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Date:11 Oct 1998 Occasion:Paduka Puja Place:Prashanti Nilayam

Install Sai Padukas in Your Heart

For the human progress mental strength and purity of Heart are
essential. It is only the mental strength and purity of Heart that make
the human Divine. Mind is the basis for mankind. Thoughts are
responsible for the existence of mind. The human behavior, whether good
or bad is based on the thoughts. The human life is the result of thought
process. When a small pebble is thrown into a lake, the ripples spread
all over the lake. Likewise, the 'ripples' that arise in the lake of
mind when a pebble of thought is thrown into it; spread to all the
senses. When the 'ripple' that arises out of good thought spreads to
your mouth, you speak only good words. If it is a bad thought, you utter
only bad words. Similarly, whatever you see, hear or do depend on the
thoughts you entertain. So, the good or bad of a human being is based on
thoughts.

Today, man aspires for God and contemplates on Him constantly, but mere
aspiration and contemplation are not enough to experience God. God is
not pleased by contemplation alone; one has to totally offer himself to
experience Him. Once you offer yourself completely to God, you and He
become one. What are the spiritual pursuits to be followed to become one
with God? When fire and coal are placed apart, they remain as they are.
Only when they are brought together and fanned, can coal get transformed
into fire. Likewise, go closer to God and love Him whole-heartedly. Such
nearness and dearness to God will ultimately make you one with God. This
is what Vedanta declared, "Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavathi' (the knower of
Brahman becomes Brahman). The food eaten gets digested and its essence
is supplied to all parts of the body. This means that the food partaken
becomes one with the body. Similarly, you have to offer yourself
completely to God. Only then can you become one with him. All your
thoughts should become divine. Jeeva is Nara and God is Narayana. Both
should become one. Nara means Atmic principle. So, you are human only in
form, but your nature is divine. It is only the Atma that moves about
from top to toe. Whatever that is thought, said or done is only due to
the presence of Atma. That is why Krishna has said, "Mamaivaamsho
Jeevaloke Jevabhuthah Sanathanaha" (Human beings are the sparks of the
Divine). God is the object and you are the reflection. The purpose of
the spiritual pursuits lies in the unification of the object and the
reflection. Mere worshipping of Padukas, chanting the name of God or
contemplating on His form are not sufficient to bring about this
unification. These correspond to the outward path (Pravritthi Maarga).
You should take to inward path (Nivritthi Maarga). Only then can you
understand the principle of unity.

This morning, the Shastriji, while explaining the significance of
Gayathri Manthra described Gayathri as Pancha Mukhi (deity with five
faces). What are the five faces? The first face is the Primal Sound
'Aum'. Bhur Bhuvah Suvah' is the second face. 'Tat Savitur Varenyam' is
the third face. 'Bhaargo Devasya Dheemahi' is the fourth face. 'Dhi Yo
Yonah Prachodayat' is the fifth face. Who is Gayathri? "Gayathri
Chaandasaam Mathaa" (Gayathri is the mother of the Vedas). Gayathri has
three names - Gayathri, Saavitri and Saraswathi. "Gaayantham Traayate
Iti Gayathri" (Gayathri redeems the chanter of the manthra). Gayathri is
the master of the senses. Saavitri is the master of Praana (Life Force).
Saraswathi is the presiding Deity of Speech (Vaak Devata Swaroopini).
You have to unify your senses, life principle and your speech and offer
to God.

You should also understand the meaning of 'Bhur Bhuvah Suvaha'. You are
under the impression that they refer to the three worlds - Bhuloka,
Bhuvarloka and Suvarloka. All these three worlds are present in you and
in every living creature. Bhur refers to the body, made up of five
elements (materialization). The same five elements constitute the entire
world. Bhuvah refers to the Praana Shakthi (vibration), which makes the
body move. However it is the presence of Prajnaanam i.e., Suvaha
(radiation) that enables the Praana Shakthi to animate the body. It is
on this account that the Vedas have declared "Prajnaanam Brahma"
(Constant Integrated Awareness is Brahman). This Constant Integrated,
Awareness is present in man. Man has also the five elements in him.

The five elements constitute the world. What is the primordial basis for
these elements? That is the primordial sound Omkara. Basing on this the
Gopikas have prayed thus: "Kleem Krishnaaya, Govindaaya,
Gopijanavallabhaaya Swaha!" "Kleem" means the earth. "Krishnaaya" means
water. "Govindaaya" means fire, "Gopijanavallabhaaya" refers to air.
'"Swaha" refers to ether (Akaasa). Krishna's name encompasses the five
elements. These five elements permeate the whole universe. In fact these
five elements form the life-basis for the entire universe. These are
essentially divine. That is why earth is referred to as Bhoodevi, water
as Gangadevi, fire as Agnideva and air as Vaayudeva. There is no need to
search for God elsewhere. He dwells in your Heart. That is why He is
called Hridayavaasi (indweller of the Heart). If someone were to ask
you, "Where do you come from?", you may say that you are coming from a
hotel or from your house. But actually you come from none of these
places. You come from Hridaya. It is this Hridaya that is your dwelling
place. Then where is the question of coming and going? Similarly, God
neither comes nor goes. He is present all over, all the time. But in
order to confer grace on a devotee He may manifest Himself. Just because
God has appeared to a devotee in America does not mean that God has
traveled all the way to America. He is present in America too. It is the
devotion that makes God manifest Himself. Divinity neither comes nor
goes. It is present everywhere. "Viswarn Vishnuswaroopam", "Sarvam
Khalvidam Brahma." There is no place where there is no God. All names
and forms are His.

You should not have the feeling that God is the master and you are His
servant. The individual (Nara) and the Divine (Narayana) are one. You
should take to spiritual path in order to understand this principle of
unity. Right from birth to death if you are immersed in dualism, when
will you experience the bliss of non-dualism? A man with dual mind is
half blind. So you should make every effort to experience oneness.

In the morning, Punditji, while doing abhisheka to the Paadukas with
milk, curds and honey, explained the significance of these offerings.
All these spiritual pursuits are meant for the purification of Heart.
"Chitthasya Suddhaye Karmaha", all the actions are aimed at the
purification of Heart. Purity alone is not enough to experience
Divinity. With purity of Heart you should offer yourself to God. You
will not offer a faded flower to God. Likewise, the Heart, which may be
compared to a flower, should be fresh and devoid of impurities before it
is offered to God. There is an ocean of difference between Archana and
Arpitham. It is not Archana (worship), but it is Arpitham (total
surrender) that is most essential.

What is the meaning of Sathsanga (good company)? Sath is the name of
Divinity. It is changeless in all the periods of time. It is eternal and
is present in you. You have to understand this eternal principle. In
order to do so, you have to be in communion with Sath. As Punditji has
said in the morning, "milk is very happy in the company of water." The
combination of water and milk can be termed Sathsanga. That is ideal
friendship. When the milk is boiled on a stove, the water gets
evaporated. The milk unable to bear the separation from water tries to
jump into the fire. The moment you sprinkle some water on the boiling
milk, it gets pacified. The milk is happy on being united with its
friend. The same relationship exists between Nara (individual) and
Narayana (God). God is very happy when the individual joins His company.
But God feels very sad when the individual diverts his attention from
Him, being immersed in worldly pleasures. Once the individual surrenders
completely to God, He is happy again. Due to the effects of Kali age,
the individual separates himself from God. The individual may not feel
sad, but God feels sad because His friend, the individual, is parting
ways with Him. God is the only permanent friend in this world. All the
worldly friends can only say, "Hello", "How are you?" and "Good-bye",
nothing more. God does not say hello, how are you and goodbye. As long
as you are in His company, you will be happy and He is also happy. But
when there is separation from His devotee, though he may not express it,
He feels sad. Why the individual is going along the wrong path? Why is
he forgetting the truth? Why is he distancing himself from Divinity? Why
is he losing his purity? Thinking so, God feels sad. Even this is for
the devotee's sake, not for His sake. Whatever God says or does is for
your own good.

Lakshmana is a superb example of the attitude of surrender. When Rama,
Sita and Lakshmana went to the forest and reached Chitrakoota mountain,
Rama told Lakshmana to put up a hermitage in a place of his choice.
Hearing these words, Lakshmana felt hurt and bent down his head with
grief. Noting this, Sita asked Lakshmana, "Why are you perturbed,
Lakshmana? Your brother did not speak anything harsh. Why do you feel so
sad?" Lakshmana said, "O Mother, have I ever had any choice of my own?
The likes of Rama are mine. I have surrendered myself to Rama. The
command of Rama is what I want to carry out. While so, how can I
withstand the impact of Rama asking me to put up the hermitage at a
place of my choice?. Does it not amount to separation from Rama?" Rama
realized the sacred feelings of Lakshmana and the true attitude of his
surrender and pointed out the site Himself. That is the intensity of the
feelings of a true devotee towards the Lord. Your thoughts should always
be centered on God. The world is like a passing cloud. But the relation
between you and God is permanent and eternal.

Gayathri Manthra consists of three parts. One is praise, second is
prayer and third is meditation. The first nine words of Gayathri Manthra
(Om, Bhur, Bhuvaha, Suvaha, Tat, Savitur, Varenyam, Bhargo, Devasya)
correspond to the description (praise) of Gayathri. Dheemahi pertains to
meditation. "Dhiyoyonah Prachodayat" is the prayer to God to confer the
steady and pure intellect. The Divine is first praised and meditated
upon and then an appeal is made to the Divine to awaken and strengthen
the intellect (Buddhi). So, first and foremost you should extol God.
But, in what way? You should extol Him with a feeling of intimacy. The
son will never shower lavish praises on his father when he asks for a
new dress. Instead he demands rightfully. A devotee too has a similar
right to demand from God. Hridaya is the son of Atma. From Hridaya mind
is born. So mind is the grandson of Atma. And from mind speech
originates. So speech is the great grandson of Atma. In short, your
Hridaya, mind and speech belong to the divine family and have got a
share in the divine property. Therefore, your Hridaya, mind and speech
should be in constant communion with God. Basing on this Jesus said, "I
am the messenger of God" from the physical point of view. From the
psychological point of view he has said, "I am the son of God." And with
the feeling of oneness of Atma, he has said, "I and my father are one."
From a physical point of view you may consider yourself different from
God. In the mental realm you should feel that you are the spark of the
Divine. But from the Atmic point of view, you should realize that you
are not different from God. You have to make every effort to realize
this unity. You should not distance yourself from Divinity basing on
body attachment. Without understanding your relationship with God, all
your spiritual practices will be of no use. But once you understand this
principle of unity, wherever you are, you are one with God.

The body relationship is only physical and worldly attachment. It has
nothing to do with spirituality. The master of the house is addressed in
different ways by his family members. Son calls him father,
daughter-in-law calls him uncle, and grandson calls him grandfather,
basing on the body relationships. You should never go by the body
attachment. The body is full of dirt and diseases. It cannot cross the
ocean of samsara. O mind, never think that body is permanent, surrender
to the feet of God. Do not get yourself bound by the body attachment.
Develop attachment with the Atma. In order to do so engage yourself in
sacred actions such as Sravanam - listening to the Lord's stories,
Kirtanam- singing His glories, Smaranam - remembrance, Paadasevanam -
service to the Lotus Feet, Archanam - worship, Vandanam - salutation,
Daasyam -servitude, Sakhyam - friendship, Atmanivedanam - offering
oneself to the Lord i.e., self-surrender. Friendship is the stepping
stone for self-surrender. So you should develop friendship with God and
be a recipient of His love. You undertake many spiritual pursuits to
obtain this love. In fact, you do not need to undertake any spiritual
practices, it is enough if you remember the relationship between you and
God.

The one Divinity is responsible for the three-fold cosmic process. This
three aspects of God can be seen in the English word GOD. G represents
Generation (Srishti), O represents Organization (Sthithi) and D
-represents Destruction (Layam). God has all the three aspects in Him.
Seeing the same God in all the beings is the true spirit of non-dualism.

You know that it is Adi Sankaraacharya who has propagated the principle
of non-dualism. Acharya is one who practices what he preaches. Once
Sankaracharya has gone to the holy city of Kasi and has prayed to Lord
Vishwanatha for the expiation of three sins he has committed. It may
seem strange that a great person of his standing should have prayed like
that. What, then are the sins committed by him. He himself has given the
answer as follows. "O Lord Sankara, my first sin is that, in spite of my
knowing that you are beyond mind and speech, I have tried to describe
you through the several hymns composed by me. This betrays lack of
conformity between my thought and word. Next, having been convinced that
you pervade and permeate the entire universe, I have been preaching this
truth to one and all. Nevertheless, I have come all the way to Benaras
to have Your Darshan. This shows that my thoughts, words and speech are
at variance with one another. Thirdly, I have firm belief in the
teachings of the scriptures that one and the same Atma (Self) is
immanent in all beings and there is no difference between the so-called
Jivaatma and the Paramaatma . While I have been proclaiming this truth
in all my discourses, I have now come here to stand before you as if we
two are separate and different from each other. This is my third lapse.
Hence I pray that I may be absolved of all these three sins, of which I
am guilty" This is why the Upanishads have declared that a Mahaatma
(noble soul) is one who practices purity and unity of thought, word and
deed; whereas he whose thoughts, words and deeds are at variance with
each other is a Duraatma (wicked one). All the composition of Sankara
speaks of non-dualism. But, towards the end Sankara himself has entered
the path of devotion. He sings the following verse.

"Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam
Govindam Bhaja Mooda Mathe,
Sampraapthe Sannihite Kaale
Nahi,Nahi Rakshathi Dukru Karane."

(O foolish man, chant the name of the Lord. When the hour of death
arrives, it is only the Lord, who can save you and not your grammar).
Even the one of wisdom becomes a devotee at one point of time. The
greatest and the noblest path is the path of devotion. The word Bhakthi
(devotion) is derived from the root word 'Bhaj', which means total
surrender. Offering of total love is Bhakthi. The worship and other
rituals are only physical and worldly activities. You have to enter
Nivritthi (inward path) from this Pravritthi (outward path). When you
learn the English language, you start with alphabet. Then you join them
to make words. Then you join the words in the form of sentences. The
atheists say, God is nowhere. When the letter 'W' is joined to the word
'know', it becomes God is now here. The aim of learning the language is
to make sentences out of it. Similarly, the aim of worship and rituals
is to understand the principle of unity. You start with one name and one
form and ultimately realize that everything is one. It is the goal of
spiritual sadhana. It is the essence of spiritual sadhana. Worship of
Paadukas and observance of rituals, celebrations of festivals are all
different paths leading to the principle of oneness. All these rituals
are essential till you realize that God is one. But you should not spend
your whole lifetime in these rituals. At birth, you cry 'Koham? Koham?,
which means Who am I?, 'Who am I? You should not die with the same
question on your lips. Before you die you should be able to say 'Soham',
'I am God'. From dualism you should enter qualified non-dualism and from
there you should proceed to non-dualism. Just as cotton and thread are
present in the cloth, likewise dualism and qualified non-dualism are
present in non-dualism. Today the devotees read many sacred books and
listen to discourses, but there is no transformation in the mind. All
these sacred texts and teachings are like jewels. Merely adorning these
jewels do not give you bliss. The bliss is within, you should experience
it. Just as precious jewels are kept in an iron chest, likewise Atmic
principle is present in this human body. God has kept many valuable
jewels in your body. But you are not making any effort to realize this.
God says, "O mad cap, why do you entertain mean and Iow desires? If you
give up desires and offer yourself, I will give you the most valuable
gifts". When God is ready to give you the limitless non-dual bliss, why
do you crave for limited happiness? Do not ask for mean things. Offer
yourself to God, then God will grant you everything. But in order to
deserve God's grace, your faith should grow. When you do not have faith,
you cannot offer yourself. A foolish one does not know himself in spite
of all his education. With his limited knowledge he will enter into
arguments, and will never be able to acquire total wisdom. If ultimately
one has to die, what is the use of studying? One has to study to be
immortal. Vedas declared, "Srunvanth Viswe Amruthasya Puthraha". You are
the son of immortality. Understand and experience this.

You pay water tax to the municipality for providing water to you. When
the current is supplied to your house, you pay the electricity bill. But
God has given the sunlight, the wind, and the rains. What tax are you
paying to God? Self-surrender is the tax you are expected to pay. All
your troubles are your own making. God always gives you good. But you
are not receiving it. Some people do not listen to good words, instead
pay heed to all bad words. Such people can never understand Me.

What is that you need to do to make God happy? You should go close to
God and worship Him with a sense of surrender. This is for your own
sake. God does not ask for anything. Child sits on the lap of mother for
its own satisfaction. When the child goes near its mother, she showers
her love. When you want to be close to God, you do not need to go
through sacred texts or undertake great spiritual exercises. Rituals and
reading of holy texts are only worldly actions. They are meant to give
only external satisfaction, but one has to make efforts to experience
inner satisfaction.

Embodiments of Love! The letters that the postman brings give joy to
some and plunge some in deep sorrow. It is the contents of the letters
that are responsible for the joy or sorrow and not the postman. God is
also like a postman. He gives you the fruits of your actions. "Karmaanu
Bandheeni Manushyaloke", Human society is bound by actions. Buddhi is
governed by fate. Fate is governed by actions. Actions are governed by
thoughts. If you do all the activities with sacred thoughts, you will be
successful. Wicked thoughts and wicked feelings confer only misery. If
you do not have the grace of God, all the worldly powers will be of no
use. You know what has happened to the great warrior Karna, who has had
all powers but not God's grace. You should strive for Divine Love. To
acquire Divine Love you should develop good thoughts.

Embodiments of Love! You are happy that the number of Padukas is
increasing year after year. It is quite natural to have such a feeling
in the external world. But, I do not desire increase in numbers. It is
the feeling that is important, not the number of Padukas. What God wants
is pure Love and steady mind, but those who have come for this Paduka
puja have not understood this truth. They have brought many eatables
such as dry fruits, apples, bananas and sweets and kept them in the
Poornachandra hall thinking that I would eat them. Do they think that I
am Kumbhakarna? I do not even take meals, then what are these fruits
for? The boys will have to work for 15 days just to separate them and in
the meanwhile the fruits will become rotten. What I want is only your
Love. Some people have brought towels and bedsheets. I do not need them,
if you want you can give them in the hospital. Even that need not be
done. I do not desire anything. I want only one thing i.e., pure, steady
and selfless love. There is no selfishness from top to toe in Me. When I
do not have any desires, why do you bring all these? Chetty Garu is an
ardent devotee. Yesterday he has prayed that I should ascend the
chariot. I do not have any liking for these things. Your Heart is My
chariot. Then where is the need for a golden chariot? Today, they have
brought a Simhaasana (throne) too. They do not inform Me about these
things till they are brought to Prasanthinilayam. Do not bring any such
things. I do not like them. I have already told you what I like i.e.,
Love alone. Do not bring any material objects hereafter. I want you to
acquire wisdom. That wisdom leads you to Liberation. To reach this state
of Liberation, offer yourself completely. It means just as the essence
of food you partake gets mixed in your blood and becomes one with your
body, likewise let your Love be unified with My Love. Then you will
become one with Me.

In the morning during the Paduka worship, Punditji has spoke on the
importance of unity giving the example of bees collecting honey.
Honeybee collects honey from different flowers and stores it at one
place that becomes the panacea for all diseases. Where there is Unity,
there is Purity; and where there is Purity, there is Divinity.
Understand the relationship between Unity, Purity and Divinity. Pundits
have been telling you these things, but you do not seem to practice at
least one or two. By announcing the presence of light, would ever the
darkness be dispelled? By listening to the efficacy and grandeur of the
medicine, will the disease be cured? To dispel darkness you should light
at least a small lamp. You all know that Deepavali is approaching. With
one candle you can light the other lamps. That candle is Divinity and
the lamps are individuals. It is only one Divinity that protects and
sustains all. Light the lamp of Love in you. Even the worldly activities
will become spiritual if you have Love. You can do your office work or
business, you can also take care of your family; but whatever you do, do
it as an offering to God. Let every activity be pleasing unto God. That
is true devotion. Wherever you go, do not offer any material objects to
God. You all know that people go to Tirupathi and offer crowns and
jewelry to God in the name of devotion. All these jewelry hide the
pristine beauty of the idol. Wherever you go do not take jewels for God.
Do you consider God poorer than you? Offering jewels to God is a
narrow-minded idea. 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 do need any other ornaments? Offering all the
jewelry to God is nothing but pomp and show. Devotees should not make
such offerings. You should offer only your pure love and sacrifice. The
relation between a devotee and God is only heart to Heart and Love to
Love. By offering jewelry you are making God also a beggar. You should
always keep in mind that God is bigger, not a beggar. Today we find many
swamijis going abroad whenever they are in need of money. It is a matter
of shame; there is no spirituality at all. There is so much of
restlessness in our country. First they should spread the message of
peace in Bharat. Charity begins at home. Yesterday I have told Srinivas
to take back all that they have brought. Whatever they eat they have
brought for Me. I do not eat anything. I eat your love. I hear only good
words. Offer only these two to Me. Do not bring anything else. Let love
be the underlying principle in whatever you do. With love and devotion
even a small sadhana will yield great results.

When Rama wanted to build a bridge across the ocean, Hanuman came
forward with a suggestion saying that only Rama's name would take them
across the ocean. So he wants the name of Rama to be written on all the
boulders before throwing them into the ocean. All the vanaras did
likewise and found the stones floating on the ocean, but in different
directions. Then Hanuman again told them to write 'Ra' and 'Ma' on
different stones. When they were thrown in the ocean all the stones
bearing the letters 'Ra' and 'Ma' joined together, thus forming a bridge.

Many people wonder that I look so young even at the age of 73. The
reason is I have three P's in Me. One is Purity, second is Patience and
the third is Perseverance. It is because of these three that I remain
like this for any number of years to come. So, everyone should cultivate
these three. Give up all your mean and Iow desires and cultivate love
for God. Dr. Gadia has prayed for good health and long life for
Chettiar. To pray for the well being of everyone is a noble quality.
But, well being cannot be obtained by recommendations. The noble
feelings of Chetty Garu have made him the recipient of God's grace. His
Heart and My Heart should unify. I am making it public today. Even
Chiranjeevi Rao and others know this; last week AIIopathy, Homeopathy
and Ayurvedic doctors have all sent letters to Me that "Swami, we hear
that there is going to be a very big function on 10th. Send Chettiar
back to Madurai immediately. He may not live till 10th". I said, "As a
result of his Bhakti (devotion) and My Shakti (power) he will certainly
live". Though he is pretty aged and very weak, still he continues to
come here with so much love. His devotion protects him.

Thyagaraja also has undergone many trials and tribulations. His wife
dies, his elder brother has subjected him to many ordeals. His elder
brother has cast the idols of Sita, Rama and Lakshmana into the Kaveri
River. Thyagaraja cannot bear the separation from Rama and feeling
frustrated says, "O Rama! Why am I being subjected to these ordeals? Is
it because my devotion has weakened? Or has your power declined?" He
feels that his devotion has not diminished. So, Rama's power must have
got weakened. But pondering over it further, he realizes how foolish he
is to criticize Rama. He begins to sing a song in praise of Rama's
prowess. "Without Rama's power could a monkey have crossed the ocean? Or
would the Goddess of wealth have chosen to be his consort? Or would
Lakshmana serve him or the supremely intelligent Bharata revel in
beholding Him and worshipping Him?" Thyagaraja ecstatically extols the
infinite prowess of Rama and blames his own ignorance for having doubted
Rama's prowess. Nothing is greater than the Divine power. Once you have
the Anugraha bala (strength of divine grace) what harm can the
Navagrahaas (nine planets) do to you? So work for God's grace and
surrender to Him completely. There lies the true Bliss.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Bhagavan concluded His discourse with the Bhajans "Prema Muditha Manase
Kaho..." and "Subrahmanyam Subrahmanyam...")