Swami teaches... For young generation: sports, Sankaranthi and Bharath's culture

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram Light and Love

Swami teaches... 14 - 15 January, 2006

For Young Generation: Sports, Sankaranthi and Bharath's Culture

The motto

As the spark that causes the fire, as the driver in the engine drawing a

long line of coaches along, as the designer and operator of a system of

automatic lights, Swami is here creating and fostering the world, and all its

various communities, living and non-living.

The observance of morality in daily life, the divinisation of all actions

and thoughts related to life, and adherence to ideals together constitute

culture. Samskrit,* Samskriti, Samskara are all terms which have been derived

from the roots, Sam and Krit. Bharatiya Samskriti (culture) is a composite of

purity, divinity, sublimity and beauty. This combination is reflected in sports

and games. Today such a spirit prevails in the sphere of sports, although

occasionally there are deviations from it. In old times sports and athletics

were intended mainly to promote health, experience joy and to provide

entertainment to the public.Today these objectives are being forgotten. Mostly

everything today, as music and sports have commercialized. Self-interest is

getting predominant. Consequently, peace and happiness are being lost. When

sports become a kind of business, there is no room for human values and peace

becomes a casualty. The sacred character of the games and dramas of the past

has been tainted by the money nexus.

Sports is an integral part of the scheme of studies in Sathya Sai's

institutions, along with various academic subjects like physics and chemistry.

Not only should there be participation, but there should also be an awareness

of the philosophy and principles governing the sports and games. The aim in

sports should not be victory by any means, fair or foul. What is important is

the sense of selfsatisfaction derived from playing the game well. (In Sathya

Sai's institutions preparation for the sports and games is selfless seva

without any funds). The spirit of harmony and unity displayed in sports is

a gratifying example to all. It is a distinctive quality of sports that

differences are forgotten and persons engage themselves in games in a divine

spirit of friendliness and comraderie. True humanness blossoms only when

the body, the mind and the spirit are developed harmoniously. The enthusiasm

and effort which has displayed in sports should also be manifested in the

spheres of morality and spirituality.

There is a prayer in the Purusha Sukta which students recite regularly, but

they do not understand its full meaning. "Sahaabaavavathu; sahanau bhunakthu;

sahaviryam karavaavahai." What is the inner meaning of this mantra? "Let us

grow together in harmony; let us move about in friendliness; let us spread

together the light that we have gained from our studies. Let us live in harmony

without discord. Let us promote in harmony the use of our talents and skills."

This is the profound inner meaning of this Vedic hymn.

The time close of Makara Sankramana is the more auspicious for sports. Why?

Every month the Sun moves into a new house in the Zodiac. This movement is

called Sankramana. In a year the Sun transits twelve houses of the Zodiac. Of

these movements four are important. Makara Sankramana is the first one. It

relates to the entry of the Sun into Makara (Capricorn) from Dhanus

(Sagittarius). Of the four, the most important and sacred is Makara Sankramana.

This marks the apparent movement of the Sun from the South to the North what is

considered highly significant, both spiritually and scientifically. The

northward movement of the Sun is a call to human beings to turn their vision

towards that which is cool, peaceful and unchanging. Sankramana is the time

when the inward journey towards a pure and unsullied heart is made. Just as the

Sun embarks on northward journey, Sankraanthi is the day on which the intellect

should be turned towards the Atma for Self-realisation.This is the period for

cherishing sacred thoughts and performing holy deeds). The Divine is

enshrined in one's heart. All external spiritual exercises are of temporary

value. They should be internalized to experience lasting bliss. All mental

exercises also leave the heart unaffected. In the nine paths of devotion,

beginning with listening to sacred things and ending with Atma-nivedhanam

(total surrender of the Self), the last is the most important. After that there

is no need for any other effort.

 

In connection with Sankranthi, many auspicious functions are arranged. Newly

wedded bridegrooms are invited to the brides houses. Sacred bulls are taken from

house to house by traditional performers who relate the Ramayana story with the

bulls playing their own role in it. In this way, with songs, plays and

discourses, they celebrate the festival. The songs and plays had a sacred role

in the celebrations. The sports on this auspicious time help to develop the

sense of spiritual oneness. The many in the One - that is the real nature of

society. If it is realised, you will find that it is the design of Nature that

it should be so, and that it is a sign of advanced culture too.

 

Sankranthi is related to the entire mankind. Whether people realise it or

not, Sankranthi promotes in one and all a feeling of happiness and mental

transformation. It illumines the minds of people. It induces the unfoldment of

inner feelings and gives the call for total surrender.

For mankind, the Sun is the most important entity in creation. When the Sun

is proceeding northwards, why should not humanity direct its vision Godward?

Human should abide by the laws of the Creator. Otherwise humanity is doomed.

People today are plagued by a whole battery of troubles from birth to death.

How can they hope for happiness amidst this sea of troubles? They have to change

their vision, their thoughts, their words and their conduct. This is the meaning

of Sankranthi.

All Bharath's festivals as reflexions of its ancient culture, are full of

inner significance, imparting bliss, and not ostentatious shows. Every festival

has a unique significance of its own.

In a heart that is pure and steady, the sun of Buddhi (the intellect)

enters. There is no need to undertake a journey in the external world. The

bliss that is experienced within alone is true bliss for human. Only the Atmic

principle is pure, permanent and infinite. This has been termed the abode of

Moksha (Liberation). You must fill your life with this holy thoughts. That is

the purpose of sacred festivals. Youths today should realise that festivals in

Bharath are not intended for feasting and pompous celebration but for

concentration on devotional activities.

Human engages in many exercises during the life. No single achievement

satisfies human or society. Human constantly strives to accomplish more things.

Today people seem to revel in dissatisfaction. Youth today do not appear to be

seriously concerned about how to face a rapidly changing world. The

preparedness to sacrifice everything for achieving a noble objective is hardly

present among the young.

Success in life consists in recognizing the truth of one's being. But youth

today do not make any effort to find the Truth that is the Eternal Reality.

They are prepared to go through any amount of trouble to acquire knowledge that

is related to the physical and the transient. Festivals in Bharath have been

designed to promote awareness of this truth. Their inner significance as well

as their scientific basis have to be understood.

By Vedas - highlights of Bharatheya culture the unique human's

characteristics are discrimination, wisdom, detachment - Viveka, Vijnana and

Vairagya - and drive at that realisation.

To put it even more plainly, you will derive Ananda only if you succeed in

doing three exercises. (1) Forget the thing that has to be forgotten: Forget

the objective world, ignore it, it is only relatively real, not absolutely Real.

Remember the first statement in the Vedic prayer - Lead me from the unreal to

the Real. (2) Give up that which has to be given up. Darkness has to be

given up, in order to attain Light. You are not the body; you are not just an

individual, not just a chance spark or a stray drop. You are a part of the

Divine, a fraction of the Fire, a wave of the Ocean. This is the second

statement in the Vedic prayer - Lead me from darkness into Light.

(3) You must reach the place which you have to reach, that is,

Brahmathathwa. Brahma means, expanse, limitless presence; you have to pass

beyond the limit to the limitless. Limit is death; beyond it, unaffected by it,

is immortality. So the prayer cited above adds as the third statement - Lead me

from death to Immortality.

From the very beginning of your youth age burn the lamp of love inside the

niche of your heart and then the nocturnal birds of greed and envy will fly

away, unable to bear the light. Prema makes you humble; it makes you bend and

bow when you see greatness and glory. An unbending person is infected with

egoism of the worst type; remember human is the only animal that can recognise

and revere the great and the glorious. Use that capacity and derive the best

advantage out of it. Have faith that Truth will save you in the long run;

stick to it, regardless of what might befall. For if you are true, the sense of

guilt will not gnaw your insides and cause pain. It is cowardice that makes you

hide the truth; it is hatred that sharpens the edge of falsehood.

Use all chances you get to develop your skills and your health and your

character. Make lasting friendships. Do not by any action of yours cause pain

to another; nor suffer pain yourself, by foolishness or sheer bravado. In

your daily affairs, do not create factions, or revel in hatred. Revere others

as having God installed in them; revere yourself also as the seat of God. Make

your heart pure so He can reside therein.

Courage is the fertilizer which will make the plant of scholarship grow. The

field may be good, but manuring is also necessary. Human has inside a whole

set of animals: the dog, the fox, the ass, the wolf. But one must suppress the

tendencies of all these animals and encourage the human qualities of love and

friendship to shine forth. Above all, begin the cultivation of virtues; that is

more important and beneficial than mere book-learning. That gives real Ananda;

that is the essence of all knowledge, the culmination of all learning.

 

Young people ask why they should not enjoy freedom as the fish, birds and

animals do. They should understand that each of these creatures are enjoying

freedom in accordance with their own sphere of life. Similarly human should

enjoy freedom related to human condition. Enjoy the freedom of a human being.

What is the freedom a human can enjoy? He has to adhere to truth. He has to

follow righteousness. He has to cultivate love. He has to live in peace. He has

to observe non-violence. Sticking to these five values, human can exercise

freedom. These five values are associated with the five elements which make up

the cosmos. These five elements may be used in different ways, but they are the

basic substances constituting the Universe. Beyond these five, there is only one

sixth element, that is, the Anthahkarana, the Inner Motivator, which is

identical with the Atmic Principle.

In exercising freedom you should not merely imitate others. Imitation has

become a deadly disease among modern youth, in matters of dress or other

behaviour. They should consult their conscience in all matters rather than copy

others. Films and other special media channels have totally demoralized the

people. People today have lost the quality of forbearance. The sages in the

past allowed even anthills to grow over them while they were immersed in

penance. Today people cannot tolerate the slightest disturbance by a fly or a

mosquito.

Students' are observing many things in the world. Their hearts are pure,

unsullied and sacred. If these qualities are praised, it is not for proclaiming

them to the public, but to infuse enthusiasm in the students and encourage them

to do better. When some students came to Swami and exclaimed: "I have secured

'O' grade," Swami told them, "The 'O' grade has been given for your studies,

not to you. It is only when you put into practice what you have studied that

the 'O' grade or degree will belong to you." Many persons attach the degrees to

their names. One is a hero in learning and a zero in practice.

What is required is the application of the knowledge acquired in daily life.

Only then the degrees really become yours.You must see how you can make use of

your knowledge to make the world better. To ensure peace and prosperity in the

world is the highest achievement.

What service are you able to render by your knowledge? You are concerned

more about your careers and the earnings which may be got from your degrees.

This should not be the main concern of students today. You must consider how

far your knowledge is of benefit to society. You must ensure the peace and

security of society. That should be the principal aim of the students.

 

Ten pupils crossed a river, wading to the other bank. In order to find out

whether all had arrived safe, one fellow counted the rest and declared there

were only nine. Each of the ten counted the rest and everyone agreed there were

only nine survivors. One of them had definitely been drowned. So, the ten

started wailing aloud in their bereavement, and a passerby was drawn to the

group in sympathy. He saw there were ten, all right. The mistake was - the man

who counted left himself out; he ignored himself, in counting the rest.

This is the mistake everyone of these encyclopaedic intellects commit; they

count everyone except themselves; they know everything except the workings of

their own minds, and the methods by which they can attain inner calm. So, you

must know who you are, and then, if necessary, try to know about other persons

and objects.

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* Bharath's entire culture is based on Sanskrit. Culture means that which

sanctifies the world, which enhances the greatness and glory of a country and

which helps to raise the individual and society to a higher level of existence.

Culture contributes to the refinement of life.

The sages prayed for the happiness and well-being of every one on Earth.

"Sarve bhadraani pasyanthu" (May all see only what is auspicious). Such were

the benedictions pronounced in the Sanskrit language.

Many European languages have a large number of words which are derived from

Sanskrit roots. Sanskritenjoys this privilege of being the ancient mother of

many languages. Max Mueller traced the Sanskrit origin of many English

words. After completing a study of the Rig Veda, he inscribed an introduction

to his work in Sanskrit in which he described himself as a native of Germany

whohad received his education at Oxford University. He coined Sanskrit

equivalents for Germany and Oxford ("Sarmany" and "Gothirthapura") and

Sanskritised his own name as Mokshamula Bhat. (Reet's compilation from, Sathya

Sai Speaks. Vol. 1. "Courage," Chapter 7; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 11. "Where

and why," Chapter 34; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 23. "Sports and Spirituality,"

Chapter 1; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 27. "Spiritual significance of festivals,"

Chapter 2; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 29. "Triple transformation : Sankraanthi's

call," Chapter 3).

Namaste - Reet