THIS is a twice-blessed day, for it is a Thursday; otherwise called Guruvar (the day of the preceptor, the guide to spiritual Liberation); it is also the day on which, centuries ago, the Geetha was taught to Arjuna by Krishna, the day when man got from God the key for his progress from falsehood and delusion into the light of his own inner reality. Arjuna was directed to engage in battle, win back his share of the Kingdom, and ensure for the people righteous administration and atmosphere wherein they can strive successfully to attain salvation. This he had to do in a spirit of dedication and surrender to the will of God, irrespective of his own likes and dislikes and the consequences that might flow from his unselfish activities. Therefore the Geetha advises that service to the sangha (society) is the highest seva (service), as well as the most beneficial sadhana (spiritual discipline). You cannot run away from this obligation; you have to use the community of men wherein you are born ...
The Mukkoti Ekadhashi, which happens today, is also known as Vaikuntha Ekadhashi (day sacred to Lord Vishnu). The two speakers who addressed you described the traditional legend of the Samudramanthana (churning of the ocean), with all the details found in the Bhagavatha of the Ksheerasagara (ocean of milk), the Kurma avathara (Vishnu's incarnation as tortoise), the Mandara mountain, Vasuki (venomous serpent), the asuras and suras (demons and celestials) and the various articles and things that appeared from the ocean, culminating in the amritha (nectar that gives immortality)! That legend has great value for you, because you too have to churn the ocean of your heart and win the nectar for yourself. The legend is only a reminder, a cue, a call.
The heart full of sathwaguna (quality of purity and poise) is the ocean of milk. The steady contemplation of the Divine, either as your own reality or as the ideal to be reached, is the Mandara mountain plated in it as the churning rod. Vasuki, t...
WHAT a tragedy! Truth is treated as a foe; falsehood is the friend of man. Liquor is sold in a tavern, to which people trek miles; but milk is taken to their doorsteps, by vendors who cry hoarse, to draw the attention of the residents, but yet, they turn away with their ware unsold. What a reversal of values has man accomplished! On this sacred day called Vaikuntha Ekadhashi, one is reminded of this, because, festivals like this have been ordained in order to take stock of one's spiritual progress and to make man resolve to march forward, until the goal is reached. This is a thrice-blessed day, as the Thriveni is the confluence of three holy streams: Thursday, which is especially significant for Sai devotees, being Guru Var (the day of the Guru); the Akhanda bhajan (non-stop singing).which you concluded after twelve hours a few minutes ago; and the festival of Vaikuntha, for which you have gathered here. Vaikuntha means, without any trace of grief or pain; the place where perfec...
Kasturi now spoke to you about the Puranic story of the churning of the ocean to gain the nectar of immortality). He said that when the demi-gods were overcome by conceit, delusion, and ignorance, the sages cursed them with age, greyness, and senility; and they became easy victims for the demons. So, to restore to them the lost splendour, the Lord suggested churning the ocean and the winning of nectar of immortality. You have to take this story in its symbolic sense. The mythological stories always deal in parables. Each tale has a deeper meaning, something that is more valuable and useful than what appears on the surface. This meaning is to be practised in daily life; they are not stories told to while away the time. Indra insulted Dhurvasa because he was blinded by the power of office, and the curse of the sage forced him to rethink about his Reality, to discover his innate status. Then, he found that he was nectar, of the same nature as the Supreme Reality Itself. In fact, he came t...
