Sri Sathya Sai Baba Articles

The Sunday Talk Given by Anil Kumar

“What’s All This?”

June 30th, 2002



OM… OM… OM…

Sai Ram!

Poverty Within

Welcome back to this morning’s session. The topic this morning is: “What’s all this?” What’s all this about? What’s all this that we’re supposed to know? There are a few points I want to share with you on this topic.

We may be anything in life. We can acquire many things – worldly things, wealth, knowledge, power and influence. We are very much directed towards attaining something, achieving something or getting something. As we get what we really want, then comes a void, a sort of emptiness. After having occupied a high position, we don’t live in peace any longer. We lose the very peace already in existence. When we get power, we become weak. What’s all this? As we just go through Bhagavan's literature, we will certainly come to some conclusions.

Who wants to be rich in life? Why do we want to be rich? Why do we amass wealth? Why are we after property? Inner poverty is responsible for our desire for property. Poverty within is responsible for our desire for property outside. Man is essentially poor within. He is very poor within, so he wants to be rich. If we analyze who wants to be powerful, who is after ambition, who is after position, who is after recognition -- what do we see? Inner weakness! The one who is weak within wants to be powerful outside.

Just let us examine ourselves. Who wants to be influential? Who wants to be known? Who wants to be famous? Who wants company? The one who is lonely within -- the one who feels isolated within -- wants company outside.

Life is really one of polarities, full of opposites. That’s what is lacking inside. We struggle for just the opposite. Inner poverty is responsible for this craze for outside property. Yes! I want more and more! Why? Because there is a sort of want (lack) inside.

Bhagavan gives one beautiful example: Who is a rich man? The man with satisfaction is a rich man. Who is a beggar? The one who wants more and more is a beggar. It doesn’t matter even if he has millions or billions. If you want more and more, yes, you are really poor.

What’s all this? If we analyze it, we’ll understand: That which is inside reflects outside in the opposite direction. I want to be rich because I'm poor inside. I want company because I'm lonely inside. I want power because I'm weak inside. That’s certainly what one could conclude after an analysis.

But, my friends, I may try to be powerful, I may be famous and I may be a man of position. Yet, all those things that come, all those things that are requested, are bound to go away.

After a five-year term, a Member of Parliament ceases to be a Parlitarian. After a five-year term, a legislator will no longer continue to be a member of the legistrating assembly. They come and they go -- both power and wealth. We see many people. Those who come are sure to go. But that which is your own true nature -- that which you really are -- will never leave you.

Bliss Is Our True Nature

You cannot be free from your Self-nature -- the nature that you truly are. Fire cannot be free from its burning nature. Ice cannot be free from its nature of being cold. The wind cannot be free from its nature of blowing freely. This is what is called ‘Dharma’ or true nature. I cannot be free from my true nature. If I am really conscious of my true nature, I’ll continue to be happy.

Unfortunately, I do not know my true nature. I do not know my Self-nature. Instead of knowing that, I go after what is to be acquired, what is to be possessed and what is to be obtained. Therefore, I am unhappy. The fundamental law is: What is acquired will go; what is obtained will leave; what is possessed will drop. But your Self-nature will never leave you. Your true nature will never leave you.

What is our true nature? Bliss is our true nature. Bliss is God. God is bliss. You are bliss. Bliss is you. Unfortunately, we don’t realize this; we don’t experience it. As I said last week, what is a sin? Sin is an attitude of unhappiness. If you are unhappy, it makes others unhappy. You are the worst of sinners. Let us not commit that sin.

When Bhagavan walks amidst us -- when the door opens, as the music starts in the morning time, and when Bhagavan is right in front of me -- I am blissful. You are blissful and you become bliss personified. Bliss multiplies, bliss duplicates, and bliss grows in geometrical proportions. Bliss is infinite. That is our true nature. This is virtue -- to feel blissful, to experience bliss. An attitude of unhappiness is a sin. Sin is an alien; sin is what you are not. You are not sin; you are not a sinner. What is it? The feeling of unhappiness is a sin. Instead, we have to be aware of our true nature – bliss, which is our virtue.

How do we know bliss? How to identify bliss? Once bliss is realized, once bliss is felt, then bliss is experienced and we can touch the very film (layer) of bliss within. Whatever happens, whatever you do, it becomes blissful. Your talk is blissful. Your actions are blissful. Your looks are blissful. All your gestures are blissful and your very presence turns into bliss. So bliss is very subtle. Whatever you do creates bliss and that bliss is experienced in a state of silence. In a state of silence, the subtle experience of bliss is felt.

Bliss is a void. It is peace. I can tell you one thing. When there is pop music, like when Michael Jackson sings, it creates a sort of sensation, yes! But, bliss is not the product of sensation, no! A bottle of scotch whiskey takes you to the other world. It is not bliss. Gambling will never take you to bliss because the excitement, the sensation, will never result in bliss. Bliss is the byproduct of non-sensation and non-excitement. Excitement is temporary. Scotch whiskey gives you a kick for a period of time. “Whiskey is risky, but liquor may act quicker!” Be that as it may, that which gives you a temporary kick cannot be the state of bliss. So bliss is a state that is non-sensation and non-excitement. It is experienced in stillness, in peace and in void.

What will we pay for bliss? What shall we do? Bliss is our nature - it is our Self-nature, our birthright. We were born with bliss. How do we know it? How do we experience it? What shall we pay for it?

We’ll certainly understand Bhagavan, who gives us this example. The answer is quite simple. As we walk, as we jump, one footstep has to be sacrificed to bring forward another footstep. True? As you walk, one footstep has to be crossed to march forward. Similarly, when I go to pick up diamonds, what should I do? I should wash my hands. I should remove all the dust in order to collect the diamonds -- or else the hand is full of dust and mud.

Bliss Is Covered

Another example Bhagavan uses: The glass is full of water. If you want to fill it up with milk, what should you do? You should pour out the water and fill it with milk. Similarly, bliss within can be experienced; can be realized, providing we remove all that which is present on top of it. Gold is deep in the earth. Gold is available deep in the earth. So, what are we supposed to do to get it out? Remove the pebbles. Remove the stones. Remove all the sand. Then collect the precious, valuable gold underneath.

Similarly, bliss is present. Yet, it is covered by jealousy, covered by anger, covered by avarice, covered by envy, covered by comparison, covered by ambition, covered by meaningless worry, covered by utter stupid anxiety and desires. All this nonsense has covered the most valuable asset - bliss, which is in the depth of my heart. So, what I am supposed to do is to ‘unearth’ the bliss, which is already underneath (inside). I'm not going to put gold down there in the earth! No, it is already lying down there.

So my friends, bliss -- which is our birthright, bliss -- which is the very form lying underneath (inside), has got to be ‘unearthed’ by making ourselves free from all weaknesses such as desire, lust for power, possessiveness, desire for name and fame. Once these things are gone, we'll be blissful. Is it not true?

Watch a child. The child is playing. When I say to the child, “You are great!” the child will never hear me. The child will continue to play. “Oh child, you are going to become a Supreme Court judge!” The child will turn a deaf ear; he will go on playing. Praise or blame are immaterial to the child. Children are the best example of the very metaphor of bliss.

We are embodiments of bliss. Yet, we are not really happy because we are not happy like a child. So many dirty things, so much unwanted stuff, cover the bliss. Hence, we are not able to experience the state of bliss.

I Am Not Affected

What is to be done now? What am I to do now? I have to realize all that causes pain and suffering is just a shadow. All that is happening around me does not affect me. The pain, suffering, separation, agony, anguish, misery, or sadness – all that’s a shadow. That’s all it is. I'm unaffected. Is that so? Why aren’t I affected?

Bhagavan gives a simple example: As you walk, your shadow follows. Your shadow falls on the gutters, dirty waters, heaps of grass, and on all the useless stuff along the roadside. Does this affect you? When my shadow falls on the gutter waters, I am not affected. When my shadow falls on the road, I am not affected. When my shadow falls on the garbage, I am not affected. Similarly, I am not affected by any pain, suffering, blame or unhappiness because they are all only just a shadow. How can I say that? Because they are not my nature. Unhappiness is not my nature. Pain is not my nature. Sadness is not my nature. Misery is not my nature. Happiness is my true nature.

Bhagavan gives one example: If someone is smiling, no one will come and say, “Why do you smile? Why are you smiling?” Nobody will say that. Did you ever come across anyone asking you why are you happy? No! On the other hand, if you put on a long face, someone will say, “Oh I see, you without a smile. What happened to you this morning? Are you not well? What’s wrong with you? Is there a problem?” Why? Because cheerfulness is our quality, while seriousness is artificial. A smile is natural, whereas misery is unnatural.

Therefore, the point that has got to be understood now is -- when once we are aware that all that we are is not merely a shadow and that we (our true nature) will not be affected by this shadow, this will help us to experience bliss, which is our true nature.

God’s Design

This is another secret that Bhagavan once told us: We asked Bhagavan, “Swami, You’re always blissful. Why? Please give us the secret.” When He’s in a good mood, we can ask any question. If we raise our voice at a time when we are not supposed to, it’s quite risky. (Laughter) So, we have to be careful in asking questions. “Bhagavan, why are You blissful?

Do you know what He said? “I allow things to happen as they should, as per the design. I have no preference; I have no choice.” Choicelessness is the absence of preference. So preference does not block the way. It allows things to be as they should. You go along with the stride. You don’t ‘swim against the current’ of life -- this is the secret of bliss. So, when I don’t swim against the current, I experience bliss

Here is a simple example: Sometimes we see in the newspapers that some children, students or adults go on an excursion or a picnic. Well, they find a river, so they jump in. What happens? The next morning the newspaper carries the news: “College boys - Five Drowned in the River.” A living person drowns, whereas a dead body floats. (You can contradict me if I'm wrong, assuming that you know about swimming.) So, a living man drowns, while the dead body floats. That is the paradox. The reason is this: The dead body allows the water to handle it as it wants. The dead body allows the flow of the water to carry it along. A living man fights, and therefore he drowns.

Similarly, we can allow things to happen to us as per God's design, positive or negative. “Let anything happen in my life. I have no preference. I have no choice. I just allow things to happen. I know how to accept things.” Then we'll be quite safe. Then we’ll be quite comfortable. Then we can experience a state of bliss.

Bhagavan gives us this beautiful message: “Just allow things to happen as per the Divine design, as per the Master Plan.” In other words, let us not fight; let us not swim against the current. That’s the lesson I want to convey.

Here is another secret that we have to understand: When I am bliss, when I was born with bliss, when bliss is my nature, then why do I become unhappy all of a sudden? Why? It is due to desire. Life itself is not unhappiness.

When asked, “How are you doing?” we find many people saying, “I am unhappy.” Or they say, “So-so.” Or, “I'm pulling through.” It is very bad! Answers like “I'm pulling through” or “Life is just like that” or “Life is dragging” only mean that they have already died. Yes! This kind of ‘pulling through life’ is death! This sort of helplessness is death! No, life is not unhappiness.

They Lived For 100 Years

Bhagavan was telling us the other day that those who lived here with Him lived for 100 years, every one of them. He gave an example of Professor Kasturi. When Bhagavan went to see him, He asked him to go for a health check-up. Kasturi answered, “Swami, I'm fine. Why should I go for a health check up?” Bhagavan told him just like that: “Go! Have your blood pressure checked. That’s all!” Kasturi went there and Bhagavan went to the hospital to see him, giving Kasturi instructions for the rest of the things to follow.

The caretaker of the Mandir in those days was Kutumba Rao. (Swami must have given him instructions to arrange for a cremation procession.) He asked, “Swami, why do you want me to arrange to carry a dead body?” Swami said, “No, no, no. Don’t ask. Just follow My instruction.” As Kutumba Rao was making the procession arrangements, the news came that Kasturi expired. That’s it. Kutumba Rao had not been aware of Kasturi’s impending death.

Bhagavan was also telling us the other day about Kamadhani, who also lived for 100 years. Kamadhani came that morning. He also participated in the function: He himself had performed the wedding of Sita, the Kalyanam. He had also placed the idols on the chariot. Then he went to Bhagavan to have padanamaskar. Bhagavan gave His blessings and said, “Have your lunch. Better that you don’t come in the afternoon.” Kamadhani used to go to Bhagavan twice a day. That day Swami said, “You don’t have to come in the afternoon because you’re already delayed.” “All right,” Kamadhani said, and he went to have a sumptuous lunch. Then he slept and, while sleeping, he traveled to the other world (died), the other planet -- inter-planetary travel -- without being aware of it!

Bhagavan was mentioning Surayya, who was also like that. Why? The secret of longevity, the secret of happiness, the secret of bliss, the secret of health is only this - to allow things to be as they happen; not to interfere with the happenings of life, not to swim against the current. Let the Divine Master Plan go on.

“Oh God, You go on; I humbly submit myself.” That’s what is meant when Christians pray, “Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” “Oh God, let things happen according to Your Plan. I surrender unto You, I submit myself to You because You know best. You’re the best judge. You know what is good for me. You know better than I know.” This is called ‘surrender’.

So, we have to understand that life is not unhappiness. Our bliss is gone because of desire. It is desire that has covered up this bliss.

We Have Imprisoned Ourselves

Bhagavan gave this example the other day. He was speaking to His students. “There is a lamp. On that lamp, an earthen pot is kept. The pot has nine holes. Through these holes, you can see the light. Now a blanket covers this pot, so you don’t see anything. What is to be done now? First, remove the blanket. You will see the light through the nine holes. Break the pot and then you’ll see the light directly, in its fullness, in its intensity. You are not able to see the full light because of the pot and the blanket.”

The human body is like a pot with nine holes. There’s a light of Divinity, a light of the soul -- the light of consciousness, the light of the spirit. Divinity, which is in you, is covered by the pot of nine holes, which represents the human body. Over that is the blanket of attachment – the ‘mine and thine’ and so on and so forth.

“This is my seat. I sit here every day; don’t you know that?” (Laughter) A hopeless blanket! So this blanket of ‘I’-ness, of ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ -- this possessiveness and attachment -- will not allow the light of the Self, the light of the spirit, the light of consciousness to shed its light.

Therefore, we have imprisoned ourselves. No one has put us in prison. No one has made us unhappy. No! I make myself unhappy because I always compete with you. Therefore I'm unhappy. I always compare myself with you, so I am unhappy. I'm jealous of you, so I'm unhappy. So, who made me unhappy? I made myself unhappy. Unhappiness is of my own making. Nobody makes us unhappy.

See the primary school children, ah! Look how they run -- one following the other! Yes, smiles and smiles! Well, we’re not able to do that because, as I said last week, some find happiness in unhappiness. Some find more happiness in making others unhappy. (Laughter) So, happiness is not a demand. It is a way of living. And happiness is not a wish. It is not a plan of the government. It is not a building plan.

Happiness is just the art of living, which expresses itself in every field of our life. As I eat my food, yes, I should enjoy my food. Some people eat it as if they are eating on a railway platform. Yes, they have to run to catch the next train! Happiness is there as you sip a hot cup of coffee. Happiness is there as you have your food. Happiness is there as you eat your ice cream. Why not? Every action, every act in life, gives us happiness. Beautiful birds, beautiful scenes, beautiful skies, good breeze, beautiful flowers – they are all the sources of happiness.

Well, we close our eyes to them. We close our ears to all of Nature. We close our ears to the grandeur of Nature. We don’t respond; that’s why we are unhappy. Nobody made us unhappy. Therefore, what is all this unhappiness, which is of our own making? We treasure it. We improve upon it. Then who can help us? We have to help ourselves. That’s all. God helps those who help themselves. If I help myself, God is ready to help me.

I Am Torturing Myself

So what is to be done now? Well, it’s all because of my messing with things. “I messed up half of my life thinking of my great grandchildren, thinking of my grandchildren and thinking of my sons. They are not here and not prepared to hear my advice; so it is not required. But still I have enough worry about them. My son should be like this!” Who are you to tell him? (Laughter) “My daughter should be like that.” But, she has forgotten you some time ago. “I want my grandson to be an engineer, but he wants to be a doctor.” Who are you to decide the fate of your grandchildren and your sons? They are not even here. And even if they were here, they are not prepared to hear your advice!

So, who is torturing us? I am torturing myself. I'm making my own life miserable -- giving doctors plenty to do by developing high blood pressure and hypertension. I give advice, but my son says, “No.” So, high blood pressure develops, that’s all.

Meditation Is a Bath

So what is to be done now? Meditation is a bath; pain is the dirt. When I go outside and play football, the body is full of dust and full of dirt. Then what should I do? I should go home, have a bath and clean my body.

Similarly, when the head is full of worry, when the head is full of anxiety, when the head is full of problems, when the head is full of negativity, what should I do? I should meditate. When I meditate, the dirt of unhappiness will be automatically washed out. Meditation is a bath.

People think that meditation will take them to heaven, that meditation will grant them liberation. I do not know. There’s no life insurance guarantee. Nobody gave me any guarantee. At least pressure cookers carry a guarantee card. But meditation does not carry any guarantee card!

The results of meditation are experienced here and now, not tomorrow. Why? Life is here and now. Life is not tomorrow. Life is not yesterday. Life is here and now. Therefore, the results of meditation must be felt here and now. How is it felt? Just like a bath will cleanse the body, meditation will make the mind equanimous, will make the mind balanced and will make the mind peaceful. So that’s what’s to be done now.

But we are not prepared to do that. We want to solve our problems. “Why meditation? It is not necessary! Why? I have a Ph.D. degree. Well, I have got many, many degrees, attended many conferences and have so many research papers to my credit. What’s in meditation? (Laughter) I can solve my own problem.”

It only means the ego is acting up. When the ego starts acting up, the problem becomes tough, tougher, and then toughest. (Laughter) It becomes something like a knot. When you take the knot out, you feel good. If you aren’t able to take it out, it becomes tighter and tighter. Finally, you have to cut it.

Similarly, when we allow our ego to tackle the problem, it becomes more complicated and more intrinsic. The problem reaches a state where we cannot solve it anymore. Because we want to solve the problem, we cannot solve it. We have to understand that.

Intellect Deceives

It is a simple thing. Why do I want to handle the situation all by myself? Because I think that I'm very intelligent. The Intellect wants to be called an intellectual. The simple meaning is arrogance. An intellectual is a proud man. An intellectual is an artificial person. An Intellectual…better we keep him at a distance. The intellect of the intellectual is spoiling him. The very intellect is an interference.

The intellect deceives! It goes on cutting. We find in every branch, there are fifteen sub-branches. Sub-branches – it means specialization and super-specialization; it goes on dissecting. An intellect separates, “I have been here for ten years. You came only last year. I'm nine years senior to you. (Laughter) I have known Bhagavan since my childhood.” (Oh-ho, separatist!) “I got a number of interviews. Why don’t you have any? I have many gifts from Bhagavan, while you don’t have any. I'm working in His Institution, while you are not. I own a flat here, while you cannot even sit under a tree.” (Laughter)

So, this has been the idiotic game of the intellect. Whatever makes me feel superior to you is the game of the intellect. Whatever makes me feel egoistic is the expression of the intellect. Whatever makes me feel I am better is just the expression of the intellect. Therefore, the intellect dissects; the intellect separates; the intellect analyzes.

“Why is Swami not coming out these days?” How do I know? There are people who come and ask me, “Why is Swami not coming out?”

“Please ask Him!” (Laughter)

“Somebody said that Swami said He would show us the ring today. Why did He not come out?”

“I don’t know. Please ask Him!” (Laughter)

Some people say, “When is He going to Bombay?” When He’s here, why are you worried about Bombay? See this! Analysis is the intellect.

Some people say, “He has given you a ring because you are ringed. He gave you a chain. It means you are chained. It is a blessing.” This Interpretation and analysis -- that is all utter nonsense.

God’s actions are un-understandable, inexplicable, strange, peculiar, mysterious and unknown. When God’s actions are unknown, who are you to interpret? Why do you do that? Why don’t we receive things as they come to us? “Swami gave him a ring because Swami is expecting something from him. He is to do some work for Swami.” I see, do you think God is corrupt? (Laughter) Do you think God takes bribes? Reaction is a reflection of the inner being: “I’m a corrupt man, so I corrupt God also. (Laughter) I accept bribes, so I want to offer a bribe to God. I am partial; therefore I think that God is partial.” This is a reflection of the inner being. Please understand this.

So the point is, the intellect should not govern, should not operate. It dissects. It separates. It analyzes and never recognizes. The intellect will never help us to realize. The intellect experiments; it never experiences. The intellect never allows us to experience, but it experiments!

“Oh, because you sit in the front row, Swami called you. Let me sit in the front row tomorrow!” (Then that whole line will be avoided!) (Laughter) Those are all experiments! So we want to experiment -- that’s the intellect. Experience has nothing to do with the intellect. Thus, experiments draw boundaries. “Those who are here are here. Those who will be leaving tomorrow may still be here.” This kind of categorization, this kind of observing differences, this sort of demarcation and drawing of boundaries is the act of the intellect. It goes on defining God:

“Let me define God.”

“Oh-ho, I see! First, you define yourself. That is enough.”

So, let us not allow ourselves to play the pawn in the hands of the intellect.

The Heart Should Take Charge

Then what is to be done? The heart should take charge. The intellect is for the world. The heart is for consciousness. The heart is necessary to experience consciousness. In the spiritual world, the heart should dominate. In the physical world, in the transient world, in the mundane world, in the world of senses, in the world of objects, the intellect is useful.

So, the heart is necessary. Why? It unifies. It brings us all together. Heart removes all boundaries. We may belong to any nation, we may have any complexion, any color, but we are all One. The unity of man and the Fatherhood of God is possible if our heart functions. If the intellect functions, it sees ‘developed’ countries, ‘under-developed’ countries, ‘developing’ countries, ah-re-re-re! Hopeless countries and hopeful countries -- well, that’s all! (Laughter) What nonsense this is! Only the intellect does this. The heart understands that we are all One. The body complexion or all the technology is only external, but we are One and the same.

Heart demolishes all definitions and there arises mystery. Mystery is born in the heart, and you enjoy the mystery while you read history. History is read, while mystery is enjoyed. Mystery is ecstasy. Mystery is bliss. Mystery is joy. Mystery is beyond the mind. Mystery transcends the intellect. It is a transcendental experience. Mystery is born in the heart. Once the heart takes charge, there will be less anxiety. When the intellect functions, there will be more anxiety. Anxiety and worry come because of intellect. Love, a balanced state of mind, equanimity, poise, and composure come because of the heart.

Religiousness Transcends

Then who is a religious man? How can I tell a religious man? The one who does not judge is a religious man. “Judge not, lest ye be judged!” Let me not call a person a saint. Let me not call a person a sinner. Let me not say anything pure. Let me not say anything impure. Religiousness transcends. Religiousness is non-dual. Religiousness is something beyond. It does not get into the framework of purity, impurity, sinner or saint. So religiousness is non-duality. A religious man will never judge. If he judges, he’s a man of religion, but he is not religious.

Religion is different from religiousness. You may follow religion, but I cannot call you ‘religious’. You belong to a religion, but you are not religious. Am I right? I may be a student of science, but I may not be scientific. You can be a student of arts, but you need not be artistic. So, you may follow religion, but it is more important to be religious. If you are religious, you’ll never judge.

The problem is how not to judge. The mind immediately judges: When you are called, when Swami talks to you, I consider you most fortunate. When Swami does not look at you, I think you are the ‘sinner of the day’. (Laughter) When Swami grants you some interview, I call you a ‘pious man’. When Swami does not grant you an interview, I don’t want to sit by your side.

What is all this judgment? Why are these things happening? It is because of non-religiousness. Religion is there, but religiousness is missing. So, attain this state of the witness and non-duality. How do we not judge? Just observe; that’s all. I find the thought of a sinner in my mind. I find the thought of a saint in my mind. I find pure thoughts in my mind. I find impure thoughts in my mind. Well, ‘I’ am there in both of the situations. Pure thought is there in me. Impure thoughts are there in me. So I am the witness to the pure thought and to the impure thought, the witness to the saintly and to the sinful attitude. Am I clear?

Bhagavan says, “All are passing clouds. Not even one cloud is permanent.” Clouds come and go – just vanish! Clouds appear and disappear. So the so-called ‘sinful’, the so-called ‘saintly’, the so-called ‘pure’, the so-called ‘impure’ are all like passing clouds. The sky is the witness. Similarly, when I experience that state of being the witness to all those things that are happening in my life, then I will be attaining the state of non-duality. That is possible only when we give up the mad race of stimulation.

Give Up Stimulates

We want certain stimulants. Here’s a simple example: When one goes on tasting very, very bitter things and spicy things, he loses his sense of taste. When I listen to very loud noises, I will not be able to listen to the singing of birds. I will not be able to hear soft voices. When I am used to loud noises, I will not be able to hear soft voices. When I am used to hot stuff, I will not be able to enjoy the normal food. So, when these senses start receiving stimulants, we lose our basic sense of touch, our basic sense of taste and our basic sense of hearing.

Here’s another example: I'm walking during the nighttime. Well, a lorry is speeding up ahead. Suddenly the headlights are fixed. Once I see that highlight intensity, I will not be able to see or watch anything. Am I not right? When I hear loud thunder, I will not be able to hear any whisper. So, we should give up the stimulants because through them we lose all sensitivity.

The deeper we go inward, the more we realize Oneness. All that separates me from you and you from me are the apparent ‘differences’. This is all only because we are looking superficially. When we go deeper and deeper, we realize the Oneness.

Lost In Being A Witness

Here’s a simple example: There are two lovers - the lover and the beloved. Two! But love is the same. There are two people: the lover and the beloved. But love is the same; it is not different. There are two friends, but friendship is the same. So, at the bottom we find Oneness. The lover and the beloved, the two friends, the knower and the known, the seer and the seen, the observer and the observed are all One and the same.

The non-duality, the devotee and God, are One. The devotee and God are One, once you forget your body and once you forget your mind. When you are lost, yes, you are One. When you listen to nice music, yes -- supposing you listen to classical music of your taste, of your choice, something to your temperament. What will happen? You don’t look at the musician. He doesn’t exist. The musician is lost in music. The painter is lost in painting. You are lost in being a witness. I am lost in being a witness. That is the state of perfection. The state of perfection is being lost. In being lost, the individual ‘I’-ness totally disappears. So the deeper I go, deeper and deeper, I experience the flow of the still water of Love. I watch that stillness of joy, of ecstasy and friendship.

Dive Deeply

So what is the way out now? You need to dive deeply. What should I do to go deeper? The simple method is OM. Yes! Come on -- let that sound vibrate. Let that sound echo. How? Shall I say it loudly? If I say OM loudly, the Seva Dal volunteers will take care of me! (Laughter) I'm not supposed to do that.

Intone OM with your lips closed and repeat Omkar, so that your heart is filled will the resonance of Omkar. Let Omkar go within, with your lips closed. When Omkar, the primordial sound, the primal sound, is repeated, when that is vibrating, when that is echoing within me, well, that establishes equanimity. That guarantees non-duality. That assures Oneness with the Divine. You become One with the Divine when you chant Omkar from within.

Here is a method, a simple example to help us: I may not be having many experiences. Some people say, “I have had a lot of experiences.”

“Please keep them unto yourself.”

Do you need a lot of experiences? Do you need many experiences?

There are other people who say, “Well, I have had many, many experiences.”

“Thank you; don’t disturb me. I don’t need many experiences! “ Why?

A drop of water will make you taste the whole of the ocean. A drop of water on the tongue will give you the taste of the whole ocean. A simple experience is enough to experience God. One experience is enough to experience the fathomless depths of spirituality. One experience is enough. A single ray of light is enough to reach the sun. A drop is enough to know the taste of the whole ocean. A small lamp can complete the journey. Carry the torch with you. You can walk miles and miles and miles and miles with the torch. A simple experience, a single ray of Grace, a single drop of Mercy is enough to experience that Divinity which is latent.

Therefore, my friends, what’s all this? All this is happening because of the title of this morning’s talk: “What’s All This?” The reason is that we have messed up our lives. We have confused our lives. We have spoiled our own mental fabric. We have gone astray. The whole thing is of our own making. The mistake lies with us. The only thing that we have to do is to unload all that we have gathered, all the dirty stuff that we have gathered over the years. Once we unload this -- yes, gold, glittering and shining, is already there in existence. We were born with it!

The Ring Presented By Lord Rama

Someone asked me what Bhagavan said a few days ago. Well, it’s my duty to please them, too. A few days ago, Bhagavan was talking with a group of students and teachers who were quite near to Him. He materialized a ring of this size (a big size) and said, “This ring was presented by Lord Rama to a person by the name of Sumanthra.” Sumanthra was the charioteer who took Ramachandra to the forest. While saying goodbye to him, Rama materialized this ring for him.

Bhagavan said, “In the precious stone with the diamond, you will find the picture of Ramachandra as He left Ayodhya.” Well Ramachandra did not go to the forest with a crown and all the princely paraphernalia. He was in the attire of a saint. He was almost looking like a sage. So, you will find that picture in the diamond. That’s what Bhagavan said.

Sumanthra, the charioteer looked at the diamond, enjoying the picture of Ramachandra for the rest of his life. That’s what Bhagavan said. Everybody is enthusiastic about it, so somebody asked me to narrate what happened that day.

Furthermore Bhagavan said, “I can make anything. What do you find there? It is all nothing. This nothing is everything and everything is nothing.” That’s what Bhagavan said. What we consider everything is nothing to Swami and what we find in nothing is everything - the entire Universe. That’s what He said the other day.

"None Who Have Understood Me Completely"

He also made this remark: “There are none who have understood Me completely. There are none who have known Me completely.” What a statement that is! He is unknowable and incomprehensible. He is beyond the mind. Knowing comes when the mind acts. You know through your mind. When God is beyond the mind, how can we know Him? So, He’s unknowable, incomprehensible, not understandable and inexplicable. Therefore Bhagavan said, “There are none who know Me.” Yes!

Then He made another point: “There are boys who stay with Me in my room. Suddenly at night, they find Me missing from the bed. Oh! Then they start wondering, ‘What happened to Bhagavan?’ (Laughter) They talk among themselves. Then in surprise, in shock, they find me on the bed again. Sometimes they hear Me talking to somebody. They hear My voice. They heard Me talking to Mother Easwaramma. Mother Easwaramma appears whenever she wants to meet Me. While I was talking, well, the boys could hear. The boys who stay with me in my room have so many experiences, but I see to it that they forget their experiences.”

I asked, “Swami, what's all this? Why should You make them forget these experiences?”

Bhagavan said, “If I don’t erase those experiences from their mind, it will appear in newspapers. (Laughter) These experiences will appear in newspapers! Therefore I erase all their experiences from their minds.” That’s what Bhagavan said.

This incident happened a couple days ago. Some friends asked me about it, so I wanted to share it with them.

Thank you very much!

(Anil Kumar closed his satsang by leading the bhajan, “Sai Narayana, Narayana..”)


Om Asato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya

Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
 

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