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Date:27 Sep 1998 Occasion:Dasara Place:Prashanti Nilayam

The Bliss of Divine Love

Just as dogs bark at mighty elephants,
Some people may heckle the noble souls.
Neither the elephant nor the noble soul
Suffer any loss on this account.
(Telugu Poem)

Due to the effects of Kali Age, we find many such incidents as
mentioned. On hearing the melodious singing of cuckoo birds, crows out
of jealousy start cawing at them. But that does not deter the cuckoo
from singing. In the same way, seeing the swans, cranes make fun of
them. But the swans are least affected. Similarly, the one who has
realized his true identity will neither be elated by praise nor
depressed by blame.

Human life is the gift of God. If only you make proper use of this gift,
your life as a human being will find fulfillment. Human beings can be
classified into three types: 1. Adhamudu (Low and mean) 2. Madhyamudu
(Average) 3. Utthamudu (Noblest). Human body can be compared to a sacred
vessel. 'Utthamudu' is one who makes proper use of this vessel gifted by
God. 'Adhamudu' is one who misuses the body without understanding its
value. Madhyamudu is one who makes use of the body both for sacred and
unsacred purposes.

What is the use of having a cozy bed, a pillow and a ceiling fan, if one
does not get proper sleep? Likewise man, in spite of being endowed with
a heart like a soft bed, a mind like a pillow, and an intellect like a
ceiling fan, does not enjoy peace and happiness; then what for are these
- the heart, the mind and the intellect? We describe the heart as that
which is pure and unsullied. We attribute the quality of
all-pervasiveness to the mind (Mano Moolam Idam Jagath). We describe the
intellect as the transcendental principle (Atheendriyam). God has gifted
these instruments to man, so that he enjoys peace and happiness. In
spite of these valuable instruments, man does not have peace and
happiness. We say that human life is the rarest and the most precious
(Janthoonaam Nara Janma Durlabham), but does your conduct deserve such a
description? You are not making proper use of the mind and the
intellect, and not keeping the heart pure. As a result, you do not
experience peace and happiness. Life devoid of peace and happiness is no
life at all.

Great men say that in order to enjoy peace and happiness in life, you
need to develop a sense of detachment. Detachment does not mean leading
a life of seclusion in a forest, leaving family and property. Students
should understand the true spirit of the word 'renunciation'. You should
realize that this gross world is inert and consider the subtle aspects
of this world as illusion and the causal aspects as only a reflection.
Only when you understand the gross, subtle and the causal aspects of the
world, you can have renunciation. But man believes this gross world as
real, forgetting the Primal Cause, God.

These three aspects that constitute the apparent world will delude you.
You should understand the Primal Cause, the Atmic Principle. Only then
you can experience bliss and peace. You should make an effort to know
the value of human life. Human being is called 'Nara'. What is the
meaning of 'Nara'? It means embodiment of Atma.

Gopikas used to pray thus: "Kleem Krishnaaya, Govindaaya,
Gopijanavallabhaaya Swaaha." 'Kleem' means the earth. 'Krishnaaaya'
means water. 'Govindaaya' means fire, 'Gopijanavallabhaaya' refers to
air. 'Swaaha' refers to ether (Akaasa). There is no life or place in
this world without these five elements. They are present everywhere.
This is how Gopikas described Krishna as all-pervasive. God, who is in
the form of five elements is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. So,
the main duty of mankind is to make proper use of these five elements.
Misuse of these five elements amounts to misuse of Divinity.

Man considers his body as everything and spends his entire life in the
pursuit of bodily comforts and conveniences. Body is bound to perish.
Though 100 year life span is stipulated, you cannot take it for granted.
Death can occur either in boyhood or in youth or in old age. Nobody can
say when one would die. Then why should you take such great pains for
the sake of your body, which is like a water bubble? Having taken a
human birth, you should lead an ideal life and make everyone happy. You
should not give undue importance to the body; treat it only as an
instrument. Mind is like a fan. Only when you turn the fan in your
direction, you can enjoy the breeze. Similarly, only when you turn your
mind towards God, you can experience the breeze of bliss. But if you
turn your mind towards the world and say that you are not able to
experience bliss, only you are to be blamed. You have to turn your mind
towards God, not the body. All the actions that you do for bodily
comforts are useless.

You cannot find peace outside, it is within your heart. So, search
within. The heart is always filled with peace, love and bliss. It is the
basis for all sacred qualities such as compassion, love, tolerance, etc.
All that emanates out of your heart is sacred. Body is the root cause
for all the six evil qualities (desire, anger, greed, pride, attachment
and jealousy). So, do not be attached to the body.

Human life is very sacred and highly valuable. The mind, intellect and
the senses are mere instruments. But you are not making an effort to
know this. You are only trying to understand the nature of the
instruments, but not the Atmic Principle, which is the primordial basis.
Your life will be sanctified only when you understand the Atmic
Principle. People undertake many spiritual practices in order to
sanctify their lives, but without purity of heart all these will be of
no use. First, purify your heart. Do not give scope for wicked feelings
such as desire, anger and greed. In the spiritual path, these three are
worst enemies.

Ravana was one who did great penance and received boons from the Lord.
He had mastered all the 64 types of knowledge. Such a mighty and great
person like Ravana succumbed to desire and ultimately ruined his life.
In the epic Ramayana, Ravana stands as a symbol of foolishness.

In Bhagavatha, Hiranyakashyapu symbolized anger. He was a great
scientist. He had control over the five elements. Modern scientists are
able to reach the moon, but Hiranyakashyapu could also reach the sun. He
even tried to stop the rotation of the earth. Such a great scientist was
ruined due to his anger. The one with anger will never be successful. He
ruins his property and loses his respect. He will commit sinful deeds
and will be rejected by one and all. (Poem)

In Mahabharata, Duryodhana stood for greed. In order to kill a miser,
there is no need to harm him physically. Just ask him for money, he will
'die' immediately!. (Poem) Duryodhana was such a miser. What could he
achieve ultimately? Therefore, for a spiritual aspirant, desire, anger
and greed are worst enemies. The merit acquired through several years of
spiritual practice will be ruined in a moment of fury.

In this world, there may be at least one good person out of every ten
persons. Out of every ten good persons, there may be at least one who
has love for God. Out of every ten persons who have love for God, there
may be at least one who wants to attain Divinity. Out of every ten
persons who want to attain Divinity, there may be at least one who is
ever ready to obey God's command. Only he who obeys God's command is
redeemed. There is no point in undertaking spiritual practices without
obeying God's command.

Today, everyone wants happiness without understanding what it means.
True happiness lies in being desireless. Desire is the cause for misery.
A rich man may have no dearth for money, food and other material
comforts, but still he may lack peace and happiness. The material
objects may provide physical comforts, but not mental peace. Money may
give reputation, but not respect. There may be a number of servants, but
they are not friends. All of them serve only out of compulsion, not out
of love. There is only one true friend who is always with you, in you
and around you. He is God. As long as there is water in the tank,
thousands of frogs gather. But once the tank is dry, not a single frog
will be seen around. Likewise, so long as you are rich and in position
of authority, everyone acts like a friend. But once you lose your
position and money, your so-called friends will desert you, without even
caring to say good-bye.

In this world, nothing is permanent. Only the principle of love in our
heart is permanent. Only love can win people's hearts. If you have love
within, the whole world will be with you. What is the reason that so
many people from so many countries gather here? There is something here,
which is not there in your country, in your village and in your family.
That is the all-encompassing love. Only through love, you can establish
intimate relationship with each other. The heads bereft of love are like
barren lands. There should be love in the field of human heart. Gopikas
prayed to Krishna thus: O Krishna, play on your flute so that the seeds
of Love germinate in the barren fields of our hearts and make the rains
of love and the rivers of love flow incessantly. (Song) Love always
gives and never receives. Such selfless Love is only with God. You have
gathered here to experience that Love. No one has sent you any
invitation. It is only Love that has brought you here. What is that I am
giving you? When I just ask you, "When did you come?", you become
ecstatic. There is so much of sweetness even in the words that I utter.
You too should learn to speak softly and sweetly. "You cannot always
oblige, but you can always speak obligingly." Harsh words are like atom
bombs. When someone visits your house, even if you do not give anything
to eat, at least talk to him sweetly and softly. It can even appease his
hunger. Instead, if you speak harshly, that will not only increase his
hunger, but also dishearten him.

Charity is the true ornament for the hand.
Truth is the true ornament for the throat.
Listening to sacred texts is the true ornament for the ears.
Why need any other ornaments?
(Sanskrit Sloka)

You should not have the feeling that only your country should be happy.
You should pray for the welfare of the entire world. (Loka Samastha
Sukhino Bhavanthu) Let everybody and every country be happy. Only when
you have such a broad feeling, you will be respected. No one will
respect you if your behavior and words are not proper.

Students! Try to understand what human life is. The Upanishads declared
that human life is most valuable. It is not easy to understand the
Divine quality immanent in man. All forms and all powers are in man. Man
thinks that gold and diamond are most valuable, but actually it is man
who endows value to them. "Men are more valuable than all the wealth of
the world." So, do not waste such a precious human life.

Ancient sages like Vasishta worked very hard in order to sanctify their
life. Why did Vasishta join the court of Dasaratha? One day Vasishta
himself explained this to Dasaratha in the following words: "O king, I
have come to you not because you are wealthy and powerful, but because
Lord Narayana Himself will be born as your son. I want to sanctify my
life in His company". Vasishta always used to think of Divinity. So, he
had the appellation, Brahmarishi; whereas Viswamitra was called only a
Rajarishi as he was full of Rajasic qualities. In spite of repeated
efforts, Viswamitra could not get the appellation that Vasishta could
get. So, he developed hatred towards Vasishta. Due to this hatred,
Viswamitra lost all his powers. You all know that Durvasa, one of the
great Rishis, also had the bad quality of anger in him. Even if you were
to search with a 'torch light', you would not find even an iota of love
in him. What is the use of being a Maharishi, when there is no trace of
love or peace? Only one with sweet words and sacred actions can be
called a true Maharishi.

Bharat could progress in ancient times because of saints and noble
souls. In spite of repeated foreign invasions, this country could not be
destabilized because of the strength of its spiritual power. In order to
preserve and sustain the strong spiritual foundation laid by the saints
and noble souls, we have got to foster the human values such as Truth,
Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-violence. If you protect these
values, they will in turn protect you. "Dharmayeva Hatho Hanthi, Dharmo
Rakshati Rakshitaha:' If you protect Dharma, you will be protected by
Dharma. Similarly, if you destroy Dharma, you will be killed by Dharma.

Embodiments of Love!

Love is your true form. Only through love you can achieve anything.
There is no need to search for God and no need to undertake any
spiritual practice. "Love is God, Live in Love." Without spending a
penny and without even crossing your doorstep, you can attain
liberation. How? It is only through love. So, develop love. Do not have
hatred towards anybody. Start loving even those that abuse you. It is
only through love that you can bring transformation in them. By loving
them more and more, you can get relieved of the pain inflicted by their
harsh words. Harsh words are like sharp arrows that pierce deep into the
heart. There is no medicine in this world that can cure you of the pain
inflicted by harsh words. When you are shot with the arrows of harsh
words, in reply speak sweetly, softly with love. It is the best
medicine. It gives quick relief. Any incurable disease can be cured with
love.

What is the cause of disease? It is mental tension, which is man's own
making. Tension gives rise to temper and the two together ruin man. If
you want to fill a cup with milk, which is already filled with water,
what have you to do? You have to pour out the water and then fill it
with milk. In the same way, remove all wicked thoughts and wicked
feelings from your heart and then fill it with love.

"Start the day with Love
Fill the day with Love
Spend the day with Love
End the day with Love
This is the way to God."

You can develop Love in you by sharing it with others. Love never
diminishes. It is nectarine and eternal. Once Narada asked Narayana if
there was anything sweeter than nectar. Narayana replied, "Love is
sweeter than nectar". You may even get fed up with drinking nectar, but
that is not the case with Love. The more you taste it, the more you ask
for it. First remove all dirt (bad qualities) in you. As soon as the
calf is born, the cow removes all dirt from its body by licking it
repeatedly and then feeds it. When a Pashu (animal) has got so much of
Love for its young one, then you can very well imagine the Love of
Pashupathi (God) for His creation. Love cannot be expressed in words.
Narada said "Anirvachaneeyam Prema," which means Love cannot be
described in words.

People think that Narada is fond of creating differences (Kalaha priya),
but it is a mistaken view. Yes, he was a 'kalaha priya' in his early
days, but later on he realized his mistake and did severe penance. He
ultimately became a great teacher. It was Narada who brought Nara and
Narayana together. He worked for attainment of bliss and total removal
of grief. He said, "Atma, the Spirit is God". Love is the principle of
God. Having got this Love in you, why should you suffer? Why do you have
problems? In fact, you have no difficulties and no anxieties. There is
only bliss. But, how can you experience bliss? You have to follow the
path of Love. Just by repeating the names of the dishes, your hunger
will not be appeased. You have to use your hands and mouth to fill your
stomach. In the same way, you have to speak sweet words and do sacred
actions. Through these, you will enjoy the sweetness of life and you
will be blissful.

All are the children of immortality. You are all the embodiments of
Ananda. The Upanishads say, man is "Ananda Pipaasi" (seeker of bliss).
Since he has emerged from bliss, he wants to return to his source. Just
as fish, born out of water, always wants to get into water, so also man,
born out of bliss, always craves for bliss wherever he is and whatever
he does. Until he returns to his source, man has no rest at all. Man is
always restless because he cannot find bliss in this world. That is why
The Gita said, "Anithyam Asukham Lokam, Imam Praapya Bhajasva Maam,"
this world is temporary, there is no happiness here. You may engage
yourself in your daily activities; there is no need to give up your jobs
and business, but keep your mind on God always. Only then you will have
peace and happiness. Once you experience Divine bliss, your mind will
never crave for worldly pleasures. So, try to experience this bliss,
which is within you. Bliss is your source, bliss is your breath and
bliss is your life.

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(Bhagavan concluded His discourse with the Bhajan, "Govinda Krishna Jai,
Gopala Krishna Jai... ')