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Love is God, God is Love,
Live in Love
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Vishu and Tamil New Year
Celebrations 2005,
Prashanti Nilayam
Text of the Divine Discourse
delivered by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 13th April 2005,
Vishu and Tamil New Year Celebrations, at Prashanti Nilayam, Sai Kulwanth Hall
God is love and love is
God. When you hold on to this principle of love and develop
love to love relationship, you will attain the state of
non-dualism. (Telugu poem)
Embodiments of Love!
You have come here with a lot of expectation to take part in the
conference. Though your stay at Prasanthi Nilayam is short, your
experiences are profound and you have described them at length
in your speeches. However, you deserve much more.
The day on which all the
devotees gather and sing the glory of God melodiously; the
day on which the sufferings of the poor are lovingly removed
and all people live like brothers and sisters; the day on
which groups of Dasas (servants of God) who constantly
contemplate on God are served a sumptuous feast; the day on
which noble souls visit us and narrate the stories of God
lovingly; enjoy that day as the real day. All other days are
mere death anniversaries. Do I need to say more, oh noble
souls! (Telugu poem)
Embodiments of Love!
In this conference, you have dealt at length on various aspects
such as the duties and responsibilities of youth and how they
should mould their character. Let all your activities be
suffused with love. Modern youth fail to understand the true
meaning of love. Love cannot exist if there is a feeling of
duality. Ekatma Prema (non-dual love) is true love.
Give and take relationship does not reflect the true spirit of
love. One should keep giving and giving, without expecting
anything in return. That is true love. To retreat in times
of difficulty is the sign of selfish love. Yathartha Prema
(true love) will reign supreme only when you give up Swartha
(selfishness) and strive for Parartha (welfare of
others). You should know the difference between Padartha
(matter) and Yathartha (reality). Reality transcends
matter. Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma (verily all this is
Brahman). Consider everything as divine and treat the
dualities of life such as pain and pleasure, loss and gain with
equanimity. Sukhadukhe Samekruthwa Labhalabhau Jayajayau
(one should remain unaffected by happiness and sorrow, gain and
loss, victory and defeat). Never be carried away by the vagaries
of the mind. When you follow the mind, you see only matter, but
not the reality. Mind is related to matter. You should not have
anything to do with matter. When you associate yourself with the
mind, you can never visualise unity. You cannot develop true
love and devotion unless you give up duality.
Embodiments of Love!
Understand that the same principle of love exists in you and
others. A true devotee is one who understands the principle of
unity and acts accordingly. Non-dualism is true devotion.
Share your love with others without any expectation. Love
everybody only for the sake of love. When you extend your love
to others', you can attain the state of non-dualism. The love
that you experience at physical and worldly plane day in and day
out is not true love at all! True love is that which is focused
on one form, one path and one goal. It is a great mistake to
divide love and divert it in different directions. Love is
God. God is love. Live in love. Only then can you realise
the principle of oneness and attain fulfilment in life. Prema
Muditha Manase Kaho Rama Rama Ram… (Sing the sweet name of
Rama with your heart filled with love). You may choose any name
you like, but you should call Him with all love. Love is most
sacred, sweet and non-dual. It is a great mistake to divide such
love and associate it with multiplicity. Your love should remain
steady in pleasure and pain. Love and devotion do not give any
scope for differences. All differences are the making of your
mind. Develop the feeling of oneness that you and I are one.
Never think that you and I are different. That is the sign of
true devotion.
The letter 'I' stands for oneness. 'You' (individual identity)
will not exist when you develop purity and experience oneness
with divinity. Hence, give up dualistic feeling. The principle
of oneness has to be experienced through love. It cannot be
explained in words. But you have not understood the true meaning
of love. You are interpreting it in the physical and worldly
sense. Consequently, your love is never steady. It keeps
changing every now and then. Love should not be tainted with
body attachment. Body is made up of matter. All that is related
to matter will never give you peace and happiness. Hence,
transcend the matter and see the reality. Develop Ekatma
Bhava (feeling of oneness). All are one, be alike to
everyone. It is a big mistake to attribute worldly feelings
to love. There is no scope for dualism in love.
Embodiments of Love!
Your names and forms are different but the principle of love is
the same in all of you. That is why I address you as the
"embodiments of love". Love is always one, it should not be
divided. Consider God as one and love Him wholeheartedly. Such
one-pointed love towards God can be termed as true devotion.
Devotees like Jayadeva, Gauranga and Eknath developed such
divine love and sanctified their lives. Likewise, Mira and
Sakhubai had unwavering love and devotion towards God. They did
not worship various names and forms. They followed one path.
They installed one name and one form in their heart and
contemplated on their chosen deity incessantly. Those who are
dual-minded and change their path every now and then are bound
to ruin their lives. Hence, never be dual-minded. Experience
divinity with Ekatma Bhava. You may choose any name you
like Rama, Krishna, Easwara, etc., and contemplate on the form.
You will certainly reach the goal of life. Lead your life with
your mind always focused on the goal.
Once Radha could not find Krishna anywhere. As she was deeply
attached to Krishna's physical form, she went in search of Him
everywhere. She always yearned and pined for His physical
proximity. The name and the form are one and the same. However,
people are unable to enquire deeply and experience such oneness.
The power of love is unparalleled. It is beyond the ken of human
understanding. Love can be understood only through love. Mira's
husband Rana had built a Mandir for Krishna. Being a great
devotee of the Lord, Mira was always found in the Mandir singing
His glory ecstatically. Consequently, she earned the wrath of
Rana. He commanded her to leave the Mandir. This came as a great
shock to Mira. She thought to herself, "When Krishna is
all-pervasive and not confined to this Mandir alone, how can
Rana take me away from Him?" She left her home and hearth and
set out to Mathura. Where is Mathura? It is not some
geographical location. The heart suffused with nectarine love is
Mathura. She sang, Chalo Re Man Ganga Yamuna Teer (Oh
mind! Go to the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna). Here Ganga and
Yamuna symbolically mean Ida and Pingala (left and
right nostrils). The central part of the eyebrows where Ida
and Pingala meet stands for Mathura. This is the esoteric
meaning of the song. She proceeded towards Mathura chanting the
Name of Krishna incessantly crossing rivers, hills, dales and
forests. When she ultimately reached Brindavan, she found the
temple doors closed. In spite of her repeated prayers, the doors
did not open. Then she said, "Oh Krishna, my heart is Your
temple. I have installed You in the altar of my heart." She
banged her head against the temple door, calling out to Krishna.
She had the vision of Krishna and merged in Him. King Rana
repented for having driven away Mira from the temple. He prayed
to Krishna for forgiveness.
People these days do not enquire into the inner meaning of
certain words they use. They are carried away by the worldly
meanings and interpretations. You should take into consideration
the feelings that emerge from your heart which is true and
eternal. This is how Mira experienced oneness with Krishna. If
one wishes to tread the path of devotion, one should hold on to
the principle of love firmly. Ordinary mortals do not have such
firm determination, but a true devotee will never deviate from
the path of love under any circumstances. No other path except
love can take us to God. Develop love more and more. Wherever
you are, love is your sole refuge.
Embodiments of Love!
Fill your hearts with love and let love be the guiding principle
in all your activities when you return home. When you have love
in your heart, you do not need to worry about anything. God will
always be with you, in you, around you and will look after you
in all respects. When you say, "Krishna, I will follow You." It
means that Krishna is separate from you. It is possible that you
will lose your way. Hence, you should pray, "Krishna, please be
with me always." In fact, He is always in you. When you enquire
deeply, you will experience this truth. It is impossible to be
away from Him. Many devotees proclaim, "Oh God, I am in you, I
am with you and I am for you." They repeat these words like
parrots, but do not say from the depths of their heart.
Actually, God is never separate from you. Pray to Him
wholeheartedly with the conviction that He is always in you,
with you, above you, below you and around you. When you offer
such a prayer to God, He will certainly redeem your life.
We have one more day left. I will explain all these in detail so
that you will understand them better. Do not feel satisfied with
what you have experienced so far. There is much more to be
experienced which will fill your heart with bliss. How can you
say that your hunger is satisfied by eating a little? There is a
lot of scope for you to experience divinity in full measure in
the days to come.
Source:
http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/13Apr_Discourse.htm |