Sai Darshan Home <darshan.html>
Date:17 Oct 1999 Occasion:Dasara Place:Prashanti Nilayam

Let Life Be Fruitful and Meaningful

Brahmanandam Paramasukhadam Kevalam Jnanarnurthim
Dvandvaatheetham Gaganasadrusam Tathwamasyaadhi Lakshyam
Ekam Nithyam Vimalam Achalam Sarvadhee Saakshibhutam
Bhaavaatheetham Trigunarahitham Sadgurum

Embodiments of Love!

Man should cultivate noble qualities in order to understand the secrets
and the inner meanings of the Vedas. The terms used in the Vedas
transcend the barriers of time and space. Consider the word
Brahmanandam. It means eternal bliss. Such a word cannot be understood
by comparison with the joy derived from materialistic pleasures
(Lokaananda). 'Brahma' is derived from the root word 'Brihat,' meaning
vastness. Brahmanandam is that which is immutable. It is the true and
infinite bliss. It can also be termed as Advaitaananda, meaning the
bliss that results from the experience of oneness. It can also be
described as Nirgunaananda and Niraakaarananda (bliss that transcends
form and attributes).

Paramasukhadam means supreme happiness. It has nothing to do with the
worldly happiness and sensual pleasures. It is identical with the
experience of the eternal bliss.

Kevalam means that which transcends the limitations of time, space and
circumstances.

Jnanamurthim means one of wisdom. Here Jnana refers to experience of
oneness. It transcends body, mind and intellect. Advaita Darshanam
Jnanam (experience of non-duality is true wisdom). How can man
comprehend this incomparable wisdom? The Vedas contain many such words
suffused with sacred inner meaning. Only Divinity, which is
attributeless, ancient, eternal, ever new, pure and unsullied, can
explain the inner meanings of the Vedic principles.

Dvandvaatheetham refers to that which transcends all dualities such as
happiness and sorrow, good and bad, merit and sin, etc.

Trigunarahitham refers to that which transcends the three attributes -
Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas. Attributes are associated with form. So, the
formless One has no attributes. The Vedas contain four Mahavaakyaas-
Prajnanam Brahma (knowledge is Brahman), Ayamatma Brahma (This Atma is
Brahman), Tath Thwam Asi (That Thou Art) and Aham Brahmasmi (I am
Brahman). The attributeless principle transcends even these four
declarations.

Ekam Nithyam refers to that which is eternal and without a second. The
Vedas proclaim Ekam Eva Adviteeyam Brahma (Divinity is one without a
second). Om Ithyekaaksharam Brahma (the single syllable Om is Brahman).

Vimalam Achalam refers to that which is pure and steady. In this
universe, the celestial bodies such as the sun, the moon and the planets
are constantly on the move. Modern students are aware of this. The
cinema reel moves rapidly at the rate of 16 films per second, but the
rate at which mind moves cannot be estimated. Such a wavering mind
cannot comprehend Divinity, which is steady, changeless, attributeless
and is the embodiment of supreme bliss and happiness. That is the reason
the ancient sages and seers used to pray-"Salutations to the One who is
the embodiment of supreme happiness" The happiness related to the body
and mind is no happiness at all. Inward (Nivritti) happiness is true
happiness.

It is extremely difficult to understand the divine principle. Faith is
very essential to experience divinity. 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 Divinity. Where there is
Divinity, there is bliss. So, only Divinity can confer the eternal
bliss. Worldly happiness is momentary. In this context, Adi Sankara
said, Maa Kuru Dhana Jana Yauvana Garyam, Harathi Nimeshaath Kaalah
Sarvam (do not be proud of youth, money and progeny. They are but
momentary). The worldly happiness is delusive and is related to the five
elements and five senses. It corresponds to the outward path (Pravritti).

Human body is made up of five sheaths - Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya,
Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya Koshas. This body is Annamaya Kosha (food
sheath). It is the Pranamaya Kosha (life sheath) that makes the body
move. Beyond the Pranamaya Kosha, there exists Manomaya Kosha (mind
sheath). Man is able to investigate only these three sheaths; he is not
able to comprehend Vijnanamaya (wisdom sheath) and Anandamaya Koshas
(bliss sheath), the reason being man is bound by the senses. It is said
Buddhi Graahyam Atheendriyam, the senses cannot understand the ultimate
Truth. However intelligent one may be, one cannot understand the Truth
unless one treads along the inward path. The same body exists in all the
three states - waking, dream and deep sleep, but what you see in one
state cannot be seen in the other, because they correspond to the
outward path. You have to give up the outward path and take to inward
path to understand the Truth.

When this body was seven years old, dreadful and contagious diseases
like Cholera and Plague were rampant in this tiny hamlet of Puttaparthi.
Fear-stricken, the parents would not allow their children to go out of
the house. But the children, out of their love for Me, would come to Me
without even telling their parents. All those children were of the age
group of six to eight. One day nearly 12 boys gathered around Me and
said in a anxious tone "Raju, we came to know that Cholera and Plague
are rampant in our village. It seems they are dangerous and fatal. What
would be our fate?" I told them, "The body has to perish one day or the
other, whatever may be the precautions you take. So, do not be afraid of
death. Contemplate on God and take care that the diseases do not afflict
you". The boys asked Me as to which form of God they should contemplate
on. They were all very innocent. In those days this was a very small
village with a population of 106. They had no idea as to which form of
God they should worship. I told them to light a lamp, place it in the
bazaar at 6 o' clock in the evening and do Bhajans. They did not know
what Bhajans to sing. Then I composed a few Bhajans for them. I told
them "We need not search for God outside. He is within us. Let us go
around the village chanting the name of Ranga, donning ochre robes and
anklets, playing the cymbals in our hands and getting rid of the evil
qualities of anger and desire." In those days, after 5 O'clock in the
evening no one dared to go beyond the Sathyamma temple as they
considered it to be far off from the village and believed that the area
beyond the temple limits was haunted. I infused confidence in them
saying there are no ghosts or devils and advised them to drive away the
diseases of cholera and plague by chanting the name of God. We wore
anklets and walked up to the riverbed of Chitravathi playing the cymbals
and singing Bhajans. It was the divine name, which eradicated diseases
of cholera and plague for good within a short span of three days. The
parents brought the children to Me and expressed their gratitude for
having saved them from the epidemic. They said, "Raju, we are indebted
to You for having instilled courage and confidence in our children. We
don't want them to attend school, instead they will come to You. Kindly
impart the education necessary for their welfare." Everyday at 6 o'
clock in the evening, they would assemble at My residence, after having
their dinner, for tuition. They used to address Me as 'tuition master'.
Their parents wanted to offer 3 Paise per month as Guru Dakshina, which
I flatly refused. The children used to come to Me every evening for
learning numeric tables and alphabets. Taking this as a pretext, I used
to impart value-oriented education also. I used to advice them to keep
away from bad company and not to indulge in criticism and slander.
Cultivate good habits and good qualities. Respect your parents and obey
their commands. Since then there was marked improvement in their
behavior and outlook.

On moonlit nights, we used to go to Chithravathi at 6 o'clock in the
evening and return only at 11 in the night. Few elders also would
accompany us. They used to pass time by playing games like Kabaddi, but
the children were not interested in joining them. In spite of My
repeated entreaties, they would not participate in any of these
pastimes. They were more interested in Bhajans and being around Me. They
would request Me to lead Bhajans. Thus we used to spend our time in
Chithravathi singing Bhajans. The children used to plead with Me to
compose new Bhajans and tunes. They used to extol My composing
capabilities. I used to ask them to express their desires, if any, but
not praise Me.

One day a pharmacist by name Kotte Subbanna came to Puttaparthi from
Kamalapuram. He had heard a great deal about My composing capabilities
and had come to request Me to write a song that would serve as an
advertisement for his new medicine. He came to Subbamma and enquired
about Me. She told him, "I know Raju very well. He is the only good boy
in the entire village. He is one of good character, behavior and
conduct. Not merely that, He imparts good teachings to others."

One day Subbamma invited Kotte Subbanna for lunch. During the lunch, he
expressed doubts regarding My composing skills. He said it was difficult
for him to believe that a tiny tot like Me could write good poetry that
would sell his new medicine in the market. Consequently, I sent him away
saying, better that he goes to some person whose composing skills he had
faith in.

I had immense love for the children. Keshanna, Ranganna, Subbanna and
Ramanna were among the children whom I used to take to the riverbed
every evening. Words are inadequate to describe their innocence, purity
and love for Me. A seven year-old boy used to request Me to lie down for
a while keeping My head on his lap saying, I looked very tired and
needed some rest. Seeing this other children also wanted to have the
privilege of keeping My head on their laps. Then they thought of a plan
so that all would get an equal chance. It was decided that each boy
would take turns to keep My head on his lap for a count of one to fifty.
They missed no opportunity to serve Me and I used to satisfy all of them.

One day Kotte Subbanna came to Me again and said, "Raju, all these
children are ready to obey your command. They all sing well and have
sweet voice. Please write a few songs to advertise my new medicine and
ask these children to go around the village singing them. I am prepared
to pay remuneration for this." I told him, "I do not like this business
of give and take. These children also do not approve of this. Anyway
tell Me exactly what your medicine is. I will compose a song
accordingly." He explained that the name of the medicine was Bala
Bhaskara and that it could cure many types of ailments. I composed a
beautiful song in Telugu on the efficacy of the medicine - "O children,
come here, a new medicine, Bala Bhaskara, has arrived in the market. It
is a wonderful remedy for various ailments like stomachache,
indigestion, malnutrition and swelling of legs and hands. It is
available in the shop of Kotte Subbanna. It is a very good tonic
prepared by Pandit Sri Gopalacharya." Kotte Subbanna was very much
pleased with the poem and got it written in big sheets of paper for
advertisement. As his luck would have it, I was taken to Kamalapuram for
studying 5th and 6th classes. Kotte Subbanna made maximum use of My stay
in Kamalapuram for the advertisement of his medicines.

Right from early days I have been a source of inspiration for the young
children. I would exhort them to desist from hurting others and
discharge their duties sincerely. During the month of Magha, I used to
take the children to the temple of Anjaneya at 4 o'clock in the morning.
Some of the children were so young that they would not get up at that
early hour. So, I would carry them to the nearby pond, give them a bath,
and take them to the temple. I would sit at the temple, while the
children would do Pradakshina (circumambulation). One day they insisted
that I too should join them in circumambulating the temple. I finally
yielded to their pressure and started circumambulating the temple.
Believe it or not, Anjaneya himself came and stopped Me from going round
the temple saying, "O Lord! It is I who should circumambulate you. You
should not do this." But the children mistook Anjaneya for an ordinary
monkey. I told them that Anjaneya himself came and would not allow Me to
circumambulate the temple. After this incident there was a great
transformation in the hearts of the children. They went around the
village telling people what they witnessed at the Anjaneya temple. This
news reached Karnam Subbamma also.

Next day she invited Me to her house saying, "Raju, today I have
prepared dosas, you should come and partake of them." In those days food
items like idli and dosas were considered to be rich man's food. I told
Subbamma that it is not My nature to eat alone leaving so many other
children. Then Subbama prepared dosas for all the children.

The villagers had lot of reverence for Me. It is because of Sathya Sai
Baba that the people of Puttaparthi started thinking of God for the
first time in their lives. It gradually spread to the other villages
too. I used to exhort the villagers to refrain from partaking of
non-vegetarian food, consuming liquor and smoking. I used to stress on
the need for Sathwic food.

During the festival of Ekadasi, it was a practice to hold bullock cart
races on the riverbed of Chithravathi. They used to whip the bullocks to
make them run faster. I would tell the children to insist upon their
fathers to stop whipping the bullocks. Not only now, even in those days
I taught the principle of non-violence.

Cockfights were quite common in villages those days. They used to tie
small knives to the legs of cocks and make them fight with each other
till one of them died. In the process, the other cock would get injured
badly. I told them that one should have competition in doing good deeds,
not in such cruel acts.

One day the father of this body, Pedda Venkama Raju chided Me for
interfering in the affairs of the village. He said that the elders knew
better and I should not cross My limits. I told him that I could not
tolerate if the animals are killed or ill treated. As he could not
convince Me, he directed the mother of this body to advise Me. At the
time of serving food, she would tell Me, "Sathya, you should not do
things that would displease your father. If you do not listen to him,
you will earn a bad name in the village." I argued with her saying I was
doing only good and was not bothered about what others' said. I
emphasized that one who always does good will never be put to disrepute.
Kondama Raju, the grandfather of this physical body also supported My
argument. He called the villagers and told them that what I was doing
was good for the village. He too advised them to refrain from violence
and gambling. He cautioned them that lack of unity would lead to unrest
in the village.

Because of this kind of teachings some people developed hatred towards
Me. I had to go to Bukkapatnam by 7 a.m. to attend the school. Teachers
were very affectionate towards Me. Every teacher would first ask as he
entered the classroom, "Has Raju come?" Do you realize what I was like
in those days? Ours was a poor family. Like children of these days I did
not have dozens of sets of dresses. I just had one pair of shirt and
shorts. As soon as I returned from school I would take off My clothes,
wash them and put them up to dry and wear a towel round My waist. This
way I would make-do with one pair of dress for a whole year. When
questions were put to Me at school I would always answer well. Most
other students were not good at answering questions. My fellow
classmates were quite grown up - in fact some of them were almost 25
years of age and most of them would be wearing dhoties. I was the
youngest in the class. One day when I answered a question well, Mahboob
Khan asked Me to slap the other dull students. I would have to climb on
to the desk to reach their cheeks. I used to touch them gently on their
cheeks. The teacher then chided Me, "Have I asked you to apply turmeric
on their faces? I will show how!" Saying this he gave a few hard slaps.
As I was returning to Puttaparthi, some of the students threw Me down on
the sands of the river and dragged me along by my legs. They tore off My
shirt and threw Me into the slush. All through this torture I remained
calm. Peace is My nature. Love is My very nature. Peace is the form of
Swami. Bliss is My resolve.

After reaching the Hanuman temple I washed My clothes and put them on
again. Students may well imagine My state then. If there is a tear in My
shirt, there was not even a safety pin available to hold the cloth
together. Nor had I any money to buy it. I had no desire to request
anyone also. I do not ask for anything from anybody. This resolve I have
been upholding from that day to this day. I went to Sathyamma temple and
took out a thorn from a cactus and used it as a pin to mend the tear on
my shirt. If one remains steadfast in his true resolve, anything can be
achieved.

Once Subbamma told Me, "Raju, you are becoming weak. Eat well and grow
strong. My friends would bring everything prepared in their house for
Me. But I used to tell them, "See, in your houses meat or fish is cooked
and eaten. Please don't bring anything from such houses."

This way I brought down non-vegetarianism in Puttaparthi. In the same
manner I had prevented cruelty to animals in the form of cockfights and
cart races and also prevented the gambling habit.

Once some people inimical to Me, set fire to the room I was sleeping in.
There were some 10 children of the age of 6-9 years, sleeping outside in
the verandah. The miscreants had locked My room from outside and set
fire to the roof. The children were shouting loudly, "Raju! Raju!" I
peeped out through the small window smilingly and said, "Don't be
afraid. Dharma Eva Hato Hanti, Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah (Righteousness,
when destroyed, destroys, Righteousness when protected, protects). We
protect truth and truth protects us. Have firm faith in this precept.
The children closed their eyes and chanted "Raju! Raju!" as if it were a
Mantra. As roof was made of hay, there was a big conflagration. Suddenly
there was a cloudburst and the fire was totally put out. The downpour
was just over that small hut and nowhere else. The joy of the children
was indescribable. "Raju, Raju... What a great miracle?" They were
shouting, "we cannot live without you". I called them in and gave them
some guavas and bananas. They asked Me, wherefrom I got these fruits. I
told then, "Why do you bother - eat what is given." Whether it is a
mansion or a wayside shelter what does it matter, it is enough if you
get sleep. Likewise, it is enough if your stomach is full.

Subbamma came to know of the episode next day. Subbamma was a great
soul. Swami was her very life. She set afoot a detailed search to find
the culprits. They were caught. She ordered that they should be banished
from the village. The entire property of the village belonged to her.
She was very wealthy. All lands belonged to her. So she ordered them to
get out of her lands. Then I caught hold of her hands. I told her,
"Please don't harm them because of Me. Knowingly or unknowingly they
have committed a mistake. Please forgive them. Please don't drive them
away." When she told them this, all those children came to Swami and
carried Him over their shoulders. Subbanna, Ramanna...etc, they were
very proud people. They carried Me on their shoulders saying, "You must
have been some great person in your earlier birth. Otherwise you cannot
have such nobleness in you. Because of you, gradually this village is
going to attain great fame" Subbamma said, "Don't mistake Him for a
small boy. His power is like a lightning strike, how can you understand
His true nature?" From that day, she did not allow Me to go out of her
house. I stayed in her house and went to school from there itself. She
was a great lady. She was sixty years old then. She was always looking
for Me asking, "Is Raju there? Is Raju there?" She would only sleep
after seeing Me safe. She was trying to protect Me from the wicked
people in the village.

One day, a brahmin lady came. She requested Subbamma to send Raju to her
house for taking snacks in her house. Subbamma was not very happy at the
proposition. She was suspicious and thought that there was some evil
intention behind the invitation. She refused and told Me, "Raju don't go
anywhere without my consent". I said, "Subbamma! Why do you want to
thwart her desire?" She replied, "There is some wicked purpose behind
her invitation." But I persisted and said, "I must fulfil her request."
I went there. She had made some Vadas. They were poisoned. I ate them.
Within five minutes My entire blood stream had turned blue. Subbamma
came to know of this and came running looking for Me. When she found Me,
I told her, "Don't worry, what they wanted, they have done. I can look
after Myself." Then I asked Subbamma to give Me a tumbler of water with
her own hands. As soon as I took that water, the blueness vanished.
Subbamma's anger had reached its limits. She said, "Such women will ruin
the reputation of Puttaparthi. There is no room for such people in this
village. Only righteous and good natured people should live here."

She called the mothers of Swami's companions and told them, "These
children are not yours. They are all mine. They should be with Raju all
the time. They should spend every moment of their life with Raju". Till
recently they were alive. You all may know Bukkapatnam Sathyanarayana,
he was one of them and is still with us here. He was My classmate in the
6th class. All these children would come to Swami. It is hard to
describe their unsullied affection, devotion and attachment to Swami.
The Kali Yuga has poisoned the minds of children.

Those days when Swami stretched Himself to sleep, there was competition
between them to take His head on their laps. They would say, "Raju,
since you slept on my lap, there is no pain or distress in my body and
there is some kind of joy filling me." I wonder if the children of today
will have the same sentiments.

Children's minds are now filled with unrighteous feelings. Yad Bhavam
Tad Bhavati, as is the state of mind, so is the state of person.
Children of those days were very pure and innocent. Swami resolved then
to spread these qualities to the villagers for their own good. Mere
Bhajan or chanting "Rama, Govinda" is not great. Cultivate good habits.
One should develop exemplary qualities and earn a good name. Swami is
happy when students acquire the reputation for good character. The
children's behavior should be good right from the start. That is why I
say. Start early, drive slowly and reach safely. If you develop sacred
habits from early age you grow into an exemplary human. Even today those
who were with Me, are there as shining examples in the villages. When
Swami is returning from Bangalore, all along the way when they see Me,
they offer their salutations, saying "Swami! Swami!" with great joy.
Those who have followed Me by car know how these people bring pot-full
of water and wash the roads. They say, "Swami, you have brought water to
us. We have to offer it back to You only.

If I just ask them, "how are you?" they are transported with bliss.

It is for this purpose of transformation that I have not accumulated any
money, not a paisa. I have no property worth even a paisa. My entire
wealth is My students. I ask for nothing. I only give and give. There is
no limit to Swami's giving. The devotees must be made happy by giving
something. Swami's sole concern is the welfare of His devotees. No one
needs worry about My welfare. My welfare is in My hands. Therefore, if
one leads his life without departing from Truth and Righteousness, life
will be fruitful and meaningful.

There are many more important but unknown things to be told to the
students. I shall tell you more to tomorrow.

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