SATHYA SAI SPEAKS - Volume IV [Ch. 17, 18, 19, 20]

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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 being 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 your 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. 17, 18, 19, 20]

17. HIS RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS

THE Telugu Vijnaana Samithi, Bangalore, has done well in recognising the

greatness and spirit of service of these Pundits who are propagating, under the

auspices of the Prashanthi Vidwanmahaasabha, the practical disciplines laid down

in the Vedas and Sasthras. They are invaluable spiritual text-books for all

mankind. Sasthra means that which 'ordains,' or 'commands' or 'instructs with

authority.' They do not force you to do as they ordain, but, they "remind you

of your worth and work"---"jnaapakam, na thu kaarakam," as the saying goes.

For, there is great need of that reminder, the Divine that the Human really

is, has been forgotten. It was once glowing and shining in the experience, but

it no longer inspires the individual with sublime confidence. The Veda Matha

has been

deserted; spurious guardians and sham caretakers have won the hearts of the people

Remilla Suuryaprakaasha Shastri just now in his speech on the role of Surya

(Sun) according to the Vedic Riks (hymns) mentioned that the Sun is the source,

sustenance, and silent slaughterer of life. But, he did not mention about the

much greater role played by the inner Sun, Buddhi (intellect), in individual

and social life. Chakshos suuryo ajaayatha--"the Sun was born out of the Eye of

the Purusha," says the Purusha Sooktha. Intellect illumines the Vision

(Dhrishti). What is the Nethra (Eye) that is talked about? It is the Jnaana

nethra or the Sasthra nethra (Eye of knowledge or Eye of Scriptures), which is

endowed with correct Vision. The Sasthras direct you to the Reality easily and

without hesitation. You have heard people pointing to the faint crescent moon

in the sky and

saying, "There! Right on top of that mango tree, a yard from the

lightning-conductor on that spire, to the left of it." That is just the kind of

help that the Sasthras give about the Universal and the Absolute. You have to

run your eye along the tree, the spire and the lightning conductor, and see the

moon yourself. Sasthras guide you to the truth and lead you to it, in easy

stages.

Mere scholarship will not help

It is a hard job to know about your own Self. Take the case of the food that you

eat with your own mouth. You feel it in your stomach and after that, you do not

experience what happens to it at each stage. How then can you know, without

acquiring the special means for it, the Truth that lies behind the sheaths that

encase and enclose you---the Annamaya, Praanamaya, Manomaya, Vijnaanamaya and

Aanandhamaya--(sheaths of material, vital energy, mind, intelligence and

bliss)? Clear your intellect or intellectual power (dheeshakthi) of the cobwebs

of the ego, the dust of desire, the soot of greed and envy, and it becomes a fit

instrument for revealing the Swarupa---the Inner Truth. "Know yourself, know the

Inner Motivator, the Antharyaamin"---that is the exhortation of the scriptures

of all faiths. For, unless you are armed with

that knowledge, you are like a ship without a compass, sailing on a stormy sea.

I must tell you that scholarship in the Sasthras will not help you; scholarship

is a very dangerous thing for it makes you aware of your ego all the time,

instead of helping you to overcome it. If you notice serried ranks of bottles

on the shelves of a man, you can conclude that he is a chronic invalid,

addicted to drugs. So too, if you see on a man's shelves serried ranks of

books, you can conclude that he is a chronic invalid, suffering from doubt and

despair and confusion, and addicted to the drugs that he believes will cure

them. Like all long-standing invalids, both these will start giving, at the

slightest provocation, tedious accounts of their illnesses and the methods by

which they tried to cure themselves.

Royal road to achieve the Truth

Want of steady faith is what drives people to drugs and books. There is a story

about Radha and her faith in Krishna. The elders in Brindavan who reveled in

scandalising Krishna—successors have been born for them even now---set an

ordeal for Radha to test her virtue. She was given a mud pot with a hundred

holes and asked to bring water in that pot, from the Yamuna to her house! She

was so full of the Krishna-consciousness that she never knew the condition of

the pot. She immersed it in the river, repeating the name of Krishna as usual

with every intake of the breath and every exhalation. Every time the name

Krishna was uttered, a hole was covered, so that by the time the pot was full,

it was whole! That was the measure of her faith. Faith can affect even

inanimate objects.

The ancients have laid a royal road for cultivating the spirit and achieving the

Truth with that as the instrument. Why wander about in the thorny wastes, or

slushy by lanes? Practice the Sadhana of Japam and Dhyanam as prescribed; know

all about it, from these Pundits and others who have the experience. Do Pooja

(ritual worship), with flowers, Japam with rosaries, etc., but, only until you

get set for higher endeavors. You must offer the Lord, not the flowers that

plants grow; that will reward the plant, not you! The Lord wants you to offer

the lotus that blooms in the Lake of your Heart, the fruit that ripens on the

tree of your earthly career, not the lotus and the fruit available in the

market place! You may ask- "Where can we find the Lord?"

Well, He has given His address, in Chapter 18, Sloka 61 of the Bhagavad Geetha.

Turn to it and note it down. Ishwarassarvabhoothaanaam hriddese, Arjuna,

thisthathi'---" O Arjuna, the Lord resides in the heart of all beings." Now,

after knowing that, how can you look down on any living being in contempt or

how can you revel in hating him or indulge in the pastime of ridiculing? Every

individual is charged with the Divine Presence, moved by Divine attributes.

Love, honour, friendliness -that is what each one deserves from you. Give these

in full measure.

The hard path to win Lord's Grace

The Grace of the Lord cannot be won by a little pretence of Vairagya

(non-attachment) or just a grain of Viveka (discrimination). Know and act;

realise and experience; that is the hard path. Surrender yourself to His Will.

Life is a great Yajna (Vedic ritual of sacrifice). Allow the Lord to preside

over it. Do not ignore Him. This is not a Bhoga-bhuumi (land of enjoyment), it

is Thyaagabhuumi, Yogabhuumi, Karmabhuumi (land of sacrifice, union with God,

and of devoted action). See how even the rain which threatened to pour on you

and disturb the gathering stood away. When 1 started from Whitefield some

people said, "There cannot be any meeting this evening; there will be heavy

rain at Bangalore also." I told them, "Never has rain interfered with the

meetings where I spoke." The clouds melted away in a refreshing gale, which

scattered on your sweet-smelling flowers from that row of trees that is all.

Have that love, that spirit of united work and prayer---and I assure you,

Raamaraajya (kingdom of Lord Rama) will establish itself again in this land.

Malleswaram, 16-4-1964

Listen to the primeval Pranava AUM resounding in your heart as well as in the

heart of the Universe - SHRI SATHYA SAI

18. UPANAYANAM

TODAY is Shankara Jayanthi---the day commemorating the advent of Sankaracharya

who came to restore Dharma; it is also the day on which Brahmopadesam

(instruction about Brahman) was given here for the boys sitting on this dais,

who have come from Bengal, Bombay Hyderabad and Bangalore. The Shankara

Jayanthi Day was chosen by Me for their initiation into the higher Aadhyaathmic

(Spiritual) Life, for Shankara is an inspiration even today for millions of

spiritual aspirants all over the world, who seek to know the Reality of the

Universe and its fundamental Unity. They had this lucky chance of getting

initiated here in My Presence by Me, as a result of their own good fortune.

The ceremony of Brahmopadesam is Upanayanam, which means, "taking near," taking

the young aspirant near Brahman, that is to say, introducing him to

Brahmajijnaasa (desire to know Brahman), the path of Brahman. It is one of the

Samskaaras (purificatory acts), rites which reconstruct the personality, reform

the mind, purify it and re-build it. It makes the person receiving it a Dwija (a

twice born)! The boy is born first into the world; now, he is born into the

Sadhak world. He becomes a Brahmachaari--a person who walks towards Brahman.

So, it is a very significant day in the lives of these people, a day they must

long remember with joy and thankfulness. It is the day when their hearts were

turned towards God; and they should try not to run away from God hereafter;

that is a great

responsibility.

Gayathri mantra is Universal prayer

The initiation was done by the Upadesh (instruction) of the Gayathri mantra. The

mantra (sacred formula) is a universal prayer that can be used by men of all

climes and creeds, for, it calls upon the Glorious Power that pervades the Sun

and the three worlds to arouse, awaken and strengthen the Intelligence, so that

it may lead to intense Sadhana and Sadhana may lead to success.

Every little moment or incident results in sound; only, you may not be able to

hear, because the range of your ear is limited. The falling of an eyelid over

the eye makes a sound, the dropping of dew on a petal makes a sound. Any little

agitation disturbing the calm is bound to produce sound. The sound caused by the

primal movement that resulted in the enveloping of Brahman by self-evolved

illusion is the Pranavasabdha or OM. The Gayathri is the elaboration of that

Pranava and so, it is now held so venerable that initiation into spiritual life

is achieved by its contemplation.

The sound of a Mantra is as valuable as its meaning. Even a poisonous cobra is

quietened by music; Naadham (sound), has that allaying property. The child in

the cradle stops wailing as soon as the lullaby is sung; it may not carry any

meaning; it may be a nonsensical rhyme or just a jingle, but, it quietens,

soothes the nerves and induces sleep. In the case of the Gayathri, the meaning

too is easy and profound. It does not ask for mercy or pardon; it asks for a

dear intellect, so that the Truth may be reflected therein correctly, without

any disfigurement.

Requisites of spiritual discipline

The Brahmachaari has vowed himself into a life of spiritual discipline. Now what

are the requisites for the discipline?

First: Faith, that can stand the ridicule of the ignorant, the cavilling by the

worldly, the laughter of the low-minded. When someone ridicules, you should

argue like this within yourself: Is he ridiculing my body? Well, he is doing

what I myself would wish to do; for, I too want to escape out of this

attachment of this body. Is he ridiculing the Aathma? Well, he is doing the

impossible, for, the Aathma is beyond the reach of words or thought; it is

unaffected by praise or blame. Say to yourself, "My Aathma thathwa (Principle

of the Self) is Nischala (immovable), it is Nirmala (pure)," and carry on.

Second: Do not worry about ups and downs, loss or gain, joy or grief. You are

yourself the maker of the ups and downs. If you but care, it can all be one

smooth level. You label something as loss and something else as gain. You crave

for a thing and when you get it, you call it joy; when you don't, you call it

grief. Cut the craving off, and there will be no more swinging from joy to

grief.

Third: Reason out and get convinced of the truth, Sarvam Brahmamayam (All is

Brahman). You know there are five elements or bhuuthas, which constitute, by

their permutations and combinations, the world called Prapancham, the

"Five-constituted." Prithivi or the Earth element has five qualities, the

maximum, and so, it is the grossest. It has its own special characteristic of

gandha (smell), as well as the characteristic of the other four, namely, sparsa

rasa, Rupa and sabda (touch, taste, form and sound). The next one Jala, the

water-element has only four, its own special one---taste and touch, form So it

is subtler than the Earth-element.

Agni is subtler still, because apart from its special characteristics of form,

it has only two others, sound and touch. Vayu, the Air-element has touch as its

special and one more quality, sound. Finally the lightest and subtlest of all

the five, Akasha, the Sky-element, has only one characteristic, its own,

namely, sabda. Now, God is subtler than even Akasha and so He is all-pervading,

even more than ether or anything more pervasive than that. His nature is beyond

all human vocabulary, beyond all human mathematics. Have this conviction well

stabilised in your intellect.

Establishment of Dharma by Adhi Shankara

Fourth: Be steady in spiritual practice, and never hesitate once you have

decided on it. When the bus is moving on, the dust will be floating behind as a

cloud: it is only when it stops with a jerk that the dust will envelop the faces

of the passengers. So, keep steadily engaged in the practice. Then, the cloudy

dust of the objective world will not cover your face.

Sankaracharya came to this world for the work of Dharmasthaapana (establishment

of righteousness), but he did not wage a war against the narrow sectarians or

the wild theologians who opposed him or the critics who condemned him as a

pseudo-Buddhist. He won them over by argument, persuasion and preaching. He

spoke softly, but, with conviction. He gave his opponents fair chances to

present their cases to the best of their ability and sometimes he even helped

them to clarify their own points of view. Through Bodha (knowledge) alone can

Dharma be saved in the modern Kali-age. That is why I am engaged in bodha

(imparting knowledge), in this task of re-constructing through Upadesh

(instruction).

When you scatter seeds on the surface of the soil, they do not germinate. You

have to keep them inside the soil. So too, bodha, if it is scattered on the

surface, it will not germinate, grow into the tree of knowledge and yield the

fruit of wisdom. Plant it in the heart, water the plant with divine love,

manure it with Faith and Courage, keep off pests with insecticides of Bhajan

(group singing of holy names) and sathsangha (company of the holy), so that you

can benefit in the end. You have not yet got started in Sadhana; still you

demand Shanthi; you demand Grace. How is it ever possible? Start! Then,

everything will be added unto you.

Ask for the right things

God gives you whatever you pray for; so, take care. Ask for the right things.

There was a man who had four wives; he happened to go to Bombay on some work

connected with his business. From there, he wrote to all of them that he was

prepared to bring home whatever each of them wanted. So, they all wrote to him

giving a list of things they wanted. The first wife asked for some nice tonics

for her health, and rugs and woolen clothing, to be of service whenever she

fell ill. The second wife wanted some sails of the latest style, choli pieces,

jewellery of the Bombay type and such other sundry decorative stuff. The third

asked him to select for her some religious books, the Jnaaneshwari, abhangs,

Bhakti Vijaya, etc., available in Bombay book-shops, as well as pictures of

Pandarinath, Bhavani, Sai Baba, etc. The fourth wife had no list at all; she

simply wrote, "If you return soon and safe, that is enough for me." She got

nothing but his love. The others got big packets containing whatever they had

written for. So think well, discriminate clearly before you ask, before you

pray.

I know how systematic you are all in eating and drinking. You take pretty good

care of the body. I do not condemn it; I only want that you should take equally

good care of the needs of the spirit also. Take a dose of Dhyanam (meditation)

and Japam (silent repetition of holy Names) as the morning breakfast; Pooja and

Archana (ritual worship) as Lunch at noon; some Sath-sangha (holy company) or

Sath-chinthana (thinking 'holy thoughts) or Sath-grantha paaraayana (reading of

holy books) or Naama likhitha (writing of holy Names) as afternoon tea and

snacks; an hour of Bhajan (devotional singing) as Dinner; and a small

ten-minute manana (reflection) as the cup of milk before going to bed. That

dietary is enough to keep your inner being happy and healthy. That is My advice

to you today.

Prashanthi Nilayam, 16-5-1964

There is in this world no austerity higher than fortitude, no happiness greater

than contentment, no Punya (good deed) holier than mercy, no weapon more

effective than patience. - SHRI SATHYA SAI

19. JIVA AND DEVA

WHEN you pour oil from one tin to another; the hand that pours must be steady

and the tin from which it is poured must not shake; nor, should the tin that

receives shake, for, that will also make the oil spill on the ground. You

should be nischalam (not moving); then only can you accept the Bodha (imparting

of knowledge) straight into your hearts.

Now, there are some who say that Jeevi will be Jeevi (individual soul) and Deva

will be Deva (God) and the two can never be the same or merge. If that was

true, then, what is the use of Japam, Dhyanam, Sath-karma (good deeds) and all

the other varieties of Sadhana (spiritual discipline) recommended by the

Sasthras and the sages? There is no doubt that Nara (man) can become Narayana

(God); 'thwam' (thou) can become 'Thath' (That). That is the doctrine of the

Upanishads and the experience of the saints.

Once a quarrel ensued between the Adhwaithin (non-dualist) who said that the

Jeevi (individual soul) is really God who falsely identifies himself with the

limited Name and Form, which he appears to have assumed, and the Dhwaithin

(dualist) who said that the Jeevi is distinct from the Deva. When the quarrel

boiled over, the Dhwaithin said, "See, even this dhobi knows that Adhwaithism

is wrong." The Adwaithin said that the dhobi too is subject to the Ajnaana, the

delusion that he is the limited Upaadhi (adjunct) of name and form, which are

but temporary adjuncts of the personality. The knowledge of the kshethra and

the Kshethrajna will alone help to overcome that delusion. Kshethra is the

field, the field of the senses, the field of the dualities, and the

Kshethrajna is he who knows the field and is its Master.

Human body is "God's temple"

Every word used in philosophy and even in common parlance has a deep meaning,

full of significance. Dhehi which means, liable to be burnt, is the word for

body; not merely because it is consumed by fire after the, praana (life) has

left, but because even when alive, man is consumed by the fire of Thaapathraya

(threefold suffering caused by oneself nature and fate). Sareeram, which is

another word for the body, also comes from the root, meaning that which is

consumed.

The Deha (body) is called a Dhevaalayam (God's temple) for the Jeevi (individual

soul) which is the Deva (God). The architectural temple has three parts; the

Praakaaram (the outer temple), the inner temple and the shrine or Garbhagriha

(sanctum sanctorum). These three represent the sthuula, the suukshma and the

kaarana sareera (the gross, the Subtle and the causal body) of man; when you go

to a temple, you should remember this symbolism. Prakriti is a word that is used

to indicate condition of the body, the svabhaava (one's nature) of the body.

Well, this Prakriti or Nature is also just svabhaava of the Lord,' his Sankalpa

(Will), a manner of His manifestation. All this is, as Kasturi said in his

speech, while quoting some experiences of Bhaktas,

"His Hands and Feet, His manifestation." That is why it is said that Sarvam is Brahmamayam.

A yogi had an attack of gastritis and his comrades and co-Sadhaks gathered round

him to advise him on the treatment. One man suggested that he should always keep

some salt in his mouth and swallow the saliva. He did so and was having always

salt in the mouth. A few days later, he wanted to distribute some sweets to the

children around his ashram, but, whichever item he tasted, he found it not sweet

enough. At last, one sweets-vendor asked him to spit out what he had in his

mouth and gargle his throat and wash his mouth and then taste the sweets. That

made them taste quite nice. With all this salt taste accumulated through many

births on your tongue, how can you discover the true sweetness of the Lord?

Keep intellect free from prejudices

At one of the railway stations of North India, when a thirsty passenger asked

the waterman whether the skin-bag from which he was pouring water into his cup

was clean enough, the waterman replied, "The bag I have is cleaner than the

bag, into which the water is being poured by you." Keep your mind clean of

Vaasanas (tendencies caused by past deeds), your intellect free from

prejudices, your character free from blemishes, your behavior free from

rudeness-- then, you can attach yourself to God and God too will favour you

with His affection. With just a little paint and a piece of white paper, the

painter can draw a frightening picture of a demon, or a charming picture of a

smiling baby or an inspiring picture of a yogi meditating on the Absolute. All

those different reactions are the result of the combinations of colours; the

basic reality is

just colour. So too in the picture house, the screen is the stable substance,

the shadows come and go. When the picture is being flashed on the screen, the

screen is not noticed; it is the base, the foundation, the whole of it has

become the picture. Sarvam Vishnu Mayam Jagath (All this Universe is pervaded

by Lord Vishnu).

Every one calls himself "I," is it not? Now, who gave that possession? Was it

any company? Or, did you get it as part of the dowry? Or, from the rulers? Or

from some Organisation? You say it is your birthright; well, let it be so. That

'T' is the entity which is posited as Brahman in the Mahaavaakya (great Vedic

dictum), 'Aham Brahmaasmi,' I am Brahman.

See the divine in the sense-impressions

When the One became many, when the One manifests as Prakriti composed of the

Five Elements, do not imagine that its value is affected thereby. When a rupee

is changed into tennaya paise coins, its value is not decreased at all. So, see

Nature as Supreme Soul, not as multiplicity of sense-impressions and

sense-attractions. Wherever your eye turns, whatever your ears hear, your

fingers touch, your tongue tastes, and your nose smells, whatever has form,

sound, touch, taste and smell, take that also to be God-filled. Do not allow

the mere sound, the mere taste, etc. to captivate your senses. See the divine

in each, welcome and accept only that.

When Tukaram was asked how man can keep this monkey-mind from running after

sensuous pleasures, he replied to the enquirer, "Let the monkey run; you keep

quiet where you are; do not let the body go along with the monkey-mind." Tell

the mind, "I shall not give you the body as your servant." Then, the mind will

desist and it can be defeated. Just as there is a method to be followed even in

pulling down a house, there is a method to be followed even in pulling down the

complex structure of the mind.

You can become Master of yourself

The mind can be pulled down by systematic efforts and you can become master of

yourself. You might ask, can such a mighty force come down? Well. When We were

nearing Rishikesh on our way back from Badri, Governor Ramakrishna Rao also

asked Me the same question. I asked every one to come beyond a certain point on

the road in a matter of minutes. Everyone was surprised that I was ordering them

to get down from the cars and buses and scurry forward in hot haste. I told the

Governor that the projecting rock on the mountain by the side of the road will

slide very soon on the road and block it. He asked Me "Is it possible?" Within

a few minutes, after every one had come forward to a safe distance, the rocks

fell and the road was blocked for a long time, until debris was cleared.

The ladder must be as tall as the height to which you want to climb, is it not?

Your spiritual practice to curb the mind must be carried on step by step until

Saakshaathkaaram (Realisation) is gained. The rice in the pot must be well

boiled and become soft and sweet. Until that happens, the fire must burn. In

the vessel of 'body,' with the water, that is to say the 'senses,' boil the

mind and make it soft. The fire is the Sadhana. Keep it burning bright; the

Jiva will at last become Deva.

Prashanthi Nilayam, 17-5-1964

20. THE GURU IS THE GUIDE

THIS day is called Vyasa Poornima, holy day, which must be celebrated with the

prayer and contrition which alone can cleanse the heart, and not by feasting or

fasting, which affect only the body. The fact that Sage Vyasa is associated with

this day or that Lord Rama or Krishna is connected with some other day is merely

an opportunity to mark the day as outstandingly important, when something holy

has to be done. It is full moon today, when the moon shines, without any let or

hindrance, when moonlight is bright and cool and full. The mind of man is

compared to the moon, for it is as wayward as the moon with its swing from

brightness to darkness; this day, the mind too has to be bright, effulgent and

cool.

Vyasa was born with a great urge for spiritual uplift and he entered into deep

study and Sadhana, even as a child. He acquired such divine wisdom and glory

that he is identified with Narayana Himself. He stands out as the Lokaguru

(World Teacher) for he codified the Vedic hymns, and prepared the great

Vedhaanthic text of Brahmasuuthra, besides the epic commentaries of the

Vedha-vedhaantha (teachings based on Upanishadhic philosophies) for the people

whom he loved to educate, commentaries named the Mahabharata and the Srimad

Bhagavatham.

You have to traverse the path

He is called Vedha-Vyaasa because of his service to the students of the Vedas,

which defied understanding, since they were countless and fathomless: Anantho

vai Vedhaah. He composed also the eighteen Puranas, on the various Naamaruupas

(Names and Forms) of the same Godhead, Puraanas, which are text-books and

illustrative descriptions of moral codes, historical episodes, philosophical

principles and social ideals. Vyasa sought to bring home, through the Puranas,

the need for mastering egoistic impulses, as the Sloka says, Ashtaa dasha

puraaneshu

Vyaasaaya vachana dwayam;

Paropakaara punyaaya

Paapaaya para peedanam.

"Two statements can summarize all the eighteen Puranas composed by Vyasa. Do

good to others; avoid doing harm," says the hymn. Doing good is the drug;

avoiding harm is the regimen that must accompany the treatment. That is the

cure for the disease of suffering from joy and grief, honour and dishonor,

prosperity and adversity, and the dual throng, that bothers man and deprives

him of equanimity.

Vyasa is the Lokaguru: he is Divine Effulgence. Even Vyasa can only show you the

road. YOU have to traverse it alone. He gives you a mantra (a sacred word or

formula), which you repeat; though you may not know its meaning, it will act as

the purifier of your mind. When a ryot has to get something done for him by the

Collector, he goes to a lawyer, who knows how it has to be asked for', he

writes it out in English, and gives it to him as a typed sheet, which the ryot

presents to the Collector. He does not know what is written or its meaning but

it does the work because it has come from the brain and the experience of a man

who is his Guru for the purpose. The Lord is kinder than any human officer and

far more eager. He takes on the roles which will save the devotee from harm, as

he did to help Sakkubai.

Make the offerings without egoism

There was a devotee who felt that Seetha was his sister and Rama his

brother-in-law; he loved Rama as Krishna loved Arjuna! He came to know that

Seetha had gone into the forest following Rama in exile; he imagined the

distress she must be suffering, for want of sandals in the thorn infested

jungle paths and of a cot in the snake-infested depths of the forests. So, he

went about in the jungle, with a pair of sandals and a cot, calling out,

"Sister! Seetha!" long after his throat had turned hoarse. This happened a few

decades ago. He took the Ramayana as a contemporary event.

Rama appeared before him and consoled him. He fell before Him and prayed that He

should accept the sandals and cot from him and use them, pleading that Seetha

cannot walk on the hard thorny ground, or rather, that he would not be happy

until she used them. "My dear brother- in-law," he addressed Rama fondly. Rama

accepted them and asked him to leave happily. The Lord gladly accepts offerings

that are made with no defilement of egoism. If you feel proud or conceited, he

will reject even the most fragrant flowers placed at the Feet of the Lord as

unbearably stinking.

Man is a mixture of dhaiva, dhaanava and Manava, (god, demon and man). The

wickedness of the ogre can be overcome by Dhaya (the quality of mercy and

charity), of sympathy and fellow feeling; the pride of the god can be overcome

by dhama (self-control), detachment, renunciation; the egoism of man can be

overcome by following dharma prescribed by the impartial sages who have been

purified by thapas (penance), and by canalizing the instincts and impulses into

fruitful fields. When these three are thus sublimated, Manava (man) is

transformed into Madhava (God). Each one must take up this process of

purification, by discovering his faults and failings and realise the road to

success.

Krishna moved by devotion of Bhishma

One morning, Dharmaraja went to Krishna, in order to pay homage. He found

Krishna seated in the padmaasana (lotus seat) pose, meditating deeply, with

teardrops rolling over His cheeks. Dharmaraja wondered whom He was meditating

upon. At last, when Krishna opened His eyes he dared ask Him the question and

Krishna replied that He was exulting over the devotion of a great soul towards

Him. He said that it was no other than Bhishma, whose mind was intently fixed

on Him even while he was on the bed of arrows. It is not enough if you claim to

be a Bhakta; the Lord must acknowledge it and exult over it, as Krishna did,

when He was lost in admiration over the steadfastness of Bhishma.

Vyasa composed the Mahabharata, also called Jaya (victory) with its galaxy of

great persons, like Bhishma, Bheema, Arjuna, Vidura, Dharmaraja, Draupadi,

Kunti, all revolving around the divine Krishna. This epic will remove the

darkness of ignorance, the pettiness of selfishness, the cowardice of

separation from the hearts of men. So, the title of Lokaguru for Vyasa is very

apt. He is extolled as Vishnu, sans Sankha (conch) and Chakra (discus);

Shankara (Shiva), sans the three eyes; and Brahma (the Creator) sans the four

heads. You must make the best use of this Guru, as you must, of this

Puttaparthi itself. You must acquire here the skills for winning Shanthi and

santhosha (peace of mind and bliss), the grace of God, the lessons of Sadhana,

the fruits of Satsang (company of holy men);

do not fritter away your energy and time, seeking sensory satisfaction in ungodly company.

You pray, not for grace, but for petty impermanent pleasures; you do not try to

know the ordinances of God and decide to follow them. Look at Dhruva. He

started his penance, with the low aim of getting mastery over his stepmother's

son; but as he progressed, he saw that he could get something far higher than

even imperial honors, namely, the grace of God. Learn to appreciate the Aathma

(Divine Self) and to detach your mind from that which is not Aathma. Become

wise and discriminating.

Leave everything to the Guru

When I was in the previous body at Shirdi, there was a woman named Raadhabhai

who yearned to get a Manthropadhesha (inflated into a sacred word or formula)

from me. That day was also Vyasa Poornima. She was so anxious to get a Naamam

(Name) that she refused to take even food until she got it. Three days passed

like this, but Baba did not yield. At last, Shyama who was with the previous

body spoke about her and pleaded for her and feared that she might even die of

hunger. He said that if she died, it would be poor reflection on the

broad-mindedness for which Baba was known. Raadhabhai was brought to the place

in a weak condition. Baba asked her to go to some Guru and get initiated into

the name; she said, "I know of no other." Baba asked her the meaning of the

Sloka "Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru Dhevo Maheshwarah,

Gurusaakshath param Brahma Tasmai Shri Guruve namah." He asked her, "Why not

take the Guru's name, then? Why demand another name from the Guru? If the Guru

is God, obeying His orders, walking in the path He has shown, these are as

effective as the Japam (repetition) of the name."

You are judged by your words

Once you have secured a Guru, leave everything to him, even the desire to

achieve liberation. He knows you more than you yourself ever can. He will

direct you as much as is good for you. Your duty is only to obey and to smother

the tendency to drift away from Him. You may ask, how are we to earn our food,

if we attach ourselves to a Guru like this? Be convinced that the Lord will not

let you starve; He will give you not merely money but even Amrita, not only food

but the nectar of immortality.

Become immersed in the sweetness of the Name on your tongue. That will render

your words also sweet and soft. By your words, will you be judged. A Maharaja

out hunting happened to ride far forward, so that his retinue could not catch

up with him. He saw a blind man by the jungle road and so he accosted him,

"Hallo, dear man. Did you notice any one passing along?" The blind man said

"No." Then, after a few minutes, the minister came along and asked the same

man, "Hey brother! Did you notice any one passing along?" and got the same

answer. The commander when he saw him asked "Here, you fool! Did you notice

some one passing along?" and a soldier who came last shouted, "You blind

rotter, open your dirty mouth and tell me whether any one passed this way." At

last when the priest of the court came along and said, "Dear brother, please

tell me whether any one

passed this way," he could reply that a king, a minister, a commander and a

soldier had passed and had asked him the same question. For their style of

speech, revealed their status and character.

If you have Dhaya, dhama and dharma (sympathy, self-control and righteousness),

that will take you beyond the realm of the three Gunas (qualities of the mind);

there is no need then for getting a Nama (Name) from the Guru and repeating it.

The aajna (command) of the Guru or the Lord is even more important than the

Name of the Guru or the Name of the Lord. Of what use is the repetition of the

Name, without at the same time purifying the impulses by the observance of His

commands.

Prashanthi Nilayam, 24-7-1964

Maya itself has caused multifarious forms. This is a clever stage-play, a kind

of fancy dress. The objective world or Nature assumes many forms through the

manipulation of Maya, the eluding urge. - Shri Sathya Sai

TO BE CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brothers – ‘’

Source and Courtesy: http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume04/sss04

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