Sai Darshan Home <darshan.html>
Date:30 May 1999 Occasion:Buddha Poornima Place:Brindavan

Control Your Senses

If money is lost, one need not be worried about it, for one can earn it
again.
If a friend leaves, one can have another; if wife is lost one can marry
again.
If one loses ones piece of land, one can purchase another piece of land.
All these can be regained, but if body is lost, one cannot get it back.
(Sanskrit Sloka)

Embodiments of Love!

If wealth is lost, nothing is lost. If health is lost, something is
lost. If character is lost, everything is lost. This is the teaching of
the culture of Bharat. But, for the modern man, everything is lost if
wealth is lost; something is lost if health is lost and nothing is lost
if character is lost. Since time immemorial, the Bharatiyas have been
adhering to the principles of spirituality. Thus, they attained bliss
and shared it with others in the world. The Himalayan mountains form the
boundary of Bharat on the northern side. 'Hima' means pure and sacred.
Mountains symbolize steadiness. Purity, sacredness and steadiness are
the hallmarks of the Bharatiyas. The perennial rivers, the Ganga, the
Yamuna and the Saraswathi (underground) flow in this land. These three
symbolize the threefold path of work, worship and wisdom through which
man can attain Divinity. The holy texts of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata
and the Bhagavata set noble ideals before mankind. What is the inner
meaning of the word 'Bharat'? 'Bha' means light, effulgence and
divinity. So, the Bharatiyas are those who spread light and effulgence
of wisdom. The Indian scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads
and the Brahma Sutras are shining resplendently, showing the path of
divinity to man.

Spirituality Starts with Faith

Buddha was born in this sacred land of Bharat; he declared to the world
Ahimsa Paramo Dharma (non-violence is the greatest Dharma). He undertook
penance for several years, met many noble souls, listened to spiritual
discourses and studied various scriptures. But he was not satisfied. Man
aspires for bliss, but how can he attain it? Where there is faith, there
is love. Where there is love, there is peace. Where there is peace,
there is truth. Where there is truth, there is God. Where there is God,
there is bliss. The path of spirituality starts with faith and ends with
bliss. Bliss cannot be attained from materialistic pleasures or people
of the world. It can be experienced only when the five senses are put to
proper use.

Today man reads sacred books to attain bliss, but all these books have
their own limitations. One cannot get infinite bliss by studying
scriptures. One must study an infinite book in order to experience
infinite bliss. This world itself is an infinite book. There are so many
things to be learnt from this world. Who are your friends? Not your
classmates or roommates. Only God is your true and eternal friend. It is
only with the help of this friend that you will be able to study the
infinite book, the world. When one undertakes the study of this infinite
book one has to put into practice the five important teachings of
Buddha. They are Samyak Drishti (right vision), Samyak Bhavam (right
feeling), Samyak Sravanam (right listening), Samyak Vak (right speech)
and Samyak Karma (right action). A true human being is one who follows
the path of truth. Truth, righteousness and sacrifice should be the way
of life. Buddha said: Buddham Sharanam Gachhami, Dharmam Sharanam
Gachhami, Sangham Sharanam Gachhami. It means Buddhi (intellect) should
follow the path of Dharma and Dharma should be fostered in the society.
Only then the country will prosper. This is also the inner meaning of
the word SAI. S denotes 'spiritual change', A denotes 'association
(social) change' and I denotes 'individual change'. Man's mind will
become pure and sacred only when these three changes take place.

Life Principles of Man

Divinity is latent in every individual. But, today man has forgotten his
divine nature and is getting deluded by the worldly, ephemeral
pleasures. Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa are verily the five
life principles of man. They are like his Pancha Pranas, namely, Prana,
Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana. If he loses Sathya, it amounts to losing
one part of his life-breath. And when he loses all the four, viz.,
Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, and Prema, he loses four parts of his vital life
breath. As a result he is confronted with sufferings and violence from
all sides. Who is responsible for this? Man himself is to be blamed for
this. Buddha said non-violence is the greatest Dharma. Love will be
fostered only when non-violence is practiced. When love is fostered,
there will be peace in the world. When there is peace in the world, man
will naturally take to the path of Dharma. When man follows the path of
Dharma, he will attain Truth. It is, therefore, the primary duty of
every man to foster these life principles.

Once Buddha was travelling from village to village giving spiritual
discourses. One day, he felt tired and asked one of his disciples to
address the gathering. He went inside to take rest. The disciple during
the course of his speech said, "In this world, there has never been a
spiritual master greater than our master Buddha and there will not be
another like him in future." The audience gave a thunderous applause. On
hearing this, Buddha came out. One of the disciples told him the reason
for the people's joyous applause. Buddha smiled and called the disciple
who delivered the lecture. "What is your age?" he asked. The disciple
said he was thirty-five years old. "How many kingdoms have you visited
so far?" Buddha asked him again. The disciple said he had visited only
two kingdoms. Then Buddha said, "You are thirty-five years old and have
seen only two kingdoms. You have not understood the present completely.
Then how can you say anything about the past and the future? It is
meaningless to say that a master like Buddha was never born before and
will never be born again. Many Avatars and sages have taken birth in
this sacred land of Bharat. Many more Avatars and noble souls will be
born here in future also. There are many noble souls in this world, I
offer my respects to all of them. In this way, Buddha reproached his
disciple. It is foolish for a man with little knowledge to behave like a
learned man.

No one can estimate the sacredness and greatness of this country,
Bharat. To be called an Indian is in itself a great qualification and
honor. How can one describe the great good fortune of the Bharatiyas,
for the Lord Himself has taken birth several times in this sacred land
to show the path of divinity to mankind? Many saints, sages and men of
sacrifice were born in this country. The sacredness and renown of Bharat
are unmatched. That is why Buddha chose this country as his motherland.

First Control your Vision and Tongue

The story of Buddha is highly noble and sacred. He sacrificed everything
and went around in search of truth. He said, "Dharmam Sharanam Gachhami"
(I take refuge in Dharma). One has to practice, propagate and experience
Dharma. But, today Dharma has declined. People think that money is
everything. Just as the earth revolves around the sun, people go around
money. "Some people take to corrupt ways to earn money. They may cheat
others, but can anyone hoodwink God? They will certainly reap the
consequences of their misdeeds." (Telugu Poem) This was the teaching of
Buddha. Character is important, not money. Bliss can be attained only
through control of senses, not through penance, Japa or meditation.
Neither by penance nor by going through scriptures nor by having a dip
in holy rivers can one attain liberation. It is only by serving noble
souls can one cross the ocean of Samsara. There is no easier path to
peace and bliss other than controlling one's own senses.

But, man today has given up this easy path and is craving for sensual
pleasures, which confer only misery and grief. Even the birds and beasts
enjoy sensual pleasures. The happiness that results from sensual
pleasures is no happiness at all. So, first and foremost man should try
to control his senses. This is possible only when the vision is properly
utilized. Once the vision is controlled, other senses can also be easily
controlled. But, today man has no control over his vision. He looks at
things, which he is not supposed to look at. Whatever man looks at gets
imprinted in his heart. So, develop sacred vision. There are forty lakh
light rays in the human eye. But, their radiance is destroyed on account
of wrong vision. When you look at wrong things, you waste the enormous
power of radiance of the eyes. There are thirty lakh taste buds on the
tongue. But, they get destroyed because of bad talk. So, first and
foremost vision and tongue should be kept under check. Otherwise man may
lose his humanness and ultimately ruin his life. Along with right vision
and right talk, man should cultivate right listening. If someone were to
indulge in bad talk in your presence, leave the place at once. Right
vision confers double promotion, it strengthens the will power and
enhances the power of radiance of the eyes. Having understood this
truth, Buddha made a concerted effort to control his senses. Meditation
and penance confer only temporary happiness. Eternal happiness results
only from control of the senses. Buddha was the crown prince and had the
entire kingdom under his control, but he sacrificed everything and tried
to control his senses. He could experience bliss and attained Nirvana
only after controlling his senses.

Understand the Principle of Love

Man can get limitless powers through love of God. But, today man is not
making any effort to understand the principle of Love. Man's love is
like an atom when compared to divine love, which is infinite, eternal
and nectarine. It is foolishness and ignorance on the part of man to
think that he knows everything without understanding the Principle of
Love. He should see through the eyes of love, hear through the ears of
love and cultivate the feelings of love.

No benefit accrues from doing spiritual Sadhana if man does not have
unity of thought, word and deed. The unity of these three constitutes
humanness. The proper study of mankind is man. What does MAN stand for?
M stands for giving up Maya, A is for gaining the vision of the Atma and
N denotes attaining Nirvana. Man has to give up materialistic pleasures
in order to attain liberation. What is Moksha (liberation)? Getting rid
of Moha (attachment) is Moksha. Giving up body consciousness is
liberation. But, today man is immersed in body attachment. He can attain
liberation only when he develops attachment towards the Atma. "Humanness
has declined in man as he lacks fear of sin and love for God. This is
the root cause of unrest in the world" (Telugu Poem). Man should develop
love for God and fear of sin. Only then there will be morality in society.

Embodiments of Love!

You may celebrate any number of festivals and undertake various types of
spiritual exercises, but all this will go waste if there are no divine
feelings in your heart. Do not look at things, which are unsacred. Let
your vision be suffused with divine feelings. You will understand and
experience the sacred principles: Sarvam Khaividam Brahma (Brahman is
immanent in everything), Viswam Vishnumayam (Vishnu pervades the entire
universe), Easwara Sarvabhoothanam (God is the indweller of all beings)
only when you cultivate noble qualities. In order to cultivate divine
feelings and noble qualities, you have to control your senses. Your life
will be ruined if you do not control your senses.

Individual, Society, Creation and Creator

A river should flow within its banks; otherwise it will flood the
villages causing untold sufferings. Similarly, human life, which can be
compared to a river, should also have two eight-lettered dictums as its
banks - Sraddhavan Labhate Jnanam (only a person with steadfast faith
can attain wisdom) and Samsayatma Vinashyati (a doubting man perishes).
Only then the river of life will merge in the ocean of grace. If your
river of life does not flow within its two banks, not only will your
life be wasted, but you will also be causing harm to others. One who has
doubts about God cannot have divine grace. One who has no sincerity of
purpose cannot come up in life. A man with sincerity will make the best
use of even the smallest opportunity given to him. For example, he can
turn even a small bit of live ember into a big fire. On the other hand,
a man who lacks sincerity cannot make fire even if large quantifies of
live embers are given to him. He will turn all the live embers into
charcoal with his lackadaisical attitude. You should have utmost
sincerity in matters pertaining to divinity.

You are struggling hard to acquire worldly education. You are spending
hours together concentrating on it. What is the benefit that accrues
from it? You acquire this education merely to fill your belly, Even this
education can be used for the welfare of the society. We should leave
selfishness and aspire for the happiness of all. Loka Samastha Sukhino
Bhavantu (May all the people of the world be: happy!). This should be
our prayer and aspiration. That is the true spiritual practice. Vyashti
means individual, Samashti means society. So, you should progress from
Vyashti to Samashti, from Samashti to Srushti (creation) and ultimately
merge in Parameshti (God). You should attain the unity of individual,
society, creation and the creator. Only spiritual transformation can
bring about social welfare. The first letter S in the name Sai stands
for service (work), A stands for adoration (worship) and I for
illumination (wisdom). So, the very name of Sai symbolizes the unity of
work, worship and wisdom.

Today man has failed to understand the sacredness and purpose of human
birth. Having taken human birth, you should try to experience bliss. You
have the desire to attain bliss, but you are not making the necessary
effort. You cannot collect even a drop of water if you keep the vessel
upside down, although there may be a heavy downpour. Some water will be
collected in it if the mouth of the vessel is turned upwards. So, if you
want to attain divinity, you have to practice Dharma. That is the
meaning of Dharmam Sharanam Gachhami. But, this must also lead to the
welfare of all (Sangham Sharanam Gachhami). This is the inner meaning of
the teachings of Buddha.

Once Buddha entered a village along with his disciples. A lady
approached him and requested him to have food in her house. Buddha
blessed her and accepted her invitation. Seeing this many villagers,
including the village headman, warned Buddha, saying, "O Buddha, you are
one of wisdom and have renounced everything. She is not a woman of good
character. It is not proper for you to have food in her house." Buddha
smiled and asked the village headman to come forward. Buddha, holding
the right hand of the headman, asked him to clap. The headman said, it
was not possible for him to clap as one of his hands was in Buddha's
hold. Then Buddha said, "True, it is possible to clap only when two
hands come together. Likewise, this lady cannot turn bad by herself
unless there are men of bad character in this village. The men of this
village are the root cause of her bad character." On hearing this, the
villagers realized their folly, fell at Buddha's feet and sought his
forgiveness. Through his teachings, Buddha instilled sacredness and
wisdom in people. Buddha' s teachings are highly sacred with profound
inner meaning.

Develop Friendship with Truth

Buddha's mother, Mayadevi, passed away when he was just 8 days old. His
stepmother Gautami brought him up. That is how he got the name Gautama.
He was christened as Siddhartha at the time of his birth. He came to be
known as Buddha because he developed Buddhi (intellect) and
discrimination power. Discrimination is of two types: individual
discrimination and fundamental discrimination. Individual discrimination
arises out of selfishness, whereas fundamental discrimination is
concerned with the welfare of one and all. One should discard individual
discrimination and have only fundamental discrimination. This was the
teaching of Buddha to Ananda, son of Gautami, before he attained
Nirvana. When Buddha was on the verge of attaining Nirvana, Ananda
started shedding tears of sorrow. Then Buddha consoled him, saying,
"Ananda, why are you unhappy over my attaining Nirvana? I have been
craving for this state of Nirvana for the past many years. Why do you
shed tears of sorrow when I am experiencing supreme bliss?" Ananda
understood the truth and followed the teachings of Buddha. Ultimately,
he too attained Nirvana. True ideal is to give practical knowledge of
Dharma to others. One should be a hero in practice, not merely in
preaching. This was the ideal of Buddha. All the Avatars and noble souls
led their lives in the most exemplary manner and helped people
experience divinity. Buddha said, "O man you don't need to search for
God anywhere. You are God yourself" The Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads
and the Vedas also echo the same principle. The Vedas declare: Tat Thwam
Asi (Thou art That). Man today does meditation in the morning like a
Yogi, eats sumptuous food during the day tike a Bhogi (pleasure seeker)
and sleeps at night like a Rogi (sick person). This is not the way one
should lead one's life. Sathatham Yoginah (one should be a Yogi all the
time). One should be filled with divine feelings all the time. Sarva
Karma Bhagavad Preetyartham (whatever one does, one should do it to
please God). Divinity transcends space and time. Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma
(everything is Brahman).

In order to understand this truth, one should cultivate Sadgunas.
Sadgunas do not denote good qualities alone. Sath means Being, that
which is permanent. So, Sadgunas mean having divine feelings. Similarly,
the word Sathsang means being in the company of the Divine, not merely
in the company of good people. Divinity is within us. That is Sath. One
has to develop friendship with Sath. That is true Sathsang and true
friendship. Never depend on worldly friendship. Worldly friends come and
go. Only friendship with God is true and eternal. God is your true
friend, world is a text and Hridaya is your preceptor. Your life will
find fulfillment if you understand this truth and put into practice. All
the worldly gurus are not gurus in the strict sense of the term. How can
they be called gurus if they cannot tell you the goal of life? Mind
itself will become your guru once you understand its mystery.

Embodiments of Love!

You may call Him by any name, be it Jesus, Buddha, Allah, Rama, Krishna;
God is one. Ek Prabhu Ke Anek Nam (one God has many names), if you
understand this truth, you will realize that all are divine. Sarva Jiva
Namaskaram Kesavam Prathigatchhathi (saluting the individual amounts to
saluting God). Your life will be sanctified only when you cultivate such
broad feelings. Develop broadmindedness. Never give any scope for any
doubt on divinity. All such doubts are but imaginations. Never succumb
to them. Follow only divine feelings.

Follow the Master,
Face the devil,
Fight to the end,
Finish the game.

That should be the goal of your life.

Embodiments of Love!

Many devotees from Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and many other countries
have gathered here today with great devotion and dedication. Truly
speaking their hearts are highly sacred. Though they do not have many
comforts and conveniences here, they have considered it as Sadhana,
treated everything with a sense of equal-mindedness and are experiencing
bliss. Their devotion is true devotion. In the path of spirituality, one
should have the determination to face any constraint that one may come
across. That determination is the true Thapas (penance). Bereft of
determination, it becomes Thamas (sloth). You are determined to achieve
something, do not give up until you achieve what you want. You have
desired for something, do not give up until your desire is fulfilled.
You have asked for something, do not give up until you get what you have
asked for. You must pray to God forgetting yourself and make Him accede
to your request. It is not the quality of a true devotee to give up half
way. (Telugu Poem)

Cultivate the spirit of sacrifice and be prepared to face any
difficulties. Na Sukhath Labhyathe Sukham (happiness cannot be attained
through happiness). Ancient sages and seers had to undergo a lot of
difficulties. They had to live in the forest eating leaves and tubers.
They could have the vision of God only after all this suffering. They
declared to the world: Vedahametham Purusham Mahantham Aditya Varnam
Thamasah Parasthath (O people, we have seen God who is beyond the
darkness of ignorance, shining resplendently like a thousand suns.) They
also declared, "He is all-pervasive. We have seen Him not outside, but
within ourselves. You can also see Him if you turn your vision inward"

In order to attain divinity, one has to undertake spiritual Sadhana.
What type of Sadhana? Not penance or meditation. One has to control the
senses. Talk less and work more. Only then the individual, the society
and the country as a whole will prosper. Don't waste time. Time is God.
Time wasted is life wasted. The Upanishads declare that human life is
highly sacred and unique. So, sanctify your life by contemplating on the
Divine. Offer all your actions to God. Only then you can attain peace.

[Bhagavan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajans, "Hari Bhajan Bina
Sukha Santhi Nahi, Prema Mudhita Manase Kaho, and Pibare Rama Rasam..."]

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