Sai Darshan Home <darshan.html>
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Date:23 Nov 1999 Occasion:74th Birthday Place:Prashanti Nilayam

Indwelling and Pervading Divinity

 

Embodiments of Love!

The Vedas, the very source of all spiritual principles, have been
enlightening the whole world from ancient days from this holy land of
Bharat. The Vedas are the very forms of God. Divinity resides in all,
living and non-living things. Anoraneeyaan Mahatomaheeyaan - from the
microcosm to the macrocosm, the entire universe is pervaded by Divinity.
This Viswa (cosmos) is the form of Divinity. From dawn to dusk, we
experience this form of the Divine, and yet fail to realize this fact.
All that your eyes see are forms of the Divine. All the sounds you hear
are equally pervaded with Divinity. Even the thoughts in your mind are
forms of the Divine. The bliss that emanates from the heart is also
Divine. When everything that is seen, heard, experienced and enjoyed is
Divine, how foolish it is to search for God elsewhere. You are seeing
God in the form of the world every moment. Since you lack divine
feeling, you see God as the world, instead of seeing the world as God.
Once you understand that Viswam Vishnu Swarupam (the universe is the
form of Vishnu), you will certainly be able to see the world as God. Yat
Bhaavam Tat Bhavati (as is the feeling, so is the result).

Divinity pervades the entire cosmos. Do not have the feeling that God is
present in one place and not in another. He is everywhere. Wherever you
search for Him, you will find Him there. But you should give up worldly
feelings and fill your vision with divine feelings. Only then can you
understand and experience the Vedic dictum, Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat
(the whole world is pervaded by God). Do not limit God to a particular
name and form. He exists in all beings and all forms as Atmic principle.
In fact, it is the power of the Divine that makes you see, hear, talk,
experience and enjoy. In that case you may ask whether difficulties,
worries and misfortunes are also Divine? Yes indeed! They too are forms
of the Divine. Here is a small example. Lord Narayana protected
Prahlada, who constantly chanted His name and contemplated on Him. But
he became the Lord of Death for Hiranyakasipu who had no God
consciousness and led a worldly life. So, both God and Yama (Lord of
Death) are one and the same. He acts according to the feelings of the
individual. Even the evilest of men have some good in them. This
goodness is the aspect of Divinity in them. The Upanishads say, Easwarah
Sarva Bhoothaanaam (God is the indweller of all beings), Isavaasyam Idam
Jagat (God pervades the whole world). Do not be misled by terms like
Atma, Brahma, Easwara, Vishnu, etc. These are all synonyms of one and
the same Divinity.

The term "Bhagavan" stands for Divinity. What is the inner meaning of
this word? The syllable "Bha" stands for effulgence, "ga" for one who
gives and '"van" means one who is capable. So, "Bhagavan" means the one
who is capable of spreading light and effulgence to the world. This
Divinity is latent in you. The principle of Atma is one and the same in
all, be it a Yogi (renunciant), a Bhogi (pleasure- seeker), a Jogi
(itinerant renunciant) or a Viraagi (dispassionate one). It is present
in theists and also in atheists. But, you are unable to recognize this
all-pervasive Divinity. You are undertaking various spiritual practices
limiting Divinity to a particular name of individual preference.
Spiritual practices should confer the awareness that Divinity is
all-pervasive. Just as fire is needed till the rice is cooked, so also
the spiritual practices are needed till you realize the innate Divinity.

Even if you sow seeds, how can you expect crops if there are no rains?
Even if there are rains, you cannot expect crops if you do not sow
seeds. Likewise, both human effort and Divine grace are needed to
achieve success in any endeavor. Though butter is present all over the
milk, one cannot see it, unless one curdles the milk and churns it.
Likewise, though Divinity is all-pervasive, one cannot experience it,
unless one makes appropriate efforts. Human effort can be compared to
churning of milk. Once the butter is separated from the milk by
churning, it will not get mixed with milk again. If you partake of the
churned butter, your entire being experiences it. Likewise, you will
become one with Divinity once you have experience it.

Before partaking of food, you offer it to Brahma by chanting the
following Sloka from the Bhagavad Gita:

Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmagnou Brahmana Hutham
Brahmaiva Thena Ganthavyam
Brahmakarma Samadhina.

Where is Brahma? He is very much present in you. That is why you get the
reply immediately from within:

Aham Vaishvaanaro Bhoothva
Praaninaam Dehamaasritha
Pranaapaana Samaayuktah
Pachaamyannam Chathurvidham.

God is present in you in the form of Vaishvaanara. He digests the food
that you partake of and distributes the essence to all parts of the
body. God, who is present within is called Vaishvaanara and the
all-pervasive Divinity is known as Vishnu. Devotees attribute different
names and forms to God based on their feelings, but God is one. Worship
Him with the feeling that He is not separate from you. He is in you. He
is the embodiment of love. He will manifest from within only when you
develop pure and selfless love. Spiritual practices done without the
principle of love is useless. Some people sit hours together in
meditation, but are unable to experience Divinity because their mind is
unsteady. Instead of wasting time in this manner, better that they do
some useful work. God is the embodiment of time. So, do not waste time.
"Sarvada Sarvakaaleshu Sarvathra Hanchinthanam," think of God at all
places, at all times, under all circumstances. Pure and selfless love is
the only way to attain Divinity. Fulfillment of worldly desires will
confer only temporary happiness. So, put a check over your desires. Your
goal is permanent and eternal bliss. It is within you and can be
attained only through love.

Every cell in your body contains the details of your whole being. In
effect every cell in your body holds your whole form. There are billions
of cells in your body. While your form is immanent in each cell and in
each limb in the microcosm, your body is your own macrocosmic form. In
the same manner each one of you is the cosmic divine form (Viswaviraat
Swarupa). To fully appreciate this reality needs some effort.

You go to a village to see your friend, but you do not know his address.
How can you expect to meet him unless you know his correct address? Here
is another example: Many people have gathered here now. You want to meet
a particular boy. You say that he has put on a bush coat, a pant and has
got a good hairstyle. But this information is not sufficient to trace
the boy, because there may be many boys in this crowd who fit this
description. Instead if you announce his name, say Ramakrishna, from the
stage, immediately he will get up from the crowd. It is the name that
leads you to the form. That is why the ancient sages and seers started
Namachinthana (continuous contemplation on the Divine name) to have the
vision of God. They undertook various spiritual practices with total
devotion and earnestness. Do not dismiss this effort as meaningless.

The other day, I spoke about Bhavani-Shankara. Bhavani symbolizes
earnestness and Shankara stands for faith. You can achieve anything in
life if you have earnestness and faith. As this world is the very form
of Bhavani-Shankara, it is called Ardhanaareeshwararupa (Androgynous).
It is based on this that we use "Srimati" to address ladies and "Sri" to
address gentleman. The ancient sages and seers said, "Sraddhaavaan
Labhate Jnanam," wisdom can be attained only through earnestness. You
should consider (Viswaasa) as your life breath (Swaasa).

God has many names and forms. Sambhartha and Bhartha are two of those
names of God. Sambhartha is one who creates everything taking nature
(Prakriti) as the means and Bharta is one who sustains and protects the
creation. Telugu speaking people use this word for husband, but actually
means master, sustainer and protector.

Today you are wasting your time by not making any effort to know
Divinity. Out of 24 hours in a day, allot 6 hours for personal work, 6
hours for social service, 6 hours for sleeping and the remaining 6 hours
for spiritual practices like Japa, Dhyana and Yoga. Some people say they
do not have time to think of God, but they waste hours together in
mundane matters. Life becomes meaningless if you do not think of God.
Body is gifted to make proper use of time. Body will be sanctified only
when it is used for sacred activities. You should understand the
relationship between body (Kaayamu), time (Kalamu) and responsibility
(Karthavyamu). Do not waste even a single moment. Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa used to contemplate on Divine Mother day in and day out.
Before going to bed, he would feel sad thinking that another day had
passed without the Darshan of the Divine Mother. He used to think,
"Perhaps my heart has not become ripe to deserve the Divine grace. What
is the use of eating a unripe fruit? So, I shall ripen my heart and
offer it to Mother." That is the true spiritual practice in its subtle
essence.

A student cannot be promoted to a higher class if he is not subjected to
test. One does not get a job unless one passes the test and interview.
Similarly, God tests a devotee for his welfare and progress. Test is His
taste. Even Narada, who always used to sing the glory of Lord Narayana,
was subjected to test by Lord Narayana. He said, "Narada, have you tried
to understand the mystery of My creation? I created the five elements.
This entire cosmos is made up of these five elements. Which of these
five elements is most important?" Narada replied, "How can I not know
this, my Lord? I have cognized everything in this creation. If I cannot
understand this truth who else can?" The Lord then asked, "Which among
the five elements is the most important?" Narada replied, "Water is most
important, for three-fourths of the earth is enveloped by water. Land is
only one-fourth of the earth's surface." Narayana remarked, "But, the
sage Agastya drank up the ocean in a single gulp. So, is Agastya greater
or water?" Narada replied, "You are right my Lord, Agastya is greater
than water." Narayana asked again, "But, this Agastya is a tiny star in
the sky (Akasa). Now is this star greater or the sky?" Narada replied,
"It is the sky that is greater." The lord agreed and said, "Your
understanding is correct. The sky indeed is greater. In His incarnation
as Vamana, the Lord asked for three steps from king Bali. And in the
course of taking the gift of three steps, Vamana assumed the form of
Thrivikrama and covered the entire earth in one step, and the space from
the earth to the sky in second and there was no room for the third step.
King Bali had to offer his head for the third step. So now, is God great
or the sky?" Narada replied, "Swami, when the mere foot of the Lord
covers the entire sky, how much greater His full form would be? God
indeed is greater." "God, who envelops the entire cosmos is imprisoned
in the heart of His Bhakta (devotee). So now, is the heart of the
devotee greater or God?" asked Narayana. Narada replied, "Indeed, the
heart of the devotee is greater".

Narayana replied, "I am a resident of your heart (Hridayavaasi). I am a
prisoner of your heart. I have no freedom and have to go along with the
desires of My devotees." But no one can decide the functions and
activities of God. Such questions of the actions of God are futile. When
everything is pervaded with God, what is there that he is not capable of
doing?

There is no constraint of time, place, distance or complexity to the
actions of God. There is no creature that can impose limitations or
constraints on God. God is utterly selfless. All His actions are sacred
whether it seems pleasant or unpleasant to you. Students are sometimes
confused. They feel, if Swami is God, will He do this or that. How can
you decide what God should do? No one has the authority to question the
powers of God. He alone decides whether to reward, punish, protect or
destroy any thing.

"Yada, Yada Hi Dharmasya Glaanir Bhavati Bharata,
Abhyutthaanamadharmasya Thdaatmaanam Srulaamyaham."

God incarnates from age to age, whenever there is a decline of
righteousness to destroy the evil and protect the righteous. Sathya
(truth) has to be upheld and Asathya (untruth) is to be destroyed.
Dharma is to be protected, Adharma is to be destroyed.

You go to the market and buy a mango. Just because you paid for whole
mango, you will not eat the rind or the seed. In the same way, you
should only accept what is good and reject what is waste. It is human
nature to accept the good and wholesome and reject the filth.

Swami's body is human. So are all yours. How do we expound the unity
principle (Advaita)? There are three forms of this principle of oneness:
Unity of substance, unity of matter and unity of action. This piece of
cloth is a single entity. There is yarn in it. The yarn is made of
cotton. When all these are woven together, you get a piece of cloth. If
you unravel the material, the cloth, the thread and the cotton all fall
apart. When such a combination of matter in different forms is made a
simple object is produced. This is one kind of unity -material unity.
While the names and forms are different, the substance (Pancha Bhutaas)
of all bodies are the same and are suffused with the five sensory
perceptions (Sabda, Sparsha, Rupa, Rasa and Gandha) and the five life
principles (Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana) are the same in all
of you. No matter where you are, your body is composed of the five
elements only. There is no sixth element anywhere. "This body is a den
of corruption, full of diseases, continually changing, how can it cross
the ocean of Samsaara? Oh mind! For certain this body is transient. Keep
your mind firmly on the Feet of the Lord and surrender to it." When the
five elements are separated from the body, it loses its identity. Once
the life has left, the body is only fit for burial or cremation, the
elements fall apart into their original form. Therefore, before the body
perishes, make all effort to experience the Divinity within. It is only
through body that one can experience Divinity. So, body has to be
properly taken care of. The body is Karmakshetra (center of all
activities), the Heart is Dharmakshetra (center of righteousness) and
Divinity is Brahmakshetra The Divinity enshrined in the heart is
Brahmakshetra. So, to understand the pure Brahmakshetra, it is necessary
for you to purify your Dharmakshetra, that is your heart. Karmakshetra
and Dharmakshetra are in the same body. This is why the Bhagavad Gita
begins, "Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre..." All thoughts arising in the mind
also pertain to the Karmakshetra (Kurukshetra). Thus all actions of
Karma and Dharma are performed in the same field of the body, which
includes the Dharmakshetra and Karmakshetra. Divinity intervenes and
separates the Dharmakshetras and Karmakshetras (Kurukshetra). A man of
discernment is able to make this discrimination between Dharma and Karma.

In this world, there is nothing easier than attaining God. You face
hardships and feel dejected because you do not understand this truth.
Last night, you would have seen the drama staged by the students,
wherein, a businessman weeps for not being able to get a business
license from the government authority. Instead of shedding tears for
such mundane things, why don't you pine for the vision of God? Once
Vivekananda asked Ramakrishna Paramahamsa whether he had seen God.
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa emphatically replied, "Yes, I have seen God. I
have seen Him just as I am seeing you and you are seeing me." "Then how
is it that I don't see Him?" asked Narendra (Vivekananda). Ramakrishna
gave a full answer, "You weep for your family, you suffer for your
business and wealth, but do you ever weep or yearn for a vision of God?
Do that and you will certainly see God! All the time I am pining only
for the vision of God. Therefore, God is visible for me for all the time
in every human being." The purpose of our birth should be achieved by
the sacrifice of everything. Therefore the Vedas say, Na Karmana, Na
Prajaya, Dhanena Thyagenaikena Amrutatwamanusuhu (sacrifice alone
ensures immortality).

We breathe in; if we do not exhale, the lungs will not be able to
function properly. We eat. If we do not excrete, our stomach is upset.
Similarly, in our circulatory system, blood is traversing an enormous
distance each day. If a little is blocked at any location in this
journey, a clot develops. The flow of blood works for the removal of all
kinds of toxic products produced in the body and helps in the ejection
of the same. Without evacuation of unhealthy substances from the body,
good health is not possible. Thus, in sacrifice also there is
satisfaction. In fact, there is Ananda (bliss) in sacrifice. The
practical man of today questions the usefulness of sacrifice. Man is so
selfish that he refuses even to give a handful of food to a starving
beggar. How much joy is experienced when one is able to satisfy the
hunger of a hungry person! Would you not feel joy when a few starving
people are fed? In human society, narrow-minded selfishness is rampant.

Once, in Mumbai, Indulal Shah, Dr. Keki and Swami were going from
Dharmakshetra to the city. A beggar approached. Indulal Shah gave the
beggar a 2 rupee note. The beggar threw back the note at him, saying
that it would not fetch even a loaf of bread. A beggar can discard 2
rupees without any regret. Such is the state of society today. Money has
lost its basic value. Why money, even human life has very little value
in today's society. People struggle hard to amass wealth, comfort and
happiness, even risking their own life. When somebody dies in an
accident or calamity, the government gives a few rupees as compensation
for the life lost. Are a few rupees the worth of a life? Has it become
that cheap? No, human life is worth a lot more. When the body is dead,
the life principle is not altogether lost.

People are in search of shortcuts for everything, even spirituality.
But, in practice there is a shortcut to Divinity. There is no need to
wander here and there. God is residing in your heart. Turn your vision
inward. You can see God instantly. This is the easiest path. Where is
God? Have full faith that Divinity resides in you. If you keep reminding
yourself constantly that you are a part of Divinity, you are bound to
become Divine yourself. On the other hand, if the feeling is that you
are something apart from the Divine, you shall remain far from Divinity
always. There is no need for you to give up your vocations, keep doing
your function in society, but always remember that you are essentially
Divine. God Himself intervenes when His devotees are in distress in the
performance of their functions in society. You all know the story of
Gora Kumbhar and Kabir. When they were confronted with impossible tasks
they were helped by God in person, who completed their task of making
pots or weaving cloth. God is capable of taking any form that He Wills.
Hence is He known as the Viraat Swarupa. The Purusha Sukta (in the Rig
Veda) says, Sahasra Seerasha Purushaha, Sahasraaksha Sahasra Paath...",
while describing the Viraat Swarupa. The Viraat Purusha has innumerable
limbs.

Become worthy of His love. You can achieve everything. This is possible
only through a Nishkaama Prema (unselfish love). Self by itself is
devoid of love. Love is in fact selflessness. By cultivating such
selfless love, you become Divine yourself. And this Divinity is an
undivided ONE. Hence is it said, "Advaita Darshanam Jnanam" (Vision is
unity is true wisdom). Cultivate your faith and make it firm. There
should be no ups and downs in this faith. If you allow such
vacillations, you are likely to lose whatever faith you have. A firm
faith results in your attaining Brahmananda (Divine Bliss). The
happiness experienced with the body is human (Dehananda). The joy felt
in the mind is Chitthananda (intellectual pleasure). When the mind is
suppressed, joy is felt in the heart. The joy experienced by the heart
is Chidananda, which is immeasurably greater than the joy of the mind.
The Chitthanananda is higher by a similar order of magnitude from the
bodily happiness (Dehananda). We are losing our opportunity of attaining
this level of bliss needlessly. Step by step you have to rise through
these levels of happiness until you attain Brahmananda. In this way, you
merge your personal bliss into the universal bliss of Brahmananda, which
is eternal Nityanandam (eternal bliss)...etc. (Sanskrit Verse). One has
to experience this bliss, which is none other than Satchidananda. Sath
is being, which is eternal. Chit is total knowledge i.e., omniscience.
When these two are united, total joy i.e., Satchida-nanda is realized.
As Sath, Chit and Ananda are present in each individual, it is asserted
that God is present in everyone in the form of Satchida-nanda.
Therefore, you need not perform any Sadhana or if you are following some
such practice, there is no need for you to abandon it. But in any event,
surrender your heart to God. This is called Saranagati (surrender). Once
Lakshmana told Rama that his all i.e., wealth, family, possessions and
his very bodily service was for the use of Rama.

Rama said, I do not need all this, what use have I for all these, just
purify your thoughts, words and deeds and your heart. With that you will
experience heaven itself. They say happiness is heaven itself. Happiness
is obtained by the control of the senses. So, you can attain heaven by
controlling your senses. Many people say that they experience the very
heaven in Prasanthi Nilayam. How long will this happiness last? This
will vanish the moment you leave this place. True heaven is inside you.
This is again described as immortality. What is meant by immortality?
The body is mortal, but the life principle is imperishable. If you have
to attain this level of immortality, extend total love to God. This
should be unconditional love. There should be no conditions to love. It
is like going to a goldsmith with a piece of gold and asking him to make
some jewelry of the design of your liking. Your business is only to
leave the gold with him with the condition that the weight and design
should be to your specification. You have no business to interfere in
the manner in which he converts your lump of gold into the piece of
jewel you want. If you start stipulating that you should not burn it in
fire, or beat it with a hammer, how can you get the ornament that you
ordered? In the same way, if your surrender of your heart to God is with
conditions and reservations, how can you attain the bliss that you seek?
Once complete surrender is performed, God will grant you the bliss you
deserve. What He does with it in the meanwhile is His business. A love
full of conditions will only result in very sad state for your body and
mind. Therefore, pray to God with unconditional surrender. When all that
you possess, your body, your mind, your intellect, are His gifts, where
is the need for your laying conditions?

Be fearless. Lead your life without fear disturbing it. Do not be guided
by the opinions and advice of others around you into actions not in line
with your conscience. There are a few who piously place the mark of
Vibhuti on their forehead while at home, but wipe it off the moment they
step out. There are some that are even ashamed to say that they are
coming to Prasanthi Nilayam and tell their friends that they are going
to Anantapur. Why should you worry about their opinion? Is it something
wrong to come here? There are so many wrong things that you do without
any fear, then what is there to be afraid of to say that you are going
to see God? One should never be afraid of expressing one's faith in God.
Come forward boldly. These days people are afraid or ashamed of
performing their cultural and spiritual practices as also to perform
good deeds.

(Swami sang a Telugu song describing the plight of those who are
constantly afraid).

Abandon fear and live your life in bliss. Involvement in worldly life
has made you fearful and forget your spiritual way of living. The bliss
that is experienced when you are with God is beyond words,
inexpressible. Words and thoughts return in utter futility, unable to
describe the experience. It is this type of divinely bliss in which you
should lead your daily life. Such is true human living. Having been born
as a human being, you should not waste your life living like an animal.
Eating, drinking, procreation, sleep, etc., are common to men and
animals. What distinguishes man from other living things? Man is the
only living being endowed with capacity for wisdom. A man without wisdom
is no better than an animal. From living at a human level, one should
aspire to reach the Divine. Of the several levels of living, at a low
level is the demonic, then the animal, higher is human and ultimately
the divine. When such a divine life is within your reach and sight, why
should you fear? Be fearless in this respect and do not let your company
to lead you astray.

The other day, Bhagavan told you about the books that you should study.
In fact, the only book that is worth studying is the world itself. This
is the only book that contains everything you need. Once you have
finished reading this book, discard it.

Three principles are expounded in respect of spirituality. These are:

   1. Don't put all your faith in your body for you do not know what
      will happen at any moment of time.
   2. Don't put your faith in the external world.
   3. Never abandon your faith in God.

Once you are fully aware of these three principles, you can achieve
anything.

Swami's message for you today is Swami is you and you are Swami. In
fact, Swami is not apart from you.

Who invited you here? You have all come here out of love for Swami. Out
of this love alone, so many thousands have assembled here. Here is
Bhagavan ready to be taken away by you. Carry Him away with you as you
like. Those who love Bhagavan wholeheartedly, to them He belongs wholly.
All that Bhagavan asks of you is your wholehearted unconditional love.
Recognize this truth and lead your life filled with love. Take this as
Swami's gift to you. Do not hate anybody. Hating anybody is no different
from hating God Himself. Surrender your whole being and belongings to
God. Experience unalloyed Divine bliss.

Students!

Pursue your study diligently. Obtain good positions in your examination.
Get good jobs in your appropriate chosen fields and serve your
motherland. Swami has no desire to stop anybody from working in any
profession or getting married or going abroad for study or work. Go
wherever you please. Do whatever job that is your lot, but never forget
God. Anything you do with God in your heart is pleasing to Me.
Forgetting God is no different from forgetting yourself.

One who is wandering in search of God is a fool. Is there anyone in the
world who will go about searching for himself? If you go to somebody and
ask, where am I, you will be promptly put in a mental asylum. As you are
Divinity itself and Divinity is your own self, where is the need for any
search? Search for God is an expression invented by sterile scholars.
There is no need for such an expression. You can search for the things
of the world, but do not go in search of God, for He is everywhere. If
you have this faith, you cannot help seeing Him and for certain you will
enjoy bliss. Strengthen your faith.

[Bhagavan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, "Hari Bhajana Bina
Sukha Santhi Nahi..."]

 

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