Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

Embodiments of Love! GOD is love, Love is God. The Lord declares in the Bhagavad-Gita, “All the living entities in this world are parts of My eternal divinity (Mamaivamso Jeevaloke Jeevabhuta Sanathana).” Just as God, the embodiment of love, showers His love on the entire world, man too should share his love with one and all. The principle of love is beyond any definition. Unable to recognize the sacredness of love, man is directing it toward wealth and ephemeral worldly objects.

God transcends all attributes. The same can be said of love too. By associating with worldly conditions and limiting such attributeless love, people are wasting their life. They use the sacred word ‘love’ to describe the relationship between mother and child, wife and husband, brothers, friends and relatives. Prior to birth, who is the mother and who is the child? Similarly, prior to marriage, who is the husband and who is the wife? The relationship that exists between mother and child, wife and husband, brothers, sisters, friends, relatives, etc., has the physical body as its basis. This type of physical relationship cannot be called love in the true sense of the term. There is no giving and receiving in true love. Many devotees pray, “O God, if you fulfill my desires, I will offer you coconuts.” They also offer their hair and pray for mighty favors. Can this be called devotion? No, not at all. A true devotee is one who only gives and does not expect anything in return. That is true devotion.

Human life is a mixture of the physical world and the spiritual world. But people today trust only the physical world, forgetting the spiritual aspect. Thus, they indulge in enjoyment with the mind. So long as people follow the mind, neither they, society, nor the country at large can attain peace and security. Peace and security will reign supreme in this world only when people give up attachment to the mind and follow the principle of love that originates from the heart. The co-existence of dualities of righteousness and unrighteousness, truth and falsehood, merit and sin, heat and cold, etc., is the nature of this creation. It is not possible for only dharma (right conduct) to exist in this world. Similarly, adharma (unrighteousness) alone cannot exist. People want adharma to be entirely eradicated from this world and establish only dharma, but it is not possible. The world itself is a combination of dharma and adharma. The world cannot exist without the pairs of opposites, dharma and adharma, and truth and falsehood (sathya and asathya). One should lead a life following only dharma, forgetting adharma. Forgetting one’s human nature, if one fosters animal qualities there will be no peace or security.

Dharma of human beings is different from the dharma of animals. But people are unable to differentiate between the two. The principles of Truth (Sathya), nonviolence (ahimsa), and empathy (sanubhuthi) are the same for all beings. People can never attain peace and security so long as they do not give up bestial qualities. Food, sleep, fear and procreation are common for people and animals. Then, what is man’s dharma ? To think that you are a human being constitutes only half of the total truth. The other part of the truth lies in understanding that you are not an animal. You should keep reminding yourself, “I am a human being, not an animal.” Do not stop at this stage. Enquire further as to which of the four stages of life you are in, whether you are a celibate, householder, recluse or renunciant (Brahmachari, Grihastha, Vanaprastha or Sanyasin). Follow the appropriate dharma according to the stage of your life. When you are celibate, you should not follow the dharma of a householder.

There will be a decline in morals giving rise to troubles and turmoil when one fails to adhere to the dharma appropriate to their stage in life. Today, man is unable to understand the principle of dharma corresponding to each of the four stages of life. The code of conduct is different for different stages of life. Never be under the mistaken notion that dharma is the same for all people irrespective of their stage in life. The cause of adharma today is that man is trying to follow dharma that is not appropriate to his age or stage in life. Each should strictly adhere to the corresponding to his or her age and stage in of life. By following the appropriate age-related dharma ; you can attain divinity.

Today people do not understand the significance of different faiths and different modes of worship that are prevalent in Bharat (India). Many mistakenly believe that all the violence, unrest and conflict in this country are arising from having different castes, communities and religions. The existence of different religions has nothing to do with the violence and conflicts in this country. The absence of inner purity is responsible for all this.

It is one’s own feelings that are responsible for conflicts and disturbances, not differences in religions and communities. It is a grave mistake to attribute unrest and disturbances in a country to the existence of different religions. For thousands of years, people in India have lived in unity and fraternity despite the existence of various religions and communities.

Different religions have come into existence to lead man to Divinity, and not to create conflicts and disturbances. There is nothing wrong with any religion. The mistake lies in mathi (mind), not in matha (religion). If the mind is good, how can one find fault with religion? All people belong to one Jathi (race), i.e., manava jathi (human race). You should understand the meaning of Jathi. Jathi is based on a particular form.

For example, all flowers belong to the same Jathi. No doubt, all trees belong to the same Jathi, but their fruits and tastes vary. There are in all 450 kinds of tastes corresponding to the fruits of various trees. But you cannot get mangoes when you sow a neem seed. You should try to understand the underlying principle of unity of each Jathi. The human race is one, but human beings are different; their feelings, thoughts and behavior patterns are different.

It is utter foolishness to think of annihilating the race (Jathi) as a whole. It may be possible to kill a few individuals, but it is not possible to annihilate the entire human race. The human race is true and eternal. It is highly sacred. It is a sign of ignorance to give room for differences and conflicts without understanding the unity of the human race. You must recognize the divinity in man as the basis of human unity. The ancient culture of Bharat lays great emphasis on understanding this unity in diversity. This is possible only through love. Love is a natural state of all beings.

The state of non-dualism is contained in the principle of love alone. But man, being carried away by body attachment and physical relationships, fragments his love in various ways. This cannot be called love in the true sense of the term. As Swami repeatedly stresses the need to cultivate love, some people may wonder what is the form of love. The answer is Prem Easwar Hai, Easwar Prem Hai (Love is God, God is Love). Love is the fundamental basis of everything. Atma (Self), Brahma (Supreme Being), Hridaya (Heart), Uniki (existence) are synonyms of love. Love is Atma. Love is Brahma. Everything is suffused with love. Then, how can anyone describe the form of love? The same principle of love exists in one and all. Once you understand this principle of unity, there will be no scope for hatred.

Today conflicts are on the rise because unity is forgotten. Ekatmasarvabhutantaratma (bodies are different, but the same Atma dwells in all). SarvamKhalvidamBrahma (Everything is Brahman). Brahman means vastness. It indicates unity and not multiplicity. So, give up body attachment and strengthen faith in the spirit of Oneness. It is only the body attachment that is responsible for evil qualities like anger, jealousy, greed, ostentatiousness etc. IsavasyamIdamJagat (The universe is permeated by God.) You should see the Atma everywhere and think that you are in the company of God always.

Embodiments of Love! I often address you as ‘embodiments of love’ because love is your true form, which is pure, unsullied, eternal, ancient, formless and non-dual. You love your mother because you know that she is your mother. So, faith is the basis of love.

Peace, truth and bliss are not elsewhere. They are in you. You are the embodiment of peace; you are the embodiment of truth and you are the embodiment of bliss. It is foolish to search for peace and bliss in the external world. Nothing exists separate from you. Everything is the reflection of the inner being. Try to visualize your reflection in everybody just as you see your reflection in a mirror. In order to propagate this truth, Lord Krishna declared in the Bhagavad Gita: “Mamaivamso Jeevaloke Jeevabhuta Sanathana.” (I and you are one and not separate. The principle of love is one and the same in both of us.) All your spiritual practices will prove futile if you do not adhere to the principle of love.

The world is like a mirror. All that you find in this mirror is only the reflection, not the reality. Your right eye appears as your left eye in the mirror. Then how can you consider it as reality? When the mirror is removed, the reflection also disappears and reality remains. Consider yourself as the embodiment of divinity. Experience your true nature of love. This is sakshatkara (vision of the Self). Some people claim to have the vision of the Self in meditation, but the vision of your reality as divine is true sakshatkara.

All worldly relationships are temporary like passing clouds. They are subject to change with the passage of time, but the reality is absolutely changeless. That is the principle of love. Worldly love may turn into hatred with the change of time. What is liked today may not be liked tomorrow. But love has no likes and dislikes. God alone has this kind of sacred Love. God is no different from love. God is Love. Love is God. You may adore Him as Jesus, Zoroastra, Allah, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, or Guru Nanak. You may call Him by any name. All these are names given by somebody (pettina perlu). Love alone is natural name (puttina peru). The names given are bound to change, but love is changeless. You should aspire for that love. That is true devotion. Devotion is synonymous with Love. Because of devotion (bhakti), you acquire shakti (energy, strength), yukti (astuteness), rakti (Love for God), and virakti (detachment).

Some people go to the temple of Lord Venkateswara and pray, “Swami, if You fulfill my desires, I will perform special worship and celebration (brahmotsavam) for You.” Some others pray, “Swami if my daughter gets married, I will conduct Your marriage celebration (kalyanam).” Can there be a marriage for God? Does God fulfill your wish so that you may perform His marriage? With such prayers, people are trying to cheat even God. Prayer born out of selfishness is no prayer at all. You should see the Atma everywhere and think that you are in the company of God always.

In this world, everything is suffused with divinity. Other than divinity nothing exists. Even this cloth is divine (Swami showed His handkerchief), this flower is divine, and everything is divine. If there is no divinity in this cloth, one will not desire it. Love pervades everything. You should make every effort to understand this. The human heart is full of love. Many students write to Me, “Swami, I love You.” They use the symbol of heart (hridaya) to denote love. This means hridaya –heart (hrid) filled with love and compassion (daya). Hridaya is the very form of God. Easwara Sarva Bhutanam (God dwells in all beings). Isavasyam Idam Jagat (God permeates the entire universe). Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma (all this is verily Brahman). That is Love. God resides in the Heart. Love is the Heart. The Heart is Love. That Love is verily the form of God. God dwells in all beings in the Heart. Whatever you see is verily Brahman. That Brahman is Prema. Do not keep all that Love for yourself. Share this love not only with your fellow beings but also with birds and beasts. Stand united. Consider the entire universe as a single family. Then, there will be no scope for hatred or conflict.

Embodiments of Love! Today you find disturbance and unrest all over the world. The reason is that man lacks broadmindedness. There is no expansion of love in him, there is only contraction of love. Narrow-mindedness is man’s own creation whereas God’s creation is expansive and limitless. You are trying to limit the infinite Atmic principle: this is responsible for all the suffering.

Embodiments of Love! Today we are celebrating the festival of Guru Purnima. Who is Guru? ‘Gu’ stands for Gunateeta (attributeless). ‘Ru’ signifies Rupavarjita (formless). There is another interpretation of the word Guru. Gukaro Andhakarasyat, Rukarasthannirodhaka (‘Gu’ signifies darkness and ‘Ru’ denotes that which dispels darkness). So, God, who is attributeless and formless, is the true Guru. In the word ‘Bhagawan,’ (God) the letter ‘Bha’ stands for effulgence. An ordinary electric bulb illuminates only a limited area, but God who is all-pervasive illumines the entire creation. Divinity shines in everybody. So, do not hate anybody. In this world, people are driven by hatred and narrow feelings. They go even to the extent of killing each other. What a heinous crime it is! Hurting others amounts to hurting God Himself. Our hatred will certainly rebound on us. Today people derive demonic pleasure in causing harm to others without understanding the truth that one day or the other they will have to reap the consequences of their actions. Make others happy and you will certainly be happy. Today violence and murders have become the order of the day. Greatness does not lie in killing others; even an insect can do that. Greatness lies in saving lives.

Embodiments of Love! You are bound to face the consequences of your actions because, for everything, there is reaction, resound and reflection. Never forget these three as you cannot escape from them. So, do good and you will certainly reap good results. Do not get disheartened if there is no immediate reward. Wait for a while, you will certainly be rewarded. Your suffering is nothing but the consequence of bad deeds in the past. Prayer alone can alleviate your suffering to some extent. Prayer is a way of expressing your gratitude to God. The Sun God is extolled as KritaghnaghnayaNamaha (salutations to the destroyer of the ungrateful). It means that the Sun God will withdraw eyesight from those who are ungrateful.

The quality of Kshama (forbearance) is the most essential for one and all.

Forgive those who have harmed you and criticized you. Have faith that whatever happens is for your own good. If someone hurls abuse on you, do not retaliate. Enquire within yourself whether he has criticized the body or the Atma. If anyone criticizes the body, you should feel happy. This is because they have indirectly done you a favor since the body is impermanent and full of flesh, urine and excreta. On the other hand, if they criticized the Atma, it amounts to criticizing their own self because the same Atma exists in both of you. One should cultivate this kind of forgiveness and broad-mindedness.

Embodiments of Love! The Guru is one who dispels the darkness of ignorance arising out of body attachment. The body is but an instrument. God has given you the body to take to the path of action. It is God’s gift. Body is the temple and the indweller is God, the eternal (Deho Devalaya Prokto Jeevo Deva Sanathana). Consider all bodies as temples of God and offer your salutations. Salute even your enemies. Sarva Jeeva Namaskaram Kesavam Pratigachchhati and likewise Sarva Jeeva Tiraskaram Kesavam Pratigachchhati (whomsoever you salute, it reaches God and whomsoever you insult, it also reaches God).

I often address you as Bangaru (precious gold) because you are the embodiment of Hiranyagarbha (cosmic golden womb). The principle of Hiranyagarbha is present in your heart. You may change the shape of the jewel, but gold remains unchanged. The value of gold decreases when it is mixed with various metals like copper, brass, etc. Likewise, human beings by birth are highly pure and valuable. But on account of their association with evil desires and bad company, they lose their value.

This is your dharma. Know this Truth.

Embodiments of Love! It is said, among all beings, human birth is difficult to obtain (Janthunam Narajanma Durlabham). So, sanctify your life by making proper use of your senses. Do not talk as you please; talk softly and sweetly. Have proper control over your vision. Do not look with bad intentions. You all know what happened to Keechaka (a character in the epic Maha Bharatha) when he looked at Draupadi (wife of Pandavas) with evil intentions. Bhima smashed his head into pieces. That is why Lord Buddha exhorted mankind to cultivate sacred vision (samyak drishti). Buddha attained enlightenment only after he cultivated a sacred vision. Consider all that you see as the form of God. Think what is good, see what is good, hear what is good, speak what is good and do what is good. Only then can one achieve anything in this world and attain divinity.

Embodiments of Love! This body is approaching its 75th birthday. All these years, I have remained blissful because I am aware of the principle of unity. You too can experience bliss if you understand this truth. I do not hate anybody; nor do I have any enemies. I have absolutely no fear because everything is My own form; the same Atma exists in all. When an innocent child smiles at you, you too smile at it. Likewise, when I smile blissfully, all of you do the same. Have a sacred heart.

Cultivate sacred feelings. Then the result also will be sacred. Have faith that God is everywhere. You may have to undergo trials and tribulations, but never lose faith in God. Consider faith (viswasa) as your very life breath (swasa). Each one of you is an embodiment of love, but because of improper food and habits, evil qualities like jealousy and anger arise in you. As is the food, so is the head; as is the head, so is God. So, consume only satwic food. Then you will have only sacred feelings and your speech will also become sacred.

To put you on the right path, I sometimes pretend to be angry, but I am never angry. The only harsh word that I use is dunnapota (he-buffalo). You are truly a buffalo if you do not engage in good actions. You can become a good fellow only when you do good. When there is a heavy downpour, the cow and calf may run away to safety, but the he-buffalo stays where it is because of its sloth and inertia. You should not become inactive like the he-buffalo; try to transform yourself. Human life is highly sacred. Do not misuse this human life. I love everybody. Love is My true form. That is My true form. That is My real form. All of you are the sparks of My Divinity. So, share your love with your fellow beings, just as I share My love with you all. Then you too will become divine. When all follow the sacred path, the world will undoubtedly attain peace and prosperity.

Embodiments of Love! Give up ignorance, light the lamp of wisdom within you, and ultimately merge with the divine. This is Swami’s main message for you today. Develop love, love, love. There is nothing greater than love in this universe. Through love alone, you can get rid of bad qualities and through love alone, you can get cured of any disease. So, love all. Love the Heart (hridaya), not the physical body. Love the Divine principle which is installed in your heart. Body, mind, intellect, and senses are merely matter; you are the master. ‘Master the mind and be a mastermind.’ Never become a slave to your mind. Contemplate on the divine day in and day out. You may chant any name, contemplate on any form, but understand the truth that God is one and only one.