Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

Nirguno nishkriyo nithya nirvikalpo niranjana Nirvikaro nirakaro sarva mukthaihi labhyaha [Sanskrit verse] Attributeless, unattached to actions, eternal, beyond all thoughts, ever pure, unsullied and form

There is one principle that is attributeless, formless, eternal, and beyond thought, word, and deed. That is the principle of Love. The Upanishads call this Love the Atma. How can man understand this Love, which is attributeless and formless? This Love is not an intellectual exercise; nor is it a psychological phenomenon, or a reflection in the dreaming state. It is the life principle of all living creatures. Noble souls propagated this principle of Love in various ways. Many elders, youngsters, scholars lecture on this principle of Love and sing its glory. But, no poetry, no composition, no language can describe Love. “Yatho vacho nivarthanthe aprapya manasa saha (It cannot be described by speech and It is beyond the reach of the mind).” So, it is beyond human comprehension and narration. Love has no form; it can be seen only in practice.

If one were to ask what the form of Love is, it can be said Love is God. Who is God? Where is God? What is His form? How to search Him? This has been the continuous enquiry since ancient times. But, none can describe Divinity. The Vedas said: “Vedahametham Purusham Mahantham Adityavarnam Thamasa Parasthath (Divinity shines with the brilliance of a thousand suns and is beyond the darkness of ignorance).” Divinity is beyond human understanding and expression.

How can one recognise Divinity, which is the embodiment of Love? In this world, love assumes various forms as expressed by mother, father, brother, wife, friends, and relations. In this worldly love, you find selfishness and self-interest. But Divine Love is absolutely selfless.

Just as God loves all, you should also make efforts to love all, because in the Bhagavad Gita, the Lord says, “Mamaivamso Jeevaloke Jeevabhutha Sanathana (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being).” So, as He loves you, you should also love all and make all happy. But, today, one does not find such love between human beings.

Divine Love does not expect anything in return. In order to cultivate such divine Love, man should have the faith that he is the spark of the Divine and He should understand that the same God is present in all. Once he understands and develops faith in this truth, he can love everybody. Today, one does not find such love; it means only that man has no faith in the statement of God that “all are sparks of the Divine.” Just as a Mariner’s compass always points toward the north, likewise under all circumstances Love is directed toward God. Time, space, and individuals do not affect Love. Love is the true sign of Divinity. Understanding Love amounts to understanding Divinity.

When you enter a cinema theatre, you find a white screen. Merely watching the screen does not satisfy you. Once the show commences, you find different scenes projected on the screen. Without the screen, can you see the picture? No. But, when the picture is projected, though the screen exists, it is not seen; it merges itself with the picture. The screen exists all the time - before, during, and after the show.

The Vedas declare: “Anther bahischa Thath sarva vyapya Narayana sthithahs (That all-pervasive God is present within and without).” As the screen is to the picture, so is the Atma to the creation. The screen of Atma present within and around all beings and is the primordial basis for the entire creation. Therefore, it is said, “Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat (Divinity pervades everywhere).” Divinity is present in the “picture”, around the “picture”.

So, who can know the form of such a Divinity? On the screen of Love, you find the picture of the universe. This Love is present in the name of Atma in all beings. What form can you attribute to the Love present in you? It is not possible. How can a person who does not understand his true nature understand God? So, first and foremost, one should make efforts to understand one’s own Self.

The Atma has no definite name and form. “Ek Prabhu Ke Anek Nam (the one Lord has many names).” The Atma is the fundamental principle, which is pure, immutable, and unsullied. It forms the basis of the entire universe. Without the basis of the Atma, the universe cannot exist. The Vedas declare: “Pashyannapi na pashyathi moodho (He is a fool who sees yet does not recognise the truth).” The same principle of Atma is reflected in all beings. God is the basis of the entire universe. It appears rather strange when we enquire where God is. God is in the forest and also in the mansion. He is present in your heart and also in your speech. He is present everywhere. So, never make an attempt to investigate Divinity. Instead have faith in God, follow Him, worship Him, and experience bliss.

In order to experience Divinity, understand this example. The very nature of mother is love. Mother has a form, but love has no form. Mother herself is the form of love.

Due to the presence of the Atmic Principle, you are able to see its reflection in the form of the world. The whole world is nothing but reflection, reaction, and resound. The Atma is the only reality. But man has forgotten the reality and is seeing only the reflection. You cannot have reaction without action; you cannot have resound without sound.

Though the Sound is everywhere, you are not able to see it. Though the Reality is everywhere, you are not able to see it. How will you be able to see it? With unflinching faith and selfless love, think of God continuously. God will certainly manifest before you.

Today, man chants the name of God and desires to see Him. But since he lacks steady faith, he is not able to experience Divinity. Man has become blind having lost the two eyes of faith. Faith is most important.

Self-confidence is the foundation on which one can build the walls of self-satisfaction. On the walls of self-satisfaction, one can lay the roof of self-sacrifice. Under the roof of self-sacrifice, one can lead a life of self-realisation. You cannot have walls without foundation and roof without walls. So, self-confidence, the foundation, is very important.

Today, man pretends to have love, but he does not know what it is. Our Vice Chancellor described Swami's love as that of a thousand mothers. But how can one who cannot understand the love of one mother understand the love of a thousand mothers? So, first and foremost try to understand and experience the love of your physical mother. This is the significance of Mother worship in Navaratri.

The culture of the heart is the main standard of life. What is this culture? It is the divine feeling that originates in the heart. All the materials and powers of the world are present in your heart. Men vary in name and form, but the cultural principle of the heart is one and the same.

God resides in this divine heart. What is His form? The Vedas describe Him as formless, attributeless, ancient, and eternal. No one can attribute a name to God. Had anyone existed before God, he would have named Him. But none existed before God. Creation itself did not exist.

For crores of years, there existed only darkness. At that time, the sun and the moon did not exist and there was no living creature. Then it rained heavily for lakhs and lakhs of years, which led to the formation of oceans. From the oceans, rivers originated. Then there was light in the world with the creation of the sun and the moon. Human habitation came into existence only after this entire process, which took many crores of years. Then how do you expect man to understand Divinity?

First and foremost, man has to kill the tamasic (slothful) quality in him. Though water has no colour, it appears red when poured into a red bottle. Similarly, the Atmic Principle, which is pure and unsullied, appears ‘red’ in a person with rajasic (passionate) quality, ‘dark’ in a person with tamasic quality and ‘bright’ in the heart of a person with satwic (pure, serene) quality. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna said He created four varnas - Chaturvarnamaya Srusti. But people make the mistake of equating them with these four castes: Brahmin, kshatriya (warrior), vaisya (businessman), and sudra (labourer). Here varna refers to the colour and not the caste. The Russians are redcomplexioned, the British are white-complexioned, the Japanese are yellow-complexioned and the Africans are darkcomplexioned. The remaining colours are only combinations of these four colours.

Students chant a prayer and offer food to God before they partake of it. How do they pray?

Brahmarpanam Brahmahavir Brahmagnou Brahmanahutham Brahmaivathena Ganthavyam Brahmakarma Samadhina They think they are offering the food to Brahman. But, where is Brahman? He is within. He gives immediate response: Aham Vaishvanarobhoothwa Praninam Dehamasrithaha Pranapana Samayukthah Pachamyannam Chathurvidham What does this mean? It means that Brahman, who is present in the form of vaishvanara (digestive fire) in you, digests the food that you eat. Who is responsible for your blood circulation? Who makes your heart beat for 24 hours a day? It is all God’s creation. None can understand this. In His creation, God has given human beings a special place. He has endowed them with buddhi (intellect). The Vedas call it Prajnanam (constant integrated awareness) and declare “Prajnana Brahma (Brahman is Constant Integrated Awareness).”

Once, King Vikramaditya convened a meeting of scholars. He asked them which was greater, buddhi (intellect) or medha shakti (intelligence)? The scholars came to a conclusion that buddhi was greater than medha shakti. They said medha shakti was only worldly intelligence, which was temporary; whereas buddhi consisted of five aspects: sraddha, sathyam, rutham, yogam, and mahatatwam. All the worldly achievements are based on medha shakti, but not on buddhi. Buddhi is transcendental and beyond all senses. It relates to nivritti (inward path), whereas medha shakti relates to pravritti (outward path).

The principle of Love is the most important of all. Love is Atma, Love is Wisdom, Love is Truth, Love is Righteousness, Love is Peace, and Love is Nonviolence. Where there is Love, untruth and violence and restlessness find no place.

Human heart is a single chair, not a double-seated sofa or a musical chair. So, once you fill your heart with Love, wicked feelings have no place in it. Everything is contained in Love. Love is the life principle.

But man has forgotten this principle of Love and is ruining his life in worldly love. The love between the mother and child is vatsalya (affection); the love between wife and husband is moha (attachment). It is only the divine Love that is true love in the strict sense of the term. Love applies to God only, none else.

Prachethasa (Valmiki) composed the Ramayana consisting of hundred crore slokas (verses). Devatas (gods), rakshasas (demons) and manavas (human beings) came to know that whoever read the Ramayana and followed it would be liberated. Immediately they approached Brahma and requested him for a share of the Ramayana.

Brahma divided the Ramayana into three parts consisting of 33,33,33,333 slokas each and distributed among them. One sloka remained consisting of 32 letters. Brahma divided these letters into three parts consisting of ten letters each and distributed to them. Ultimately, two letters remained. These are the two letters of the holy names of God: Rama, Krishna, Hari, Shiva, Sai, and Baba, which were given equally to them. For all thes enames, the primordial principle Love.

Only through Love can world peace be achieved and nonviolence can be practiced. Buddha said that nonviolence is the supreme dharma. He did penance for six years. He approached elders and listened to their teachings, but he could not get any benefit out of them. Ultimately, he enquired within and found out the Truth. He said samyak drishti (right vision) led to samyak bhavam (right feelings), which in turn led to samyak vak (right speech). Right speech led to samyak karma (right action).

Spiritual sadhana does not mean doing meditation or japa. Undertaking sacred actions is true sadhana. Krishna has said, “Karmanyevadikarasthe maphaleshu kadachana (You have got right to action but not to the fruits).” Human society is bound by action. So, undertake good actions.

Today, man does not make any effort to know why the body is gifted. The body is gifted not just for “loading” and “unloading”. Food is required to keep the body fit to undertake sacred actions. As the food, so is the head. As the head, so is God. So, partake of sacred food, undertake sacred actions, and join good company. To the extent possible, render service to society.

Have good feelings in your heart, speak good words, and do good actions. This is called trikaranasuddhi (unity of thought, word, and deed). Understand that this is the purpose of human life. Sarvakarma Bhagavath Preeyartham (Whatever actions you undertake, do them to please God). Divinity pervades everything, right from an ant to Brahman, but man does not realise this and misuses his body. Body is the gift of God. To misuse it is a great sin. Sin and merit are not present in a foreign land; they are attached to your actions. Good actions yield good results and bad actions yield bad results. Therefore, make proper use of the body, mind, and intellect, which are gifts of God.

What is sadhana (spiritual exercise)? Service is true sadhana. Serve society. Treat everyone as your brother and sister. Only through selfless service will your life be redeemed. Consider service unto others as service to God. Unfortunately, today man takes to service expecting something in return. He has become money-minded.

Excessive wealth makes one egotistic. Ego leads to bad qualities. Excessive desires make one suffer. As the desires increase, misery also increases. “Asamtruptho dwijo nashtaha (a discontented man suffers both ways).” He is not happy with what he has and feels unhappy over what he has not got. Be content with what you have. Experience bliss and share it with others. If you have devotion, God Himself will confer bliss.

As our Vice Chancellor said, when Hanuman was to go to Lanka in search of Sita, Sugriva, Jambavantha and others doubted that he could cross the ocean.

Hanuman smilingly replied that because Rama Himself had commanded him to cross the ocean, He would also grant him the strength to do so. He leaped across the ocean chanting the name of Rama and reached Lanka.

Having been commanded by Rama, he never doubted whether he would accomplish the task. Once God commands you to do something, He will certainly grant the necessary skill and strength. So, act according to the command of God; without a trace of doubt, you will certainly be successful.

Today, since science is progressing, doubts are also increasing in the human mind. The more intelligent you are, the more doubts you have. So, do not aspire for more intelligence (medha shakti). Make proper use of the intellect God has given you. Then you will be happy in life.

Happiness lies in union with God. God is the embodiment of bliss, which is eternal, unsullied, pure and non-dual. It is most unfortunate for you to forget God. Never give up Sai. Make the best use of the chance given. Once you lose the opportunity to serve the Lotus Feet of Paratheesha, you will not get it back. Sai grants you devotion, strength, and liberation.

Do not ruin yourself by listening to others. Do not believe anybody; believe your conscience and follow it. Once you follow your conscience, you will attain consciousness, the Atma. Develop self-confidence, worship God, attain Divinity, and be an ideal to the rest of the world. That is the essence of education.

The man who studies and studies without discrimination fails to understand himself. A mean-minded man can never give up his meanness in spite of his vast learning. Why should one waste one’s life in the pursuit of useless learning? Better is to acquire such wisdom that confers immortality.

Worldly education leads to argumentation, but not to total knowledge. It is all a waste of time. It is a sign of ignorance. So, never argue with anybody. “Vade, vade varjathe vairam (arguments will lead only to enmity).” Today, what we need is unity, purity, and divinity.

Embodiments of Love! For the last seven days, you are a witness to this holy yajna. Why is it conducted? It is for the welfare of the world. The name of God should spread everywhere. For example, Delhi is far away from here, but when you tune your radio to a particular wavelength, you can hear the songs that are being broadcast in the Delhi station. This is possible because of the presence of electric waves in the atmosphere.

All over the world there are electric waves and magnetic waves. So, the effect of mantras chanted during the yajna will spread all over the world and purify the atmosphere. Once the mantras enter the air that you breathe in, you will develop sacred feelings, because there is also a mantra in you.

The body is yantra, hridaya is , and the breath is mantra (Soham). Soham means, “I am God.” There is no greater mantra than this. Therefore, chant this sacred mantra, lead an ideal life, and make the world an abode of peace.

In this train of society, youth are the long-journey passengers. Since the youth have a long way to go, they should work for world peace. Teach the principle of Divinity to others. Instil Divine feelings even in hardhearted people. Sow the seed of the holy name of God in every heart. Then the world will become verily the heaven.

Your happiness is heaven; your grief is hell. So, be happy and serve everybody. Do not have the narrow feeling that only Bharat (India) should be prosperous; pray for the prosperity of the entire world because all are your brothers and sisters. Have such broad feelings and sacred thoughts. Only then will the dictum Lokas samastha sukhino bhavanthu be realised and will everyone be happy. Share this immortal principle with everybody. The Upanishads address you as the sons of immortality - Srunvanthu viswe amruthasya putraha (listen O children of immortality). You should lead your life befitting your name, like saint Thyagaraja. Thyagaraja said, Nidhi chala sukhama, Easwar Sannidhi chala sukhama, nijamuga thelupumu manasa (O mind, tell me, is it money or proximity to the Divine that confers happiness?) He rejected the money sent by the king, saying Rama was his only wealth. Thyagaraja means one with sacrifice. So, his action befitted his name. There is no heaven beyond sacrifice.

Embodiments of Love! Do not have excessive desire for wealth. Lead a life of sacrifice. Lead a peaceful life.