ANSWERS FROM THE DIVINE GURU SAI

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ANSWERS FROM THE DIVINE GURU

Compiled from various meetings with Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Question 1Why are some people born more beautiful, or more intelligent, than

others are? Why does not God give everyone equal beauty, abilities and talents?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:It is not God's partiality or fault. It is the human being

who is responsible. His actions, thoughts and words are responsible for all

good and bad. It is the mind that creates the differences. Pleasure is an

interval between two pains. It is the way you look at things that matters.

There is a vast ocean of talents and qualities. All human beings have vessels to

fill. Some people, through their actions, are able to fill the vessels to the

brim; some fill only half; others can fill only a quarter, or less. They

possess intelligence, beauty, talents, and etceteras, according to how much

they can fill their vessels.

You even judge beauty these days, as in Miss India, Miss World. But, that is all

physical beauty, which is transient. What is important is the beauty of the atma

(Self).

Question 2How are good or bad actions carried into the next birth?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Swaasha (breath) carries the actions, for the breath stops

when a person dies. The body is still there after death and we call it a corpse

and burn it as useless. So, the body cannot carry anything with it, just as a

flower cannot carry its fragrance. It is a breeze that wafts the scent of the

flower and makes its fragrance reach you. Similarly, imagine a municipal lorry,

the breeze carries the bad odour to you again! In the same manner, good and bad

actions are carried by the breath and surround you in the next birth like an

invisible garland. The pattern of your life is then governed by what the

garland has good or bad scent.

That is why man must understand that everything he does has a reaction, a

reverberation and a reflection. It is he who writes his own destiny by his

actions. It is essential for man to live a good life with good thoughts and

good actions. Only through such a life can he realise the divinity in him. The

concept Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahma = God) is also incorrect, since it

indicates duality. Aham (I) and Brahma (God) become separate. The statement

ought to he Aham Aham (I am I).

Question 3Many people feel that Hindus worship countless gods. How did this happen?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:India has a wonderful religious tradition. It has something

for everyone, to suit everyone's needs. Many people do not understand this

excellent idea and make derisory comments on our having too many gods. This

tradition has evolved to suit the needs of different people, just as we have

shirts of varying types and sizes to fit different people. With the ideal of

One God, there is only one shirt and, if it does not fit or if it is

unsuitable, people turn away from God. But, here, if someone likes Krishna,

they can worship Krishna; others can worship Rama, or Narayana, or Shiva, or

even snakes and lions! What more do you need to propagate the idea that God is

in everything everywhere? That is why I often say don't worship God as a

picture, but worship the

picture as God. This will slowly lead to the realization of God in you. That is

where the Hindu spiritual path is practical and good.

Question 4Why does not God prevent cruelties in the world?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:God is only a witness (saakshibhoota). He does not act. Man

acts according to the dictates of his intellect (Buddhi) and himself suffers

the consequences of his actions (karma). There is neither good nor bad for God.

Take the knife as an example. A murderer uses a knife to kill another man, a

slaughterer uses a knife to slay animals, a surgeon uses a knife to amputate,

and a cook uses a knife to chop vegetables. If a magnet is placed among all

these knives, it will attract them all equally and not according to the kind of

tasks they perform. God is like this magnet. All knives are the same to Him.

However, the hands that wield the knives have to bear the consequences of their

actions, dependent on right and wrong.

Question 5When we have troubles and are in difficulties and we pray to God, why

does He not take them away'?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Troubles and difficulties are part and parcel of human life.

They are the results of your karmas. There is no point in praying to God to wipe

away all such troubles and difficulties. The right type of prayer would be to

ask God for courage and strength to bear all the difficulties, problems and

tragedy with equanimity.

Question 6What is the difference between the politics of yesterday and those of today?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:The present state of affairs can be described as the state

of jumps and bumps. Now, take the example of your body and limbs. Each limb is

important in forming the composite whole. All the limbs joined together make up

the body, which is the deha (body, person). Similarly, in the desha (country,

nation), every aspect should be tended to, just as one takes care of every part

of the body.

Question7The view that women should not take ups Brahma vidya (spiritual

knowledge), nor chants the Omkara. Is this correct? Also, in ancient times,

were spiritual sadhanas (endeavours) forbidden to women?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Brahma vidya and chitta shuddhi (spiritual knowledge and

purity of consciousness) do not depend on whether a person is a man or a woman.

All have an equal right to benefit from Brahma vidya provided only they are able

to take it up with discipline and dedication. At no time have there been any

taboos against women. Lord Vishnu (the Preserver) taught Bhu Devi (the Goddess

Earth) the glory of the Bhagavad- Gita. Parameshwara (Shiva) taught Parvati the

Brahma tatva (divine essence) through the Guru Gita. Ishwara (Shiva) initiated

Parvati into yoga shastra and mantra shastra (science of yoga and science of

mantra). The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions Yajnavalkya teaching Maitreyi

the

Brahma vidya. So, women in ancient times were not denied the pursuit of spirituality.

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions Ciargi and Maitreyi hasking in the

splendour of sannyasa (renunciation) and brahmacharya (celibacy, chastity).

Madaalasa Chudaala and others were able to receive Brahma jnana (divine wisdom)

while in the grahastha (householder, i.e. married) stage of life. Even today,

there are many that belong to this vast category. It is sheer absurdity to deny

women the right to earn Brahma jnana. But, in worldly matters, it is necessary

for them to maintain certain limitations in the interests of dharma

(righteousness) and loka kalyana (the good of the people/world). For the sake

of safeguarding morality and for the social health of the world, women have to

accept some restrictions. This is not to say that

there is any fundamental inferiority in them.

Even pundits acquire their jnana through the reverential homage they pay to the

feminine deity Saraswati. The divine patrons of learning, prosperity and wisdom

are all feminine: Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati. This should show the reverence

paid to women.

Question 8Why does Swami give gifts?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Gifts of rings and pendants are an expression of Swami's

love... It is not that Swami wants to draw people to him with gifts. When you

wish to show affection to your son, or if you want to make someone happy, you

make him a sports shirt or buy him a present, do you not? Swami also wants to

bring happiness in this manner.

Question 9Does a gift also act as a protective talisman?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Yes! They are also like my visiting cards and send me

instant flashes when the person is in danger or in need of my help. Sometimes,

these gifts are made for specific reasons: for the sake of a devotee's health,

or I may give someone a gem stone so that rays from it may constantly influence

him or her to follow the right path. I want to tell you that whatever Swami does

has a purpose. He never does anything without reason.

Question 10Why does Swami give Vibhuthi?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Flowers, leaves, fruit and other edibles have a temporary

life. Even water breeds germs if kept in a vessel for days. Only Vibhuthi

remains unchanged, as it is the final result of the five elements of creation.

Our desires have to be reduced to ashes and Vibhuthi is symbolic of this

detachment and renunciation. One's mind has to become desireless and detached

like the ashes in which everything is burnt out. It is that kind of pure mind

that has to be offered to God.

Question 11Is it necessary to perform pujas (ritual worship) and ceremonies?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Everything depends on the individual concerned. Whatever he

or she does has to be done with faith and sincere devotion. God cannot be

fooled with mere ritual.

Question 12What about ceremonies and rites for the dead? Is it wrong not to perform them?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:This again depends on one's mental attitude. After a person

leaves the body, the soul takes birth and takes on a new body somewhere else.

You must know this. Upto now you must have had so many lives, you must have

been a mother and a daughter so very many times.

What is required really is gratitude to one's parents, by remembering them on

the day of their death. Though they may shed these bodies in which they are

your parents, you still owe them the debts of having given birth to you and of

having given you their blood to give you your present form.

You can express this gratitude through the ceremonial Shraddha rite, or by any

other method, even by thinking of them with sincere and loving gratitude on the

death anniversary. It is heartfelt feeling that is important.

Question 13Why doesn't God make people suffer for their sins in the same

lifetime? Why in other lives when they cannot know why they suffer?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Then how would you account for the punya (good deeds) they

do? They Have to enjoy the benefits of their punya, too! All that may not

always be Possible in one lifetime....

Question 14Why does Swami have more restrictions for women? They do not have easy access to Swami!

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Everyone has the same kind of access to Swami. This does not

depend on their being men or women. Everyone receives the same grace, depending

on their devotion, their need, or their work.

Question 14 (continued)Swami may say so; that nevertheless women have more

hurdles to overcome when they want to convey something to Swami.

There are times when the man who stands next to me never catches my attention,

as hard as he may try; while a devotee sitting far away in a corner amid a

crowd easily catches it. It all depends on who has to receive what and when.

Everything happens according to that will, not because of the physical form of

man or woman.

Also these differences are visible to you at your level of consciousness. For

Swami, these are not differences that count. The Atma is not different in man

or woman. The Atma is eternally conscious, pure and self-effulgent. The Atma is

neither masculine nor feminine, nor yet neutral. It is only the body that

limits, deludes and wears names.

Question 15What is the principal cause of all troubles and sorrow?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Attachment and ego are the main causes. Jealousy is another factor.

Question 16How can jealousy be conquered?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:By having love for everyone, by thinking of others with love

and wishing them well. More than all, by realizing that jealousy is physically

most harmful. It does damage your internal system and, later on, you will have

to suffer the karma of the bad things caused by your jealousy.

Question 17Why has God created bad traits and negative tendencies in humans?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:These are results of man's own actions. God is only a

witness to events. Human beings are themselves responsible for the good and the

bad in them. Remember that the things you do not do can never hurt you.

Question 18But Swami says that there is nothing good or bad!

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Yes! This is from God's point of view. For humans, this is a

relative matter, since what is good for one may be bad for another. What is good

at one time may be bad in another season. Good and bad are thus two states take

two fruits, phalam, which are good. Once they are eaten and digested, they

become excreta, malam, and that is bad.

Question 19Scientists say that something cannot he created out of nothing.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Yes, hut what they think of, as nothing is really anything.

There is no nothingness in the Universe. The scientist makes such statements

because, with his limited vision, he cannot see all things or know them.

Both science and spirituality begin as inquiry, a quest. Spirituality comes full

circle, like the letter O, while science reaches the half circle stage,

resembling a C. Science has a lot of catching up to do, for it has only

discovered a fraction of the truth. It is like a small piece of cloth you can

see protruding from a fist: you can only conjecture about the whole, its looks

and size, for it is hidden and you cannot see it.

Question 20But, science has made many advances flights to the moon and other planets, for instance.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:Yes. Whatever science has done for humanity is to be

welcomed, hut it is still a growing and advancing field. Scientists used to say

that you couldn’t split the atom and today that is no longer true. The scientist

learns as he progresses.

Today's investigations become old tomorrow and lead to new investigations, which

will become old the day after tomorrow. There is no end to this, and so the

truth lies in something that contains within it both the old and the new. God

alone envelops the old and the new and so the best way to advance is Godward.

With Sai love from ‘’

Source: http://www.saibaba.ws/teachings/answerfromthedivineguru.htm