Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

YOUR reality is the Atma, a wave of the Paramatma (Supreme Self). The one object of this human existence is to visualise that reality; that atma, that relationship between the wave and the sea. All other activities are trivial; you share them with birds and beasts; but, this is the unique privilege of Man. He has clambered through all the levels of animality, all the steps in the ladder of evolution, in order to inherit this high destiny. If all the years between birth and death are frittered away in seeking food and shelter, comfort and pleasure, as animals do, man is condemning, himself to a further life-sentence. Man is endowed with two special gifts; Viveka (the faculty of reasoning) and vijnana (the faculty of analysis and synthesis). Use these gifts for discovering the truth of yourself, which is the truth of every one else, of everything else. All countries are borne and sustained by this earth; all are warmed by the same Sun; all 'bodies' are inspired by the same Divine Principle; all are urged by the same inner motivator. The Vedas are the earliest testaments to the victory of man over himself his discovery of the underlying Unity in all creation and his pulsating contact with the truth that unifies. They declare, God is Sarvabhuutha antharatma (God is the inner Reality of all beings), Ishavasyamidham sarvam (All this is enveloped by God), Vasudhevah sarvamidham (All this is God, Vasudheva).

The Divine principle that is in every one is like the electric current that illuminates the bulbs before Me here, of different colours and different candle powers. The same God shines in and through everyone, whatever be the creed, colour, tribe or territory. The current animates and activates all bulbs; the Divine animates and activates all. Those who see difference are deluded; they are befogged by prejudice, egoism, hatred or malice. Love sees all as one Divine family. How does this Atma-principle express itself in Man? As Prema (love)! Love is the basic nature that sustains him and strengthens his resolve to march ahead. Without love man is blind; the world, for him, will be a dark and fearsome jungle. Love is the light that guides the feet of man in the wilderness. The Vedas laid down four goals before man, two pairs of goals, rather, dharmartha (morality-wealth); the earning of the wherewithal for living through moral means and kama-moksha (desire-liberation); the attainment of liberation from the twin experience of pain and pleasure and the desire for that liberation and for nothing less than that supreme treasure.

All these goals are attainable through the practice of Love, Love regulated by sathya (truth), dharma (righteousness) and shanthi (equanimity). The Vedas teach that man must earn wealth through the path of Dharma, that is not taken to heart; wealth is accumulated anyhow! The Vedas teach that man should have only one kama (desire), namely, for moksha (liberation); this too is not respected; man is drowning himself in: the maelstrom of desire, the fulfilment of that desire can never quench his deeper thirsts. How can a prisoner have any other desire than liberation? The widespread anxiety, fear and unrest evident all over the world are the consequences of this mistaken course.

The human body, so filled with skills, so capable of great adventures, is a gift from God to each of you. It has to be used as a raft, on which you can cross this never-calm sea of samsara (change) that lies between birth and death, bondage and liberation. Awaken to this primal duty even when your physical and mental faculties are keen; awake even while your power of discrimination is sharp. Do not postpone the launching of the raft, for it may become unserviceable soon. It may be burdened with illness, so that all your attention will have to be spent on its upkeep. Think of the incomparable joy that will surge within you, when you approach the shore of liberation! Ride safe on the raging waters of samsara (worldly life); be a witness, do not crave for the fruit of action, leave the consequences of all acts to God's Will. He is the doer; you are but the instrument. Pursue nobler ends; have grander ideals; sensory pleasures are trinkets, trivialities. The sages have discovered the disciplines that will keep you unaffected by defeat or victory, loss or gain. Learn them, practise them; establish yourself in unruffled peace. In homes and schools, training of the minds of the young on these lines has to be taken up earnestly by teachers and parents; of course, they must equip themselves for this work by steady practice in meditation and namasmarana (recital of the name of God). In every home, a certain length of time must be fixed every day in the morning as well as evening for readings from spiritual books and namasmarana.

Parents and children must join in singing the glory of God. In fact, all one's time must be dedicated to God: as a first step, a few minutes may be devoted to the adoration of his glory or the gauging of the depth of that Glory. Gradually, when the sweetness of the habit heartens you, you will devote more and more time and feel more and more content. The purpose of 'living' is to achieve "living in God." Every one is entitled to that consecration and consummation. You are the Truth; do not lose faith; do not belittle yourselves. You are Divine, however often you slide from humanity to animality or even lower. Cultivate Love; share that love with all. How can you give one person less and another more, when they are both the same as you? If you forget the basic Divinity, hatred sprouts: envy raises its hood. See the Atma in all Love sprouts, peace descends like dew. You are prema-swaruupa (embodiments of love). You have been sitting here since hours, in the open, putting up with great discomfort, awaiting Me, eager to hear Me and see Me. I am speaking to you from this dais, only to satisfy that ardour. When I sense your prema; I feel I must share it and allow you to share My prema: that is the best of all communications and communions. The mediation of words is then unnecessary.

I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added lustre. I have not come to speak on behalf of any particular dharma (righteousness), like the Hindhu Dharma. I have not come on any mission of publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect followers for any doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples or devotees into My fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this Universal unitary faith, this Athmic principle, this path of love, this dharma of prema, this duty of love, this obligation to love.

All religions teach one basic discipline; the removal from the mind of the blemish of egoism, of running after little joy. Every religion teaches man to fill his being with the Glory of God, and evict the pettiness of conceit. It trains him in methods of detachment and discrimination, so that he may aim high and attain liberation. Believe that all hearts are motivated by the One and Only God; that all faiths glorify the One and Only God; that all names in all languages and all forms man can conceive, denote the One and Only God; His adoration is best done by means of love. Cultivate that Eka-bhava (attitude of Oneness), between men of all creeds, all countries and all continents. That is the message of love, I bring. That is the message I wish you to take to heart. Foster love, live in love, spread love - that is the spiritual exercise which will yield the maximum benefit. When you recite the Name of God, remembering the while His majesty, His compassion, His glory, His splendour, His presence - Love will grow within you, its roots will go deeper and deeper, its branches will spread wider and wider giving cool shelter to friend and foe, to fellow national and foreigner. God has a million names. Sages and saints have seen Him in a million forms; they have seen Him with eyes closed and eyes open. They have extolled Him in all the ianguages and dialects of man; but yet, His glory is not exhausted.

Select any Name of His, any Name that appeals to you, select any Form of His; every day when you awaken to the call of the brightening East, recite the Name, meditate on the form; have the name and the form as your companion, guide and guardian throughout the toils of the waking hours; when you retire for the night offer grateful homage to God in that Form with that Name, for being with you, by you, beside you, before you, behind you, all day long. If you stick to this discipline, you cannot falter or fail. I must give you one more advice. Endeavour always to promote the joy and happiness of your fellow country men in this continent; be sharers in their joy and happiness. Bharath is so called because the people of that country have rathi (great attachment) to Bha (Bhagavan, that is God). They are devoted to God and so to all the children of God. They are afraid of sin; they are eager to acquire jnana (spiritual knowledge). Resolve to carry on the quest of your own reality. Resolve to live in the inspiration of the constant remembrance of God. Cultivate love and share love. I bless that you achieve success in this endearour and derive great joy therefrom.