Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

TODAY marks the completion of the Veda Purusha Yajna with the performance of Purnahuti (final offering in the ritual fire). The offering which you have to make in the Yajna is that of your bad thoughts, bad desires and actions. This is more important than anything else. People are not doing this now. You have listened to hundreds of discourses for the past forty years or so. But your mind remains where it was. There is little change in your attitudes or actions. The heads are filled with spiritual lore and book knowledge, but no attempt is made to fill the heart with love. Many have been residing in this ashram(hermitage) for years and have been attending various festivals and functions here. But there is no change in their lives. They have not inscribed Swami's message in their hearts. If there is no spiritual transformation in your way of life over the years, you would be guilty of having wasted all your energies, time and opportunities. You have been coming to Prashanthi Nilayam for the past many years and have been listening to the Swami's discourses. But your desires seem to be ever on the increase, while the spirit of thyaga (renunciation) has not developed to the slightest extent. Should you not try to curb your desires to some extent? Living in the ashram, your thoughts are about samsaram (the family). This is not true sadhana. Sometime or other you will have to give up your material possessions. Only he is a hero who gives up his possessions before they go from him.

The Saptaha yajna (seven-day sacrificial rituals) reaches samaptam (concludes) today. The true meaning of Sama-aptam is realisation of the Brahman. To recognise the Omni-Self that is in every being is Self-realisation. Today people boast about the tremendous progress of science and technology, but if this claim is true, why does ajnana (ignorance) persist on such a large scale? The fact is much of the progress in science today is confined to satisfying man's selfish desires and not for promoting the general well-being of the world. Is it a sign of true progress if a country arms itself to the teeth to destroy another? Is this an index of scientific advance? It is really a sign of ignorance.

Good thoughts, good words and good actions are absent today. How, then, do you expect the Divine to fulfill your desires? Men are behaving in a manner worse than that of animals. How can they be called human at all? Perpetually they are concerned about wealth, family and children. They hardly think of God. There are fleeting moments of devotion, but these are more demonstrative than genuine expressions of faith in God. Such artificial expressions of devotion serve only to confirm the atheists in their disbelief. Unless faith in God expresses itself in a Godly life, it is sheer hypocrisy. I do not want to know that you have listened to my discourses well. I want to know that you have thoroughly transformed yourselves. It is such transformation that is the mark of true devotion. If the ground is not wet, what is the use in saying there has been a downpour? Those who claim to be devotees should show in their actions some evidence of their faith. They must truly live up to their profession. "Sai Ram" in words any dishonesty in thoughts is brazen deception. "Sai Ram" must emanate from the depth of one's being. Whether in the Sai organisation or elsewhere, there must be sincerity and unity of thought, word and deed. Develop fraternal feelings towards all. Differences of opinion can be resolved by compromise. If egoistic pride is given up, all difficulties can be overcome. From today make a bonfire of your ignorance and egoism and develop love in your hearts. Live up to Swami's teachings as far as possible and thereby redeem your lives.