Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

Moham hithva priyo bhavathi Krodham hithva na sochathi Kamam hithva arthavan bhavathi Lobham hithva sukhee bhavathi.

EMBODIMENTS of Love! "Moham hithva priyo bhavathi" (As long as one is proud, men will not like him). Only when he suppresses his pride will he be liked by one and all. "Krodham hithva na sochathi" (The man filled with anger will have no happiness). He will be immersed in misery. When he subdues his anger, he will be free from grief. "Kamam hithva arthavan bhavathi" (When a man has insatiable desires he will never fell contented). When he controls his desires, he will be truly rich. "Lobhamhithvasukhee bhavathi" (A miserly person will never feel happy). When he gives up greed he w111 realise happiness.

Embodiments of Love! Divinity is not easily perceived or realised. It is easy to talk about the Divine. It is easy to comment on the miracles and sports of the Divine. But to understand them in their fullness is very difficult. To look at something evil and shout about it like crows is not a good thing. It is better to sing like the cuckoo over something good. Tastes differ from person to person. One man's sweet is another man's poison. With such diverse tendencies, how can men recognise the Divine?

The ancient sages of Bharath carried out many spiritual investigations and through the study of the scriptures proclaimed their experience of the Divine. The Upanishaths declared: "Raso vai saha." That is, the Divine is present in all things as their essence like sugar in sugarcane and butter in milk. God is present both in the good and the bad, in truth and untruth, in merit and sin. That being the case, how is one to determine what is false and what is unrighteous? The Geetha declares: "My Spirit is the indwelling spirit in all beings." The individual who realises this truth will experience samathvam (equal-mindedness).

But, for people living in the mundane world and concerned with worldly affairs, right and wrong, truth and untruth and similar opposites are unavoidable. Hence, as long as one is involved in leading a worldly life one cannot escape from duality. One's peace and security have to be found in the context of pleasure and pain. One's joy is linked with suffering. Pleasure is an interval between two pains. Life is a combination of light and shadow. Without sorrow there can be no happiness. Only when you walk in the hot sun can you experience the pleasure of a shady place. In such a life, it is not possible to experience pleasure alone all the time.

The entire cosmos is governed by three states: srishti, sthithi and layam (creation, sustenance and dissolutions). The truth of this is beyond dispute by anyone at any time. A Divine truth is conveyed by this concept. Srishti (creation) is the expression of the Eeshvara Sankalpa (Will of God). It is called Prakrithi (Nature). Every object in creation should have the characteristics of Nature. Man has come into existence to manifest the powers of Nature. The powers of Nature are not present in all in equal measure. The man who is conscious only of the physical has a perverted view of these powers. The spiritually-oriented person sees their benign nature.

Prakrithi (Nature) and Chaithanya (Spirit) are one. But in accordance with their varied feelings and attitudes, things appear good or bad to Loka is one of the names applied to the world. Loka is that which has the power of alochana (thought). In this assembly there are a large number of persons. They are all gathered in one place. But each lives in a world of his own. What is the reason? One will be thinking about an educational problem. Another will be thinking about a job. Yet another may be worried about his business. Another may be concerned about agriculture. Others may be thinking about some scientific problem. All these different realms of thought are all exercises of the mind.

Thus the cosmic process shrishti (creation), sthithi (sustenance) and layam (dissolution) goes on in every human being. Srishti is the outcome of sankalpa (thought). Sthithi is protection of creation. Layam is the merger of creation in its source. Srishti, Sthithi and Layam are also identified with the three qualities - Sathva, Rajas and Thamas. Man is the embodiment of the three gunas. The three gunas represent the Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara). The Trinity represent the Thrilokas (three Worlds). The three worlds and the trinity are present in every human being. The three are to be regarded as one and worshipped as Shivam. What is Shivam? It is the embodiment of Auspiciousness. When man recognizes the unified form of the Trinity his humanness acquires auspiciousness.

In a government there are different departments like education, finance, etc. Likewise in the spiritual field also there are different departments. They are: Srishti, Sthithi and Layam. Each department has a head. Each head has to govern his department on right lines.. There is an overlord presiding over all departments. He is like the Prime Minister in a cabinet. He is God. He is called Allah. By attributing different names and forms to God, Divinity is fragmented in various ways. The one Divine is responsible for the threefold cosmic process. This three aspects of God can be seen in the English word GOD. G represents Generation - Srishti. O represents Organizations - - -Sthithi. D represents Dissolution - Layam. GOD represents the unity of the three aspects.

There is a misunderstanding about these three. Layam is considered as destruction or dissolution. Its real meaning is mergence. O represents organization. It means protection. G stands for generation (creation). Brahma, Vishnu and Eeshvara are three potencies lmmanent in man. To understand this it is essential to follow the spiritual path. Spirituality does not mean leading a lonely ascetic life. Spirituality means getting rid of attachment and hatred and looking upon the whole humanity as one. Every one should understand this inner meaning of spirituality.

Man is endowed with infinite potencies. All that you experience by way of seeing, hearing and the like are reflections of the inner being. The significance of this experience has to be properly understood. For instance, today is Shivarathri day. You experience the night every day. These are ordinary nights. They are nights of darkness. But Shivarathri is an auspicious night. How is it auspicious? There are sixteen aspects for the mind. The moon is the presiding deity for the mind. Of the sixteen phases of the moon, today in the fourteenth day of Margasheersha month, fifteen of the phases are absent. On this day it is possible to get full control of one's mental faculties. Hence it is considered an auspicious day. Auspiciousness consists in diverting the mind towards God. This calls for getting rid of the inherited animal tendencies in man. This is the occasion to recognise the omnipresence of the Divine in all beings and in all objects. It follows that whomsoever you adore or condemn, you are adoring or condemning God. You must follow the injunction: Help ever, hurt never.

Every human being has sacred qualities, based on his Shivathvam (Divine essence). Hence man should realise his inherent divinity, though his body is made up of the five elements. Thereby humanness is transformed into divinity. The human birth is intended for the pursuit of Dharma. Dharma implies harmony in thought, word and deed. When every person realises his essential divine nature, the entire world will be transformed. The body and the mind are mere instruments. Man's reality is the Atma (Self). Man should use the instruments given to him to perform his duties well and realise his oneness with God.

All the phenomena in Nature proclaim the glory of the Divine. Why foster religious differences? Let everyone carry out the dictates of the Divine, who governs the universe. (Swami sang a poem in Telugu to convey this message). Everything that happens is by the Will of God.

The principle teaching of the Vedas is that all men should strive together in harmony and share their joys together in amity. Through unity, humanity can achieve purity, leading to divinity. The three great enemies of man are lust, anger and greed. These have to be eliminated. The greatest quality in man is love. Love is God. Live in love.

Bharath has been hailed as the teacher for all lands. It is the country which regarded God as one and recognized the unity that underlies all diversity. God is one, the goal is one and all life is one. This unity underlies all diversity. This basic Divine unity is missed in the perception of diversity.

Embodiments of Love! At the present moment, in the prevailing situation, what is most essential is the cultivation of love. Losing love, mankind has lost its humanness. Love is the supreme human value. Truth, righteousness, peace and non-violence are other human values. Knowing these values, men are foolishly leading valueless lives. What a pity that men in human form do not behave like human, beings. Rivers, trees and cows teach the lesson of living for the benefit of others. Man should also share the divinity in him with others. Men today are steeped in selfishness.

Whoever remembers the names of scholars and scientists? But millions adore the names of realised souls like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Thukaram, Kabeer and Ramdhas. Bear in mind four dicta to be observed: "Run away from bad company. Welcome association with good people. Do meritorious acts continually. Remember what is transient and what is permanent." Be with God, think with God, see with God and dedicate all actions to God. Consider all as members of one Divine family. Regard yourself as a trustee and use your wealth and talents for the good of others. Use every opportunity, to help others. Be compassionate at all times. Students in particular should always be ready to go to the help of people in distress.

God today is in search of good men. Every one should strive to be sincere in thought, word and deed. Then you need not go in search of God. God will discover you.

You have to develop fraternal feelings towards everyone. Here is an example from the Ramayana. Once the four brothers as young lads were playing a game with a ball. After the game Rama ran to Kausalya and rested on her lap. He was full of joy. When Kausalya asked him why he was feeling so happy, Rama said that Bharatha had won in the game that day and that made him so happy. Kausalya remarked that an elder brother rejoicing in the success of his younger brother is a great example for brotherly love. Shortly thereafter Bharatha came to Kausalya with a sad look. Kausalya asked him why he was feeling sad when he had won in the game. Bharatha said: "When I was about to lose the game, Rama managed to lose the game and made me the winner. I am feeling unhappy because of the defeat of my elder brother. Is it not sad that on my account my elder brother should lose the game?"

What an example of fraternal love! The elder brother should rejoice in the success of the younger, even by losing the game himself. This is the lesson taught by the Ramayana. In those days the four brothers were in a supreme state of fraternal love. Today brothers go to the Supreme Court for settling their disputes! This is not proper. Brothers should be united and live in amity. The ideal of fraternal unity upheld in the Ramayana should inspire the people today. Students! Strive for the welfare of society as a whole. Experience God through love.