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Divine
Discourse on 19th November 2005 - Ladies' Day
Develop the Spirit of
Oneness
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
delivering His Divine Discourse on 19th November 2005 at
Prashanti Nilayam
Text of the Divine Discourse
delivered by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 19th November 2005
(Ladies' Day), in Sai Kulwanth Hall, Prashanti Nilayam
Embodiments of Love!
Today, being Ladies' day, many
ladies have gathered here to share their happiness with one and
all. We distinguish and differentiate between ladies and gents
on the basis of upadhi
(vesture) or physical form. However, the principle of
Brahman present in
ladies and gents is one and the same.
Sarvam khalvidam Brahma
(verily all this is Brahman).
Everyone aspires to attain Divinity. Many sages, seers and yogis
did intense penance to have the vision of God. Where is God?
Daivam manusha rupena
(God incarnates in the form of a human being). God assumes human
form to protect humanity. This has been the mission of all
Avatars.
Embodiments of Love!
God transcends names, forms and
attributes. He is infinite and not limited to a particular form.
Once, Sage Narada and a few other sages prayed to Lord Narayana
to incarnate in human form and redeem mankind. Lord Narayana
said, "Narada, Brahma Shakti
(Divine power) is positive. It is not possible for
Brahma Shakti to
incarnate on earth unless it is coupled with negative power. It
is only when the positive and negative combine that Divinity
manifests in human form."
In response to the prayers of
sages and seers, God comes down in human form. He strives for
the welfare of humanity and bestows joy on one and all. The
Avatar is a
manifestation of Brahma
Swarupa and manavatwa
(humanness). The same principle of
Brahman is latent in
all. One has to develop inward vision in order to experience
Him. Easwara sarva bhutanam
(God is the indweller of all beings). In this cosmic drama, God
alone is the director and also the actor. He is donning all the
roles such as mother, father, husband, wife, daughter, son, etc.
Someone says, "I have been
blessed with a grandson today." The grandson is a manifestation
of Brahma. Brahma alone assumes various names and forms in this
world. When God incarnates on earth, He has to assume the form
of jiva (individual
soul). The principles of
Daivatwa (Divinity) and
jivatwa (individual)
are inseparable. You cannot find one to the exclusion of the
other. Divinity has no specific form. Only the
jiva has a name and a
form but not Deva
(God). He is present in all. In fact, each one of you is an
embodiment of God. Whatever you see around is also the
manifestation of God. Even the small birds that you see here are
endowed with the principle of Divinity. There is no place which
is not pervaded with Divinity. There is no form which is not
divine. However, God assumes a particular form based on the
feelings of His devotees.
God is extolled as,
Sabda Brahmamayi,
Characharamayi, Jyotirmayi, Vangmayi, Nityanandamayi,
Paratparamayi, Mayamayi and
Sreemayi (embodiment
of sound, mobility and immobility, light, speech, eternal bliss,
perfection, delusion and wealth). Hence, even the words that we
utter manifest our innate divinity. It is God who speaks through
each one of you. You should have this firm conviction. If
someone accuses you, think that God in that form is accusing
you. When you develop such spirit of oneness and tolerance, you
will never be perturbed by censure and blame. Your mind will
always remain in peace. Whatever may happen, accept it
wholeheartedly as the Will of God. Have firm faith that it is
God and God alone who is the doer.
Do not consider your fellow
human beings as mere individuals. When you talk to someone,
think that you are talking to God. When you do not see God in
others and treat them as your own, you will be giving room to
evil qualities like anger, jealousy, hatred, etc. Develop the
spirit of oneness. Only then will your life be redeemed.
When you go to a noble soul and
ask him for a message, he will merely say, "My dear son, know
thyself." Today People are interested in knowing about others.
They keep on enquiring, "Who are you? Where do you come from?"
But, they do not enquire into themselves "Who am I?" Only when
you conduct such a self enquiry will you get the correct answer.
God has given you the human body. It is He who makes you talk,
walk, laugh, and even cry. Everything happens according to His
Will. Develop such firm faith.
On this occasion, we should
remember Mother Easwaramma and the ideals she exemplified. She
was a paragon of virtues. She was always happy and cheerful, and
she had a smiling countenance. Her heart was tender and sweet
because it was filled with love and compassion. One day, she
approached Me with a request, "Swami, when the children of our
village suffer from any ailment, their mothers have to carry
them all the way to Bukkapatnam hospital. It is a heartrending
sight to see the grief-stricken mothers carrying their children
that far. There is no guarantee that they get proper medical
attention even after going there. Hence, kindly establish a
small hospital in our village itself." I pacified her saying
that her wish will certainly be fulfilled at an appropriate
time. Only when the kala,
karma,
karana, and
kartavya (time,
action, reason, and duty) are favourable can one attain the
desired result. I constructed a hospital as per her wish.
On some other day, she came to
Me with another prayer, "Swami, I am unable to bear the sight of
small children carrying heavy loads of books and walking all the
way to Bukkapatnam school. Even You had to walk to Bukkapatnam
school in those days. Kindly construct a small school in our
village and save them from the trouble of trudging all the way
to Bukkapatnam for their studies." I assured her, "Don't worry;
I will surely construct a school in the village." Accordingly, I
fulfilled her wish.
She came to Me with yet another
request, "Swami, people in our village are suffering for want of
drinking water facility. They have to go all the way to
Chitravathi river to fetch water. Even in the Chitravathi, we do
not find water always. It is not a perennial river. We find
water only when there are rains. I feel very sad to see small
children carrying pots filled with water on their tender
shoulders. Water is the sustainer of life. Hence, kindly get a
well dug in our village and quench the thirst of people." I told
her, "Your desires are very simple. I will certainly fulfil them
in a big way. You don't worry about these things. I will make
sure that the people of our village have proper education and
medical facilities."
As per My promise to her, I got
a small school constructed in the village. In the earlier days,
she was concerned that not all the children of all the villages
were attending school. Later on, I established a college.
Easwaramma was very happy. Gradually, the college has developed
into a university.
To begin with, I got a small
hospital constructed on the top of the hill. Dr. Seetharamaiah
from East Godavari district came here to serve in the hospital
at My behest. He was an ardent devotee. He served here till his
last breath. The hospital was totally managed by one doctor and
two nurses in those days. Now much more has been achieved than
what Easwaramma had asked for by establishing a Super Speciality
Hospital. The simple desires of Easwaramma in those days paved
the way for gigantic social welfare projects.
Once when I went to the banks
of the river Chitravathi, I noticed some ladies from the village
scooping out sand to get their pots filled with water. Later,
Easwaramma also told Me about the hardships of the housewives in
the village for obtaining drinking water and requested Me to do
something to relieve their difficulties. Thereafter, I arranged
for pipe water to be supplied to the villages from a few hundred
kilometres away. In fact, I fulfilled every little desire that
she had expressed. The reason being: her desires were never for
her own benefit but invariably in the larger interest of the
villagers. Whenever anyone expresses a truly selfless desire,
Swami will surely fulfil such wishes. What was once a small
school has now been transformed into a multi-disciplinary
university. What was a small well has been transformed into a
gigantic water supply system.
Electricity was a rare
privilege for the rural population those days. The politicians
who came to power were not very enthusiastic and effective in
supplying electricity for most villages. Therefore, I decided
that without seeking their assistance or help, I must get these
facilities provided by Myself. When Puttaparthi was electrified,
there was jubilation, and this even caused jealousy in nearby
villages. Hence, I expanded the facility to other villages also.
These were not casual acts of
fancy but were provided after ascertaining the needs of the
villagers. See this vast auditorium. For whom have I got it
constructed? Is it not for the comfort of all of you? It is
said, Paropakara punyaya,
papaya parapeedanam (one attains merit by helping others
and commits sin by hurting them). Help ever, Hurt never. Hence,
always strive to help everybody. Selfishness is an evil. Fish is
better than "selfish".
Unfortunately, today you see
persons who are utterly selfish everywhere. It is difficult to
trace the origin of the present-day politics steeped in utter
selfishness, but its consequences are rampant corruption and
evil tendencies. If this kind of politics is eliminated, there
will be happiness all around. All and sundry have now entered
politics. Even panwalas
and beedi vendors have
developed political aspirations. One has to understand the true
purpose and significance of politics before one enters into it.
Instead of being helpful to society politicians actually engage
themselves in harming those whom they are supposed to serve.
Those in power expect that everyone should hanker after them for
obtaining things as a matter of favour that, in fact, are their
right. I would therefore advise that you shun such politics.
Instead, rely on your own innate strength.
What sort of a practice is it
to go from door to door begging for votes? If you lack the
competence, your endeavours are bound to fail. Depend on God's
grace. If you depend on God, He will turn the minds of people in
your favour. God is everything. Victory is secured only when you
totally depend on God's grace. Here again your prayers to God
should not be for selfish reasons. If you are selfish, it
practically renders you incapable of helping others.
First of all, acquire good
qualities. You must be helpful to a few people around you at
least. Your efforts should reflect an element of sacrifice.
Karmanyevadhikarasthe ma
phaleshu kadachana (you have right only to work, but not
to the fruit thereof). Be active in your life. Whatever work you
take up, depend on your own innate strength. Do not depend on
assistance, support or help from others. Be self-reliant. If you
wish to have your family and children well educated and
flourishing, you pray to God.
Wherever you look, God is
present. From stars to hillocks, from insects to elephants,
everything is pervaded by Brahman. Fill your heart with divine
feelings. God is known as
Hridayavasi (resident of heart). Here heart does not mean
the physical heart. If there is enlargement of physical heart,
it results in a disease. What I refer in this context is the
spiritual heart which is present in every individual. When there
is an expansion of heart, it gives rise to broadmindedness. On
the other hand, when there is contraction of heart, you will
have only narrow feelings. Hence, never entertain mean
qualities.
The human birth is highly
sacred. That is why God assumes the human form. Hence, develop
purity of heart and lead your lives in a sacred manner. When I
give a discourse or involve you in
bhajan singing, it is
only meant for the expansion of your heart. When you participate
in nagar sankirtan in
the early hours of the day, your heart will be brimming with
bliss. It is not enough if you merely sing for your own
satisfaction. You should participate in community singing
wholeheartedly and share your joy with one and all. Sing His
glory full-throated and make everyone drink the nectar of the
divine name. Your aim should always be to attain expansion of
heart in every endeavour. Only then will the title of "human
being" befits you. Be broadminded and share your happiness with
everybody.
At present, selfishness and
self-interest are on the rise. People are not striving to purify
their hearts. On the other hand, they are trying to cover up
their mistakes and pose to be men of eminence. They are
interested only in the welfare of their own family and friends.
You should have concern for the feelings and well-being of
others also. Love is God. Live in love. Love should not be
tainted with narrow feelings of I and mine. All should live in
amity with the spirit of oneness. It is possible only when you
have firm faith that God is present in all. Without the presence
of divinity within, one cannot live. With such awareness, live
always in God consciousness.
Consider the suffering of
others as your own. Do not do unto others what you do not want
others to do unto you. Consider love as your very life-breath.
Grow in love. Be broadminded and share your love with everybody.
Pray that others should not undergo the suffering you have
undergone. Let everybody be happy and make progress in life. It
is possible only when you develop love.
Bhagawan ended His Discourse
with the bhajan, "Prema
Muditha Manase Kaho".
Source:
http://www.sathyasai.org/discour/2005/d051119.htm |