Swami teaches... Part 2. Do Your Duty as Dedication to the Divine

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Light and Love Swami teaches...

Part 2. Do Your Duty as Dedication to the Divine There are three paths laid down for the awareness of the immanence of the Divine: karma, bhakthi and jnana. These three are not distinct and diverse; they are composite and complementary. First, engage yourself in Karma-Jijnaasa, (jijnaasa - yearning to know) the discriminating selection of activity; then, you has to enter the region of Dharma-Jijnaasa, the search for the eternal laws of the spirit that mould and shape the waves of consciousness. Last, you penetrate into the problems of liberation through Brahma-Jijnaasa, the sadhana (spiritual discipline) that convinces you of the reality of the One and the unreality of multiplicity, the apparent world based on the real Brahman. Most devotees are in the first stage, the Karma-Jijnaasa stage, able to distinguish the fight from the wrong so far as your activity is concerned. Nature, the Individual, and God - of these three entities, Karma-Jijnaasa has to consider all three, whereas Dharma-Jijnaasa has to do with the last two and Brahma-Jijnaasa deals only with the last, viz., Brahman. Remember the last stage, even when you are in the first, for, that is the end of the journey, the Goal. When you have the Goal in view, wherever you are, it will fill you with genuine joy. Do not seek to do things that give you sensual or temporary satisfaction only. Do not crave to do what you like, but train yourself to like what you do, or what you have to do.

 

The sadhana you should do is to utilize your time in doing good deeds for the benefit of the society at large and not to satisfy your self-interest. Be grateful to those who have helped you to achieve position, power, wealth, and prominence. (By forgetting the good done by others, the ungrateful person is setting at naught the highest human values and strutting about as a vainglorious creature. Ingratitude is a great sin, which brings in its wake a host of troubles. To forget what one owes to others for own position and prosperity is to forfeit the grace of the Divine).

It is sadhana, when you willingly undertake work that promotes your real welfare. Then only can Nature and the individual self be eliminated and the Brahman alone established in the consciousness. Alexander Great, during his campaigns in the Punjab, was anxious to see a celebrated sage; he went to the cave where the sage was, and expected that he would be received most thankfully and with demonstrations of welcome. But the sage simply asked him to move aside and go. He was not interested in the famous world-shaker, the Greek conqueror. Alexander threatened to kill the sage and drew his sword. But the sage said calmly, with a laugh "I do not die; I cannot die." That put some sense in Alexander and he put his sword back into the scabbard. The Creator in the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer) do not work contrary to each other; they work out the same plan. They are also not different from Rama and Krishna and Swami. This rupa (form) is that rupa; this upadhi (disguise) and that upadhi are both of the same Maha Sakthi (great universal power, Divine energy, strength).The essential purpose of all this Leela (the Divine play) is Ananda (the Divine Bliss). One carries away when in one upadhi called Brahma, and creates substitutes, when in another upadhi called Krishna - all for the sake of the Ananda it gives to the participants as well as to the onlookers and those who listen to the story later.

This is one way of announcing the Divinity of the Avatar, which has to be done so that people may listen and obey. The common person will sit up in wonder and his/her awe will ripen into faith; later, even if he/her salts discriminating and arguing pro and con, the Avatar will only be glad, for the faith will thus be confirmed.

 

Cultivate the attitude of the servant of the Lord. In that spirit, you offer service to others, whom you have to adore as embodiments of God. It is this attitude that gives maximum satisfaction to the pining heart.

Taithreya Upanishad states that one should revere one’s parents as God. Loving service to one’s parents is not only the highest form of spiritual exercise but also closest to God’s heart. For instance, by legend saint Pundareeka had impregnable faith in the Vedic injunction to revere the mother and the father that He refused to serve Lord Krishna when He appeared before him to shower His Grace; for, at that time, he was engaged in massaging the feet of his parents. He would not interrupt that service even for a split second to touch the Feet of the Lord. He explained, "My God is just now here, before me, asking that the feet be massaged. Let this God who has come wait, until these Gods are served. This God has put in His appearance only now, but these have been with me ever since birth. I feel the Divine Presence in them every day of my life, and I recognize them as Divine!"

 

Few can understand the ways in which devotion manifests itself among the lovers of God. However, humans' relations come and go. However, the association with God is eternal.

 

Below are another three examples from the past about deepness and beauty of devotion and full dedication to the Divine.

*** Meera was a devotee who had completely merged herself in Krishna consciousness. After her marriage, she requested her husband to build a temple for Krishna. The Rana built for her a temple in marble. Meera spent all the time in the temple singing bhajans (devotional songs) oblivious of the outside world. The Rana, who allowed Meera to carry on her worship of Krishna as agreed to by him before the marriage, got vexed with her complete absorption in Krishna and prohibited her from going to the temple and closed its doors to prevent her from going there. Meera felt, "The Rana may bar me from the temple which he has built. But who can bar me from seeking the Krishna who resides in the temple of my heart?" Meera's thoughts were centered on Krishna installed in Dwaraka. She ran towards Dwaraka through forests and hills, defying storm and rain, singing all the way and calling on "Krishna ! Krishna !" Reaching Dwaraka, she entered the temple but found the doors of the sanctum closed. Despite all her efforts, the doors would not open. She cried out "Oh Krishna ! Do you think with the cymbals in one hand and tambour in the other how can I hold your lotus feet ? See, I am throwing them away. I shall not give you up and you cannot get away from me. Abandoning everything, I will cling to your feet." Crying in anguish, Meera knocked her head against the door of the sanctum. That very moment she fell into a swoon. An effulgent flame emerged from her body and merged into the Krishna idol. *** Chaithanya (15th century Vaishnava mendicant reformer; taught the path of love and devotion to the Krishna) went to Brindavan, where every particle of dust was sacred for him, since Krishna trod that soil centuries ago. He did not see or hear or touch or smell or taste anything except Krishna at Brindavan. He was rendered so forgetful to the world around him that he ignored the demands of hunger, thirst and social etiquette. He yearned for the consecrated food that was offered to Krishna in the Temple. But, one night, the Lord appeared before him, and admonished him for entertaining that one desire too. When at last, he gave up that desire also and was overwhelmed with the thirst for Him and Him alone, Krishna manifested before him, from within him. The Divine Chaithanya (Consciousness) illuminated the sage Chaithanya in human form. *** Two gopees (cowherd maiden) were moving about on the sands of the Yamuna, talking about Krishna and lost in the contemplation of His sports and His majesty. Of them, Neeraja had a doubt suddenly arising in her mind. (It was a metaphysical conundrum). "When I practice identity with Krishna and feel that I am Krishna, I am afraid that I will lose the thrill of being with Him, conversing with Him, and hearing His sweet Voice. I long for be distinct from Him, and to taste the Love and Glory that He is." Then, Sarala, her companion, consoled her and said, "No! Your fears are baseless. For, Krishna too is contemplating you and your purity. By the time you are transformed into Krishna on account of the sadhana of identity, Krishna would have become 'you', as a result of His longing for you and so, there need not be any apprehension in your mind or frustration." Practice contemplation of what you hear or read; that is the best way of showing your gratitude to the Divine. You have another advantage too. With your experience, you can understand the Bhagavatha (a textbook of the Divine love, the story of Avatars, especially Krishna; it describes all the incarnations of Vishnu) better. Swami's nature is too Vishwaprema (all-pervading Love) and Bhagavatha is the story of Vishwaprema.

In the Purusha Shuktha it is declared that Brahmana came out of the face of Cosmic Purusha (Primeval Person, Supreme Spirit, Lord, God). (Brahmana does not mean one that is born in the Brahmana community. It refers to one who has knowledge of Brahman). Everyone wants to achieve happiness and makes all sorts of efforts for this purpose without knowing where to find it. Happiness is not there in all worldly attainments orpossessions. It is only in the heart within. Person is him/herself the embodiment of happiness. Yet, without realizing this, person goes on seeking happiness elsewhere. Permanent bliss is only within and once you realize that you are the blissful Atma and not the transient body, you will always be happy. Direct your vision inside. Then you will realize that the entire world is a reflection of the Atma within you. 'That' (Brahman) is Whole. 'This' (Creation) is also Whole. From 'that' Whole 'this' Whole has emerged. Even though 'this' Whole has come out of 'that' Whole, yet 'that' Whole remainsWHOLE only. What does this mean? From whatever source a thing is born, it retains the quality of the source in full. This is also the main quality of principle of the holographic Universe by modern science. By this scientific outlook the Universe (and consequently human's consciousness) is only a holographic pattern of Cosmic Consciousness and contains all information what the Initial Source (Brahman, God, Atma, Absolute, etc.) has. This information is, as a rule, in infinite hidden forms and for their activation, the spiritual awareness (as laser beam in physics) is needed. God is Paripurna Swarupa (Godhead, meaning the fullest full Total Personality). You should engage yourself in wholesome Divine pursuits and fulfill the purpose of this valuable human life. You should thus reflect your Divinity in the human form. Change your vision, and the world will appear accordingly. Let the eye be charged with the Divine, it will see all as God. It is foolish to try to shape the world; shape yourself as the embodiment of Peace, Love, and Reverence. Then, you will see all as Love and Compassion and Humility. You should not waste time, because a moment gone will not come back. Swami declares that He is in every one, in every being. So do not hate any one, or cavil at any one. Spread prema always, everywhere. Do not seek to measure or evaluate Swami. He is beyond your understanding. Pray or worship for your own satisfaction and contentment. Swami is everywhere, seeing all things and knowing every activity of yours. You are devoted to Swami and you are eager to be directed and follow the directions to the best of your ability. You desire to utilize the skill and efficiency you have earned for the service of others, because you feel that they are kinsmen of the Swami's family, whether they know it or not. You can hear Swami's Footsteps, for, Swami walks with you, behind you, beside you. When you cry out in agony, Swami's ear will be there to listen. Ask that Swami should protect you like the apple of the eye; Swami's eye will be there to watch over you and guard you. Have incense and scent-sticks for the puja, and Swami smells them. Swami answers to whatever Name you use; Swami responds to whatever request you make with a pure heart and a sanctified motive. (Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 3. "Thamo gunam, thapo gunam," Chapter 22; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 7. "The miracle of love," Chapter 32 and "The windows of the mind," Chapter 36; Sathya SaiSpeaks. Vol. 10. "Beside, behind, before," Chapter 10; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 20. "The Lord and the Devotee," Chapter 9; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol.27. "Time is God : make best use of it," Chapter 11 Namaste - Reet