Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

AMONG the numerous diseases prevalent in the world, the disease of lobha (greed) has grown beyond bounds. There is no disease worse than this. This greed undermines humanness and turns man into a monster.

The second disease is krodha (anger): There is no enemy worse than anger. It is possible to overcome external foes, but it is very difficult to subdue this internal enemy. Anger can destroy all human qualities and make a man forget his real nature. It is man's worst enemy. There is no misery equal to poverty. Poverty does not merely mean lack of wealth. You have poverty of the mind, poverty in wisdom. This poverty also causes misery to man.

Man is ravaged by these three: Greed (or miserliness), anger and lack of wisdom. There is no greater source of happiness than Jnana (wisdom or the Higher Knowledge). Jnana is not confined to worldly knowledge. There are other kinds of knowledge - bookish, superficial, etc. - of which the most valuable is practical knowledge.

Everyone should strive to acquire that knowledge by which he can get rid of greed, anger and material and spiritual poverty. It is to achieve this purpose that you are participating in this conference.

At the outset you have to consider what is the purpose of life.

The gift of intelligence is being used for many trivial purposes but not to understand the goal of life. Society today is riddled with discord and disorder. The progress of civilization has undermined morality and decency in all walks of life. Obsessed with worldly values, men have lost all concern for moral values. Selfishness reigns supreme everywhere. Even in the spiritual field, people seem to be more interested in themselves than in the welfare of society and the promotion of public good-.

The delegates assembled in this conference appear to be concerned about the functioning of their centres. Why were these centres started? The primary objective of the Sai Organization is to raise the human consciousness to the Divine by eliminating all animal tendencies. People do not seem to be aware of their true nature. Only those who understand their true selves can help to elevate others. The Upanishads have given the clarion call to mankind to wake up from their ignorance and go forward towards their supreme divine destiny of self-realisation.

You have to engage yourselves in Seva (Service). Service does not mean mere rendering help to others of one kind of another. True service means participation in social activities after ridding yourself of egoism and possessiveness and manifesting your qualities of compassion and kindness. The aim is the refinement of your own good nature rather than giving succour to others.

There is a Sanskrit saying which declares that greater than penance or pilgrimage, meditation or worship, is service to good people. In rendering service, there should be unity of heart, head and hands (three H's). Only then service becomes sanctified.

Sai sevaks have to develop the love in them, share it with others and fill the whole world with love. True love should be distinguished from attachments of various kinds. That love is a synonym for God.

The love of God comes from the depths of the heart. Sai sevaks should understand this love and render service in the right spirit to all mankind.

People ask how they can experience God. The answer was given by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, when he told a questioner that if he loved God with the same intensity with which he loved his wife and children he would be able to experience God. Perform all actions as an offering to God. Do not make any distinction between your official work and your work in the Sai organization. Spirituality cannot be divided into compartments. The Sathya Sai organization was set up solely to enable members to manifest their love in all their activities. You should manifest the divinity within you. That is Self realisation, realisation of your oneness with the Divine. The setting up of Sai Centres is not an exercise in numbers. The emphasis should be on quality and not quantity. The International President and the National President of our organization have mentioned how the Samasthalu (centres) have grown. But has Samathvam (fellow-feeling) grown to the same extent? Fellow-feeling should grow. On the contrary, divisiveness is growing. I want quality, not quantity.

Promote harmony among members. You cannot avoid making such distinctions as President, Coordinator, Member and the like. But these distinctions are functional and have no place at the spiritual level. God is present equally in all, from the president to the ordinary member. You should recognise this oneness. Positions, names and forms may vary but the Supreme Truth is one. This spirit of Samathvam (oneness) should be fostered. Then there will be no jealousy or discord. Where there is oneness there will be no trouble.

Society today is racked by jealousy and hatred. Jealousy is a disease, which gives rise to hatred. Develop forbearance and goodwill. That is the cure for jealousy.

Often many have extolled Me or derided Me. I do not get elated by praise or depressed by criticism. I treat everything alike.

What do I lose when someone criticizes me? That is his opinion. It does not affect me. Those who criticize Baba are suffering from a disease, like those who reject a sweet because they suffer from diabetes. The fault lies not in the sweet but in the person who is unable to relish it. They know that Baba is engaged in beneficial activities and they want him. But because some of their selfish interests are not served, they turn against Swami. That is a malady. When you see the facts in this light, you will realise the truth.

Today you have to cultivate a serene equanimity that rises above these trifles. The development of equanimity is more important than the growth of centre. You should recognise the Divinity in one and all.

Many who are working in the Organization do not recognise the need for unity. Lack of unity breeds enmity and groupism.

The organization exists not for my sake but yours. When Swami administers what may appear as bitter medicine, it is for your own good. God is the physician for the ills of human existence. You may not relish the taste of His medicine. But whatever Swami does, says or gives, is all for your good.

Above all, unity is-the foremost need of the hour.

All are denizens of the earth. All are children of Mother Earth. Recognise this truth. In the realm of the Spirit, it is foolish to ask for proofs of direct external perception. The spiritual is subtle. It has to be experienced within. The Divine is present within us incognito like the Pandavas during the last year of their exile. Does the external form of a person reveal anything about his internal qualities? He himself may not be aware of all of them. He may be full of love or hatred. Can anyone perceive it? Without knowing his qualities, is it proper to judge him by his physical features?

You see this magnificent hall, but you do not see its foundations. Likewise, God is the basis, Nature is the superstructure. The spirit is the basis, the body is the superstructure. The body is like a rose in which the spirit is present as invisible fragrance.

This conference should consider how the Sai Organizations can improve their service activities. I have nothing to gain from the organization. I am always blissful. There is no need to wish me "Happy Birthday". I am always happy.

Develop love, so that you may deserve this appellation.

The Tamil Nadu President, T.G.Krishnamurthy said, that when Swami reincarnates as Prema Sai he should be given the privilege of serving Swami. Ayya! Take good care of what you already have. Why hanker after something in the womb of the future? The present is very important. Past is past. Don't worry about the future. Take care of the present which will determine the future. Do your duty now. Duty is God. Work is worship. This is the way to run the organization on ideal lines. What is being inaugurated today is the search for the supreme truth about the Divinity within.

People have referred to the Seventieth Birthday. The body is constituted of the five elements, the five sheaths, the five life-breaths and the five senses. Upto one's fiftieth year, one may be described as experiencing Yauvanam (youth). Youthhood should be dedicated to purposeful activities. Youth is not related to age. Bheeshma, who was 112 years old, was the commander-inchief of the Kaurava forces. It is will power that determines one's age.

When one reaches sixty, it is a Bharatheeya custom to perform Shanthi puuja for the purpose of subduing the six internal enemies (lust, pride, etc).

On reaching seventy, a person attains the state of the Seven Sages, the Seven Oceans, the Seven musical notes, the Seven colours. The seven colours come from the sun's rays. The sun's rays are eternal. The Seventieth year symbolises the attainment of the saintliness of the Saptharishis (Seven sages who constitute the constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear).

On attaining the eightieth year, you must become one of the Ashtagrahas (eight planets).

On reaching the ninetieth year, you have to acquire the strength of one of the Navagrahas (nine planets).

On reaching the hundredth year one should merge in the ten indriyas (organs of sense and action) and get rid of the body consciousness.

The acquisition of the love of God should be the primary aim of members of the Sai organizations. The spiritual path is the easiest to follow. The giving up of worldly desires is easier than clinging to them. Hold fast to God.