With ears deaf for the good and the true, all ears for evil and gossip,
how can such people hope for the divine?
Such is the truth.
This is the truth that is being conveyed
(Telugu Poem)

Embodiments of Love!

The need of the hour is for young men and women to develop and foster moral values. It is their bounden duty to uphold values. However, today the youth are unable to understand what morality is and what values are, let alone practising them. Consequently, they are subjected to untold hardships. It is said, one who lacks neeti (morality) is worse than a kothi (monkey). The term neeti is no ordinary word. It is highly valuable and sacred. How can one who does not foster morality uphold humanness? Humanness lies in leading a life of moral integrity. Modern youth have no idea as to what life is and what its goal is.

Morality is referred to as pourusha in Sanskrit. In fact, Jesus taught the importance of morality to the leaders in the Roman kingdom. Consequently, they named their kingdom after Jesus and called it he kingdom of God. The true meaning of morality lies in cognising and manifesting the latent divinity in humanity and propagating the same to the entire world.

The English word 'person' has its origin in the Roman word 'persona'. The Romans used this word to describe Jesus as he manifested his divinity and attracted everyone. The word 'persona' symbolises the divinity latent in man. Similarly vyakti is the equivalent word in Telugu for 'person'. A vyakti is one who has the capacity to manifest the avyakta (hidden) divinity. The words 'persona' and vyakti point to the truth that divinity lies in a hidden way in everybody. Man should make every effort to express the divinity that is hidden in him. Only then can he be called a vyakti or a true human being. Though divinity is latent in him, man considers himself weak and helpless, because he is unable to recognise and manifest this divinity.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, Bharat (India) was ruled by several kings. Thousands of years before Christ, Sri Ramachandra incarnated on the earth and earned the appreciation of all as an ideal emperor. Emperor Akbar and emperor Sivaji were also held in high esteem. They followed the spiritual path, expressing their innate divinity. Every man must endeavour to express his innate divinity.

Modern man has no knowledge of what vyakti means. He should give up ego and attachment, contemplate Divinity, and cultivate sacred feelings. He should develop theistic values and follow the spiritual path. What is spirituality? Spirituality means giving up animal tendencies and expressing the innate divinity.

But the modern education has robbed man of his humanness. Consequently, he forgets his innate divinity and cultivates bestial temperaments. People have forgotten the very meaning of humanness. That is why for the last fifteen years, we have taken up the propagation of human values in a big way. What are the human values? People say truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence are the human values. But true humanness lies in subduing the animal tendencies completely and contemplating the Divine all the time.

Our ancients have prescribed the worship of Maha Kali, Maha Durga, and Maha Saraswati during these navaratris (nine nights). Durga is the embodiment of all powers. Durga represents the combination of all the powers of body, mind, and soul. Maha Kali symbolises destruction of evil with the help of these powers. Maha Kali and Maha Durga are not elsewhere. They reside in every man.

When the mind and the senses, instead of following the dictates of conscience, follow wicked qualities, man becomes a slave to evil habits and turns wicked. The main purpose of celebration of navaratris is to annihilate cruelty and wickedness in man to bring forth the principle of the Atma in pristine form. When man reads, hears, and does wicked things, how can he expect to foster goodness? It is nothing short of bhrama (delusion) if he thinks that he is leading a good life. Brahma (Divinity) eludes one who is under the influence of bhrama.

Divinity is present in all. It has to be manifested. Just as man extracts various metals like copper and silver from mines, one should manifest sacred qualities from the mine of divinity, i.e. the heart. On listening to the teachings of Jesus, the people of Rome realised that divinity is present in every human being in a hidden way. Not merely that, divinity is all-pervasive in the form of Chaitanya (Consciousness). There is no place where this Chaitanya is not present. But man denies the existence of consciousness, because it is not visible to the naked eye. One should have the firm conviction that divinity is immanent in everything.

The mind is not like a white cloth, it bears the impressions of all that is seen and experienced by man in this world. The effects and acts of previous lives are imprinted on it. The mind is a conglomeration of conflicts, disturbances, and desires. The desires make man forget his true nature. One who forgets his humanness is no human at all. Purification of the mind is the main spiritual practice that one has to undertake. You will have the right to call yourself a human being only when you have a pure mind.

When, out of infinite love, kindness, and compassion, Swami tells goods words, people are not prepared to listen to them. But they all have ears to hear evil talks.

Today people are prepared to listen to vain gossip,
but when the sacred stories of the Lord are narrated, their ears get clogged.
People are never tired of going to cinemas,
but their eyes find it very difficult to concentrate on the beautiful form
of the Lord even for a minute. (Telugu Poem)

Today is the first day of the Veda Purusha Sapthaha Jnana Yajna. Purusha does not mean one who wears pants and shirt. God alone is Purusha. One with Pourusha is Purusha. Understand that all worldly feelings are negative in nature. Divinity alone is positive. It is within you. It is not subjected to change.

Embodiments of Love!

Modern students are not making any effort to cultivate moral values. One who lacks morality is no human being at all. True education is that which inculcates moral values. All your worldly achievements are of no avail if you lack moral values. You may amass wealth, build mansions and hold positions of authority, but without morality, all these are of little consequence. Morality is latent in the human heart. Man has to make every effort to manifest the same, but he is enamoured by worldly propensities.

God cannot be attained by money, position, and power. He submits Himself only to morality and integrity. So, men and women should uphold morality and integrity. They should have Daiva preethi, paapa bheethi and sangha neethi (love for God, fear of sin, and morality in society). Unfortunately, man is cultivating paapa preethi and Daiva dwesham (love for sin and hatred toward God). Daiva dwesham is the worst of all sins.

Love all. Understand this fundamental principle: Ekatma sarvabhutantaratma (one Atma is present in all beings). Love is the common principle to all. One bereft of love is like a corpse. So, cultivate love. Only through love can you realise your true nature. Just as one strives hard to earn money through various means, one should spare no efforts to cultivate love by treading along the spiritual path.

Just as anicuts are built across the rivers for irrigation purposes, man should have the anicut of sense control across the river of his life and direct his love for the benefit of society. He should conduct himself keeping the welfare of society in mind, because his welfare is linked to the welfare of society.

Students!

Since today is the first day of the yajna (sacrifice), I have given you guidelines for the future course of action in a simple manner. First of all, develop morality and purify your mind. The mind by nature is sacred, but it is being polluted because of its association with evil qualities. Repent wholeheartedly for the mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly. That would atone for your sins and purify your mind. Once you realise your mistake, repent wholeheartedly and see that you do not repeat it.

Embodiments of Love!

Your life is truly sacred. You are fortunate in the sense that you have chosen the spiritual path. Do not squander this opportunity by associating with evil company. Tell me your company, and I shall tell what you are. Your thoughts and actions are decided by the company you join. As your company, so you become. The good and bad of the world are based on man's conduct. Man's conduct is based on his thoughts. Thoughts are based on desires. Desires depend on the company you associate with. So, join good company. Good company gives rise to noble thoughts. Noble thoughts is the royal road to divinity.

Embodiments of Love!

Any mighty task can be accomplished if you have morality. Tomorrow, I will dilate on this topic of neeti and nijayati (morality and integrity). Neeti is the basis for maanava jaathi (human race). There is only one father for the entire humanity, and He is God.

Jesus addressed God as his father. At the time of crucifixion, he prayed, "Oh father, what sin have I committed? Why do you make me suffer? Please help me."

Then an ethereal voice spoke to Jesus thus, "My dear son, why do you worry? All are your brothers. You are thinking that you are being put to suffering by your own brothers. In fact, it is not suffering. Whatever happens is good for you. So, accept it cheerfully."

Jesus attained the state of tranquility and quietly closed his eyes. He declared, Death is the dress of life. Just as you change your dress, likewise the soul takes a new body after death. Man has no death at all. The body may change, but the Atma is immortal. You are eternal; you never change. The body changes, mind changes. So, you are not the body or the mind or the intellect, you are the Atma. The Atma has no form. It is called Consciousness. The five elements are the forms of the Atma. Distance yourselves from anrutattwa (falsehood) and attain amrutattwa (immortality).

Today man is ruining his life with bhranthi (delusion), which is giving rise to limitless desires. It is said, less luggage, more comfort make travel a pleasure. Your journey of life will be smooth and peaceful once you reduce the luggage of your desires. What did you bring with you at the time of birth? What are you going to take with you at the time of death? You came to this world empty-handed and will go empty-handed.

Understand that everything is a passing cloud. Your body has undergone changes, and your mind also keeps changing. So, you are neither of them. You are the changeless eternal Atmic principle. At the time of birth, you were a baby, after 10 years, you are called a boy. At the age of thirty, you are called man and at 75, you become grandfather. These changes are related to the body (pravrithi). However, the innate Atmic principle remains the same at any point of time. Therefore, Atma is your true Self. Develop Atma viswasa (self-confidence). Anything can be achieved with self-confidence. So, one should develop faith in oneself. One who does not believe in oneself cannot believe in God.

Today, man reads various books, but what is the use?

What is the use of acquiring worldly education if it cannot lead you to immortality?
Acquire the knowledge that will make you immortal.

Today man is all the time immersed in worldly pursuits. He is being carried away by momentary joys and pleasures. One day or the other all worldly wealth and comforts are bound to desert you. God alone is with you always. Even if you forget Him, He will never forsake you. So, think of God always. All your chinthalu (worries) will disappear in the chinthana (contemplation) of God.

To be born is a worry, to be on the earth is a worry;
World is a cause of worry and death too;
Entire childhood is a worry and so is the old age;
Life is a worry, failure is a worry;
All actions and difficulties cause worry;
Even happiness is a worry in disguise.
Oh people, at least from now onward chant the Divine Name incessantly and wholeheartedly.
That alone will put an end to your worries.
(Telugu Poem)

God is not separate from you. You are God. But you do various sadhanas (spiritual exercises) to attain God, thinking that He is separate from you. Constantly remind yourselves that you are God. Be blissful always.

Some are worried about examinations and some are worried about their parents' sickness, but will worrying help them in any way? Can anyone escape from difficulties merely by worrying about them? No. Whatever has to happen will happen. So, never give scope to worry. Be happy always. Happiness is union with God. You will be blissful only when you are in the company of God. It is impossible to attain bliss if you think that God is separate from you. Think of God whenever you find time. Develop noble thoughts. Take to the sacred path. Never give room to mean and wicked feelings.

Bhagawan concluded His Ddscourse with the bhajan, "Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin"