SATHYA SAI SPEAKS - Volume IV [Ch. 21, 22, 23, 24]

[Guest guest]

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 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 to 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. 21, 22, 23, 24]

21. SRAVANA AND SMARANA

THE first among the nine forms of devotion is sravana (hearing) and today, we

have installed here at the Prashanthi Nilayam this instrument for sravana,

namely, the telephone. I am used to hearing not the talk that comes through

this instrument, but the cries of agony; the call of pining hearts hungering

for grace. Still since it gladdens the hearts of devotees and I am never

against anything that makes them glad and full-hearted, I have agreed for this

installation. Just now, sitting in this hall, on this chair, you heard Me speak

to Kanjilal at New Delhi and only he and I know how happy he is at the present

moment, for he was able to speak to Baba direct and to hear My voice, while in

his own house.

Just see how this telephone itself came to be installed. The engineering staff

was working day and night to fix it, but heavy rains interfered and even this

noon, they were afraid that a connection with Delhi had become next to

impossible. I had fixed the time as 5-30; but they pleaded with Me to postpone

My coming into the hall for a few minutes at least, so that they could make

sure that Delhi was coming through fine and clear. I said that we could speak

to Delhi later, if they felt that would be better.

Sravana can transform the individual

But, you saw how, as soon as I sat on this chair, Kanjilal could be heard

clearly and I could inaugurate the service. It is given to these men who are

here today to share in this achievement and this joy; they have the luck, the

chance. Many times, people search far and wide for a groom for their daughter;

but all the while, the young man might be in the neighboring house itself. The

engineers may say that they only did their duty and they might not look for any

gratitude; but I am sure, you will thank them for the service they rendered, in

these rains and under high pressure of work.

Sravana, heating the voice of God, hearing about God, these are important events

in life, events that transform the individual. Arjuna "heard" the Bhagavad

Geetha; Pareekshit "heard" the Bhagavatham; both were liberated from bondage

thereby. In the Mahabharata, Karna, meaning the Ear (!) is the most outstanding

character; it is called Karnarasaayana, (sweet medicine to be "heard") and

assimilated into daily life. The Sabda (Sound), the Pranava (Om) are all very

important keys to bliss; the Vedas are to be "heard" and "recited." They are

Shruti, which was heard, in moments of supraconscious ecstasy, by purified

scholars doing Sadhana. I am reminded of all this in the presence of this

contrivance for Doora-sravana, hearing people who are far away.

Bhagavatham-sravana (listening to Bhagavatham) leads to Bhaagavatha-smarana (the

constant remembrance of the Lord), and detachment from the ties of the objective

world. There was famous dacoit once who advised his son while initiating him

into the ancestral profession, never for a moment listen to stories of the

Lord. "Do not stay to listen to any Purana (mythological stories) or any

reading of the Bhagavatham," (tales of incarnations of Vishnu), he exhorted the

young aspirant. The son scrupulously observed this injunction for years and

amassed a good fortune.

Effect of hearing the Bhagavatham

One night, however, while running with his loot on his shoulder through a side

lane of the city to avoid the police, a piece of glass cut into his sole; he

sat for a while to pull it off and stop the flow of blood. He was then behind a

house, where some one was reading and explaining the Bhagavatham to a small

group of listeners; he listened perforce for a short two minutes. The spark

fell on the heap of cotton. During that short period, he heard the Pundit

explaining the nature of God. He has no ears, no eyes, no limbs; He has a

thousand forms; He is without form. "Sarvathah paani-paadham," (with hands and

feet every here) as the Geetha says. That description got fixed in his heart.

He could not shake it.

A few days later the police came to know of the depredations made by him as well

as his associates and kinsmen. In order to know more about their activities they

entered the area incognito, one constable as Goddess Kali and some others as the

worshippers and priests. They shouted and yelled, cursed and terrified the

dacoits and called upon them to come out of their homes and fall at the feet of

Kali.

Many did so, but the son who heard the Bhagavatham albeit for two minutes knew

just enough to save his skin. He was not terrified at all. He challenged the

constable who was acting the role of Kaali and tore off his makeup and exposed

the plot and instilled courage into the hearts of the gang. Then, when the

police left discomfited he argued within himself thus: "If two minutes of the

forbidden fruit could help me so much, what can I not gain if I devote myself

entirely to the stories of the glories of God?" He left off the evil path and

became a Sadhak (spiritual practitioner).

Tongue is man's biggest weapon of offence

The grace of God descends upon the eager Sadhak, who listens attentively to the

story of that grace. The name of God, if recited with love and faith, has that

power. Once the mother of Agastya boasted that her son drank all the waters of

the ocean; but the mother of Hanuman, who was there, said: "Why go to that

extent? My son leaped over it in a trice." But there was the mother of Raama

with them. She said, "Your son leaped over the ocean, uttering my son's name.

Without it, he was helpless." The name has that overmastering power. It can

award unheard of, unimagined strength and courage. The other two women disputed

the fact that it was Rama Nama that strengthened Hanuman for the enterprise. So,

Kausalya asked Rama Himself. He said, "Why, it was because this body was called

Rama, the name that combines the beejaaksharas (mystic letters) of

both Shiva and Vishnu, that I Myself was able to conquer Ravana and his hordes!"

The name has much efficacy. By repeating the name, the Lord and His attributes

can be easily identified. The tongue must be sanctified by the repetition of

the name. It has also to use sweet expressions which will spread contentment

and joy. Be very careful about your speech. Animals have horns, insects have

stings and beasts have claws and fangs. But, man's biggest weapon of offence is

his tongue. The wounds that his tongue inflicts can scarce be healed; they

fester in the heart for long. They are capable of more damage than even an atom

bomb.

When Bheema went to bring the Saugandhika flower for his beloved, he saw Hanuman

with his tail lying across the road. Bheema talked rudely to Hanuman, ordering

him to remove the tail, for he thought it mean to walk over some one else's

appendage. The rudeness made Hanuman refuse the demand and so, Bheema was

humiliated for he could not lift the tail and set it aside. He learned the need

for politeness in conversation.

Speak so that your language is as sweet as your feelings are. Make the words

true and pleasing. (Sathyam broth; priyam brooyath). But, for the sake of

pleasing another, do not speak falsehood or exaggerate. Cynicism, which leads

you to speak about a thing in a carping manner and in order to bring it into

disrepute, is as bad as flattery, which makes you exaggerate and cross the

boundaries of truth.

Bliss is man's native character

You can give Ananda by your speech, only if you have attained the state of

Ananda yourself. A lamp burning under a pot with five holes: that is the symbol

of man, who has the Flame of Wisdom shining through five senses. Cover the pot

with a thick cloth and no light emerges. The cloth is the cover of Ajnaana

(ignorance), of thamas (inaction). Remove it; it shines feebly through the

senses, that is the symbol of rajas (passion and activity). Remove the pot

itself, that is to say, remove the identification with the body, (the

dhehaathma-buddhi); then the Aathma Jyothi (light of the Sell) shines full and

bright. The Jyothi or Ananda (Divine light or Divine Bliss) is ever there but,

the pot and the cloth obstructed it. Ananda is your native character, your real

stamp, your very reality.

The patient must himself drink the drug. There is no vicarious cure. The balm

must be applied where the pain is. The cause of the illness and of the misery

is in your mental vision, for, you see many, when there is only One. You say

"My God,Their God,Your Baba," as if there are so many Gods existing to

help you quarrel and right among yourselves' Ask the Lord for the removal of

your earthly troubles; there is no mistake in that. It is much better than

asking other men, and losing self-respect and honour. For the sake of votes,

people catch hold of the feet of all and sundry; if they fall at the feet of

the Lord, that will bring them more votes, for the people will plead with Him

to lead them as a great servant of God.

Communicate from heart to heart

You can call Me on the phone, but I will not be available for all those who do

not have the sincere and steady yearning for the Lord. For those who say "No!

You are not my Lord," I say "No." For those who say, "Yes," I too echo "Yes."

If I am available in your heart, I will be available over the phone. But,

remember, I have My own special postal and telephone systems. They operate from

the heart straight to the heart. There are rules and regulations for the

operation of that system, which the Sasthras (scriptures) declare. You can find

them there. I am glad that devotees have today acquired this new convenience at

Prashanthi Nilayam.

Prashanthi Nilayam, 29-7-1964

Difficulties are created to increase the yearning and to sift the sincere

devotee from the rest. - SHRI SATHYA SAI

22. ELIMINATE THE EGO

IT is indeed a piece of good fortune that you have been able to hear, in the

midst of the many worldly worries that engross you, the valuable teachings of

the ancient scriptures of this land, from these great Pundits. This is what

really confers lasting happiness. In the land which once cultivated these great

ideals, weeds and thorny bushes have over-run the fields and with the decline of

spiritual enthusiasm, enmity, factions, injustice and falsehood have grown wild.

Indian religion and culture have treasured many folkways and customs that

enshrine the lessons laid down by yogis and Rishis for the good of the

community. They are called samskaras, (purificatory acts), acts which sublimate

the baser emotions and impulses; there are 48 of these mentioned in the

Sasthras, but, of these, 16 are essential for the individual who

strives for the higher destiny.

These have been neglected by society, since many decades, on account of a mad

infatuation for the ways of the ruling race, which had come from the west.

Their language slowly modified habits of living and even thinking; their dress

which was adopted, changed outlooks and modes of living; their games and

recreations transformed the ways in which Indians spend their leisure; their

culture percolated into every field of activity and Indian culture is faced,

even after the recovery of national independence, with a great danger to its

continuity.

Discard all low desires

Of course, there is no need to feel unduly depressed. One has only to recognise

ignorance, in order to make it vanish. One has only to know one-self in order

to contact the springs of Bliss and Immortality and of kinship with all beings.

In Sanskrit, the individual is known as Vyakthi, because he has to make his

innate divinity vyaktha (explicit). That is your reality; discover it, dwell in

it, desire to divulge it. Discard all low desires for a few acres of land, or a

fat account in the bank, or a few more bungalows or cars or radios; desire

rather the joy that will never fade, that will never cloy, deep, steady and

strength-giving, the joy of Divine Realisation.

Discover your holiness, your divinity, your truth. You may have doubts, which is

dharma (right conduct), which is Sathya (truth), which is Prema (Divine love),

etc.; I admit; but, you can have no doubt about yourself, is it not? So, find

out who you are and be fixed in that truth. That is enough to save you, to give

you everlasting joy. That is why the Vedas and the Upanishads teach, what the

sages and the saints experienced, what these Pundits (scholars) remind you in

their discourses.

Remember the God in whom you move, the God who makes you move, the God who is

all this vast universe, every atom, every huge star. Select some Name and Form

for this all-pervasive immanent God and keep those on your tongue and before

your mental eye. That is what is called japasahitha Dhyanam

(meditation-cum-recitation of the Name).

Discover the truth in silence

You are now more interested in listening to film-songs on the transistor radios,

which you carry, round your necks. A villager came to Madras recently and his

educated son-in-law went to the railway station to meet him and take him home.

While they were proceeding homewards in a taxi, the father-in-law asked the

son-in-law a rather strange question: "How much do the barbers here charge per

shave?" The son-in-law was amazed at his curiosity; he asked why he was so

eager to know this particular fact, more than anything else. The villager

replied, "I saw a few barbers going along the road now; they are all wearing

rich clothes, and they are carrying their equipment not in tin boxes as our

village barbers do, but, in fine shiny leather boxes." The old man had seen

people carrying these transistor radios. People miss a very valuable thing if

they do not

listen in, even while they are moving about or resting in the park or beach!

They are afraid of being alone; they avoid silence as something detestable!

But, you can discover your own truth only when you are alone with yourself and

there is silence all around you.

Justice Sadhaashivam said now that he had seen huge gatherings of eager

listeners at religious meetings like this and so, he was led to the conclusion

that atheism is not gaining ground in this country. The gatherings are

certainly large but they are not very encouraging if you consider what a small

percentage actually pay attention and of those who attend, what a small

percentage cherish the teaching in the heart and strive to regulate their lives

accordingly.

As a matter of fact, there are no atheists at all but, only ignorant people.

They do not know that God is their innermost core. They deny God because they

do not know that their very breath is God. It is like fish denying the

existence of water. You have to pity them for their colossal ignorance, not get

angry with them for saying things you do not like. God dwells in you as Ananda

(divine bliss); that is why you seek Ananda automatically, always, in every

object around you. To become as full of Ananda as Radha (the consort of Lord

Krishna) or as Ramakrishna Paramahamsa or as Vivekananda, you have to sacrifice

your ego and saturate yourself with the consciousness that the Lord is your very

being.

Krishna and Anjaneya

You must have heard many stories of garvabhangam--the suppression of conceit or

egoism by the Lord. One day, Anjaneya appeared in a garden on the outskirts of

Dwarka (abode of Lord Krishna). Krishna who heard about the pranks of the

strange monkey, directed Garuda to proceed and scare the animal out of the city

limits. Garuda failed, even though the later took the entire army with him for

the fray. His pride was humbled. Krishna sent a message through him to the

monkey, who had declared himself as Anjaneya that he should deign to come to

Krishna's court. But, Anjaneya recognised only Rama and would obey only the

orders of Rama. So, Krishna had to send another message that Rama was calling

him to His audience hall! Devotion compels the Lord to yield to the whims of

His servants. Anjaneya hurried to see Rama and Krishna gave him the

Darshan of Rama Himself. Sathyabhaama had offered to change herself into Seetha

and when she stood by the side of Rama, Anjaneya could not recognise in that

form his Seetha. He was bewildered at this apparition. He asked Krishna, "O

Lord Rama! Where is my Seetha? Who is this substitute?" Thus, the Lord broke

the conceit of Sathyabhaama. He then asked Rukmini (Krishna's consort) to come

forward and Anjaneya immediately saw in her the Seetha he adored.

So long as you have a trace of ego in you, you cannot see the Lord clearly. That

is the thera (curtain), which Saint Thyagaraja prayed Lord Venkateswara to

remove from his mind. Egoism will be destroyed if you constantly tell yourself,

'It is He, not I.' 'He is the force, I am but the instrument.' Keep His Name

always on the tongue; contemplate His glory whenever you see or hear anything

beautiful or grand; see in every one the Lord Himself moving in that form. Do

not talk evil of others, see only good in them. Welcome every chance to help

others, to console others, to encourage others along the spiritual path. Be

humble; do not become proud of your wealth, status, authority, learning or

caste. Dedicate all your physical possessions and mental skills and

intellectual attainments to the service of the Lord and to the Lord's manifold

manifestations.

Prashanthi Vidwanmahaasabha (Madras), Inauguration by Shri M. Bhakthavatsalam,

President: Mr. Justice Sadhaashivam, 13-8-1964

Mother is Love. Worship the mother as God. Father is Truth. Worship the father

as God. SHRI SATHYA SAI

23. THE RAIN CLOUDS

FOR the last two hours, you were fully immersed in the Ananda of Krishnathathwa

(Reality of Krishna) and of Vedhasaara (essence of Veda), which are both the

same. How grand it would be if all the moments of life you were imbibing this

Ananda undisturbed! Iyengar spoke on Krishna-thrishna, the thirst for Krishna!

What an appropriate word, that! The thirst for worldly goods can never be

allayed; trying to satisfy it makes it only more acute. Drinking salt water,

which is the objective world, can never quench thirst. Human desire is

illimitable, without end. It makes you pursue the mirage in the desert; it

makes you build castles in the air; it breeds discontent and despair once you

succumb to it. But, develop the thirst for Krishna, you discover the cool

spring of Ananda within you. Krishna Nama (name) makes

you strong and steady; it is sweet and sustaining.

Gouranga, the great example of this thirst, is so called because his heart was

so pure that it had no touch of blemish at all. He is called Krishna Chaitanya,

because he lost his Chaitanya, that is, became unconscious of the world outside

him, when he heard the name Krishna and became Krishna conscious!

Yearning of Gopis for Krishna

Look at the Gopis (milk maids of Gokulam) and their yearning for the Lord! They

never swerved from the path of Bhakti, of continuous smarana (remembrance) of

the Lord. When in pain you shout "Ayyo, appa or amma"; but the Gopis always

called on Krishna only, whether in joy or in grief. A Gopi was moving along the

streets of. Brindavan selling butter and ghee and milk; but she was not crying

aloud the names of her ware; she was calling aloud the names of Krishna:

"Govinda! Dhamodhara! Madhava!" The Gopis forgot the very purpose of their

visit to Brindavan, their very livelihood, their task of selling and earning.

They stood watching Krishna, running along with a hoop and ignoring all else,

they ran behind him with a ball of butter in the hand, offering it

to the Divine child who had captured their hearts, calling on Him to receive the

gift; "Govinda!" Dhamodhara! Madhava!"

When one of them was rolling on the ground in terrible anguish at the separation

from Krishna, they sat around her and instead of assuaging her grief by turning

her thoughts away from Krishna, they augmented it because they themselves could

not think of any other subject to talk to her than Krishna's glory and Krishna's

Prema! They sat around and sang, "Govinda! Dhamodhara! Madhava!" Whoever has the

thirst, Krishna will quench it; whoever calls on Him in the agony of that

thirst, Krishna, the rain-cloud, will answer that call and appear. You can

understand Radha (Krishna's consort) only if you can fathom the depth of that

thirst. Radha believed that Krishna is the Aadhar (basis); she did aaradh

(worship) to Krishna in a continuous dhaara (stream); in fact, she is Dhaara or

Prakriti, which is another form of the Lord or

Purusha Himself. How can those who are full of evil tendencies and impulses grasp that relationship?

In this Kaliyuga, the principle of Prema (Divine Love) is not in evidence. It is

smothered in jealousy, conceit, hatred, fear, falsehood and greed. That is why

it is best referred to as the kalaha-yuga (the age of faction), marked by

fights between mother and daughter, father and son, teacher and pupil, guru and

guru, brother and brother. The recitation of the name of Krishna is the best

method for cleansing the mind of all these evil impulses.

You may ask, "If we engage ourselves in this pastime, how can we earn our

livelihood?" Well, let me assure you, if you have pure and steady faith in the

Lord, He will provide for you, not merely food, but the nectar of immortality.

You have that mighty potentiality in you, to discover the Lord within and

compel Him to grant you that nectar.

Make the thirst for Krishna grow in you

When you say that Krishna was born in Gokulam, then. He grew up in Brindavan

that He ruled over Mathura and that He later reigned at Dwarka, what do those

statements signify? The manas (mind) is the Gokulam! where He was born (where

He is born even now to whoever takes the spiritual path); the heart is the

Brindavan where He grows, where Prema (divine love) for Him develops; the Chith

is the Mathura which He rules over and the Nirvikalpa stage is Dwarka where He

installs Himself, as the reigning monarch. Make the Krishna-thrishna (thirst

for Krishna) grow through these stages and you will be saving yourself! You

will be joining the ranks of Radha, Meera and Sakkubai (devotees of Lord

Krishna).

Once upon a time, we used to hear of three famous names Lal, Bal and Pal; they

were famous in the days of the national struggle. But many do not know now who

they were. At least, Lal and Pal have disappeared from the memory of the

people; a large percentage of even educated persons will flounder if you ask

them who Lal and Pal were. Bal, meaning Bala Gangaadhara Thilak, is still known

to many, because he has made a contribution to spiritual knowledge, being a

Sadhak himself and a good student of Geetha for which he wrote a commentary.

So, Sadhana alone makes life worthwhile; the rest is mostly froth or fake or

failure, flashes of the moment.

Three principles to guide you

The mind must become bhakthimaya (saturated with devotion to God); the

intelligence must be transformed into jnaana-dheepthi (the splendor of

universal wisdom), or Jnaana (Divine Knowledge); the body must be a willing and

efficient instrument for saddharmacharana, (the practice of righteousness). Such

a life is indeed the crown and glory of humanity. The rest are contaminated,

contained, caged lives!

There is no use asking a doctor to advise you about the plans for the building

you propose to raise; nor is it wise to ask the engineer for a balm to assuage

pain. Go to the proper Guru and learn from him about at least three principles

to guide your lives.

(1) Dharma: What is dharma, why should it be followed, what does it allow, what

does it condemn, etc.?---These have to be clearly known. The Geetha is the best

text on Dharma: the first word in it is dharma and the last word is mama (mine).

So, it teaches each student what exactly he should consider as "the dharma,

which is mine!" Each one must evolve his own dharma based on Aathmadharma, the

faith that the Aathma (soul) is his true reality.

(2) Bhakti: Bhakti (devotion) is like a king, who has two aides-de-camp called

Jnaana (divine knowledge) and Vairagya (non-attachment). Without these two

bodyguards, Bhakti is never secure or safe. Bhakti must be built upon the

foundation of Jnaana; it must flower as "detachment from the world." The Jnani

is the sthitha-prajna (unmoved by agitating feelings and emotions), unshaken by

the storms of fortune, good or bad; the Vairagya (the detached), is the person

who has rid himself of the three Gunas (qualities of the mind); and the Bhakta

(devotee) is he who is all Prema (Love). Bhakti, Jnaana and Vairagya are three

peaks of the same Himalayan range. Prema creates Dhaya (compassion); Vairagya

induces dhama (tolerance); and,

Jnaana leads you along the path of dharma.

Put out the fire raging within you

(3) Sadhana: When the house catches fire, you run about in desperate haste to

get succor and to put out the flames; but, you do not realise that the fire

raging inside you is even more devastating and devouring. You must take up the

duty of fire fighting in right earnest and never rest until the flames are put

out. Start the fight right now. Start serving your parents, your teachers, the

elders, the poor, the diseased, the distressed. Do not foster factions and

divisions. Promote love, concord, co-operation, brotherliness. Do not look upon

people as belonging to this state or that; all are in the state of bondage to

the senses, to the objective world. Join the company of the good, the striving,

the yearning Sadhaks and you will soon reach the stage of peace within and

harmony without.

Madras, 14-8-1964

24. THE SANDALWOOD TREE

THE importance which Sanathana culture (unchanging truth) gives to dharma was

explained to you by the Pundit; he outlined some of the main principles of that

subtle ideal. Dharma (righteousness) is the feet and Moksha (Realisation) the

head of the human community, while the other two purushaarthas---Artha (wealth)

and Kama (desire)---form the trunk and limbs. Now, feet and head are ignored and

the other two reckoned as vital. That is the tragedy of modem times. Enough

warning against this tragedy has been given in the ancient texts of this

country. The Kauravas are useful examples of the calamity that awaits those who

pursue the ideals of Artha and Kama, without the regulating influence of dharma

and Moksha. They were drunk with power; they were overcome by greed and pride;

they had

insatiable desire; they suffered untold misery and were destroyed.

Ravana fell because he strove to accumulate Artha and was carried away by

covetousness, Kama. His "ten heads" indicate his mastery over the four Vedas

and the six Sasthras; but, of what avail was all that learning? Anjaneya

reported that Lanka was echoing with the recitation of the Vedas and the air

was thick with sacrificial smoke. But, the raakshasas (demons) were wicked, in

spite of all that ritual exactitude. Ritual must result in righteousness;

otherwise, it is only rigmarole. Ravana sought to gain Prakriti, not Purusha

(the manifestation not the manifestor); Seetha not Rama! And, so his life

became futile.

Kama is the three-headed demon; when you win your desire, you develop Lobha

(miserly greed), to retain the gain and see that it multiplies; when you are

defeated in desire, you develop Krodha (resentment, anger); even thapas

(penance) might not transmute such a character, as seen in the case of

Bhasmaasura, who sought to destroy the very Lord who granted him the boon he

was after! Kama, Lobha and Krodha are all forms of rajoguna (quality of passion

and activity), the feverish activity that ignores the "means" while

concentrating on the "end." Rajoguna pursues the goal, but is not particular

about the correctness of the path.

Qualify yourself and desire

There is a story of some monkeys who planted a mango garden. They planted the

saplings, watered them a few days, and plucked them from off the ground to see

how deep the roots had gone! They wanted them to grow fast and yield fruits,

but they were unaware of the process by which alone they could get the fruits

they craved for! Act right; then, claim the fruit. Cultivate with care, and

collect the harvest.

What is good of burdening yourself with desire when you do not have the

qualification to fulfill it? Madhuranaath once asked Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

for a chance to enjoy what was known as Nirvikalpa Samadhi (super conscious

state of Bliss), about which he had heard. Though Ramakrishna demurred because

he had no qualification and preparatory training for it, he insisted; so when

at last, the Master acceded, and made him lose consciousness for three days,

the poor man protested and appealed for an end to that experience. It was a

burden too heavy for his weak shoulders.

The three Gunas (qualities of the mind) have to be transcended one after the

other; thamas (lethargy) being transmuted into rajas (passionate activity) and

rajas into sathwa (serenity and poise) and sathwa too, at last into

characteristiclessness. 'The Gunas bind man and leave impressions. Thamas is

like the worms that creep and crawl in offal; rajas is like the fly that sits

on foul things as well as fair; sathwa is like the bee that visits only

fragrant flowers. But, all three are drawn towards objects, whereas one should

be free from all traces of attachment. When hearts are infested with flies and

worms, the flit of Namasmarana (constant remembrance of God's name) has to be

used for disinfecting the place. You must recognise the high purpose of this

human body and the unique chance

man has. Then only will you strive to benefit by this hard-won piece of luck.

The magnanimous king

A Raja (king) was out hunting in the forest and while pursuing the deer; he went

too far and discovered that his retinue was left behind. He lost his way and was

overcome by hunger and thirst. At last, he saw a tiny hut where lived a poor

woodcutter and his wife selling fuel in the distant villages. Their larder was

almost empty, but the wife managed to bring out a roti (bread), which the king

ate with avidity. He had never known such taste, for he was never so hungry as

then and, he slept soundly that noon, for he was never so tired as then. By

that time, the courtiers and soldiers came upto where he was and the astounded

woodcutter learnt that his guest was no less a person than the monarch of the

realm. He apologized for the poor fare he offered, though the king never

uttered a harsh word.

Tragedy of man everywhere

Next day, a man came from the capital to take him to the court and the poor

fellow was certain that he was going to be punished for insulting the ruler.

His wife accompanied him, for she offered to share the misery with her lord.

The Raja gave him a seat and insisted upon his sitting, an honour which the

wood-cutter knew was usually given to animals that were about to be sacrificed.

He was fed nicely, along with his wife, another honour, which such animals

usually get.

Then the king asked him what boon he would ask from him, and the terrified man

could ask for only this: "Please allow me to go home alive, with my wife!

Please do not cut off my head," he cried. The Raja said, "I am not an

ungrateful wretch to treat you so cruelly. If I give you an estate you will

ruin it, for you are unaware of agriculture. If I give riches, thieves will

carry it away, for you live alone in the jungle. Well, I shall give you a

sandalwood plantation in that forest, thirty acres in extent. Make good use of

it and prosper." The woodcutter felt relieved and he went away into the woods.

After about six months, the King went to the forest again for a hunt and

remembering the bread, he went in search of the woodcutter. He found him quite

happy for he said, that he had started selling charcoal instead of fuel. That

man was reducing the sandalwood trees to charcoal; he did not know the value of

the gift he had received. Man too does not realise the value of the precious

gift of "the number of days" of life he has received from the Lord. He fritters

them away for temporary earnings. That is the tragedy of man everywhere.

Sanathana Dharma has laid down the rules and regulations for the best possible

utilisation of life, but for want of teaching, exposition and example, they

have been sadly neglected. This is like inflicting injuries on oneself, this

neglect of the rules, which give real happiness and peace. This is like the

foolishness

of living upon your neighbor’s leavings, while your own home has a relishing,

nourishing banquet ready!

Regulate the way of living

Reform the body, reconstruct the mind; regulate the way of living; then, the

country will become automatically strong and prosperous. Do not wail that is a

mud pot if it contains nectar; it is far better than having a gold pot with

poison in it. The land may be rich, but, if life is mean, it is deplorable. It

does not matter if the standard of life is poor, provided the way of life is

pure, full of Prema, humility, fear-of-sin, and reverence towards elders.

It is easy to restore this way of life, provided the Vedas are once again

studied and followed. The Vedhamaatha (mother of Vedas) will foster in you love

and kindness. Have faith; do not discard a diamond, dismissing it as a piece of

glass. The Dharma laid down in the Vedas is the best armor to guard you against

sorrow.

Women should observe sthree dharma and men Purusha 'dharma, the householder,

Grihastha dharma, the monk sanyaasa dharma (the path of righteousness

prescribed for each category of persons. The outward symbols like shave head,

the ochre cloth, Kamandulu---these are like the barbed wire erected to protect

the crop from depredation. But, what we now find is, there is plenty of fence

without, but no crop within!

You may have a grand feast on the plate, but, unless you have hunger, you will

not be tempted to eat. There are qualifications for every task, be it eating or

fasting, be it leading a householder's life or monk's life. Only a stone that

was once Ahalya and was saturated by Dhyana (meditation) and remorse can be

transmuted into human form and only the feet of a Divine incarnation can so

transmute it. All stones trodden by Rama did not get transformed into women;

nor did any of the feet that trod upon that stone had the power of giving life.

The Guru must have the awakening touch and the sishya (disciple) must have the

eagerness to awake. The relationship should not be like the snake with a frog

in the mouth, the frog too weak to escape, the snake too full to swallow. The

Guru must be able to save; the sishya must be

ready to be saved.

Hanumaan's dedicated service

Dedicate all tasks of offerings to the Lord. Never deviate from that attitude.

Hanuman was such a Bhakta; Rama was the very life-breath for him. After the

coronation, one day, Seetha and the three brothers of Rama met and planned to

exclude Hanuman from the Seva (service) of Rama and wanted that all the various

services for Rama should be divided only among themselves. They felt that

Hanuman had enough chances already. So, they drew up a list, as exhaustive as

they could remember, of the service from dawn till dusk, down to the smallest

minutiae and assigned each item to one among themselves. They presented the

list of items and assignees to the Lord, while Hanuman was present. Rama heard

about the new procedure, read the list and gave His approval, with a smile. He

told Hanuman that all the tasks had been assigned to others and that he

could now take rest. Hanuman prayed that the list might be read and when it was

done, he noticed an omission---the task of 'snapping fingers when one yawns.'

Of course, being an emperor, Rama should not be allowed to do it himself. It

has to be done by a servant, he pleaded. Rama agreed to allot that task to

Hanuman!

It was a great epic piece of good luck for Hanuman, for it entitled Hanuman’s

constant attendance on his Master, for how could anyone predict when the yawn

would come? And, he had to be looking on that heart-charming face all the time,

to be ready with snap, as soon as the yawn was on! He could not be away for a

minute nor could he relax for a moment. You must be happy that the Seva of the

Lord keeps you always in His presence and ever vigilant to carry out His

behests.

Select a Name and a Form

The Lord cares for ekaagratha and chittha-suddhi (concentration and purity of

mind). You need not feel that you are physically away from Him. He has no

'near' and 'far' Provided the address is clear and correct, your letter will be

delivered, either at the next street or at Calcutta or Bombay for the same

stamp. Smarana (remembering) is the stamp; manana (recapitulation) is the

address. Have the Name for smarana; the Form for manana, that is enough. Select

one Name and one Form for smarana and manana; but, do not talk ill of other

names and forms. Behave like the woman in a joint family; she respects and

serves the elders of the family such as the father-in-law, and his brothers and

her own brother-in-law, but her heart is dedicated to her husband, whom she

loves and reveres in a special manner. If you carp at the faith

of others, your devotion is fake. If you are sincere, you will appreciate the

sincerity of others. You see faults in others because you yourself have those

faults, not otherwise.

While in Dandakaaranya forest, Rama was once reclining with His head on the lap

of Sugriva and the vaanara (monkey) leaders were around Him. The moon was

shining overhead in full glow, but, there was the tell-tale spot which marred

the fullness of the effulgence. Rama asked each one of them what the spot

indicated. Each one gave a different explanation; the reflection of the sea,

one said; a deep pit, said another; a mountain range, said a third; but,

Anjaneya said, "It is your reflection I see on the moon, your colour, nothing

else." That was the measure of his devotion. He saw everywhere, every time only

Rama.

Have faith in your culture, which emphasises the path of self-control and

discipline. Do not be led away by the tinsel attractions of foreign cultures.

Western women now adopt Indian customs, like the wearing of the sari, while

Indian women are wearing gowns! Indian women bob their hair and discard the

kumkum (vermilion dot on the forehead), in order to look fashionable; but,

every Indian custom has deep significance, ignored in this imitative rush. A

drop of kerosene can spoil a vessel of sweetness. Accept good things from other

cultures, the things that help you to control the vagaries of the senses and the

mind, to investigate and discriminate more dearly.

Of the many Lakhs of people who dwell in this city, you alone had the great

chance to come and hear the advice given today. So make the best use of this

treasure and decide on leading more useful lives from this very moment. Listen

to all who speak of the glory of the Lord, who is in you, as in everybody else.

Learn from all the methods by which you can discover Him and reach Him. That is

my advice to you.

Madras, 15-8-1964

TO BE CONTINUED…

With Sai love from Sai brothers – ‘’

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

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