Divine Discourse on Mahashivatri Day - 26th Feb. 2006

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26th Feb. 2006

Maha Shivaratri

Prasanthi Nilayam

Divine Discourse on Mahashivatri Day [quick download discourse text file - Right click & save]

by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai BabaNote: Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Babaon this

SBOI website/group are unedited, authentic & only sourced from the official Sai

baba Org.

LIMIT NOT THE ALL PERVADING BRAHMAN WITH NAMES AND FORMS

Is it possible to build a temple for the One who pervades the entire Brahmanda

(cosmos)? Can anyone give a name to the One who is present in all beings? Is it

possible to give a bath to the One who is present in all rivers? Can anyone

offer food to the One who has the entire Brahmanda in His stomach? Man out of

his ignorance is unable to know this truth. He is under the delusion that he is

Naswara (impermanent). In fact, he is not Naswara, but Easwara Himself for the

entire world. (Telugu poem) Prapancha is the name we have given to the apparent

world. It is called Prapancha as it is constituted by the Pancha Bhutas (five

elements), namely, earth, water, fire, air and ether. 'Pra' means to manifest,

to blossom. Hence, Prapancha means the manifestation of not only the five

elements, but also the five life principles, namely, Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana

and Samana. They form the basis for the entire world. The principle of

Brahmatatwa is present in all the five elements as the undercurrent. It is

eternal and immortal. The term Brahma refers to the divine principle which

pervades the Pancha Bhutas, Pancha Koshas and Pancha Pranas. But man out of

ignorance attributes a particular form to Brahma and offers his prayers. Names

and forms are transient. Brahmatatwa, which is the basis of all names and forms

is the only permanent entity. Out of our ignorance and limited understanding we

confine such a cosmic principle of Brahman to a tiny form and worship it. We

should worship the cosmic form of the divine. Brahmanda (cosmos) is the very

form of God. Brahman pervades the Anda, Pinda and Brahmanda. Anda is the

combination of Padartha (matter) and Prana (life principle). Pinda is that

which is born out of the mother's womb. Ultimately, they become one with the

Brahmanda.Embodiments of Love!Love is the basis for Brahmanda. Without Prema

(love), there is neither Prakriti (nature) nor Prapancha (world). The world is

sustained by the principle of love which is uniformly present in the five

elements. You may worship divinity in a number of ways, but all your worship

will prove futile, if you forget the principle of love.The five elements are

responsible for the sustenance of human life and the world at large. Everything

will come to a standstill even if any one of the five elements is missing. We

hear the sound with our ears. We see the world with our eyes. In this manner,

we are able to experience the world through the five senses. They prove the

existence of the world. Man has forgotten the divine principle of love and is

striving to attain Ananda (bliss) through mean and worldly pursuits. It is

said, Jantunam nara janma durlabham (out of all living beings, human birth is

the rarest). In fact, human being is essentially divine. Dharma, Artha, Kama

and Moksha are prescribed as the four goals of human life. But, man today has

given up Dharma and Moksha. He is running after Artha and Kama (wealth and

desire). God has created this world. Your wife, children, friends and foes are

all created by God. It is not enough if you maintain good relationship with

your wife, children and friends. You must be able to see God in all. That is

your primary duty. Your wife, children, friends and even foes are all the very

embodiments of Brahman. Even God had to fight the enemies sometimes. However,

in spite of their animosity towards God, they ultimately merged in Him owing to

His grace. In this world, there is no place where God does not exist. He is

present everywhere.Sarvatah panipadam tat sarvathokshi siromukham, sarvatah

sruthimalloke sarvamavruthya tishthati (with hands, feet, eyes, head, mouth and

ears pervading everything, He permeates the entire universe).The people around

you may not be able to see what you do, but He is watching you. Others may not

hear what you speak, but He is listening to you. He is the eternal witness.

Unfortunately, you are unable to realise this truth. Some people argue, “How

can you say that God is present everywhere when we do not actually see Him? How

is it possible for Him to hear our prayers?” In fact, sound is the very form of

God. There is no place where there is no sound. He can hear everything since

sound is His own form. Light pervades the entire world. God can see everything

in this world as the very light is His vision. Hence, never be under the

mistaken notion that God does not know what is happening. Do not doubt or deny

His existence just because He is not visible to the naked eye. How does

sankalpa originate in your hridaya (heart)? It happens as per the Will of God.

There may be ups and downs from the worldly point of view, but divine principle

always remains steady. The Loka (world) and Lokesha (God) are inseparable. The

creation and the creator are one. There is an intimate and inseparable

relationship between the two. Atma is the name given to the principle of

divinity. It has no specific form. It pervades the entire world in the form of

sankalpa (will). It is a grave error to attribute a particular name and form to

the Atma. It is essential that we understand the oneness of Atma and experience

the same. Everything is divine. Sarvam khalvidam Brahma (verily, all this is

Brahman). As you are unable to comprehend the divine principle in totality, you

confine God to a specific name and form such as Rama, Krishna, Vishnu, etc., and

worship Him. A potter makes the idols of Rama, Krishna, etc. However, it is only

the clay that takes the forms of various deities. The same clay is moulded into

various forms.Jewels are many but gold is one.Cows are many but milk is

one.Beings are many but breath is one. (Telugu poem) As you are unable to

understand the principle of unity, you are deluded by the apparent diversity.

Embodiments of Love! No one can describe God as having this form or that form.

He permeates the entire universe. Without name there can be no form and vice

versa. The principle of divinity is represented by a name and a form. Every

object and every being in this Prapancha (world) is the manifestation of divine

love. Hence, do not see the world merely from the physical point of view.

Consider the world as the very form of God and the manifestation of divine

love. Because of your limited understanding, you confine such an all pervading

divine principle to a name and a form. Yad bhavam tad bhavati (as is the

feeling, so is the result). God responds according to your feelings towards

Him. If you have purna bhakti (unwavering devotion) and love God with all your

heart, He will confer on you purna ananda (supreme bliss). God transcends the

dualities of birth and death, happiness and sorrow. You may think that even God

has pain and suffering. But, from God’s point of view, pain does not exist at

all! It is an aspect of divinity. Bliss also is an aspect of divinity. God is

beyond pleasure and pain, merit and sin. Happiness and sorrow are of your own

making. Pleasure is an interval between two pains. Do not consider God as a

separate entity. Unfortunately, people are unable to understand the principle

of divinity and hence indulge in all types of imaginations. God is one. The

Veda declares, Ekam sath viprah bahudha vadanti (truth is one, but the wise

refer to it by various names). However, when the situation demands, Divine

incarnations appear on earth and play a role in the cosmic drama. When Droupadi

was humiliated by Duryodhana and Dussasana in the royal court, Bhima was

seething with anger. He wanted to crush them to pulp. But, even under such

circumstances, God did not kill them. It is most essential you understand that

everything happens as per His will. Whatever happens is for your own good. With

such firm conviction, you should accept pleasure and pain, good and bad with

equanimity. It may be difficult for you to bear misfortunes. You should pray to

God to grant you the necessary strength to bear them. You may have difficulties

today, but tomorrow it will be different. Difficulties are like passing clouds.

They will certainly give way to happiness. Man always strives for happiness. How

can he attain it? True happiness lies in union with God. In fact, God is beyond

happiness and sorrow. Whatever you may do, He says, “Tathastu” (So shall it

be). He showers His blessings on you saying, “Let it be for your own good.” You

will be free from sorrow once you understand the Bhagavadtatwa (nature of

divinity). If you are undergoing difficulties, do not get disheartened. Have

faith that God is making you go through the ordeal for your own good. Happiness

and sorrow coexist. You cannot attain happiness without undergoing difficulties.

Embodiments of Love! Do not attribute multiplicity to divinity. Consider

everyone as the embodiment of divinity. Install such sacred feeling firmly in

your heart. Treat even the person who hates you as your own. Having attained

human birth, you should be able to withstand pain and suffering with courage

and fortitude. Be convinced that they are good for you. All that God has

created is good. In God’s creation, everything is good and sacred. There is

nothing which will cause sorrow and misery. In fact, misery arises out of man’s

delusion. The delusion is because of his identification with the form. What is

the meaning of the term Manava? ‘Ma’ means Maya, ‘Na’ means without and ‘Va’

means Varthinchuta (to conduct oneself). Therefore, Manava is one who conducts

himself without maya. If you fall a victim to maya, you will never be able to

understand marmamu (reality). In fact, maya is man’s own making. It arises out

of his imagination. However much one may try, it is not possible to know God in

totality. Once mother Kunti said to Krishna, “Oh Krishna! Though You are verily

God, sometimes we are deluded to think that You are also a human being like

us.” Saint Thyagaraja too echoed the same feelings in the following verse: Oh

Lord! You answered the prayers of Droupadi and saved her from humiliation. You

made ugly-looking Kubja beautiful. You protected the Pandavas. Is it possible

to estimate Your glory and splendour? You are beyond all description and human

comprehension. Krishna, it is not possible for even Brahma to describe Your

glory. (Telugu song)Good and bad lie in your mind; they are not outside. Hence,

correct your feelings in the first instance. Get rid of all animal qualities so

that humanness can blossom in you. If you notice even a trace of hatred in

yourself, drive it away at once. Having attained human birth, it is shameful on

your part to have evil qualities like hatred. Do not fall a prey to infatuation.

You should be attracted only towards God and none else. You love your son

because you consider him to be your reflection. In fact, the one who loves you,

the one who hates you, the one who criticises you, all are your own reflections.

At one time, one may be angry and later the anger may give way to love. People

are carried away by the vagaries of the mind. Being deluded by the names and

forms, they are unable to know the transient nature of the world. Truly

speaking, you have neither friends nor enemies. It is only your love or hatred

that is reflected from outside. God does not give you happiness or sorrow; they

are of your own making. They originate from you.Embodiments of Love!God is

present everywhere in the form of five elements. Everyone is endowed with five

elements and everyone is an embodiment of love. All are one. There is no second

entity. Wherever you see, there are five elements. You do not find a sixth

element anywhere. The principle of love present in you represents Easwaratwa

and Brahmatatwa. It is merely Bhrama (delusion) to think that Brahma is

separate from you. Everything is Brahman. Everything is the manifestation of

Atma and Ananda. That is why God is extolled as Nityanandam, Paramasukhadam

Kevalam Jnanamurtim … (God is the embodiment of eternal bliss, He is wisdom

absolute). Even the karma (action) that you perform is the manifestation of

Brahma. When you perform your actions with such divine feelings, they will

yield good results. Never criticise God. Never deny Him. Everything is the

manifestation of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. All are divine. This is what you

have to learn on this auspicious day of Sivarathri. There is nothing other than

divinity in this world. The principle of divinity present in a grain of sand

and in a big laddu is one and same. Once you realise this truth, you become

Brahma verily. You do not need to search for Brahma elsewhere. You are Brahma,

you are Vishnu, you are Siva, you are the very embodiment of the Divine

Trinity. It is only your feeling that assumes the form of Brahma, Vishnu and

Maheswara.You are subjected to unrest and suffering because of your dualistic

feeling. You perceive unity as diversity, instead of visualising unity in

diversity. Number one is the basis for all other numbers. Likewise, names and

forms vary, but all are essentially one. There is no second person. Other than

divinity, there is no second entity in this world. Many spiritual aspirants and

yogis have made concerted efforts to understand the principle of divinity. They

ultimately realised Ekam sath viprah bahudha vadanti (truth is one, but the

wise refer to it by various names). As you have not understood this truth, you

are deluded by the apparent duality. You should understand the spiritual

Mathematics in order to know that divinity is one. It is most essential that

you understand this principle of oneness and conduct yourself accordingly. When

you understand this oneness, you will experience divinity. You will realise that

the individual is not different from God. When you put a zero after the numeral

1 it becomes 10; put one more zero it will become 100. In this manner if you go

on adding zeros, the value also increases to 1000, 10,000, and so on and so

forth. Zeros gain value only when they are positioned next to the numeral one.

‘I’, ‘my wife’, ‘my children’, ‘my property’, etc., all these are like zeros.

They will have value only when they are associated with God who is like numeral

one. The entire world is like a zero. It has emerged from the Hero, God. It is

because of your delusion that you mistake zero for Hero. So long as you are

immersed in delusion you will never be able to realise divinity. Delusion gives

rise to doubts which will rob you of your bliss. They will poison your mind and

put you to danger. Hence, never entertain doubts with regard to Divinity.

Strengthen your faith in God. A car can run smoothly only when there is air in

all its four tyres. Even if one tyre is punctured, it may lead to accident. The

human body is like a car. Mind is the steering wheel. Dharma, Artha, Kama and

Moksha are its four tyres. They should be filled with the air of faith. Even if

one of the tyres is punctured, your life will be put to danger. Your mind should

be steady and under control. Only then can you reach the goal of life, i.e.,

Moksha (liberation).Embodiments of Love!The entire world is pervaded by the

five elements. You should maintain perfect balance and harmony among them. When

you are riding a cycle, if you do not maintain proper balance, you will fall

down. Likewise, you can lead the life of a true human being only when you have

proper balance of mind. If you lack proper balance of mind, your humanness will

be ruined. It is said, Jantunam nara janma durlabham (out of all living beings,

human birth is the rarest). Having been blessed with such precious human birth,

what a shame it is if you behave like an animal! You should live like a human

being. Keep your mind under control. This is My message to you on this holy

night of Sivarathri. Understand that you are born as a human being, not as an

insect or a worm. Neither are you an animal, nor a bird nor a beast. You should

understand the meaning of the term Manava. ‘Ma’ means not and ‘Nava’ means new.

You are not here for the first time. You are not new to this earth. You have

gone through a number of births before attaining this human birth. Give up all

your old and mean qualities and start your life afresh. Human life is highly

sacred and mysterious. Only God can unravel its mystery. Visweswara (the Lord

of the universe) permeates the entire Viswa (universe). He transcends all

description. He is present in you in the form of Atma. There is only one path

for the realisation of Atma. Give up the feeling of ‘Mine’. You say ‘this is

mine and that is mine’. Once you get rid of such worldly attachment, you will

develop purity, steadiness and selflessness. You will be free from suffering,

worries and anxiety. Ultimately, you will attain Moksha (liberation). Having

attained manavatwa (humanness), you should make efforts to rise to the level of

Madhavatwa (divinity). That is your goal. What is the use if you remain in

manavatwa forever? You should develop sanmathi (pure mind) to rise to the level

of divine. Unity confers purity which will in turn lead to divinity. Hence, all

of you must stand united. You belong to the human race. You belong to one

family. Hence, you must conduct yourself like brothers and sisters. Absence of

such spirit of unity will diminish purity and take you away from divinity.

Embodiments of Love! Being students of Sathya Sai College, you must set an

example to others with your spirit of unity. You deserve to be called Sai

devotees only when you develop unity. Love God with all your heart. Love for

God will transform your heart. It will drive away hatred and other evil

qualities. You can achieve anything through love. (Bhagawan sang the Bhajan

“Prema muditha manase kaho…” and continued His discourse)Embodiments of

Love!Since time immemorial, the divine name of Rama has been protecting the

devotees and leading them on the right path. One can very well imagine the

divine potency of Rama’s name as it has remained etched in the hearts of people

through all the ages. This in itself is a mystery. Thousands of years have

passed since the advent of Rama, yet His name remains ever fresh and ever new.

One may be on the top of the mountain or in a village or in a city, everyone

derives immense delight in singing the name of Rama. Ramayathi ithi Ramah (that

which delights is the principle of Rama). Once in the court of Krishnadevaraya,

there was a debate in which the eight scholars of the royal court popularly

known as the ‘Ashta Diggajas’ participated. Krishna-devaraya wanted to know who

among them was the best. He wanted them to frame a meaningful sentence

consisting of five letters, each letter having the same meaning in five

different languages. “Whoever comes out with an answer to this question by

seven tomorrow morning will be suitably rewarded”, he added. Since his house

was far away, Tenali Ramakrishna decided to spend the night in his

brother-in-law’s house. When he was provided with a comfortable bed for the

night, Ramakrishna refused to sleep on it. He said, “I have to think of an

answer to a question put by the king by tomorrow morning. A bed like this is

certain to put me to sleep in no time. So, provide a cot for me in the cow

shed.” As he was lying on the cot, at one o’clock in the night, one of the cows

in the shed gave birth to a calf. Ramakrishna called out to inform his

brother-in-law about this. His brother-in-law wanted to know which cow had

given birth, since he had given different names to his cows, like Parvati,

Lakshmi, and Saraswati. He asked Ramakrishna, “Ye Aav Ra Bava” (which cow is

that, Oh brother-in-law). When Ramakrishna heard this, his joy knew no bounds,

since he had found an answer to the king’s question. So, he too repeated the

phrase again and again. His brother-in-law thought that Ramakrishna was

behaving in this strange manner due to lack of sleep. The next morning,

Ramakrishna went to the royal court and found that no one else had a solution

to the question. All others were convinced it was not possible to frame such a

sentence. “Ye Aav Ra Ba Va” is the answer, he said. Everyone was intrigued.

Then he explained, “ ‘Ye’ in Marati, ‘Aav’ in Hindi, ‘Ra’ in Telugu, ‘Ba’ in

Kannada and ‘Va’ in Tamil convey the same meaning, i.e., ‘come’.” Five

languages are represented in this sentence. Students!The words you utter

sometimes convey different meanings. Hence, you should be very careful while

speaking. Develop virtues and lead an ideal life. Only then will Swami be

pleased with you. If you make Me happy with your ideal conduct, I will confer

much more happiness on you. Your happiness is My happiness. Wherever you go,

earn a good name for yourself. Your character is very important for Me. Hence,

make every effort to mould your character and be an ideal to others. This is

the message I would like to give you on this auspicious day of Sivarathri. The

day on which you experience eternal bliss is Sivarathri for Me. Once Thyagaraja

performed a musical concert at Thanjavur. Many eminent musicians and scholars

were present in the concert hall. In the beginning of the programme Thyagaraja

offered salutations to all of them through his famous composition, Endaro

Mahanubhavulu, Andariki Vandanamulu … (there are many great souls who have had

the divine experience; I prostrate before all of them). Everyone was blissful

listening to his melodious singing. He demonstrated by his example that one

should pay his respects to everyone in the assembly before addressing them

since there was divinity in all of them. Many years ago, in Prasanthi Nilayam,

a scholar was invited to address a congregation. While commencing his speech,

he addressed the audience thus: “Brothers and Sisters except one!” Then he

explained that his wife was also present among the audience. Even while

addressing a congregation he was remembering his wife. One should not observe

such differences while addressing a public gathering. One should offer his

salutations to one and all. Embodiments of Love! I shower My blessings on all

of you on this holy night of Sivarathri. Sing the Divine Name throughout the

night. To the extent possible, spend the night in the contemplation of God.

Only then can you experience divine bliss. You can even witness the

manifestation of divine effulgence. Sing the Divine Name wholeheartedly. You

may sing any name, but you should understand its inner meaning. For example,

‘Digambara’ is one of the names of Lord Siva. Digambara in common parlance

refers to the one who is naked. But if you enquire into the inner meaning, you

will know that ‘Digambara’ is the One who has dikkulu (four sides – East, West,

North, South) as His ambara (vesture). There is a possibility that people

misunderstand this word and think that Siva does not wear anything on His body.

Hence, it is better that you do not use this word in Bhajans. Source:

http://sssbpt.org***SBOI***

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