DIVINE DISCOURSE ON 19-2-2004

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DIVINE DISCOURSE ON 19-2-2004

CONCENTRATION OF MIND ON THE DIVINE IS REAL SADHANA

Nachiketha son of Vajasravas, prayed to Lord Yama to teach him Atma Vidya. Then,

Lord Yama said, "Oh the son of immortality! Listen. First establish your link

with the source from which you have come into the world." He also advised

Nachiketha that since the body was perishable like a water bubble and the mind

was fleeting, both of them must be discarded, meaning, no importance should be

attached to them and efforts be made to realize the fundamental Truth

The Lord of Kailasa has manifested his Divine form with the crescent moon

adorning his head, the cool water of the Ganga flowing between the matted

locks, with his radiant eye in the middle of the forehead and the purple neck

gleaming like the sheen of a blackberry. He wears serpent bracelets and a snake

belt, his entire body is smeared with Vibhuti, his forehead is adorned with a

kumkum dot, his ruddy lips glow with the juice of the betel, diamond-studded

gold earrings dangle from his ears and his whole swarthy body glows with divine

effulgence. (Telugu Poem)

"Nachiketa! You need not search for Lord Easwara for He is very much present in

you", said Lord Yama.

Dear Students and Devotees! 

You have to understand the true significance and philosophy underlying the

festival of Sivarathri. First realise that you are not the physical body, which

is perishable and impermanent. You have to look at this objective world with

Jnana Chakshu (the eye of wisdom), not with the Charma Chakshu (physical eye).

The animals, insects, birds and beasts are looking at this world with their

physical eyes. If you also look at this objective world with mere physical

eyes, what difference is there between you and those beings? You will then

simply remain an animal, bird, beast or insect. You will not be able to realize

your true nature, which is beyond the physical world.

You have to comprehend the transcendental reality, which is beyond the body and

the mind. This is possible only with the help of Jnana Chakshu (the eye of

wisdom). The body is like a water bubble. It will disappear one day or the

other. You are not the body that has birth, growth, decay and death ultimately.

Therefore, Lord Yama exhorted Nachiketha to realize the Atma Thathwa that has no

birth and death.

Then, the question arises as to what is Atma? Atma has no form. It is infinite,

indescribable and immeasurable.

Nirgunam, Niranjanam, Sanathana Niketanam, Nitya, Shuddha, Buddha, Mukta,

Nirmala Swarupinam (Atma is attributeless, pure, final abode, eternal,

unsullied, enlightened, free and embodiment of sacredness).  

Such an Atma Thathwa is immanent in every individual, nay every being, in the

form of consciousness. Your life as a human being will acquire a meaning and

purpose, only when you realise the consciousness. Enquiries relating to worldly

matters are meaningless and an exercise in futility. Lord Yama exhorted

Nachiketha to realise that principle, having realized which he would have known

everything else. The body has birth, growth, decay and death. But, Atma has no

such qualities. It is the eternal witness to everything in this Universe. You

have therefore to realize that Atma Thathwa. Thus taught Lord Yama to

Nachiketha.

The Atma is eternal without birth or death. It has no beginning, middle or end

It is omnipresent and eternal witness. (Telugu Poem)

Look! There are several electric bulbs glowing here. Though the bulbs are of

different sizes, colours, and capacity, the electrical energy manifesting as

light through them is one and the same. Similarly, the same divine power is

present in every living being and makes it function. That is Atma Thathwa. I

often refer to the terms Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Right Conduct), Santhi (Peace)

and Prema (Love). Sathya is the electricity; Dharma is the wire through which

the electric current passes. Santhi is the bulb and Prema is the effulgence. If

you want to attain Atmaananda (Atmic bliss), you have to follow Sathya and

Dharma. That is why, the ancient culture of Bharath exhorted humanity Sathyam

Vada (speak Truth) and Dharmam Chara (practise righteous conduct) In contrast

to this noble principle, what is happening today? Sathyam

Waddha (Truth is being killed) and Dharmam Chera (Righteous Conduct is being

imprisoned). No, No. This is not humanness. Speak truth and observe righteous

conduct.

Lord Yama told Nachiketa, "This human body which is like a water bubble is bound

to burst one day or other. Therefore, realize that Atma Thathwa which is real

and eternal". You have to recognize that Atma Tathwa, not by your Charma

Chakshu (physical eyes), but by the Jnana Chakshu (eye of wisdom) Then, the

question arises as to what is Jnana (wisdom)? Is it physical knowledge or

secular knowledge or knowledge relating to the objects of nature? No, none of

these. Experiencing the principle of non-dualism is true wisdom (Advaita

darsanam jnanam). Atma transcends the name and form. Lord Yama, therefore,

exhorted Nachiketha to attain Atma Jnana.

Today, people are going mad in search of spiritual knowledge. They adopt umpteen

numbers of practices and bodily postures and call it spiritual sadhana. But,

none of these can help to attain Atma Jnana. What is important is Prema (Love)

which is the undercurrent of all forms of spiritual sadhana. Realising the

perishable nature of this Deha (body), one has to realise the indweller (Dehi),

who is none other than the eternal Atma.

The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner or later but

the indweller has neither birth nor death. The indweller has no attachment

whatsoever and is the eternal witness. Truly speaking, the indweller who is in

the form of the Atma is verily God Himself.(Telugu Poem)

The true and eternal Atma Thathwa is immanent in one's own body. It can be

realized only by the Jnana netras (eyes of wisdom).

You have to gradually give up Dehabhimana (attachment to the body) and cultivate

Atmabhimana (love towards the Atma). You think you are the body and develop

attachment to it. So long as the process of inhalation and exhalation continues

in the body, you consider it as yours. Once the process comes to a halt, you do

not know what is happening around.

The human body, though of perishable nature, teaches one great lesson, namely,

"SOHAM" (you are nothing but the eternal Atma Thathwa). When you inhale your

breath, you make the sound "So " and while exhaling you make the sound "Ham ".

The inhaling, process represents life and exhaling represents death. If you

wish to overcome life and death, one moment is enough. You have to give up body

attachment, which I am demonstrating right before you day in and day out. This

body which I have taken upon Myself is undergoing several types of suffering.

Just as you suffer from physical ailments, this body also suffers. But, I do

not attach importance to this suffering. Several students and devotees have

expressed anxiety and concern that I might undergo a lot of suffering while the

Linga emerges from My body. No doubt your apprehensions

are true, but, I do not feel any suffering. In fact, it is only when I identify

Myself with the body, I undergo pain. Since I am not the body, I do not suffer

any pain.

For example, this is a handkerchief (holding a kerchief in His hands) As long as

you consider this kerchief as yours, you pick it up, wipe your face and

carefully put it back in its original place. Just because the kerchief is

yours, do you accept if there is dirt on it? No, never. You at once discard it.

In the same manner, you should realise that you are different from the body. You

should not attach any importance to the suffering of the body. All those

objects, which you consider as yours, have to be discarded one day or the

other. When you do not consider something as yours, you do not feel any pain in

discarding it. This body underwent several types of suffering, the recent one

being a fracture in the hip bone.

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The body is afterall a conglomeration of Indriyas (senses). Whatever has

happened is only to the body and not to Me. When you adopt such type of

attitude you will get peace. For example, when you find an ant crawling on your

hand, if you try to scratch it, you will have more pain. After all why should

you have to suffer so much on account of a small insect like an ant crawling

over your body? It is only because you are under the illusion that you are the

body. The eye sees something. But what it sees may not be real since it is

bound to undergo change after some time. What the ears have heard may undergo

change after some time. In the same way, the food we eat will also undergo

change after a few hours. There is nothing that is permanent in this world. You

have to realise this truth. You have to enquire as to what is it that

remains unchanged in the past, present and future. If I teach you this truth by

quoting big Sanskrit Slokas and Mantras, you may not be able to understand this

simple truth. If this is related to your day-to-day experience, you will

understand it better.

Some time back, when My hip bone got fractured, I was taken to the hospital. The

doctors were planning for performing a major Orthopaedic surgery. I told them,

"You can do whatever you wish to. This body is yours. I am not the body. I am

not under the control of the body I am I the doctors performed a major

operation on this body. But, I did not suffer any pain. Whatever pain was

there, only the body suffered, not Me. If you also adopt similar attitude, you

will not feel any pain. Therefore, reduce your dehabhimana (attachment to the

body) gradually.

All of you are undertaking some sort of Sadhana. What exactly is the real

meaning of Sadhana? Sadhana is not merely acquiring knowledge about the nature

of body. In fact, you have to forget about the body and concentrate on the

Atmic Bliss. How do you attain that bliss? It can be attained only through

Prema (love). If only there is pure love, all your suffering will be removed.

Therefore, cultivate pure and selfless love. Supposing, you came across a

person on the road who is inimical to you. If you hate him and move away from

him considering him as your enemy, the distance between you and him increases

further. On the other hand, if you greet him lovingly saying "Hello! How are

you? Naturally he would respond with love. Thus, when you both greet each other

lovingly, there is no scope for hate persisting anymore. As is your

feeling towards others, so is their feeling. The same idea is contained in the

Vedic declaration: "Yadbhavam thadbhavathi" (As is your feeling, so shall you

become). Today, we are directing all our negative feelings on others. We should

not however bear any ill will against anybody. Whatever negative feelings are

there, they are just passing clouds. They come and go. The sun may not be

visible while it is under thick clouds. The moment the clouds move away, the

sun is visible. Similarly, when your negative feelings scatter away, what

remains is pure love. You can achieve anything in this world with love. In

fact, you can get the entire world under your control through love. People say

they are sitting in meditation, both morning and evening. But, what kind of

meditation is going on? What benefit are they deriving out of it? How long is

its effect lasting? Not even a moment. Remember, all worldly matters are like

passing clouds. Therefore, do not engage yourself much in

them.

Once Chaithanya Mahaprabhu was walking through the market place, chanting the

divine name. In fact, he was dancing in ecstasy. Some people on seeing him

thought he was a madcap. They snatched away his mridanga. But, he did not

resent for this. He started chanting the divine name while beating the cymbals.

The irate onlookers took away the cymbals also. Even then he was not bothered-

He thought perhaps God did not like his beating the cymbals. He resolved not to

touch the cymbals, which he thought were not to the liking of God. He consoled

himself saying whatever musical instruments were taken away from him, were not

to God's liking. God's will prevails ultimately. Such was his faith. From then

onwards he gave up all worldly attachments and concentrated on Premathathwa

(Principle of Love), which none could take away from him.

One has to aspire for that which cannot be taken away by others. That is Pure

Love. A printed matter on a piece of paper cannot be separated from it.

Likewise, your heart should be like a pure white paper and love the printed

matter. These two are inseparable. Cultivate such love. 

Love is your sole refuge wherever you may be, in a forest, in the sky, in a city

or a village, on the top of a mountain or in the middle of deep sea. (Telugu

Poem)

Wherever you may be, divine love will protect you always. Cultivate such type of

love. That is the real Sadhana. Sadhana is not something that is associated with

dhana (money). Sadhana stands for Salokya, Sameepya, Sarupya and Sayujya.

Unfortunately today people do not understand the real meaning of Sadhana.

Students! You are reading big books written by elders. However, mere reading

will not help. When you read a pustaka (book), whatever is contained in it will

enter your mastaka (head). That means both the pustaka and mastaka become one.

You should not stop at that. Whatever has been stored in the mastaka must get

into the heart, where it will remain for ever.

Embodiments of Divine Atma!

Atma is Divine. Never forget this aspect. Some people find happiness in physical

Sadhana. But, the pleasure they derive out of it is only physical and temporary

in nature. All that is associated with time is bound to disappear one day or

the other. You have to attach yourself to that which is permanent, eternal and

real. God's love is beyond all description. It is supreme. On the other hand,

the physical love is momentary and is associated with physical relationship.

Whatever is associated with the body comes and goes. But, pure and selfless

love, which emerges from the heart, comes and grows. You have to cultivate such

love. It will never diminish. You need not have to beg for this from somebody.

You cannot purchase this from the market either, since it is not a saleable

commodity. God is the only source from which love

flows. It is available only in His shop. Therefore find out a way to reach Him.

Unfortunately, today people do not aspire to acquire such pure love in spite of

being very near to the source of such love. They do not even realise that this

gift is available right in front of them.

People crave for worldly favours and objects, thinking there is great happiness

in possessing them. No. They can never give real happiness. The happiness

arising out of worldly things is only momentary. Only God's love is the eternal

principle. Therefore love such Divine Love. You do not get it anywhere else

except from God.

God has neither birth nor death. He has neither beginning nor end. He is present

in all beings as the eternal witness. (Telugu Poem) 

God's love is the only Truth. It will never change. Worship such changeless

Truth. Seek refuge in that Truth. That is the only real sadhana for attaining

liberation. What is meant by 'Moksha' (Liberation)? Is it living in some

palatial building with air-conditioned rooms, located in the heaven above? No,

not at all. To get rid of Moha (attachment) is true Moksha (liberation) you

have to give up the body attachment in the first instance. Once you get rid of

body attachment, you will naturally develop Vairagya (renunciation), which will

ultimately lead you to liberation. Love is the only path that can lead you to

liberation.

You might have heard the story of Mandana Misra, a scholar of great repute. His

wife, Ubhayabharathi, too was a- great scholar. When Adi Sankara was proceeding

on his victory march, he met Mandana Misra and entered into a scholarly debate

with him. It was decided that Mandana Misra would take to Sannyasa if he was

defeated in the debate. Ubhayabharathi was chosen to be the adjudicator of the

contest. Will anyone accept such a proposal wherein the rival's wife acts as

the adjudicator? But, Adi Sankara had no hesitation to accept her as the

adjudicator, for he knew that Ubhayabharati strictly adhered to the principle

of truth in letter and spirit. She was impartial in her judgement and declared

Sankara to be the winner. Mandana Misra took to Sannyasa in accordance with the

terms and conditions of the debate. Ubhayabharati,

being his Ardhangi (better half), followed suit.

Ubhayabharathi lived in a hermitage near the bank of river Ganga. Many women

became her disciples. Every day in the morning, they used to go to the bank of

the Ganga to have a bath. On the way, there lived a Sannyasi, whom people

considered as Brahma Jnani (the knower of Brahma). He had renounced the world

to attain true wisdom. However, he was very much attached to a dried

bottle-gourd in which he used to preserve water. One day he was lying down,

using it as a pillow, lest someone should steal it. Ubhayabharathi observed

this and asked her disciples as to who he was. One of the disciples said that

he was known as Brahma Jnani. Then Ubhayabharathi remarked, "Though he is one

of wisdom, he is attached to his bottle-gourd which he is using as his pillow."

The so-called Brahma Jnani heard their conversation and became angry.

When Ubhayabharathi and her disciples were returning from the Ganga, he threw

away the bottle- gourd on the road, just to show that he was not attached to

it. Seeing this, Ubhayabharathi at once remarked, "I thought there was only one

defect in him - Abhimana (attachment). Now I realise that he has another defect

also - Ahamkara (ego). How can one with Ahamkara and Abhimana be a Jnani (one

of wisdom)? Her comment was an eye opener for the Sanyasi. Immediately he fell

at the feet of Ubhayabharathi and prayed to her to teach him true knowledge.

To visualize multiplicity is Ajnana (ignorance) and to visualize unity in

multiplicity is Jnana (wisdom). Ubhayabharathi imparted such sacred teachings

and transformed the individuals. As she understood the principle of unity, she

ultimately attained liberation. On the other hand Mandana Misra could not

attain liberation as he was immersed in worldly feelings. Ubhayabharathi

started preaching and propagating the path of wisdom. She became the guru of

one and all. A true guru is one who dispels the darkness of ignorance and

lights the lamp of wisdom. That which remains changeless in all the three

periods of time is true wisdom. People accepted Ubhayabharathi as their guru

because her thought, word and deed were in complete harmony. Manasyekam

vachasyekam karmanyekam mahatma naam (Those whose thoughts, words and deeds are

in

perfect harmony are noble ones)

Manonaashanam (annihilation of the mind) is what you should strive for. You

should have desire for God and nothing else. You should not get entangled in

the worldly relationships. That is true wisdom.

The teachings of Ubhayabharathi spread far and wide and she became highly

reputed for her wisdom. Even today there are many such people of wisdom.

Without men of merit and wisdom, how can there be light in the world? However,

wisdom cannot be acquired, from individuals. It can be acquired only by

developing love for God. A beggar who comes to our doorstep begs for alms

saying "Bhavati Bhikshan Dehi." He addresses Dehi (indweller) and not Deha.

(physical body). In this manner, you can learn a profound spiritual] truth even

from a beggar.

One may acquire a high academic qualification such as M.A. and B.A. and attain

exalted positionOne may amass wealth, perform acts of charity and attain name

and fameOne may have physical strength and enjoy a long and healthy lifeOne may

be a great scholar studying and preaching the Vedas,None of them can equal a

true devotee of the Lord.(Telugu Poem)

No doubt, worldly education is also essential to eke out a livelihood, but it

cannot impart true wisdom. Only Atma Vidya (knowledge of the Self) can grant

you everlasting happiness. However, secular education is also essential to take

care of your physical needs. You should not give it up altogether. Worldly

education is Negative and spiritual education is Positive. Both are essential

for happiness here and hereafter.

Students!

You should become masters in both forms of knowledge, secular and spiritual,

like Ubhayabharathi. But always remember that only Atmic knowledge is the true

knowledge. Once you acquire it, you would have acquired everything else.

Last night I came to the Sai Kulwant Hall at 1:00 o'clock. It is during this

auspicious time that the divine lingas emerge from Kailasa. The lingas emerge

of their own accord at the divine will. I saw several students and devotees

singing Bhajans with great devotion. But who are the real devotees? I observed

that only a few people were singing with real devotion and a pure heart

constantly contemplating on the divine name. There were thousands of people

participating in the Bhajans. But not all of them are real devotees. Their body

was present in the hall but their mind was not fixed on God. They were

mechanically participating in Bhajans. This is not real devotion. Wherever you

sit, whether in the prayer hall, or elsewhere, if your thoughts are fixed on

God, then you am a true devotee and you will attain His grace. If you

feel sleepy, you can sleep. There is no objection. However even in sleep, may

your thoughts be fixed on divinity.

Is it not because of your love and devotion towards God that you came all the

way to Prasanthi Nilayam to participate in Shivarathri Bhajans? I can

understand your devotion. A true devotee does not need any conveniences. He

does not wish any type of comforts. Wherever you go, keep the mind under your

control and direct all your thoughts towards God. That is real devotion. That

is what Ubhayabharathi taught to her disciples. If you also cultivate such

devotion, your lives will be sanctified. Do not divert your attention on

physical comforts. Always chant the Panchakshari Mantra, "Om Namah Sivaya.” If

you merely chant with lips it will merge into worldly sounds. On the other

hand, if you chant the divine name sincerely with full concentration of your

mind, it will spread all over the world. Chanting of the divine name with

full concentration by the mind is real Sadhana.

(Bhagavan concluded His discourse with the Bhajan, "Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahi...)

Sent with Sai love

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