Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

Embodiments of Love, Young Men and Women,

IT is very necessary to recognise the importance of human values, today. People these days are unable to lead the life of a human being since they lost the human values. The qualities of a human being are of two types, internal and external. Kama (desire), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (attachment), mada (pride), and matsarya (jealousy) are external. Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Santhi (Peace), Prema (Love) and Ahimsa (Non-violence) are internal.

Today, we are giving a go-by to the inner, eternal and truthful qualities and are hankering after the worldly and transient matters. This is not correct. We must develop the inner vision of atma bhava . If only there is Truth, it is enough; Righteousness will follow. Where Truth and Righteousness go together like the positive and negative, there will be Peace; where there is Peace there will be love. There will be no scope at all for violence when a human being is surcharged with the current of Love. Today, violence is rampant everywhere. People suffer from sorrows and difficulties. Hence, you must strive to cultivate the innate human values. Truth is eternal. It cannot be destroyed. It is said, Sathyam bruyath, priyam bruyath, na bruyath sathyamapriyam (speak Truth; speak pleasantly; avoid speaking Truth that is unpalatable). Truth is not born out of an individual, nor does it go away with one individual. Truth is universal. It applies equally to all human beings. You must cultivate such universal Truth. What you think, you must speak; what you speak, you must put into action. That is real humanness.

Anger, desire, greed, attachment, pride and jealousy are unbecoming of a human being. Today, man is limiting his love to his own wife and children. He is not developing broad-mindedness. As the saying goes Ekam Sath viprah bahuda vadanthi (Truth is only one; the wise men say it in different ways). Sarvam khalvidam Brahma is the declaration, which means everything in the universe is Brahman only. Truth is the very embodiment of Brahman . And that Brahman is omnipresent. Hence, first and foremost, establish Truth in your heart. Thereafter, the other four human values of Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-violence will reign in the world. Then, there will be no violence at all in the world and all human beings irrespective of religion and nationality will live in peace and harmony. A human being has enormous strength in him. That has to be channelised properly. Anger, desire, greed, delusion, pride and jealousy have to be controlled.

You sing various bhajans . It is only when you sing the bhajans in proper sruthi , it will be melodious. Similarly, your desire must have a limit. If you wish to marry, you can do so. Later on you may wish to have children; you can have that also. But, you must bring them up in proper way, so that they become useful citizens in their later life. God has prescribed certain code of conduct for the proper conduct of life of a human being. One should not behave like an animal or a bird or a beast. We must control our behaviour. This is the most important value to be cherished by a human being.

The human values are not visible to the naked eye. What is the form of Truth? None has seen the form. Rather, it is beyond any form. It emerges out of our bosom. What is Dharma (Righteousness)? Dharma is to follow the teachings of our own heart. Where is Santhi (Peace)? Is it outside? No. it is only asanthi (unrest) outside. Man today craves for peace and peace alone, inspite of possessing all sorts of wealth. You ask any millionaire. His reply will be “I have money, houses and all kinds of wealth; but, I have no peace”. Peace therefore is not to be obtained from the world outside. It has to flow from within. Where there is Peace, there will be Love. The light of Love shines in one and all. It is Love that illuminates the entire universe. Hence, if you strengthen Love, there will be no scope for hatred at all! It is only when you develop a feeling of separation, there will be hatred between one another. On the other hand, if you develop a feeling of oneness, how can there be a feeling of hatred between you and the other man?

Dear Golden ones (bangaru ), No one should develop bad qualities like jealousy, hatred, desire and anger. Develop Love. Love is God and God is Love. “Prema muditha manase kaho Rama Rama Ram ………” is the bhajan . Love is the greatest gift God has given to a human being. The value of any material object in this world can be assessed; but not the value of Love. Hence, develop Love. Not only that, share that love with others. Thus, when you exchange love and spend your lives happily, evil qualities like hatred, jealousy, ego, etc., cannot come anywhere near. You must be knowing about a chemical stick called “Lakshmana Rekha” . When a line is drawn with this stick in the house, no insect of any kind can enter the area. Similarly, where there is Love, there the evil qualities cannot enter. Hence, only one quality, the quality of Love is sufficient to drive away all evil qualities. Love can be shared with any number of people; it will not deplete in quantity. In fact, the more you share it with others the more it will grow. God is our father, we are all His children. All these children have a right to inherit His property. All have to share that ‘property’, i.e., the property of Love. You may forget anything in this world; but you should not forget God. Everything in this world is transient. But, Love is not that which comes and goes. On the other hand, it grows. Develop such Divine Love. Constantly do namasmarana , with absolute faith in God. We are uttering so many words every day. Can’t we utter sacred words like Rama and Krishna? Surely, we can. Once you chant these Divine names, all your sorrows and difficulties will vanish.

Man has several types of worries: To be born is a worry, to be on the earth is a worry; world is a cause of worry and death too; entire childhood is a worry and so is the old age; life is a worry, failure is a worry; all actions and difficulties cause worry; even happiness too is a mysterious worry. Devotion to Swami alone will put an end to all your worries. Oh people! Develop such devotion and love. (Telugu poem)

Develop Love for God, so that you may get rid of those worries. That is the only effective medicine for all your worries. By chanting the Divine Name of God, all your worries can be cured. Where is God? He is everywhere (omnipresent). The panchabhuthas (the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether) are the embodiments of Divinity. The body is like a water bubble. The mind is like a mad monkey. Hence, you should not follow either the body or the mind. You should follow the advice of the intellect. You should develop a pure and steady consciousness (chittha ). In fact, all our sadhanas (spiritual practices) are meant to develop only chittha shuddhi (purity of consciousness)! The evil qualities of desire, anger, greed, delusion, pride and jealousy are only acquired qualities and not our innate qualities. Our innate qualities are Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Santhi (Peace), Prema (Love) and Ahimsa (Non-violence). We have to manifest them.

Today, wherever you turn only violence is present. People indulge in violence for the sake of money. Money comes and goes, but morality comes and grows. In the past several kings and emperors had accumulated enormous wealth. But, could any one of them take even a paisa with them? No. Alexander the Great during his last moments called his ministers and requested them to wrap his body after his death with a white cloth, keeping his empty hands projected upward and take it in a procession through every street of his capital city. His idea was to convey a message to the people that man has to leave this world with empty hands, in spite of acquiring great wealth or conquering vast kingdoms. Whatever we acquire in this material world is only for our satisfaction. True and Eternal Bliss can be acquired only through Love. It is not enough if you spend your time with Love when you are in Prasanthi Nilayam. Those blissful moments should be cherished forever. Wherever you are, you should continue to live with Love. Irrespective of the country where you are living, U.S.A., U.K., Japan or Germany, Love has no difference. Your body may be in a particular place, but Love is universal. Love is all-pervading. You must develop such love. You must love even those who hate you.

Whenever you encounter an enemy, offer your pranams to him and enquire, “Hello brother, how are you?” I am sure he will respond saying “Brother, How are you?” All are brothers and sisters, verily. God is the only Father to one and all. The Bhagavad Gita declares, Mamaivamsho jivaloke jivabhuta sanathana (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being). You are not different from Me; we are all one! You must develop faith in such Oneness. Where is God? He is present as the indweller in every human being. You should develop the feeling ‘Whatever I do is an offering to God, the Indweller of my heart’. You must develop the faith that whatever happens, whether happiness or sorrow, is for your good only. You are aware that a person suffering from malarial fever will be administered the bitter mixture of quinine. It is only when that bitter mixture is taken the fever will subside. Similarly, realise the truth that the sorrows and difficulties you undergo are for your own good. God is omnipresent, you need not go far to realise Divinity. If you search your own heart and share your love with others, you can easily understand Divinity. All are bound by the bond of love. All will be united with love only. Hence, wherever you go, be united. Especially, the youth can achieve a lot if they are united. Prayer, chanting of the divine name and love for God are the three sadhanas we have to undertake. When you conduct yourself based on these three sadhanas , you can achieve anything.

God is not separate from you. You are not separate from God. You and God are only one. You must always think “God is residing as the Indweller in my heart. I am verily God.” There may be differences in names and forms, but God is One and One alone. The different names like Rama, Krishna, etc., are those visualised by poets and artists like Ravi Varma. In fact, God has no particular form. They pray “Allahu Akbar ”. Allah has no form. There is no one higher than Allah. He is Supreme. God has no name and form. But, He will assume the form you constantly contemplate upon. Yad Bhavam tad bhavati (as is the feeling, so is the result). We are visualising Him in a particular form as per our own thoughts and feelings. You develop the feeling “God is in me, with me and is guiding me” and march on. May you all be happy!