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Features
| Sri Satya Sai Speaks
DISCARD DEHABRANTI AND DEVELOP DAIVABHIMANA
What is the use of all your learning when it does not help you
to change your destiny? When bad thoughts enter your mind, all your education and
intelligence become futile and meaningless.
(Telugu poem)
You may study a number of subjects and learn many skills. But, the value of all
that learning is zero, if you do not develop devotion to God. Unable to realise
this truth, people become proud of their learning. Of what use is all that learning?
What should I say in this august assembly about the end result of all such education?
The Vedic Dharmas have all declined; Speaking one's mother tongue
has become a sin; People are diffident to observe morality in society; Oh! Devotees!
It is your duty to protect Dharma in Bharat.
(Telugu poem)
Embodiments of Love!
Today, everything is moving very fast, unmindful of the fleeting time. Seconds,
minutes and hours are rolling by, within no time. Sixty seconds make one minute
and sixty minutes make one hour. Thus, even hours are rolling fast within no time.
What could be the reason for this fast life? It is only man's nature. Man's mind
is changing by the seconds. It is said, Manah eva manushyanam karanam bandhamokshayo
(mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation of man). What is mind? It is
a bundle of desires. We have to control these desires to some extent. Man today
is able to control everything, but not himself. Of what use it is to control everything,
while he himself is moving about without any control?
Embodiments of Love!
First and foremost, our mind has to be dedicated to God. The mind is a gift of God.
What has been given by God has to be offered to Him again. It is only when you follow
this principle, you will experience total bliss.
When man emerges from the womb of his mother, he does not find
any garland around his neck. There are no jewels made of pearls nor are there glittering
gold ornaments. There are no chains studded with precious stones like emeralds and
diamonds. But there is one garland around his neck. Brahma strings together the
consequences of his past deeds into a heavy garland and puts it around his neck
at the time of his birth.
(Telugu poem)
Lord Krishna declared, Mamaivamsho jivaloke jivabhuta sanathana (the eternal Atma
in all beings is a part of My Being). All this creation is a gift of God. We have,
therefore, to preserve that gift carefully.
Embodiments of Love!
Man has three qualities - Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. We have to preserve the Sattwic
quality. A person of evil thoughts will see evil everywhere. A person of good thoughts
will see good everywhere. However, a person with no thoughts at all, will become
a full man. He is eternal and peaceful. A cloth is made of threads woven into warp
and woof. From where did the thread called Karmaphala (the fruit of one's actions)
come? It has come from the cotton of Janmanthara Samskaras (the vasanas or tendencies
acquired from several previous births). A thread is made out of cotton and woven
into a cloth. And, that cloth is worn by us. The cloth called the human body that
we are wearing is a gift of God. Ubhayabharathi was the wife of Mandana Misra, a
great scholar in Vedanta. She was a realised soul. She always used to obey the commands
of her husband and perform the duties ordained on her, as a truthful wife.
One day, Ubhayabharathi was going along with her disciples to the river Ganga for
taking bath. On the way, she observed a Sanyasi who was relaxing with a dried bottle
gourd under his head. He was using this as a container for storing drinking water,
and hence he was mindful of it. Ubhayabharathi saw this Sanyasi's attachment to
the bottle gourd and said to her disciples, "Look! This man calls himself a Sanyasi,
but he is attached to a bottle gourd which he is keeping under his head as a pillow."
The Sanyasi heard this comment, but did not utter anything then. While Ubhayabharathi
and her disciples were returning from the river, he threw away the bottle gourd
in front of them in order to demonstrate that he was not attached to it. Observing
his action, Ubhayabharathi remarked, "I thought there was only one defect in him,
namely, Abhimana (attachment). Now I realise that he has another defect also, i.e.,
Ahamkara (ego). How can one with Abhimana and Ahamkara become a Jnani and Sanyasi?"
Her comment was an eye-opener to the Sanyasi. He expressed gratitude to Ubhayabharati
for imparting true knowledge of renunciation to him. Ubhayabharathi then explained
to him further, "The whole world is illusory. There are several objects in this
world which are attracting man. But, they are not outside. They are all the reflection
of one's inner thoughts. They are created by man himself. You develop attachment
to the physical body. Later on, you yourself will discard the body. You are the
one who develops attachment to the body and you are again the one who will discard
the body. Developing attachment to the body or discarding it - both are the result
of your delusion. You are developing Dehabhranti. Hence, discard Dehabranti and
develop Daivabhimana (attachment to Divinity). The body is a temple of God. Consider
the Indweller in the body as Devadeva (the supreme Lord).
The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish
sooner or later but the indweller has neither birth nor death. The indweller has
no attachment whatsoever and is the eternal witness. Truly speaking, the indweller
who is in the form of the Atma, is verily God Himself.
(Telugu Poem)
All worldly feelings are born out of Ajnana (ignorance). They are not true and permanent.
As long as there is life, one loves the other. As long as there is life in him,
the husband loves his wife and vice versa. This love relates to the physical body.
The two bodies did not come at the same time, nor do they leave at the same time.
Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam,
Punarapi janani jathare sayanam,
Iha samsare bahu dustare,
Kripayapare pahi Murare.
(Oh Lord! I am caught up in this cycle of birth and death; time and again, I am
experiencing the agony of staying in the mother's womb. It is very difficult to
cross this ocean of worldly life. Please take me across this ocean and grant me
liberation.)
Bhaja Govindam, bhaja Govindam,
Govindam bhaja moodha mathe,
Samprapthe sannihithe kale,
Nahi nahi rakshati dukrun karane.
(Oh foolish man, chant the name of Govinda; the rules of grammar will not come to
your rescue when the end approaches.)
Man may be hale and healthy and happy today. But, no one knows what will happen
to him tomorrow. The body is like a car. The mind is its steering. When the mind
itself is not in his control, how can the physical body be under his control?
Embodiments of Love!
Each one of these Ritwiks who have gathered here and are conducting this Yajna for
the last ten days is great. Irrespective of their mental make up, their minds are
steadily fixed up on this divine assignment. There are several youths also in this
group. The country needs such youths. I feel very happy in the midst of youths.
I will give whatever they want. I will talk to them after the Purnahuthi and fulfil
their desires. I will spend some time with them happily. There are several people
who tried to develop Vairagya bhava (sense of detachment), but they are unable to
give up their attachments. I will teach them a method by which they can easily give
up this attachment. Our chief priest can guide you all in this regard. He can lead
you by his own example. He is a person who puts into practice, all that he teaches
to others. When you follow such an Acharya (teacher), you can overcome any hurdle
and reach your destination. It is very easy for a human being to attain Divinity.
In fact, God belongs to you; you belong to Him. The relationship between you and
Me is that of a father and son. Hence, lead a life of happiness, courage and bliss.
I am also feeling bad that you are leaving tomorrow. I will come along with you.
We cannot live without one another. You should consider this sacred relationship
between us as true and eternal and strive to maintain it. I will come tomorrow early
in the morning and see you all again. I will give you a lot of happiness and bliss.
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