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Your Reality is in Your
Own Self, not Elsewhere
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
at Prashanti Nilayam, October 2004, Dasara Celebrations
Text of the Divine Discourse
delivered by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 25th October 2004 at Prashanti Nilayam, Sai Kulwanth Hall
By which power of love the
earth does rotate without axle or bearing,
By which power of love do the stars remain in the sky without
falling on the earth,
By which power of love do the oceans confine themselves to the
limits without inundating the earth,
By which power of love does the wind-god blow cool breeze in all
the worlds,
That mighty power of love is verily the Atmic power.
That power of love is most wonderful, unique and all-pervasive.
The entire creation is permeated with love.
(Telugu poem)
Embodiments of Love!
Man need not undertake any special sadhanas to visualise the
all-pervading truth. We call God by different names like Brahma,
Vishnu and Maheswara. These are the names given by man to God
based on some imaginary forms. But, who has actually perceived
these forms? None so far. There is only one power in the
world, which is all-pervasive.
That is the power of love. It is only by love, are human
societies formed. There can be no humanity without divinity.
It is only when man establishes contact with divinity to some
extent, he can acquire a little of that divine power which is
omnipotent.
Embodiments of Love!
In fact, all modes of powers are immanent in Manavatwa
(humanness) itself. It needs no special agent to vest it with
any extra powers. The divine power fully manifests itself in a
human being. Human power cannot function without the help of
Divine power. There are four Mahavakyas in the Vedas,
namely, Tattwamasi (That Thou Art), Prajnanam Brahma
(constant integrated awareness is Brahman), Ayam Atma Brahma
(This Atma itself is Brahman) and Aham Brahmasmi (I am
Brahman verily). The essence of these Mahavakyas is
further explained in the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
But, man is getting deluded as he is unable to understand the
import of these Mahavakyas. He is not able to realise Divine
power which, in fact, is in his own self. The divinity in
humanity expresses itself as Sakthitattwa (energy).
Today, man is striving to acquire several powers and make use of
them for getting relieved of his sorrows and sufferings. In
fact, these sorrows and worries are the stepping stones to
Divinity. Man should not give too much importance to these
worries. If one analyses carefully, what is there in human
existence, which does not cause worry? Man's life from birth to
death is full of worries. I often quote a poem to describe this
fact:
To be born is a worry, to be on this earth is a worry,
The world is a cause for worry and death too;
The whole of childhood is a worry and so is the old age;
Life is a worry, failure is a worry;
All actions and difficulties cause worry;
Happiness too is a mysterious worry. (Telugu poem)
Embodiments of Love!
Some people say they had the vision of the Divine in their
dream. Some others say they had it in their meditation. Yet
others declare they had seen God through their Jnana Nethra
(eye of wisdom). Most of these claims are the result of man's
delusion. They are not real. Some people claim to have seen God
in their dream. Where is dream? Where is God? In fact, dream
experience itself is not real. It is only an illusion. They are
deluded to think that way. The day man gets rid of this
delusion, he will acquire Divine power. Hence, everyone should
come out of such illusion. Some sit in meditation and think they
are contemplating on somebody. Some others claim to have seen
some effulgence in their meditation. What is meditation? It
means ekagratha (concentration on the inner vision of the
omniself). It is visualising a Drisya (scene) in a state
of absolute stillness of the body and mind free from illusion.
But wherever a man is, there is his mind as well. There is no
place in this world without the mind being present. The mind is
all-pervasive. It is said, Manayeva Manushyanaam Karanam
Bandha Mokshayoh (the mind alone is the cause for bondage as
well as liberation). We say we are happy. Where does this
happiness come from? Certainly, it is not from outside. It wells
up from one's own heart. The nature of the mind is chanchala
(fickleness). This fickleness is in our own nature. It has not
come from outside. All relationships we maintain in the
objective world are only illusory. Supposing you marry a girl.
From then on, you maintain a man and wife relationship with her.
Even prior to the marriage both of you were existing in the
world, but this relationship was not there. From the moment you
both are married you think she is related to you. Thus, it is a
mental relationship.
Embodiments of Love!
Even Maya (delusion) is associated with love. You do not find
anything in this world, devoid of love. Love is in everything in
this world. All relationships between people in this world are
established and cultivated on account of love. Again, love
becomes the cause for separation of two individuals. There are
several types of Sadhana in this world; Bhrama Sadhana (coming
out of delusion) is one such. In fact, Brahma, Vishnu and
Maheswara cannot be visualised in your Sadhana (meditation,
etc.). What all you see in your meditation are only reflections
of your feelings. Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara are not really
existing in this world. They are only your imaginary forms. What
really exists in the world is Manavattwa (humanness). Unable to
believe the humanness that is present right in front of your
eyes, if you contemplate on Divine nature, how can you find it?
The name and form that you attribute to Divinity, namely,
Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara are not real. They are only a
mirage born out of your delusion. Everything is contained in the
human being. You are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara and every
conceivable name and form attributed to Divinity. When you begin
to believe that you are everything, there can be no cause for
any kind of worry. When you are able to realise Aham Brahma,
Aham Vishnu, Aham Easwara (I am Brahma, Vishnu and
Maheswara verily), there is no scope for any doubt. All these
names and forms are products of your own imagination. There
is no power greater than humanness in this world.
Embodiments of Love!
You say that Swami appeared in your dream last night. This is
not correct. I do not appear in anybody's dream. When you
intensely desire that Swami must appear in your dream and
constantly think of the same, that intense desire will assume a
form in your dream. God does not assume a form or change into
another form. Some people think that God is angry with them.
This presumption is also not correct. God has neither love
towards somebody nor anger towards another. All these
presumptions are of your own making. You attribute anger or
other feelings to God. Instead, if you live in love constantly,
you will not find anger in others. In fact, love is your true
form. Man is born out of and brought up with love. Not only a
human being, but every living creature experiences love right
from its birth. There is no force more powerful than love in
this world. No power on earth can change love. Do not get
deluded by the thought that you have acquired this power and
that power. All these are only illusions (bhrama).
Bhrama is not Brahman. Nor can Brahman be
equated with Bhrama.
Embodiments of Love!
What is meant by Divyatma? It means Divine Atma. Atma is
nothing but consciousness. And, that consciousness is all
pervading. You do not find a place where there is no
consciousness. Consciousness is omnipotent. There is one aspect
to be borne in mind in this context. Consciousness is movable.
But we are deluded to think that it is static. In fact, the real
power is within you only. That is Atma Sakthi (atmic
power). We have already known that Atma is consciousness.
Therefore, Atma Sakthi is chaithanya sakthi (power
of consciousness). This is all-pervading. This enables you to
witness different forms. The immense power in humanness is
Divine in nature. It confers peace and happiness. You may think
that Divine power is some special power. It is not true. Your
own power of contemplation assumes the form of Divine power.
Therefore, first and foremost you realise your own innate Divine
nature. All that is written in the books or read by you are not
in fact true. There are some kinds of power which are temporary.
They are not eternal. Such transient powers should not delude
one. You are learning the Vedas. Every sound that emanates from
the Vedas emerges from the navel only. We are experiencing the
sound emanating from our own navel. Supposing you go to a hill
and shout "Oh!" the sound comes back to you as resound.
Similarly, good and bad emanates from you only. They do not come
from somewhere and get into you.
Embodiments of Love!
For example, you go on repeating loudly a particular sentence
taken from a book. After sometime, you will get it by heart.
But, the sentence memorised by you is not yours. It is only a
resound. In God's creation, everything is reaction, reflection
and resound. All that we experience in the outside world is
only a reaction, reflection and resound of the inner being.
We are, however, deluded to think that this reaction, reflection
and resound are real ones. Whatever feeling comes out of your
heart and takes a shape outside is the real form. It means that,
that form has already been conceived by you. Supposing you
imagine a particular form for Lord Rama. Then, contemplate on
that form, closing your eyes. You can visualise the same form,
as a reflection of your inner thoughts. All that is manifested
in the outside world is only a reaction, reflection and resound
of your inner being.
Embodiments of Love!
You yourself are Rama, Krishna, Easwara, etc. You think that you
are Easwara and contemplate on that form. You will become
Easwara, verily. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavathi (as you think so
you become). Similarly, you think that you are Rama, Krishna,
etc., and you will become Rama and Krishna. Today, people sit in
meditation. It is only for developing concentration, not with a
view to contemplate on God. People mistake concentration for
meditation. This is not a correct method. All these exercises
are reaction, reflection and resound. Only you are real, you are
the truth. You are able to visualise God only in human form.
Man cannot conceive or visualise anything greater than him. You
are everything and everything in creation is immanent in you.
Unfortunately, man today is forgetting his real nature and is
imagining something which does not exist. This is the result of
delusion, which, in fact, is of his own making. It is only when
man comes out of this illusion that he will be able to realise
Brahman.
Embodiments of Love!
Love is the most important factor. If you pray to God with
intense love and devotion, your prayers will certainly be
answered. Such is the power of love. Devoid of love, nothing
can be achieved even in this mundane world. Love is God, live in
love! The whole world becomes a vacuum, without love. That love
alone assumes a form. Realise this truth. You sit in your
so-called meditation, and try to forget yourself through
imaginary experiences. If you forget yourself, how can you
visualise the truth? Constantly live in the awareness "I am God,
I am everything and I am the reality. All forms are subject to
change". For example, an infant at the time of birth will be
small in size. Then it will grow into a child, a boy, youth and
an old person. In all these different stages of life, man alone
is the reality. "All are one, be alike to every one". This is
the lesson one must try to learn.
Embodiments of Love!
Let the flame of your love be steady, not flickering. There is
no greater Sadhana than love. That is the spiritual practice you
have to adopt. That is the Divine practice. Divinity is
omnipresent. You have to realise that omnipresent divinity
within your own self. It is present in all the three states of
consciousness, namely, dream, wakeful and deep sleep state. One
has to strive to experience that divinity constantly. That is
Prajnanam Brahma (constant integrated awareness is
Brahman). That is Sakshatkara (vision of divinity),
an experience which transcends all the three states of
consciousness.
Embodiments of Love!
You are worshipping several forms of divinity. However, you
cannot afford to forget your own innate divinity. In fact, you
yourself are ascribing umpteen number of names and forms to
divinity. But, divinity is only one, which is changeless.
That changeless eternal divinity is immanent in you. All
external forms and names are like fleeting dreams. And those
dreams are not real. Hence, strive to come out of that bhrama
(delusion). It is only when you come out of that bhrama,
you will be able to realise Brahman. You have witnessed
something in your dream. What is it? It is your own self,
nothing other than that. You are visualising your own self in
the dream state. Your real nature is love. Hence, you manifest
your real nature. There are several aspects which you have to
learn in future. What is future? Future is uncertain; past is
past; only present is what matters. Both past and future are
contained in the present. You alone are present in all the three
- past, present and future.
Embodiments of Love!
Divine powers and Divine manifestations are immanent in the
human being; they are not to be sought from elsewhere. By
constant Sadhana, man can realise this truth. Your reality is in
your own self, not elsewhere. In order to visualise that
reality, one has to turn his vision inward. Reaction,
reflection and resound - all the three are existing in your own
self; they are not external. Supposing you have a brother who
earned a good name and fame. Who is he? He is your brother. He
represents a particular form. From where did this form come? It
came from reality. And that reality is his true nature. Thus, a
form that manifested from reality deludes us from visualising
the reality itself.
Dear students!
If you wish to understand certain aspects more clearly, I will
explain in greater detail after sometime. The kind of meditation
you are doing is not correct. You are keeping one form in your
mind and contemplating on that. Where did this form come from?
It is of your own making. You are deluded to think that God is
confined to only this form. Thus, right from the beginning you
are with a deluded belief. If only you come out of this
delusion, can you visualise the truth. Do not ever be under the
illusion that God is somewhere in a distant place. You are,
in fact, God verily. Your own form is Divine. Your bliss is
Divine. Your reaction, reflection and resound are Divine in
nature. Never deviate from the firm faith that you are God.
Always contemplate on one aspect: Aham Brahmasmi (I am
Brahman). What is the meaning of the Mahavakya
Tattwamasi (That Thou Art)? Tat is that. Twam
is this. Together they become Asi. They become one. Thus,
all these four Mahavakyas Tattwamasi, Prajnanam Brahma,
Ayam Atma Brahma and Aham Brahmasmi lead you to
the same truth, that, you are God verily. Adi Sankara had
expounded and explained this great Advaita philosophy in ever so
many ways and ultimately merged himself in that great truth.
Thus, reality is not somewhere in a distant place. It is within
you. Your very nature is reality. How can you realise this
truth? Only by cultivating pure, selfless and Divine love.
Without love, nothing can be achieved in this world. Love is the
source and sustenance for the entire universe. Love is God and
God is love.
Embodiments of Love!
All of you are Embodiments of Divinity. Your forms are
Divine. You and God are one. You are not different from God.
Experience this unity. Ekam sath (truth is one). Unity is
truth. Unity is divinity. God is not separate from you. God is
manifest in you. Unfortunately, you are forgetting this
truth. If you forget your own nature, it amounts to forgetting
everything else. Never forget your reality. Without forgetting
that reality, meditate on it. Always remember one fact:
wherever I am, I am always Divine. Hold on to this firm belief,
steadfastly. That is the truth contained in the Mahavakya
Tattwamasi, the inseparable and non-dual nature of Divinity.
Do not be under the illusion "Rama has appeared in my dream,
Krishna has appeared in my dream, Swami has appeared in my
dream". This is a sign of ignorance. All these are dreams only.
How can a dream be called a reality? The very word "dream"
explains its nature. As long as you are in sleep, this
experience may be true. The moment you wake up, the experience
vanishes.
Embodiments of Love!
Keep your love securely. Never give up love under any
circumstances. There is no God other than love. Love is God,
verily. Love is your path, and goal. Never deviate from this
path of love. If you find any difficulty in treading this path
or if you have some doubts to get clarified, I am always there
to help you. Try to reduce your doubts. These doubts will
lead you to delusion. Always get yourself firmly established in
the truth Tattwamasi (That Thou Art). It is a mistaken
idea to think that this form has visualised that form of
Divinity, for you and God are not separate. Brahman is very
much immanent in this body. Brahman and Aham are
one and the same. Undertake Sadhana to realise the oneness of
these two. That is the ?Pathway to God'. If you wish to
meditate on God, never allow your thoughts to be disturbed by
worldly objects. You meditate on your own real nature, which is
Divinity. In that divinity, everything else is contained. If you
thus meditate on your own innate Divinity, you will realise your
unity with divinity. In fact, that unity is Divinity.
The four Mahavakyas Tattwamasi, Prajnanam Brahma,
Aham Brahmasmi and Ayam Atma Brahma are Vedic
declarations which emphasise the oneness of the individualised
soul and the Supreme Soul. They exhort the individualised soul
to realise this truth. Therefore, one has to strive to
attain that state of unity. As you gradually progress in that
Sadhana, you will ultimately reach that goal. Supposing you want
to learn the spelling of a word; just think how many times you
will be repeating that spelling. In the same way, you must set
out on this path of Sadhana. This is a scared Sadhana. If you
are able to know the true meaning of these Mahavakyas,
you will be able to realise the truth.
(Bhagawan concluded His discourse with the bhajan "Prema
Muditha Manase Kaho?")
Source:
http://sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/25-10-04_Discourse.htm |