Month: March 2012

Speaking the Truth is so easy!

A boy said in his talk, Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara – Speak the truth and Follow righteousness. He said, this is not easy, it is very difficult. This is wrong. There is nothing easier than speaking the truth and practising Dharma. It is truthful to say that today Swami came early at 4 pm and He started His Discourse before time. It is so easy to state facts as they are. You do not need to think over or have any worry. But if you wish to speak a lie, you have to think a lot. You have to package the lie in a manner that it will be believed. You have to use a lot of knack in speaking and finally you will become a crack! Therefore, it is so difficult to speak a lie. Speaking the Truth is so easy. We think it is difficult to speak the truth. This is very wrong. We have got used to speaking lies. Because of this we are unable to understand the truth. The world is also giving scope to such weaknesses. This weakness is present in every man.  

Do not give up Truth under any circumstances

Rama is the very embodiment of Truth. But we utter all lies. We perform the Satyanarayana Vratam (a Hindu religious observance) once a year; that is all. That is not right. Satatam Satyam. We must speak the truth always. Sarvada Sarvakaleshu Sarvatra Harichintanam. We must think of God always, at all times and everywhere. We must at least make an effort to speak the truth. But we are not doing that. The moment we open our mouth, it is lies. Whatever we say, it is lies. It is not even possible to know what truth is. Therefore students; do not give up truth under any circumstances, even if it comes to losing your very life. It is truth that will be with you, around you, front of you, behind you and will protect you like the eyelid of the eye. This is how Harischandra got transformed into Satya Harischandra. He was faced with so many difficulties and pains. He sold his wife and children, he sacrificed his kingdom, and finally became a cemetery worker. But he did not get shaken and he never gave up the truth. Finally, God Himself had to submit to him. God manifested before him, gave him back everything that he had lost and honoured him with the tile “Satya Harischandra” (The Truthful Harischandra).

Mahatma Gandhi took a vow never to speak a lie A vow that he kept up till the end of his life!

Gandhi too became Mahatma Gandhi because of the great qualities of Putlibai (his mother). Putlibai had taken a vow wherein she would not partake food or water, not even take a morsel of food until she heard the sound of the cuckoo bird in the morning. It was not possible for the son to have his food until his mother had her food. On one occasion, it became 12 noon, 1 pm and even 3 pm in the afternoon, but the mother was not willing to take her food (as she had not heard the cuckoo’s sound). At that time, Gandhi planned a strategy. He went behind his house and made a sound like the cuckoo bird. He then came in and told his mother that he had heard the cuckoo bird sing, though she could not hear, and therefore they could have their food now. The mother felt very sad. She thought to herself, “Has such an evil son been born to me from my womb? Just for the sake of food, he is betraying me by speaking lies. Making the sound of the cuckoo himself, he is lying to me that he heard the cuckoo sing”. Out of anger she caught his ears and dragged him. “Bad boy, for the sake of my food, are you speaking lies in this manner”, saying so, she slapped him. Gandhi felt very repentant and begged her for pardon. The mother said that it was not possible for her to pardon him and he must undergo the punishment for his mistake. It was from that moment that Gandhi promised that he would never utter a lie and he kept up his promise till the end of his life.   

King Bali kept up his word even at the cost of disobeying his Guru

We must have a very good speech in society. Only then we will win the faith of all. When it comes to the matter of truth, we can even disobey our Guru (teacher). Guru Shukracharya advised king Bali that Vamana was not an ordinary man. He may have come as a three feet tall dwarf but he is verily Lord Narayana Himself. If you agree to give him anything you will become a beggar. King Bali replied, “Swami, when God Himself has come asking, can I ever refrain from giving? I will give, even if I may be put into any situation. God’s hands are below and mine are above. The one who receives, his hands are always below. This itself is my good luck. It is not an ordinary person who is seeking alms from me. It is Lord Narayana Himself. Can there be any other greater fortune than this? To avail this good fortune, I am ready to forego anything. The true respect lies in keeping up ones word”.

The Peaceful, Virtuous, Strong, Respectful and Dignified Hanuman!

If you slip, you can retrace your leg and get up. But a slip of the tongue cannot be taken back. Kaalujarithe Kalagadu Nashtam, Naalagu Jarite Narakamera (A Telugu saying). If you slip (physically), there is no loss, but a slip of the tongue takes you to hell. Students, considering your words as your very life, when you talk to elders, your parents, your friends and other respectful people; you must speak the truth in a respectful and meaningful way. Hanuman being the minister of Sugriva, seeking the permission of Sugriva, came to speak to Rama and Lakshmana. Listening to the sweet words of Hanuman, Rama was very delighted. Brother Lakshmana, he is Shantudu (peaceful), Gunavuntudu (virtuous), Balavantudu (strong), Hanumantudu. Peace is verily manifest in his face. His respect and dignity speaks of his qualities.

Worship of God is the  primary purpose of all Festivals

We must not consider Yugaadi as a mere festival. We must consider it as a day of Paramaatma (God). We must consider the spiritual aspect of the day. All Bhaarateeya festivals have a special inner significance. However, we go by the mere external rituals and celebrate the day by making sweets and other delicacies. These festivals have come into being to specifically remember God, experience happiness and get rid of our sorrows. These festivals have been started to get rid of our ignorance and manifest Prajnaana, Sujnaana and Vijnaana (Awareness, Wisdom and Knowledge). Man has been gifted with intelligence along with the physical form. However, the span of the body is limited; we must not forget this. In the short span of our life, we must use our intelligence and experience true happiness. But, unfortunately man is misusing the intelligence given to him.  

God is the Master of Time and the source of all Aeons

God has been envisaged as the embodiment of Time. As He is the beginning (source) of the Yugas, the name Yugaadi has come. Yugaadiyai Namah extols God with the name of Yugaadi. He presides over Time. He is the Spirit (Atmic principle) of Time. That is why he is called Kaalatmakaaya Namah.  As God contains Time in His womb, He is also called Kaalagarbha (container of Time). Time is the devourer of the physical form; whereas the Lord is the devourer of Time itself. The New Year festival (Samvatsaraa) is an expression of the name of the Divine Itself. Therefore, Time is the very form of God. Among the 1000 names of the Lord are Samvatsaraa, Yugaadi, Kaalakaalaaya, Kaalaprasannaya, Kaalaatheethaaya, Kaalaswaroopaaya, Kaalanirmitaaya, and the like. All these are names associated with Time. The New Year festival is therefore associated with the name of the Lord. There is no need to entertain fears about the losses and difficulties that may occur during the year. When God Himself is coming down as the New Year, anything may happen, good or bad. The Lord (Maha Vishnu) may come down to protect devotees like Prahlada and Dhruva. He may also destroy demons like Hiranyakasipu and Bhasmaasura. The same Vishnu confers bliss on some and the same Vishnu destroys some others. The Lord acts according to the qualities of the persons concerned. They are either protected or punished.

God is the beginning of all Yugas He is therefore called Yugaadi

Hence, God who is the embodiment of Time / Samvatsaraa should be put to right use. We have classified the aeons into four, viz: Krita Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. These are not distinct from each other. The divisions have been identified based on our experiences. Whether it be Krita Yuga or Kali Yuga, it has no separate form. According to the conduct of the people at the time, the Yugas have come into being. Even during Krita Yuga there were people filled with attachments and aversions. There are even in Kali Yuga people wedded to truth and leading virtuous and peaceful lives. God is the origin of all the Yugas. Hence, one of the names bestowed on God is Yugaadi (One from whom all Yugas begin). The Yugaadi festival is celebrated for this very reason. Everything is a manifestation of the Divine. There is no second object in this world other than the Divine. He is the one who gives and He is the one who takes. Not realising this, man becomes elated when he is given something and feels depressed when something is taken away. You should therefore develop the state of equanimity which neither makes you elated nor depressed.

Yugaadi is related to the Prakruthi (Gross World)

Bharatheeyas have been observing the birthdays of Avatars (Incarnations) as festival days. The birthdays of the founders of various faiths (Mathaadipathis) have also been observed as festivals. The death anniversaries of wicked persons as well as of holy men have been observed as festivals. But the Yugaadi celebration is not related to the birth of any Avatar or the birth of any saint, prophet or the birth of any wicked person. It is related purely to Prakruthi (the phenomenal world or Nature). This is important for one and all. It is an occasion for comprehending the Nature of the universe. When we want to know who is God, the answer is Prakruthi. Prakruthi is the visible manifestation of God.

Yugaadi Pachchadi teaches us the message of equanimity

On Yugaadi day, it is the practice to eat what is called “Yugaadi Pachchadi” (New Year savoury), as soon as they get up in the morning. What is this “Yugaadi Pachchadi”? This chutney made from neem flowers, mango juice, honey, sugar and other ingredients with different tastes, is to be consumed early in the morning. The inner significance of consuming this preparation is to indicate that life is a mix of good and bad, sin and virtue, joy and sorrow; and all of them have to be treated alike. All experiences have to be treated with equanimity. Everyone should make a resolve right at the beginning of the year that whatever may come his way in the course of the year, he will face the same with equanimity. It is with this feeling that the Prasaad (chutney) must be consumed. The Prasaadammust be consumed with all satisfaction. If you criticize the Prasaadam, abusing that why consume such bitter chutney at the beginning of the year, then all along the year you will face criticism only. Welcome whatever comes your way. Consider everything as for your own good. The main goal for man is to develop such equanimity. We should exhibit the principle of equanimity by not getting elated with happiness nor getting depressed with sorrow. This is the primary message of the Yugaadi festival.

Panchaanga Sravanam reveals the good and bad associated with the five senses (human life)

There are five elements in Nature. Those very five elements are also there in our human body. Reading of the Panchaangamis the narration of the good and bad associated with these five elements in the human body. In the evening of the Yugaadi day, in villages and cities, Panchaanga Sravanam (hearing of the Panchaanga) is conducted. Panchaangameans to let one know about the good and bad associated with the five senses. 

Our own actions are responsible for good or bad  results

We are celebrating this day as New Year Day. This New Year (Hindu Year starting from April 1997) is called Eeshvara. Eeshvara means one who is endowed with all forms of wealth. People greet the New Year as if it is going to confer on them some new happiness, joy and fortunes. The good or evil, the sin or virtues, the renown or infamy experienced by people are not the outcome of the passage of years. They are the consequences of our own actions, which we experience every second. Samvathsara(the year) is one of the names of God. Because God is associated with time, He is also known as Kaalaathmaka(Time-spirit). Hence, we should not consider the New Year (Kaalaathmaka), who is the spirit of Time, as likely to bring good or bad to us. Our actions, good or bad, bear fruits according to their nature. There is no need to wait for a New Year to bring new tidings. Every moment is new. Many are wondering what will be the situation in the world, what troubles and losses the New Year will bring. For all our troubles, difficulties, sorrows and happiness, the year is not responsible. Our conduct alone is responsible. If our actions are good the results will be good. Bad actions will lead to bad consequences. People think that good and bad are related to bad time or bad actions; No – not at all. The thoughts are the cause. Hence, we should develop good thoughts and perform good deeds. We should cherish good feelings and associate ourselves with good persons.

Turn your thoughts to God and surrender to Him

We are today celebrating Yugaadi, the beginning of yet another New Year. Many New Year days have come and gone. Do you expect the New Year to bring you new happiness? Are you imagining what joy the New Year has in store for you? New Years do not offer you pleasure, prosperity or fortune. This New Year day will be like any other day with the same sunrise and sunset. Many people eagerly expect some good benefits to turn up on this day. This is all 100% negative thought. The New Year will not bring you anything new. The calendar merely tells you that a New Year has begun on a particular day. We need to find out a new path, a new life and seek a new source of joy. But unfortunately we do not think about this. We speculate on what gifts the New Year is likely to bring to us. We have to look to ourselves and not to the succession of years. Think within yourself about your condition. Turn your thoughts to God and surrender to Him. Then you will realize what you desire.

Has the New Year brought about even a little change in us?

What is the primary essence of the festival of Yugaadi? On this Yugaadi day, Bharatheeyas get up early in the morning, have a sacred bath, put on new clothes, eat sweet preparations and celebrate the day as a festive occasion. These celebrations have been going on for many years. People have celebrated so many Yugaadis. But how far have the people transformed themselves with each Yugaadi? The garments are new, but the mind remains unchanged. It is not enough to wear new clothes. Good qualities must be nurtured. There is no use of changing clothes, qualities need to change. Without a reformation in mind and character there is no meaning in observing any number of festivals.

Live in the present. Present is most important. It is not ordinary present. It is Omnipresent!

What should we do on the day of Yugaadi? From this day onwards we must take a firm resolve to make attempts to purify our heart. Past is past. It cannot be retrieved. When you are walking on the road, what is the point in looking behind? You do not need to see back, you should look at the path ahead of you. Future is not sure. It is not certain. Within seconds it will pass away. What is the guarantee that you will be alive until tomorrow? So, do not worry about your future. Do not brood about it. Live in the present. Present is most important. It is not ordinary present. It is omnipresent! When you make the present sacred, the past will also become sacred and the future will also become sacred (meaning the results of past and seeds of future are contained in the present; so when you make proper use of the present, you can be rest assured that your future is safe and secure). Embodiments of Love! Today is Yugaadi, the New Year day for the people of Andhra Pradesh. Tomorrow happens to be the Tamil New Year day and the day after, Vishu, the New Year Day for the people of Kerala. There are many festivals coming one after another. There is no shortage of festivals. There are so many festivals. But we must have the understanding to experience the festival in the right manner. Embodiments of Love! From tomorrow onwards, right from this moment, embark on a new life giving up bad thoughts and bad qualities. Purify your heart. Only then will your life be blissful. There is no point in reading sacred texts or visiting noble souls unless you purify your heart in the first instance. Let your thoughts, words and deeds be sacred. Then alone will you get fulfilment in life. This is the true transformative experience of celebrating Yugaadi.

Do not limit the New Year celebration to wearing new clothes and eating sweets

On Yugaadi day, people get up early, have a sacred bath, put on new clothes and partake of sweets and various delicacies at home. Observing external cleanliness and donning new clothes is very easy, but we are polluting the inner feelings in our heart with evil qualities, evil thoughts and evil feelings. One can claim that one has truly experienced (and benefited from) the festival of Yugaadi only when one purifies one’s heart, makes it sacred and nurtures selfless feelings.

Decorate your house with the buntings of Love!

People have celebrated many Yugaadi (New Year) festivals in their life. We believe in certain traditional practices that go along with every festival, such as wearing new clothes, cleaning the house and decorating it with buntings of green leaves. Greatness lies in making an effort to purify our thoughts and feelings; not merely in purifying this transient human body, which is worldly, impermanent and unstable. The significance of a festival does not lie in wearing new clothes but in cultivating new and noble qualities. The house should be decorated not merely with the buntings of green leaves, but with buntings of love. We must share our love with everyone who visits our homes. Only when we celebrate the festival with such transformation, would we be celebrating the festival realizing its true spirit.

Give up narrow mindedness and selfishness

Embodiments of Love! We have been experiencing the bliss of celebrating Yugaadi (New Year) for the past many ages and generations. The Bharateeyas have been spreading peace and security to all the nations of the world with their power of spirituality. Since time immemorial the prayer of the Bharateeyas has been: Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu (May all the people of the world be happy!). They prayed for peace and security of the entire world. Today, humanity has made great progress in the physical and worldly plane. But morally man has regressed. He is not able to give up his narrow-mindedness and criticism of others. When each one conducts a self-enquiry, he would find that the main reasons for this state of affairs are selfishness and self-interest. Today, man does not love objects for the sake of the objects. He does not love others for their sake. He does not worship the nation for the sake of the nation. Anything that he sees, does or thinks is out of selfishness. The day we would be able to give up our narrow mindedness, we would have achieved the true benefit of Yugaadi.

Today, we are celebrating Yugaadi, which means the commencement of a new era. It denotes the beginning of every Yuga, be it Krita, Treta or Kali Yuga. This is the beginning of Nuthana Samvathsaraa(New Year). Vathsaraa is another name of God. That is why God is extolled as Vathsaraswarupaaya Namah (salutations to the one who is the embodiment of Vathsaraa). Time is God. Vathsaraais its cosmic form. So, Time and Vathsaraaconnote the same Divinity. The New Year has to be sanctified by new thoughts and new feelings. Today, humanity is stricken with fear and restlessness. Courage and strength are on the decline, because people have unsacred thoughts and wicked feelings. Your enemies are not outside. Your bad thoughts are your worst enemies and thoughts based on Truth are your best friends. But today, people do not befriend the thoughts based on Truth, which are essentially Divine. You have to make friendship with Sath, the eternal truth. Sath means Being, the ever-existent God. The worldly friends and enemies change with changes in time, action and responsibility. But Sath is the true and eternal friend. This friend is always with you, in you, around you, above you, below you and protects you just as the eyelid protects the eye.

God is ever smiling! Happiness is union with God

Even with the passage of the New Year, we still hold on to our old practices. Sacred feelings, sacred behaviour, sacred actions, sacred sacrifice and sacred talk do not come forth at all. We repeat the same old songs, same old talk, same old behaviour. We say this is a New Year, but then where are the new feelings? We must develop new ideas and new enthusiasm. If we are depressed all the time, when will we learn to express the joy of good living? We must be cheerful all the time. We must never worry. That is the mark of the Divine within. Happiness is union with God, not with dog! We must have a smiling face always. God is eternal bliss. If you too smile always, you will become God.

True Bliss is permanent. It does not “come and go”

Today the New Year has dawned. We observe the festival at home and derive happiness in so many ways. But how long does this happiness last? It does not last even for a day. This is not true happiness. This is not the real New Year. The happiness that we get must be permanent. True bliss does not “come and go”.  It is not like a passing cloud. Once it comes, it remains permanently with us. We have been born with this very bliss.

Purify your hearts and nurture good  feelings

Embodiments of Love! Today is Yugaadi, the beginning of the New Year. Since ancient times, people have celebrated many Yugaadis, but they are yet to give up bad qualities. True Yugaadi is the day when you purify your heart, develop sacred feelings, fill your heart with love and take to the path of sacrifice. Do not limit the celebration of Yugaadi to merely putting on new clothes and partaking of delicious food items. Today you may wear a new shirt, but how long will it remain new? Tomorrow it becomes old. In the same way, we read a newspaper today. Nobody reads the same old newspaper every day. Today’s newspaper becomes tomorrow’s waste paper.

Mere spending of money cannot wash away our sins

This New Year (starting from 29^th March 1998) is called the Bahudhaanyaa. Bahudhaanya means there would be plenty of grain. There is plenty of grain even now, there is no shortage. But are we consuming the grain properly? No. Are we feeding some few hungry people? No. Thus good names have been given to each of the New Years. All these are names of God only. Prabhava, Vibhava, Shukla,…Angirasa, Bhava, Yuva…Vikrama, Vishu…Sarvadhaari, Virodhi…(Bhagawan gives the names of a number of New Years). All these are such sacred names. You cannot underestimate any name. Some say that certain New Years are bad and will bring bad results. Do you know why they say so? So that they can earn money by prescribing rituals for attaining peace! Can spending of money ward away the sins?  In fact, we are becoming mad. Money cannot solve the problem. It is only our heart which can solve the problem. How much ever bad we may do, always contemplate on God.

Feed the poor everyday

Devotees come and suggest to me that they should be allowed to organize “poor feeding” on Yugaadi. Why should they call it “poor feeding”? Can they not call it “feeding of poor”? “Poor feeding” means serving very less quantity of rice. Even in use of words, we are so negative! Swami never uses such negative words at all. Should this “feeding of poor” be done only on one day of the year? What will the poor people eat on other days? You must feed the poor on all days. That is the broad heart of Bhagawan! You can never estimate the broad heartedness of Bhagawan! Bhagawan’s is expansion Love, whereas yours is contraction love.

Yugadi celebration is an annual reminder of man’s obligation to express his gratitude to the Divine

Expressing gratitude is the foremost duty of man. This gratitude is called Bhakti (Devotion). It is not just chanting the name of God. Naamasmaranaa(chanting the name of God) is just a part of the gratitude. Oh God! For having given me this sacred human birth, what is the gratitude that I can express to you? I will chant your name continuously. This is my gratitude to You. All the nine paths of devotion are symbolic of gratitude to God. Without gratitude, man will become worse than a beast living in the forest. Therefore, the Yugaadi celebration every year is an annual reminder for man to transform his heart for the purpose of seeking God.

There are six excerpts from Bhagawan’s Discourses presented in this post. These have been selected from Discourses given by Bhagawan Baba during the years 1996, 2001, 2005 and 2006.

Because of your past merit and good fortune you have come to Swami

Because of your past merit and good fortune you have come to Swami. You do not know this. At this age you cannot understand, however in future you will be able to understand the principle of Swami. You have received the great fortune which rarely people can get, but you are giving it up easily and going away. You are disobeying the command. You are not following the command. You are not able to appreciate the good words.

Become a “Number One” individual

Students, first have a control over your mind. Offer your mind to God alone. God can do everything for you. He can do anything for that matter. Therefore, with all devotion, have the conviction that He is everywhere. Never entertain the doubt that God is here and not there. God is present everywhere, wherever you look for Him, you will find Him there.

Serve your parents during vacations and make them happy

Students, from tomorrow, you all will be going to your respective home towns. Recapitulate what you have studied here, what you have listened here and what you have eaten here and be happy. Make your parents also happy. Do not give scope for them to be worried thinking that Oh my son has come, but he looks so worried. Make them happy. When you are happy, your parents will also be happy. Parents are very important. It is our duty to make them happy. If we enquire why we have been born, it is to make our parents happy. It is not enough if you eat well for yourself and be happy individually. That is not important. Khana, Peena, Sona Marna (eating, drinking, sleeping and dying) – these are very natural. We are born to make our parents happy. Once we make our parents happy, others will also make their parents happy. So, we should have good ideals. Then you will get fulfilment. Therein lies the fulfilment of having been educated in Sathya Sai College. Bhagawan desires that you should get this good name.

Serve your mother and father. Visit hospitals and serve patients.

The sages in the past used to assemble all the graduands and give them good advice before sending them away to enter into their Grihastashrama after the completion of their studies. This occasion was called the Convocation. In the coming vacations, some among you are completing your education and going away, whilst others will return again. But whenever you go from the college to your homes, you must give lot of happiness to others and you must also experience lot of happiness. Never get into bad company. One of the boys who spoke said, “Satsangatve Nissangatvam, Nissangatve Nirmohatvam”. Join good company. Even if you have to pay money, do so, and get away from bad company. Even if you have to give up your life, do so and get into good company. Associate yourself with good company. Do not associate yourself with bad company. What will happen if you associate yourself with bad company? Tell me your company, I shall tell you what you are. You will also become bad, in the company of bad people. Therefore, run away from bad company and serve your parents.

I do everything through students…

Parents do not know anything about Sai Baba. Students know because they come here. We have to develop the spirit among such children. You must call those children and tell them, “Your parents do not like your staying here and studying here, but you explain to them in a nice way. Never speak untruth. You must say – mother, father, you are telling me not to follow the path of Sai Baba, but Sai Baba is showing us such a good path. Truly speaking, if I had not gone to Sai Baba’s school, I would have got spoilt by now. Because of going to Sai Baba’s school, I have become so good now. So, you must explain nicely to your mother that this is your situation.

Maintain Satvic diet. When food and head go together in the wrong direction, one forgets God.

Today we need good students. That is why I have established these educational institutions. There are no bad books in our library. Students will not do anything wrong even if told by teachers. Students will never entertain bad thoughts. When they go home to their parents, during their leave, they do not stay there for long. The mother tells her son, “Oh son, you have stayed away for one year in Brindavan, you have stayed away for one year in Puttaparthi, how is it you do not relish any other types of preparations that I make here at home?” The son will get up and say, “Mother, this is not good for you also. This food is related to Rajoguna. As is the food, so is the head and the thoughts. When this food and head get together in the wrong direction, one forgets God. Therefore, do not change your food habits. Eat a lot of green leafy vegetables. Eat more vegetables. Do not partake junk food. Bangaru (dear ones, literally gold), once you have these good food habits, you will become good.

One who adheres to the twin principles of Sathya and Dharma is a true Bhaaratheeya

Embodiments of Love! When people from every part of the world have gathered here at Prasanthi Nilayam to rejoice in a great celebration, they are being considered as “foreigners” and the residents of Prasanthi Nilayam as “natives”. Who are the natives and who are the foreigners? When this difference is examined, it will be seen that wherever Truth and Righteousness are being promoted and manifested, people there are to be deemed as Bhaaratheeyas. By merely taking birth in Bhaarath, people do not become Bhaaratheeyas. Bhaaratheeya culture proclaims the two virtues: Sathyam Vada; Dharmam Chara (speak the truth; follow righteousness). Whoever adheres to these two principles is a Bhaaratheeya.

Offer respect to any work before commencing the same

During Upanishadic times, people would offer their salutations to the karma (action) before undertaking it —Thasmai Namah Karmane(salutations to the action). We have to offer our salutations to the action in the first instance so that the action gives us good results. In Bhaarath, people follow this sacred tradition even today before starting any work. A cricket player pays his respects to the ball before starting to play. A dancer salutes the anklets before tying them to her feet. Even an uneducated driver offers his obeisance to the steering wheel before driving the vehicle. These are all ancient traditions and culture. But today, we are forgetting these ancient traditions and culture. That is why accidents are on the rise. There is a sense of fear and delusion among people everywhere. What is the reason? We are not saluting to our actions first. First of all, we have to offer our obeisance and then pay our respect to the action so as to express our gratitude before undertaking it. Before you start any work, you must salute that work and then start working (Here Bhagawan corrects the translator saying – not salute. Respect the work). Therefore, every man has to understand his duty properly and discharge the same. Before the commencement of any music programme, musicians pray to Vinayaka. They do so in order to make sure that there are no obstacles.

Offer the inner pure Satvic core without the external fiber of Tamas and the shell of Rajas

In many of the religious practices today, there is concern only for observing the external forms, with little regard for the inner significance of these rites. For instance, one wishes to offer a coconut to the idol in a temple. No care is taken to see whether the coconut is a good one or not. The mere breaking of a coconut, even if it is a rotten one, is considered enough for fulfilling the offering. Note the inner significance of the ritual. The coconut is a symbol of the heart. Before it is offered to God, all the outer fibre has to be removed. In the spiritual sense, this means, removing the Tamasictendencies from our heart. The shell of the coconut symbolises the Rajoguna in us. The white kernel inside the coconut represents the Satvaguna. What we have to offer to God is a pure heart, without the Tamasic and Rajasicqualities such as anger, hatred and attachment. It is this purity of heart that must be manifested in making any offering to God and not the mechanical breaking of a coconut as a meaningless ritual.

Eliminate the water of tendencies in us and the core of our heart will drift away from the  kernel of body consciousness

The word Narikelastands for a coconut. Every Bhaaratheeya must grasp the inner meaning of offering a coconut to God. We never offer the coconut as it is. We remove the fibre that covers it and offer the fruit that is free from all the external fibre. Only then is it possible to break the coconut. By breaking the coconut, the water in it flows out. The heart is the coconut and it is covered by the fibre of desire. The water that flows out is the samskara or purification (of tendencies). The fibres on the surface are the desires. We must strip the heart of all desires and offer the core without the fibre. It then becomes an offering to God.

Green leaves festoons bestow health and happiness on people

Since ancient times, in Bhaarath, traditions are being adhered to implicitly. People decorate their houses with buntings of green leaves on festival days. This practice assumes great significance in the state of Kerala. Big pandals (fabricated structure during religious ceremonies) of green leaves and plantain stalks and leaves are erected. Green leaves are given place of prominence in such decorations. This decoration is done during marriages too. Why do we decorate with these green leaves? Can’t we pay some money and have a Shamiana (popular Indian tent shelter) instead? No, that is not in accordance with our ancient tradition. What is the logic behind this decoration of pandals with green leaves and green festoons? At the time of marriages, many people gather at one place. As you are aware, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Too much carbon dioxide in the air affects our breathing. The green leaves absorb this carbon dioxide and release oxygen. In this manner, they bestow health and happiness on the people.

Green leaves absorb Carbon Dioxide and release Oxygen Image Source

There are some practices that have a subtle scientific meaning. Our Bharatiyas, during festivals, marriages and other auspicious occasions; tie mango leaves, green leaves at the entrance door. We also tie plantain saplings. The foolish scientists, who do not understand the inner significance of this practice, wonder why these Bharatiyas so foolishly tie all these stupid things. They ask, “Why can they not tie plastic mango leaves that will remain permanent? Why should we cut these branches and leaves from the tree? Why should we destroy them? Instead we can tie plastic festoons”.

It is not that. Our ancients were not foolish. They were highly intelligent, wise and full of Divine feelings. The inner meaning of this practice is that, when ten (or so) people assemble together, the atmosphere gets polluted. When they breathe out, they release carbon dioxide into the air. This carbon dioxide spreads across to all and proves harmful to them. The green leaves (tied as decorations) take in this poisonous carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Therefore, when many people gather at a place, the green leaves prevent the air from becoming poisonous (on account of CO2) and keeps it clean and pure. Today the houses are built in a modern fashion with big halls, doors and windows. But in the past, houses were not built in that manner. In ancient times, houses had very small doors. In these small houses, when 20 and odd people would assemble on occasions such as a marriage, the breath exhaled by them would make the air poisonous. The green leaves would take in all this carbon dioxide and release fresh oxygen into the air. It is having this meaning in their view, that the elders started this practice of tying green leaves decorations. Can you call this foolishness? The one calls this (practice) foolish, is indeed a fool.

Cow dung keeps away disease causing germs and helps heal wounds

When there is any festival, people sprinkle cow dung mixed with water in front of their homes. It is considered to be auspicious. Some even prepare Rangoli (decorative designs) on the floor. What is the reason for spraying cow dung water? Cow dung destroys disease-causing germs and keeps them away because of its odour. Cow dung can cure many diseases. Today people of other countries have recognised this truth and are taking full advantage of it. But the Bhaarateeyas are not making efforts to understand its importance.

Cow-dung has antiseptic properties Image Source

In olden times, there was a practice that on festivals and other auspicious occasions, cow-dung mixed with water used to be sprinkled at the entrance of the houses. Today we think, why should we sprinkle this cow-dung paste, can we not lay a marble or marblex floor and keep the place clean and tidy? No. No. This cow-dung has antiseptic property; it has the power to kill (microorganisms). When the cow-dung paste is sprinkled at the entrance of the homes, poisonous insects and organisms around the houses would get destroyed. Thereby, people progressed with good health.     

Let any scientist today experiment with the use of cow-dung. Unfortunately, they do not experiment with cow-dung. They instead experiment with the sun and the moon. The mindless scientists experiment with objects that lie crores of miles away from us, instead of experimenting with organisms that lie so close to us and cause harm to us. Thus, our ancients started all these practices to correct and promote a sacred, healthy and happy life for mankind.

Smearing steps with turmeric and vermillion Image Source

In the past, women made extensive use of turmeric powder. They used to smear the doorstep with turmeric and place kumkum (vermillion) on it. These have antiseptic properties, the power to destroy (microorganisms). They helped to destroy any microorganisms and insects that would otherwise enter the houses. Today we ask, “why should we apply that turmeric, is it not enough if we use yellow paint”. The yellow paint may help to decorate, but it does not have the (antiseptic) power to kill. Thus our ancients had some inner meaning and scared use in every small practice that they initiated.       

Smearing turmeric on face Image Source

Our Bharatiyas (mostly women) placed kumkum (vermillion) (on their foreheads). They also used to smear turmeric (on their faces). The ancients! That is why, at one point, I wrote a song:

By smearing turmeric, the faces (of the women) would take on a golden complexion. The application of turmeric also helped to prevent the growth of hair on the face. The antiseptic properties of turmeric and vermillion helped in preventing any microorganisms from getting into the body through the nose or the mouth. By the giving up of these practices today, diseases like Eosinophilia and asthma are spreading, as microorganisms are entering inside the body easily. Health and happiness are the two goals of life. Only when we are healthy, can we be happy. If we go on speaking like this, in our Bharatiya culture, there are so many day to day practices that lead only to welfare and cause no harm.   

In ancient Bhaarath one had to bend the head  in reverence to enter homes

Do you know the ancient customs and traditions? They used to build big mansions with small doors. Do you know why they kept such small doors? We think that these small doors were placed to prevent thieves from entering the houses and escaping with ease. No, that was not the reason. These doors were purposely kept low to enable the visitors and guests to observe the custom of entering the houses with their heads bent in reverence to the inmates. Even the windows and doors of homes teach the lesson of respect. Such ancient traditions have been forgotten today. Nowadays you will not find even a ‘gadapa’ (threshold) to the door frame of the main entrance to the house. They think that the threshold is an unnecessary hindrance to enter the house. Why the extra effort to step over and cross the threshold? No, it is not a hindrance at all! In ancient times, they would keep broad thresholds at the doorstep. Again people think that these thresholds were placed to prevent thieves from entering the houses and escaping with ease! No. No. Whether we go to the houses of others or whether others visit our homes, we all need to bend our heads in respect and enter the homes. This is the true reason and not preventing escape of thieves. The ancient traditions of Bhaarath are thus practised with utmost humility, obedience and sincerity.

Feeding insects and animals helps one to atone for sins committed unconsciously

When we take a bath, wash our clothes, or sweep the house, many living creatures may be losing their lives. To atone for the death of such creatures, Bhoota Yajnas (offerings to the Bhoothas – Beings) have to be performed to satisfy these creatures. This practice has come down from the times of ancient sages. The rishis used to maintain satvic animals like deer, peacocks and cows in their ashrams and look after them with loving care; both for their own requirements and also as an expression of their love for them. Following this tradition, people used to scatter sugar or flour near the anthills for feeding the ants. To offer the remains of one’s food after a meal, to birds or dogs or other creatures is also a form of Bhoota Yajna. Even today many people keep cows, dogs, birds or other pets at home and take good care of them. By showing love towards living things in this way, some atonement is made for the unconscious harm done to various creatures in daily life.

Each spoonful of water taken with the chanting of the right mantra reaches the appropriate Deity

The modern students do not understand our ancient culture. How sacred it is. Samasta Lokaa Sukhino Bhavantu. Our culture always prayed for the welfare of all beings.

Sensual Cravings must be burnt away like Camphor

The waving of the camphor flame at the end of the bhajan sessions is to remind you that your sensual cravings must be burnt away without leaving any trace behind, and you must offer yourself to God for being merged with His Glory.

One of the greatest obstacles to spiritual progress is the “Ego” or the “Ahamkaaram”. Bhagawan in His inimitable way makes it so easy to understand this, by splitting the word “Ahamkaaram” as “Aham (I) + Aakaaram (Form)”, which means “I am this body (form)”. Getting over this attachment / obsession to the physical body is indeed a great challenge. In this posting, Bhagawan explains to us the right approach we need to have towards the human body.

In the 1st audio clip, Bhagawan compares the human body to a chariot / vehicle and states that we need to protect it to the extent necessary but keep our eye always on the ultimate goal of life. In the 2^nd clip, He explains how today we are steering our vehicles (human bodies) on the wrong path and thus facing so many difficulties. He gives some interesting statistics that reflects the state of affairs today, with respect to our approach to the physical body. In the 3^rd clip, Bhagawan draws an analogy between a car getting stuck up in a slush with our human body getting stuck up in this Samsaara (worldly life). In the 4^thclip, Bhagawan condemns our over obsession with the physical body, which has no use without the life force that activates it. In the 5^th clip, Bhagawan clarifies that He does not expect us to completely ignore our human body, but is only asking us to give the right attention to it; without getting too obsessed with it. Finally, in the 6^th clip, Bhagawan advises us to regard our body as a vehicle meant for journeying to the ultimate goal of life. He finally cajoles the students to uphold Dharma and protect the Bhaaratiya Sanskruti (Culture) acting as its custodians. It is to be noted here that Bhagawan has clearly stated that “Bhaarath” does not mean the geographical country of “India”. However, “Bhaarath”, Bhagawan says refers to a “way of life”.

Each audio clip has a name that adopts the following code: Serial number, Title appropriate to the key content, Duration of the clip, Year-Month-Date of the Clip. Below the title is the translation in English of the select excerpt of the Discourse, followed by the audio player. The post ends with a short quiz that would help you evaluate your assimilation of Bhagawan’s Message from these extracts.  

The Human Body is like a Vehicle

We must consider our human body as a chariot and no more than that. We must make sure that the various components of this chariot do not come to any harm or face any difficulties. That is all. All other efforts must relate only to the principle of the Brahman, and we must use this chariot to return to the principle of Brahman, from which we have started the journey of our life.

People are driving their vehicle (body) on crooked paths and damaging the spare parts of the vehicle.

Today we are not driving our chariot (of the human body) on the right path. We are driving our vehicle on to crooked paths are thus facing many difficulties and are also damaging many of the spare parts of this vehicle in the process. Nearly 80% of the human beings are spoiling and damaging their vehicles in this manner. From the balance 20%, close to 15% of the human beings are treating their vehicles (of the human body) like cars in a show room. They are decorating them very well, eating all the time, not realizing the true goal of life and are getting totally drowned in the darkness of this worldly life, and are leading a life and enjoying happiness worse than animals. Having got this vehicle (of the human body) that is meant to be used for travel, if we do not put this vehicle into any use, for the purpose of travelling or for helping others to travel, then we may as well regard this vehicle as a mere mass of metal. 

An unused car is equivalent to a mere mass of metal!

Like a car caught up in slush, we are caught up in Samsaara (worldly life)

There is one aspect that we have to bear in mind. Just because we can sit in the car and take the vehicle wherever we want, if we drive the vehicle onto roads that are not good, we would to face many difficulties. That is, if we drive the car into places where there are no roads, or onto the hills or into the river, then we would have to undergo many tribulations and losses. In the same manner, if we take this human body into places where it should not be taken, where it is forbidden to go, then we would have to face lot of criticism, abuse, difficulties and losses too. Just as when the car gets stuck up in slush, we would need the help of so many people to lift the car out; so too when this car of the human body enters into the world and gets stuck up in the mud of Samsaara (worldly life), we would need the help of Satsang (company of noble souls) and the advice of elders to help us come out of this fix.

We are giving too much importance to our physical body

As we are giving too much importance to this human body which is of no great use, we are not able to understand our state, our destination and our sacredness. The skin of a dead animal may be used for so many purposes, but the body of a dead human being can be put to no use. Youth must understand that it is against the duty of mankind to be so obsessed with the insignificant human body, as to forget what is truly sacred and what the true goal of our life is.

If we keep decorating our vehicle (body) and polishing it all the time, what is the use of having such a vehicle?

Students, Swami is not saying that you must completely ignore the human body, or not take care of its upkeep, or ignore its health. We have so many vehicles – cycle, scooter, motorcycle, car, bus or even a bullock cart. We need to regularly keep them clean, fill oil or petrol and make sure they are in proper condition. This forms part of one’s duty. In the same manner, our human body is like a chariot. Just as we take care of a cycle or a car, by wiping it, filling oil or petrol and maintaining it in good condition, in the same manner, for this human body that has been given to us to make the journey of life, we need to clean it from time to time, offer it food that is required, and keep it in proper condition. This is of utmost importance. But, forgetting our very life, if we keep decorating our body, filling it with petrol, and keeping on polishing it all the time, then what is the use of having such a vehicle?

Use the vehicle (body) for reaching your true destination and for upholding Dharma

Therefore, as we have donned this vehicle of the human body, we must see to it that there is no harm to this body, there is no obstacle to our journey, and that we reach our goal safely. To this extent we must take care of our human body. Beyond that we must always keep our focus on the goal, on our destination and travel along the journey of our life in this world. This is the supreme path.