Swami teaches... Part 2. The Beacon Light for Students,Teachers and Parents

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Light and Love Swami teaches... 4 - 6 October 2007 Part 2. The Beacon Light for Students, Teachers and Parents People, as a rule, do not seek to comprehend the inner meaning of Divinity. There is nothing in this world apart from the Divine. People do not listen to words of the wise, but easily fall a prey to bad advice. Such people, how can they hope to understand Swami? Realize the truth of Swami's words in due course. The egoistic conceit of human, which makes him/her feel that he/she is the doer and enjoyer, is the cause of ruin. A human's conduct is related to his/her thoughts and feelings. One can make or mar own destiny by his thoughts and actions. Today wherever you turn - in the administration, in the business world, in politics or other fields - as a rule, you see no spirit of sacrifice. In every field, the atmosphere is saturated with pollution. Today the pollution affects people in authority, the parents, the educationists, and intellectuals. Those who preen themselves on their scholarship have no humility that should characterize genuine scholarship. As a consequence, humanity is haunted by suffering, tin-rest, disorder and agitations. Humanity is haunted by fear because there is no spirit of sacrifice; righteousness is at a discount and truth has become rare. At present the hunt for comfortable jobs and positions of influence, the founding of banks and business houses, the growth of bungalows - all this is evidence of the eagerness to live in happiness. However, no one of the rich or well placed or prosperous or powerful has peace. You can investigate and find out for yourselves the truth of this. Peace is not found in the bankbook or many-roomed bungalow or god own or iron safe. Also money earned by sinful means will not last. Either thieves will rob you or the Income-tax Department will seize it.

 

In addition, for wealth there are four claimants. Number one is fire. Number two, thieves. Third, relatives. Fourth, enemies. These four are after one's wealth. Before any of them deprives of your wealth, you should make good use of it. "A person does not have to be behind bars to be a prisoner. People can be prisoners of their riches, own concepts and ideas. They can be slaves to their own selves" (Maharaji). Many people tend to forget ideals and foster desires. Selfishness prevails over patriotism. Most young people today have lost the feeling of forbearance and as a result have become a prey to many bad qualities like anger and envy. This is the cause of all sickness in the world. This egoism has no real basis because the individual is an insignificant speck in the vast cosmos. (This ignorance will go if human realizes that the whole Universe is permeated by the Divine and belongs to the Divine). For the evil ways and bad behavior of youth today, the parents are to be blamed in much. Because of such bad parents it is better that such children are not born at all. They are a disgrace to their parents and to their country. When the parents exchange words, the children exchange blows. The parents give a free rein to the children instead of controlling them. The parents are to blame for three-fourths of their children's misbehavior. Unfortunately, today, because the parents themselves have no purity of character and lack refined qualities, and do not lead regulated lives, evil practices and wickedness are growing all over the world. Because of the malefic effects of the Kali age, parents tend to be quarrelsome. Fathers are behaving like Hiranyakasipu (a demonic person, wicked father of Prahlada, who was a great devotee of the Lord). By ancient story, Hiranyakasipu tried all methods to divert his son, Prahlada, from devotion to God. The child was subjected to every conceivable kind of torture and ordeal: trampling by elephants, biting by cobras and immersion in the sea. Nevertheless, Prahlada's devotion to the Lord saved him. Prahlada declared, "He alone is a father who asks his child to realize God. He is a true Guru who leads the disciple to God." Such teachers and parents have become rare these days. (There is nothing great about being a father. No father can rejoice merely when a son is born. Only when the people praise the virtues of the son will the father rejoice over his birth. A righteous son redeems himself and his family).

 

What concern to education, teachers transmit bookish knowledge, but do not teach wise living and higher values. Students education and their jobs may help to bring to them power, position and wealth but do not serve to promote in them such virtues as compassion, kindness and sacrifice. If there are no morals and human values, a human becomes a demon. Faith in God has replaced by disrespect for reverence and righteousness. Atheism is rampant and preceptors are not honored. Devotion is at a discount and the ancient wisdom has given up these days. In education, character has reached its nadir. Education has become a bookish affair, used only for passing examinations and forgotten after quitting the examination hall. Of what use is it to flaunt one's degrees if the only purpose of acquiring them is to earn a mess of pottage? People should consider the whole world as the mansion of one human family, when this spirit of oneness prevails, there will be no tendency to harm others. Youth would be aware that happiness and peace are not to be found in wealth, position, or power. All these generate only fear, anxiety, not peace, and happiness. (Today, even highly educated persons do not recognize this truth). The youth should cultivate the quality of forbearance what is a supreme virtue in human. Students should use their power of discrimination and should be guided by the voice of conscience.* (Living for the present moment, always listening to your inner voice and obeying without question the inner promptings, intuition and guidance). The words of wisdom of the great sages should imprint on students hearts. Below is an example by Ramayana as parable for contemplation. King Janaka was similarly a seeker after Brahmajnana (the Supreme Truth). He sought knowledge for the sake of Self-realization and not for the sake of creature comforts. He held an assembly of sages where he achieved fame. At the assembly Gargi (celebrated female sage Vachaknavi, born in the family of Garga) carried on a debate with the sage Yaajnavalkya. The debate was based on the scriptures. It was inconclusive. Then Gargi put a question to King Janaka, "What is the mark of a person of steadfast awareness?" The King replied, "He is the one who realizes, the Oneness of the Absolute. There is no second. If you have realized this state of awareness, you will be conscious of Oneness alone. “Gargi said, “You are not in that state now. I wish to realize this awareness." Gargi continued, "Oh King! I have one desire. Marry me." The King said, "I have only one wife, Sunethra (the one with good eyes). I don't wish to have any other wife." Gargi said: "You are a great jnani (scholar). You have good eyes and your Queen is a good-eyed lady. May I ask what reward you are giving to the sage Yaajnavalkya?" The king said: "I shall give him whatever he asks." Yaajnavalkya was no doubt a great scholar but he did-not have total sense control. Yaajnavalkya asked the King again: "Give this Gargi to me in marriage. Celebrate our wedding." There was a great uproar in the audiencehall. The great scholars present there asked: "What is the meaning of Yaajnavalkya's request?" Gargi then asked Yaajnavalkya: "What is the purpose of a marriage?" Yaajnavalkya replied, "To have progeny." Gargi said: "No. The wife is one half of the husband's. This means that she should pursue Dhya (inquiry, examination,introspection) together with the husband as a Dharmapathni (a righteous wife). Marriage is for the sake of pursuing Dharma. It is not for enjoying worldly pleasures. Our Emperor enjoys carnal pleasures in his palace. Street dogs experience the same pleasures. Is that happiness?" The body is given for carrying out righteous actions. It is not given for enjoying only carnal pleasures. Students should ask themselves, "Does happiness consist in the acquiring of degrees or getting good jobs or attaining high positions? Real happiness consists in the acquisition of spiritual wisdom. Keep your vision on the Divine and lead your life in the world. This is the teaching of Swami. You need not renounce the world. You need not go after jobs like dogs hunting for crumbs. Stick to the job you have and take proper care of your family.

Students should realize that no one can escape the consequence of one's actions some time or other. Nevertheless, God's Grace can overcome a mountain of difficulties and sins. Whatever strength one may possesses, without the strength of the Divine, he/she is a weakling. Why are you not taking the Swami's medicine?

Never forget God and simply do all daily duties, with God in your heart, as the witness. By legend, more than three centuries ago in Northern India lived a Muslim boy called Mansur. From his childhood, he was constantly meditating on God. Although he belonged to a poor family, his parents wanted him to have a good education. Mansur had a pure unsullied heart filled with love and his only desire was to know his true Self. The parents said that he should get educated to be able to earn a living. Mansur said, "Mother! Have I to study only for earning a living? Am I to waste my divine life for the sake of filling my belly?" He walked out of his home. He was a young lad, but there was effulgence in his face. People seeing the effulgence on his face offered him things and food of their own accord. Wherever he went, he was declaring, "I am God. I am God". This corresponds to the Vedantic declarations, "Aham Brahmaasmi" (I am Brahman). Some persons treated this declaration with ridicule. The elders reviled him and asked, "You little fellow! How do you claim you are God?" Mansur's answer to them was, "I am uttering these words because I am God. There is the Divine energy in everyone. Meanwhile the pandits (scholars) came together and observed, "We have studied all the Vedas and Scriptures. We dare not make a declaration of this kind. How did a young student dare to make such a claim?" (Swami notes that it is not scriptural knowledge that confers the courage to make such a declaration. It is the faith in the heart). The pandits came together and went in a body to complain to the king. "Oh king! In spite of all our knowledge, we are not able to declare that we are God. This illiterate fool goes about saying that he is God. Either he is a lunatic or an arrogant fellow." The pandits somehow wanted to put an end to this.

(Swami notes that it is the nature of the evil-minded to cause harm even to those who are innocent and good). When the pandits complained to the king, the latter ordered the boy to be brought to him. When the King summoned Mansur, he declared, "I am God." The King drew the boy near him and tried to appeal to him in soft words, "Child! You are an ordinary human being. You are illiterate and ignorant. You should not boast that you are God." Mansur replied, "I am proclaiming the truth. I am God. You are God. All are God. The indweller in all is the one God.” The King's words did not appeal to him. He said, "Oh King! You are seeking to divert me to a wrong path away from royal road." The King got angry. "You are despising my words," he said. He summoned a doctor and ordered him to gouge the eyes of Mansur. "This will force him to remain in one place and he will not disturb others." The doctor took away the eyes of the boy. Nevertheless, he continued to shout in joy, "I am God, I am God". The boy was free from body consciousness. The king then summoned a butcher and asked him to cut off the hands of the boy. Continuing to laugh, he exclaimed: "I am God, I am God!" The people in the audience hall could not bear to see the gruesome sight. However, there was no sign of grief on the face of the boy. Seeing the determination of Mansur, the King ordered that his legs should be cut off. After this maiming, Mansur died. The blood flowing from his tortured limbs was proclaiming: "I am God. I am God." The dead body was cremated. From its ashes rose the cry "I am God. I am God." The people were astonished at the phenomenon. The King felt repentant, but of what use is repentance after a grievous wrong had been committed?

 

Nothing lasts - the body, the mind, or senses. Only one's reputation survives him/her. Only Atma exists as unchangeable eternal witness in every one over the Maya reality what human beings call the existence of the Universe, including the life and whole history of humanity. You can step out of your false identify into your true identify and can become the person you were born to be. You must stand on your own legs. You must depend on your own strength. Do not be carried away by what others say. Do not become a slave. Be a master. * By Britannica Online Encyclopedia conscience a personal sense of the moral content of one's own conduct, intentions, or character with regard to a feeling of obligation to do right or be good. Conscience is conformity to one's sense of right conduct. (Morality, concerns to the distinction good and evil, or right or wrong, or right or good conduct). Often used metaphors refer to the "voice of conscience" or "voice within." Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation. Any consideration of conscience must consider the estimate or determination of conscience and the resulting conviction or right or duty. (Reet's compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 2. "Primers of spiritual education," Chapter 23; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 5. "Dharma and dharmashaala" Chapter 12; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 18. "The Victory," Chapter 17; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 25. "Parents and Teachers Must Set The Example," Chapter 11; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 29. "Make Swami's words your beacon-light," Chapter 9; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 30. "Role of Sai Youth in World Crisis," Chapter 14; Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 32 Part 2. "Seek God within," Chapter 14). Namaste - Reet