferential deduction. Its existence has to be derived from the Vedas*.

Dharma and Moksha (Liberation) are transcendental - beyond the intellect and

sense perceptions. How can the Vedas throw light on Dharma and Moksha, which

are beyond the reach of the senses? They can do so only by indicating the

yajnas and yagas (sacrificial rites and rituals) that constitute the spiritual

exercises leading to Dharma and Moksha. Even the Vedas are not competent to

provide direct access to Dharma and Moksha. But the Vedas show that through

good deeds and practices, one can acquire the competence to realise Dharma and

Moksha.

Propagation of Dharma does not mean spreading knowledge about something that

is not known.Its basic purpose is to promote the practice of Dharma. Only those

who practice Dharma are qualified to propagate it. It is because Dharma and

Sathya have not been propagated by persons practising them that they have been

eclipsed, as it were, and are not perceivable. A human is judged by the nature

of the actions. One's qualities and actions are interdependent. Actions reveal

qualities and qualities determine actions.

Among the qualities a human being has to develop the foremost is Kshama -

forbearance or forgiveness. It is essential for every human being. It is

supreme among virtues. Kshama is Truth, Righteousness, Sympathy, Non-violence

and all else. Kshama comprehends every quality. Kshama is acquired by

practising four kinds of purity: 1. Dravya Soucham (purity of materials); 2.

Maanasika Soucham (purity of mind); 3. Vaak Soucham (purity in speech); 4. Kriya

Soucham (purity in action or purity of body). When these four kinds of purity

are practised, the quality of Kshama develops to some extent. Purity has its

roots in Righteousness, which in its turn, sustains Truth. Dharma is not the

word to be bandied about. Repeating oft-quoted aphorisms like "Dhaarayatheethi

Dharmah" (Dharma is that which sustains) and "Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah"

(Dharma protects its protector) are easy enough. But what is needed is practice

of Dharma. Right conduct alone constitutes Dharma.

Dharma upholds the Universe what is made up of two components: One is the

name and the other is the form. There is nothing that can be perceived without

name or form. Name implies sound. Sound permeates the Universe. The sound is

called Vaak (word or speech). Without words you cannot identify anything. Every

object has a sound (or name) attached to it. We have not created sound. Hence,

from ancient times every sabda (sound) had a specific meaning. These meanings

are not the creation of any scientist. Similarly for every word in the world

there is a form. What, then, is the form of the word Duhkham (grief)? The

troubles you experience are its form. For Ananda (bliss), the joy you

experience is the form. This is a 'hall.' The form gives it the name. For

speech the Prana** (life) is Bhava (feeling). For feeling, the life is desire.

For desire, the life is Ajnana (ignorance). For ignorance, Divinity is the

life-source. You have to recognise the close link between Vaak and Divinity.

For everything, the foundation is devotion to the Lord. Only the power of the

Divine can save the world and not any tank or bomb or Government. Therefore

engage yourselves in prayer to God for the welfare of the world. Try to be

helpful to others in all your activities. There is no greater sadhana or puja

than this. There is no need to install a picture of the Lord in your small

shrine to worship Him.. Install Him in your heart and adore Him. Only the power

of the Divine can protect any individual, society or nation. Seek to realise

that Divine power. It is inherent in you. That is why the Vedantic texts

declared: "The One Lord dwells in all beings." Realisation of the Divine is

the goal. But most of our actions are related to worldly concerns. The only way

to sanctify all actions is to do them as acts of worship, as an offering to the

Divine. Thereby life itself becomes sacred. You have to realise the Truth that

the Divine dwells in every human being. You must develop this sense of oneness

and share it with others.

However, by the mere mouthing of mantras, one's sins will not be washed

away. Carrying the Gita and shouting slogans will not make one meritorious. One

whose thoughts and deeds are in harmony can be called a saintly person (sadhu).

Who are sadhus? Not merely those who wear the ochre robe. All are sadhus. All

beings have sadhutva (goodness and purity) inherent in them. They have to

foster and manifest these qualities and not the external vesture. It is the

purity of one's thoughts which reveal his sadhutva.

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said: "If you want to pray to God, be like an

innocent child." Jesus also said the same thing when he told his disciples:

"Suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is theKingdom of Heaven."

He also used to say: "Even if I am like a child for even a brief moment of the

day, how pure can I become?" (Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol.

21. "The Crowning Virtue," Chapter 1; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 24. "The

perennial quest," Chapter 8; "Vijnana and Dharma," Chapter 19 and "Develop

social consciousness," Chapter 20).

* Veda is that which enlightens or expounds fully a subject or matter. For

instance, Dhanur Veda expounds the science of archery. Natya Veda is the

treatise on Dance. Sama Veda is the science of spiritual music. Ayur Veda is

the science of life and medicine. The prefix figuring before the term Veda

indicates the type of science that is dealt with in that particular Veda.

The Emperor Manu coined a special term to describe the significance of the

Vedas as the scriptures prescribing the spiritual and worldly actions to be

performed by people. He gave to them the name Vidhana. At the present day, in

the Kali Yuga, the term Vidhana has been associated with legislative bodies.

Vidhana means that which lays down the law.

**What is Prana (the locus of life) in human? The Veda declared:

“Neelathoyatha madhyasthah vidyullekheva bhaaswarah" (He shines like a

lightning in the heart of a dark blue cloud). Behind the back of a person,

there is the spinal column with 33 vertebrae. Between the 9th and the 12th

vertebra, there is the Sushumna naadi, which shines like a lightning. People

imagine that life resides in the heart. The heart is like the main switch. But

life does not reside there. What happens to life when heart surgery is

performed? When the heart is transplanted, it is like changing the main switch.

But it is because of the vital force in the middle of the spinal column that

life exists.

Namaste - Reet