Embodiments of Love¥ Many of you who have assembled here have made repeated visits to Prasanthi Nilayam in the past. Yo¥ have come here many times an¥ spent a lot o¥ money. Why are yo¥ coming? You are coming here t¥ experience bliss. Are you experien¥ cing bliss? No. Where is bliss? Onl¥ when you investigate and find ou¥ where real bliss is, you ca¥ experience it. You are searching fo¥ bliss by going to many places, doin¥ many¥ sadhanas, doing bhajans an¥ visiting many gurus. But still yo¥ donªt experience bliss. What is th¥ use o¥ reading many books? Are yo¥ practicing at least one or tw¥ teachings o¥ Swami? Withou¥ practicing Bhagawanªs teaching¥ what is the use o¥ coming again an¥ again? Many times I have taugh¥ about¥ Sathya (T¥ uth), Dha¥ m¥ (Righteousness), and Shanthi (Peace)¥ What is Truth (Sathya)? There ar¥ three syllables in the word âSathyaª ¥ sath, aa, yaa. Sath is permanent. Tha¥ is life. Aa stands for annamu (food)¥ Yaa is the procedure for thi¥ investigation. For life, food i¥ essential. Yaa is Sun (not son) wh¥ provides the food. For the Sat¥ which is life you need Aa which i¥ annamu (food) and Sun is essentia¥ for providing food. So, Sathy¥ means: by the grace o¥ Sun God yo¥ appease hunger and lead a com¥ fortable life¥ There is another way to look at thi¥ - Sa, Tha, Yaa. When you consider i¥ in the reverse order, Yaa stands fo¥ Yama and Niyama o¥ sadhanas. Tha¥ leads to Tha which is Thathw¥ (Reality) which in turn leads to S¥ which is divinity. When you d¥ austerities with Yama and Niyama¥ you experience divinity. Man shoul¥ talk less and do more sadhana. Yo¥ come here for spiritual sadhana, an¥ how can you progress when yo¥ indulge in too much talking eve¥ here? Today you undertake spiritua¥ practices like penance, japa, worship¥ and meditation. You can never attai¥ divinity by such routine practices¥ Buddha did many spiritual practices¥ visited many places, read man¥ books, and visited many gurus. Bu¥ he found futility in all o¥ them. The¥ he inquired what the gifts of Go¥ are. When we make use o¥ Godª¥ gifts properly, we can experienc¥ peace and happiness. For example¥ God has given us the tongue. W¥ should use it properly by speakin¥ sacred words to others, so that the¥ can understand. Buddha inquired i¥ he was doing this or not. God ha¥ gifted us five senses, five life breath¥ i.e., prana, apaana, vyana, udaana an¥ samaana. Space (Aakaasha) i¥ awareness. Wind is life. Fire i¥ effulgence. Water is life. You are no¥ making proper use of these gifts o¥ God. First, Buddha realized that th¥ tongue is given to speak soft, sweet¥ truthful, and noble words. Then h¥ inquired whether he was speakin¥ words which are sweet and usefu¥ to others, or only for his selfis¥ purposes¥ After such thorough investigation¥ he threw away all the books findin¥ they were not useful. Then he sa¥ under the bodhi tree (peepul tree¥ Ficus religiosa). He first realized th¥ importance of Samyak Vaak (sacre¥ speech). So he prayed that he shoul¥ speak only truthful, sacred an¥ noble words beneficial to others¥ Later he closed his eyes. Eyes ar¥ given to see the world and God. Bu¥ he realized that he was using his eye¥ to see the unreal and transitor¥ world but not God. He felt disguste¥ with the futility o¥ this world full o¥ sorrow. He found the world to b¥ the source o¥ all sorrows and misery¥ but not happiness. Thus he realize¥ the value o¥ Samyak Dristhi (sacre¥ vision). After realizing the impor¥ tance o¥ good speech and goo¥ vision, he inquired about goo¥ speaking and good listening. The¥ he realized that he was not sayin¥ any words useful to others, and thu¥ his life was being wasted. Merit lie¥ in helping others, and it is sinful t¥ hurt others. Next, he realized th¥ importance o¥ Samyak Shravana¥ (sacred hearing). Thus he felt h¥ should see good, hear good, an¥ speak good. Then he realized th¥ fundamental basis for all these i¥ Samyak Hridayam (sacred heart). I¥ you have a good heart, you hav¥ good speech, good hearing, an¥ good vision. The heart may b¥ compared to a generator and th¥ power that comes from it makes th¥ ears, eyes, and speech function¥ Finally he came to the conclusio¥ o¥ Samyak Bhavam (sacred feelings)¥ For eve¥ ything feelings ar¥ important. I¥ you donªt have goo¥ feelings, you cannot have goo¥ speech, or good vision, or goo¥ hearing. Bhava Shuddi is Jnana Siddh¥ i.e., purity o¥ thought leads to th¥ realization of wisdom. Wisdo¥ (Jnana) cannot be realized by readin¥ books. Thus he acquired goo¥ speech, good vision, good hearing¥ and good vibration¥ Ultimately he inquired how all thes¥ were going to be useful for th¥ society and the world. Then h¥ realized the need for Samyak Karm¥ (sacred work). Instead o¥ doin¥ good work, if you are thinking abou¥ the world, collecting the informatio¥ about the world, and are involve¥ in mundane activities, it would b¥ useless¥ In Gujarat, there was a great devote¥ named Patel. He had money¥ possessions, conveniences, convey¥ ances, and children. He used to si¥ for meditation as soon as he got u¥ in the morning. Once his friend wh¥ was a businessman from Americ¥ came to meet with him. Patel sen¥ him a message that he would see hi¥ after his meditation was over. Afte¥ a long wait when Patel showed up¥ his friend asked him why he wa¥ meditating when he had plenty o¥ money, comforts, children and al¥ the conveniences. Then Patel replie¥ he was praying not for worldl¥ objects which he had in abundanc¥ but only for what he did not have¥ namely peace and bliss which Go¥ alone could give. Then the America¥ realized the sacred feelings o¥ Bharatiyas (Indians). He admire¥ their attitude o¥ giving up what the¥ have and desiring what is in th¥ possession o¥ God. So you shoul¥ all pray for the things which onl¥ God can provide. Secondly, bliss i¥ also only His gift. Peace and Blis¥ are not in the world, and are onl¥ the Lordªs gifts. In the world yo¥ find only pieces not peace. You ca¥ experience bliss only in the presenc¥ o¥ God. So you should pray to Go¥ only for peace and bliss. After suc¥ inquiry, Buddha prayed for sacre¥ vision¥ What is sacred vision? You shoul¥ see all good things. In general¥ people in the world hurt others, bu¥ do not help them. The people wh¥ help have good hearts. This is th¥ message o¥ God in the Gita an¥ Bhagavatha. Bhagavatha preache¥ that helping others is a meritoriou¥ action, and hurting others is sinfu¥ action. So ¥Help Ever and Hur¥ Never¥. You should feed hungr¥ persons and that will give yo¥ satisfaction. Your words should b¥ sacred. People use harsh words. Yo¥ should always speak softly an¥ sweetly using nectarine words. Bu¥ sweet utterances can come only i¥ the heart is full of sweetness. So yo¥ should fill your heart with peace¥ bliss and sweetness. Once you fil¥ your heart thus, your words will als¥ be sweet and peaceful¥ Thus you should develop these fiv¥ virtues o¥ Samyak Drishti (sacre¥ vision), Samyak Sravanam (sacre¥ hearing), Samyak Vaak (sacre¥ speech), Samyak Hridayam (sacre¥ heart), and Samyak Karma (sacre¥ work). Thatªs why Bhagawan says¥ ¥See No Evil, See What Is Good¥¥ ¥Hear No Evil, Hear What I¥ Good¥, ¥Speak No Evil, Say Wha¥ Is Good¥, ¥Think No Evil, Thin¥ What Is Good¥, and ¥Do No Evil¥ Do What Is Good¥. ¥This Is Th¥ Way To God¥. So these five are th¥ gifts o¥ God. Buddhaªs cousin¥ brother Ananda, did not know thi¥ truth, and he was crying at th¥ deathbed o¥ Buddha. Watching this¥ Buddha told him that it was no¥ good or proper for him to cry whe¥ Buddha was experiencing bliss. Als¥ He chided him saying, ¥Your nam¥ is Ananda which means you shoul¥ be in bliss and not sad¥. He told hi¥ also to be happy and blissful, but no¥ jealous when He was experiencin¥ bliss. Buddha told him to give u¥ jealousy and then breathed His last¥ Then Ananda realized the truth. H¥ felt remorseful that in his life he di¥ not help others and did not giv¥ happiness to others, nor did he enjo¥ any happiness. He felt the purpos¥ of life is to fulfill the meaning o¥ the title MAN Î âMª which stand¥ for Maya (illusion), and the messag¥ is to give up Maya. âAª stands fo¥ Atma (Self) and the message is t¥ experience Atmic Consciousness. âN¥ stands for Nirvana (liberation). It i¥ sad that having the title MAN, he i¥ not able to give up Maya an¥ experience Atma and attain Nirvana¥ A great saint named Thiruthond¥ Alvar realized that he was no¥ separate from God and that Go¥ was residing in him. He said to God¥ ¥I and You are One¥. Thatªs wh¥ Bhagawan says repeatedly, ¥Neve¥ consider God as separate fro¥ You¥. God is hridaya vasi (residen¥ o¥ the heart), antharyami (indweller¥ and¥ Atma swarup (embodiment o¥ Atma). When you say I, it refers t¥ Atma¥ What is the purpose o¥ life? Ma¥ 3¥ ¥Ayam Atma Brahma¥ (I am Atm¥ has to get rid o¥ Maya. Maya is t¥ Brahma.) means that you are no¥ believe that the unreal is real. Ther¥ man, but you are Atma an¥ is nothing permanent and real in thi¥ Brahma. Being Brahman i¥ yo¥ world and all things are passin¥ do not realize that you are Atma¥ clouds. What is the purpose and us¥ what is the use o¥ your life an¥ o¥ human life with all the knowledg¥ all the education you acquire¥ and the intelligence when on¥ You should realize the truth ¥¥ behaves like an animal? At leas¥ am I¥ - that you are with Go¥ animals have a reason and season¥ and you are in God and God i¥ but nowadays man does not hav¥ in you¥ reason or a season. This i¥ 4¥ ¥Aham Brahmasmi¥. Realize th¥ disgusting¥ truth that you are God. As ¥ As a man, one should develo¥ Prajnana (spiritual awareness). Ved¥ and Bhagavatha have taught th¥ following four principles¥ separate individual you are Jeeva¥ and as cosmic Sel¥ you are God¥ God is unity in diversity. Withou¥ realizing this, there is no us¥ reading books or giving lectures¥ 1¥ ¥Prajnanam Brahma¥. God ha¥ At least practice one or tw¥ given man Prajnanam but man i¥ teachings o¥ Swami. Even at th¥ misusing this and having ba¥ worldly level, are you helpin¥ thoughts.¥ Prajnanam is no¥ anyone? ¥Help Ever and Hur¥ worldly knowledge, but it i¥ Never.¥ Never use any harsh o¥ constant integrated awarenes¥ hurtful words. The words com¥ which is a gift from God. So on¥ from the heart, and i¥ you fil¥ should manifest this awareness¥ your heart with sacredness, you¥ 2¥ ¥Tat-Twam-Asi¥, means ¥Tha¥ words also will be good. I¥ yo¥ Thou Art¥. You should realiz¥ want to speak good words, yo¥ that God is not separate fro¥ should fill your heart with goo¥ you, and that God is in you, an¥ feelings¥ you are in God¥ You should always remember tha¥ God is with you, in you, around you¥ above you, and below you. Yo¥ should realize this fundamenta¥ truth. Many do spiritual practices¥ but they donªt get any permanen¥ results. These practices are lik¥ passing clouds. People get up in th¥ morning and do japa and meditation¥ But these practices should b¥ practical, not tempora¥ y an¥ imaginary. God neither comes no¥ goes but is eternal and infinite. Yo¥ donªt need to search for Go¥ anywhere; rather turn your visio¥ inward. When you see all the face¥ in the outside world, they are in fac¥ projections o¥ what is already in you¥ So everything is reflection, reaction¥ and resound o¥ your inner being¥ You feel sad that somebody i¥ criticizing you. No one is criticizin¥ you. You are criticizing yourself. Yo¥ think others are hurting you. In fact¥ there are no others¥ Jesus also mentioned âJOYª whic¥ denotes âJª Jesus first, âOª other¥ next, and âYª you last. Finally, yo¥ should realize that you are Jesus an¥ that you are God. When yo¥ repeatedly think that you are Go¥ and you are not separate from God¥ you verily become God. I¥ yo¥ consider that God is separate fro¥ you, God will always remain separat¥ from you. God is not separate fro¥ you; God is in you and you are i¥ God. You should first realize thi¥ t¥ uth. You do many spiritua¥ practices and also service activitie¥ in the organization. As long as yo¥ consider yoursel¥ as a man and hav¥ the feeling o¥ I, you should serv¥ others. Then slowly you will realiz¥ that the one you are serving is you¥ reflection, reaction, and resound¥ God is One, the Goal is One, but i¥ appears as many in the society. Yo¥ should see the unity in the societ¥ because unity is divinity. Then only¥ your spiritual practices will hav¥ fulfillment¥ Today you read many books withou¥ doing any practice. Swami stands fo¥ practical science, not platfo¥ ¥ speeches. You do not need to do ¥ lot, just at least do one teaching¥ Even when you do one sincerely¥ you will be redeemed. Are you a¥ least following one o¥ the teaching¥ o¥ Bhagawan? No. Then what is th¥ use? Having come to Bhagawan, yo¥ should practice His teachings an¥ share them with others. You do no¥ need to go into the streets an¥ publicize. First share your love an¥ start this at home by respectin¥ parents, and loving brothers an¥ sisters. Sharing love is your firs¥ spiritual sadhana. When you se¥ somebody is suffering, you shoul¥ try your best to help. However, d¥ within the limitations o¥ you¥ capabilities, but not beyond. I¥ yo¥ do this in excess, beyond limits, tha¥ will be harmful to you. I¥ you do i¥ in Mita (limit) and Hita (beneficial)¥ it will lead you to success. Hence th¥ saying, ¥Na Sreyo Niyamam Vina¥¥ ¥No success without discipline.¥ I¥ you donªt follow discipline, it result¥ in danger. I¥ you are thirsty, yo¥ need only a glass o¥ water, but no¥ the entire water o¥ the Ganges river¥ But nowadays peopleªs desires ar¥ unrealistic. Similarly when you ar¥ hungry, you just eat enough t¥ appease your hunger, but you donª¥ need bags o¥ rice. You may have al¥ things, but you may not survive unti¥ tomo¥ row. You should hav¥ everything within limits, but not i¥ excess¥ Swami is repeatedly warning tha¥ many people are misusing Swamiª¥ name. The people who misus¥ Swamiªs name will face th¥ consequences¥ When you do spiritual practices lik¥ bhajan, it should come from the hear¥ and others should be able to join¥ First Gurunanak started communit¥ bhajans. One is happier doing bhajan¥ with others than doing them alone¥ So¥ Samyak Bhajan (communit¥ bhajans) are very good. When you ar¥ alone at home, you may do the¥ yourself. But you should join th¥ community and sing the glory o¥ God. I¥ you donªt like to join th¥ community¥ bhajans, you may d¥ them alone¥ You should see no one is hurt b¥ your actions. To the extent possible¥ you should teach only good. Whe¥ outsiders come, explain Bhagawanª¥ teachings clearly. Your explanation¥ should be based on your experience¥ Then it will go to their hearts¥ Embodiments of Love¥ There are many devotees in thi¥ world. Devotion is there, but not o¥ the proper type. One should firs¥ understand what is meant b¥ devotion and spirituality. Spiritualit¥ means eliminating animal tendencie¥ and divinizing human qualities. Thi¥ is real sadhana (spirituality)¥ Spirituality does not merely mea¥ doing japa, meditation and bhajan¥ You have to kill the bestia¥ temperament in you. Manªs life i¥ fulfilled only when animal qualitie¥ are annihilated and human qualitie¥ are transformed into divine qualities¥ Embodiments of Love¥ You are doing many types o¥ spiritual practices. But mos¥ importantly, help the needy an¥ distressed. Help others. There is n¥ higher spiritual practice than this¥ Swami says, ¥Charity is th¥ o¥ nament for the hands, no¥ bracelets. Truth is the ornament fo¥ the neck, not necklaces. Listening t¥ the scriptures, and dharma is th¥ ornament for the ears. These are th¥ real precious jewels for the huma¥ body. Only truth should come fro¥ the throat.¥ Embodiments of Love¥ Women do lot o¥ work. (Som¥ doctors are also doing sincere wor¥ without any selfishness). Women ar¥ feeling sad that they are not able t¥ do more work. But they are no¥ independent. I¥ they are reall¥ independent, they would have spen¥ more time serving. Women hav¥ their husbands who are like bondag¥ for them. Naturally they have t¥ follow their husbands and serv¥ them. In fact, they se¥ ve thei¥ husbands, respect them, and mak¥ them happy. To help others is th¥ real spiritual practice. Even i¥ yo¥ cannot do much, at least mak¥ others happy by speaking goo¥ words¥ (Bhagawan asked Dr. Goldstein i¥ he has any questions, and that H¥ would answer them.¥ Dr. Goldstein: Swami, in the servic¥ conference some questions wer¥ asked by delegates. They wanted t¥ know i¥ the Sathya Sai Organizatio¥ activities can be affiliated with an¥ other humanitarian organizations¥ Swami: In my opinion, there shoul¥ not be any kind o¥ affiliation. Yo¥ do service according to your ow¥ rules and regulations. There shoul¥ not be any comparison with othe¥ organizations. They do their way¥ and you do your own way¥ Dr. Goldstein: Devotees are askin¥ how they can bring Swamiªs messag¥ to the public, and how the Sathy¥ Sai Organization can interact wit¥ the public and bring Bhagawanª¥ teachings to them? Also how ca¥ they bring knowledge o¥ Swami an¥ the advent o¥ the Avatar to th¥ public¥ Swami: In order to bring Bhagawanª¥ message to the public, poetry an¥ literary gimmicks are not necessary¥ But your practice o¥ Swamiª¥ teachings in your life will be the bes¥ message for the public¥ In foreign countries, some Indian¥ are claiming themselves to b¥ Swamiªs devotees, and they ar¥ telling many lies using the name o¥ Swami for collecting money. Som¥ claim they are constructing temple¥ and schools for Swami, and the¥ collect money. These are all blatan¥ lies. Swami has not accepted an¥ money for any purpose. So b¥ careful, and keep those people at ¥ distance who approach you fo¥ money in the name of Sai¥ Dr. Goldstein: Many devotees ar¥ asking how the centers in the variou¥ countries can be a better reflectio¥ o¥ spirituality within their ow¥ society? The selection of bhajans, th¥ appearance o¥ the Sai Baba Centers¥ and all o¥ the programs should be ¥ function o¥ each culture becaus¥ Swami has planted the seed o¥ Divinity in the land o¥ every countr¥ all over the world¥ Swami: Each country should follo¥ its own procedure and culture bu¥ not compare themselves with others¥ You should not imitate others¥ Swami is not stretching His hand t¥ ask anything from anybody. Swam¥ says ¥I am not a âbeggarª, but I a¥ âbi¥ gerª in ¥ ood thoughts¥¥ Bhagawan declares His life is Hi¥ message and you should follow th¥ example o¥ Swamiªs life. Do wha¥ pleases Swami and definitely you wil¥ attain divinity. There is no othe¥ spiritual practice higher than that¥ Spiritual practice really mean¥ respecting and following Swamiª¥ teachings. Importantly, you shoul¥ respect all. Donªt expect others t¥ respect you. Even i¥ others do no¥ respect you, you should respec¥ others because the same divinit¥ resides in all. When you respec¥ everyone, you respect God. Even i¥ anyone criticizes you or abuses you¥ still you should respect him. Eve¥ i¥ he criticizes you, you should no¥ criticize in return. Then only ther¥ will be transformation in the othe¥ person. You should remain silen¥ and fill your heart with love. Ther¥ is nothing higher than love. Swamiª¥ entire property is only love. All o¥ you have share in my property. S¥ all o¥ you are shareholders in th¥ property o¥ Bhagawan. Whereve¥ you do service, Bhagawan is wit¥ you, in you, and around you¥ Embodiments of Love¥ Many o¥ you come and go, but yo¥ are not able to understand Swamiª¥ teachings and put them in practice¥ You need not do any spiritua¥ practice. But respect everyone an¥ talk with love. Even i¥ they are no¥ devotees they are bound to change¥ First there should be transformatio¥ in you; then the whole world will b¥ transformed¥ Earlier Swami mentioned a devote¥ by name, Patel, who was praying t¥ God for peace and bliss. Bu¥ modern man has limitless desires¥ Though he has plenty, still he want¥ more. What is the use o¥ havin¥ plenty i¥ it is not put for good an¥ sacred use? Sacred use does no¥ mean giving money indiscriminatel¥ to anyone who asks. You shoul¥ help only the dese¥ ving man¥ Watching your giving nature, man¥ people may run after you. I¥ you giv¥ to everyone without discriminatio¥ that becomes misuse of money an¥ it is a mistake to do so. You shoul¥ discriminate i¥ it is good or bad¥ right or wrong and then give fo¥ good use only.¥ Then only th¥ purpose is fulfilled. All organiza¥ tions have their eyes on Americ¥ now because it has lots o¥ money¥ Though it is a rich country, it is reall¥ poor. Who is the poorest man in th¥ world? The one who has man¥ desires is the poorest man. He wh¥ has much satisfaction is the riches¥ man. Keep these two principles i¥ your mind¥ In my view, you should never giv¥ any scope to doubts. By th¥ remembrance of God, all the doubt¥ will be cleared. Some doubts com¥ and go in this world; they are lik¥ passing clouds. You should not b¥ mindful o¥ these passing clouds¥ You may face some difficulties¥ losses and sorrows in life, but yo¥ should not wor¥ y about them¥ Consider that they are all good fo¥ you. When you get difficulties say¥ ¥This is good for me. This is goo¥ for me. God has given these trouble¥ and difficulties for my good¥. So d¥ not be troubled and disappointed¥ Your disappointment is appoint¥ ment for Me. I¥ you develop thos¥ 11 kinds o¥ good feelings, you will hav¥ bliss. I¥ you experience depressio¥ out o¥ disappointment, even Go¥ will not come close to you. I¥ yo¥ consider disappointment as a gif¥ from God, then He will come to yo¥ and relieve you o¥ your difficulties¥ Some youngsters have many doubts¥ This is because o¥ their ignorance¥ You have to blame yourself, no¥ others. You should not accuse o¥ criticize anybody. You should alway¥ be blissful. Every Sai devotee shoul¥ lead a blissful life¥ In my opinion, food is ver¥ important. As is the food, so is th¥ head. As is the head, so is God. Food¥ head, and God are interrelated¥ Americans find it difficult to give u¥ eating meat. Bhagawan will not forc¥ you to give up. It is good to give u¥ eating meat, because it will help yo¥ to develop Satwik (sacred) tendencies¥ Our thoughts depend on the foo¥ we eat. Bad food is the main caus¥ for all bad thoughts. You have t¥ exercise control on these three¥ drinking alcohol, eating meat, an¥ smoking. They deplete all the goo¥ thoughts from you¥ After smoking, i¥ you breath¥ forcibly on a white cloth, you wil¥ find a yellowish-black spot on th¥ cloth. It is like poison, and you ar¥ taking it inside. This will lead t¥ many diseases like heart ailments¥ asthma, eosinophilia, and stomac¥ disorders. All these diseases are du¥ to smoking¥ Eating meat is very bad. Why do yo¥ want to eat meat? Do you think yo¥ need to eat meat because it contain¥ vitamins and proteins? You can hav¥ plenty o¥ protein by eating curd¥ (yogurt), pulses and drinking milk¥ Do you think you can get bette¥ protein than these by eating meat¥ Now I am going to tell you a secret¥ In countries like Singapore, Malaysi¥ and Germany, because o¥ nuclea¥ explosions, due to nuclear testing¥ the seawater is polluted. With thi¥ the creatures in the waters consum¥ this poison (nuclear pollutants)¥ When you eat these creatures, yo¥ also take part o¥ the poison. Thi¥ leads to cancer. Because o¥ this eve¥ children in countries like Singapor¥ and Malaysia suffer from cancer o¥ the head and other parts o¥ th¥ body¥ 12 There is lot o¥ polluted food in thi¥ world and this harms human beings¥ Modern day doctors say that th¥ increased detection of incidence o¥ cancer nowadays is due to bette¥ diagnostic facilities, and in the olde¥ days it went undetected. They sa¥ this merely to justify themselves. I¥ earlier days there were som¥ incidences o¥ cancer but it was no¥ this rampant. In those days they use¥ to call it a growth. Nowadays i¥ ther¥ is any little swelling eve¥ yon¥ including the doctors are alarme¥ that it may be cancer. They want t¥ do tests for everything to rule ou¥ cancer. I¥ you take pure and sacre¥ food, cancer will not come an¥ where near you. Cases o¥ cancer ar¥ increasing because of the pollutio¥ o¥ air, water and food. Once cance¥ sets in, it is not possible to cure it¥ So you should take good food t¥ prevent illness and lead a healthy¥ happy life¥ Embodiments of Love¥ Lead a happy, healthy, peaceful, an¥ long life. What is the use o¥ goo¥ health when you do not have peace¥ Be healthy, happy and share th¥ happiness with others¥ (Upon conclusion o¥ His Divin¥ Discourse, one o¥ the devotee¥ asked Swami when the swelling o¥ His face would go down. For severa¥ weeks preceding Guru Poornima¥ Swami had developed a large are¥ of swelling on his right cheek. It ha¥ subsided substantially by Gur¥ Poornima, but was still evident.¥ Swami: ¥It will go down tomorrow¥ Diseases like smallpox, chickenpox¥ and typhoid run their usual cours¥ o¥ time. Similarly, even this glandula¥ swelling lasts for 21 days. N¥ medicine would help it. Diet has t¥ be controlled and observed carefully¥ After 21 days it subsides sponta¥ neously. Today it is 19th day and b¥ day after tomorrow it should b¥ gone. Today being the 19th day, i¥ already decreased and there is no¥ much swelling. By taking the illnes¥ on Myself from that other person¥ I gave comfort to him. Bearing th¥ ailment patiently, I do not waste an¥ time. How many discourses I a¥ giving and how much work I a¥ doing! The swelling started near th¥ joint o¥ the right cheek. It wa¥ difficult even to talk and drink water¥ When the International Sev¥ Conference started, the All Indi¥ President, Mr. Srinivasan, request¥ ed Swami to give a discourse. Whe¥ I tried I could not even speak. The¥ I felt what is the use i¥ I canªt giv¥ happiness to all these people? The¥ I willed that the swelling shoul¥ move from the joint to a forwar¥ point. I do not cure Myself becaus¥ then it becomes selfish. There is n¥ selfishness in Me. On the 13th day ¥ shifted the swelling. That day it wa¥ an unbearable and excruciating pain¥ I preach to everybody to get rid o¥ the body attachment and develo¥ attachment to Atma (Self). So I ha¥ to show by example not to hav¥ body attachment and to ignore th¥ terrible pain. Thatªs how I could d¥ so much work and give these man¥ discourses. I do not take an¥ holidays like you. No Sunday or an¥ other holidays. Only holy days fo¥ Swami. I do not pay much attentio¥ to the ailment as it comes and goes¥ Still two more days are remaining¥ Day after tomorrow, it will b¥ normal. You may not be aware, bu¥ the swelling was o¥ the size o¥ a rip¥ orange. No one should feel sad tha¥ Swami has taken this illness. Thes¥ 13 things come and go. Who invite¥ them and who bids farewell t¥ them? They come and go. But yo¥ have to control your thoughts. I¥ you pay too much attention to th¥ illness it will cause you more pain¥ One child was suffering, and th¥ principal o¥ the school sent ¥ telegram to the parents o¥ the child¥ The parents took the child to th¥ doctor, and the doctor said it coul¥ not be cured, the child had t¥ undergo suffering. The child wa¥ crying all the time without eating an¥ drinking. I went by car to the school¥ and called the child along with th¥ parents into a room. I asked the boy¥ ¥What do you want?¥ He wanted th¥ pain to be removed. I said, ¥I wil¥ remove the pain; you tell me th¥ food you like¥. He wanted biscuit¥ as he had not eaten for three days. ¥ materialized the biscuits, fed him¥ blessed him, and told him to go t¥ his classroom in the school. Th¥ parents were concerned and wante¥ to take the child home. But I tol¥ the child to stay in the school. The¥ he returned to the classroom, an¥ he had no pain. Thatªs how I too¥ his illness upon Myself. I do man¥ things like this. Once I took upo¥ Mysel¥ the paralysis o¥ a devotee¥ There was a devotee by nam¥ Krishnappa, a vendor o¥ flowers i¥ Bangalore. He suffered fro¥ paralysis, and he had a large famil¥ to support. So I took over hi¥ paralysis upon Myself. Even thoug¥ I take it upon Myself, I donªt cur¥ Myself. I¥ I cure Mysel¥ it become¥ selfish. There was a mother o¥ thre¥ children in Nainital who lost he¥ husband. She was working as a clerk¥ and there was no body to suppor¥ her. She felt sad for the demise o¥ her husband, and she used to wor¥ day and night to support the family¥ While going to the office, sh¥ suffered a heart attack. I was i¥ Bangalore at that time when thi¥ happened in Nainital. I said, ¥Laxmi¥ do not fear¥. At that time I left M¥ body, and the students who wer¥ with Me were all worried. Then ¥ came back and told them not t¥ worry, but to take Me upstairs. So ¥ took upon Mysel¥ the heart attack¥ and she became well and th¥ children were happy. The second da¥ I sent a telegram to her asking he¥ to come to Brindavan. She cam¥ along with her children. I calle¥ them privately, and told them not t¥ worry and to go back to work. I too¥ upon Mysel¥ the illness for nine day¥ and could not move. I suffered an¥ then got better. Sometimes I hav¥ to take these illnesses. This happen¥ to all Avatars. This happened to th¥ Shirdi Avatar and the Krishn¥ Avatar. Though all these are no¥ recorded, all incarnations have take¥ over the sufferings o¥ devotees. Go¥ does His duty whether it is recorde¥ or not. I am ready to take th¥ sufferings o¥ anyone when the¥ cannot bear it. I am ready, ready¥ and ever ready for this. Thes¥ incidents do not come as obstacle¥ in the way o¥ God. Everything wil¥ go on as usual. As you have see¥ during the last 15 days I attended al¥ the functions; I had to do lots o¥ work and give many discourses¥ Doctors come and advise me to tak¥ rest. I donªt want and I donªt nee¥ any rest. It is a mistake to think tha¥ I will become healthy by taking rest¥ Doing work while under¥ oin¥ suffering is My rest.¥ (This was followed by bhajans by th¥ American devotees and conclude¥ with arathi)¥ Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Bab¥ July 27, 200¥ Mandir at Prasanthi Nilaya¥ Audio cassette of this discourse Ð with SwamiÕs voice and Prof. Kumar translating Ð is available for $4.00 from: Sathya Sai Book Center, 305 West First Street, Tustin, CA 92780-3108. Phone: 714-669-0522; Fax: 714-669-9138