Easwaramma Day Divine Discourse

[Guest guest]

RESPECT, HONOUR AND MAKE YOUR MOTHER HAPPY

May 06, 2008

 

Students - Boys and Girls!

 

Venkataraman has spoken to you regarding today’s function in a

befitting manner. He is a very learned man who worked in the Bhabha

Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. He has worked in some scientific

areas earlier pursued by Sir C.V. Raman. He is the winner of many

awards.

 

Now, what can I say about the mother of this body? Man has actually

three bodies †" physical, mental and spiritual. Therefore, you are

not one person but three †" 1.. The one you think you are, i.e.,

body 2. The one others think you are, i.e., mind 3. The one you

really are, i.e., Atma (spirit). Your true form is the Atma, not the

body or the mind.

 

In the circumstances that prevail today, there are very few who

honour their mother. Your mother carried you in her womb for nine

months and gave you birth after undergoing many difficulties and

hardships. Forgetting such a mother is like forgetting God. This

amounts to forgetting yourself. Mother is your first teacher. It is

the mother who feeds and nourishes you. It is on the lap of your

mother that you grow up and experience all types of happiness. None

should forget the love that he receives from his mother. First and

foremost, our mother deserves our highest respect.

 

After the death of his mother, many people told Sankaracharya to

take the body out. But Sankaracharya told them, “Neither my mother

is going to leave me, nor I am going to leave my mother. My mother

and I are one forever. Bodies are different but the principle of the

Atma is the same in both of us.. You may go away from me but none

has any right to separate my mother from me. Her body will be

cremated in the compound of the house.†Accordingly, Sankaracharya

cremated the body of his mother in the compound of his house. None

can estimate the feelings of the mother. Even today people of

Palakkad either cremate or bury the body of their mother in the

compound because they feel that such a great person like

Sankaracharya has done it and they should also follow the same. In

the beginning many people had criticised Sankaracharya, saying,

being such a learned scholar, he had committed such a type of

impropriety. Knowledge of scriptures is not that important, it is

cultural refinement that has great value. Culture is that which

brings about refinement.

 

Physically your mother may not be with you, but your love for her

should remain the same. The mother of this body sent a letter to me

when I was in Kodaikanal. After that I came to Brindavan

(Bangalore). The Summer Course was going on at Brindavan. Once she

prayed that My name should be on her lips at the time of her death.

When she passed away in May 1972, Summer Course was in progress at

Brindavan. She was hale and hearty. All of a sudden she called out,

“Swami, Swami, Swami …†I replied, “I am coming, I am coming

…†When I came down the stairs, she breathed her last.

 

So long as there is life in the body, we should take care of it.

When the life goes away the body has no value. Truly speaking, who

is the mother? It is the life principle that is the mother, not the

body. Body is like a water bubble, mind is like a mad monkey. What

for we should keep the body? Immediately, I asked for the car to be

brought and sent her body in the car to Puttaparthi. I remained in

Brindavan.. For the summer course, students not just from one

college but they had come from various colleges from all over

India.. They all thought that Swami would not come to the class that

day. Then what? Exactly at 9 o’ clock, I entered the classroom

smilingly. Students were surprised to see Me there. They were all

thinking, “What is this? Swami’s mother has passed away and He

has come to the classroom.†Mother does not go anywhere. The body

that was being addressed as ‘mother’ has left. But the mother is

with Me only. Hence, there was no need to be sad. So long as I am

there, mother is always with Me. Therefore, I told the students to

be happy and not to feel sorry that the mother of this body left her

mortal coil. At that time V.K. Gokak was the Vice Chancellor. He was

also surprised thinking, “What, Swami is talking like this!†I

have not taken birth from physical body. After all what is this

body! It exists when five elements are there in it. Body is like a

bag containing five elements. When the five elements leave the body,

it becomes an empty bag. Hence, one should not have undue attachment

with the body. All mothers and children should develop these

feelings of detachment. So long as the mother is alive, we should

respect her, honour her and make her happy in every possible way.

There is no need to be sad when she leaves the body. Even here in

Puttaparthi, people said, “What is this? Swami has sent the body

of Easwaramma, but He Himself has not come?†What for I should go

with the body? Body is only a vesture. It is like a leather bag.

When the five elements leave the body, the five senses also go with

it. Then why should we grieve over the lifeless body? I arranged for

whatever was supposed to be done at the worldly level. I remained in

Brindavan and conducted the summer classes happily. In this world,

all the physical relationships are of our own making. Otherwise, who

is related to whom? This relationship of mother and son is only at

the physical level. The mother came, performed the actions that she

was destined to perform and then left. I have to perform My duty.

Therefore, I engaged Myself in the performance of the task for which

I have come when we see from the worldly point of view, the body is

physical and ephemeral.

 

The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner

or later, but the indweller has neither birth nor death. The

indweller has no attachment whatsoever and is the eternal witness.

 

(Telugu Poem)

 

We should keep Dehi (indweller) in our view and not the physical

body (Deha). Everyone forgets the body when he goes to sleep. When

you can forget it in your sleep, why can’t you forget it forever?

However, so far as your parents are there, you should make them

happy. Do not ignore their well-being. We should look after our

parents and treat them with love and respect. However, we should not

have undue attachment to the body. The relationship between husband

and wife is there only after the marriage. Wife comes in the middle

of your life but mother is there with you right from the birth. It

is sheer foolishness to forget your mother who is with you since

your birth and get entirely immersed in the love of your wife who

comes in the middle of your life. Other relations like sons,

daughters, grandsons, sons-in-law, etc., are also formed in the

middle of one’s life. In fact, all worldly relations are

temporary; they come and go like passing clouds. You have

connections with these relations so long as you exist. Where is the

connection when you yourself are not there? Hence, do not form any

relationships on the basis of the body. However, perform all duties

which you are required to perform at the physical and worldly level

with earnestness. Your conduct should be good and your actions

should also be good. Never forget your mother; treasure her form in

your heart. We come from the heart of our mother and mother should

always be in our heart. Therefore, neither your mother ever leaves

you nor you should leave her. Mother and children are united with

each other for ever.

 

Twameva Mathacha Pitha Twameva, Twameva Bandhuscha Sakha Twameva,

Twameva Vidya Dravinam Twameva (you alone are the father and mother,

friend and relation, wisdom and wealth).

 

(Sanskrit Verse)

 

Wherever you may be, keep your heart suffused with the feelings of

love for your mother. Once Narasimha Murthy came to Me and said,

“My mother has passed away.†I asked him, “Who has passed away

†" your mother or her body?†Then I told him, “Your mother is

here. I am your mother (loud applause). It is the body that dies.

Body is like a water bubble. Bodies come and go. Therefore, you

should have no worry about the death of the body of your mother. I

am here with you. Ask Me whatever you wanted from your mother; I

will give (loud applause). Hence, you should not feel sad at all.â€

From then onwards, Narasimha Murthy is with Me. I give him whatever

he wants. Mother, father and other relations are temporary †"

coming and going, coming and going. But God is not coming and going.

He is always present. Therefore, it is only God who is present at

all times (loud applause). The entire world is ephemeral and

transitory.. How many people have taken birth in this world? Are

they all here now? Death can occur in any manner; it has no sign or

symptom. Death is death. Even if some symptoms of death are visible,

we should not worry at all.

 

Never ever show disrespect to your mother. Never make her shed tear

by your conduct. Keep her always happy. Her happiness will bring you

all good things in life. But we should not worry at the death of our

parents. Recently also I told in My Discourse in Bangalore that both

My mother and father appeared before Me. They smiled on seeing Me; I

also smiled on seeing them. We should be happy when our parents

smile. Small children smile at everyone. We also start smiling when

they smile. The parents are also like small children. Mother always

loves her children. Therefore, whatever high position we may attain

in our life, we should never disrespect or look down upon our

parents. Always consider them as God. Mother is God, father is God.

That is why it is said, Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya

Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava (revere your mother, father, preceptor

and guest as God). Mother gives you your body. Father provides the

means of nourishment and growth of the body. Acharya gives you

education and God gives you everything. Therefore, you should never

forget these four and treasure them in your heart. Mother and father

have their place in the heart of man. He should not forget them even

if he is in great difficulty or upset over something. One who

forgets his/her parents cannot be a human being. How can you exist

without your parents? They are the seeds of your life; the very

sourse of your life on earth. Therefore, parents should have prime

importance in our life. Even if you are old or in great difficulty,

you should make efforts to make your parents happy as far as it is

possible for you. You should feed them even if you have to resort to

begging. Bear all hardships to look after them. Fulfil all their

desires. This will result in the fulfilment of your own desires.

Everything in this world is reaction, reflection and resound. None

can escape from these. If you cause difficulties for your parents

today, your children will cause difficulties for you tomorrow. You

will get back the result of your actions without much delay. You may

love anyone you like, but do not forget your parents. When your

parents have not forgotten you, you should not forget your parents.

 

Matha Nasthi, Pitha Nasthi, Nasthi Bandhu Sahodaraha, Artham Nasthi,

Griham Nasthi, Thasmath Jagrata Jagrataha. (The relationships like

mother, father, brothers, sisters and friends are not real. House

and wealth are also illusory. Beware of this truth.) (Sanskrit Verse)

 

You should remember your parents at all times. You should never

forget them. It is for this reason that I have come here straight

from Brindavan. Earlier, people thought that Easwaramma Day may be

celebrated in Kodaikanal. But I decided that I should be here at

Puttaparthi on 6th May and a grand function should be held here and

poor people should be made happy by distributing clothes and serving

them sumptuous food. Wherever I am, I perform this function in the

same grand manner. You should never ignore poor people. We should

always remember them and help them.

 

But some people out of their distress and anger abuse and ridicule

them. This is a great mistake. If you ridicule them now, it will

come back to you in future. You may be thinking you are ridiculing

them but truly speaking you are ridiculing yourself. Never ridicule

or insult them. Always love them. If you insult them before others,

you will also be insulted by others. You cannot escape from the

reaction, reflection and resound.

 

Difficulties come and go. Even the mighty Rama had to cry like an

ordinary man on account of his separation from His wife Sita. Even

the valorous Pandavas had to live in forest eating leaves and

tubers. How much power and valour they had! Yet they had to live in

forest and bear all difficulties. What for? They were defeated in

gambling. Similar will be the fate of all those who take to this bad

path. Gambling is not good at all. Similarly, drinking of liquor is

also not good. Addiction to drinking leads to loss of control over

oneself. Under the influence of liquor, a drunkard may speak

anything. Later on, he will repent after coming back to his normal

senses. Lust and anger are the two demonic qualities. Never allow

them to come near you. In a fit of anger, we may say anything

without considering its consequences. But after a few minutes, when

we come to our normal mood, we will say sorry, “Alas! Why did I

abuse like this?†Therefore, first and foremost kill the anger.

Rama killed many demons and demonesses in the forest because of

their evil qualities of lust and anger. Whoever one may be, whether

a male or a female, if he/ she has the evil qualities of lust and

anger, they should be punished. Anger and lust are very bad for man.

Love God. Adore Him and worship Him. He is your father, mother and

everything. Have relationship only with God. God will never leave

you. He is omnipresent. All the worldly people whom you love are

like passing clouds. They come and go.. But God comes and grows.

Therefore, love God and have faith in Him. One who has love for God

only is a true human being. (Here Swami called a boy from Iran, who

is a student of Sri Sathya Sai Primary School and asked him to chant

Vedic Mantras.) See how beautifully this boy from Iran has chanted

the Vedic Mantras! He is a Mohammedan boy. In their country, people

are not even allowed to utter the name of Rama in public. When you

ask him his name, he will tell “My name is Sathya.†(Here Swami

asked this boy †" “What is your name?†What is your parents

name? Chant the Vedic Mantras nicely and learn all Vedic Mantras. Do

you know Rig Veda? The boy then recited Rudram and Sri Suktam with

perfect intonation and pronunciation to the applause of the entire

gathering.) Everything is there in the Vedas. The essence of all the

religions like Hindu, Islam and Christianity is there in the Vedas.

Even Christians also sing the glory of God in the same manner. Even

the Mohammedans extol the five elements and worship the goddess of

wealth. Hence, God is one for all religions. God is one. There is

difference only in names. Mohammedans offer prayers to God five

times in a day. Hindus also pray to God in the morning and evening..

We should never say that the Veda is only for Hindus. Veda is for

all. That which is one and universal is the Veda. Veda can alleviate

all types of suffering of man. Hence, it is good for everyone to

learn the Veda. Many people from America also come here and learn

the Vedas. Many people in Russia and Germany also recite the Vedic

Mantras both in the morning and evening. Since, Hindus do not recite

the Vedic Mantras, they are forgetting them. Therefore, nobody

should forget the Vedas. Veda and Vedanta are like your parents. We

should always remember them and never forget them. Therefore,

students! Whatever you may study, you should never forget God. Only

then can you attain peace. People say, “I want peace.†There can

be no peace without Bhajan. (Here Bhagavan sang the Bhajan, “Hari

Bhajan Bina …†and continued His Discourse.)

 

Many people perform Yajnas and Yagas for the sake of peace. Where

can you get peace from? It is within you only. It does not come from

outside. What come from outside are only pieces, pieces, pieces!

Peace comes from our heart only. You should do Bhajans to attain

peace. Only Bhajan can give you peace.

 

Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam