Swami's Discourse

 Deepavali- An event to signify the cleansing in ourselves

Though, at the time of birth, man has no good or bad qualities, changes occur in his nature due to

the food he consumes, and the influence of associates around him. One develops ego and attachment based on the company he keeps. As a person gets educated, he or she develops pride and entertains vainglorious thoughts about one's superiority over others. This conceit pollutes the heart.

When dirty water gets mixed with milk, the milk has to be boiled to make it pure. Likewise man has to undertake various types of Sadhana to purge his heart of impurities. Exercises such as meditation, Yajna or thapas can only provide mental satisfaction. It is only when the heart is melted in the heat of Divine love that one can succeed in getting rid of bad qualities and make the heart shine in its pristine effulgence. Just as. the sun's rays can bum a heap of cotton if the rays are concentrated by passing through a lens, the rays of the intellect will destroy one's bad qualities only when they are passed through the lens of Divine love.

The True Spirit of Dasara

(A Divine Discourses by Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba during Vijay Dasami day, October 6,1992)

The celebration of Dasara in the Divine Presence of Bhagavan Baba every year is unique as it is accompanied by a week-long sacred yagna (sacrifice). Even more significant is the fact Bhagavan often speaks on many occasions during this celebration revealing many salient spiritual truths. One such discourse was delivered on October 6, 1992, on the last day of the celebration, called Vijaya Dasami Day. Here is an extract from that profound message. Let us recapitulate these words of Bhagavan as we rejoice in the Dasara celebrations of this year which starts from the 6th of this month.

All things in the cosmos are limbs of the body of Vishnu (God). Hence, no one should have any aversion to anything in the universe. You should not hate anyone, because the same Divine is present in you and in everything in the universe.

The cosmos has three forms: the gross, the subtle and the causal. The physical universe represents the gross form. The subtle form is the mind, and subtler than the mind is the Atma.

Have Sincere Faith in God and His Words- Swami's Discourse

If you have steady devotion for God, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished. God Himself would come running forward to help you. Numerous such incidents occurred during the incarnation of God as Krishna.

Here is another example of Krishna’s limitless compassion. On the ninth day of the Kurukshetra war, Bhishma took a terrible vow to exterminate all the Pandavas before sunset the next day.

Draupadi came to know of this and became highly perturbed. She said to Krishna, “O Lord, this must not happen. You have to do something. I don’t know how, but You must make sure that I do not become a widow.” Krishna smiled and was non-committal. He just said, “Wait and see what happens.” God may appear non-committal but when you appeal to Him with deep sincerity, He will certainly respond.

Swami's Discourse- Revere and Love Your Parents

There is a subtle difference between caste and culture. You belong to the caste of humanity, for, there is only one caste - the caste of humanity. It is an inborn gift from your parents. On the other hand, the culture is something that is adopted in your life.

Culture teaches you what is to be done and how. It is based upon certain traditions. None can change your caste which is humanity. Based upon your inborn  caste of humanity, you can follow a culture. Another important point to be noted in this context is that caste and culture devoid of discrimination are not only useless, but harmful too. Your knowledge and sharp intellect are not that important. Discrimination is of utmost importance. You must be able to choose that which is useful and necessary for you. You have to switch on a light when you are in darkness. It is not proper to switch on a light when there is already light in the room.

Swami's discourse

Four F's
THE process of education must render the individual a happier and more useful person; it must also make him a better citizen,: able and willing to further the progress of the nation to which he belongs. It must give up its present emphasis on the grant of degrees which are serving only as bowls, with which the graduates roam about the country asking for jobs to be deposited in them. Today, we hear a great deal about 'duty' and the responsibility to perform the duties concerning each group. This is all to the good. But, the connotation of the words is not properly understood. The student thinks that his 'duty' is only to be punctual when he attends college or school, and to be attentive during the lectures and other academic exercises. The teachers too consider their duty done, when they attend during prescribed hours and perform the assignments allotted to them.

Krushna's Love- Swami's discourse

Repeat the name, Krushna, in your mind, every moment of your life. You will find It sweeter

than sugar or honey: indeed, It will taste more delicious than ambrosia. MEN whose intellect is

narrow and unable to reach out to the vastness beyond, men who do not dive deep into the

mysteries of existence, cannot achieve success in the task of promoting world peace and

prosperity. These depend on establishment of peace and prosperity in society and since society

consists of individuals, the individual has to attain peace and prosperity in order that the world

may shine in their glory. And, for the individual to discharge this obligation, he has to derive the

faith and fervour from the Divine that is his Reality.

Unless man marches on in the spiritual path, he cannot be at peace with himself and his

fellowmen. That march will confer peace, and with peace, welfare. Today, wherever we turn,

people talk of peace but their actions belie their profession. They only increase the feelings of

anxiety and fear. Each individual desires to outstrip the other in this game. As a consequence, the

spirit is neglected and the mind is polluted. There is no genuine understanding and sincere

goodwill among men. Life is a meaningless passage of time.

Swami's Discourse-Anything in Life can be Achieved with Firm Faith

Embodiments of Love!

IT is lack of love that is responsible for all the differences, arguments and conflicts in the world, especially in the present times. Many people say that the world is afflicted today with sorrow, losses and difficulties. I do not subscribe to this view. I tell you, they are all our illusion only. In fact, there is no unrest or sorrow in this world. I just see peace, peace and peace only everywhere. When there is peace in our heart, we will be able to witness peace all round. Unrest, sorrow, anger, etc., are the reaction, reflection and resound of the state of our inner being. Sorrows and difficulties, anger and unrest are of our own making and creation. They are not natural phenomena in the world.

First and foremost, develop faith. There can be no life without faith. Sometimes faith is also termed ‘Self’. Without Self, you cannot help others. Only when there is faith can you achieve anything in life.

Swami's Discourse- Bhagwan's Call to His Students and Devotees

THIS is the age of science and technology. On the one side astonishing progress has been made in the field of plastics, electronics and computers. Scientists have also made wonderful  discoveries in the spheres of atomic energy and space exploration. Moreover man is sending out into space artificial satellites. Enormous energy and expenses are being devoted for investigating the mysteries of the atom. But there is no comparable concern for developing human behavior In the competition for over-reaching each other, men are immersed in selfishness and are pursuing wrong courses. Politics and economics are bedevilled by crises. Men are driven by caste and religious conflicts. The appetite for power and position has become insatiable. These are causing the disintegration of the sacred land of Bharat.

Swami's Discourse- Nishkaama Seva: The Heart of True Education

Work done with no concern or desire for the profit therefrom, purely out of love or from

a sense of duty, is Yoga. Such yoga destroys the animal nature of man and transforms him into a divine being. Serve others, visualising them as kindred Atmas. That will help one to progress; it will save one from sliding down from the spiritual stage attained. Service (Seva) is far more salutary than even vows and worship (Puja). Service  disintegrates the selfishness latent in you; it opens the heart wide; it makes the heart blossom. So, work done with no desire is the supreme ideal for man; and when the mansion of his life is built on that foundation, through the subtle influence of this basis of Nishkama Seva (selfless service), virtues will gather unto him.

Service must be the outer expression of inner goodness. And as one undertakes seva more and more, one’s consciousness expands and deepens and one’s Atmic reality is more clearly known. This ideal of seva and the urge to practise it form the very heart of education. Pure Love, its chief manifestation—that is education. Nothing else can be. God loves those who do good to mankind as His dear children. They are ideal brothers for their countrymen. They deserve and achieve the awareness of the Atma.

Whoever assigns his wealth, strength, intellect and devotion towards the promotion of the progress of mankind is to be considered as a person who is to be revered. They

are those who are born for a noble purpose, who are observing the holy vow of service, unsullied by thoughts of self.

Prompted by the urge to advance the progress of others, when a person dedicates his wealth, skill and intelligence, his position and status, he becomes truly great. Such a one is the purposeful seer for the world. He fulfils unfailingly the vow of selfless service. He who is conscious of his basic duties and obligations and spends his days in carrying them out in practice will be in supreme peace, wherever he may be. Through his influence, his neighbourhood, too, will share that peace. Vidya impels man to pour into the sacrificial fire one’s narrow ego and foster in its place universal Love, which is the foundational base for the superstructure of spiritual victory. Love which knows no limits purifies and sanctifies the mind. Let the thoughts centre around God, the feelings

and emotions be holy and acts and activities be the expression of selfless service. Let the mind, the heart and the hand be thus saturated in good. Vidya has to take up

this task of sublimation. It must first instil the secret of service. Service rendered to another has to confer full joy in all ways. Vidya must emphasise that in the name of seva or service, no harm, pain or grief should be inflicted on another.

While rendering seva, the attitude of its being done for one’s own satisfaction should not tarnish it. It has to be rendered as an essential part of the process of living itself.

This is the real core of Vidya. As brick and mortar are to a house that is being built, the activity of seva needs the Vidya that can strengthen our resolve to purify our thought, word and deed in order to carry out our duties. Vidya such as this is the key to the country’s progress. What exactly is the secret of ensuring peace and prosperity for mankind? Rendering service to others without expecting service from them in return. Karma or activity which binds is a huge fast-growing tree. The axe that can cut the roots of this tree is this: Doing every act as an act of worship to glorify the Lord. This is the real yajna, the most important ritual. This sacrifice promotes and confers Brahma Vidya. Note that the yearning to do seva must flow in every nerve of the body, penetrate every bone and activate every cell. Those who engage themselves in spiritual Sadhana

must have mastered this attitude towards seva. Seva is the blossom of Prema, a flower that fills the mind with rapture. Harmlessness is the fragrance of that flower. Let even your little acts be redolent with compassion and reverence. Be assured that your character would thereby shine greatly. The highest happiness is contentment. Where

there is no harshness, there holiness will thrive and virtue will flourish. Where greed exists, vice will breed thick. One must completely destroy the urge to live an isolated life, like a lone bull. Do not entertain such a wish even in dreams.

Vidya instructs you to remember yourself first. After transforming yourself, try to reform others. That is the advice offered by Vidya. The delusive attachment to the objective

world can be uprooted by means of selfless service rendered as worship to the Lord. Devotion to the Motherland, love of the Motherland, these are to be reckoned as far less than love and devotion towards all mankind. Genuine Bhakthi is characterised by love for all, at all times, everywhere. Your nature is revealed by your acts, your gestures,

your looks, your speech, your feeding habits, your dress, your gait. Therefore, pay attention to ensure that your speech, your movements, your thoughts, your behaviour are all right and full of love, sathwic, and devoid of wildness and waywardness.

You have to develop the humility to believe that you have much good to learn from others. Your enthusiasm, your strong ambition, your resolution, your capacity to work, your store of knowledge, your wisdom—these have to be related to all others and not utilised for you alone. Your heart should take all others in. Your thoughts too should be

patterned on those broad lines. Eating food is a holy ritual, a yajna. It should not be performed during moments of anxiety or emotional tension. Food has to be considered as medicine for the illness of hunger and as the sustenance of life. Treat each trouble you encounter as a fortunate opportunity to develop your strength of mind, and to toughen you with greater hardihood. The characteristic of Nature is “to manifest as

manifold.” The characteristic of the Divine is “to absorb into unity.” So, whoever dislikes or hates another or demeans and denigrates another is indeed a fool; for, he is thereby

disliking, hating, demeaning or denigrating only himself! Only he is unaware of this truth. Vidya instructs man to establish himself in this Truth and demonstrates the underlying Divinity. In the garden of the Heart, one must plant and foster the Rose of Divinity, the Jasmine of Humility, and Generosity as the Champak. In the medicine chest of each student, one must keep in readiness tablets of discrimination, drops of self-control, and three powders: faith, devotion and patience. By the use of these drugs, he can escape the serious illness called ignorance (Ajnana).

There are many destructive forces in the world. But, luckily, there are also, along with them, constructive forces. Students of Vidya should not turn into worshippers of bombs and yantras (machines). They must transform themselves into active persons worshipping Madhava (God) and Manthras. Authority and power are powerful intoxicants. They pollute and poison man until he is destroyed. They breed misfortune. But, Vidya will confer on them fullness and fortune.

( Taken from Swami’s Discourses complied in the book Vidya Vahini )