PROF. ANIL KUMAR – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [201 to 225]

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PROF. ANIL KUMAR – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS [201 to 225]

201. WHEN A PERSON HAS BECOME VERY SPIRITUAL, WHAT WILL MARRIAGE MEAN TO THAT PERSON? (240705)

The purpose of marriage will be to know that true Love is beyond infatuation and beyond attachment, and will help you to go to Divine Love. Marriage means to find the unity of purpose, the unity of Love. That’s what spiritual marriage means.

202. If things happen as per karma, why should we pray? (240705)

The questioner says that prayer could only push the negative effects off to some extent. The powers of prayers are limited. What is destined to happen will happen, as per the law of karma. In other words this man says, as things will happen according to karma, then why should we pray?

Very simple. There is good karma and bad karma. Good karma will give you good results; bad karma will give you bad results. But when you pray, you will experience your good karma, the good results, with humility, reverence, respect and simplicity.

With prayer, when you have to pass through bad experiences, the difficulties and troubles in life, which are the result of bad karma, you will be courageous, you will be hopeful, you will think of a promising future. ‘There are good days ahead of me.’

Without prayer, good karma yielding good results will make you egoistic. Without prayer, bad karma yielding bad results will frustrate you, and sometimes even lead to suicide.

Therefore, prayer will help you to be simple, humble, respectful, and submissive, and to accept the Divine command, to surrender. It will make you hopeful. So prayer is necessary in both the situations, positive and negative.

203. Why are dress codes different for men and women? (240705)

Here is an interesting question: “My dear Anil, I am a member of a Sai centre. I would like you to tell me a bit more about the code of dress in our organisation.” Yes. This question is obviously from a lady.

She says, “When men are free to come for Darshan with all kinds of coloured dresses, pants, Indian pyjamas, why should women only come in a particular way? Why prohibit women to enter with particular dresses? Why can’t women enter with pants and tops that are a bit tight-fitting, of western origin?” I am reading it. It is not my creation; please don’t attribute anything to me. I am not interested. (Laughter)

As the proverb goes, “Be a Roman when you are in Rome.” This being India, we have to follow the tradition of this land, as we are here. Wear what you like in your own country. You can be free, in accordance to the law of that land, in adherence to the practice and the tradition of that land. When you are here, you have to follow the culture and tradition of this land. Better I stop at that level, rather than go into other details. (Laughter)

204. How do you explain the presence of god to a child, in simple words? (240705)

A child does not need the presence of God to be explained. Children experience God more than all of us put together.

The other day, when the drama was enacted in front of Swami, we found children crying. The children went on crying. I don’t know why they cried. Nobody asked them to cry. During the dance, they went on crying as they had gone into the mood of ecstasy. They had gone into that mood of bliss. There were tears of joy. They could not contain that emotion. They could not contain their happiness; their joy was overwhelming. It was expressed in the form of tears of joy.

So shall I explain to them how to experience God? It is too silly. We also experienced God when we were children. Of late, for reasons best known to us, we need to do some Sadhana to go back to our childhood. That’s why Jesus said, “Unless you are like a child, you cannot enter through the gates of heaven.” As a child is so innocent, a child can experience God.

As a matter of training, initially Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas has come with some procedures to encourage the child to proceed along the path toward Divinity. The Bal Vikas syllabus, the Bal Vikas classes, have produced wonderful results all over the world. Please believe it. Children from Bal Vikas are totally different from children elsewhere, as Bal Vikas has given them a sufficient foundation and grounding for the future, so that they are well-trained and prepared to face life and its challenges.

205. Can I sing a Ganesha song twice during bhajanS? (240705)

A second time? (Laughter) If you say a second time, some person will say, “Why not a third time?” Another person will say, “Why not all the time?” No. Why? Because some people love Rama; some people worship Krishna; some people worship Lakshmi; some people are believers of Christ; some are believers of Allah. All these Names should be there.

There can be too much of Ganesha. You cannot do that. When our singers forget to sing a Sarvadharma Bhajan, with all the holy Names in all religions, Swami sees to it that they sing that song. He will not get up until that song is also rendered. He insists that a Sarvadharma prayer (Bhajan) should be there. Therefore my friend, if you want to sing a second or third Ganesha song, please sings it to yourself! (Laughter)

206. I HAVE SENT MY PHOTO TO SWAMI -- IS THERE ANY ANSWER? (240705)

Some questions I deliberately put in the ‘priority number two’ list. Now I am going there. Oh ho! “I have sent my photo to Swami. He is talking to me. Is there any answer?”

When Swami is talking to you, what answer can I give you? (Laughter) Please put that question to the photo, and you will get the answer!

207. Some members of our centre believe that we should recite the ‘Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’ only after doing Arathi. Is that the right way for this mantra? (240705)

Anyone may say, “Why should I eat yogurt or curd at the end of the meal? Why don’t I begin with yogurt? Why don’t I begin with curd?” Why not? Please do it if you want. Or have yogurt only.

But my friends, ‘Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’ is said at the end of Arathi because, as we leave the Bhajan session, as we come out of our own prayers, we’ll have that feeling of universal brotherhood. We’ll have that universal feeling. We’ll have that cosmic feeling. We’ll have that feeling of oneness, of equanimity and equality.

If that is not there, if you say ‘Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’ at the beginning, then towards the end, you may feel, ‘Let me be happy,’ that’s all. You will end up with (ego) ‘I’-ness. You will end up with the ‘I’-ness of self-centredness.

On the contrary, when you say, ‘Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’, you are part of loka you are chanting about; so you don’t have to pray for yourself separately. You are part of this loka, as you have not yet gone to the other loka (to die)! (Laughter) We are all here in this loka only.

208. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DREAMS? (240705)

A dream that makes you confused is a psychological reflection. It is mental imagination; it is hallucination, or to quote Swami, “Hysteria.” The vision of Sai is different from a dream of Sai. I gave one lecture earlier on dreams and visions. There I explained the difference between a dream and a vision.

For those of you who were not present then, for your reference, I will explain this in one sentence: “Vision is spiritual, while dream is psychological.” Vision is directed, while dream is left to your choice. Vision is intuitive, born out of the heart; while dream is a reflection of the mind. Vision comes unexpectedly; whereas usually dreams speak of unfulfilled desires or tasks. A simple example: ‘As I cannot beat you here, I’ll take care of you in my dreams and finish you off there.’ (Laughter) So dreams speak of unfulfilled tasks, whereas visions are quite independent.

209. “My inner conscience tells me that it is time for me to let go of all worldly matters and settle at His Lotus Feet.” And he goes on to say, “My conscience is asking me to leave everything behind…

I am forty years old with a family.” Abba! Bombshell! (Laughter)(310705)

He is aged forty with a family, and he wants to run away and settle at His Lotus Feet! Life is a challenge, meet it. What is the challenge? You have a family and you want to settle at His Lotus Feet. What is the challenge in running away, or remaining here? My friend, where are His Lotus Feet? Please give me the address of His Lotus Feet. Please give me the phone number of His Lotus Feet, or the cell number. (Laughter)

His Lotus Feet are spread all over the world. His Lotus Feet are spread all over the universe. So why do you think of settling at His Lotus Feet, as if His Lotus Feet were present at a particular locality, under geographical limitations.

No. ‘Sarvathaha panipadham tad sarvathochi shiro mukham.’ His heads are everywhere, feet are everywhere, and ears are everywhere. So you don’t have to run away to settle at His Lotus Feet, because His Lotus Feet are everywhere. Where are they? In the Avatar of your heart. The Feet are with you. Can you run away from yourself?

If I ask anybody, “Sir, where is Anil Kumar?” they will say, “I met this gentleman half-an-hour ago. He was alright then; but what happened to him now?”

They will ask, “Is something wrong with you?” (Laughter)

I cannot search, looking for me. So, similarly, thinking that settling at His Lotus Feet is Sadhana is ignorance. It is ignorance. It is illusion, because His Feet are installed in your own heart. For that, you don’t have to run away. Can you run away from yourself? What you have to do is look within. When you are sitting in front of me, can I turn my back and look there? I should look at you.

So, the Lotus Feet are installed in the Avatar of your heart. Look within; you cannot run away. He is not far; you cannot get away from Him. He is within you. And taking care of your family is your Sadhana. To a doctor, practicing medicine is his Sadhana. To a professor, teaching is Sadhana. To a businessman, business is a Sadhana. So when you want to run away from the family, it means that you are giving up your Sadhana and this is something that God will never endorse nor appreciate.

There are thousands of cases where Bhagavan asked people to go back and join their families. And Sanathana Dharma will never allow a husband to run away like that, without prior permission of the wife, which no wife will ever give. (Laughter) Without the wife’s permission, one cannot be a renunciate or sannyasin. Why do they say that? Because she won’t give her permission. So that is the answer I can give.

210. “I am not fit for service physically, but I feel that Swami is telling me that service and Namasmarana should go together. So what path should I follow?”(310705)

Swami time and again reminds us that our birth is a burden on earth if we do not know the purpose of birth. You say that you are physically unfit to do service. I do not know what you mean when you say ‘fitness’. I do not know what you mean when you say ‘service’. An encouraging word, a comforting word or a few words of solace is service. Don’t you think they are acts of service? A gentle look, a smile, is that not service?

So, service does not mean physical exertion. Physical exertion and physical strain is service, but it is not the be-all and end-all. Every word and every gesture, any letter or any look is an act of service. So never consider that you are physically unfit. You may tell somebody, “Do not worry, my dear young man, I suffered like you; but good days are ahead. Am I not happy now?” If you say some soothing words like that, it is service. When you say, “Sir, don’t worry that you have problems. Here is vibhuthi, come and take it.” That is service. Don’t you think so?

Therefore, our idea of service should be totally different. Service does not mean five or six hundred people going somewhere. That is a seasonal activity. It is community activity. As an individual, you can serve the community, as service is not seasonal or incidental. It is not accidental. It is one of continuity to eternity. We should go on serving people throughout our life, either by thought, word, or deed.

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu. Praying for the peace of everybody is a service. That’s what I love very much about Christians, because they often say, “Please remember us in your prayers. Please pray for me.” Wonderful idea! Beautiful idea! Excellent idea! That is enough service.

211. “In my profession I have to commit some sins. What shall I do?”(310705)

I don’t know which profession wants you to commit sins. I don’t know sinful professions or professional sins or professional sinners. I do not know. But this brother has substantiated his statement with an illustration: A police officer has to beat another man; is it not a sin? A soldier has to shoot at his enemy; is it not a sin? No. It is swadharma, it is his duty. A soldier cannot invite an enemy for dinner (Laughter) or for a tea party. A policeman cannot give a hug to a thief or a robber. No. To punish him is his dharma; to kill the enemy is the job of a soldier. It is not a sin. But if you kill another fellow and rob his money, that is a sin. If you know that he is guilty and is a thief, yet you don’t punish him, then it is a sin.

Therefore, our thought process should be correctly motivated. It should be directed along the right channel, so that we know what a sin is. A doctor cuts open the abdomen; what a sin it is! Can you cut my body like that? The doctor is not a sinner, because our life is saved in surgery. Can the doctor shed tears? “How can I cut? It is a sin!” (Laughter) He is the worst sinner if he thinks so. So it is the motive that decides whether he is a sinner or not -- not the act itself.

212.“I could not participate in Yagna because of some inconveniences. What shall I do?” (310705)

Yagna means sacrifice. Let us understand this. Yagna does not necessarily mean sandalwood, ghee, trees, and mantras. That is all outer Yagna. Breathing is Yagna; work is Yagna. To follow the command of the guru is Yagna. To serve our parents is Pithru Yagna. To follow the command of the scriptures is Rishi Yagna. To worship God’s deities is Deva Yagna. So, Yagna does not mean only a ritual in a temple. If it is inconvenient to go to a temple, do Yagna at home by thinking of God, by praying to Him, by listening to His cassettes. That’s also equally a Yagna.

213.“We want to construct a Sai school in the western countries. Should the building be constructed facing towards east or west?” (Laughter)(310705)

It is a western country, so should the building be turned to face the east or west? My friends, it is really a bothering question. I am reminded of what my teacher said long ago: “Whether the cat is made up of mud or wood, still it must eat the rat.” (Laughter) So whether the building faces east or west, let there be a building first! (Laughter)

Let there be a Sai School first, but we have to follow the tradition of the land. Some people say, “In our country, a building facing east is auspicious.” All right! Follow that. “Sir, in our country, if the building faces west, he will prosper.” Thank you. Let it face west. But when the earth is round, there is neither east nor west, so it doesn’t matter. (Laughter) Earth is round, and for a circle, there is no east or west. But for those who are traditional, who are ritualistic, we honour the just law of the land.

At this moment, I am reminded of an anecdote. There was one great European by the name of Sir Arthur Cotton. He is remembered to this day, because that gentleman was responsible for the construction of a bridge across the Godavari River, which supplies water to thousands and thousands of acres of land today. India should ever be grateful to Sir Arthur Cotton, whose bridge construction is stronger than some of the bridges constructed these days, which collapse the next day. (Laughter) Sir Arthur Cotton’s bridge is still strong today.

Why I want to tell an anecdote from his life is because Sir Arthur Cotton decided to construct a dam. The work started. On the day of the commencement, an old fellow, a casual labourer died. Immediately all the people came and said, “Let us stop constructing the dam because the fellow died.” Somebody said, “In the Godavari River, until now, the water flowed towards the ocean and all the water went to the sea. By constructing this dam, you are not permitting the river to go to the sea. Therefore, the poor fellow died.” (Laughter)

Sir Author Cotton had to take the trouble to visit every useless fellow of this nation, and convince him that the river water should not be allowed to flow easily and merge in the ocean. If the river water is kept in a dam, it can be used for irrigation. He had to convince many people. So, whether eastern-facing or western facing, somehow we have to turn our face to get away from such people.

214. “I am very much worried about scandals and conspiracies about Swami.” (310705)

Swami can take care of Himself. (Laughter) Don’t worry. You be worried about the scandals that are being spread about you, and the conspiracies that might arise any time. Somebody asked, “Swami, people write so many things against You, and broadcast and telecast so many things. What shall we do?”

Baba said, “You hear so many bad things because you have ears. You are helpless.” When some fellow goes on digging into your ears, helplessly you have to hear, praying that the fellow will eventually run away.

Baba said, “As you have ears to hear, I gave you feet to get away from that place.” (Laughter) God gave you ears to hear, so you are complaining that you have to hear all the nonsense. But know that you are given feet also to run away from there!

215. HOW CAN WE RAISE A CHILD WHO WILL BE A PILLAR OF SAI PHILOSOPHY”(310705)

A very good question…the answer is straight. The Sri Sathya Sai Seva organisation, under the Divine direction, has gifted us Bal Vikas to train children. After completing Bal Vikas, as the child grows older, he will pass through the training in Education in Human Values. And as he comes to the college level, he will be given training in Educare. That will make him the pillar of Sai philosophy. To sum up, Bal Vikas, Education in Human Values, and Educare are the three wings of Sathya Sai philosophy that will make you a worthy instrument in the Divine Hands.

216. “What are your views about astral travel?” (Laughter)(310705)

Worldly travel itself is tiresome. Sometimes, we get the reservations cancelled; plus visas and passports are highly expensive. When this travel itself is a bore, why consider astral travel? Whether it’s astral travel, or physical travel, earthly travel --- travel is travel. Astral travel is possible to some people in deep meditation, and to those who take to penance. To travel, you don’t need to do any penance as there are cars and flights.

Somebody came to Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and said, “Swamiji, I did penance for three years.”

Paramahamsa said, “Good, very nice meeting you.”

This man said, “Swami, after three years of penance, you know what I got? I can generate fire here. I can produce fire here!”

Paramahamsa laughed and said, “If you have a matchbox, that is enough! Why three years of penance?! (Laughter) Why three years of penance? Use a matchbox!”

Similarly, why travel? Astral travel or earthly travel or heavenly travel -- travel is not necessary. Sit and meditate. Travel within, not without. Therefore, travelling inward is meditation; travelling outward is a journey. Travelling within is spiritual; travelling outward is tiresome. Travelling within is blissful; travelling outside is disgusting and vexing. Travelling within is certainty; travelling around is uncertainty.

217. “Didn’t Lord Krishna cheat everybody in Mahabharata?” (310705)

Very good! That’s why He is Bada Chittha Chora. This man says that Krishna was a successful cheater. He cheated Karna and He cheated Dharmaraja, by asking them to do all that was not true. How can God cheat everybody?

My friend, Swami gives a good example, which is there in Satyopanishad. If you follow Satyopanishad, two volumes of which are available in the bookstall, all these questions are answered. The same question was put to Swami.

What did Swami say? “When the thief is running away from the main door, you have to run and follow him. When the thief is escaping through the back door, you cannot say, ‘I will go through the main door.’ You are the owner of the house. If thieves go and escape by the back door, the owner goes through the same door.” Therefore to meet this challenge, Krishna adopted that means. It is not that He is a cheater.

218. The next question is with respect to translations available all over the world. This brother feels that there is a deviation from the original thought. (310705)

I can tell you that the printout booklet, given to you on the second or third day after the Divine discourse, is made available in the bookstall only after Divine permission and sanction. Therefore Swami’s speeches, which are available for sale in the bookstall, have prior approval of Swami. So we don’t have to doubt it, as it has got the ‘reserve bank stamp and signature of the governor’, so it is genuine currency and not a fake note!

219. Why does Swami always give preference to boys only, and not girls? Are girls and women not as devoted as boys? (311005)

It is a good question indeed. This question must be from a girl; there is no doubt about it. Let me make it clear. There are two important points here. Everybody should go by the norms of the society. Everyone should also consider what society feels about your movements, about your activity. If Swami gives more attention to girls and women, the very same people will criticise Him tomorrow, as we don’t like to keep quiet: (Laughter) “Why is it that You are always found talking with women and girls?”

If He doesn’t talk to women, we say, “Why don’t You talk to women?” If He talks to women, we say, “Why only with women?” (Laughter) We don’t spare Him! And moreover, this Avatar being in a masculine form should be extra careful. He would not submit Himself to public blasphemy or criticism. Not in the least.

SWAMI SETS THE IDEAL FOR EVERYONE

Point two: He has to set an ideal for everybody. He does not approve of this socialisation. Even husband and wife have to sit in different rows, which you must have observed. The wife should sit with other women and the husband has to sit with the men. This has been the discipline of this ashram from the beginning, and it is in tune with the culture of this land. In the West, this may seem to be silly and quite alien. But here in this land, this segregation has been in practice for many ages. Therefore, Swami insists they sit separately.

To set an ideal Himself, Swami always keeps women at a distance. And at one time, He Himself said, “I will not call any lady alone for an interview.” That’s what Baba told. “I will call that lady along with two or three other people. I will not call any woman all alone.” This is also a model, a lesson for all of us to learn, particularly here in this part of the world.

A WOMAN SYMBOLISES TRUST BY CREATION AND NATURE

Third point: He said, “A woman, once she develops faith, will never drop it.” She will be faithful throughout. By creation, by nature, a woman symbolises trust. A woman is the very metaphor of faith. She doesn’t have to be told and retold, affirmed, reaffirmed and confirmed. This is not necessary. It is their nature. Bhagavan said in the Bhagavad Gita, a woman has extra features when compared to man.

At one time, Bhagavan said, “Although I have not been to the Anantapur campus of this university for the last few years, those girls experience Me more than the boys here.”

You may speak to any member of the Anantapur campus, students or teachers. They will tell you how they feel Him there. It is literally true that many people noticed when Swami moved from room to room there. This is not hallucination, not a dream, not an imagination, but reality. Many people observed Swami moving from one room to another, there in the Anantapur campus while He was here physically. He can appear there also.

Therefore, women will never miss Him because they have got their own way of approaching Swami, more intimate -- a hotline contact.

WOMEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MEN HOLDING ON TO SWAMI

Women have many visions. Women have many dreams. We can admit frankly without any reservation, they are responsible for men holding on to Swami. In thousands and thousands of cases, this is true. Therefore, no woman ever feels neglected, whereas a man feels dejected if Swami does not look at Him. No lady is ever frustrated, while a man will think, ‘Why should I go to Puttaparthi when Swami does not look at me?’ No woman would ever say that.

Therefore, Swami has got His own ‘internet’ or I should say inner undercurrent of contact with the women. There is no doubt about it. That’s what I can say. Some of these words are said by Bhagavan Himself. Finally, before I go to the next question, as I start thinking about this, many thoughts come to my mind as stated by Bhagavan earlier.

WOMEN HAVE STRONGER FAITH THAN MEN

Kuchela, a character in Bhagavata, happened to be the classmate of Krishna, but didn’t have faith in Him. On the other hand, his wife, who had never seen Krishna, who only heard about the intimacy between her husband and Krishna, had total faith in Krishna. The wife of Kuchela, who never saw Krishna, had complete faith; whereas Kuchela, His classmate, became a ‘doubting Thomas’. (Laughter)

Kuchela was wondering whether Krishna would recognise him or not. He was wondering whether he would be permitted into the palace or not. His wife told him, “Why do you doubt? He will certainly talk to you. He will certainly recognise you. He will certainly make us free from all the difficulties that we are going through right now.” Bhagavan repeats this story, time and again; to show you how strong the faith of a woman is, while that of a man is not that strong. It is weak.

220. At Prashanthi Nilayam, when people gather for Darshan, almost all blocks are reserved, either for VIPs, students, ex-students, special foreigners, old people, etc., and hardly one block is left for the general public. People coming from far off places, with so many difficulties, hardly even get to see Swami properly. Is it not unfair to reserve these blocks always for VIP people, students etc., who also get easy Darshan, Sparshan, and Sambhashan on a regular basis? (311005)

Yes. To speak from the point of view that this gentleman has expressed, it is a very genuine question. Coming from a long distance, with lots and lots of expectations, when people for various reasons reserve all the front rows, naturally we will feel very annoyed. We will be very angry about it. It is quite natural to feel so.

BHAGAVAN IS THE ONLY TOPIC OF CONVERSATION WITH DEVOTEES

I request you to look at the other side of the coin, dispassionately. I am not supporting anybody. Even in my wildest dreams, I never feel that I am special. Up to this day, I have never felt that I am special. No! On the other hand, I feel very happy to be amongst all my friends, to feel that I am a common man, that I am ordinary. That is my genuine feeling now (because I cannot give a guarantee for the future)! I feel very happy when I feel that I am ordinary. I feel very happy when I am a common man. And I think of those days, sitting in the fourteenth row, fifteenth row, talking with other devotees, sharing Swami’s experiences and His messages on the ‘Golden Era’.

The so-called preferential treatment, the so-called VIP line, the so-called first line has not given me as much happiness as I had in the past. In the past, when I was just sitting in the twentieth or twenty-fifth row, the only topic of talk while sitting in the company of devotees was about Bhagavan only. No other talk. People spoke of Bhagavan only.

THE WEARER KNOWS WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES

Those people sitting in the front row have got certain preferences, certain personal agenda. Each one might have a letter of request, a letter of prayer or at least a letter of complaint. Therefore, it is not such a beautiful thing to be seated in the front row. You find more comparison and more competition among those who are seated in the front row.

If a person always sits in the front row, when he finds that seat occupied by someone else, you will see how disturbed he is, though he has been here for the last twenty-five years. He is the only one sitting there right from the inception of Prashanthi Nilayam. Poor man! People may leave their property, their relations and their position, but they hold on to the ‘Cuddapah slab’, the stone on which they sit. It is a pity, a real pity!

This is something to be sympathised with and even pitied. There is nothing to feel envious or jealous about. That kind of holding on to a particular seat, ‘Only I should sit here’, is irreligious and non-spiritual, by any standard. No one can defend it. Even if someone defends it, you can tell him straightaway, “You sit by my side in the fifteenth row and you will understand the beauty of it.” The wearer knows where the shoe pinches. I certainly understand.

THOSE IN THE FRONT ROWS ARE THERE FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES

I would like to draw your attention to a naked truth. The officials, the staff members or doctors are heads of different wings in the ashram. Whosoever sits in the front, they don’t sit comfortably. Please watch them. They are not sitting comfortably. You don’t find them relaxed. Why? Swami may call anybody and bang them heavily. Blast them heavily! Yes!

“Where are you? Come here! Ever since you joined the college, you have spoiled the college.”

Would you like to take my place? (Laughter)

“Come here. You brought a bad name to the hospital. I have been watching you and you are not mending your ways.”

Heavy blasting! Would you like to take the doctor’s role? No. He will call some principal or head of the department and say, “There are more failures ever since you have come here.” (Laughter)

Would you like to have it? And then He will call some head and say, “You are shouting there. That is not good. You fellows, who are heads here, are behaving like Pomeranians, bulldogs and Alsatians!”

He said openly on the dais, “You fellows are behaving like Alsatians, bulldogs, Pomeranians. You don’t mend your ways!” That’s what He said openly. It’s on the record! In public, He said it. So would you like to follow the same? (Laughter) Please tell me.

And not only that, suppose He wants to give some instructions to the college principal. If he sits in the fiftieth row, should He wait until he comes forward? If He wants to give some instructions to office people or hospital people, should He search for them? Should He locate them? Most of the people are there for official purposes; most of the time, to stand corrected. They have to be ready to be banged anytime, and heavily.

TRUTH IS ALWAYS BITTER

There is another thing with the Divine Master. This is something, which I am not able to digest until today. Something goes wrong with you, but I will get the heavy blast. I don’t understand why! (Laughter) He will blast me heavily. I don’t understand why! After Arathi, I will come to know that the culprit is some other fellow. (Laughter) It is very difficult to digest that. Truth is always bitter. When one student is irregular, all the other fellows will get it -- a mouthful! It is very difficult to accept. If something wrong happens elsewhere, you get a heavy blast! How are you accountable?

And when this question was put to Swami, Bhagavan said, “One mosquito may bite you, but you will kill all the mosquitoes in the room. After all, only one mosquito bites you; why should you kill all the mosquitoes?”

That is the law (Laughter) of our God right now. We are all mosquitoes in His hands! He has got enough spray. (Laughter) Oh yes! (Laughter) Those who sit in the front, they are more accountable, more responsible. They are on official duties. There is nothing special about it.

GOD’S UNSEEN HAND IS EXPERIENCED WHEN WE FEEL NEGLECTED

Before I go to the next question, I should tell you the truth of truths. For seven years, I was always getting fifteenth row or twentieth row, more often it was the thirtieth row, or something like that. During those seven years, I had many beautiful experiences, which were never repeated. That period of silence, that period when I was totally ignored, God granted me many, many beautiful experiences. I will tell you about these later.

During that period, I also had some accomplishments and achievements in my life, which I never had in the later period. So, God’s unseen hand is present when we feel we are neglected. This is also true at the family level. When there is a small tiff in the family, when a husband fights with his wife or a wife fights with her husband, whatever it may be, they will be thinking more of each other than before! (Laughter)

ENJOY THE DIVINE ROMANCE

This is the Divine romance. If we get used to the Divine romance, we will enjoy it. Of course, it can be a painful enjoyment, sometimes a miserable pleasure, if I can put it that way. Yet, when you think about those past years, you will smile and enjoy. What a lot of fun it has been!

Once the children are away from us, they think of us more than when they were with us. When you are away from your family, you think of your wife right from breakfast time. When you are there with your family, it follows a mechanical routine. So Swami’s outward silence, apparently neglecting us, is establishing a wider, thicker contact than otherwise.

SWAMI IS ALWAYS THINKING OF US

The bottom line is this: Those who are called for interviews, the VIPs, the ministers or President of India, whomsoever it may be, Swami talks about us only. Take it from me; this occurs with the President of India, the Prime Minister or whoever it may be.

“You see My devotees are waiting. They are My devotees. They sit far behind, but they always think of Me. They stay under the trees and they bear all kinds of inconveniences. They are My true devotees.”

Swami speaks about us only to those people who are called for an interview. What more do we want? We are the subjects of discussion inside! On the outside, we feel that we are neglected, but inside we are V-V-VIPs! There is no doubt about it. This has happened a million times. I can tell you out of my own experience.

Once it happened like this: “Has prasadam been distributed?” That was the question from Swami.

Then I said, “Swami, Yes, yes.

“Keep quiet! I am not speaking of you fellows seated in the front row. I am speaking of those who are sitting there (in the back). Have they received prasadam?”

“Swami, I think they have received prasadam.”

“Why do you think? You go and check it out!”

When I went, only two rows were left. Distribution was almost over. I thought the boy will complete it quickly. After all, boys are young. They can jump; they don’t walk. ‘They can easily complete it,’ I thought. So I went and reported to Swami. “It is over.”

Swami said, “No! Two more rows are left. Why do you bluff? I know.” (Laughter)

On another occasion, I said, “Swami, the buses are on strike. Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses are on strike. Buses are not plying to this place!”

He said, “Old news! The strike was called off this morning. Buses are running just as before.” (Laughter)

He even mentioned the name of a person who arrived that morning, sitting in the fiftieth row in Poornachandra Auditorium. “See that man has come here. He is the RTC depot manager. He is sitting in Poornachandra Auditorium, behind.” But Swami had never been to that side.

My friends, these are not stories. I will give you his house number and if you are so particular, his identification (a mole on the hand, a mole on the cheek), his ID, address and all that. Yet, physically we feel so badly when Swami doesn’t look at us. However, contrary to how one might feel, all of us are ‘registered’ here (known and noticed by Swami).

PHYSICAL, OUTWARD CONTACT IS NOT REAL

There were many instances when He said, “This is your fourth visit. You are feeling that I have not looked at you. I know. This is your fourth visit, I know.”

How does He know that this is your fourth visit if He has not looked at you? So, let us be convinced that the physical, outward contact is not the real one. It does not represent the reality, what Swami truly is.

Sometimes, He will turn His head away like that, as if I have done something wrong. Immediately a thought comes to me: ‘because You have seen me first, You have turned Your head to that side. Or else You would not have turned it! (Laughter) You want to put me to a test; You want to avoid me. Therefore, You have first seen me and then turned Your head like that. I am glad.’

I think like this: ‘If You want to talk to a person, You have to wait, go to him, see him and call him. Because You want to avoid me, You have seen me first, while You have to see the person of Your choice later. He is on the waiting list as ‘number two’! I am in waiting list as ‘number one’. Fine! Why not?’ So, all of Swami’s actions are really very interesting; we should not take it from the outward, external point of view.

I have another question, covering the same issue: “Why is Swami not looking at me? When the car came close to me, He ordered the car to be turned in the other direction.” I think same answer applies to this question also.

221. I am a 19-year-old boy. I am not serious about life. How can I develop seriousness? (311005)

He can say ‘19 years’ (instead of ’19 year old’) as he is not yet ‘old’! (After all, no one is old.)

Oh! My friends, life is not serious. Life should not be serious. No. Life is fun. Life is music. Life is dance. Life is full of festivity. Life is full of joy. Life is ecstasy. Life is bliss. Seriousness is sickness. A spiritual man will never be serious.

We see many people who are ‘serious’ in the name of spirituality. They are misguided people. They are people who have not understood religion at all. They are non-spiritual. I am sorry to say that. To remain serious is a curse in life.

SWAMI‘S SERIOUSNESS IS A DRAMA TO CORRECT US

Can’t you smile? The calculation is like this: There are 84 lakhs of species in creation. It is only Homo Sapiens, the human being, who can smile. If a human being cannot smile, well, should I call him an insect or a mosquito or a bed bug? I do not know. (Laughter)

We find our dear God smiling and smiling all the while - in a wheelchair or in the car, on the dais or behind the curtain, in a festival, totally relaxed. We will never find Swami serious. He pretends to be serious to correct others. Seriousness is something that He pretends. He acts serious, but there is lot of fun on the inside.

I can tell you one instance. Somehow, Bhagavan was upset with a teacher. The teacher was sitting behind Swami. I was sitting very close to Him and Swami was like that, as usual. Nobody could notice it.

He was talking to me, almost in a whisper, “See how serious that fellow is! How nicely he is crying!”

“Huh?”

That fellow finds Swami’s face serious, but He is joking with me! (Laughter) Joking!

“See? I find all ego in his eyes. Let him end himself.”

“Huh? “

“How nice it is!” (Laughter) Is He serious?

Then there was another occasion. Let me not mention the name of that man. He is a judge in the Supreme Court. Swami was blasting him heavily because he was irresponsible or something like that.

Swami was looking at me. That gentleman doesn’t know Telugu. He was looking at me smilingly and said, “See how nicely that fellow is crying! (Laughter) He should learn; he should know how to behave!”

“Huh?”

“You liked it?”

“Huh?”

And the He gave a heavy blasting to that man –same time, same God

SWAMI’S STATE OF BLISS IS NATURAL

Then I understood Swami’s seriousness is just an action. Swami’s seriousness is just a pretension. Swami’s seriousness is just a drama. But Swami’s smile is natural. Swami’s state of bliss is natural. Swami’s laughter is eternal. Swami’s smile is immortal. Swami’s jovial nature is His true nature.

Therefore, my answer to this young man, who is just 19 years, who wants to be serious, let me tell him, “Life is not worthwhile if we are serious!”

SERIOUSNESS IS NOT THE GOAL OF LIFE

Bhagavan gives an example of Lord Krishna. Krishna started singing in the company of cowherd girls in Brindavan. Krishna was singing and dancing in the company of these girls along the banks of the Yamuna River in the night, basking in the moonlight. It was a cosmic dance, a Divine Dance.

The same Krishna started singing Bhagawad Gita in the battlefield. The Gita is a song. When did He sing? At the time of war! Where did He sing? On the battlefield! So, for Krishna’s music, whether it is a full moon night or a battlefield, it is immaterial. Krishna goes on singing because God is music. Life is music. Life is laughter.

So, let us not make our life serious. A patient is serious. A healthy man is not serious. If anyone is serious, we will ask him, “How are you? Are you alright? You don’t look healthy.” A healthy man laughs. So, let not seriousness be the goal of life, for heaven’s sake!

222. What is the goal of human life? (311005)

Goal is futuristic. A goal is to be reached. A goal is to be attained. A goal is strenuous. A goal is stressful. A goal is doubtful. There is no goal at all. There is no goal to reach. Why? Because goal means time and space.

If the bus station is my goal, it takes ten minutes to reach it. If the bus station is the goal, there is one mile of distance. So, goal involves two. Time and space. But life is beyond time and space. How can life be purposeful and goal-oriented?

Life has no goal or purpose. We just set our own goals to reach. And once we think that we reached the goal, our ego is bloated. Once we feel that we have not reached the goal, the balloon of ego, the football of ego is deflated. So it is only an ego play, that’s all.

LIFE ITSELF IS A GOAL UNTO ITSELF

My friends, there is no goal to reach. Life is enough of a goal unto itself. We may have passed through millions of lives in the past. We may have had the life of a stone, the life of a tree, the life of a bird, the life of an animal; so many lives we went through in the past. And then we reached this human life. So this life itself is a goal unto itself.

Therefore, to think I have got another goal is emptiness. It is a void. It is an abyss in the mind. It is only a play of the ego to set goals. It is only a play of the ego to set a purpose for your life. It is not like that.

Purpose is nothing but business temperament. “I have come to Puttaparthi to say thanks to Swami that He gave me a job.” A business relationship. “I have come to Puttaparthi because I am in search of a good bridegroom for my daughter.” So see, a business.

GOAL-SETTING IS A PLAY OF EGO

So, wherever there is some purpose, there is a shadow of business. But God is not a business. At least, I am sure. I will give you some examples I know.

Swami was talking to some people. Swami started looking at a parent. “Oh! When did you come?”

“Swami, this morning.”

“Oh! I see. Why?”

“Swami, my daughter is studying and…”

“Oh! You have come for your daughter, not for Swami.” (Laughter) Finished. Finished! “You have come for your daughter, not for Swami.”

Another instance: Swami was talking to a senior officer. “Oh, good! When did you come?”

“Just now, Swami!”

“Oh, I see! Why?”

“Swami, I have come to Dharmavaram on official duty.” (Laughter)

“Oh! Office! Not for Swami.”

This is goal-oriented. This is purpose-oriented. So, if I have some purpose, I will come. “Swami, I have come for my examination.”

“Oh! Examination. Not for Swami.”

Therefore my friends, the goal or purpose that we set for ourselves is nothing but the play of the ego. It is nothing but business; nothing but a transaction on the worldly plane. That is the reply I can give you.

223. I want to know if Swami ever said something specific about Jehovah or Jehovah’s Witnesses. (311005)

Jehovah and Witness are not separate. Jehovah is God and God is the Witness. So, Witness and God are not separate. God is the Witness.

I can speak anything in front of this mike, something acceptable as well as something not acceptable. But this mike will never say, “This is acceptable; this is not acceptable.” The mike is only a witness.

Similarly, Jehovah, the Divine, is the Witness. He is not separate. That Witness, Christians may call Jehovah, Hindus may call Vishnu. Saivites may call Siva and so on. They are not separate.

224. I beg of you to explain terms like Love, Faith, Trust, Belief, and Sincerity. (311005)

This is a big question. Each topic would be enough to be the title for a whole talk for an hour at least! But this is a wholesale question. Something like if you went to the wholesale market. So he wants me to tell him about all these points at a stretch - Love, Faith, Trust, Belief, and Sincerity. OK! I shall also try to give him an answer in the form of a ‘package deal’, using the modern terminology or nomenclature. All right, let me do that.

BELIEFS ARE SOCIAL, COMMUNITY-ORIENTED AND TEMPORAL

Let me start with belief. Belief is social. Beliefs are social, community-oriented. A simple example: When I see a black cat in the morning, the moment I get up from bed, something bad is going to happen. That is belief. The same black cat will confer blessings to another fellow. So, a belief need not be common to everybody. Belief need not be same to everyone. Beliefs are social. Beliefs are community-oriented. Beliefs are followed for the time being.

At one time, a long time ago, it was a belief not to go abroad. If any fellow crossed the sea, he would automatically go to hell! Today, if you don’t go abroad, you will go to hell (Laughter) because you think heaven is on the other side!

Chandala yoga. They used to say chandala yoga: If one goes to any foreign country, it is chandala yoga, meaning he will go to hell. Today, if you don’t go to a foreign country, you are a useless fellow! You are already in hell; you don’t need to go to hell. (Laughter) So, beliefs are social, which change from time-to-time.

There was belief at one time, here in this country, that a girl should get married at the age of eight. Ashta varshe bhaveth kanya: A girl should get married at the age of eight. It didn’t matter even if she married a fellow of eighty years! She was eight and he was eighty. That was the thing in those days. Now, if any fellow gets his daughter married at the age of eight, he will be behind bars. He will be kept in prison. He is punished. So, beliefs are social, which change from time-to-time.

FAITH IS NOT A COMMODITY TO BE LOST

Above belief, there is another level -- faith. Faith is individual. Faith is not common. Faith is not social. Faith is not societal. Faith is individual. “I have faith in You.” That doesn’t mean all of us should have faith in Him. No. “I have faith in Christ” doesn’t mean that everybody should have faith in Christ. No. So, while beliefs are social, faith is individual.

But faith is shakeable. I may lose faith. Swami is giving me an interview every time, so I have faith. But later, if He is not looking at me, I no longer have any faith. I don’t say unfaithful. I only say I don’t have any faith. I lost faith. So, you may have faith at one time and you may not have faith at a later time. Reversible, revertible, convertible. It may be lost for any silly reason.

There are some people who start coming to this place. “Sir, I lost faith.” Oh! Faith is a commodity to you. Something like, “I lost my watch.” Faith is not a commodity. Faith is not a pen to be lost. But, we look at faith as a commodity, and therefore, we lose it sometimes. We have faith; sometimes we lose faith.

TRUST IS STRONG LIKE A MOUNTAIN

But when that faith becomes, steady, strong, unshakeable, unwavering like a mountain, that is called trust. Trust is an unshakeable faith. Trust is faith that is so strong, like a mountain. So, there are three levels: beliefs, which are social; faith, which is individual; and trust, which is distilled, precipitated, strong, unwavering faith.

That’s what we should have. Jesus Christ had such a trust in God that even while on the cross, He prayed, “Oh! My Lord! Oh! My Father in Heaven!” What kind of trust this is! Jesus had not lost trust in His Father even when He was on the cross!

For us, the slightest increase in our temperature is enough. In our case, we doubt whether God is there or not. (Laughter) If we missed the flight, “What is Baba doing? Is He on vacation or what?” (Laughter) We doubt Him! This is not trust. Trust means trust, come what may. That’s what it is.

LOVE IS ETERNAL AND UNCONDITIONAL

And then, love. Belief, faith, and trust I have explained. Now about love. Love. Let me speak from the negative side, as we take it in the worldly sense. Love is not lust. Love is not attachment. Love is not conditional. Love is eternal. Love is beyond age, position, gender, unconditional.

Love is unconditional. Love has got nothing to do with attachment. It has got nothing to do with bondage. It is not a contract. It is not give-and-take or possess. Love is unconditional. Love is continuous. Love is like a river that flows incessantly. Love is like sunshine, which is available to all. Love is like the cool evening breeze that gives delight to everybody. Love is like a dewdrop on a lotus leaf, shining like a pearl, so beautiful to everybody.

Love does not react. If you scold me, I don’t get disturbed. If you praise me, I don’t sit by the side of the Hanuman statue there. I am not ruffled. I am not frustrated. I am not elated. I am beyond praise and blame. That is Love. Love is non-dual. Love is detached. Love is unconditional. Love is eternal. Love is immortal. Love is blemish less, spotless.

LOVE LIES IN THE DEPTH OF SILENCE

Love is experienced in silence. Those who we love, we don’t speak about it loudly. I don’t say into the mike, “I love so-and-so!” Unless something is wrong with me! (Laughter) When once you start speaking in front of the mike about your love, you will make a very good career in politics. (Laughter) In political talks, “I love my people!” Certainly you will get some more votes (Laughter) and be elected to power. Only later, people will come to know how you don’t love them in reality. Love expressed leads to exploitation. Love that is expressed is false.

Love lies in the depths of silence. Love’s expression is in the resonance, in the echo of our heartbeat. The very heartbeat is the pulsating expression of our love. As the river flows, silence speaks of our love. As the wind blows, silence speaks of our love. As the cloud moves across the firmament of the sky, it is the touch of love. When a child on a swing smiles, that is love. When an elderly person, an aged man, looks gently and compassionately at you, that is love.

LOVE IS DIVINE -- LOVE IS FORGIVING

Love is Divine. Love is not human. Love is Divine. It is love that looks at a sinner and a saint alike. No matter if I am a sinner or a saint, both of us are the same to God. When two brigands, who were guilty, were on the cross with Jesus, Jesus loved both of them. They were rowdies who deserved every punishment! But He loved those two people as much as He loved his own disciples.

Love is forgiving. Love forgives. “Last year you did not say, ‘Sai Ram’ to me; therefore, today I will not look at you.” Useless fellow of the first order! If you go on remembering all the past, if I go on recollecting all your past, all that you have done against me, that is the quality of a snake. A snake will never leave you; it will wait until it bites you, then sees you off from this planet. Vengeance is the nature of an animal. Revenge is the quality of an animal.

DIVINE LOVE WILL NEVER JUDGE, EVALUATE NOR ASSESS

Love is Divine. A godly man loves and loves. It was Buddha who loved the person who stood in front of him with a sword to behead him. He loved him very much. Jesus loved robbers, the downtrodden, and people who were away from the path of morality, with all compassion. Love knows not who is a sinner and who is a saint -- saintliness or sinner.

From our point of view, we say, “He is a great devotee.” But is there any thermometer to show the degree of his devotion? Or we say, “He is a new devotee, just a beginner.” Who are we to decide? So, this is our point of view.

But to God, all are the same -- saint or sinner. Divine Love does not discriminate. Divine Love does not judge. Divine Love does not evaluate. Divine Love will never assess. Many things, nay, volumes can be said about that Love. As we think of great people, noble souls, we should know what Divine Love is.

LOVE IS LIFE -- LIFE IS LOVE

We have not tasted that Divine Love, not even a drop. Because the love we know is conditional. We know love, which is physical. We know love, which is a business. We know love, which is worldly. We know love, which is time-bound. People say, “Hello, how are you?” But after retirement, they will avoid you. Is that love? So long as you are obliging, people are loving towards you. Once you say you are sorry, they turn their face away from you. Is that love? Therefore, my friends, we have not tasted even a drop of Divine Love.

A fellow poisoned Baba as a child. He offered some food with poison in it to Baba. His whole body turned blue. Everybody thought Baba was collapsing. He cured Himself and finally said, “Don’t beat that fellow. I knew that I was taking poison.” And He appointed him as a watchman of Prashanthi Nilayam, the one who gave Him poison. That is love!

I am afraid I may take any length of time on this topic because Divine Love is altogether something that we should long for, something that we should live for, because Love is life. Life is Love. Life without Love is death. Therefore, that is the final thing I can say about it.

225. Today I accept things. But how do I accept unpleasant things with joy? (311005)

This is a common question. How to accept unpleasant things with joy? I don’t say that it is pleasant to sit there for three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening; because your knee joints will tell you how pleasant that is! The backache will tell you how pleasant it is. It is very difficult. Yet, pleasant or unpleasant is more or less based on our temperament, based on our attitude. So, pleasant or unpleasant is temperamental. It is an attitude. It is psychological. It is the way of the mind.

Let us take the Japanese. Anyone from Japan works like a grinding mill. He is ready to work. Though the country was totally lost, it could come up in the field of science and technology within no time. Although Hiroshima was brought down to ashes because of bombing (Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you must have heard of those two places), today Hiroshima is the most beautiful city. Out of rubble, they created a most beautiful city.

MAKING UNPLEASANT THINGS ACCEPTABLE IS SADHANA

It is an attitude. If we can make unpleasant things pleasant, I consider myself triumphant, victorious. It is a win! Simple example: I am a smoker. (Of course, I am not. I am giving an example, as of today.) (Laughter) Example: I am a smoker and somebody tells me, “Don’t smoke.” This is very unpleasant to a smoker. But if he stops smoking, which is quite unpleasant, he has won; he is a winner. If an alcoholic stops drinking, yes! He is a winner. So, in making unpleasant things pleasant, there lies your success. There lies your win. That is Sadhana.

Sadhana, spiritual practice, is nothing but making unpleasant things pleasant, making unpleasant things acceptable. Sometimes certain things happen in our lives, which are not acceptable to us, which are shocks. Some calamity happens in the family. Some death happens. Property is stolen or job is gone. You are deserted by kith and kin -- some shocks, which are very unpleasant. When these unpleasant things are accepted with a spiritual background, with spiritual trust, with spiritual strength, YES! Then you are the winner. On the other hand, if you just take unpleasant things unpleasantly, you are the loser. You have lost the game. Success depends upon that.

REPOSING FAITH IN GOD

Simple example: When you are a legal heir, you have all the rights in the court of law to be the king; but if you just abandon that kingship and go to the forest, you are the winner. That’s what Sri Ramchandra did. Sri Ramchandra was the legal heir of the kingdom, but He left the kingdom went to the forest, so He became great. It is not pleasant to go to the forest for a king. He could make the unpleasant thing very pleasant. That made Him chivalrous. That made Him a hero for all ages to come.

So, your heroism lies in making unpleasant things pleasant, through some effort. This is only possible by reposing faith in God. It is only faith in God that will make unpleasant things acceptable.

“Why did God do this?”

Don’t question it. “God, give me strength to face this. Give me courage to face this.” That should be our attitude.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Courtesy: http://www.saiwisdom.com

 

 

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