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Date:15 Apr 1999 Occasion:Vishu (Kerala New Year) Place:Brindavan

Royal Path To Divinity

Run away from bad company; join good company.
Perform meritorious deeds day and night.

Embodiments of Love!

Since times immemorial, Bharat has been the treasure house of
spirituality and has been radiating peace and serenity to all the other
countries. But, today people do not understand even the sacredness,
significance and uniqueness of the human body. Many people are under the
false impression that the body is meant to eat, drink, sleep and make
merry. You can understand the purpose behind God gifting you this body
only when you understand the sacredness and mystery of human birth. The
primary goal of man is to recognize the Truth in daily life.

The Mystery of Human Body

Every man has a body. It not only acts as an instrument, but also sets
ideals in every respect. What are the ideals? It inhales the
life-sustaining oxygen and exhales the poisonous carbon dioxide. It
partakes of delicious items and excretes foul smelling fecal matter.
What is the inner significance of this activity? Man has to accept those
things, which are beneficial to the society and the country and discard
those which are maleficent to the interests of the society and the
nation at large. Thus, the body demonstrates that man has to take in
noble and sacred feelings and leave out the unsacred and worldly thoughts.

Unfortunately, today man takes in unholy and unsacred thoughts
discarding pure and sacred feelings. What is truth and what is untruth?
What is permanent and what is temporary? What is good and what is bad?
Man does not undertake such an inquiry today. He is using his power of
discrimination for wrong purposes. He is accepting bad and giving up
good. Do you prefer a rotten fruit to a luscious one or inhaling carbon
dioxide and exhaling oxygen? No. If you do that you will not only spoil
your health, but you will put your life also to risk. Man should achieve
physical health, mental satisfaction and Atmic bliss. Man's life is a
combination of the body, mind and Atma. The body performs actions, the
mind enquires and the Atma remains a witness. These three are essential
for the human life to blossom. But, no one is trying to understand this
mystery.

Nature also shows the truthful and right path. If you do not breathe out
the air that you breathe in, your hearth will be spoilt. Likewise, if
you do not excrete the body waste, your health will suffer. The lesson
one has to learn from this is that one must accept good and give up bad.
Tyaja Durjana Samsargam (discard bad company). Bad company does not mean
the company of bad people alone. Even the bad thoughts constitute bad
company. You should not only discard bad company, but give up bad
thoughts also. One, however, does not become a noble soul by just giving
up bad company and bad thoughts; one has to join good company and also
cultivate good thoughts. One can have good thoughts only by constant
contemplation on God. Kuru Punyam Ahorathram (perform good deeds day and
night). At all times, at all places and under all circumstances, man has
to contemplate on God and involve himself in His work. Bhaja Sadhu
Samagamam (join good company). You will get sacred feelings only when
you are in good company.

Start Early

Right from early age you should develop devotion to God. It will be of
immense help in old age if you undertake spiritual Sadhana right from
your childhood. It is impossible to think of God in your old age if you
squander your precious time in worldly matters in the early stages of
your life. The divine feelings that you develop from your childhood are
your true treasure. Thoughts based on Truth (Sathya Sankalpas) are your
true wealth. But, you are giving up such sacred wealth and are hankering
after the transient and ephemeral wealth. Start early, drive slowly and
reach safely. It is impossible to remember God and contemplate on Him in
old age unless you think of Him right from your childhood. It is easy to
remember Him in your old age only when you practice contemplating on Him
in your childhood. When the messengers of death start dragging you away,
when the relatives make hurry to shift you outside the house saying
there is no hope and when the wife and children start weeping and
wailing bitterly, is it possible to think of God at that moment? (Telugu
Poem)

I keep telling the students often that the childhood of man is like a
tender banana leaf. At this age, this 'banana leaf' is very pure,
attractive and lively. This 'leaf' containing the delicacies of five
senses (sound, touch, form, taste and smell) should be offered to God.
But, due to the impact of Kali Age, man is offering these five types of
'delicacies' to the six demons: Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and
Matsarya (lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and jealousy). After the
demons eat away the 'delicacies', spoiling the 'leaf' in the process,
man is offering the leftover unsacred food to God in old age. Is it
proper to offer to God the remains of the food eaten by the demons? If
man cannot recognize the uniqueness of humanness, what is the use of
taking the human birth? Janthoonam Nara Janma Durlabham (among all
beings, human birth is the rarest and noblest) Having got such a sacred
human birth, man should turn his senses Godward from his early age. From
early age, man should contemplate on God and win divine grace. In old
age, when you cannot see properly, when there are wrinkles on your face,
when your hair turns gray, when children start making fun of you calling
you a decrepit monkey and when your limbs start shivering, how do you
expect to think of God?. (Telugu Poem). Those that start thinking of God
only in old age have no sense of shame.

Today man is wasting his youth by misusing his senses. He is seeing and
listening to unsacred things and indulging in talking ill of others. In
the early age, the five senses are like five delicacies. Your life will
be sanctified, only when you offer them to God. Otherwise betters to be
a deaf dumb and blind! For what purpose are the eyes given to you? Is it
to see anything and everything? No. Eyes are given in order to see God.
The eye, which is not even an inch in size, is able to see the stars
millions of miles away. Such a powerful and sacred eye is being used for
seeing unholy things? Why don't you use your eyes for seeing the
omnipresent God, the beautiful panorama of Nature and having the Darshan
of holy men?

Peddalu or Gaddalu?

Today the so-called Peddalu (elders) are discouraging the young from
taking to spiritual path. They say one can start contemplating on God
after retirement. Can such people be called Peddalu? No. They are
Gaddalu (hawks)! They neither think of God nor allow their children to
do so. Actually, some elders are spoiling the lives of their children.
They are trying to make their children tread the wrong path as though
they had benefited immensely by doing the same earlier. Tyaja Durjana
Samsargam, give up the company of such evil-minded elders, even if they
happen to be your parents. This was the ideal set by Bharata in the
Ramayana. Rama, being the eldest, was the legal heir to the throne of
Ayodhya, but Kaikeyi sent Him to the forest, as she wanted her son
Bharata to become the king. When Bharata came to know of this, he became
very furious. He even did not like to look at his mother and set off to
the forest immediately to bring back Rama.

Hiranyakasipu could not tolerate to hear his son, Prahlada, chant the
name of Lord Narayana. He would at once close his ears whenever Prahlada
uttered Om Namo Narayanaya. He even tried to kill him as he continued to
chant the name of Lord Narayana against his wishes. Ultimately, Prahlada
disassociated himself from his father as he was a Durjana (wicked person).

Sukracharya warned Emperor Bali that the Vamana was none other than Lord
Vishnu Himself and that it would be disastrous for Bali to make the gift
sought from him by Vamana. Bali reacted to the preceptor's warning
saying that there was no greater sin than going back on one's word. He
had given his word to the Lord Himself. Is it not a sin on the part of
Sukracharya to ask him to break his promise? That is why Bali told
Sukracharya, "You are not my preceptor, you are my enemy." So saying he
forsook Sukracharya and fulfilled his promise to Vamana.

Mira all the time thought of only Giridhara (Lord Krishna) and chanted
His name. Her eyes were filled with the form of Krishna and her mind was
filled with the thoughts of Krishna. But, her husband thought that she
was crossing her limits in the name of devotion to Krishna. So, one day,
he threw her out of the Krishna temple for the sake of false worldly
honor. Then she wrote a letter to Tulsidas seeking his advice as to what
she should do, whether to give up Krishna, the eternal companion, or to
forsake her husband. Tulsidas sent a reply saying, "Mother, God is the
greatest of all and the path leading to God is the noblest of all.
Husband is like a passing cloud, but God is always with you, even before
your birth and after your death. Trikalabhadhyam Sathyam (Truth
transcends all the three periods of time). How can you give up God who
is the Embodiment of Truth? Husband entered your life in the middle and
will go away in the middle. You may serve him as long as he is alive.
But, when he himself discards you, there is nothing wrong in leaving him
for the sake of God." It is not proper to expect the wife to suffer at
the hands of a wicked husband. If the wife commits a mistake, the
husband may punish her. But, it is a sin to punish a woman who is
absolutely faultless. Mira prayed, "Krishna, I went deep into the ocean
of Samsara and caught hold of the pearl of Your divine name. How can I
allow it to slip away from my hand? I will safeguard this 'pearl' even
at the cost of my life." (Tamil Verse)

Worldly life is Pravritti Marga (outward path) and spiritual life is
Nivritti Marga (inward path). It is a great mistake to give up God and
His name for the sake of worldly gains. You need not be afraid of
anybody when your conscience is clear. Truth and sacrifice are like your
two eyes. Sathyam Nasti Paro Dharma (there is no greater Dharma than
adhering to Truth). But in this Age of Kali, people are giving up truth
and righteousness. Better die, rather than lead an untruthful life. It
is better to live like a swan for a few minutes than to lead the life of
a crow for hundred years.

Education is for Serving Society

Today students are becoming highly educated, acquiring degrees and
occupying positions of authority. They think they are great
intellectuals. What is the use of education and intelligence if they are
misused? Why study and die ultimately. Study to be immortal. Bookish
knowledge may feed your stomach, but will not help you attain Divinity.
You should experience the bliss of your life after offering everything
to God. The Vedas declare: Sarva Karma Bhagavad Preethyartham (whatever
you do, do it with a desire to please God). It is enough if you have God
with you. Lord Krishna declared in the Bhagavad Gita: Sarva Dharman
Parityaja Maam Ekam Saranam Vraja (give up all the worldly Dharmas and
surrender only to Me). All the worldly Dharmas are burdensome. They are
like ten thousand naya paisas. A hundred rupee note is equal to ten
thousand naya paisas. It is rather difficult to bundle up ten thousand
naya paisas and carry them with you. So, offer all the ten thousand
'naya paisas' to God. He will give you a 'hundred rupee note,' which is
light in weight as also safe and secure. The former refers to quantity
and the latter to quality. You should look for quality, not for
quantity. One teaspoon of cow's milk is better than barrels of donkey's
milk.

This country Bharat is the land of sacrifice, the land of love and the
land of Yoga. If you do not have love for your motherland, you are as
good as a living .corpse. The modern students are neglecting their
motherland and are going abroad in search of greener pastures. You may
go abroad, but never give up motherland. It is foolish to give up
motherland and get enticed by foreign countries.

Once Vivekananda had gone to London and America and while returning to
India, the American journalists asked him as to what he thought of his
motherland, Bharat. He said, "I have a great regard and love for my
country. I respect even the dust, the air and the environment of Bharat.
I offer myself completely to the service of my motherland." He who has
no love for his motherland, mother tongue and religion is no better than
a living corpse.

Today people waste their time and energy in amassing wealth. But, they
do not realize that one day or the other they will have to leave
everything and go. Many great kings like Harischandra, Nala and Mandatha
ruled over this land, but now, where are they? Is Sri Rama, who built a
great bridge across the mighty ocean,, alive today? Many kings have come
and gone, but none could lake even a fistful of earth when they left
their mortal coil. (Telugu Poem) If the people could take even a fistful
of mud with them when they die, there would have been ration for mud
also! No one can take anything. Only good and bad follow you.

Rama and Ravana were equally well versed in thirty six forms of
knowledge. But, Valmiki called Ravana a foolish one and Rama a noble
one. Why did Valmiki say so? Did he receive any favor from Rama? No.
Here Rama and Ravana can be compared to a cuckoo and a crow
respectively. The crow did not steal anybody's property, but the people
hate the very sight of a crow. The cuckoo did not do any favor to
anybody, but stiff it is loved by one and all. One is respected if one's
speech is good. (Telugu Poem) Though both look alike, people eulogize
the cuckoo and criticize the crow. They throw stones at the crow when it
caws, but feel joyous listening to the mellifluous singing of the
cuckoo. Similarly, though Rama and Ravana were equally well versed in
all forms of knowledge, Rama set an ideal by practicing what He learnt,
whereas Ravana suffered from 'indigestion' as he merely acquired
knowledge without practicing it.

Education is for life, not for money. Every educated young man should
serve the society. Youth is very precious, let it not be wasted. Start
early, drive slowly, reach safely. You must resolve to work for the
welfare of the society even if your parents at first oppose you. Never
mind if they do not give you a share in their property. Only God is your
true property. Do not aspire for the temporary and ephemeral wealth.
Enter the path of truth and lead a sacred life. That will make your
parents also happy. If the parents are not happy when the son leads a
sacred life, then they are no parents at all. Such parents are fit to be
called demons.

Inner Significance of Festivals

Today is the holy festival of Vishu. All the Indian festivals are sacred
and demonstrate great ideals. The Keralites celebrate their festivals
Onam and Vishu in the most sacred way. With each festival one should
cultivate divine feelings. When you contemplate on God with all
sincerity and devotion, you become God yourself. This is what the
Vedanta says: Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavathi (the knower of Brahman
becomes Brahman himself). You will become what you think. Ratnakara, a
highway robber, was transformed into a great sage Valmiki because he
thought of Rama continuously with pure mind. His face shone with the
divine effulgence of Rama. Even the young Prahlada's face reflected the
divine radiance of Lord Narayana as he contemplated on Him continuously.
He had no sense of fear; he always put on a smiling face in the face of
adversity. All the time he was chanting the name of the Lord. How can
anyone, who steadfastly chants the divine name, be afraid of anything?
Fear and grief will overpower those who forget the Lord and get immersed
in worldly life. You will become divine if you contemplate on the Divine
continuously. God is not somewhere else, He is within you.

Embodiments of Love!

Every festival in India is suffused with divinity. On each festival day,
people go to temples and offer their prayers to the Almighty. This is a
positive trait. Forgetting God and always thinking of the world is a
negative quality. Today we find elaborate arrangements and gala
celebrations in marriage functions. One is filled with joy when one gets
married, but one does not realize that the happiness of married life is
but momentary. Even dogs and foxes experience this happiness. This is
not true happiness. Thyagaraja said, "O mind, tell me what gives the
real happiness, is it the Nidhi (wealth) or the Eswara Sannidhi (divine
proximity)?" Consider Sannidhi (proximity) as your Pennidhi (great
treasure). Then your life will be full of joy and bliss. Only devotees
can understand this joy and bliss. A true devotee always keeps singing
the name of the Lord. Radha and Mira were always deeply immersed in
Namasankirtan. They had broad feelings and broad mind. Broad mind is
life, narrow mind is death, mind can be broadened only through divine
contemplation. Peace is a precious jewel; without peace man is just
pieces. So attain peace and bliss by contemplating on the divine. Divine
contemplation is possible only for the fortunate. They wear the crown of
peace. The unfortunate ones can never contemplate on the divine and can
never attain peace. You may get fed up of eating laddus and other
sweets, but you will never get fed up of chanting the divine name. The
more you chant, the more you will feel like chanting.

Embodiments of Love!

Today injustice, unrighteousness and falsehood are on the rise because
faith in God is on the decline. The nation can attain peace only when
people think of God. God is always with you, in you, around you, behind
you, above you and below you. Today some people are prepared to give up
God for the sake of worldly relations. But, how long will the relations
last? This body is only a doll, which may perish at any moment of time.
Bliss cannot be attained as long as one has body attachment. This body
is Sivam (auspicious) as long as there is the divine breath of life in
it. It becomes Savam (corpse) once it loses the divine breath.

When man is born, he cries asking the question, 'Koham, Koham' (who am
I). What is the use of living if he has the same question on his lips at
the time of death too? At the time of death, man should be able to
declare cheerfully, 'Soham, Soham' (I am God). Realizing one's own
divinity is the purpose of life.

Leaders should have Spirit of Sacrifice

Man is never satisfied. He is greedy for more and more wealth. There
should be a limit to greed for wealth. What man has to earn is divine
grace. No matter what he earns, he cannot take a single pie with him
when he leaves the body. Alexander conquered many nations and became a
mighty emperor. But, when the hour of death approached no doctor could
save him. Before passing away, he summoned his ministers and told them
to keep his empty hands raised above when his body was taken for the
final journey through the streets so that the people would understand
that even a great and mighty emperor like Alexander who achieved so much
in life had to go empty-handed.

Alexander wanted to conquer the entire world. Today also we find one
country trying to overpower the other. People are becoming power crazy.
People who have greed for power can never be good leaders. In fact, they
are the persons who destroy the nation. Many ministers, Prime Ministers,
kings and emperors have come and gone. But, everybody was concerned only
about his or her position and power. Fie upon such leaders who had no
concern for the welfare of the nation! Such leaders are not human
beings; they are demons. Leaders should have a sense of sacrifice. Only
sacrifice will lead to immortality.

Students! After you complete your education, do not confine yourself to
your jobs alone. Work for the welfare of the society. The culture of
Bharat says: Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara (speak the truth and follow
righteousness). Uphold these principles even at the cost of your life.
Help the poor and the downtrodden. Have the national interest foremost
in your mind. Your welfare depends on the welfare of the nation.
Creation (Srushti) emerged from the Creator (Parameshti); society
(Samashti) emerged from the creation. From society emerged the
individual (Vyashti). There is no individual without the society. So,
the Vyashti should serve the Samashti, then serve the Srushti and
ultimately merge in Parameshti. This is the royal path to Divinity.

I am not perturbed by criticism. What I am teaching you is good, only
good and nothing but good. If you follow these teachings, you are bound
to attain your goal. Take to the right path right from your young age,
otherwise you are bound to repent in your old age. Cultivate sacred
thoughts and offer them to God right from the young age. Knowingly or
unknowingly, you might have committed some mistakes. There is no point
in worrying about the past. At least now wake up from your slumber,
think of God and sanctify your life. Divinity is the goal of life. You
can attain divinity by following the path of truth, righteousness and
love. Give up body attachment and develop divine feelings. Body is weak,
made up of five elements and is bound to perish some time or the other.
People say that the life span of a human being is hundred years, but you
cannot take it for granted. No one can predict when death will occur. It
may occur either in childhood or in youth or in middle age or in old
age. Death is certain. So, try to know yourself while you are alive.
Contemplate on God till your last breath. That is your primary duty.
Discharge your other duties also such as taking care of your family and
children, but consider even that as God's work and treat all your family
members as divine. All actions should be undertaken for the pleasure of
God. Many people undertake Japa and Dhyana only after their retirement.
Their hand turns the rosary, mouth utters 'Ram, Ram, Ram', but the mind
wanders in the market, goes to the club and starts playing cards as they
might have indulged in all this earlier in life. What is the use of such
a Japa? So, it is better to take to spiritual path right from childhood,
it is a great fortune and merit to take to spiritual path from childhood.

Embodiments of Love!

Today the people of Kerala are celebrating the festival of Vishu. The
inner significance of Vishu is to cultivate sacredness. It does not end
with preparing Payasam (pudding) and partaking of it. Sanctifying your
heart is true pudding. You will be celebrating Vishu in the true spirit
only when you make efforts to purify your heart.

You may not undertake any Sadhana, but never forget the Principle of
Love. Never be afraid of troubles; sanctify your life with love. Love
everyone. Where love is, there God is. Love is God. God is love. All the
time we should think of God and contemplate on Him.

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[Bhagavan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, "Pibare Rama
Rasam..." -]