Swami teaches... Part 3. Guidelines for spiritual lifestyle

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Light and Love Swami teaches... Part 3. Guidelines for Spiritual Lifestyle Human has to make up from the sleep of ignorance and realize own Divine essence Sath-Chith-Ananda. To the extent worldly desires are reduced, to the same extent bliss will be experienced. Simultaneously with the control of desires, people should get rid of ahamkara (egoism). If there is devotion, all other things will come easily. The very first thing one has to do is to destroy the animal nature. Without eliminating the animal nature, all rituals and acts of charity are of no avail. Without the conquest of animal nature, all forms of external worship are of no use. For example, people participate in bhajans. This is doubtless a good act, but it is only an auxiliary element in spiritual discipline. Without removing the animal nature, a singer of bhajans continues to be spiritually blind. Participation in bhajans and performing of worship should lead to the elimination of animal qualifies. Here is one other example to illustrate this point from another angle.

 

In temples of Easwara (or Shiva), you find Nandi (image of bull) in front of the deity. What is the inner significance of this? The usual reply you get is that Nandi is the vahana (vehicle) of Easwara; as if He could not afford to have a better vehicle than a bull. However, the truth is that just as the Lingam is the symbol of the Lord (Easwara), Nandi (bull) is the symbol for Jiva (individual soul). There are some more meanings for this symbolism. For instance, it is said that no one should stand between Easwara and Nandi. One should have the vision of Easwara by looking through the space in between the two ears of Nandi. The underlying idea is that through the sadhana of using its ears to listen about Easwara alone, the animality in the bull becomes transformed into divinity and because of its merger with Easwara it is called Nande-Easwara (Bull-God). Thus, the lesson of the symbolism is that human should also try to merge with God, by following the example of the Nandi. Nandi could become Easwara, only because it turned its attention to God. Similarly, Hanuman, the monkey, and Garuda, the bird, became dear to the Lord. Therefore, ifyou get rid of your animality, you will become Pashupathi (the Lord of all beings). Education alone does not make one a good son or daughter. One should be good in the actions and behavior. Jnana (knowledge) does not a mere acquaintance with books. Nor is it worldly knowledge. Only the person who has recognized the oneness of the Jiviatma (individual Spirit) and the Universal Spirit is a real jnani (one who possesses the Supreme Wisdom). True wisdom consists in the awareness of the rarity of the individual and the collective whole. Whatever the creed, whatever the country or nationality, Truth is one. The Omni Self is one only. The sacred books of the different religions - whether it be the Vedas, the Bible orthe Koran - are intended to promote spiritual practices and not be used for ritualistic reading. (Even eminent scholars often treat these scriptures only as texts for ritualistic recitation). Whatever be the number of religions, their goal is one and the same.

("In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1-3).* In the world, the different nations and countries have diverse forms and names. Nevertheless, the Divine in all of them is one and the same. The Indwelling Spirit is the same in all beings. The Divine energy is common to all, like the current which activates all bulbs, fans etc. All individuals shall come together like the flowers in a bouquet. All people on the Earth are as one bouquet. (Not realizing this, you perceive unity as diversity). The differences among human beings are the result of the differences in their capacities. When one is immersed in thoughts of God, his/her capacity will grow. The same feeling of love permeates every human being. Nevertheless, depending upon the mental make-up, the state, and destiny of different human beings assumes different forms. We should take everyone into our fold. In fact, that is Swami's way. However, some people may not agree. That is due to their lack of maturity, the reflection of their inner feelings. God assumes different forms in consonance with the inner feelings of the devotees. By whatever name and form the human beings contemplate on God, He will appear to them in the same name and form. In this Age of Kali even good appears to be bad. The same individual loves one and hates another. He develops enmity with one and friendship with another. This sort of friendship or enmity is not something that it has acquired from outside. Such feelings are of his/her heart. When you consider someone as your ‘enemy’, one becomes so. On the other hand, when you consider someone as your ‘friend’, one becomes a friend. Thus, human develops a number of relationships based on names and forms. It is the mind that is responsible for so many changes in the world. Human, per se is faultless. It is love that permeates all human beings. It is true that human beings exhibit qualities like anger, hatred, jealousy, pomp, etc., sometimes. Nevertheless, they do not affect God. God is beyond gunas (attributes), whereas human beings are with gunas. Good and bad are only in a human being, not in God. To carry on daily life in the world people pursue many vocations. However, does all this constitute real living? People today are filled with fear because they have no confidence in themselves. A bird can brave a storm because it has faith in its wings. However, human succumbs to the slightest reverses of fortune because he/she does not rely on the power of the Spirit. People have to rely primarily on the power of the Divine. With confidence in the Self, they should devote themselves to good deeds. This is the purpose of life.

 

The pompous person with unclear mind what chance has he of realizing the true Self? An intellect pure alone is able to comprehend the true principle of Self No more is there to be said on this. (Telugu poem) Human's thoughts, words, and deeds must be suffused with love. Only then, person will experience peace. When person's behavior and talk is bad, how can he/she expect peace to reign in heart? Swami's famous saying declares, "Peace is not in the outside world. It is very much in individual's heart. There are only pieces outside, not peace." All histories are sacred - whether they pertain to Bharath, Islam, Christian or others. It is in their followers that you find all sorts of omissions and commissions. That is why the hatred between one religion and another is ever on the increase. However, there is nothing wrong with the religions per se. People should recognize this fact and conduct themselves accordingly. Good and bad are creations of your mind only. Good qualities can be acquired by practice. The practice may be difficult, like moving an object uphill. The sadhana (spiritual practice) must be done with full faith and no doubts. To experience God certain disciplines are required. To realize God you have to be good. This means that one has to cultivate good qualities like reverence for parents, humility, respect for teachers and elders.

 

How did Rama achieve such greatness? By carrying out the injunctions of his father. Rama also exemplified friendliness and brotherliness. He moved among the people with a sense of endearment. He identified the people's welfare with his own well-being.

 

What is meant by Rama Charithra (History of Rama)? What Rama did during His lifetime is His Charithra or History. Practicing, experiencing, enjoying bliss, and sharing the bliss with others - is Charithra. How Rama mastered His senses and mind during all the vicissitudes of life, how He was neither elated by pleasure nor depressed by pain, how He accepted His exile into the forest with the same happy countenance with which he had prepared Himself for His coronation. This story of His which describes His equanimity under all circumstances of pleasure or pain and loss or gain. Try to understand the correct meaning of what is recorded in the Charithra or historyof Bharath which is highly sacred. Charithra (history) is derived from "charayalu" (the actual actions) of people but not from mere writings or discourses. The ways of the Divine should be properly understood. God exists not for one nation or one community. Each one gets the reward according to his deserts, as are the actions, so are the fruits thereof. Swami does not tire to repeat that truth is very much in every individual. Truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence are the innate qualities of a human being. It is enough if you put into practice at least one aspect of what you have read. That will help in every way. You may pursue any type of education; but, do not forget the human values. Truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence are the five human values to be cultivated by a human being. Truth is eternal and will earn eternal peace for you. Hence, before doing anything, one should consider whether it is right or wrong. One should see that no harm occurs to anyone on account of one's actions. Swami mentions an example of actual action from the history - the spontaneous magnanimity of Karna (half-brother of Pandavas. Valiant, but unfortunate eldest son of Kunthi by the Sun deity. Ally of the Kauravas in the war with Pandavas). Krishna had contrived to bring home to Arjuna the extent to which Karna was prepared to sacrifice himself to satisfy any one who came to him for help. Krishna assumed the form of a form of the hermit Brahmana and came to Karna on the battlefield asking for some gold. As the only way he could satisfy the Brahmana was to pull out his two golden teeth to give them to him, Karna did not hesitate to do so. He got them washed in Ganga water aiming an arrow at the ground and making the river spout forth. Arjuna, who had a high opinion of his own prowess and devotion to Krishna, felt humbled at the sight of Karna's boundless generosity. The lesson is that one should try to understand everything thoroughly, and not rash forward blindly into all matters, thoughts and deeds. Then you will gain "practical knowledge," and that will guide you along the desirable and sacred path. You will find guideposts here and there on the roadside, to indicate which path you should take to reach any particular place. The ups and downs in the path can be experienced only by those who tread the path, but not by the guidepost. (Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 2. "The Name of Naaraayana," Chapter 9; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 25. "Rise From Animality To Divinity," Chapter 15; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 29. "The four beacons," Chapter 20 and "As you sow, so shall you reap," Chapter 23; Sathya Sai Speaks. Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 30. "Purity--the path to Liberation," Chapter 13; http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/Christmas2006_Discourse.html). *The original the New Testament in Greek uses the word "logos" as opposed to "word". In modern Greek "logos" literally means "word"; in Ancient Greek "logos" also means "thought".

Namaste - Reet