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Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at
Prasanthi Nilayam
January 5, 2003
The Sunday Talk Given by Anil Kumar
“Dream or Vision?”
January 5th, 2003
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram.
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Happy New Year 2003!
Let me first wish you all a Happy New Year 2003! May Bhagavan
bless you with plenty, prosperity, peace and health, with longing
for God and yearning for God. May Bhagavan grant you many, many
service opportunities. And, may Bhagavan also grant you repeated
visits during this year 2003. May Bhagavan be with you forever and
ever more. That is my prayer from the bottom of my heart.
(Applause)
You may be quite tempted to hear what Bhagavan said this morning,
not even an hour ago! (Applause) You can understand how things
have been released faster than super sonic -- like a space
satellite! (Laughter)
The Chennai Water Supply Project
This morning Bhagavan was very happy to announce at 8:45 A.M. --
15 minutes before bhajans -- that the drinking water supply
project to Chennai, Madras, is a thumping success. (Applause)
He was extremely happy to inform everybody about this happy news
during the Divine conversation with the students and teachers
assembled on the veranda. He also mentioned certain points, which
are beyond our imagination.
One thing He said was that Madras city was not able to receive
water all these years. All projects that were attempted earlier
ran out of funding and could not fulfil their dreams. In fact,
certain canals laid out earlier are full of leaks. The water was
not fit for drinking purposes or for irrigation. But Bhagavan
designed this Drinking Water Supply Project in such a way that it
will last, foolproof, for 500 years to come! (Applause)
The third point He mentioned was that this water project is going
to be the costliest project ever. A new technique is being put
into place that has not been used previously by anyone. The new
technique requires the laying of polymer sheets, which will make
the pipes leak-proof, ever lasting. These sheets, imported from
Japan, will be placed, running over 170 kilometres. The sheets
alone cost 100 crores. (Applause)
Certain machinery is also being deployed for the purpose of moving
the materials to the location. The names of such machines are not
known to most of us –not even to the engineers or to the
distinguished builders. This is because the machines have been
brought all the way from foreign countries. These machines can
lift the material easily in no time.
In this country, the cement mixers most of us have seen are of a
moderate standard. But the mixers that are being used for this
Drinking Water Supply Project can take 60 bags of cement at a
time, in addition to sand and gravel. This is really beyond our
imagination.
The work is progressing quickly. Thousands of workers, supervised
by a number of engineers, are labouring day-in and day-out for
this purpose. State and central governments are amazed watching
the progress.
Quotes From a Popular Tamil Newspaper
In a very popular Tamil newspaper, which was read to us on New
Year’s Day, one particular point was specifically mentioned. It
was highlighted on the front page in capital letters: “No private
agency has ever undertaken this kind of project other than
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.” (Applause)
The newspaper article also referenced another point, which had not
been thought of by any one of us. It was this: “Bhagavan Sri
Sathya Sai Baba, being in Prashanti Nilayam, is supplying water to
the people of Madras, who are a great distance away, with no
conditions, no stipulations, and no trace of selfishness. This is
really great and unique!” (Applause)
And further it also noted: “Even though such work is going on at a
very high cost of hundreds and hundreds of crores, nobody knows
about it because there is no publicity and no advertisement.
Sathya Sai Baba’s work is a silent revelation. A silent, spiritual
revolution has been going on.” (Applause)
We are so glad to hear these points! Many, many people are coming
forward, prepared to extend their support.
When I said, “Bhagavan, in the Thretha Yuga, many participated in
the mission of Sri Rama -- many were associated with Ramachandra’s
mission.”
Immediately Baba turned and said…(As you know, He is the ultimate
-- He has the final word. He is very particular about it.) What
did He say? “During Rama’s Incarnation, everyone participated in
the mission of Rama, even squirrels, so why not men now? Why not
human beings now?”
We also understand that many senior ministers, many senior
engineers, went to meet with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, to
apprise her of what was going on there. She was very much
surprised and is praying to visit Prashanti Nilayam to pay her
respects and gratitude to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
It is so nice to hear these things! These things are so beautiful
to hear and imagine, because it was clearly stated by Jesus Christ
in the Holy Bible: “You will see things happening in a bigger
measure; you will see things happening in multiples, in a bigger
way, in a higher way in the future.” And here we have the Cosmic
Christ in the person Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, doing things in
a bigger way. (Applause)
These are the things that I want to share with you. These
pleasant, surprising, beautiful pieces of information I want to
share with you, my friends, because the only history is ‘His
Story’. It is a matter of glory, a matter of delight and a diamond
of light to every one of us.
Dreams are the Unfulfilled Desires Expressed
Now I have a certain topic to discuss with you this morning. Many
people say, “I had a dream last night. Baba appeared in my dream.
Baba said this. Baba wanted me to do this.” Over the years we’ve
been used to hearing about this sort of thing. There are many
people who have misused and abused these dream experiences. It is
for this reason that many people doubt whether dreams are true –
or just manipulated and managed fabrications.
“When you dream of Sai, why don’t I?” So I fabricate one. ‘In my
dream, I try to outdo you. If you dreamt that Baba gave you
vibhutthi, then I’ll have a dream that He gave a chain, why not?
That is better than your dream!’ (Laughter) This type of thing has
been going on, so I thought I should deal with this subject.
So, the first subject for the year 2003 is “Dream or a Vision?”
I'm sure that we will all be enlightened by an in-depth discussion
of this subject.
The first point: Let’s not say, “I had a Sai dream.” No! Let us
decide to say from this moment on, “I had a Sai vision” -- not a
Sai dream, but a Sai vision. What is the difference between a
dream and a vision? Here are a few points to which I would like to
draw your attention.
The first and foremost point is this: Dreams are expressions of
unfulfilled desires. For example, I wanted to travel with Swami in
His car, so I had a beautiful dream sitting by His side in a
Sonata car, or at least a Mercedes Benz, and we enjoyed a jolly
ride. (Laughter) Well, is that true? It is an unfulfilled desire
that has expressed itself as a dream.
A Repressed Longing Expressed
So, the first and the foremost point is this: A repressed longing
-- a suppressed desire, an unfulfilled desire, a wish that has not
been realised, something that you have been longing for over a
period of time – lies within you in an unconscious state. At some
point, it finds a convenient expression in your dreams and gives
you psychological satisfaction.
That’s the reason why, if you ask people, “What are your
experiences?” they will say, “All are my dream experiences.” It’s
just dreamland or merry land. So, what you need to understand is
that the dream is not important because it is just a suppressed
desire expressed in a convenient way.
Incomplete Experiences
And the second point is this: Incomplete experiences also find
their fulfilment in dreams. What are incomplete experiences? I’ve
had a number of incomplete experiences, though they have not
expressed themselves in my dreams -- not until now anyway.
Supposing we are suddenly asked to leave the pandal, or we are
asked to leave the premises. Well, that would be an incomplete
experience. To give another example: In the year 1972, when there
was a mass thread ceremony at Whitefield, everyone was ready for
lunch. Suddenly there was an announcement: “Except for the boys
and their parents, everyone else may go.”
Well, I was first on the list to go! (Laughter) That was an
incomplete experience. That incomplete experience might find its
expression in a dream – as though I was dining and sitting beside
Bhagavan.
So, incomplete experiences and repressed or suppressed desires are
all the dreams. That is all the expression of a small mind. Dreams
are psychological. If I dream too much, it indicates a sick mind,
and I need to be treated by a psychiatrist. Too much dreaming is a
bit psychotic. It ‘s not reality.
“Life is a Dream, Realise It!”
On the other hand, Bhagavan says, “Life is a dream. Realise it!”
He does not want us to simply dream, but to realise that life
itself is a dream.
What is a dream? A dream is temporary. A dream is physical. A
dream is momentary. A dream is something that passes on. A dream
is not continuous.
“Yesterday I had ‘Part One’ of my dream; tonight I will have ‘Part
Two’.” No one can say that, though he may be the best dreamer of
the century. (Laughter) So, a dream is never continuous. Dreams
are disconnected.
Also we forget certain details of our dream because it is all
imagination -- all the development and creation of our mind. There
is no participation of the body. There is no participation of the
intellect.
The spirit or the soul is only a witness, that’s all. “Oh, I
watched the boat,” says the spirit, soul, consciousness or Atma.
‘O mind, enjoy yourself! O mind, you did not enjoy life during the
waking state. O mind, you are frustrated in the waking state, so
enjoy yourself in the dreaming state. At least delight yourself,
dance in ecstasy, in the dreaming state!’
I think that’s clear. The consciousness or Atma is a witness.
Either in the waking state or in the dreaming state, it just
watches. It watches the mind crying in the waking state. It
watches the mind dancing in the dreaming state. The spirit or the
soul or the consciousness is just the witness.
So my friends, dreams are the gimmicks of the mind. Dreams are
games of the mind to which the spirit is the witness. Some people
may have repeated dreams, and daydreams also. They are already
tired of the normal dreams. (Laughter) So some have daydreams too!
It is a sickness, a sickness that needs treatment.
A Vision is Beyond the Mind
My friends, I plead with you, please understand. I repeat once
again, being a teacher, so please bear with me. Being a teacher
for four decades, I may be guilty of repetition. But a teacher
repeats things that are important for the examination. So, for the
examination of life, this point is worth repetition. From this
moment on, let us say, “I had a Sai vision”, not a Sai dream. Do
you understand?
Now, what is a vision? Having already discussed dreams, I will now
speak about visions. A vision is beyond the mind, while a dream is
within the framework of the mind. I may dream all this tonight.
But a vision is beyond the mind.
Oh, is there anything beyond the mind? Yes! What is it? Do you
mean to say there is a ‘no-mind state’? Do you mean to say the
mind is totally gone? Do you mean to say the mind is totally
withdrawn?
No! It is neither gone, nor withdrawn. The mind is still. It is
calm, quiet, and thoughtless – like a river that is calm and
still, not raging, not turbulent, not disturbed, not agitated. So,
‘beyond the mind’ means stillness, thoughtlessness, silence. It is
in that state that you’ll have a Sai vision, not a Sai dream.
To give a more practical example: Some people who have seen Swami
every day want to have many different experiences, but this has
not happened. So, their desire can be fulfilled in a dream.
Something that has been thought about during the day is extended
to the dream state. It is like numbers in the accounts book that
are brought forward to the next page.
But a vision is not like that. At a time when you have no ideas,
at a time when you have no thoughts, at a time when there's no
expectation at all, Baba appears. At a time when you had no
thought whatsoever, when you had no vocation, when you didn’t have
any participation, when you didn’t go though His literature and
you didn’t attend any of His bhajans, at a time when you are so
engrossed in your business, when you are so engrossed in your
research work, and when you are so busy with your family
problems…at that time, without having heard anything and without
having any thoughts about Him (‘No reason for Love…no season for
Love’), there appears Bhagavan! Can that be a dream? No, certainly
not!
So, when there is no thought, when there is no desire, when there
is no ambition, when there is no planning AND Swami appears, it is
not a dream; it is a vision. Let us understand this outstanding
distinction between a dream and a vision.
To sum it up: A dream is within the framework of the mind. A dream
is the imagination, hallucination, creation and game of the mind.
A vision is beyond the mind. In that thoughtless, silent, serene,
calm and quiet state, the state where the mind is subdued in
equanimity and balanced, that is the state when you will have a
true vision.
A Dream Will Take You Away From Your Home
The second point: A dream will take you away from your home.
Here’s a simple example: I dreamed of paradise. I dreamed of
heaven. There is an elderly gentleman, whose name I don’t want to
mention, because I'm sure that he may feel hurt. Whenever he
speaks, he only speaks about his dream experiences. (Laughter) He
claims that Baba has taken him to heaven. Baba has taken him to
Kailasa. Baba has shown him paradise. This is something we have
heard from him repeatedly.
At one time I prayed within myself, “Swami, You are so merciful to
have shown him heaven. Why don’t You keep him there, so at least
we will be more comfortable here on earth? (Laughter) Things have
become so ridiculous, I tell you! It should not be like that.
So, a dream takes you away from home. By ‘home’ I don’t mean your
concrete, cement and gravel house. But I mean the source, the
reality, your identity, your real, true nature, your Self. You are
away from the Self in a dream. Why? Because it is all a game of
the mind -- it is the mind that takes you away from your Self.
You’re cut off from your Self. You’ve distanced yourself from your
true nature and it is because of the mind.
So when the dream is the creation of the mind, then it only means
that you’re far, far away – further and further from your real
home, from your real Self, from your real awareness, the source,
the Atma, the consciousness. But in a vision, you are not away
from your home. You are closer and closer to your home. You are
the Home. By ‘Home’ I mean the Self, the awareness, the
consciousness, your true nature. Therefore, in a vision, you are
the Home. You are nearer and nearer to the Source.
In a dream, you are away from the Source. You are away from your
true Self. You are just finding gratification for your unfulfilled
desires -- your needs that could not be brought about in the
waking state. So, this is the second difference that I wanted to
share with you.
Dreams are ‘Black and White’
Now the third point: Dreams are in ‘black and white’. I see. Are
they anything like cinema or celluloid? Why not? No, dreams are
black and white, while visions are Technicolor, multi-coloured.
(Laughter) What is the difference? Well, I mean that having dreams
is something ancient. You are not only the dreamer now, for
humanity has been having dreams all along. All of us find
happiness in dreams: ‘A-baa! What a dream you had! Please stay
there.’ (Laughter) It is not reality anyway.
So, dreams are ancient. There’s nothing new about them. There’s no
creativity there. There is no resourcefulness there. It only looks
bright on the outside. A dream is like a plastic flower -- a
plastic flower has no smell, no fragrance. A plastic fruit is not
juicy, either in England or in the USA. It is artificial.
Therefore, a dream is just artificial, ancient, nothing new. Thus
I describe it as ‘black and white’, while a vision is in full
colour.
What kind of vision? The vision that takes you to the future, the
vision that identifies you with the Cosmic entity, the vision that
takes you to Divinity, the vision that has you stand in front of a
mirror and see your own reflection of God. A vision is the
experience of Oneness, which is quite noble, creative and fresh.
Therefore, I describe it as multi-coloured or in Technicolor.
A Vision Will Never Make You Tired
I dream and dream and dream, but nothing has come true yet. What
am I to do? I dreamt of a Jaguar car, but I don’t even have a
bicycle. (Laughter) I dreamt of my trip to the moon, but I have
not even gone to the neighbouring village. To go on dreaming and
dreaming is tiring, exhausting, and makes me weak. Life becomes
tasteless and insipid from continuous dreaming. I get exhausted --
I'm tired of these dreams.
But a vision will never make you tired. A vision will never make
you exhausted. Why? Because a vision is blissful, a vision is
fullness and completeness. A vision is alertness and awareness.
So, when you have a vision, it will make you stronger and
stronger, more enthusiastic, more dynamic. It will never make you
tired or weak, as in the case of a dream.
The Third Eye
I will give you another difference between a vision and a dream.
“Yes sir, I can have any number of dreams during my life. Every
alternate day, I can have a dream.” Fine. Why alternate days?
Dream every day if possible. So dreams may happen like that, but
visions are something due to the third eye, as per the Eastern
scriptures.
I have two physical eyes. Those two eyes are enough trouble!
(Laughter) But, there is a third eye referred to in the Eastern
scriptures. What is this third eye? The third eye is not another
physical eye between the existing two -- which would make my face
look awful and make everyone avoid me! (Laughter) No, it isn’t
like that. The two physical eyes allow me to see the outer,
external world. They allow me to see the five elements.
But, the third eye is the inner eye of wisdom. The third eye is
the jnana chakshu. Jnana chakshu means the ‘wisdom eye’, which is
the symbolic, inner eye. An ophthalmologist or eye specialist
cannot examine it -- he won’t find it. He does not know the parts
of the third eye. The two external eyes already confuse him!
(Laughter)
So, this third eye, the eye of wisdom, is an ‘inner’ eye. The eye
of wisdom opens to discriminate, to experience and be blissful. So
my friends, a vision comes from the opening of the third inner
eye, while a dream is within the framework of the mind.
Great People had a Vision
Now I would like to bring to your notice another point. A vision
makes people fully energetic. Great people had a vision of this
country. The father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, had a vision.
Abraham Lincoln and George Washington had a wonderful vision for
the United States of America. So that vision made them energetic,
plunging them into action to work towards their goals. Martin
Luther King had a vision. Men of eminence and men of prominence
have had visions, which inspire them to go forward in spite of all
obstacles, resistance, problems and worries. It is because a
vision is Divine; a vision is spirituality; a vision is the
opening of the inner eye.
You can never put your dreams into action. If a dreamer started
implementing and executing all he dreamt the night before, then he
would be in hot water! Suppose he dreamt that he has a fiancée and
upon awakening, he wants that to be a reality. Well, he might find
himself behind bars. (Laughter) So, a dream cannot be executed. A
dream cannot be a reality.
But a vision is reality. A vision comes from the subconscious
state, sending signals and giving direction to the conscious
state, whereas a dream sends signals to the conscious state,
making it more complicated. The signals from the vision, which go
from the unconscious to the conscious state, are creative,
directive, demanding, commanding, and purposeful. The vision
signals are truthful and meaningful because they are essentially
spiritual and Divine.
Catharsis
Here are a few more important points pertaining to dreams. Suppose
I'm angry with you. Can I beat you up? No, I can't do that because
you’re in a gang of ten and I'm alone. (Laughter) So, I cannot
express my sentiments and emotions in public, good or bad. I just
keep quiet and imagine everything, as if I had beaten you. Yes.
So, in a dream what happens is that all these hidden sentiments,
all the hidden feelings will come out. That’s called ‘catharsis’.
It is an emotional outburst. Since I cannot really hit you, I give
you a fistful in my dream instead -- finished! (Laughter) I’ll
have the satisfaction of having abused you, ah-ha, good! I want to
beat you, I don’t have the guts to face you in person; so in my
dream, I thrash you -- beat you black and blue. (Laughter) This
venting of your inner feelings is what is called ‘catharsis’, and
it is an act of the mind.
Sadism
There is another possibility: Suppose I want to torture you. I
feel happy when you are unhappy. But I cannot seem to make you
feel unhappy. So, in my dream, I whip you and say things to make
you unhappy. In so doing, it makes me extremely happy. (Laughter)
This is called ‘sadism’. Catharsis is a feature of dreams and so
is sadism.
Masochism
The third feature is masochism, or self-torture. If anyone asks,
“How are you?” and you reply, “I’ve not been well for the last
couple of years. (Laughter) People have given up hope. Swami said
that He would cure me. Swami said that. Please, at least pray for
me.”
“Thank you, please leave me alone -- I can't help you. (Laughter)
I have sufficient problems of my own. How can I solve your
problem?” (Laughter)
This kind of mentality is self-pity. What can I do? You spoil my
mood too! (Laughter) This kind of self-torture and self-pity also
holds an expectation from others.
If we say, “Oh, we feel sorry for you, my dear young man,” then he
feels happy. He feels satisfied when others feel sorry for him.
This self-torture is called ‘masochism’. Therefore, the mind in
the dream has got these three states -- catharsis, sadism, and
masochism -- to vent emotions.
A Vision of Sai is Psychedelic
But a vision is something different. When I have a Sai vision, it
is not a catharsis, certainly not sadism, and definitely not
masochism. It is psychedelic. Meaning what? Well, supposing all
lights are focused on me. Ah! It looks very bright -- all light.
Similarly, by psychedelic I mean extra radiant, extra brilliant,
extra effulgent. So that effulgence, that radiance, that
brilliance that is psychedelic is like the effect of a vision.
So, when I have a vision of Sai, it is psychedelic -- full of
radiance, full of brilliance, full of vibrations, unlike a dream.
Therefore my friends, let us have a Sai vision and not a Sai
dream. Agreed? Thank you!
Questions
Now I will go to the questions that have come in. They have been
piling up since I could not meet with you for the last two weeks.
“Why Fourteen Years?”
Some gentleman, a Sai devotee, asked me, “Is there any
significance behind Rama being sent into exile for fourteen years?
Why fourteen years? Why not thirteen? Why not fifteen, why?
(Laughter) What is so special about this number?”
To be very, very honest, I don’t remember Swami saying anything
about the number fourteen. Bhagavan has said several things about
the number nine -- six being the Divine qualities and three being
the human qualities: 6 + 3 = 9. He has said many things about the
number nine. Why? Because the number nine is changeless. For
example, 9 x 2 = 18 and 1 + 8 = 9. Likewise, 9 x 3 = 27 and 2 + 7
= 9. So you can go on multiplying like that -- nine is nine. There
are six Divine features and three human qualities. So, He has
spoken about the number nine. But, I don’t remember Swami saying
anything about the number fourteen.
But if you want me to speculate -- subject to correction, subject
to your acceptance -- if you want me to give an educated guess,
then it could possibly be the five karmendriyas or five senses of
action and the five jnanendriyas or five senses of perception – 5
+ 5 = 10. Then the last four are manas, buddhi, chittha and
ahamkaara. Manas is the mind or thinking. Chitta is the feeling.
Buddhi is the intellect or decision-making capacity, and ahamkaara
is the ego. 5 + 5 + 4 = 14. This might possibly be the nearest
answer to this question, if not the right answer.
“What is Vegetarianism?”
The next question is, “What is vegetarianism? Is it really eating
leaves and tubers, or something more?”
Some people say that eggs are also vegetarian. Well, I don’t know
which particular items are exempted from the list. But anyway, to
my knowledge, vegetarianism is not merely limited to food.
Vegetarianism is symbolic of a tireless, sathwic nature. It is not
limited to the food that we eat.
All the scenes that are around us are a type of food for the eyes.
All the sounds that we hear are a type of food for the ears. All
the objects that we touch are food for the skin. So, you can see
that the five senses of perception have their own level of ‘food’.
All of the senses should be ‘fed’ sathwic or vegetarian ‘food’.
The good scenes that I see are considered sathwic. The good music
that I hear is considered sathwic. The good fragrances that I
smell are also considered sathwic. All those good perceptions are
‘vegetarian food’ for the human body.
“What is the Harm in Killing an Animal?”
The second question is this: “What is the harm in killing an
animal? Because, when you pick a fruit, you’re also killing it. By
picking the fruit, the plant becomes handicapped. Doesn’t the
plant suffer pain? So, this is pain and that is pain. So, what’s
the difference?” That is the question.
Baba has said something about this. You must know by now that I
tell you right away any of Baba’s answers to questions already
posed. Those questions where the answers are left to my
imagination, I openly confess. There’s no hypocrisy or duplicity
here. I do not claim to be an intellectual, certainly not! I don’t
even want to be one. I can only repeat what our good Lord has
said.
So, what did He say about this? Plants don’t have the same kind of
emotions or feelings as animals do. Although Jagadish Chandra Bose
in his experiments with plant physiology demonstrated that plants
do have feelings and emotions -- at least we can agree on this --
they do not have as many feelings as animals do.
Animals also have feelings and sentiments, although not as many as
man. This means that consciousness will find its expression more
and more in man as compared with the lower forms of creation.
Mineral matter also has consciousness, expressed at the lowest
ebb. The plant world has consciousness at a higher level, the
animal world at a superior level, and the human race at its
maximum. So, it is all relative.
Therefore, you cannot say, “What is the difference, after all, if
I pick a flower or a fruit, or kill an animal?”
You cannot equate them like that. There is a wide gulf of
difference because the level at which consciousness expresses
itself differs in the course of evolution from low to high. That’s
what I can tell you on this subject.
“Why Should I Have Liberation?”
The third question is this: “Why should I have the goal of
liberation or Self-realisation? After all, why? What is the harm
if I am reborn? What is the harm if I'm to die again? Why not?
Then in this birth, I can enjoy life. In liberation, where is the
enjoyment because you are one with God?”
Good! This is a genuine question, a very genuine question. As a
man in the company of God, I can enjoy nearness and I can enjoy
dearness. In liberation, is there anything like ‘dearness’ and
‘nearness’ and bliss? This is a genuine question indeed!
The answer is this: Instead of loving God, if you become Love
itself, it is a million times greater than the process of loving.
I think that’s clear. Instead of trying to be blissful in the
company of God, if you are bliss itself, what else is left in this
world? And the experiences of pain and pleasure, success and
failure, blame and praise -- these are all due to the dualism of
life. Once you go beyond dualism, where there is no positive or
negative, that is the state of liberation, moksha or nirvana.
So, one aims for liberation in order to remain in the state of
bliss, not just to have blissful moments. Intermediate, blissful
moments are different from the state of bliss itself. So, this
permanent bliss is coveted very much. People deeply pray for
liberation on the spiritual path because with liberation you find
eternal bliss. In life, you have momentary bliss or blissful
moments. So, in ordinary existence you are dual, whereas in
liberation you are non-dual. Therefore, liberation is the
ultimate.
Instead of being a lakhshapati (having hundreds of thousands) or a
crorepati (having tens of millions), instead of being the owner of
billions, if you are wealth itself, what more do you want? Or,
instead of having water tanks, if you are the ocean itself, what
more do you need? So, the fullness, the totality is liberation,
while existence is fragmentary, segmented, in pieces, bit-by-bit.
Therefore, one prays for liberation.
“When Will The Golden Age Begin?”
The next question: “What is known about the Golden Age that Swami
often talks about? When will it begin?”
This is like a person getting up at 8 o’clock asking, “When did
the sunrise start? What time is the sunrise?”
He got up at 8 o’clock, already two hours late! (Laughter) Am I
right? So, when did it start? When will the Golden Age start? The
Golden Age started 77 years ago! (Applause) The Golden Age began
when Bhagavan took birth.
Then, why am I not aware of it? I got up at 8 o’clock. (Laughter)
I got up at 9 o’clock. I have not been awake all these years. I
have been spending time in sleep and slumber. The reason is that
the Golden Age was my dream. If the Golden Age had been my vision,
then I would have been awakened by this time. That Golden Age
should have already kindled in my heart the light of wisdom within
me, awakening the third eye of vision.
"Why Are We Created?"
The next question: “Why man? Why are we here? Why are we created?”
Good question! Why man? Man is a special creation of God. The Holy
Bible says that God made man in His own image. Krishna is so happy
to see Himself in Arjuna. Rama is so happy to be followed by
Lakshmana because He finds Himself there.
A simple example: Every one of us, without exception, when
standing in front of a mirror considers himself or herself to be
very, very handsome or beautiful, though someone may tell that is
it is not so. (Laughter) “Please, no! You keep quiet!” (Laughter)
God separates Himself because He loves Himself. God separates
Himself into many in order to love Himself. I look into the mirror
to know how handsome I am. So God separated Himself:
Ekoham Bahusyam…
One into many…
God has manifested into many. He finds His beauty in you. He finds
His splendour in you. He finds His individuality in you. He finds
His personality in you. That is:
Sahasra Seersha Purushah
Sahasraksha Sahasra Paad.
The whole universe is like a myriad of mirrors, in which He finds
His own reflection. He feels so happy. It is all the play of God,
what we call the ‘leela’ of God, the Will of God.
It is not the game of God, please understand! Game is human, while
play is Divine. Please understand this. In a game, there is
winning and losing. In a play, there is none of that. It is bliss.
A game is commercial, while a play is spiritual. A game has rules
and regulations, while a play is beyond rules and regulations. In
a play, a fellow may die at the age of 30 or the fellow may not
die though he’s 104. So it is all God's play – the Divine leelas
of God.
And therefore my friends, why man? It is the play of God. Why are
we here? We are here because of the play of God, the Will of God.
It is all a creation for His own delight.
Different Periods of Earth’s Evolution
Then the next questions: “There are so many ages like the Thretha
Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. Are they different periods of
earth’s evolution, or are they something different?”
As I understand it, it is all the course of earth’s evolution,
like the Palaeozoic period, like Mesozoic period, or the
Carbonizoid period. They are different periods of time. Even if
you go through anthropology texts, they clearly tell us that
ancient man was seven feet tall. Now, gradually, pygmies and
dwarfs have come!
When Bhagavan materialized a ring of this size, He said, “This is
Rama’s ring.”
It was large enough to serve as my waist belt! (Laughter)
“Swami, is this Rama’s ring?”
“Yes, it is!”
“Is it so big?”
“Why not? He was not so small like you. He was a large man.”
Then He materialized a gold chain of Ravanasura’s. It was a big
chain, full of Siva lingams. Yes. At the centre, there were three
big crystal lingams of yellow, blue and gold, with gold Siva
lingams all around -- such a big chain.
“Swami, is this..?”
“Yes, it is Ravana’s!”
From seeing that, you can imagine his size!
Therefore, they belong to the earth’s evolution, but they are not
earthly. Please understand. Being on earth is different from being
earthly, as being a child is different from being childish. I am
not a student of literature. I am a student of botany. But to my
knowledge, one can be like a child, but never be childish. Am I
clear? If you are child-like, you are Divine. If you are childish,
you must be put under check. (Laughter)
Similarly, it is the course of earth’s evolution, but it is not
earthly. What do I mean by that? Jesus of those times had a
message for these times. Rama of those days had a message for
these days. So, though they are of earth, they are simply not
earthly, as they had no lesson to learn. They are terrestrial, but
with a celestial mission in life. So, those ages have a message
for this age. That is the answer I have.
“Why Does God Come So Infrequently?”
Another question: “Why does God come so infrequently? Why only
every 500 years or 1000 years? Why not regularly, like a train?
Why not? (Laughter) Had He been here throughout, arriving
year-after-year, then all our weaknesses could have been prevented
and we would never run away from the path of righteousness -- we’d
never run astray. God could control us if He appeared frequently
and regularly. It would make His job lighter and easier.”
My friends, with no publicity or sense of ownership, with no
feeling of pride and ego, not even in the wildest of my dreams, I
humbly urge you to go through the two volumes of Satyopanishads,
Volume One and Volume Two. These books contain 272 questions asked
of Swami in Kodaikanal. They cover all these questions, giving His
Divine answers. These are answers given by God, over which I have
no claim. (If there is any confusion, I am ready to take the
blame, to improve upon the book and revise it for the next
edition.) Please go through those two volumes of Satyopanishad.
Those books have the answers to many of these questions.
What is the question here? “Why doesn’t He appear frequently?” The
answer given there in Satyopanishad is this: When five people are
fighting, the elder member of the village will come and say,
“Don’t fight.” He will resolve the problem. When two groups of 50
people fight with each other, a police constable is necessary to
settle the problem. When two groups of 100 people fight, a Circle
Inspector needs to be there. When villages fight with other
villages, the District Superintendent of Police needs to be there.
When states fight with states, an army is needed. So, it depends
upon the intensity of the problem.
When there is so much confusion, when the human race is threatened
with extinction from this planet, then it is a serious enough case
for the ‘Divine Surgeon’ to come down and operate. (Laughter) Like
in appendicitis, any further delay would lead to the collapse of
the patient! So, an operation is not needed for a simple
stomachache. It may ache so much, but it doesn’t call for an
operation -- some syrup is enough. If I fast tonight, that should
be enough. So, He decides the condition of the patient; I cannot
decree it myself.
So, why doesn’t God incarnate more frequently? He doesn’t find it
necessary. When and if He finds the necessity, then He incarnates
at His own behest, according to His own Will. That’s the answer
that Baba gave in this context.
“Is There Any Life On Other Planets?”
The next question is this: “Is there any evidence of life on any
other planet?” We have a sufficient population problem here on
this earth – well, how about the other planets? (Laughter)
I don’t know, I don’t know! I didn’t ask Swami this question. If
there is an appropriate time for me to ask, I’ll see what He says.
“What Was the Duration of the Day in Dwapara and Thretha Yugas?”
And then another question is this: “As the day in the Kali Yuga is
24 hours, what was the duration of the day in the Dwapara Yuga, or
even before in the Thretha Yuga?”
I find time is running short now itself, so how about Dwapara
Yuga? (Laughter) Anyway, it is a question indeed. The epics have
an answer. The Shastras have an answer: So many years constitute a
moment or a minute for Brahma. So many years constitute a day for
Brahma, and so many decades constitute a half-day or a month for
Brahma. There is a calculation. I vaguely remember having heard
from a priest in a temple during my childhood days that there is
an answer to this, but I do not remember it just now.
But my advice is this: Let us be conscious of this time right now.
What is life, my friends? Life is not the past, no. Past is death.
Life is not the future. Why? It is uncertain. So, what is life?
Life is here and now. I repeat: What is life? Life is here and
now, that’s all. So let us think of the life here and now. The
life here and now is with God. It is eternal; it is immortal.
May Bhagavan bless you. Sai Ram, Sai Ram!
(Anil Kumar closed the satsang by leading the bhajan, “Govinda
Gopala Hey Nanda Lala…”)
Thank you very much. Thank you!
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
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Thank You!
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