Prof. Anil Kumar..Pearls of Wisdom....What is Society Part-4...Sept 25,2002...Swami with Students

[Guest guest]

September 25th, 2002 “What Is Society?” And then on the 25th of September 2002, we were quite lucky to have many, many spiritual points mentioned in the conversation with Swami. As usual, after completing the interviews, He sat there staring at everybody, collecting letters from all boys. Oh! They all made a beeline, giving letters one after another. The kind, merciful Bhagavan received letters from almost everybody and then sat there. Then He started conversing with us. He said, “What is society?” Society in Sanskrit is samaja. Bhagavan had put this question to me,

“What is samaja, society?” I said, “Swami, a group of individuals.” Bhagavan said, “No!” I'm always prepared for that kind of answer or reply from Swami. I prefer to give even wrong answers because then we can get more information from Him. It is also sometimes a spiritual strategy or religious manipulation or human managerial technique. (Laughter) So I said, “Group of individuals.” “No, no!” Swami said, “The very meaning of that word ‘samaja’ is ‘equality’. ‘Sama’ means ‘equal or equality’. ‘Ja’ means ‘born out of’. So ‘samaja’ means ‘born out of equality’, that which is equal-minded, that which is equanimous, where there is

equality. How can you say, ‘A group of individuals’?” Then I said, “Swami, then what is the difference between the individual and society?” Bhagavan said, “The individual is always selfish. The individual always has self-interests. The individual always aims at esteem, name, fame, and popularity. So, the individual is different. The individual is self-centred.” “Oh.. Swami, then society?” “No, society thinks of creation. Society thinks of creation, which is a larger dimension.” “Oh! Then Swami, creation thinks of what?” Bhagavan said,

“Creation thinks of the Creator. So, the individual leads to the community; that community or society thinks of creation; and creation thinks of the Creator.” “Bhagavan, ah! Swami. What a scientific explanation it is!” Then Swami used four important technical Sanskrit terms, which will be of some interest to you. The first word is vyeshti (also known as vyashti), which means ‘individual’. The second word is samashti, which means ‘community’. Third word is srishti or ‘creation’. And the fourth word is Parameshti, which means ‘Creator or God’. Swami used these four words -- vyeshti, samashti, srishti, and Parameshti. Now how did He establish a connection or a sequence between these four levels? Bhagavan said,

“Vyeshti, the individual, is self-centred, while samashti or society always aims at equality, samatwa. By practicing samatwa (equality), the samashti (community) always thinks of srishti (creation). And this creation (srishti) wants to experience Parameshti (the Creator). So one leads to the other in a perfect sequential, preferential order.” “How to Establish Equality in Society?” “Swami, what an explanation that is! I have a simple question, Swami, if You permit me.” “Hmm.” “Swami,

when the individual is self-centred, how is equality established in the community? How is equality in society established? When the individual is self-centred, is it possible?” That was my question. Then Bhagavan said, “Equality is not a political slogan. Equality does not mean ‘similar’. It does not mean ‘identical’. What is to be united here? Not ideological unity, not political unity, no, no, no! What is unity? All our hearts should be united. All our hearts should be unified. So, only the unification of our hearts, only the harmony of our hearts confers or grants unity. That is samatwa, equality. Nothing else.” Today my friends, we don’t have an ideal society anywhere in the world because our hearts are not yet unified. Our hearts are not functioning in perfect harmony. So we are disunited. That’s what Bhagavan has

said. “Swami, how do we bring about harmony in our hearts? How do we establish unity? How?” Bhagavan said, “It’s very easy.” “Swami, is it very easy?” “Yes, why not?” Then Swami said, “Look here: You love your wife. You love your children. You love your friends. You love your relatives. Are you not linked with so many people? Aren’t you connected with many different people? Yes, you are connected with different people. You are in perfect union with other people by the bond of love. And if this love is further expanded, if this love is further and further broadened, our hearts can easily be united. Our

hearts can be unified; our hearts can function in perfect harmony.” September 22nd, 2002 “I Know Everybody “ This happened on the 22nd of September. Swami sat relaxed on the veranda, watching the crowd of devotees, waving His Hand and giving them a blessing, then exchanging smiles with students. He called one boy, “Come here.” That boy is a student of the MBA class -- the Master of Business Management. He hails from Hyderabad, the capitol city of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Swami called him. “Hmm,

MBA boy?” He said, “Yes, Swami. I am MBA.” “You are from Hyderabad?” “Yes, Swami. I'm from Hyderabad.” Then He looked at us and said, “You know, before joining the MBA program, he had been visiting here for five years. He prayed and prayed to Swami that he could get admission into our University. So now you see him here.” “Oh, Swami is that so?” “Yes.” And then He said, looking at the boys, “Boys, you think that I don’t talk to you. You think that I don’t know you.

But, I know everybody. I may not talk to you, but I know everybody. I know everything about everybody; I don’t have to talk to you. Look here, I knew about this boy. Isn’t that enough proof that I know you also? Isn’t it enough? I know everybody.” And then He said, “Hmm, five days back your friends from Hyderabad came here, true?” He said, “Yes Swami, it is.” “Hmm, you spent some time with them also.” “Yes, Swami.” “They spoke to you.” “Yes, Swami.” “Where am I? I am everywhere. What did they talk to you about? What did they tell you?” “Swami, everything was OK.” “No, no, no. Shall I tell you?” “Nothing exceptional, Swami.” “Oh, no. Didn’t they ask you why Swami wasn’t talking to you? Didn’t they inquire what Swami was saying to the students every day?” “Swami, yes.” “Then why don’t you tell Me? I know. Why don’t you tell what I know?” Then Swami said, “Shall I tell you who

came to see you? One fellow’s brother is sick. How is he now?” “Swami, he’s aright.” “Why don’t you tell me? One fellow is searching for a job. Oh, he’ll be getting appointment orders tomorrow, did he tell you?” “Yes, Swami, he told me.” “Then why don’t you tell Me?” Swami started telling us about all his friends, their problems, the purpose of their visit and the details about their conversations. I tell you, we started sweating! (Laughter) Oh, God! If He starts talking about each of us -- well, we’ll probably feel like running away! (Laughter) All those things -- certain things -- are better

left undisclosed! So what is to be done? “Moral Education In One Month?” And then He asked the same boy, “Hey boy, you have got a youth wing of Sathya Sai Organization in Hyderabad.” “Yes, Swami.” “Your friends belong to that Youth Wing.” “Yes, Swami.” “Hmm, what are they doing now?” That boy said, “Swami, they go to hospitals. They visit

jails also. They visit homes for the aged, and they go to schools and teach moral education to boys.” “Very good. How long?” “One month, Swami.” “Oh-ho! They teach moral education in just one month? Oh, very great! These boys, though they are here for a number of years, have not received this teaching. Can you give all moral education in one month?” “I'm sorry, Swami.” “No, no, no!” Then He asked, “What do you mean by ‘moral education’?” That boy

said, “Swami, what is good, and what is bad are taught under Moral Education.” “Oh-ho! Then what is good and what is bad?” “Swami, in other words, right and wrong?” “Oh-ho! Then what is right and what is wrong?” Swami went on like this until a fellow is undone -- until he lifts both his hands like this meaning, ‘Please leave me alone, Swami!’ Then, “Oh-ho!” Then the boy said, “Morality.” “Oh-ho. What is ‘morality’?” “Swami, please, I don’t know.” Neethi, Reethi. Khaythi and Jaathi Then Swami started to tell us the answer! Here again Swami used four important technical Sanskrit terms, which are interesting. (As an aside, I want to say that I could start sharing the other things that Swami said like, “What did you eat for lunch.” That’s fine for the boys. But for us at this grown-up age -- as young adults, if you want to call us (Laughter), we need to hear certain things that carry some message, don’t you think?) What

are the four words that He used? One word was neethi. The second word was reethi. The third word was khaythi and the fourth was jaathi. Neethi, reethi, khaythi, and jaathi -- These four words He used, and then started to explain them. All four words come under the subject of ‘moral education’. Swami said, “Neethi means ‘truth – truth and nothing but truth’. Second, reethi means ‘the practice of truth, adherence to truth’. Following the path of truth is reethi. Third, khaythi – outwardly, khaythi may have the meaning of ‘name and fame’. But, no -- khaythi is thyaaga or ‘sacrifice’. And the fourth word, jaathi, means ‘the human race’.” So, jaathi -- we belong to the human race, which is called Manava

jaathi. We deserve to be members of the human race if we have khaythi, which is thyaaga or sacrifice. And this sacrifice or thyaaga, called khaythi, is possible if we follow the path of truth, reethi. We’ll be able to follow the path of truth, reethi, if we know what truth is, neethi. In other words, if truth, neethi, is understood, it can be followed by reethi or the right procedure. That leads to thyaaga or sacrifice, which is khaythi. That brings the ultimate reputation of name and fame for all of us, making us fit to be called jaathi, or the human race. Am I clear? That’s what Bhagavan explained that pleasant afternoon. “God

Is Your True Friend” Then in a lighter vein, He asked that boy, “Do you have friends?” That boy answered, “Swami, I have a few friends.” “Few friends? No, no!” He asked another boy, “How many friends have you?” Before that boy gave his reply, Swami said, “You have many friends, I know.” Then He said. “Who is your true friend?” They were just thinking. Bhagavan said, “God is your true friend. God is your only friend.” Then Swami gave a beautiful definition to this word ‘friend’. In English we say, “A friend in need is a friend indeed. “ That’s what Bhagavan said. “Who is a true friend? The one who will always be in your company, who will never betray you, who will never cheat you, who will never give you up in times of difficulties, in times of sickness, in times of danger -- He’s only your true fried. Do you have any friend on earth like that, who will never leave you, who will be with you always, supporting you in times of difficulties and sickness? He’s God. So treat God as your true friend. He’ll be always with you.” (SHARING WITH SWAMI'S LOVE) RAM.CHUGANIRam ChuganiKobe, Japanrgcjp