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Date:1 Oct 1998 Occasion:Vijaya Dasami Place:Prashanti Nilayam

Develop Steadfast Faith In God

Daivadeenam Jagathsarvam Sathyadheenamthu Daivatham
Thath Sathyam Utthammaadheenam Utthamo Paradevatha

The whole world is governed by God and God is governed by Truth; Truth
is in the hands of noble souls, and the noble souls are verily Divine.

Embodiments of Love!

Since ancient times our country of Bharath has been spreading the
infinite spiritual knowledge to every country all over the world.
Bharath believes that for the peace and security of the entire world,
spirituality is most essential. Bharathiyas, with all the sincerity and
devotion have made efforts to establish stability and peace in the
world. But, with the passage of time, due to the effect of Kali Age,
people have lost Faith in the self, and have reposed faith in this
transient and ephemeral world. Today man does not even have Faith in the
Self of birds and beasts. When a small bird rests on a thin branch of a
tree, the branch starts tossing up and down. But the bird is not
fear-stricken because it depends on its wings, not on the branch it
rests. Bird has total reliance on its wings, but not man in his Self; he
suffers as a result.

In spite of the fact that man goes through sacred texts and listens to
discourses, he has not developed Faith in the Self. He nods his head as
he listens to the discourses with the feeling of having understood and
benefited by them, but does not have the faith to put them into practice.

There is no scope for any doubt in a man with Faith in the Self. He is
unperturbed by the vicissitudes of life. Since ancient times, the
culture of Bharath has had Self-confidence as the basis. But with the
commencement of the modern age, the Self-confidence is on the decline.
Every man should develop Faith in the Self . One can attain the blissful
state only through Self-confidence.

Today is Vijaya Dasami. This is the Samaapthi (conclusion) of sacred
Navaratri festival. Samaapthi is that which confers Praapthi
(deserved-ness) in every possible way. This also happens to be the day
on which Shirdi Baba left his mortal coil. Having left His mortal coil
on this day, Shirdi Baba reincarnated here after 8 years. This is an
ample testimony to the existence of Divinity in humanity.

If man does not know his own Self, what is the use of knowing the rest?
He reads the newspaper everyday in order to be aware of the happenings
around the world. He makes efforts to know what is happening in every
country, but does not put in any effort to know his own Self. He keeps
questioning whomsoever he comes across, "Who are you? Where do you come
from?" but he does not put these questions to himself. There is no point
in undertaking any spiritual practice without Self-enquiry.

Food and habits play a vital role in fostering the human values. As is
the food, so is the head. As is the head, so is God. You should
understand the connection between food, head and God.

Today we find many unhealthy changes in the food and habits of man. This
is the main cause for the lack of purity of Heart. After the Pandavas
emerged victorious in the battle against Kauravas, Krishna took them to
Bhishmacharya who was lying on a bed of arrows for his counsel and
blessings. Bhishma began expounding to them all aspects of Dharma. This
teaching of Bhishma is called Shanthi Parva in Mahabharatha. When all
Pandavas were listening to their grandsire with all sincerity and
devotion, Draupadi suddenly burst into laughter. But one should be aware
of the fact that Draupadi was one of noble virtues and sense of
discrimination. She was one who practiced the cultural values of
Bharath. But all the Pandava brothers were very much upset by her
unaccountable levity and considered it as an insult to the venerable
Bhishma. Bhima and Arjuna became very furious and Dharmaja bent his head
in shame. But Bhishma knew the reason for Draupadi's laughter. He called
her close and said, "My dear child, the people of this world are like
crows and will misinterpret your laughter in varied ways. Without trying
to know the truth, they will misunderstand and misinterpret. So explain
the reason for such a behavior and thereby remove the misapprehension of
your husbands". She replied "Revered grandsire! You should have taught
these lessons of Dharma to the evil-minded Kauravas. But instead you are
teaching now to my husbands, who are virtuous, righteous and selfless.
This appeared to me both ironical and futile. Hence I could not refrain
from laughing" Then Bhishma said, "Draupadi, I can understand your
feelings, but as I have been living in the company of Kauravas, my blood
and mind have become polluted as a result of consuming food from such
wicked persons. Knowing fully well that Kauravas have been on the wrong
side, I have not corrected them. But, as good luck would have it,
Arjuna's arrows have drained away all that impure blood from me in the
last 56 days. As a result the good thoughts and good feelings that lying
buried deep in me are coming out." It has been bad company that has
affected Bhishma's mind. This fact is very well expressed by the
statement, "Tell me your company, I shall tell you what you are." As is
the company, so you think and so you become.

Every teaching has to be passed on keeping in view of the time, space
and circumstances. Though Krishna and Arjuna moved together for 64 years
before Kurukshetra war, never did Krishna mention anything about
Bhagawad Githa to Arjuna. It was only before the war that Krishna gave
the teaching to Arjuna. For everything there is an appropriate time.

You might have gone through many sacred texts and heard many sacred
teachings. You may also have had the darshan of sacred people. What is
the use? Due to the effect of unsacred food and bad company, all your
good thoughts are subdued. Good thoughts can express themselves only
when you get rid of bad thoughts. Everyone must make an effort to dispel
bad thoughts.

Consider this example, you have built a house with a main door and many
windows for proper ventilation. Just because there is an entrance you
will not allow all the street dogs and pigs into your house. You open
the door only for your family, friends and relatives. Likewise mind is
the main door and senses are like windows to the body, which is the
temple of God ("Deho Devaalaya Proktho Jeevo Devah Sanathanaha" -The
Body has been described as a temple and the indweller as the Eternal
Divine). You have to enquire as to who is to be permitted into this
temple and who is not to be permitted. But today no one makes this
enquiry. As a result all types of wicked feelings and wicked thoughts
are permitted to enter the mind.

"Nasreyo Niyamam Vina," for everything discipline is essential. You
should not develop friendship with whosoever you come across. You should
enquire whether the person is good or not. However, do not hate anybody
(Adhveshta Sarvabhoothaanaam). At the same time do not cross your limits
in your dealings with others. Have limited connections and contacts.

What is the use of being born as a human being, if you do not foster
human values such as Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema and Ahimsa? Vedas
say "Sathyam Vada; Dharmam Chara," Speak truth and follow righteousness.
Peace is like a precious jewel to mankind. Saint Thyagaraja said,
"Shaanthamu leka soukhyamu ledu", without peace there is no happiness in
this world. For all the human values, Love is the basis.

Today, human beings are human in form but not human in practice. In some
places one finds people exhibiting human values outwardly, without
practicing them whole-heartedly. Human values are not meant for
Pradarshana (exhibition), but are meant for Nidarshana (example). Human
values should be reflected in all your thoughts, words and deeds. But
today, there is only selfishness and self-interest in whatever man
thinks, speaks and does. Due to selfishness and self-interest, human
values are totally lost.

A small example, here you find many bulbs glowing. It is not enough you
have only bulbs, you also need to have wires and current. When the
current flows through the wires and enters the bulbs, they start
glowing. Likewise, in order to experience the light of Love, the current
of Truth has to pass through the wires of Dharma and enter the bulb of
Peace.

As I have already told you, Atma is the origin of Aham, Aham is the
origin of mind and mind is the origin of speech. So, Aham is the son of
Atma, mind is the grandson of Atma and speech is the great grandson of
Atma. First and foremost you should remember that Atma, Aham, mind and
speech belong to the same family. So, Aham, mind and speech should be
filled with the feelings of Atma. Only when there is a total unification
of Aham, mind and speech with Atma, you will become a total human being.
When Atma is the underlying principle in Aham, mind and speech, then
there is no scope for any mistake. But today there is no Atmic feeling
in man's thought, word and deed. This is the cause of all suffering.

You should develop the spirit of nationalism and practice ancient
Bharath culture. The culture of Bharath speaks of unity in diversity.

"Countries are many, but earth is one;
Stars are many, but sky is one;
Jewels are many, but gold is one;
Cows are many, but milk is one."

This is the spirit of unity that the culture of Bharath has propagated
since ancient times. You should give up the worldly feelings and worldly
thoughts and develop full faith in the principle of unity.

Embodiments of Love! On this sacred day of Vijaya Dasami take an oath to
give up vices such as smoking, drinking and partaking of non-vegetarian
food. Many do not realize the evil-effects of these bad habits. If a
smoker blows air on a white handkerchief, he will find yellow spots on
it. This is a sign of disease. Smoking leads to cancer. Drinking is a
demonic quality. It makes you intoxicated and to forget yourself.
Consuming non-vegetarian food is also a bad quality. When human body
itself is made of flesh, where is the need to consume the flesh of birds
and animals? You should partake of only sacred food. Only then you will
have sacred feelings. For sacred thoughts and sacred deeds, sacred food
is essential. A noble soul like Bhishma himself has suffered on account
of unsacred food. As a consequence, he has had to lie on a bed of arrows
for 56 days.

In order to have sacred feelings, apart from partaking of sacred food,
you also need to have sacred vision. Do not cast bad looks on anybody.
Do not speak ill of others. Do not hear anything that is bad. Do not
entertain bad thoughts. Do not indulge in bad deeds. Do not hurt
anybody. More than this there is nothing else that one needs to do to
improve one's own Self.

Human life is highly sacred. "Janthoonaam Narajanma Durlabham," human
birth is the rarest of all. But today some people kill fellow human
beings without compassion. That is a demonic quality, not a human
quality. Having taken human birth, you should not become a demon. In
your old age when your vision is blurred, you cannot see properly, when
your body becomes weak and decrepit, when everyone calls you old monkey,
what is the use of repenting then? Undertake good actions from this moment.

Let everybody be happy. Do not harm anybody. Sage Vyasa has conveyed the
essence of 18 puranas in two sentences.

"Ashtaadasa Puraaneshu Vyaasasya Vachanadvayam
Paropakara Punyaya Paapaaya Parapeedanam"

which means "Help ever; Hurt never." Do not hurt even an insect, because
there is God in every creature. Basing on this Saint Thyagaraja has
composed a song, in which he says, "O Rama, you are present in an ant
and in Brahma"

Even such a great devotee like Thyagaraja began blaming Rama in times of
difficulties. He said, "O Rama, don't you have the power to protect me,
or do I lack devotion? Each and every hair of my body is filled with
your name. I am all the time only thinking of you. So, certainly there
is devotion in me. But you don't have the power." Immediately he sat in
meditation and enquired within. He realized his mistake. Then he
composed a song in which he said, "O Rama your power is so great and
mighty, otherwise could a monkey like Hanuman cross the ocean? Would
Lakshmana who is Adisesha himself worship You? Would Lakshmi Devi, the
Goddess of Wealth Herself serve You? Would the most intelligent Bharatha
obey your command? Out of my foolishness I started blaming You
forgetting Your Divinity. Please forgive me."

When Jesus was being crucified, he cried out to God, "O God, Why do You
punish me like this?" Immediately he realized the Truth and said, "O
God, let your Will prevail. It is You who has created me, sustained me
and protected me. I will not act against Your Will. It was a mistake on
my part to blame you." When he recognized his mistake, an ethereal voice
said, "All are one my dear son, be alike to everyone." Once you
recognize your mistake, Divinity manifests. Man today does not recognize
his mistakes; instead he looks for mistakes in others. Do not be
bothered about others faults, search for your own faults and rectify
them. Only then your life will be sanctified.

Embodiments of Love! Most importantly, you should develop Love. It
contains all the other human values such as Sathya, Dharma and Shanthi.
Whatever you do, do it with Love. Your Heart is like a big tank, senses
are like taps. Fill the Heart with the water of Love. Only then you can
experience Love through all the senses.

Today, you talk of human value, but you do not seem to practice them.
That makes Me very sad. You have been listening to many of My teachings;
can you not practice at least one? Instead of teaching others, teach
yourself and put into practice. What is the use of reading Vedas and
sacred texts without practicing them? Will you be cured of your disease,
by merely repeating the names of the medicines? Will merely repeating
the names of delicious items appease your hunger? Likewise, mere
repetition of the name of the Lord is not enough. You should engage
yourself in His work.

When Hanuman met Vibhishana, he said, "O Hanuman, how lucky you are? In
spite of you being a monkey by birth, Rama has kept you in His company,
but I have not been blessed with such an opportunity, though I chant His
name constantly." Then Hanuman replied, "O Vibhishana, mere repetition
of the Lord's name is not enough, you should participate in His work.
Only then, you can be a recipient of His grace." As soon as Vibhishana
heard these words, he crossed the ocean, and fell at Rama's feet seeking
His refuge. In this respect we can say that Vibhishana is greater than
Bhishma. Vibhishana tried to put his brothers on the right path, but
ultimately left them, as they did not pay heed to his good counsels;
whereas, Bhishma did not even make an attempt to counsel Kauravas and
continued to live with them, being fully aware of their evil designs.

When Vibhishana sought Rama's refuge, Sugriva, Jambavantha opposed
saying, "Swami, you should never believe these rakshasas. There must be
some ulterior motive behind this act of Vibhishana. So ask him to return
to Lanka." Then Rama replied, "Once someone says, 'I am yours', whoever
he may be, I will take care of him. So I will not reject Vibhishana"
This is a testimony to God's Love.

Once you say "I am yours," then live up to it with strong faith.
Thereafter God will take care of you at all places, and under all
circumstances. I expect and bless you so that you develop strong faith,
give up vices, join good company, entertain sacred feelings and attain
Divinity.

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(Bhagavan concluded His Divine discourse with the bhajan: "Prema Mudhita
Manase Kaho Rama Rama Ram ... ")