The Hidden Truths

[Guest guest]

Questions to contemplate upon:

 

Q: If God is everywhere why is it that we cannot see Him everywhere?

Or in the story of Panchanandapur village and the devastation, where

is God?

 

A: Swami says:

 

The ocean water reflects the sun above. When the water is disturbed,

the reflection of the sun is also disturbed. Similarly, God is in

every man. But he is not able to see Him because of his disturbed

mind. A disturbed and vacillating mind can never reflect God....There

is no use of meditation, chanting His name, etc. if the mind is not

steady. Once you have the five senses under control, you can

experience God. He is not far away from you. He is in you, below you,

above you and all around you. God, in fact, is the indweller of man.

- Divine Discourse, May 26, 2002.

 

R: Reflection to consider:

 

As human beings we pride ourselves in being `doers', and our lives

are often wasted everyday in a continuous pyramid of senseless

projects. When do we get a chance to control our mind, the source of

all the noise that prevents us to see God everywhere? Swami has been

telling us to first let go, to free our minds from continuous

concentration on things at the outer edge of our life; where there is

little hope for true realization and liberation.

 

Q: The Farakka Barrage is not directly impacting us, it is too far

away. What can we do from such distance? What is the inner meaning of

this man-made disaster? What is our role?

 

A: Swami says:

 

Just as the hands, ears, eyes and legs are all angas (limbs or

organs) of individual human body, the bodies of all human beings are

the limbs of society. Again, society itself is a limb of mankind. And

humanity is a limb of Prakrithi (Nature) and Nature is a limb of

Divinity. One should understand this Anga-Angee-Bhaava (intimate

limb) relationship between Divinity and human beings, in the proper

perspective.

 

- Divine Discourse, May 20, 1993

 

R: Reflection to consider:

 

Ganga is part of our nature, and for many of us, it is Divinity, the

Godhead. If we are a `limb' of our society' and society is the limb

of mankind, and mankind, nature, and divinity are One, we may be able

to come up with the answers easily to such questions and inquiry.

 

Swami has also said, " All the limbs [of the body]... are carrying out

their respective duties without any concern for their reward. Look at

the way the heart functions; the impure blood comes through one

channel, it is purified and pumped to all parts of the body through

another channel. This is the process by which the body is kept hale

and healthy. This is how the Divine works. " (p. 69, Sathya Sai Speaks

Vol. 27).

 

Armed with this teaching from our beloved Bhagawan, along with the

recognition that we have constructed internal barrages/conflicts, we

can conclude that, we must vigilantly take care of our character.

When we do, we are directly strengthening our spiritual muscle. No

wonder, Swami spends so much time with the young students, and our

individual spiritual growth.

 

Only when we have developed this muscle, can we take care of our

family and society. This will help us serve mankind selflessly, which

ultimately is advancing the human consciousness and the harmony

between Man, Nature, and God.

 

Q: Why is it that we cannot feel compassion for those impacted by the

disaster? Why is it that we cannot feel Love for the homeless in this

situation?

 

A: Swami says:

 

As long as one is governed by the mind, one continues to be human.

Once one goes beyond the mind, one can enjoy the vastness of the

limitless expanse of Cosmic Consciousness. Here is an example:

Suppose you construct a spacious house with a number of bed rooms,

living rooms, dining room and bath room. The house appears divided

into a number of small rooms. This is because of the walls put up for

partitioning into rooms. If the walls are pulled down, the house will

be one vast mansion. Similarly, the body is the Upaadhi (wall) which

limits one's perception to the narrow confines of the body. Once you

get rid of this body consciousness, you will experience the vast

expanse of the Universal Cosmic Consciousness which is all-pervasive.

- Divine Discourse, May 20, 1993.

 

Love and Compassion are inherent in every person. Each one has to

share their love with others. Failure to share one's love is gross

ingratitude to society, to which one owes everything. One should give

one's love freely to others and receive love in return. This is the

deep significance of human life.

- Divine Discourse, June 5, 1994.

 

R: Reflection to consider:

 

Is it possible that we don't feel the unity consciousness because we

have created these narrow `body walls'? It might be easier, first to

simply break down these walls in our own home with our own family

members first. When we have achieved mastery in home, we might have

the courage and confidence to view the world with Love and Compassion

outside into society.

 

Q: Why were some towns impacted while others were saved? How did

Mother Ganga decide to specifically swallow certain villages and not

others? Was it an accident or was it part of a Divine Plan?

 

A: Swami says:

 

Suffering entitles you more to the Grace of the Lord. When suffering

comes in waves, one behind the other, be glad that the shore is near:

bear them bravely; do not like cowards throw the blame on some

outside Power or develop dislike for the Lord... Welcome the test

because thereafter you are awarded the certificate. It is to measure

your progress that tests are imposed. So do not flinch in the face of

grief.

 

The Lord bestows a favor when He decides to test you, for He is

impressed by your achievement and wants to put upon it the seal of

His approval. Rise up to the demands of the test, that is the way to

please the Lord.

 

- Divine Discourse, March 6, 1962.

 

R: Reflection to consider:

 

Is it possible that the suffering dawned upon these villagers was

actually Grace from Swami? Was it their time to be cradled in the

Divine Arms? Was it a favor from the Lord?

 

Conclusion In conclusion, I offer that there are beautiful wisdom

teachings all around us everyday – from every corner of our life –

near and far. It is only seen when we have developed (through

commitment) a `spiritual eye', that such wisdom is visible. Swami has

given us an entire `playbook', on how to live every moment of our

life. He has given us all that we need to live our life with perfect

joy and happiness. It is strictly up to us to utilize them fully,

partially, or simply ignore them. We must shift our thinking and

become very aware that we have the choice - the final choice to see

the `real' or stay in the `unreal'.

 

As Swami beautifully says:

 

A key performs both the functions of locking and unlocking the lock.

When it is turned left, the lock gets locked; when it is turned

right, the lock is opened. In man, the heart is the lock; mind is the

key. When the mind is turned Godward, the heart develops detachment.

When the mind is turned towards the world, the heart develops

attachment. Thus both detachment and attachment result from the way

the mind functions. When the mind is directed towards Prakruthi

(Nature or the phenomenal world), bondage ensues. When you turn your

mind towards Divinity, you experience Ananda (bliss).

- Divine Discourse, May 6, 1988.

 

So, that is the key. All the problems in this world are created by

the Mind, but the solution lies, not in the mind and its intellectual

capabilities and skills, but in the heart. A heart filled with

compassion and love alone can bring heaven on Earth, just like Sage

Bhagiratha did aeons ago.

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan

rgcjp