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Sai message for the day

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Swami! Many of us are helpless when we interact with youngsters. They

often say, " Don't interfere with Sai Baba: our freedom. We are

independent and act in the way we choose. " We find it difficult to

convince them about what we think is right, and to guide them in the

right direction. What should we do in the present circumstances?

 

Sai Baba: From your statement, it is very clear that modern youth do

not know what freedom is. They use terms like sveccha , freedom and

svatantra, independence, indiscriminately without knowing their

correct meaning.

 

What is freedom? What is independence? If freedom means behaving as

we like, without any norms, in what way then are we different from

birds and beasts which act as they like? They move about freely

without any restrictions. They also procreate producing dozens and

dozens of young ones. If that is what the youngsters mean and want by

`freedom', insects, birds, and animals, without attending any

universities and getting degrees are able to manage to secure food

and shelter and live freely as ordained by nature. Then in what way

does your freedom benefit you? What is your specialty? What for is

your education? Animals are better than you as they have some reason

and season. You have neither reason nor season.

 

What is sveccha, freedom? If the Sanskrit word sveccha is analysed

properly sva+iccha is sveccha. Sva means `yourself', i.e. soul,

spirit, atma, iccha means `will'. Thus, sva, atma plus iccha - will

means the will power of atma. So this relates to our atma. Is it that

sveccha that our youngsters want today? The pity is they do not know

the meaning of the word they use.

 

Then, modern man says, " I have svatantra, independence, to do

anything I like. Can't I be independent? " Here also youngsters do not

know the meaning of svatantra. Does svatantra mean reckless,

careless, and irresponsible behaviour? No. If you think that moving

and roaming around, eating and drinking anything to your liking, are

the signs of independence, don't you see that cats and rats also

enjoy themselves in the same manner? Does independence mean food and

drink? You are spending your entire lifetime any way on these two,

food and drink. Life has come down to the level of just loading and

unloading.

 

Then what is svatantra, independence? You have to remember in this

context one important point. True, you have independence. But, there

is a limit. Your independence should not come in the way of the

independence of others. So you have independence up to the point that

it does not affect the independence of others. A small example. A

gentleman on a fine morning started his stroll, waving his walking

stick and swinging it freely. After some time a man passing that way

pointed out, " Do not swing your walking stick like that! " Then this

man said, " Why not? I have independence and can move my walking stick

in any way I like " . But, the other said, " Sir, it is true. But your

independence to swing your walking stick ends where my nose begins to

appear because while swinging your walking stick, I am afraid, you

might hit my nose " . This is the limitation of your independence.

 

We also hear people say, " We are celebrating svarajya, Independence

Day. " Is it true? No. Here sva means `self'. Have you mastered

yourself? Do you have control over your senses? Usually svatantra

means becoming independent of foreign rule. You break the chains of

slavery under the yoke of the rulers and declare independence. This

is political independence. This is not enough.

 

Spiritually also you should be independent by controlling your

senses, conquering your weaknesses and checking your evil

tendencies.This is independence in the kingdom of Atma. You become

truly independent only after you have conquered desire, lust, greed,

anger, hatred, avarice, sense of vengeance, etc. You have to

understand the meaning of svatantra in this sense.

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