PROF. ANIL KUMAR – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [76 to 100]

[Guest guest]

PROF. ANIL KUMAR – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [76 to 100]

76 “What advice does Swami give to couples when the wife and the husband disagree?”

A husband and wife relationship means that there will be disagreements! (Laughter) As long as they are friends, there will be total agreement. From the day that friends turn into a couple, disagreements start. Disagreement is everywhere. There is an agreement and a disagreement. We should agree to disagree. If there is agreement always, there is no charm in life. (Laughter) There should be disagreement. This happens everywhere. There are no exceptions.

I remember a joke shared with us by Sadhu Vaswani of Pune:

“A couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Everybody attended their wedding anniversary function and congratulated the couple. They were successfully linked together for 60 years, without wanting any change. People told them, ‘You are really great. What is the secret of your success?’”

The question was asked of the husband. The husband gave this answer: '”We have been very successful so far. We are able to celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary because I take all the major decisions. (Laughter) She makes all minor decisions. (Laughter) However, as yet, I have not made a major decision! I have yet to make a major decision.’” (Laughter)

Therefore, my friends, disagreement is everywhere. Bhagavan gave an example of Lord Shiva Himself. Lord Shiva's dwelling place is a burial ground. His consort Parvathi lives in a paradise, Kailash. Shiva is almost naked, while Parvati is full of jewellery. They are opposites: Shiva is for total renunciation and detachment, while Parvati is full of affluence, plenty and prosperity. Yet, they continue to be an ideal couple. This sort of idealism lies in establishing harmony between the two.

Yes, the two wires - negative and positive -- unless the positive and negative wires are there, the current won't flow. If you have only positive wires, then there won’t be any current. Positive and negative are a law of life.

Bhagavan gave one example. Where there is understanding, there will be adjustment. Yet, we go in the reverse direction. We want adjustment, then understanding. That's why we are successful failures. (Laughter) We must understand first -- then adjustment is fast.

Bhagavan gave an illustration: A newly married couple started their life in a metropolitan city. The wife was very understanding of her husband because she knew that he was highly qualified and she was fully confident that he deserved a promotion. Yes – a double promotion if possible! He worked very hard. She knew it very well. Therefore, when the husband returned home late in the evening she wouldn’t mind. The office closed at 5 o'clock. Even If her husband returned at 7 o’clock, she didn’t mind. She would be waiting at the gate.

She would say, “I understand that you are very tired. I know how busy you are. I know you are very efficient. You never shirk your responsibility. Would you like to have hot coffee now? Would you like to have coffee, or would you like to have it along with tiffin?” She would continue talking like that. This man will forget that he was tired and begin to have a broad smile on his face.

But suppose someone tells her that this man is having an affair with somebody! Then, if he is late by five minutes, she will be waiting at the gate, no doubt as before, (Laughter) but this time not with a cup of coffee! If possible, with sticks especially made! (Laughter) She will ask for an explanation.

“What happened to you? When the office closed at five o‘clock, why the half-hour delay? What happened to you? I suspect something is wrong; something is fishy.”

This sort of suspicion comes due to lack of understanding. As long as there is perfect understanding, there is no suspicion. When there is misunderstanding, there is no adjustment. According to Bhagavan, couples should understand this: they need to understand each other. Thereafter, there would be 100% adjustment. It should not be in the reverse direction of ‘adjust now and understand tomorrow’. No! Then they will end up in a divorce. So, understand first and then adjust.

Here is another instance that Bhagavan mentioned. A husband should know how to treat his wife. His wife has left her parents, her relations, and her kith and kin, and has gone to live with him. He should be sympathetic. He should be tolerant. He should be understanding. He should be forgiving. She sacrificed everything for her husband.

The wife should also be understanding of her husband. This man is returning from hectic activity, having been so busy at the office. This is not the time to come forward with demands or requests. Living together, they should come to know each other - like two eyes with a single object of vision. ‘I look at you and see only one person not two.’ Though there are two eyes, you have only a single object or vision. Similarly, there may be two, husband and wife, but when they are together in absolute understanding and total adjustment, they can be together in perfect harmony. That's the answer.

77 “When parents and their son are discussing a particular issue, but see it from different perspectives, whom will Swami oblige?”

This was a question raised by a young adult. Both sides continue to pray to Swami. (Laughter) The boy is praying to Swami; his parents are also praying to Swami. Both need Swami, but their temperaments disagree. What the boy wants, the parents don't want him to have. The parents don't approve of his requests. Still, this fellow wants it. When their desires are contradictory, when their plans are opposite, when they continue to pray to Swami, whom does He oblige? This is a very good question. (Laughter) Whom does He respond to?

The answer is simple. Baba said that it is absolutely necessary for the son to follow the command of his parents. His parents know his interests much better than he does. The mother, who has given birth and brought up the child, and the father, who has sacrificed everything to bring up his son, will naturally be very much interested in the future of their son.

So, the son has to necessarily follow the parents. There is no question of ‘I have this idea and you have that idea; so let’s pray together and see who will win?’ (Laughter) Prayer is not a matter of competition. There is nothing like ‘higher’ prayer and ‘lower’ prayer. Prayer is prayer. “I will pray more than you!” There is nothing like that. There is nothing like parameters, nothing like a measure for the intensity of prayer. A prayer is a prayer!

78 “What has Swami said about the war between America and Iraq, and the present conflict between America and the Middle East countries?”

What sort of answer could I give to the Americans, since I was staying with them? (Laughter) I cannot say they are wrong; I cannot say they are right. I was in a very embarrassing position. (Laughter) But Swami helped me to get beyond this.

Swami's message cannot be limited to America and Iraq, American and Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. No, no, no! Bhagavan's message is universal. Bhagavan's message is meant for everybody, at all times, for all countries. You cannot localise an issue. His message is based on Love. Bhagavan does not approve of bloodshed. He is for non-violence. He is for open discussion, not for war. He always believes in empathy, sympathy, friendship and understanding. I was happy that they were satisfied with the answer. That way I did not have to blame anybody. (Laughter)

While talking with Swami about this, I said, "Swami, I faced a very inconvenient question."

He said, "What? What?"

"Swami, people wanted to know whom You support - the Americans or the Iraqis?” (Laughter)

Swami asked me to repeat my answer. (Laughter)

I knew that some ‘music’ (some reaction from Swami) would be waiting for me to follow. If anything went wrong, I would be beheaded (Anil Kumar is speaking jokingly here) without even a month's notice! (Laughter)

“Swami, this is what I said: ‘I cannot bring down Bhagavan’s message to the problem prevailing in America and Iraq. No! His message is universal. It may be Palestine and Israel. It may be Iran and Iraq. It may be a conflict between any other two countries. But Bhagavan’s message is based on Love and friendship.’”

“The correct answer!“ He said. Therefore, I continued on a good footing with Swami, as He approved of the answer given.

79 “After being here (this question was asked by an Indian in the USA), we face ‘culture shock’. What does Baba want us to do about culture shock?” So, for your shock, He has to suggest something! (Laughter)

We have to clearly understand that culture is not geographical. One may be here in India, yet leading a Western life. If you go to cities like Delhi, Calcutta or Bombay, I don't think that you will see much Indian culture there. It is India, but you don't see any Indian culture. So Indian culture need not necessarily be practiced in India alone. No! So I can show you a thousand examples in India where Indian culture is not followed.

Therefore, Indian culture is a way of life. It is an attitude. It is a sort of interaction between an individual and the community. It speaks of the objectives of life. It speaks of the purpose of life. It speaks of the nature of the Divine and several other aspects.

Therefore, if you say that you are facing ‘culture shock’, it only means that you have forgotten your own native culture. You are still not able to imbibe the ‘alien’ culture, the new culture in the land where you are now. You are not able to adopt that, yet you have forgotten your own culture. You are in-between. Therefore, there is this ‘shock’.

So, culture shock is not the mistake of the culture. It is the mistake of the individual. If you are really convinced of the validity of your own culture, then wherever you are, you will never change.

Don't misunderstand me. I see many people. I know many people here -- the Westerners working in the canteen, the bookstall and so many places. How do they do it? With a smile on their face! They are very active. The culture of the West is work-focused, with a spirit of excellence. Wherever you put them, they are excellent workers. They want to be ‘number one’ at work. That spirit has been imbibed. Therefore, every culture has its own uniqueness.

Suppose my work culture (say, an Indian working in the USA) wants me to be number one in the world, but my native (Indian) culture does not want me to take any credit! The Indian culture wants us to work with the spirit that this work is an opportunity, a gift from God. It is not to dominate, not to be number one. Our culture views it as an opportunity, as God's gift for excellence. Don’t get me wrong -- I am not rooting out excellence all together. You are supposed to be excellent; there is no doubt about it. But in this culture, this opportunity for excellence is viewed as a gift of God.

Therefore, ‘culture shock’ is of your own making. If you are really aware of what culture is – a way of life -- there will be no shock anywhere. You will never be confused. Eternal values, even in a changing society, lay much emphasis on the culture (the way of life) that has to be adopted, despite worldly changes all around. What changes is the civilisation. What does not change is the culture. We should not get confused with that. Culture does not change; it is eternal. Culture has continuity with eternity whereas, from time to time, civilisation changes because it is based on conveniences, comforts and luxury. Culture stands for and represents values. When you have perfect understanding about this, you will never get this ‘culture shock’.

80 “Are Comparison And Competition To Be Avoided?”

The next question: “Mr. Anil Kumar, you say that comparison and competition should be avoided.”

“Yes, I always say this. It is not an allegation. It is truth. Yes!”

“How do you relate to schools, which are highly competitive? In schools and colleges, there is very keen competition. Mr. Anil Kumar, you say that there should not be competition and comparison. How do you explain this?”

A very good question! What I mean is that there should not be competition and comparison once you settle in life. Once you settle in life, whatever lot you have, be contented. Whatever thing you have, be happy. Don't compete, thereby denying yourself any happiness.

Here’s a simple example: Assume that God has given me a small car. God has given you a bigger car, the latest model! If I go on thinking of you, I miss the pleasure of driving in my own car. Therefore, competition and comparison will deny me any pleasure, right at that moment.

But, as long as you are a student, you should be highly competitive. In scholarship, one has to compete. In grades, one must compete. Pardhaya Vardhathe Vidya. Pardhaya means ‘competition’. Vidya means ‘education’ and vardhathe means ‘improve’. Out of competition, one will certainly improve and advance in studies. Later in life, we want contentment and satisfaction. So, you cannot quote me when you are at the student stage! But what you do as a student should not be brought forward once you settle in life.

Here is another simple example: As a young boy, you can play with marbles. It is very nice. Later, why can't you play with marbles in your office? (Laughter) It is childish. What is good at one stage is not good later. Use competition and comparison as a student; but once you are settled in life, experience contentment and contemplate on self-inquiry. Be on a search -- a quest for peace and bliss. At this later stage, the objectives or targets change. A retired person cannot compete with a boy due to his age. (Laughter) If he does, something is wrong with him. If a person goes on competing, after retirement, with a boy of twenty, well what do you say? Something is wrong with him. If a college student goes on saying, ‘Let me be content with 30% marks; let me be satisfied with failure’, that would be wrong. Therefore, what I said applies to settled life, not to a student

81 “When there is no co-operation within the family, can we still attain liberation?”

This is a question perhaps based on the political system! (Laughter) Unless there is co-operation, you cannot win in an election. Unless there is co-operation, you cannot run your office. Unless there is co-operation, you cannot run your family. At the family level, at the provincial level, at the national level, co-operation is necessary.

But, in respect to spirituality, we stand all alone. We stand all alone! If I am going to hell, I cannot say, ”All of you join me -- let us proceed.” (Laughter) There is nothing like that. Liberation is obtained all alone. A son may be deserving, but the father may be undeserving. A husband may be undeserving, and the housewife may be the better-half. (Laughter) We cannot question it. In spirituality, we stand all alone. There are no blood relationships.

After all, Bhagavan has said, "Children are not from the parents. They are through the parents." Let us be very clear – ‘through the parents, not from the parents’. What does it mean? Parents are merely channels that are all. Parents have allowed life to manifest through them as channels, that's all. They cannot claim that the child is their product. Perhaps that son will be a rebel later. Therefore, the parents have no claim except to act as a channel. ‘Through the parents’ is the more appropriate description.

Therefore, the answer is this: When you want co-operation from the family, it is a political problem. It is a social problem. All the family wants to go somewhere. All of them want to attend a wedding. They need co-operation. The son cannot say, “Daddy, I am sorry. I have some other appointment.”

When the mother is cooking a certain dish for the evening meal, the daughter cannot say, “Sorry, mother. I want something different.” Anything social, anything that has to do with the business, anything political, requires co-operation.

Today, unfortunately, there is no co-operation. To quote Baba: “There is no co-operation. There is only operation.” That's the reason why systems fail from time-to-time. From the spiritual point of view, we stand all alone: Udhare Atma Atmanam. We should work for our own liberation. Nobody can help you.

To quote Swami: “Even with co-operation, even with intense love among brothers, the elder brother cannot say to his younger brother, ‘Brother, you sustained a fracture. I know it is highly painful. So to save you from this pain, I would like to have the bandage.’ (Laughter) The elder brother cannot take the fracture from the younger brother. If the older brother is suffering from a fever, the younger brother cannot say, ‘Brother, I know you are suffering from a fever. So I will take the medicine on your behalf.’ (Laughter) You cannot do it.”

One has to eat for one’s own hunger. One has to drink for one’s own thirst. One has to work for one’s own liberation. There is nothing like co-operation. It is an accident that we are in a family. It is an accident that one is a son to the father. It doesn't mean that it is a life-long bondage.

82 “Is it necessary that one should face dissatisfaction to be spiritual? I am OK with the world. So, why pursue God then? I am fine in this world.” This is a question from a young adult.

I told him, “Boy, you are OK in this world now. But just wait for sometime. (Laughter) You say, ‘Everything is fine.’ Wait for some more time. Not all days are Sunday. There will be Monday, then Tuesday, and so on. Life is a cycle, filled with ups and downs. Life is a cycle, filled with bumps and jumps. Life is not a straight line. One has to necessarily face both situations. It is like a pendulum that oscillates from one end to the other. Life is like a pendulum that moves between a tear and a smile. Therefore, you cannot always say that you are very much satisfied in this world.”

I told that young adult an example that Baba had given. It seems that one boy could not get his degree. He appeared for the examination a number of times. The university was fed up with him. This fellow could not manage to get through. But he was fortunate to get a girl, a double graduate, as his wife. The poor chap could not get a better one. Somehow, she agreed to marry him. She was a double graduate, while this fellow had no degree. He was very happy that his wife was a double graduate, aha!

On the day of his wedding, in front of everybody, he said, “I am the luckiest man in this world. Although I have no degree, my wife has two degrees!” (Laughter) On the wedding day, this fellow kept looking at her, forgetting the large audience, because he was so happy -- Himalayan bliss. (Laughter) Naturally, this life was OK with him, so why pursue God? This is what he thought at that time!

After the wedding, his wife joined him. This fellow was relaxing, sitting in the easy chair. He called her, “Come on! Get me a hot cup of coffee, OK?” (Laughter)

She said, “I am sorry. You go prepare a cup, and one for me also.” (Laughter)

Then he said loudly, “I am the most miserable man on earth.”

Fifteen days earlier he had said, “I am the most fortunate man.” Both are true. At that time, what he said was correct, and today what he said is also correct.

Therefore, life has its ups and downs. Let us know that life is whole: W–H–O–L-E. Life is total. If you lead a choiceless life, you will be successful. But if you say, “I want only success and more success,” it is impossible. You will be successful as a patient, that's all. (Laughter)

You cannot always say, “I am a failure and I am miserable”, unless you are a pessimist, unless you are a sadist. Then you should be sent to a psychoanalyst. You should consult a psychiatrist. If you want only the positive, you are impractical. If you think negatively too much, you are a pessimist. Life is total -- both positive and negative. You cannot say, “I want only daytime with sunlight.” If you said, “Oh sun, be there throughout the day. I want daylight all the time”, then people will want to avoid you. You cannot have darkness all the twenty-four hours. Neither can you have light all the twenty-four hours. A day means both light and dark.

So, life also means both success and failure. Life means profit and gain. Life means celebration; it also means humiliation. Life means praise and blame. Life means health and sickness. Therefore, if you view life in totality, there will be no question of disappointment. Then you understand what life is.

83 “In the midst of busy work, how do I link myself with God? Some people have to drive hours and hours to reach their work spot. At the end of the workday, they return completely tired after driving more hours. In this busy life, how am I to establish a link with God?”

This has been a problem. Yet, the answer is simple when I say, “O God, I am only an instrument. You make me do what I am supposed to.”

I am only an instrument. It may be my office work; it may be that I am driving my car. Yes, right there at the steering wheel, say to yourself, “O God, I am driving as per Your will.”

“O God, I am working with my computer as per Your direction.” Or, “I am a doctor, so I am Your instrument.”

With a spirit of surrender when you work, you are not simply linking with God. No. You are in God, not just ‘linked up’ with God. ‘Linking’ is different from ‘being in God’. Where there is a link, there is also ‘de-link’ -- linking and de-linking, connecting and disconnecting. But when you are in God, nobody can take you out, because God is everywhere.

Therefore, my friends, it is quite possible to live in God, with constant remembrance of His Name. This is what Swami calls ‘Constant Integrated Awareness’. That's what it is -- Constant Integrated Awareness -- remembering His matchless glory, His Name. So then you are always established in God, in full awareness.

84 “God says to do good to all. Where do I draw a line, say, if I have done the best of my ability, and yet another man hurts me?”

This is the next question. You are doing your best because Baba has said to do good. Still, the other man is hurting you. Where do you draw a line? This means, “When do I stop helping the other man? I keep on helping the man and he is not reciprocating. So, at what point should I stop helping him?” That’s what the questioner meant.

I will give you an example from Sai literature. It seems a wise man was having his morning bath in a river. In the river, he saw a scorpion struggling. This wise man picked up the scorpion with his hand. The scorpion bit the man, so immediately the man dropped it in the water. The scorpion went on struggling.

Out of compassion, the man picked it up again. The scorpion started biting again. Then this wise man thought, ‘Oh scorpion, you have not given up your bad nature. Although you have not given up your bad nature, why should I give up my nature of helping? I will continue to help you because this is the lesson that I learned from you. Just because you have not given up your nature, why should I give up my nature?’

Therefore, when another man hurts you, he is behaving like a scorpion. Because that person hurts you, it doesn't mean that you should stop helping him. You should continue your own nature. It is something like the sun. “O sun, you are giving me light. Thank you!” None of us says that. Still, the sun goes on shedding light.

None of us would say, “O thank you, wind god, because you supply me with oxygen.” I breathe oxygen as if it were my father-in-law’s property! (Laughter) Of course, the in-law won’t allow even that. The point is that we take things for granted. This should not be the situation. Whatever the other person may say, we should continue with our nature.

Gandhiji was highly respectful to Winston Churchill in spite of the fact that they were at loggerheads with each other. Because of his nature, he was very courteous to Churchill. Likewise, helpfulness should be your nature, should be second nature to you.

The thought of helpfulness should not be only a Sunday affair. The thought of service should not be only for a service activity. It should be your nature. You and service should go together. You and help are one and the same. It is not that help will only dawn on Monday. “I am very humble on Sunday, serviceable on Tuesday and helpful on Wednesday.” No. Life is not a timetable. Life is not a schedule. Helpfulness should be your nature – second nature, in-built character -- so that you are not mindful of anything else.

At this hour, I am reminded of a great missionary, a great Christian missionary, by the name of Wolf. He was staying in a big bungalow. A few robbers and thieves entered his house. They had stolen everything and they were leaving his bungalow.

At that moment, Reverend Wolf got up from his bed and noticed the thieves leaving. He shouted, “Oh young men, stop there. It is dark all over. There are many thorny bushes. This place is known for snakes and scorpions. I will give you a lamp, my dear sons. Take the lamp and go slowly. I don't want you to die.” That is a helpful nature!

I also remember a story from Tolstoy literature. A vagabond -- a gangster and a man of vices -- lost all his property. Finally, it happened that his fiancée wanted his mother’s golden chain. This fellow went fully drunk, killed his mother and snatched away her gold chain. He was leaving the house to present this gold chain to his fiancée.

Then the man heard a voice: "Sonny, be careful! Watch your step. You are fully drunk, my dear child. You may fall. So carry the gold chain carefully."

The fellow looked back. What did he see? He saw the heart of his mother on the ground. The heart started speaking like that. “Sonny, be careful! You may fall. Take hold of this chain. Be careful.” That is Love.

“I will help you if you help me” -- that is business, which is political. “I will continue to help you even if you hurt me” -- that is the true spirit of help.

85 “If anyone criticises me, I feel badly. I have not gotten beyond that feeling. What do I do? How do I take the criticism? I have still have a reaction. What am I to do?”

Baba has given a very good answer to this. If anyone criticises you for a reason that is genuine, be thankful to the critic. If you are really wrong, be thankful to him: “My brother, you have pointed out my mistake. Thank you very much.”

Suppose that you are criticised or charged with doing something that you have not committed. In other words, you are not guilty. Then don’t worry at all! As you have not done anything, so your heart is clear. When you are clear, when the accusations are false, don't bother. Pay a deaf ear. When they are genuine, correct yourself and be thankful for the awareness.

Baba gave Himself as an example: Baba said, “If you say, ‘Baba, You are bald’, I am not offended because I have a lot of hair. I am not bald. Whatever you say, why should I feel offended? Suppose someone says, ‘Baba, You have a mop of hair -- so much hair’, then I am not offended because it is true (Laughter)!”

When truth is said to your face, you don't have to feel guilty. You don't have to feel sorry. When a false accusation is made, you don't have to feel badly either. Criticism helps you to correct yourself when you do commit a mistake. Therefore, feeling hurt should not arise at any point in time.

Whether you praise God or not, He will always be happy. Someone might say, “O God, You are really loving.” God does not think, ‘O My son, I am happy with your compliments.’

Or if you say, “God, You are unkind because nowadays You are not giving me interviews”, He is not displeased.

Spirituality is transcendence. Spirituality is not indulgence; spirituality is not avoidance. Spirituality is transcendence. You should transcend criticism as well as praise and admiration. You should go beyond the two. That is true spirituality.

86 “Particularly in America, how do we, as Sai devotees, find the right balance between worldly success and spiritual growth towards Swami's Lotus Feet?”

This is a good question. Where is the balance between worldly success and spiritual growth? Where do you strike the balance towards Swami's Lotus Feet? My friends, worldly success and spiritual growth are not opposite. Why should you think that a spiritual man is a failure in the world? Why should you think that a spiritual man is incompetent or inefficient? No! Worldly success and spiritual growth go hand-in-hand.

You may ask me, “Why not spiritual growth alone? Why should there be spiritual success?”

My friends, ‘spiritual growth’ is a false term, a false word, the wrong usage. There are some people who say, “I noticed spiritual growth in myself.”

Oh, I see. (Laughter) You must have noticed ‘undergrowth’ yesterday. You may find ‘overgrowth’ tomorrow. Spirituality has nothing to do with growth! No. You cannot say, “I am spiritually growing.” Has your thermometer helped you to measure? Or have your scales (for weight) helped you? Or, on your morning jog, has it been revealed to you?

My friends, ‘spiritual growth’ are the wrong words. It is better that you remember ‘spiritual awareness’. It is not spiritual growth, but spiritual awareness. Awareness means realisation. Realisation means an understanding of what you already are, whereas spiritual growth gives a misunderstanding of what you are not: “I have not grown today.”

‘I have grown’ means from undergrowth you have moved towards growth. But, spirituality is nothing like undergrowth, growth and overgrowth. No! Spirituality is constant. Spirituality is constant because it has been there since existence. Spirituality is existence. There is nothing like extra growth, undergrowth, hypertrophy -- it’s not like that. Therefore, spiritual awareness will naturally help you to be successful in the world as well. Worldly success is assured. In the world, there is success and failure. But in spirituality, there is nothing like success and failure. Spirituality is beyond duality. Only the world is dual.

So how do you establish a sort of balance between the two? One is the realisation; the other is the achievement. Spiritual awareness is realisation. Worldly success is an achievement. How can I measure liquid and solid in the same way? One has to be measured in litres and the other one has to be measured in kilos. I cannot say that the distance from here to the Mandir is fifty degrees. Can you say that? “What is the weight of this? Two litres!” Do you say that?

This kind of measure is not applicable in the spiritual realms. In the spiritual realms, it is realisation and awareness of that which is non-dual. In the world, which is dual, the parameters of success and failure, or profit and loss, are always dual.

Therefore, how to strike a balance? The balance is this: Worldly duality can be viewed through the undercurrent of spiritual awareness. Spiritual awareness is the understanding; spiritual awareness is the backdrop. Worldly success is the projection. When worldly success is projected on the screen of spiritual awareness, yes, you are a seeker, you are an aspirant, you are spiritual, or you are a saint. The curtain is spiritual awareness; the projection is worldly success. They are not opposite. One is the corollary to the other. One is the screen; the other is the projection.

I gave that answer.

87 “How do you develop, protect and improve faith?”

This question came from the Milwaukee Center in the State of Wisconsin. How to develop, protect and improve faith? Three aspects - develop, protect and improve.

My answer is simple. Faith is natural. You don't have to develop it. You were born with faith. A child has total faith in the mother. A child is not taught how to develop faith towards the mother. “My dear child, she is your mother. So have total faith in she who is teaching you.” You are born with faith. Faith is not cultivated. Faith is not imported, exported or manufactured. You are born with faith.

Furthermore, Baba goes on to say that you have total faith in a barber. You go to the salon and bend your head. Whether this fellow is going to put the knife on your head or your neck, you don't have any doubt. You have total faith in a barber. You give your costly dress to the washer man. You never think that he may run away someday with your costly clothes. You have total faith in a washer man and total faith in a barber. Then you have total faith in a doctor. You lie down on the operation table. He will transport you to the other planet and bring you back safely to earth -- you don't doubt it at all. You have total faith in a doctor. Faith is a natural quality. You are born with faith.

The question might be, “Why, then, is faith sometimes lost?” Rather than ask how to develop faith, the question is: “Why has faith gone? Why is faith lost?” This question is in respect only to God! You have faith in everybody else. There are a number of instances where I have heard this at a railway platform or in an airport. Someone will ask his or her neighbour, “Sir, here is my luggage. Please take care of it. I will go to the restroom and come back.”

By the time you come back, the other person and your baggage may be elsewhere! (Laughter) In total faith, you give your baggage to that man. In total faith, he has run away with it. We have faith in everybody, except in God. So, instead of saying, “How do I develop faith?” let us ask the question, “Why have I lost faith?”

Then, “How to protect faith?” Yes, you have to take every precaution. You have to take every measure to protect faith. Why? Now that you have developed a sort of attachment to Swami, you have faith in Swami. If you start arguing with people, if you start interpreting Swami’s sayings, you are sure to lose the faith. Let us not interpret Bhagavan.

There are many people who say, “You know why Swami has not looked at you? I will tell you.” (Laughter)

“Who are you to tell me why He has not looked at me? Who are you? That's my problem.”

Then some says, “You know what Baba meant when He said this to you? He meant that….”

“Oh ho, who are you to tell me? Bhagavan will tell me directly what He wants me to know. Why should you interpret? You are already mad and turning me double mad. Why?”

So, let us not interpret. To grow strong in faith, we should stop interpreting. We should learn total acceptance, not negation. Unconditional acceptance, without any interpretation, is strong faith.

Then, so long as faith is tender, you need to be careful about those who are against your faith. You believe in Baba, but suppose you talk to people who have no faith in Him. You will lose it. Baba gave this simple example: When a sapling is planted, it needs a fence to protect it. When this same plant grows into a huge tree, it will give shelter to cows and sheep. At a tender age, a sapling stands the risk of being eaten away. When it grows into a huge tree, it gives shelter to the same animals that may have harmed it earlier.

So, until your faith is strong enough to encourage others to proceed in the same direction, you have to be careful. That's why it is important to be in good company. Cheje durjana samsargam: Run away from bad company. Bhaja saadhu samagamam: Join good company. Then you will be well protected. Then, how to improve faith? As there is more and more love, you can improve your faith day-by-day.

That's all for the today. In all probability, we will complete the rest of the questions this next week. Yes, there are not many more. Thank you very much for your patient listening. (Applause)

88 “Sometimes my faith wavers. How can I make it steady? What should I do to make it firm?” A genuine question indeed!

Faith is a gift from God. Faith is not cultivated by man. Faith is a Divine quality. By constantly looking forward, by regularly praying to Him, by the process of meditation, and by the constant repetition of His Holy Name, we strengthen our faith. The source of faith is God Himself. When the source is God, when we pray to Him, naturally He will help in its sustenance and maintenance. That’s one thing.

The second point is this: Do not mix with those who do not agree with our principles and ideals.

I don’t brand them as bad company; I dare not. From their viewpoint, we are the bad company. So, let’s not brand anybody as good or bad. “Judge not, lest ye shall be judged.” Let us not judge anybody.

Let us not mix with people who do not agree with our views and principles. I believe in Swami. There is no point in mixing with a person who denies Him. I believe in Sai philosophy. It’s practically useless to move with people who negate those principles. So, avoiding company that does not have a belief in Sai philosophy is one way of strengthening our faith.

Thirdly, in our chosen path, having developed a strong faith in Swami, we should gather more and more strength. When we read more and more of His literature, when we join Satsang - good spiritual company like this, study circles like this - we will be strengthening our faith. It will not waver.

Wavering is the first threat to our faith, a starting problem. Once faith is strengthened, we can relax. During the initial period, we have to be careful, trying to avoid bad company and choosing company in which our faith shall never waver.

89 “Although we know God is Omnipresent and we feel that we are sincere devotees, we are still disappointed if Vibuthi does not materialize on our altars, or if we are not granted interviews. Does this mean that we have not done enough Sadhana or spiritual practice to receive God's Grace?”

It’s a genuine question, indeed.

These days we find wide publicity of miracles. Miracles, or experiences of miracles, are of two types: one - the absolutely personal, and two - the miracles that convey a message, a lesson to learn, to share with others.

When we keep on advertising personal miracles, it leads to questions of this kind: “Why doesn’t this happen in my case? Why there only?” “Vibuthi falls there; why not at my residence?”

Vibuthi is not necessary! For instance, Bhagavan thinks it is necessary there; therefore, He materialises Vibuthi there. Here, He thinks it is not necessary. Therefore, He does not materialise it here. Both situations are equally good. Why not? Why should we think that one place is a chosen place and this is a forsaken place? It is absolute, total ignorance.

My friends, Bhagavan has a myriad ways of blessing. He is multi-dimensional. In fact, the procedure or the way that He confers a blessing on one person never corresponds with another.

He gives a ring to one devotee. He gives a chain to another devotee. Vibuthi is given to another. To still another devotee, He appears in a dream. He talks through His photo to another devotee. He sends a friend or a messenger to another, and through that person, a message is conveyed.

And He answers your prayers in His own mysterious, non-understandable, inexplicable way. By the time you return home, your problem is solved. By the time you go, the problem is solved. That is what is important.

All worldly things have a formula. Water is H2O all over the world - in Russia, America, Pakistan or Iraq. Water, H2O - that is its formula. All worldly material has a formula and a definite process. But spiritual experiences and spiritual manifestations are beyond our comprehension. They are above explanation. They are above our head. So let us not worry about it.

“Why this, and why not that?” That’s material. ‘Why’ and ‘why not’ are questions to be put where worldly things are concerned. But in spiritual experiences, in the spiritual realm, the only thing that we have to learn is total unconditional surrender or submission: “O God, Let Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

‘I am happy with what I am. I am blessed this way, very good, thank You.’ That kind of a feeling should arise. The question of the presence of Vibuthi and the granting of interviews has arisen because of competition. This question has arisen because of comparison. Once you get out of the madness of comparison, you will be free. You will be happy with the blessing conferred upon you. That’s my answer.

90 “What is the Divine Message of Bhagavan? Convey it in one sentence.”

We teachers set up question papers. But the questions that are put to me, see! (Laughter). OK, what is the main message of Bhagavan? Put it in one sentence.

I said, “Why a sentence? I will put it in one word - LOVE. (Laughter) That’s all - LOVE! Why one sentence? A sentence is superfluous. (Laughter) One word is enough.” That's what I said. (Laughter)

91 “Explain Mukthi (liberation), Moksha (heaven ), Nirvana (liberation) briefly.”

This is a very good question. We are living in the computer age - instant food, instant coffee, instant Moksha or liberation. Instant, instant! I can understand. We don't want to lose time. We want to know things straightaway, fast. We want prompt, ready-made garments.

Now, the question is to explain Mukti or Nirvana. My friends, Mukti or liberation or Nirvana, heaven or paradise, are not located at a different place. It is your own mind that makes heaven out of a hell, or hell out of a heaven. Liberation is not a different world. Nirvana, Mukti or Moksha are not a different place. Liberation is not limited to time and space. No!

Liberation - what is true liberation? It is liberation from body attachment, liberation from attachment to the individual soul, liberation from desire and liberation from ignorance. That is Moksha or liberation, Mukti or Nirvana.

What is the way to light? The way to light is to get out of darkness. That's all. Once you get out of darkness, there is light. Similarly, when you are liberated from this desire, when you are liberated from this attachment, when you are liberated from all these wants, from the body attachments and from the individual soul, that itself is a paradise. That is what you call Mukti or Moksha.

92 “How do I get over my anger? What does Swami say about this? How to overcome my ego?”

A two-in-one question - OK! (Laughter)

Well, how do I get over my anger? How do I get over ego? These are the two questions. Well, the thing is this: the very discovery of anger within one’s owns self is enough of an achievement. The very identification of ego in one's self is enough of a success, because people identify themselves through ego.

When I identify with my ego, well, there is no chance of redemption for one hundred lives to come. So, the very understanding that I am not the ego is enough of a success. Once I decide to give up my anger, that is enough of an achievement.

The next step is: How do I give it up? How do I overcome it?

Why am I angry? I am angry because of the ego. Ego and anger are very close relations: cousins, brothers, or you could say, twins. Ego and anger go together. An egoistic man is always angry. Therefore, the root of the problem of frustration, depression, jealousy, or hatred, the base or the source of all these evil traits happens to be the ego. So, let us know how to give up this ego.

To give up the ego is quite possible just by measuring ourselves, by measuring what we are in this vast universe or cosmos. The Bhagavad Gita has explained this very clearly. Those who have gone through the Bhagavad Gita will agree with me.

In this vast universe of the planets, the solar system, the lunar system, what are you, after all? Earth is the smallest planet. In this planet, minus the water, what is size of the land, after all? Very small. And in this land, out of so many countries, what is India? It is the size of an ant. And in India, what is Andhra Pradesh? The eye of an ant! In Andhra Pradesh, what is the Anantapur District? A speck in the eye of an ant! Then Puttaparthi is a speck-in-the-speck! (Laughter)

Then where are you? You do not know! (Laughter) Therefore, when you compare yourself with the vast expanse of this Universe, when you think of this manifestation of the Divinity, you understand you are negligible and I am negligible.

If this glass of water, in its simplicity, thinks it is very great, I just laugh at it. When I take this glass of water to the ocean, this water will understand it is only a drop. So, a drop will lose its ego when it is close to the ocean. When the drop is dropped into the ocean, the ego is gone. The ego is present because of identity. The drop feels it is something special and great. (Laughter) So with the identity, once it is gone, ego is lost totally. To drop the ego, the drop has to be dropped in the ocean. I think I am clear.

Similarly, if this ego is to go, the only solution is to think of God, to think of this Universe, to think of this Creation, to think of the Creator. ‘What am I after all? What am I?’ This is not self-denial. This is not self-condemnation. It is understanding the true identity of one's own nature. ‘I am, after all, nothing in this vast world.’

This kind of separateness of name and form is the cause for the presence of ego. Once this separateness goes, identification is gone. When you understand that you are a part of the whole, the ego naturally goes. Therefore, the best way to lose the ego is to understand the entire Creation, to think of the vast expanse of this universe, to think of God and His Creation. Then we know how small we are. That is the best way to give up our ego.

93 When Swami suddenly talks to a boy, a student, well, he will think he is very special.

I often tell our boys this, because boys are boys. When big boys don’t understand, we can have sympathy for small boys. When Swami suddenly talks to a boy, a student, well, he will think he is very special. (Laughter) Because he is a special creature, he puts on a serious face. (Laughter) Swami has spoken to him. Therefore, he must be someone out of the ordinary. (Laughter)

I give him some time because all these flights fly high. Yet, he has to come down someday for refueling. (Laughter) So, let us allow those flights, OK.

Then comes a time when our good Lord will allow him to undergo another test. He starts ignoring him. The fellow who enjoyed earlier…ah, now it is winter! It always comes after summer.

So, he comes to me and asks, “Sir, nowadays Swami is not talking to me. What shall I do?”

“Oh, don't do anything. There is nothing to be done. You forgot the fact that the season of winter will certainly follow that of summer. It is your mistake. All days are not Sundays. There is a test period. Certainly. One necessarily has to go through that. The whole day includes both night and day. Both are there. Summer and winter make a year. Don't you think so? The day - daytime and nighttime - make up twenty-four hours. Don't you think so? Similarly, you cannot have the time you choose all the time. No! Life is a matter of cycles. A cycle, that’s all. Because you were egoistic then, you are frustrated now. Because you felt very proud then, you are depressed now. Had you been calm, had you been composed, had you been equanimous, had you maintained a balanced state of mind, then you would not be depressed now.”

Therefore, my friends, we have to be careful when times are favourable. We have to be more careful when we are successful. We have to be more careful when we are the recipients of Bhagavan's blessings, so that we don't lose them. We have to treasure them by being more humble, more serving, non-egoistic, non-jealous, non-competitive, friendlier and more loving with everybody. Otherwise, on the day of test, you will be left with people pitying you. If you are egoistic today, when you are in the test period, it will be a cause of celebration for others, at your cost. Why? It's not worth it.

This question of Swami ignoring the student has arisen because of an ego problem. An egoistic man is not able to move freely with everybody. An egoistic man is not able to share with everybody. An egoistic man is not able to care for others - no caring, no sharing and no concern.

94 One boy asked me, “Sir, how do you know that there is ego?”

Very simple. There is ego, which can be easily detected, because you want to show yourself as superior before everybody. You think that you are greater than everybody. That is ego. To feel that I am one among many, that I am the least of all, that I am nobody - that is the absence of ego or being egoless. Once ego is gone, all the problems of this world will be absolutely, totally solved.

95 “How do we remove bad thoughts?”

Bhagavan gave a very simple example: I am holding a rope. I think that I am holding a rope. It is evening time, twilight time. There is not much light, so I think that this is a rope. Somebody comes up and immediately switches on his torch. He says, “Poor fool! You are holding a snake, not a rope!”

“Is that so?” Immediately, I will drop it, won't I? Yes! Finding that I am holding a snake and not a rope, what will I do? Since I know fully well that snakes are poisonous and dangerous, I will drop it immediately. Therefore, once you know that these thoughts are really bad thoughts, you will not entertain them.

If the idea of how to give up bad thoughts does not arise, it is because we are comfortable with the bad thoughts. So then giving up bad thoughts is a problem. When we do not know how dangerous they are, or what sort of an obstacle they are towards realising the Divine, then giving them up is a big problem. But once we understand that they are dangerous, that they are not to be entertained, then once and for all, we will immediately put a full stop to those things. That's one point.

The second point is this: We should not fight our bad thoughts. After all, we are humans. My friends, I always tell my audience each time that I am nobody; that I am in no way superior to anybody, not in the least. I know that in the audience there are many, many people far, far superior to me. I am fully aware of that.

The point is this: Do not dwell on the fact that there are bad thoughts in us. “These are bad thoughts! How do I remove them?” When I think too much along these lines, then I fight the bad thoughts and I become worse! A simple example given by Baba: One fellow is bad. If you want to defeat him, you have to become worse than him! (Laughter) How else can you defeat a bad man? It's not possible.

Therefore, instead of brooding over the bad thoughts, instead of thinking too much along this line of continually fighting with the mind, let us take a positive approach. Entertain good thoughts. Spend more time in good thoughts and good company, so that bad thoughts slowly diminish. With the sunrise, darkness gets dispelled on its own. With more and more good thoughts coming and appearing, the bad thoughts start disappearing. That's my answer.

96 “Please say a few words on Ahimsa, non-violence.”

There are many acts of ahimsa. There are many expressions of ahimsa also. But himsa, violence, is rampant today. Himsa means violence. It is rampant. Today, violence is everywhere. You hear it the moment you switch on your radio, the moment you switch on your TV. You read it the moment you sit at the breakfast table and open the newspaper. The whole front page speaks of violence somewhere or the other - this group fighting with that group, or this man murdering so many people. Violence! Violence!

Bhagavan's concept of violence is different from the ordinary connotations. The concept of violence that we understand is hurting or harming somebody. Bhagavan has gone a step beyond: You can be violent by how you look at another. Some people look at us in such a way that we feel very much embarrassed. ‘Why is that man looking like that? Why? What happened to him? (Laughter) He seems to be some wild animal. Why? There is no friendship in his looks. There is no love in his looks. Something is wrong with this man.’ So, you can hurt, you can be violent through your looks.

By using words, you can be violent. I can give you numerous examples because we are surrounded by acts of verbal violence, verbal acts!

“Sir, where can I sit?”

"SIT THERE!" Violence! (Laughter)

“Sir, I want to give a letter to Swami. So can I sit in the front?”

"NO, SIT, SIT!" (Laughter) Violence!

“Sir, I want another spoon of Sambar.”

"NOTHING DOING!" (Laughter) Violence!

“Sir, is this book available?"

“CHECK THE LIST! CAN’T YOU FIND IT THERE?" Violence!

“Sir, when is Darshan time?”

“ASK THE NEXT FELLOW. THIS IS NOT AN ENQUIRY COUNTER!" (Laughter) Violence!

So, you can be violent verbally. You can also be violent through your looks. Then you can be violent by your thoughts. If we are always thinking of the fall of the other man, waiting for the failure of the other man or waiting for the other man’s defeat, that is also violence.

So, violence does not necessarily mean only killing. One can be violent by word, thought and deed. Therefore, ahimsa, non-violence, means refraining from hurting anybody by thought, word and deed. That's the answer.

97 “I really do not know why I start crying while singing Bhajans. Can you please tell me why this is happening?”

This is happening to the questioner and I have to give a solution. Well, I am glad about one thing. The question is put to me this way: “Why am I crying during Bhajans?” Good. If you cry at home over something else, I have no answer. (Laughter) Those answers are purely private and personal, but this crying during Bhajans is a welcome feature. It's positive. Don't say crying. No! They are tears of joy, Ananda, bliss. In fact, everyone should cry while singing. Yes! This shedding of tears of joy is not the shedding of tears of grief. They are not the tears of sadness. They are tears of joy in singing the glory of God. This is a welcome feature. You can't help it once you become absorbed in the singing.

Usually, when Bhajans are going on, your thoughts will be on the singer: ‘Who is singing?’ (Laughter) Why are you interested in the singer? When you are interested in the singer, there won’t be tears of joy. Some people are interested in the instruments. ‘How nice! Who is playing?’ (Laughter) ‘The tabla is nice’, as if the harmonium is awful! (Laughter) Or, ‘The harmonium is nice’, as if the tabla is bad! So, when you concentrate on the singer, when you think of the instruments, when you think about that sort of song…No!

When you think of the song, singer or instrument, naturally you cannot identify with the Bhajan. You should be the song. You should transform yourself into the song, such that you are the song. The song is not different from you. You are the rhythm, you are the beat, you are the melody and you are the Bhajan. Bhajan is not separate from you.

Once you identify yourself with that process of Bhajan, tears of joy start rolling unnoticed. You think of Lord Krishna: ‘Giridhar Gopala, Giridhar Gopala, O Lord Krishna!’ You think of Him, so naturally tears of joy will start. But if you think of the singer, the instrument or the song, the joy is gone.

Think of the content; think of the meaning. Be a song onto yourself. Be a melody to yourself. Be the music. Then you can identify. Then you will understand what bliss is during a Bhajan session. We don't experience bliss during Bhajan because we are separate from the Bhajan. I am separate from my Bhajan because I am watching who is sitting around me. I am watching my group or some other group. But I have not come here for groupism! (Laughter)

Some people say, “Sir, we don't allow them because they don't belong to our group.” I want to know to which second-rate group you belong! (Laughter) So, you belong to that group of second-rate fellows. Let’s not concentrate on the groups. Chi! Unity is Divinity. Groupism is not worth it at all.

Sitting for Bhajans, I am conscious of my environment. I am aware of the people around. I watch and others are watching me. So where is the question of tears of joy? (Laughter) Close your eyes and understand. Get into the meaning of the song, the melody. Picture yourself with all the content and the meaning of the Bhajan. Then you become the song itself. You become the music itself. Then the tears of joy come. That's the answer.

98 “How is the spiritual heart connected with the mind in the body, in terms of feeling, thinking and action? How do I connect them for a better life?”

“The mind and heart, how are they to be linked?” Swami gave the answer a long time ago.

We should know the distinction between the mind and the heart. The memory, the intelligence, knowledge, recapitulation, and all secular knowledge, all the information of the outer world, all this is in our head. The head is the seat of learning. The head is the seat of knowledge. The head is the centre of worldly information.

The heart is the seat of wisdom. The heart is the centre of intuition, not intelligence. The heart is the centre of awareness. The heart is the birthplace for human values in life, like truth, sacrifice, peace and compassion. They all arise in our heart. The memory, intelligence, statistics, data, computer - that is the head; whereas compassion, love and peace, these are found in our heart.

So, the heart and the head - I have told you the difference between the two. Now, how to link them? It is quite simple.

When the heart prompts, when the heart dictates, the mind executes. When the mind executes, when the mind acts on the dictation, acts on the command of the heart, the life is in perfect harmony, in perfect unison, in perfect unity, in perfect co-ordination, in complete integration.

If the mind does not agree with the heart (consciousness or awareness), if the mind declares independence, “Let me act in my own way! (Laughter) I am quite independent. Keep quiet, heart!”… When the mind goes on acting in its own way, what happens? Accidents.

If we act according to the mind, completely neglecting the heart, it means that we are giving expression to our ego. The mind is the ego, individual consciousness or individual identification. On the other hand, the heart is cosmic; the heart is universal; the heart is spiritual. If the mind acts without the background of the heart, the mind naturally diverts, deviates, digresses and misdirects. This digression, this misdirection, this wrong perversion is responsible for all the chaos in our lives. When we are directed by the mind, our life is full of chaos and confusion.

On the other hand, if the heart commands, and the mind acts according to the command of the heart, life will be peaceful. Life will be spiritual. That’s why Baba says, "The body is a water bubble. Don't follow the body. The mind is a mad monkey. Don't follow the mind. Follow your conscience!" That is what your heart is. That is what the heart is. That is the answer to the question.

99 “Explain harmony in thought, word and deed in terms of its inner meaning.”

In terms of its inner meaning - thought, word and deed, yes! The words that I speak and spell out, those acts are visible. The thought is entertained in the mind. The thought will find its expression by word and action. I cannot speak without thought. If thought does not produce the word, I am a mad man. We say that he doesn't know what he is saying. What does it mean? When there is no thought behind it, one is mental, psychotic. If there are no thoughts behind an action, the actions are going to be foolish. The actions will land you in total failure. Thought is the promoter of word and action.

Then, what is the source of thought? The source of thought is the Self, the Atma. The source of thought is Self, Consciousness. Awareness is the source of thought. Once we are aware of the Awareness, the thought comes out of it. This thought produces speech. This thought directs, reflects, manifests, by way of action.

Because we are not aware of it, because we do not know the source of thought, we are confused. When we speak, we are not conscious of our speech. When we act, we are not sure of our actions. Sometimes, our motives are questionable. Once we know that the source of thought is the Self, these things are neatly solved.

Then, no thought or thoughtlessness is Divinity. Thoughtlessness is Divine. Withdrawal of thought is Amanaska, ‘no mind’. The withdrawal of thought, mano laya, merging of the mind in the Absolute, this annihilation is Divinity.

From that no-thought state, we come to the individual self. After all, there are two states: one, the Cosmic Self, and the other, the individual self. The Cosmic Self is no thought. The individual self is the seed of thought. Then the thought expresses in word or action. I think I am clear. The Cosmic Self is something like a thermal power station. The individual self is like a transformer. The mind is like a meter. The body is like an electric light bulb. The electricity is the action.

Therefore my friends, the source is the Cosmic Self, which is thoughtless, which manifests and proceeds into this world in the form of individual self, out of which thought is born. This expresses itself by way of word and deed. Therefore, the unity from within can be established by being aware of the Cosmic Self, the Parmatma - the Universal Soul, the Parabrahman - God.

100 “All good people suffer - why?”

First, why should you think that you are good? (Laughter) You cannot declare yourself to be good. There should be someone else to say that you are good. You cannot say, “I am so good; why am I suffering?” Oho! (Laughter) Maybe I should ask by what standards you declare yourself to be good?

So, all good people suffer. Why? Last year, this question was put to Bhagavan.

(By the way, for the benefit of English-speaking people, I may say that by the time of His Birthday, I would like to have all these questions published in book form as well as those things spoken about by Bhagavan on the verandah. For your benefit, I am in the process of getting them translated into English.)

This question was put to Bhagavan: “All good people suffer. Why?”

Bhagavan said, "You think that they are suffering. But they don't feel they are suffering."

Understand this point: You think that they are suffering, but they never feel suffering. They don't think they are suffering at all. But they appear to be suffering. As you know, Jesus Christ was on the cross, at the moment of tests and turmoil, at a time of challenge, and heavily bleeding. He prayed, “God, O God, O Father in Heaven, they know not what they do. Forgive them!”

He prayed for their pardon! “Let these people be excused. They do not know what they do.” Is it possible for an ordinary man to pray for his executers, to pray for those people who nailed Him on the cross? Is it possible? We think He was suffering, but He was not suffering.

Gandhiji, a man who used non-violent means to bring about India’s independence, was jailed. We think Gandhiji, the father of the Nation, was suffering, but he never felt he was suffering. No, he never felt so.

We thought that Prahlada, the saintly son of the king of the three worlds, was suffering. Actually, he was laughing and singing. If there were any suffering there, perhaps it was for God, as He had to rescue him everywhere. God had to save Prahlada.

If there is anybody suffering, it can only be God, because He has to save us all the time. We commit so many mistakes. He has to excuse us, and He has to save us from all possible threats and dangers. So we don't need to suffer, because He is there to take care of us.

Therefore, when you say that all good people suffer, it is only your imagination. Their goodness lies in bearing that suffering. Their goodness lies in resisting that suffering. Their goodness lies in still holding on to their principles and convictions very firmly, even at the time of suffering. That is their greatness.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Courtesy: http://www.saiwisdom.com

 

 

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