PROF. ANIL KUMAR – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [151 to 175]

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PROF. ANIL KUMAR – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [151 to 175]

151 - When we fall sick off and on, should we really go to the doctor every time? Is it not okay to take Vibuthi in water and chant Swami’s Name, however big or small the ailment might be? (01.08.04)

Oh, I see. If I say, “Yes,” you will ask why the super speciality hospital is here. If I say Vibuthi is enough, you may question why the general hospital and the super speciality hospital are there. If I say hospitals are there, you may ask why Vibuthi is not a cure.

What is Baba’s answer to this question? Let us go to the source. He has dealt with all these questions as we are in Him, and He is in us. He knows all these questions. What did He say?

“Some people have faith in medicine. For them the hospital is there. Some people have faith in Vibuthi. “

Paramam Pavithram Baba Vibhutim

Some people want both. Well, take Vibuthi, and go to the hospital so that the medicine will work well. (Laughter) Take it so that the doctor will have God’s grace, which will enable him to prescribe the suitable medicine for you, instead of some other medicine that makes the situation much worse than before. (Laughter)

Baba said that it all depends upon our faith. Then, shall I pray for small ailments or big ones? No, no! We should pray to be without ailments also. (Laughter)

152 - Characters like Meera and the gopikas are misleading. (01.08.04)

A. No. We are misled by our own thoughts. Our own understanding misleads us. It is not misleading. Their examples illustrate the feeling of non-dual experience.

As Baba has said, “Expansion of love is life. Contraction of love is death.”

The example of the gopikas is expansion of love. The example of Meera is expansion of love. Let’s not understand it in a narrow sense.

153- The gopikas also did something similar. They were so immersed in Krishna, that they had no time for their families. (01.08.04)

A. No! They could see Krishna. A daughter-in-law could see Krishna in her mother-in-law, which is usually impossible. Mother-in-law, daughter-in-law will never go together. Like fire and water. (Laughter) Impossible. Of course, with due apologies to exceptions.

But here is a case where gopikas could see Krishna in the mother-in-law! They could see Krishna in their husbands! They could see Krishna in butter, in milk, in the pot! They could see Krishna in the neighbourhood. That is Krishna-consciousness. So, we can’t interpret this in mundane, worldly terms.

154. I fully agree with King Janaka, as he did his duty and also merged in God.

A. Very good! Please follow King Janaka’s example.

155 - If every woman acted as Meerabai did, the family would be in utter chaos! (01.08.04)

A. I see. Every woman is not a Meera. Meera is a woman, but every woman is not a Meera. And to love God, she need not give up her husband. It’s not necessary.

As Baba said, “When you look after your own people lovingly, understand that you are serving God.”

Sarva Deva Namaskaaram Keshavam Prathigacchathi.

Whoever you respect, whomever you serve, whomever you love, it means you love God, you are respecting God. It doesn’t mean when you love God, you should hate your husband. (Laughter)

When you love your husband, it doesn’t mean that you should hate God. That equation won’t work here. If you love God, you should love your husband more! When you love God, you should love your people more because God is in them.

As Baba said, “If you disrespect anybody, it means you are disrespecting God.”

Sarva Deva Thiraskaaram Keshavam Prathigacchathi.

Whoever you deny, whomever you neglect, you are neglecting God Himself. That’s what Baba has said.

Let us take Meera’s case. She had given priority to God. She developed distance from her husband not because she disliked him, but because he started interfering with her devotion. Therefore, let us not think that she hated him from our usual psychological point of view. It is not so.

156 - I openly disagree with what Meerabai did. (Oh!) She left her husband for God. Why did she marry then? Is she not violating the duty of a wife or a householder? (01.08.04)

Meera is not available now, so that we could put this question to her! (Laughter) I wish that she was alive.

157 - Is it proper for a mother to curse her own children just to vent her anger and ego? (01.08.04)

It is not your business to judge your mother. Your mother must have been vexed with you and totally disgusted with you. She must have scolded you a number of times. She must have warned you repeatedly when you went astray. To set you right, she must have pretended to be angry with you.

No mother can ever be angry. There may be a bad son, but there can never be a bad mother. If a mother appears angry, it means that she is pretending to be angry. Why is she pretending? You are not acting as per her wishes. What are her wishes? Her wishes are that you should prosper, progress, and advance in your life. So, if a mother is angry, it is only for your own good.

Swami is the Divine Mother. Sometimes, He pretends to be angry with you. Can God ever be angry? If God is angry, what hope is there for human beings? Swami tells us it is only action, a drama to correct you. So, take your mother’s anger in that way also, not in a negative sense.

158 - When somebody curses out of anger or frustration, does it affect us, though we did not commit any sin? (01.08.04)

Just as when anybody praises you, nothing happens to you, similarly, when someone curses you, nothing will happen. After all, anybody can say anything. People say that you are good when you oblige them, and they say that you are bad when you don’t oblige them. Good and bad depend upon mutual relationships at a certain point in time, mutual obligation. When anyone praises you, nothing will happen. When anyone curses you, nothing can ever happen. Let’s not be worried about it.

159. We are drowned by confusion. Please enlighten me by clarifying the following queries: How do we seek approval from Swami for our day-to-day decisions? People who are physically close to Swami get their questions answered there and then. (01.08.04)

A. I am sorry, sir. You don’t have to seek Swami’s guidance everyday. No. It is not even possible for those who are near him to do so. You may not believe it, my friends, when I say that I wanted to give a wedding card to Bhagavan and had to wait for four days. Even though I was sitting very close to Him and translating His discourses every day, I could not hand over the wedding card and had to wait for four consecutive days. He would get up after the translation was over and would turn His head in the other direction. “Sit down.” (Laughter) For four days! So, don’t be under the impression that those who are here, and near to Him, have got easy access to Swami. No.

Please take me as the best example and a suitable example. No access at all. And if you try to grab access to Him, that marks the end of your career. (Laughter) He will not care to look at you at all. If you try to pressure Him, you will get instructions through somebody that you better take the tenth row seat, and not sit in the front. You will be shifted. It is a risky thing.

How to get clearance everyday from Swami while being at such a long distance from Him?

Bhagavan has said, “Your conscience is God.” Follow the master - your conscience. Your conscience tells you whether you are right or wrong. The conscience is part of consciousness. That is God. So, go by your own conscience. Bhagavan Himself has said so.

160. Swami says, “Love all, serve all”. In family life, it is not possible to love all and serve all, especially, when people around are jealous and political. (Oho!) So, should we distance ourselves from such family members or still continue to mingle with them?

I am a very reserved person (Good!) and I would like to be with people who talk about Swami or good things in general. I like to be alone and do my prayers and Pooja and do whatever service I can, individually.

I am scared to do teamwork in service, as people might hurt me. I am scared sometimes. What should I do? Is it wrong to stay aloof and keep to myself? I like to spend more time praying, doing my household chores, duties and being alone. Is it ok? (01.08.04)

A. It is too personal a question. “Love all, serve all” does not mean that you go to them and live with them. "I love you." That doesn’t mean I shift from my staff quarters and stay with you. (Laughter) "I love you." It doesn’t mean I vacate my house and shift all my baggage to your house. Do I do that? (Laughter)

So when you say, “Love all, serve all”, it does not necessarily mean that you should leave your household and move. You can be where you are and still love everybody. Why not? (Laughter)

How is it possible? When you don’t hate anybody, it automatically means that you love everybody. Let us not hate anybody. Let us not have enmity towards anybody. And let’s not think that love is a location. Love is not a location or a position. Love is not geographical. It is uniform. It is universal.

Your householder position does not interfere with the dictum “Love all, serve all”. How do I mingle with people who are jealous and political? Show me a place where such qualities are not present. They are present everywhere.

Supposing Swami talks to you, somebody will look at you enviously. What does he mean by that? He does not share your happiness; he is very jealous. Jealousy is a quality that we have brought with us over several past lives. It cannot be washed out all of a sudden. It has to be done slowly, through the experience of sharing. First, by sharing your joy.

“Oh, you got an interview? Congratulations, my friend!”

“Swami looked at you? So nice!”

“Are you happy? Good!”

Let me share your blissful moments. Let me share your happiness, and then I will learn to share your agony as well. I will be able to share your misery as well. By sharing, we can love all.

Let the whole world be peaceful. You pray for the world. Yes. Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. We pray for everybody. That is service. Out of love, you pray for that jealous man that he will be free from all struggle and strife. 'Serve all' does not necessarily involve physical labour.

You can tell a person who is unhappy, “I am sorry for you. Don’t worry. Bhagavan will help you. I am so sorry to hear this. I was in this position for a long time. But Swami, the Compassionate Lord, helped me out of the problem. Similarly, a day will come. Don’t worry. Hold on to Swami. He will have a solution. Just wait. All of us went through this. Don’t worry.” Speaking soothing words is service.

A word of courage, a word of strength, a word to boost the spirits of a depressed or frustrated man is service. Service does not mean taking away the grass or giving some donation or watering the plants or going to jails. Not necessary. I am not saying such actions are wrong. No. But what I am saying is that every word, every gesture, can be one of service.

Here’s a simple example: If you are very much depressed, I make you smile. That is service. If a man is very frustrated and serious, by talking with him, I will make him smile. That is service. If I give you some hope, that is service. That’s how I understand it.

161- I always look upon Swami as my spiritual guide and Divine friend. However, my personal experience with Swami has been limited. He has been compassionate during the one or two physical encounters I have had with Him. My question is this: Krishna was a physical and spiritual friend to Arjuna. Why is it that God now chooses indirect communion with His friend? This has been the biggest test of our true friendship. (01.08.04)

My answer is straight. God never speaks to you indirectly. We interpret it as indirect. He is always direct. Because we resort to indirect means, we unfortunately rely upon other people. Bhagavan’s experiences and communications are straight and direct.

“I have just one or two experiences. Why not more?” says this person. My friend, what did Baba say about this?

You go to the Marina Beach, Juhu Beach or to the seashore anywhere. You stand in front of the sea and want to taste the seawater. What do you do? Just put one drop of seawater on the tongue is enough to know whether it is saline or salty.

“No, no sir, I want a bucketful of sea water to know its taste.” (Laughter)

When a drop cannot give you the taste, a bucket cannot give it; not even barrels of water can give it. Something is wrong with your tongue! (Laughter)

One experience is enough. One or two experiences are enough. That’s the example that Bhagavan has given for all of us. Let us not run after these experiences. One experience is given to us to know that He is God. How many times should He prove His Divinity?

There are some people who say, “Oh, I know that He is God but….”

Uh huh… (Laughter) But…!

Such people want Baba to prove everyday that He is God. Like the daily newspaper! (Laughter) How does it help them? This is not a daily weather report!

Therefore, Swami says, “I am God. You are also God.” That solves the problem. Discover that you are God. Once you know that you are God, once you experience that you are God, you will know that I am God also - that you and I are one.

Therefore, my friends, let us not run after these experiences. Because there is no limit to these experiences.

Some person says, “Sir, I was coming in a lorry. Suddenly the brakes failed and the lorry left the road and fell into a valley. Everybody died, but I survived, thanks to Swami.” (Laughter)

How do you explain this miracle? Everybody died, while this fellow survived. Shall I say those that perished are atheists or goondas or what? That this fellow is a devotee, Class One! (Laughter) How can I say that? And he wants such a thing to be repeated everyday - that he is going to survive, whilst others are going to die? (Laughter) What is that? Let it be repeated everyday? (Laughter) Himalayan foolishness! Oh yes, fathomless depths of ignorance!

Baba has said, “Miracles are like mosquitoes. Divinity is the size of an elephant. You want mosquitoes but not an elephant. What can I do? ”

Further, He says, “My miracles are just visiting cards. “

I want to see you in your office. I send a visiting card. We meet there for the first time. You have come to know me well. Should I introduce myself everyday? In the morning I meet you. (Laughter) In the evening, I again send you my card. Next morning again…. (Laughter) You will think that I am a mad fellow, and you will decide to avoid me. (Laughter) Would you like to be introduced everyday, every minute?

So, to know that Baba is God, how many experiences do you want? How many miracles do you want to experience? In fact, more experiences will not ensure gain at all.

The experiences you have had are something like breakfast or lunch. Everyday you have to eat. So, everyday I must experience! This kind of experience is to take you into the interior of the Divine mansion.

Baba further added that to make a child attend school, we give him chocolates and sweets. For the sake of the chocolates, the child goes to school. The second day also, he goes to the school for the sake of a chocolate, but on the third day, the child goes on its own.

“No, no, no. I want chocolates everyday. I am in the tenth class. I need ten chocolates everyday.” (Laughter)

“I am in twelfth class. I need twelve chocolates everyday.”

Your stomach will become a chocolate shop. (Laughter) That is not the purpose of giving the chocolates.

We give chocolates so that child will go to the school and learn. So, these miracles and experiences are like chocolates and peppermints, which encourage your interest in Divinity. The miracle is only an entrance. This hall is Divinity.

162. Swami says, "I pass on My energy to you during Darshan." Can’t we draw Swami’s energy doing Bhajan alone at home? Millions of devotees are not able to come to Parthi to physically draw this energy. Please advise me. Is there a difference between being at Parthi or at home, filled with thoughts of Swami and prayers? I wish to make my home a temple so that I don’t miss Swami at any point of time. (01.08.04)

A very good question. If I say that I draw energy only here, I am under the impression that it is a well, out of which I can draw water. It is a river where I can fetch a pot full of water. No. The very thought of Bhagavan, the very Name of Bhagavan, the very sight of Bhagavan, is enough to make you draw energy and make you feel energetic.

Here is a simple example. While travelling, a few people are sitting seriously in silence. Suddenly, one gentleman notices Swami’s picture in a chain locket.

He asks, “Are you a Sai devotee?”

“Yes! Are you?”

“Yes!”

You just watch how nicely they talk. They don’t even notice that they have reached their destination. They go on talking throughout the night.

Arrey, how is it that the fellows who are so serious and dull-headed become so active? How is it they can talk throughout the night? The very thought of Bhagavan makes you energetic. The very Name of Bhagavan makes you energetic.

Here is a simple example. There is the neighbouring state of Orissa. It takes forty-eight hours, or two days, to reach this place. Believe me or not, the devotees start singing Bhajans at Bhubaneswar, the starting point and state capital, and go on singing till they reach Prashanthi Nilayam. (Laughter)

How is it possible? Come on, you do it! Impossible. The very thought of Bhagavan. The very Name is enough. If I think that I draw energy only here, I am mistaken. God is beyond time and space.

"But how am I to see Bhagavan here right now?"

One is an in-patient while the other one is an outpatient. (Laughter) One is admitted to the hospital while the other takes medicines at home. It doesn’t matter. Both are patients. (Laughter) One is in the general ward, while the other is in the intensive care unit (ICU). (Laughter)

Baba Himself has said, “The bus drivers come everyday. They come for Darshan. Do they get energy?”

Ask them, “Do you get energy?”

“No, no sir. I get energy only after eating, (Laughter) not now.”

“Oh, I see!”

Why does he not get it and how do you get it? (Laughter) My friends, it is not simple nearness that makes you energetic. It is one’s receptivity.

Suppose I close my eyes and I say that there is nobody in this room. "Which fool says there are so many people?" Nobody can speak to such a fool. (Laughter) Similarly, receptivity and sensitivity are very important. You feel His presence by the very utterance of His Name.

When people talk about Swami, it is very interesting. It is so nice to watch them. I watch them with joy.

When a person starts telling of his experience, “You know what…. Swami is coming… Swami is … Hat.. Phat Phat… Hah….” (Laughter) Aaaah…Like a thousand watt bulb! The face is so brilliant. Until then, it was castor oil face. The moment he starts singing, the moment he starts speaking about his experience, there comes excitement. How? The very thought of Swami energises. You don’t need a Bunsen burner or a blast furnace. One matchstick is enough to burn down everything to ashes. One matchstick is enough. A blast furnace or a whole steel plant is not necessary. One matchstick is enough to kindle the light.

Similarly, my friends, to experience Bhagavan, a sincere prayer, a photograph, a conversation with a fellow devotee, participation in Bhajan or in a service activity, or going through His literature is enough. Anything is enough.

Similarly, if your son settled abroad ten years ago, his dress, his table, his bookshelf, his friends or his photograph will make you cry! Isn’t this true?

‘This is the dressing table of my son. This is the dining table of my son. This is the bookshelf of my….’ Why all that? Every article in the house will remind you of your son who settled abroad some years ago. If any visitor comes, you say, “Come here! Have you seen my son’s table?”

“Arrey! It’s not the Taj Mahal! Why should I look?” (Laughter)

Why should I look? There is no excitement for me in looking at your son’s things.

Therefore, when I say 'I draw energy', it means I am receptive, I am sensitive. In fact, just hearing a Bhajan is enough. Involvement in a service activity is enough.

163 - I feel everybody should have at least one experience with Swami, to know He is God and to have faith in Him. Initially, when someone told me He is Shirdi Sai, how could I believe Him? There are so many God men in India who are claiming they are Shirdi Sai, etc. etc. How do we rule out the fake ones? How do we keep Swami above all these God men? (01.08.04)

So, can you please suggest to Swami to provide a few good experiences to people like me so that we can have more faith? (Laughter) I do have one experience and a few others, but it is not very concrete like some of your experiences.

This is one of the questions. Really, my friends please note that anything that you doubt cannot be an experience. Please note, if you doubt, it is not an experience. Then what is it? It is only imagination.

Some people come and tell me, “Anil Kumar, last night Swami appeared in my dream and wanted me to come here.” Yesterday one lady was telling me, “Anil Kumar, Swami appeared in my dream and wanted me to come here. What shall I do now?”

What answer would you give if you were in my position? The answer is simple. Swami asks you to come in your dream. So, again ask in the dream whether you should continue to stay for longer or not. (Laughter) I have not asked you, how can I give a reply? Had I asked you, it is my duty to provide you with accommodation and all that. He asked you to come in a dream so, go back to your dream and ask Him. "Please excuse me. Thank you," I said. (Laughter)

So my friends, anything that you doubt, are not an experience. It is only hallucination. It is only imagination. It is only psychological. But anything that is your own personal experience, which you do not doubt, is real. A real experience gives no scope for any doubt. Let us be doubtless and have doubtless experiences. This doubtlessness is an authentic evolution in the spiritual field. Spirituality will never entertain any sort of doubt.

My friends, when I pose a question about the authenticity of a personal experience, it only means that I am doubting my own experience. When you start doubting your experience, it becomes imagination.

Some say that Bhagavan is not Shirdi Sai, while others say that He is. That is our botheration. How does it concern us whether He is Shirdi Sai or not? Why are you bothered? You accept Him as you see Him now. Shirdi Sai is of the past. In your previous life, you may have been worshipping Shirdi Sai. Right now, you see Him here, and accept Him. You have faith and you attain the state of doubtlessness.

We cannot challenge Him, “Oh Baba, if you are Shirdi Sai, give me some experience.” Why this challenge? It’s not necessary. The same God has several Names. Today, you will ask Him to prove that He is Shirdi. Tomorrow you will say, “I challenge you to prove if you are Rama or not.” The next month you will say, “Come on, appear in front of me as Krishna!” (Laughter)

He will not oblige you. He is not accountable to you! It is your own problem. Friends, if anyone asks if He is Shirdi Sai, you just tell him, “Experience for yourself.” If anyone says, “I think He is not Shirdi Sai”, you can reply, “Thank you!” (Laughter)

It is for us to know. We don’t have to bother about it. Let us see the reality as it is now. Right now, what is happening in front of us? That will show us the correct path.

164 - Why is Swami healing so many people, but our own love cannot heal His ailments? It makes people suffer.

Yes, this is the difference between our love and Swami’s Love. Our love is narrow and limited, whereas Swami’s Love is infinite. Our love is narrow and selfish, while His Love is universal. Our love is conditional, while His Love is unconditional. Our love is limited to time and space, whereas His Love is beyond that. Our love has got some expectations; but there is nothing like that in Divine Love.

While His is a 1000-candle bulb, my love is a zero-candle bulb. Truly speaking, if my love also were to get expanded, extending as much as His Divine Love, miracles would certainly happen. Take for example, healing, prayer, or certain spiritual rituals. The prayers of some are answered, while some prayers are 50% answered; other prayers have not yet reached Him. It all depends on the voltage -- 40-watt voltage, 100-watt voltage.

Therefore, His Love is 100% total, utterly selfless, 100% pure, and can cure anybody. Since my love is not of that level, it’s not able to cure anybody because I have not gone beyond the body level of understanding. I have not gone beyond the mind. I have not gone past the limitations of the human body. I have no idea what universal Love is. I have no experience of Divine Love. Therefore, we need to expand our love. That’s why Bhagavan says, “Expansion of Love is life; contraction of Love is death.” Am I clear?

Now, when Bhagavan cures Himself with His infinite Love, we’ll all begin to say things like this: ”With all Your God power, You could cure Yourself, becoming free from suffering, while we fellows have to suffer like this. It is very unfair.” If He doesn’t cure Himself, what do people say? “If You cannot cure Yourself, how can You cure me?” Either way, we are not going to leave Him.

But one point has to be understood. Only a few days ago, I saw one man here that I know well. If you are so particular, I will show that man to you. He hails from Anantapur. His son settled in Dallas, Texas, USA. I saw his sons here too. This gentleman was sitting there on the verandah for couple of days. I know him very well. Bhagavan has visited his residence also. He is an old devotee, not by virtue of age, but by virtue of discipleship.

I was just observing all this. Swami was talking to his sons there, and to the father here. People were wondering, ‘Why daily?’ People forget that everyone has a problem. They think, ‘Swami should talk to me! Why should He talk to him?’

Soon I forgot my problem, as that man’s problem has become my problem now. Slowly, as days passed by, I started saying ‘Sai Ram’ to that gentleman in order to establish some rapport. (Laughter) It would be indecent to ask,” Why is He talking to you?” because he may say, ‘It is not your problem. It is my problem.” So, I did not dare to ask him like that. Instead I established ‘Sai Ram’ contact first (Laughter), brought him to my level, and said, “You are fortunate that Bhagavan is talking to you.” I said so he would understand that Anil Kumar is not jealous of him. (Laughter)

The next day, he himself called me and said that he was suffering from cancer. The cancer had reached an advanced stage. So his sons came here. Bhagavan was talking to them about this matter. He was talking to this elderly gentleman, this elderly man, their father, about this problem. They were getting some interviews also.

Finally one day, that man told me what had happened in the interview room. Then I was feeling happy that I could keep him in a good humour by sharing with him his personal experiences. What he said was that Swami had asked him to remove his shirt and everything. Then He had applied Vibuthi all over his body and said, “Go! Allow yourself to be tested anywhere all over the world. I tell you, the cancer is cancelled.” This happened not even a week ago.

It is a very strange thing: Though being so powerful and capable of doing everything, He does not do anything for Himself; and we, though we look as though we can do something, we cannot do anything. Just the opposite to us is God, who can do everything, though He appears to do nothing. Though we are nothing at the base, we appear to be something. This is the paradox of life.

So, Bhagavan does not use the power for Himself because then we would say, “Oh God, You are selfish” if He cures Himself. So there is definitely a purpose behind it. And I also believe that the full truth may not be known totally today. We may not understand it today, the underlying philosophy and secrets of the Avatar. We may not find a 100% satisfactory answer as to why things are happening the way they are today,

Slowly, slowly things will unravel. They will become clear very soon. The answer I have given may not be 100% acceptable to you. It may not be 100% logical and rational. The answer that I gave you is the way I look at it, with my own personal perception of the events today. Like this, each one of you may have your own comprehension. That’s it, yes.

165 - If we ask Swami wholeheartedly, can He liberate us from all of our bad past karma? (06.08.04)

To answer this, I must bring your attention to some important points. Please allow me to go into the depth of philosophy. I think you will appreciate it. Let me not give you some superficial answer. Let us go in-depth.

First point: You are not to be liberated; you are liberated. Liberation is not in the future. Liberation is not a hope. Liberation is not a promise. Liberation is not an article, just to be given like that. Liberation cannot happen by the command or by the word. It is not to be commanded. So, the first point I want to draw to your attention is: We are not to be liberated because we are already liberated. We are born liberated.

But unfortunately, here in this context, let me share one example that Baba gives repeatedly. A young man walks on two legs. He gets married, and then he starts walking with four legs (e.g. his legs and his wife’s). He will have a child, and then start walking with six legs. With the addition of more children, he becomes a centipede or a millipede. Thus, worries and anxieties are added on more and more.

As a child, we are totally liberated. But with the passage of time, with more and more attachments, professional obligations, social responsibilities, family burdens, children, status and financial responsibilities, all these things make us bonded.

So bondage is a thing that we have made for ourselves. I was born liberated; but I got into the trap of bondage on my own. Bondage has no legs to walk into my life; bondage has no hands to hug me. Bondage came in by my invitation.

So, since I got into bondage, I need only come out of it. Having been born liberated, having led the life of liberation, over a period of time I got into bondage. Now I feel breathless and suffocated. So I say, “I want to be liberated. Oh God, help me!”

He will be laughing, “You have put yourself into the cage of bondage. Now you alone can come out of it.” For example, if I go into the kitchen, then I only can come out of the kitchen. Similarly, having gone into the trap of bondage, I should get out of it.

For the process of ‘getting out’, prayer will help us and surrender will help us. Devotion will help us come out of bondage without much suffering and without much pain. Go back to liberation, to the situation in which you were born, a state in which you led your life for so long.

So my friends, liberation there, bondage here, back to liberation -- prayer will help us; devotion will help us; spiritual knowledge will help us to know the drama of life: “Oh God, You created me free. You created me totally liberated. I got into bondage. You should help me get out. What is the way?” The only way is to know, by the process of Self-enquiry, our true identity or true nature.

We have to ask ourselves repeatedly this question: “Who am I?” I should come to the conclusion logically, scientifically, by experience, that I am not the body. Later, by putting the same question, “Who am I?” I should come to know by rational, logical thinking, and by experiencing, that I am not the mind. So finally, I come to the conclusion that I am not the body; I am not the mind; I am pure spirit, Atma or the soul, which is always in a state of liberation. Then realisation comes.

Suppose I have a pen in my pocket. I go on searching for my pen. “Where is the pen? Where is the pen?”

A dashing young man will come and say, “Mr. Anil Kumar, you seem to be a fool. You are searching for the pen. You are struggling hard to recover it. It’s already there in your pocket.”

“Oh, I see!”

“Have I got the pen now? Has it come from the sky? Has any angel put it into my pocket?” No. It was already there. Only I forgot it and then he reminded me.

So, the one who reminds us of our true Self is the preceptor or guru. When you are reminded by the guru, you will no longer feel that you are the body or that you are the mind. You will now feel that you are the Self. This is called ‘realisation’. So the guru reminds you to come to the path of enquiry, which is the sadhana, and then experiences the reality, which is ‘realisation’.

Here is a simple example: There is an earthen pot with a narrow neck. When there are lots of monkeys around, here is what we do to catch them: We keep some peanuts in the pot. The monkey will put his hand into the pot. He will catch all the peanuts and hold the peanuts in a tight grip. When he wants to take away his hand, it won’t come out because the pot has a narrow neck. The monkey thinks that someone is pulling his hand, that someone is holding his hand. So he starts jumping.

So, what is it that monkey should do now? Who is holding his hand? The monkey should let loose its fingers and drop the peanuts. Peanuts are the desires. Grip is the attachment. Pot is the life. So, once the monkey drops the peanuts, it can ease its hand out freely. Similarly, once we drop this idea, this false identification with the body, we can simply 'get out'.

So liberation -- you are the liberation; liberation is not separate from you. Liberation is not an achievement. Liberation is not an accomplishment. Liberation is your birth-right, a natural thing, an available thing. But because of body attachment, we feel that we are in bondage. Bondage is artificial; liberation is natural. Bondage is human creation; liberation is a Divine gift. Liberation is pure; bondage is banishment or punishment. Liberation is spiritual, while bondage is universal. Am I clear? A short question with a long answer!

We have just five minutes more. I know the foreign canteen is anxious to receive you. I think tonight is not a pizza day. I know that mosquitoes also find a safe landing on your body. People say that in Los Angeles, a flight lands and takes off every three minutes. Los Angeles airport is nothing! Our body is the best airport for every flight of the mosquito, which comes every second! (Laughter)

I thank you very much for your kind invitation, and my special congratulations and appreciation to today’s translator. (Laughter) He is a handsome young man, who excels me in his speed and spirit, translating whatever I say. Perhaps he is one among the very few whom I have met who is a perfect translator. I say this because I find that there are people who simply translate to do their job, to deliver the goods, so to speak. What about the spirit behind it, the force behind it? This young man could do that. Let’s give him a big hand.(Applause)

166 - My son is not spiritual in the way I want him to be. My grandson doesn’t behave in the way I want him to behave. I want to correct my grandchild, but my son will not permit me. I want to correct my granddaughter, but my daughter will not permit me. What can I do? (08.08.04)

Let us understand, my friends, that just because I feel attached to my daughter or son, grandson or granddaughter, just because I feel that I am attached to them, I think I can shape their destiny. No! I cannot shape the destiny of my son and I cannot decide the fate of my daughter because, as parents, we are only channels of God’s grace. That’s all. We are only channels. So Baba always says, parents are through you. Through you. That’s all. You are only channels. You cannot claim that you are of my making. As through you, we as parents, we are only channels. So we cannot decide the fate and the destiny of our children. No!

167 - What do you say about India as the spiritual heart of mankind? (22.08.04)

This is the spiritual heart of mankind. Yes, it is only because it is the spiritual heart of mankind! Swami has said this because there is a fund of literature on philosophy in this country. Plus, there are a number of saints and seers here in this country. I am just stating facts. That's all.

Every other religion has got just one sacred book to follow and adopt. But Sanathana Dharma, the philosophy and culture of this land, provides a variety of books, a number of thoughts of various dimensions, like a diamond that has so many facets.

We have the three schools of Vedanta -- dualism, qualified dualism and non-dualism. We have nine paths of devotion. We have the Gita, the epics, the Brahma Sutras, Yoga Vashishta, and a mine of more spiritual literature here. That's why this is the spiritual ‘heart’ for all nations.

With this, we come to the close of this morning’s session. Infact, I wanted to speak on “Sai Baba as an Ideal Leader” this morning. On the way, you friends met me and said, “Anil Kumar, why don't we have a question and answer session this morning?”

168 - If Swami knows everything about us, why did He ask you yesterday, during His Divine discourse, about the name of the boy standing there? (22.08.04)

Ohho! (Laughter) Good! He is asking me about what he saw; he is very sharp! Good! We get these questions. I will bring in an analogy, which is close to this situation:

If Swami comes like that to you and asks, “When did you come?” does He not know when you came?

The very same Swami said, “Nobody can be here unless I want them to be here.” That's what He has said. Then why does He ask, “When did you come?”

Second example: He was just there on the dais, while the program was going on in full swing. He was looking at me and said, “How about your breakfast?”

“That's OK, thank You.” Some ‘Divine romance’ goes on there, you know! (Laughter) Does He not know that I am yet to have my breakfast? Why should He say that?

My friends, God establish contact by putting such questions. Suppose He does not talk to you at all, as He knows everything. So, why should He talk to you? Why should He talk to you, as He knows everything?

No, no, no. To give you the joy of talking to Him, to give you the happiness of being close to Him, to give you the thrill of being near Him, He starts asking you, “What did you have for breakfast?” “Oh! How are you?” “Your dress is nice!” “How is your job?” Then we start answering these questions enthusiastically.

Suddenly He says, “I know what you have done there!” (Laughter) Hadah! Your BP falls down now! There’s high BP when He’s talking to you. Suddenly He says, “I know what you have done there. You cannot hide anything from Me!” Hadah! Low BP!

So, Swami is ‘ordinary’ while talking to us, in order to come closer to us, to be nearer and dearer to us. But He is ‘extraordinary’ by revealing to us those things that we have never shared with anybody, not even with our ‘better-half’!

Those things that you have kept in an almira or safe deposit locker in your heart, Swami will nicely open! I tell you that. But one thing is this: He will not trouble you about it. He will put it in such an indirect way that nobody is put to embarrassment. Do you understand?

All right, I will put it straight: One lady was in the family way. Swami came and said, “Yes, delivery after two months. You will have a male child.”

“Oh, Swami!” The lady became excited.

While going to the gents’ side, Swami told the husband, “You will have a female child.” (Laughter)

What's all this? The man is not going to carry on, from now onwards. So, He told the husband that he will have a female child and to the wife, that she will have a male child. So there’s a heated argument at home, as in Parliament!

Then, Swami gave them an interview after a week. This man should have been kept his mouth shut! (Laughter) In this respect, ladies are better. They know how to be composed and all that -- how not to be inconvenient.

This man simply burst out, “But Swami, why did You say that she will have a male child, while You told me that it will be a female child?”

Swami just laughed and continued the interview. While leaving, the wife left first. The husband was still there at the doorstep “Shall I tell you about that affair? That affair? (Laughter) “With this lady, you will have a male child.”

“Swami, it is enough! It is enough! It is enough!”(Laughter)

So, certain things we keep as a treasure; we don't share with anybody. But Swami knows! We cannot hide anything from Him. I shall not name that man. It wouldn’t be decent.

There is one lecturer from Anantapur, a very close friend of mine. Since we’re a family, I am telling you his story. He is a very close friend of mine. This incident happened long back, about 25 years ago. He is a lecturer in chemistry. That fellow somehow had chosen a girl, and he wanted to marry her.

This was kept as a top secret because he doubted whether his parents would permit him to marry her or not. So he came here, along with that lady, and asked her to wait near the bus stand, as he feared Swami may heavily bang him. Who knows? She should not know that.

He was thinking, ‘He can bang me separately, so that I can tell her I got the interview.’ Do you know what? You don’t know what happens in the interview room!

So, he asked her to stay at bus stand. (I am telling you because he is my close friend.)

Swami called him for an interview. He was speaking in general, “How is your job? How are your parents?” and all that. Then suddenly Swami asked, “Why have you left her there at the bus stand? (Laughter) She is waiting for you there.”

“Swami, I...”

“Yes, I know about the affair. Right?”

Then finally He said, “She is not the right girl for you. No. Your parents will not approve of her. I will select another bride for you, who will be appreciated and approved of by your parents. I will perform your marriage. Don't disappoint your parents like that. Just wait for half an hour more here in the interview room. By then, that lady will catch another bus and go back. Only then you can go outside. Sit down here.”

Swami made him sit there for half an hour more. By the time he went there to the bus stand to apologise, to convey his excuses – “Sorry that I could not meet you in time” -- by the time that fellow got there, she had already left, as predicted by Bhagavan.

So, Bhagavan knows everything. If He starts telling everything, none of us will be here! (Laughter) We have got our own agenda, certain things that we thought best to be kept to ourselves, as we are just human beings. None of us can say that we are ‘above the board’. If anyone says, “I am just beyond”; he is rouge number one. Let’s not believe that. I don’t believe that.

So, coming back to the question about what happened yesterday at the discourse, Swami asked me to tell the name of the boy so that it would lead to this question today and the accompanying answer, so that all of you will be benefited.

If Swami had said, “He is so-and-so”, it becomes part and parcel of the discourse. But when He made a separate context, a separate situation, for me to mention the name of the boy, your special attention was drawn to that. And hence, this question and answer have followed. Am I clear? That is what it is!

169 - Is a dream with Swami a perfect interview? And must we take all instances from Him as though it is exactly happening? (22.08.04)

My friends, dreams are of two kinds -- first, psychological and second, prompted by Bhagavan. The dreams that we have that are instances from Swami, the dreams that we have because of the will of Swami, should not be called ‘dreams’. Please understand this.

When Swami appears to us in our dream, it is not a dream. It is a reality. It is better if we give it another name -- 'vision'. VISION! Do not say that Swami appeared in my dream. No, no, no.

We have so many dreams. When I lose in the election, when I am defeated in the election, I can win the election in the dream. Why not? I will give you one example.

There was one young man, the son of an income tax officer, who came to me when I was there in Bangalore and said, “Sir?”

“Ah, yes? What do you want?”

“Swami wants me to marry such-and-such a girl. He said so in my dream!”

“Oh, I see! He told you? Oh, good!”

Then after some time, one girl came and said, “Sir, Swami appeared in my dream and said that I should marry that same boy.”

Both of them told me. The boy said, “Swami wants me to marry this girl.” And the girl said, “Swami wants me to marry that boy.” Yes.

What shall I say now? Then I said, “I believe your words. Swami wants you to marry. Why not? Please, you are also right. He said it in your dreams, so please marry in your dreamland! (Laughter) Please get married in your dreams!”

What's all this? So, some of these dreams are psychological promptings of the mind, unfulfilled desires. Suppose I want to beat you. I cannot beat you here because you are well built and stronger than me. But I can beat you like anything in my dream, till I exhaust all my energy. So, these types of dreams are different. They are psychological.

But Bhagavan appearing in a dream is not a dream, but a vision. Then, how to distinguish and differentiate between the two? What is the difference between a vision and a dream?

A dream satisfies the vagaries, the will, whims and desires of our mind. Suppose I want to go to the Holiday Inn or the Oberoi. I can go there in my dreamland, see the entire hotel and then return – a seven-star or a super-star, right? It is the mind that gets satisfied in that dream. It is the mind that is agitated in another dream. It is the mind that is disturbed in a bad dream. In my dream, you may appear and pull me by my collar. So I will be afraid of you there in my dream. Thus, in a dream, we react.

In a vision, there is no question of reaction; a vision calls for action. A vision calls for action, while a dream is a reaction. A dream is psychological, while a vision is intuitive, from our heart. A dream is physical, while a vision is spiritual.

A dream gives scope for ambiguity. “Swami wants me to join this job. Shall I or not?” “Swami wants me to come there. Shall I or not?” If it is just at the mental level, you begin to doubt. You are in a state of confusion.

But a vision gives no scope for such confusion. “Do it!” That's all. “Come here!” Straight. There is no confusion; there is no ambiguity. The direction is very clear in a vision.

And then in a dream, there is an option to back out. Suppose in a dream, you have certain plans. Well, here you may not execute those plans, back in the relative state. But we must do that which is set in the vision. There is no exemption.

A simple example: One gentleman was praying to Bhagavan continuously for Vibuthi. He could not get it, and he was crying. Baba appeared in a dream and materialised enough Vibuthi for that man. Well, he was so happy. As he came along with many devotees, the whole group was given an interview. He went inside and Swami gave Vibuthi to everybody, but not to this man.

He said, “Swami, vibhu....”.

“Eh! Last night I gave you. Last night I gave you!” (Laughter)

What does it mean? When Swami appears there in a vision, we don’t have to doubt or question it.

But to give a personal note, I know that none of you will make fun of me if I am very plain. This is my life, right from the beginning. It is too late to change; it doesn't matter. My wife dreams a lot. She has so many dreams. She tells me, “Swami said this in my dream.”

It all appeared to be nonsense to me. 'Even this reality, I am very much tired of. Why again bring a dream forward? This is enough.' This waking stage itself is already enough torture. Why dream again?

So I simply listened to her, “Aha! Oho! OK,” because peace at home is important. (Laughter) Before we think of universal peace, let us think of peace at home, of harmony at home. So, when she said, “Swami appeared in my dream!” I would say, “Ah! Oh! Very good! Very good!”

To add some pep to the conversation, I said, “You are very lucky. I do not to have dreams like that.” She could understand that I am not paying attention to all the narration, so she stopped telling me, because there is no use, you know?

Then after a long time, suddenly Baba called us for an interview. He was talking about so many things. Suddenly I said, “Swami, is it true that You appear in dreams?”

He asked, “Why did you put that question?”

“Swami, since she is there, my wife tells me that You appear in her dreams and all that. I question and doubt that because You never appeared in my dreams. As You never appeared in my dreams, therefore I doubt such dreams.”

His answer was, “You don't believe. Therefore, I don’t appear in your dreams. (Laughter) She has got full faith. Therefore, I appear in her dreams. It is your bad luck; it is her good fortune.” (Laughter)

There started a Korea war, a spirituality complex -- 'I am superior to you'. Swami, what is all this? Instead of solving the problem, You brought another problem now!

While leaving the interview room, He said, “Since you see Me, since you are sitting closely here, why dreams? Enjoy this! This is enough.” That's all. So, the problem was solved. (Laughter)

Coming back to the question, dreams (meaning, visions) of Bhagavan are spiritual, unambiguous, non-confusing, straight, and calling for action. They happen because of the will of Swami only. So, we should use the word ‘vision’, not dream.

170 - What is Amrita? (22.08.04)

Oho! Oho! Good, good. I repeat once again. What is 'Amrita'? What is it good for? Why don’t we have some? Right? Good! Good question. That is what they sing. Do you know?

Hasitam Madhuram,

Vadanam Madhuram,

Madhuradhi Pathe,

Akhilam Madhuram.

Yes! Everything is ‘Madhuram’ or sweet. Madhuram means 'sweet'. Amritam means 'sweet nectar', very sweet. Yes, please follow me. What does Baba say about it?

Why can’t we have some? You can have any amount, no problem. What does it do? It is not the Amrita available in the market. It is not the nectar sold in the market, meaning honey. Honey is sold there in the market. We also have so many sweets in the North Indian canteen. That is also not Amrita. (Laughter) What does Baba say about Amrita?

If I do not utter ‘Anrutha’, if I speak Truth, I have Amrita. Anrutha means ‘a lie’. Anrutha means ‘falsehood’. Anrutha is ‘untruth’. If I don’t speak Anrutha, then I have Amrita, the Truth. So Truth is Amrita, while untruth is Anrutha. Thus, we should eternally speak Amrita, the Truth.

How do I say that? Do I have any support for my statements?

Bhagavan used to distribute Amrita on every Vaikuntha Ekadashi day. He used to distribute it then. But suddenly, He stopped distributing Amrita. He gave a discourse saying, “Hereafter, I am not going to distribute Amrita.” Oh, I see!

Why did He say that? Then He added, “Stop speaking Anrutha, falsehood. Then the whole life is Amrita. Then life is going to be sweet.” That is what He said. Am I clear?

THE Catholic bishop and amrita

I also remember another episode, a related matter. Take it for what it is. A few years ago, a bishop from France visited this place, accompanied by his disciple. The bishop was an elderly gentleman, a well-built personality with a white beard, quite an aged person, while his disciple was quite leans, tall, and very handsome with long hair. I had thought that if I were to make a film on Jesus Christ, this young man would be a fitting character.

These two stayed here for a long time. Bhagavan gave long interviews to that gentleman, and also showed him excellent hospitality. Plus Swami gave him His car to move about in. So everybody started watching the bishop there.

I, too, had a desire to see him. But how could I see him? He was seated there on the verandah in the first seat. If I were to go and see, naturally I would draw the attention of Bhagavan. Then Bhagavan might say, “When the bishop has come to see Me, you have come to see the bishop! (Laughter) Are you such a fool?” He may say that.

So, I did not want to take this risk. But still there was this curiosity to see the bishop. 'Who is this man who is given such a tumultuous welcome, a grand reception and excellent hospitality -- such special attention by Bhagavan? Who is this bishop?' I was thinking like that.

Suddenly, on one Sunday, Swami sent for me. “Swami wants you immediately.” So I ran right away and arrived there.

Baba said, “Go in.” So I did.

The bishop was from France. He was a Catholic bishop with his disciple, a Frenchman. Along with them, there was a Belgium queen and her female companion. They were all going in for an interview. Of course, they do not know Telugu, which happens to be my mother tongue. So Swami came closely to me and said softly that they could not follow Him.

“You wanted to see the bishop. Therefore, I called you inside. Now you can see him. You can see him now." (Laughter)

I was very much embarrassed, because it was the truth! I went inside and Swami said, “Translate slowly. They cannot understand if you speak very fast.” Then Swami started speaking about the Holy Bible.

Please believe me. That bishop started wondering, ‘How is that Swami knows the profundity and depth of the Holy Bible -- more than I know it?’ He was wondering.

“Oh, oh! Is that so? Swami, wonderful! Wow, wow!” (Laughter) And the disciple was also amazed, “Yes, Swami. Wow, wow!”

I was watching them and watching Swami, enjoying the Divine romance going on between the two, listening to their sweet conversation.

Finally Swami got up. He came to me and said, “Did you see him clearly or shall I go inside?”

“No, no, Swami. I have seen him enough. No more.”

Then Bhagavan pulled His sleeves up like this and He materialised -- please believe me, I know that I am speaking in front of Bhagavan -- a big container of this size. (Anil Kumar shows with his hands the size of the container.) He made a gold container with a gold spoon. He materialised both of them at one stretch. That container was full of Amrita!

Baba said, “I discontinued materialising Amrita for the last 30 years. I materialised this Amrita after a lapse of thirty years because this happens to be the birthday of the bishop, the archbishop. It is his birthday, so I want to honour him. Therefore, I materialised it.”

Then He wanted the bishop to open his mouth. “Ahhhhh!” Then Swami put just one spoon full of Amrita into his mouth. The bishop said, “Ah! Very fine, Swami!” Then He gave one spoon to the disciple.

He asked me to hold the container, but He did not give any to me! (Laughter) To hold it -- how difficult it is to simply hold it and not to taste it! I had to remind myself of the Lord’s Prayer: "Father, lead us not into temptation."

I was holding the container like that. As Swami was watching me, my hands started shaking. (We become nervous in front of Swami. Usually we are all right. But in front of Swami, we become sensitive and nervous.)

“Hey! Why do you shake your hands?”

“Swami, I don't know. The hand is shaking in spite of me.” (Laughter)

He said, “I know, I know. You are acting. You want to have this Amrita, right? (Laughter)

“Yes, Swami.”

“All right! Open your mouth.”

He gave…“Aaaa!” And still Amrita is remaining!

Then He gave a second spoonful to the Belgian queen and also to her companion. I was still holding the container. Swami started distributing a spoonful of nectar or Amrita to everybody. Still, some more Amrita was remaining there. (I know that because I was holding the container.)

Then finally, He came to me and said, “Open your mouth.” He emptied the rest of the Amrita into my mouth! (Laughter) I tell you, the taste -- abba! It was so sweet!

Usually sweet or hot, bitter or astringent, whatever taste it is, it lasts only up to the level of the tongue. But Amrita has given sweetness right from the navel. Ah, very nice!

As I was holding the container, some nectar spilt on my hands. It was very sticky and gummy. Then Swami left. While He was going, He said, “Anil Kumar, don’t tell anybody.”

It is very dangerous to tell me any confidential things (Laughter) because I have this weakness of sharing whatever I know. It doesn't matter whatever may happen. That’s how I take Divine risks every year!

So, I was in one such Divine risk at that time: “Don't tell anybody, because I discontinued for the last thirty years.”

“OK, Swami,” I said, folding my hands like this because of the nectar that fell into my palms. “OK, Swami.”

I came out. I don’t know, but I know most of the favorite people very well because I feel like communicating with everybody. I do not understand why the spiritual seeker must imprison himself, live in a cage, cut off from the rest of the people, put on a long face as if he is a sickly person. Nonsense! I believe that we should be able to communicate with everybody, talk to everybody, and share with joy, our Swami’s message. I believe in this and I derive joy out of it.

So I was coming out like that. Immediately all the Sevadal people surrounded me and asked, “What? What, sir? What happened? Why are you like that?” (Laughter)

Swami said, “Do not tell.”

Then I had some logic: Swami said, “Don’t tell.” But they can smell, right?

The nectar had the smell of Paris scents, I tell you. Yes, Paris sprays and all that, you know - how fragrant they are! Ah! Wonderful scents like that.

Then I said, “Hey, don't ask me. Stretch your head.” I put my palm out.

They smelled, “What is it?”

“I don't know.”

Swami said, “Do not tell.” That's all. They can smell, right? Nothing wrong with it.

I came home. I returned to my quarters. Of course, I told my wife, and she immediately brought a plate and wanted me to wash my hands. (Laughter)

Please believe me. She is here right now, in the quarters, so you can verify. That smell lasted for seven days! For seven days! Just as though it had materialised each day, just then! It was so sweet! That's what Amrita is. But in our daily life situations, Amrita is refraining from Anrutha or falsehood. Am I clear?

171 - Should we read ONLY SAI literature? (22.08.04)

This lady feels a prompting within, a suggestion from within, that she has to go through only Sai literature. She feels that it is not necessary to read other books written by famous people, even though they are, no doubt, great people. Reading Sai literature is the best thing that we have to do -- that's what she feels intuitively from within.

This is purely a personal question. I can give you four points in this regard.

First, this morning, what drama was staged here? It was one on Shirdi Sai. It was an account given in Sai Sathcharitra. Sai Sathcharitra is the account of Shirdi Sai Baba. The drama was enacted this morning here. So one can read other books. One has to read other books.

Second point, Bhagavan often quotes Ramana Maharshi. Bhagavan often quotes Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Bhagavan often reminds us of Lord Chaitanya’s contribution to spirituality. Swami speaks of Buddha. Swami speaks of Jesus. So there is nothing wrong in reading their literature. On the other hand, it is good to read these books.

Third point, with reference to my own experience, I can say that I am able to understand tough literature on philosophy like Brahma Sutras, Yoga Vashishta, Ramana Maharishi’s literature -- tough, very tough literature -- after reading Sai literature. I am able to follow these books now. I understand the correct meaning, the correct interpretation, after reading Sai literature. In other words, in my case, Sai literature provided a sort of platform, a screen on which anything can be projected. Now I am able to understand any school of philosophy very clearly, far better than before.

Fourth point, Bhagavan says that Truth is one, though people view it from different angles, from different dimensions:

Ekam Sat Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti.

Ekam Sat means “Truth is one.” Vipraha means ‘the scholars.’ Bahudha means ‘in different ways.’ Vadanti means ‘expound it.’ So this phrase means, “The scholars expound Truth in different ways.” The same fundamental Truth is expounded in different ways. There is nothing wrong about that. Yes.

172 - There are certain great important composers, eminent devotees like Jayadeva and Annamacharya, right? These composers have brought in certain sensual subjects. What does Swami say about it? We do not find the boys or anybody here singing those songs that relate to sensual subjects. (22.08.04)

That's the question. The third point he mentioned is: We say that God is attributeless. Then why did those devotees refer to sensual subjects in their compositions? Is the question clear? That's right.

My friends, spirituality is not full of contradictions. Apparently, on face value, we may find things being contradictory in their nature. But basically, fundamentally, they are not contradictory; they are complimentary. They take us from one height to another height, from one stage to a higher stage.

Regarding the sensuous subjects referred to by composers like Jayadeva and Annamacharya, these poems attract those who are at that level of comprehension. They apply to those who are still at that stage, bound by sensual attractions. Those compositions will draw them nearer and nearer to the subject. Having been drawn nearer and nearer to the subject, they will then be taken to exalted heights, as they dive deep into these compositions. That's the first point.

The answer to the second question is that Bhagavan does not want these boys to sing those songs because they have enough homework here. Bhagavan talks to them repeatedly, giving them high doses of spirituality -- very high dosages! So they do not need the lower dosage of these compositions. Bhagavan is giving them 500mg, so 25mg is not required!

The third part of the question is that God has no attributes. Then, why all these poets made their compositions on sensual subjects? Why?

We say that God is attributeless. Please, this is an answer that applies to everybody. God has no attributes. I say that, OK? But, (Anil Kumar starts singing:)

Daya Sagara Karunakara,

Daya is compassion, which is an attribute. Karuna is kindness, which is an attribute.

Gunagambheera Sai Eswara,

Daya Sagara Karunakara.

Gunagambheera means, “You are full of attributes.” Why? Is that not a contradiction? My friends, God has attributes and He also has no attributes. He is both. Why and how is that possible?

It is possible because we are all not of the same temperament. All of us are not at the same level of comprehension and experience. So far as I have attributes, it is possible to worship God with attributes.

I have attributes. What are they? Duality, kindness, compassion. I want God's mercy. I want God's help. Since I am at the level of attributes, I approach God with attributes. “Oh God, I want You to help me.”

Deena Natha Sai Natha,

Devaki Tanaya Daya Nidhee,

Daya Nidhee Kripa Nidhee,

Darshan Dijo Sai Deva,

Deena Natha, Sai Natha,

Devaki Tanaya Daya Nidhee.

Deena Natha: “Oh, God! You are the Refuge of the forlorn! Oh, God! You are my Anchor! Oh, God! You are my support! I want You to help me. I want You to come to my rescue.” Why do I pray like that? Because I have attributes. So, I pray to God with attributes to help me.

The next stage is when I have no attributes at all. What is it, being attributeless? How to be attributeless? I can answer with a simple phrase – 'choiceless awareness'. It is choiceless awareness. When one has no choice whatsoever, that is the quality of a person without attributes.

So, once I have no attributes, I can pray to God without attributes. Thus, it depends upon the level of the seeker, the level of the aspirant. As he evolves more and more, higher and higher, he can also see Divinity appropriately.

A simple example: All this is matter. But if you go deeper, it is not matter. It is atoms and molecules. If you go still deeper, it is electrons, protons and neutrons. Which is correct? Matter? Is it wrong? No, it's correct. Atoms and molecules -- is that wrong? No. It is also correct. Protons, electrons and neutrons, is that wrong? No. Correct. It is correct. All the three answers are correct.

How can all these three be correct? From a distance, it is all matter. On closer observation, with certain equipment, you will understand that it is atoms and molecules. Still, with deeper research, you will know that they are electrons, protons and neutrons. Do you understand?

So, the Nirgunathawa or 'attributelessness' is understood if I am eligible to pray like that. I should be eligible to pray like that. For example, if I hold a stethoscope, what will I understand? Nothing, as I am not qualified as a doctor. If I watch an ECG printout, what is it that I understand? I won’t understand it. So, I should be qualified to understand, am I right? So that's what is this. Am I clear?

173 - Did Buddha refer to the Creator at any time? (22.08.04)

Good. I repeat the question once again. It is not that you have not understood what he said. I repeat it because I want to be clear in my answer, by repeating the question. For that purpose I choose to repeat, OK? This is his question:

Did Buddha refer to the Creator at any time? Did He speak about God at any time? Bhagavan often quotes Buddha, various episodes relating to His biography. Did Buddha say anything about the Creator? This is the point raised to Swami Himself. This is the question put to Him straightaway. Bhagavan! Is Buddha an atheist? Is Buddha a non-believer? Did He not say anything about the Creator?

Bhagavan's answer is straight and simple. Instead of speaking on the Creator or about the Creator, Buddha has shown the path to the Creator. Even if I know about the Creator, even if I know all the details by going through the different texts available, all that becomes textual or academic if I do not know the path -- if I do not how to tread along the path to the Creator.

So Baba's answer is, “Instead of speaking on the Creator or about the Creator, Buddha has shown the path towards Divinity, the path towards the Divine, which is unfailing.

The next point is that Buddha referred to a state of Self-realisation called Nirvana. Nirvana is the state of Self-realisation, which is the ultimate reality in any spiritual path, for that matter. Therefore, Buddha speaks of the goal of life as Nirvana. This is the aim of life, namely liberation.

He referred to the path towards the Divine, speaking of the 'Eight-fold Path'. There the important thing that He told was adherence to Truth or Samyak Vaak. Samyak means ‘good’; Vaak means ‘words’ or ‘talk’. So, Samyak Vaak means ‘good words’ or ‘good talk’.

Then He also spoke of Samyak Sravanam, which means ‘good listening’. So, Bhagavan Buddha referred to good speaking (meaning, speaking Truth), good listening, good actions, and good thoughts. Samyak means everything good. Buddha speaks of that path towards Divinity. Am I clear?.

174 - What is it that gets in the way of knowing the Truth? Why don’t I see the light of Truth? Why don’t I see the flame of Truth? What is it that is keeping me in the darkness of untruth? Why don’t I see the light of Truth? (130305)

Every religion speaks of light. Baba has done so many times in simple terms.

The greatness and uniqueness of Sathya Sai Baba is that He puts the most complex things in the simplest way possible. Swami makes complex things very simple, whereas we make simple things complicated! What does He say about seeing the light of truth?

We are not able to see the light of Truth for three reasons. First, we think we know everything, when actually we know nothing. This is the first point.

Secondly, we think that we are fine when we are not fine. What is ‘being fine’? What keeps us from being fine? When we are with God, we are fine. When we don’t think of Him, when we forget Him, we are not fine.

Thirdly, when you think that you do not need any transformation, the light of truth is blocked. “He needs transformation; I am perfect.” This is another obstacle to our seeing the light of Truth.

So, these are the obstacles of the mind to seeing the light of Truth: considering that things are normal when they are not; thinking that you are fine when you are not; and thinking that you do not need to transform. Because of these, you do not see the light of Truth.

Why? Such a mind will not be able to see its own mistakes and defects. I don’t then see my own weaknesses, pitfalls, and mistakes because my mind thinks that I am perfect. Therefore, there is every need to correct myself in order to clear the way to seeing the light of Truth.

As we end on this note, what should we do now, my friends, to see the light of Truth? It requires continuous effort. People will say, “I will think of God during this coming weekend.” We should always think of God. We should do it now, this weekend, and at all times in between.

Somebody asked me when I was in the United States, “Will Baba visit America?”

I said, “If Baba is prepared to visit America, you will say, ‘Swami, we want you to be with us during the weekend because we are busy during the week. We will keep for you the weekend, but not the rest of the week because we are busy working then.’”

But to tell you honestly, to have the light of Truth, we must make a constant effort. Secondly, there should be sincerity in our effort.

Finally, we should be yearning and pining for God. I must have intensity in my feelings for God and a sincerity of purpose. I should have total Love for Him. These are absolutely necessary to attain that vision of Truth, that light of Truth.

175 - How can I avoid evil spirits?(130305)

There are no evil spirits, strictly speaking. Whenever there is an evil thought, there is evil spirit. But if we put any belief in ‘evil spirits’, which is strictly psychological, we can drive them out by singing Baba’s Bhajans. Once you light the candle, the darkness is dispelled.

Bhajans are the best cure for the presence of evil spirits. They will run away. Shirdi Baba, Shirdi Bhagavan, Sathya Sai Baba…When a few people who were possessed by evil sprits have been brought to their presence, once they are in front of Swami, they return to normal again because evil spirits dare not stand in front of the Divine.

God and His name are one and the same. Please understand this. Sathya Sai Baba’s name is no different from the form. His form has a name -- Sathya Sai Baba. His name has a form, which we see.

So when we say, “Sai Ram,” the evil spirit is gone! If we say it and the spirit is still there, then understand that we are the evil spirit. (Laughter) If it is another evil spirit, it will run away. If you are the evil spirit, it is your job to get free from that.

Chant. That’s all. Sathya Sai Baba’s Bhajans are like medicine. Sathya Sai Baba’s Bhajans are the latest medicines, more powerful than intravenous drips, more powerful than laser equipment, and faster than courier service and even email. Therefore, this is the best cure that I can suggest to you.

There are more questions, but it is already 11:15, and I should not detain you further. There is just one small question I want to share with you before I leave you.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Courtesy: http://www.saiwisdom.com

 

 

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