Guest guest Posted August 23, 2005 Report Share Posted August 23, 2005 Dear Sai brothers and sisters of the worldwide '' family, In view of the ensuing glorious event of the 80th Birthday of the Divine Lord Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba,the Divine Messages titled as ‘Sathya Sai Speaks’ are posted for the benefit of our members and all the Sai devotees the world over. We request members to pass on/forward/spread these Divine messages to their Sai circle so that they also derive spiritual benefits and bliss from them. These Divine Messages are not only for Sai devotees, they are for the entire HUMANITY. Lord Krishna taught humanity the ways and means of salvation for mankind in ‘Bhagavad Gita’ in Dwapara Yuga. ‘Sathya Sai speaks’ is the Bhagavad Gita of Kali Yuga. - With Sai love, Sai brothers - ’’ *** Om Sri Sai Ram SATHYA SAI SPEAKS - Volume IV [Ch. 13, 14, 15, 16] 13. FRAGRANT WITH GRACE NOT all places where images are installed are sacred; or, if they are sacred, not all of them are equally potent. Rama incarnated as Man for the re-establishment of Dharma; centuries later, Gopana had the chance to worship Him on this hill and to talk and move with Him, as his Master and Lord. Badhragiri, by his thapas, forced Rama to install Himself on his head. Truly, this place is a monument for the uniqueness of Bhakti as a means of realising the Lord. All stones are not Ahalyas; nor are all feet those of Rama. It is only when the feet of Him who is Rama that the resurrection takes place tread the stone that is Ahalya. What is the resurrection, really'? It is the revelation of the divinity inherent in man. That is the result of contact with Godhead; that can come only after years of contrition, which serves to remove the evil from the heart of man. Ravana had vast knowledge of spiritual texts. His ten heads represent the learning he had earned from the six Sasthras and the four Vedas. But, he never put that knowledge to any use. He craved for the possession of Prakriti (material objects), only; he wanted to master the world of matter, the objective world. He was a master of the material sciences. But, the spirit did not tame him. He discarded the Spirit, Purusha-Rama; he was content with the possession at Lanka, of Prakriti (Matter), represented by Seetha. That was why he fell. Prema alone will remove hatred When people do not place faith in the Self but pursue the senses only, the danger signal is up and the Lord sends a Messenger or comes Himself if a great big step in reconstruction has to be taken. Arjuna forgot the basis of Self. Ravana went counter to it. The world is building itself up on the sandy foundation of the sensory world. So, Avatars have to come. Like the monkey that could not pull its hand from out of the narrow-necked pot, because it first held in its grasp a handful of doughnuts, which the pot contained, man too is suffering today, since he is unwilling to release his hold on the handful of pleasurable things he has grasped from the world. Man is led into the wrong belief that the accumulation of material possessions will endow him with joy and calm. But Divine Love (Prema) alone can give that everlasting joy. Prema alone will remove anger and envy and hatred. This is a sacred occasion on a sacred hill. You have been privileged to be born in this holy place; why the very sight of the pilgrims who come here daily full of yearning and God-hunger, that itself is a fortunate chance. They bring so much of Love of Rama (Raamaprema) with them; they sing Raamanaama (holy name of Rama) and they recite the Lord's name. They never allow you to forget that this is a place fragrant with the Grace of God. Do you realise what a great service this is for your advance? When I was in Ayodhya Some years back, I could hear the continuous chanting of the holy name of Rama that the air there was wafting in all directions. But, let Me ask you how you behave towards these pilgrims who come here, after years of sincere preparation, with hearts laden with faith! Many of you crowd round them and seek chances to exploit their devotion and their ignorance of this place. You squeeze out of them all the reverence they bring towards you and the place. They respect you, they envy you, since you breathe this holy air and drink this holy water and witness this holy worship. But, you laugh at their foolishness, while trading on their devotion. This is very unjust. You are like men who have plenty of delicious dishes before them, but have no hunger for the delicacy. Realise the Omnipresence of God I must speak also to the pilgrims, for, I see them also here in-large numbers. If you come as on a picnic, without the mental preparation necessary to receive the Grace of God, you are a nuisance here. You spoil the atmosphere of the place. You have come to see sights, not to strengthen your spiritual inclinations. You go from place to place, like postal parcels, collecting impressions on the outer wrapper, not on the core of your being. A blind .man going places is not worried whether it is night or day. So too, you do not differentiate between one place and another. You behave equally unconcerned, equally senses-centered, in all types of places. You do not allow the holiness of the place to act on your mind. As a result of the pilgrimage, your habits must change for the better; your outlook must widen; your inward look must become deeper and become more steady. You must realise the Omnipresence of God, and the Oneness of Humanity. You must learn tolerance and patience, charity and service. You must determine to seek, after the pilgrimage is over, sitting in your own home, ruminating over your experiences, the higher, the richer and the more real experience of God-realisation. I bless you that you may form that determination and, striving step by step, achieve that Goal. Bhadhraachalam, 28-2-1964 Reawakening of man is at hand. Reawakening to the knowledge that man himself is God. The human body is not you, it simply houses the soul or the spark of Divinity within, for God dwells in the heart of every man and that dwelling spark of the divine is you - yourself. All else is illusion. - SHRI SATHYA SAI 14. BE LIKE LAMPS YOU are all pilgrims, moving along this land of action (Karmakshethra) to the goal of land of righteousness (Dharmakshetra). The literary men, the poets, the teachers and administrators who addressed you so far are all guides who help you along; but, the road has to be trodden by you, every inch of it. "Kavim puraanam anusaasithaaram"' the Poet is the person who commands, who lays down the law, the ancient, the timeless--that is what the Vedas declare. So these Poets too have to place the rules of right conduct before people and warn them in time when they go astray. They should not themselves stray, while professing to show others the path. Kavi, the Poet, is called the all-seeing (Kraantha Darshi); he is the seer of Manthra (Manthra Drashta); his role is to interpret God to man. He should not indulge in meaningless talk, significanceless writing. That will be degrading his role. He should not be asking questions without end, for, he should seek in silence to get the answers, without infecting others with his doubts and his posers. Life is a mirage; it comes from no visible rain; it falls into no recognisable sea. There was a man once who was pestered by a host of relatives when he was dying. Parents, wife, children, brothers, sisters---all surrounded his bed during his last moments and wailed. They asked him "What is to happen to us?" The dying man lifted his head a little from the pillow and asked in return, "What is to happen to me? I am now more interested in that problem, than being worried about what is to happen to you." Well, it is better every one asks that questions even now and equips himself with the answer rather than wait until it is too late. "What am I for?What ought I to do?" These questions you must pursue, and arrive at the answers. You are happiness in essence Your nature is Sath, Chith and Ananda (Existence, Consciousness, Bliss Absolute), believe Me. That is why you behave in the way you do. You desire to exist forever; you enjoy continuing to live; you avoid all talk of your own death. That is enough evidence to conclude that you are Reality in essence (Sath-Swarupa). Then, again, you are filled with wonder and curiosity and a desire to know the world around you. You ask continuously what, why, how and when, about all and sundry. This is the prompting that is given by the Consciousness (Chith) that is in your make-up. Lastly, you are always seeking joy, through some means or other. You try to avoid grief, you try to taste joy instead. It is the nature of man to do so. For, he is essentially of the nature of Bliss (Aanandhaswaruupa). When he seeks Ananda, it is like the call of the deep for the deep. When some one asks you, "How do you do," and you answer, "Quite well, thank you," he does not stop to enquire why you are well. It is only when you answer that you are ill, he stops and expresses concern and probes into the causes, symptoms and cure of the illness. "Well-ness" is natural; "illness" unnatural. Anxiety is caused by the unnatural only. So, you are happiness in essence (sukhaswaruupa) also. Be strong to resist temptations Sath, Chith, Ananda are the attributes of the Aathma (Self) and you are the Self not the body. There was a king who had an abiding faith in astrology. So, when his son was born on a day when the Moola Nakshathra (Star) was in the ascendant, he feared that the child would bring calamity to the line; he therefore asked his soldiers to slay it and throw the carcass in the jungle. The servants were so overcome by pity that, instead of killing the child, they just cast it away in the jungle and came away. The child was discovered and fostered by a washer man for many years. The boy was engaged in watching the clothes spread out to dry, when one day, the king lost his way and strayed into the village where the washer man lived with the Prince. While resting in the washer man’s house, the king discovered that the boy who watched the clothes was his own son. He took him back and crowned him Yuvaraaja. Now, even when the boy was with the washer man, he did not lose his status as a Prince. Only he did not know his reality. You are all in the same plight: Princes, misled into believing that you are washer men, souls ignorant of the magnificence of the status, but declaring that you are only the short-lived, easily-destroyed bodies. The gods once were so elated at some victory they won, so proud and so forgetful of the Divine Grace that helped them to foil their enemies, that they held a great banquet to celebrate it. When they were engaged in the revelry, the Lord decided to prick the bubble of their conceit. So, He created a strange phenomenon, which presented itself before them and arrested their attention. They went near it out of fear and wonder. It accosted them and when it was told that they were a company of gods celebrating a victory, it challenged them to prove their mettle by using their powers on a blade of grass that it placed on the ground. Agni, the god of Fire, tried to burn it but was foiled; Vayu, the god of Wind, tried his best to sweep it off but could not. Thus, each god tried to prove his worth by using all his skill on that tiny blade and it was demonstrated that without the overall Grace of God, each of him or her and all of him or her would have failed in the battle, instead of winning it. The all-merciful Lord thus taught humility to the exultant gods. Read elevating literature You must be humble, but yet strong to resist temptation. Do not yield like cowards to the sly insinuations of the senses. Your time in school has to be used not only in the task of collecting information and earning certain skills that will give you an income on which you can live; it must also be used to acquire the art of being content and calm, collected and courageous. You must also cultivate at school an ardent thirst for knowing the truth of the world and of your own serf. Your words must be like honey; your hearts must be as soft as butter; your outlook must be like the lamp, illumining, not confusing. Be like the umpire on the football field, watching the game, judging the play according to the rules laid down, unaffected by success or reverse of this team or that. I want you also to read such books as will prompt you to ask and answer questions about your Self. Read good stuff, elevating literature, like the "Educator," which I am inaugurating today. I shall also write some articles for it, off and on, for teachers who will pass on the inspiration to the pupils will read it. I am glad the Teachers Guild of Anantapur District have taken up this task of publishing a magazine for their mutual benefit. They are the people who brought Me here today, to this School, which bears My Name. I am glad that the School is celebrating its Annual School Day. The Headmaster has a special responsibility to cultivate the enthusiasm Of the local people and canalise it for the benefit of the school. And, when the plan is for the benefit of the school, all should join hands to help him. Grace is proportionate to exertion I have heard discordant voices emanating from this town, and whispers that if Sathya Sai Baba is really Divine, why is the Bukkapatnam Tank dry during the greater part of the year? Some of you here might have heard such statements, made by irresponsible persons who have no knowledge of the working of Cosmic Laws. What is the relationship between My Truth and the freshes that fill the tank of your village? It is really an absurd idea: that since Sai Baba is within four miles of this place, the Bukkapatnam Tank must be full all the year round and the lands below it must yield good profit for the owners! Why should I expend My Grace especially on this tank, as proximity gives greater attachment? All places are equally near for Me and, if they turn away from good ways, all are equally far! For Me, distance is not to be measured by miles. A tank in another continent might be as near to Me as a tank across the Chitravathi. Again, unless the people of this village have deposited amounts in the bank, how can the bank honour the Cheque they draw? Have you deposited devotion to the Lord, service to your kind, faith in your spiritual practice? Then alone can you draw upon the Grace that is won by such exertion: Grace is proportionate to exertion. And, I may also ask, in what way have you suffered? Whereas other villages hereabouts are declining and people are migrating from them to the bigger towns, Bukkapatnam is thriving continuously. This is due to the stream of pious pilgrims who are flowing into Puttaparthi, through this village. The company of the holy that gathers there renders the atmosphere cool. The Supreme Divine Power (Mahaashakthi) that manifested in your neighborhood and the Supreme Devotion to God (Mahaabhakthi) radiating from that place have yielded benefits which you cannot deny. This school is but one of the many evidences of that Grace. I bless you that you may grow more and more in devotion to the Lord, under whatever Name and Form, and earn His Grace to a larger extent. Bukkapatnam, 13-3-1964 When the Name is pronounced by the tongue, and the image is adored by the mind, these should not degenerate into mechanical routine; the Meaning of the Name and the Content of the Form, must, at the same time, inspire and illumine the Consciousness. - SHRI SATHYA SAI 15. SAI SANKALPAM TODAY is thrice blessed, because first, it is the New Year Day for those who follow the Solar Calendar, second, it marks the beginning of the Vasantha Navarathri; and third, because of the entry into Brindavan, which you all witnessed this morning. For the Kannada country, there is an additional reason for rejoicing, for just now we are inaugurating in their State the activities of our Prashanthi Vidwanmahaasabha. On such an auspicious day, it is the duty of every one of you to gather and cherish in your hearts the wise words, the drops of Amrita (Nectar), which these Pundits offer you from their knowledge and experience. Not merely hear, but endeavor to act accordingly, for, the rain has to fall on prepared soil in order to promote the growth of the crop. You have to collect the rain, store it in tanks, direct it along well laid out canals to the fields which thirst for it; you should not allow it all to flow into waste or into a sea of salt. These Pundits are repositories of ancient learning and I can assure you, whatever subject they speak upon, they will not stray a hair's breadth from the path of India's genuine culture. We have here today Jatti, the Finance Minister of Mysore, Sawant, the Agriculture Minister for Maharashtra, and Members of Parliament like Dr. Ramakrishna Rao, legislators chosen by the will of the people. Dasaratha, when he desired to crown Ramachandra, consulted the representatives of his people, as well as the Pundits of the court. He placed before the people, not merely his personal wish, but also the reactions of sages like Vasishtha to his proposal. But, at present, the link between the Pundits and the politicians, the religious heads and the rulers has snapped and each goes his own way, irrespective of what the other thinks or feels. Long years of foreign rule during which the Pundits were considered to be symbols of an out-dated civilization contributed to this, no doubt. But, even after that rule has ended, nothing has been done to re-establish the link. Scriptures are like traffic signs The system of education, which promotes an attitude of contempt towards the learning, which does not yield immediate pecuniary benefits, is very largely responsible for the neglect of these great men. I must also mention as another cause the fall in the general level of morals. When all are sliding down the easy path of flippancy, those who advise against it and warn the victims about the inevitable disaster are ignored and laughed at. Sunk in the search of pleasures and cheap recreation, people become deaf to the counsels of the past and calls of the sublime. Another factor, which I must condemn, is the hatred between castes and religions. The Pundits are mostly of one caste and the politicians treat them from the angle of communal hatred. This hatred is not based on reason; it is rooted in fear and ignorance, and so, is undesirable. The Vedas, Upanishads and Sasthras are like traffic signs on the road; if they are removed, the journey is rendered slow and difficult, replete with accidents. We cannot afford to destroy them. We have to restore them in the interests of humanity itself. Caste (Jaathi) has to be determined on the basis of Gums (qualities) though a man belonging to a caste can be judged fit or unfit, on the basis of his Karma. If jaathi has to be decided on the twin bases of Guna and Karma (qualities and actions), as evidenced by the character and activities of the individual, a person will have to be labeled differently every hour or every minute of his life! It is only in pitch darkness that the ground appears level; day reveals the heights and hollows. So too, it is only ignorance that makes people talk of equality; knowledge reveals basic differences in health, equipment, attitude and tastes! Bhakti-directed education is today's need Sai Sankalpam is to bring together once again the Paalakas (Rulers) and the Pundits, the guardians of the welfare of the people in the secular and the spiritual fields. That is why the ministers and the legislators are here on this platform, along with Pundits and Shaasthris. Without the cooperative functioning of these two, there can be no progress, no success in the attempt to build up a new world. The Kauravas had all the 'instruments for victory; wealth, might of arms, allies, fanatic hatred of the enemy, Kama! But, they all became dust, for they never paid heed to the higher values of Dharma; they did not equip themselves with the Grace of God, which is reserved for those who walk the path of humility and peace. Krishna was not their charioteer: they put their faith in lesser things. When the rulers for the uplift of the people lay plans and for training the children of the land, I want that the ancient wisdom of this land, still preserved and practiced by these Pundits, must be consulted. That will keep the keel of the ship straight. I want that the knowledge embodied in the Upanishads should be handed down to every one. Bhakti-directed education must take precedence over the Bhukthi-directed (enjoyment-directed) schooling that prevails today in most countries of the world. Bhakti is the Aashakthi or yearning which goads you on to the spiritual discipline which will endow you with that Jnaana. Have both faith and steadiness--- and you will win. Calamities must heighten your faith You have been putting up since morning with the Sun and the lack of accommodation in this crowded Pandal; these have not shaken your faith and steadiness. Keep them unaffected by the still greater difficulties and disasters that might blow over you. The gale helps to toughen the trunk of the tree. Calamities must deepen your courage, enlarge your faith; your spiritual practice must be intensified just when the weather is inclement. In fair weather, a care-free attitude is pardonable, but, in foul weather, every precaution is of value. These Pundits know the precautions and they will tell you about them. Treasure them well and act accordingly. That is My message to you today. The Prashanthi Vidwanmahaasabha is bound to extend its activities in Karnataka and enter, as Sawant said, not only Maharashtra State, but all States of India and all countries of the world. For the Wisdom of the Sages is the Heritage of Humanity. Brindavan, Whitefield, 13-4-1964 16. TAKE WINGS AND FLY KAANTHI, the Minister who spoke just now, is in charge of education in this State of Karnataka and he knows well that the education he is arranging for the children of his people is not adequate to meet all the challenges of life in this fast-changing, quickly firing world. These Pundits who have dedicated their scholarship and their talents for the spread of the means and methods of attaining peace are therefore valuable collaborators with Kaanthi in the field of education. I am glad he recognises that truth. Dharma is a word related to dhaarana and derived from the same root. Dhaarana means 'wearing,' as a cloth; Dharma is the very habiliment of India, the dress that Bharath Matha (Mother India) wears to protect her honour, to proclaim her status, to shelter herself against heat and cold, to set a standard to her sisters. When the wicked Kaurava princes seized hold of the sari that Draupadi wore and tried to inflict insult on her honour, Krishna rescued her and foiled the foul design. Dharmaraja sat as if he was unaware of his fights and duties; Bheema was involved in doubt concerning his obligations to his elder brother and his consort; Arjuna cared more for his own interests; Nakula and Sahadeva waited and weighed the pros and cons. But, the Lord did not wait! His Grace knew no delay or doubt. Now, Bharath Matha is in a similar plight. Wicked irreverent hands now seize on dharma, the very clothes that she has worn since centuries, which is the expression of her natural style. They wish to dress her in unbecoming styles, as their own imitative or frenzy dictates. So. Krishna has to come again for rescuing the victim of the wicked. Everything has its Dharma Krishna revealed the hollowness of the people who were confident of their capacity to dishonor Draupadi and the weakness of those entrusted with the task of protecting her. Now too, I have to foil the attempts to undermine Dharma and to stand in support of those who are the traditional protectors and protagonists of Dharma. Every single thing has its Dharma; water has its Dharma, the nature and obligation to move; fire, the Dharma to burn and consume; the magnet, to attract and draw unto itself. And, every one of these is keeping up its Dharma unchanged, including the Solar system and the stars of the firmament. Among the things endowed with Consciousness or Chaithanga, the plants and trees, the insects and the birds, born out of eggs or the mammals--all have managed to treasure their specific Dharmas unaffected by the passage of time. But man, whose intelligence sweeps from the inert and the' infinitesimal to the' Super-conscious and the Universal, is the only living thing that has slipped, and is sliding down. The experience of many generations of seekers, who sought the means of contentment and joy, embodied in the precepts of practical living, collectively called Sasthra is neglected, and new-fangled nostrums are recommended and tried on vast scale. No wonder, contentment and joy are far, far away from human grasp. Dharma, for example, says 'Sathyam vadha' and ' Dharmam chara': Speak the truth and practice righteousness. Sathyaannaasthi paro dharmah: there is no more stabilising factor in society, no more support for individual progress than Sathya, Truth. Hiding the truth or perverting it or denying it or defacing it are all signs of cowardice; no bold person will stoop to cover the face of Truth. Besides, you must know the Vedic injunction is: 'Dharmam chara', "Practice Dharma." It is not enough if you learn about it; you must act it, fill every moment with word and deed and thought that reflect your awareness of Dharma. That type of living is the hallmark of what is called seelam (character), in such statements as Seelam param bhuushanam · "Character is the most precious jewel." Resist temptation to ignore Dharma You must examine every moment of your waking time whether you are observing the precepts of Dharma or straying away' Dharma is now just a convenient excuse to derive benefits from others, not an opportunity to fulfill your duties to others! You remind others of it, when you desire to squeeze some advantage from them. You must remember not only the fights that Dharma confers but also the duties it imposes. The temptation to ignore Dharma grows from egoism and the acceptance of false values. The wish to satisfy the lower desire is the root of Adharma (unrighteousness). This wish takes hold of you slyly, silently, like a thief in the night; or like a comrade come to save you; or like a servant come to attend on you; or, like a counselor come to warn you. Oh, wickedness has a thousand tricks to capture your heart. You must be ever alert against the temptation. The wish makes a chink in your consciousness, enters and establishes itself and then multiplies its brood and eats into the personality you have built up with laborious care. The fort is no longer under your control. You have been reduced into a puppet manipulated by these inner enemies. Whenever you try to rebuild yourselves, they undermine the structure and you have to do it all over again. That is the extent of the harm they do. Gopikas state of God-consciousness To conquer this egoism, no rigorous system of exercise or breath control is necessary. No, not even complicated scholarship. The Gopikas (cow-herds) confirm this truth. They were simple rural folk, untouched by the conclusions of deep study. Narada was once so shocked at their ignorance of the science of spiritual progress that he volunteered to go among them and put them through some lessons in Jnaana. He found on entry into Brindavan that the Gopis (cowherd girls) selling milk or curds in the streets forgot to shout the names of their ware but said, "Govinda, Narayana," instead; so immersed were they in God-consciousness. They did not know that they had sold off all the milk; they still wandered on, calling out the names of the Lord, for the dust of Brindavan was so sacred for them. They had no vishayavaasana, that is, no wish for sensual pleasure; and so, they had no Ajnaana (ignorance). Hence, Narada concluded that they had no need for the lessons he had planned to give. He prayed to them to teach him the means of getting that yearning and that vision of the all-pervading Krishna. Achieve identification with the Lord There was a Gopi, for example, called Suguna, who had no other thought than those related to Krishna. Now every evening, it was the usual routine in Brindavan for every housewife to light the lamp from the flame of the lamp at the house of Nanda; they believed that getting light from the flame of the lamp of the eldest and highest is auspicious. Suguna went with the lamp of Nandha's house and when she reached the house, her mind was lost in the thrill and joy of seeing the very house where Krishna spent his childhood days, to which his pranks and prattle drew all the cowherd boys and girls. She stood there with her unlighted lamp for a long while, near the big oil lamp, illumining the central hall. She was holding the lamp near the flame, but not near enough. She had her finger right over the flame. She was not aware that the flame was scorching her finger; she was too full of Krishna-consciousness to be aware of the pain. It was Yasoda who saw her plight and woke her from the reverie, or shall we say, vision? For, to her, the house was alive with Krishna wherever her eyes turned. That is the thanmayathwam (identification) one must achieve. There is no use if the fledgling stays in the nest; it should develop wings and fly into the sky. There is no use if man grovels in the dust; he should take to his wings and fly. India is the teacher of all humanity in tiffs field. That is her special role. If the body is the temple of God, the world is the body of God. So, He seeks to establish Ananda in all countries and all people. That is why I have been giving these discourses and getting the Pundits from all parts of the country to give discourses to you. Brindavan, 15-4-1964 TO BE CONTINUED… With Sai love from Sai brothers – ‘’ Source and Courtesy: http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume04/sss04 Start your day with - make it your home page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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