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Features
| Sri Satya Sai Speaks
THE YOUTH SHOULD FOLLOW THE PATH OF SATHYA AND DHARMA
All the names and forms are but the manifestations of the Supreme
Being who is Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute and non-dual. He is the embodiment
of Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram (Truth, Goodness, Beauty).
(Sanskrit Verse)
Embodiments of Love!
There are four entities: Vyashti, Samashti, Srishti and Parameshti (individual,
society, creation and Creator). Srishti emerges from Parameshti. Samashti is a part
of Srishti and Vyashti, a part of Samashti.
The Basis of Creation
Being its part, the individual should serve society. In fact, service to society
is the most important duty of man. It can endow him with divine power. Service to
society is, in reality, service to Divinity. For whose sake is the existence of
man? It is for the sake of society. Similarly, society has its existence for the
sake of creation. This is the basis of the entire creation. The creation is the
manifestation of God. Man has a unique position in it. But what is the use if man
behaves like animals and birds? Divinity is immanent in every being. The same truth
was proclaimed by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavadgita: Mamaivamsho Jivaloke Jivabhuta
Sanathana (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being). Since every being
is a part of the Divine, all should be respected, loved and adored. You should not
hate anybody and should not create distance between one another. Just as all the
parts of the body form one organism, similarly, all beings are like various limbs
of God. When there is injury in the leg, it is the eye that sheds tears. The same
type of intimate relationship exists between God and all the beings as exists between
different limbs of the body. You may ask why man faces troubles and difficulties
when he enjoys intimate relationship with God. God is essentially the embodiment
of immortality and bliss. He does not cause difficulties and problems for anyone.
Some people think that God is the cause of their problems and difficulties, but
this is a big mistake. All your troubles are the result of your own actions; they
are not given by God. Everyone has to face the consequences of his actions, whoever
he may be.
No one can know what lies ahead for him in future. But this
much is sure that everybody has to reap the consequences of his actions.
(Telugu Song)
Our joys and sorrows are the reflection of our own actions; they are not caused
by others. To blame others for our sorrows is a big mistake. Everything in this
world is reaction, reflection and resound. Every man is his own witness.
Acquire Education that Gives Knowledge of the Self
It is only the youth who are capable of protecting this world. It is the youth and
youth alone who can set this world right. No nation can stand without youth. Sometimes,
the elders underestimate the capabilities of the youth, thinking that they are inexperienced
and young. But the youth are endowed with immense power. If they take a firm resolve,
they are capable of achieving anything. If they realise their power, they can emancipate
the nation. This does not need any education. What is education? Education means
Vidya which connotes the knowledge of the Self. This is the foundation of all education.
Today students are acquiring only bookish knowledge. Does a man become educated
just by acquiring a college degree? Can a person who lacks wisdom and does not perform
righteous actions be called educated? Education which does not confer wisdom is
no education at all; it is only worldly and bookish knowledge. Modern youth are
hankering after this type of education. They go to foreign countries like Germany,
Japan and America to pursue this type of education. The education that is not there
in Bharat is not available anywhere else (loud applause). Yanna Bharate, Thanna
Bharata (what is not there in Bharat cannot be found anywhere else). Some people
have a mistaken notion that those who are educated abroad are great. In fact, many
of them come back after acquiring evil qualities, evil thoughts and evil habits.
In Bharat, the students acquire sacred education; it begins with the thoughts of
God. Even an illiterate driver in Bharat salutes the steering wheel before starting
the vehicle. Similarly, a musician offers salutations to the musical instrument
before playing on it. In fact, all type of learning in Bharat begins with the name
of God and prayer to Him and every activity is done as an offering to God without
any artificiality and ostentation. People educated abroad come back with big degrees.
What is that degree? It is only a piece of paper. They do not understand the essence
of education. The students of Bharat have a pure and sacred heart. I feel blissful
when I see Indian students. One can see the goodness of education reflected on their
faces. The Bharatiyas are not inferior in any way; they are endowed with immense
sacredness. Every individual in Bharat is imbued with divine feelings. Forgetting
this type of sacred education, people these days are running after worldly and materialistic
education. Today there is an influx of gadgets like calculators and computers. They
are mere Yantras (machines). These Yantras do not stand any comparison with Mantra
(incantation). The real Mantra is the name of God which gives immense bliss. The
Bharatiyas are not able to understand this truth because of their delusion. But
their heart is very sacred.
Bharat is the Land of Sacrifice
People today are ruining themselves by craving for worldly and materialistic possessions.
Even those responsible for conducting the affairs of the government are treading
the evil path. They want only worldly type of education to be promoted in our country.
They talk about science and technology. What is this technology? It is only trick
knowledge. They say it is technology, but what they do is 'tricknology'. Many people
in Bharat are indulging in dirty business; they are cheating others and doing injustice
to them. No Bharatiya should take to this type of business. Everyone should have
divine feelings in his heart. All actions should be done to please God. When you
start all your activities with prayer to God, you are sure to be rewarded with bliss.
Today if you invite a music artiste to sing devotional songs, he will ask, "How
much will you pay?" In this manner, all our activity has become business-oriented.
Even food and drink have become a big business. The sacred land of Bharat is Annapurna
Kshetra (land of plenty). The tradition of Bharat is to offer food free to every
hungry person and water to every thirsty person. This sacred tradition seems to
have disappeared these days. By imitating the culture of the West, the Bharatiyas
today are casting a blot on the fair name of Bharat. It is the land of great culture.
There is hardly any other country which can stand comparison with her so far as
the sacredness of the culture is concerned. Having been born in this sacred land
of Bharat, we should live like true Bharatiyas. The land of Bharat which is known
for Thyaga (sacrifice) is being turned into a land of Bhoga (pleasure) in mad imitation
of western culture. That is why Bharat is facing many problems these days. What
is needed in this country is not Bhoga but Thyaga.
Imagine the great sacrifice of Sakkubai who renounced everything for the sake of
God. Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena Thyagenaike Amrutatthwamanasu (immortality is
not attained through action, progeny or wealth; it is attained only by sacrifice).
Money is the root cause of many evils. Money makes many wrongs. The first priority
of the moneyed people today is to send their children abroad for education. Even
elders are encouraging the youth to go to foreign countries for the sake of earning
money. Too much money leads man to the path of evil. Money comes and goes, morality
comes and grows. So, we have to develop morality. The very foundation of Bharat
is based on Sathya and Dharma. This is what we have to propagate. The Bharatiyas
should consider adherence to truth as the greatest Dharma. Sathya and Dharma are
most important in the life of man. The youth should strictly adhere to them. What
is Sathya? It is the harmony of thought, word and deed. Where these three are in
harmony, Sathya is present there. People speak something on the platform, they have
something else in their mind, and their actions are entirely different from what
they speak and think. This is the worst sin.
Service to Society is the Sign of Nobility
Embodiments of Love!
Your very form is love. It is love that protects the whole world. The five elements
that constitute the universe are based on love. Only when love combines with the
five elements does the universe come into existence. But love is not to be seen
anywhere these days. Today there is lack of love even between mother and children.
What happened to that love? We are bartering it for money. When money is lost, nothing
is lost. Instead of putting our faith in money, we should have more faith in love
and should develop love to love relationship with others. When you have this type
of relationship based on love, love will develop more and more. Only then will we
be able to love everybody.
We should not observe such differences as so and so is mine and so and so is someone
else. We should develop the feeling that I belong to all and all belong to me. All
are the children of the same mother. Being the children of the same mother, all
should live like brothers and sisters. There may be some differences, but they are
temporary. They will come and go like passing clouds. The only thing that is permanent
and eternal is love. There is nothing great in acquiring education and amassing
wealth. There have been many millionaires in this world, but what have they taken
with them at the time of leaving this world? The great world conqueror Alexander
did not carry anything with him when he left the world.
Even King Harischandra, who strictly followed the path of truth,
had to leave this world ultimately leaving behind his vast kingdom and riches. Emperor
Nala, who reigned over a great empire, could not take with him anything when he
passed away. Did King Mandhata, who adorned the Krita Yuga, carry any wealth with
him when he left the earth? Is Lord Rama, who built the bridge across the ocean,
present on the earth today?
(Telugu Poem)
You may earn any amount of money, but as long as you are alive you should give joy
to others by undertaking acts of charity. Those who have money should look after
the poor and sick people. Utilise all your earnings in a proper manner. Consider
social service as service to yourself. Those who undertake social service are noble
people. On the contrary, those who do not take to the path of service are wicked.
When somebody salutes you, you also salute him. Do not consider that since somebody
is your enemy you should not salute him. All are friends. Do not bear hatred or
enmity towards anyone. Enmity is a wicked quality. Friendship is very important.
You and I should become one. That is true Maitri (friendship). All should become
united. If you really want to see God, first see Him in everyone. The youth should
greet and treat each other with love like brothers and sisters. But these days this
type of relationship is not seen between people. They greet each other, saying "hello,
hello", but their heart is hollow without any feelings. Love everybody and develop
faith in God. One without Viswasa (faith) is actually without Swasa (breath). Faith
in God is our life-breath. If you want to develop faith in God, develop love. If
you do not have love, you cannot be called a human being.
Humanness Blossoms in a Pure Heart
Embodiments of Love!
Develop love. When we come into this world, it is only love that comes with us.
From love comes truth. When love and truth come together, humanness finds its sustenance.
The mansion of human life can be built with self-confidence as the foundation, self-satisfaction
as pillars and self-sacrifice as roof. Only then can you have self-realisation in
life. If you want to have self-satisfaction, you should first have self-confidence.
Without self-satisfaction, there can be no happiness in life. How can one who does
not have confidence in himself have confidence in others? People doubt anything
and everything. Doubt endangers life. A person with doubts will not achieve anything
in life. He will not have faith even in his wife and children. Therefore, first
and foremost develop faith. We think we are great and highly educated. But what
is the use of this education? Even animals like goat and monkeys can learn many
things. A monkey can be trained to ride a bicycle. Man is much superior to animals.
His conduct should be such that manifests his superiority. It is said, Jantunam
Nara Janma Durlabham (out of all living beings, human birth is the rarest). Man
should therefore not behave like birds, animals and insects. People distribute sweets
when they beget children. What is so great about it? Even a pig can give birth to
ten offspring. Give up all wicked qualities and lead an ideal and blissful life.
Only then will humanness find fulfilment.
Embodiments of Love!
Face all difficulties with forbearance. Accept all trials and tribulations with
love. Accept both pleasure and pain with love. Fill you heart with love and not
with the poison of evil qualities. Even poison becomes Prasadam (sacred food) if
it is offered to God. When Mira was given a cup of milk mixed with poison, she offered
it to Krishna. Krishna accepted the poison and gave her the milk as Prasadam.
(Bhagavan sang the Bhajan, "Prema Mudita Manase Kaho Rama, Rama, Ram …" and
continued His Discourse.) Rama, Rama, Rama, in fact, connotes Prema, Prema, Prema.
Rama and Prema are one and the same. People adore many deities like Rama, Krishna,
Sai, but the divine principle in all of them is the same. Atma has neither a form
nor a name. Atma is also referred to as Brahma. Brahma Sathyam Jagan-mithya (Brahman
alone is real, the world is unreal). God has no attributes. He does not punish or
harm anybody. He is present in your heart in the form of pure and unsullied love.
Develop love more and more. That will protect you always. There is no other greater
protection than this. There is no weapon more powerful than love. Everything is
love. The very word love is suffused with sweetness. Treat each other with love,
converse with each other with love, lead a life full of love and enjoy bliss.
(Bhagavan referred to the drama "Ekalavya" which was to be enacted that evening
and called upon the youth to follow the path of truth, obey the command of their
preceptors and adhere always to righteousness like Ekalavya. With this advice to
the youth, Bhagavan concluded His Discourse.)
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