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Divine
Discourse
Date: 14 Jan 2009
Occasion: Makara Sankranthi
Place: Prasanthi Nilayam
Money Comes and
Goes, But Morality Comes and Grows
Bhagawan granting His Divine Discourse. Sai Kulwant Hall,
Prasanthi Nilayam, 14th January 2009
Bharat is the motherland of many
noble souls who earned great name and
fame in all the continents of the world.
This is the land of valorous people who
vanquished the foreign rulers in the
battlefield and attained independence.
This is the land that excelled in music,
literature, and other fine arts. Having
been born in this great land of Bharat,
oh boys and girls! It is your sacred
duty to protect its rich cultural
heritage.
(Telugu poem)
Dear students!
Be prepared to uphold the honour and
glory of this country of Bharat! You are
sure to come out victorious in this effort.
Today, people are able to achieve great
progress in secular and scientific fields,
but they are unable to march forward in the
field of spirituality. One has to progress
in spirituality more than in other fields.
People used to give great importance to
progress in the spiritual arena in the
ancient times. In fact, it used to be the
goal of their life. However, there is a
decline in the spiritual outlook of people
in recent times.
In these days a lot of effort is made to
achieve progress in secular, physical, and
worldly matters. Whatever achievements made
in these areas are only temporary and
transitory; they are not permanent. While
people are able to make giant strides in
secular areas all over the world, there is
decline in the importance given to spiritual
and moral progress. This tendency is in
sharp contrast to the culture of Bharat in
ancient times.
This land of Bharat has given
birth to many noble women like Savitri,
who brought her dead husband back to
life; Chandramati, who extinguished wild
fire with the power of truth; Sita, who
proved her chastity by coming out of
blazing fire unscathed; and Damayanti,
who reduced an evil-minded hunter to
ashes with the power of her chastity.
This land of piety and nobility attained
plenty and prosperity and became the
teacher of all the nations of the world
because of such women of chastity.
(Telugu poem)
Savitri, a great woman of chastity,
brought her deceased husband back to life by
the power of her chastity. Such women
brought great name and fame to the country
of Bharat. Can you find parallels to her
anywhere in this world? No doubt, whoever is
born must die, but is there a woman in any
country in the world who could bring her
dead husband back to life, except in Bharat?
The whole world is falling to abysmal depth
due to transgression of the righteous path,
lack of character, and bad behaviour.
Once Arjuna was narrating to King Dharmaraja
a few strange incidents he observed while
going on a tour of the Kingdom. A farmer
reported to Arjuna, "Swami! Yesterday I left
the implements in the field itself after
ploughing, since it was getting dark. Today
when I went to the field to pick up those
implements, they were not to be found
there."
On another occasion, he noticed some ladies
locking their houses and going out. On
enquiry they informed him, "Swami! We wanted
to go out on some work, and unless we lock
our houses, our belongings won't be safe."
This was stunning news to Arjuna, since no
house in the kingdom used to be locked in
those days, unlike in present times, and
people were able to move very freely without
any worry. Later, when King Dharmaraja
himself went on a stroll, he observed a lady
talking to a man in public standing in the
middle of the road. Such type of behaviour
went against the custom prevailing in the
country.
Dharmaraja was taken aback at these
developments and felt that the age of Kali
had begun. He therefore decided that it was
time that the Pandavas leave for their
heavenly abode. Ladies and gents engaging
themselves in conversation in full view of
the public was a taboo in those days.
Bharat is a land where noble thoughts and
feelings are cultivated right from
childhood. In fact, Bharat is the spiritual
teacher for the entire world. Even now, you
will find that Bharatiyas do not go
astray in their behaviour, as it is
happening in some other countries in the
world. They are decent and courteous in
their behaviour, at least in public. Even an
aged son dare not talk to his mother
standing in front of her.
In the earlier days of Swami's Avatarhood,
the Raja of Venkatagiri used to visit
Puttaparthi. He used to bring the heir
apparent and his other son along with him.
Before their departure, the sons used to
take the blessings of their mother, who used
to sit behind a screen and stretch her legs
for her sons to offer their obeisance to
her. Such were their noble feelings and
exemplary character.
Today, you will find boys and girls moving
together even in public places. If someone
makes enquiries, they reply that so and so
was their classmate. Such acts in the old
days were considered as highly improper. In
fact, the term "classmate" itself is a wrong
expression. Do not use the word "classmate".
Say, "a fellow student in the class".
The rules of conduct in the earlier times
were very strict. The situation has changed
now. Boys and girls visit each other's
houses without any inhibition and even dine
together. This is highly improper. Before
doing such things, one has to ask oneself,
"Am I a human being or an animal or a
beast?" Animals have animal qualities, but
you are a human being. Hence, you should
possess human qualities. You say you are a
human being. Therefore you have to ask
yourself, "Do I possess human qualities?"
What are those human qualities? Never hurt
anyone. Do not speak harsh words against any
individual. Have compassion and a charitable
disposition. Only such a person can be said
to be a human being.
Sathya (truth), dharma
(righteousness), santhi (peace),
prema (love), and ahimsa
(nonviolence) are the five qualities a human
being should possess. Giving a go-bye to
sathya and dharma, people pray
for santhi. Is it possible? Can
anyone get peace outside? Peace is a state
of mind that is very much inside one's own
self. It emanates from one's heart. People
are now searching for peace in the outside
world.
There is reaction, reflection, and resound
for everything in the world. Only when you
develop the quality of hatred in yourself
will you see hatred in others. Even when no
one causes any harm to you, you try to hurt
others. Whatever you do to others, surely
you will experience the result of that
action. Whatever you hear or experience is
all due to the reaction, reflection, and
resound of your own actions and feelings.
Others are not responsible for it.
You forget this simple truth and lament, "so
and so is accusing me; so and so is causing
pain to me; so and so is hurting me", etc.
No one is responsible for either your good
or your bad actions. Neither is it God's
creation, for God is nirgunam,
niranjanam, sanathana
niketanam, nitya, shuddha,
buddha, mukta, nirmala
swarupinam (God is attributeless,
unsullied, final abode, eternal, pure,
enlightened, free, and embodiment of
sacredness).
You go on fighting with others and try to
hurt them. Then you are not a human being at
all! Always help others, never hurt anyone.
"Help Ever, Hurt Never." It is said,
Paropakara punyaya, papaya parapeedanam
(one attains merit by serving others and
commits sin by hurting them), Sarva jiva
namaskaram Kesavam pratigachchhati
(whomever you salute, it reaches God), and
Sarva jiva tiraskaram Kesavam
pratigachchhati (whomever you criticise,
it reaches God).
You think you are accusing someone or making
fun of someone. It is all your illusion. In
fact, you are accusing yourself and making
fun of yourself in the process. Everything
has reaction, reflection, and resound. You
yourself are responsible for either good or
bad. If you wish to enjoy good things in
life, do good to others in the first
instance.
Today's education is information-oriented.
It is bookish knowledge. It is not real
education. It is not this type of education
that you should pursue. You have to pursue
"Educare".
Educare manifests in one's own heart.
Education relates to gathering information
by reading several books and storing them in
your brain. Whatever you remember out of
that knowledge, you will reproduce in your
examinations and acquire degrees; that you
call education. That is not real education.
You have to follow your inner voice. That is
real education. In the recent sports day,
you played many games, displayed beautiful
gymnastic skills, and sang several songs.
All these activities relate to the body,
which is the result of your past karmas
(actions). However, do not repose absolute
confidence in the physical body. The body is
given to you for discharging your duty as a
human being. Do not misuse your body.
It is the responsibility of teachers,
headmistress, principals, vice chancellors,
and chancellors to teach the students the
value and purpose of human birth.
Your duty is to follow your conscience. Your
conscience helps you manifest noble
qualities. But you do not pay heed to the
voice of your conscience and go against the
human values. Hence, never ignore your
conscience. Your conscience is your most
valuable property.
You do not have to do japa (soft
repetition of the name of God), tapa
(penance, severe austerities), dhyana
(meditation), or yoga. You will
achieve a lot of progress in your sadhana
(spiritual practices) if only you listen to
your inner voice. Whatever comes from the
depth of your heart will do good for you.
Whatever goes against the dictates of your
conscience is worldly, whereas inner voice
or conscience is spiritual. "Help Ever; Hurt
Never," is the cardinal principle of
spirituality. Whoever follows the inner
voice will always be safe. Never go against
that inner voice. That is true spirituality.
Spirituality does not mean just conforming
to worship and meditation. These practices
have degenerated into several undesirable
activities these days. The underlying
principle and the purpose of these
sadhanas are totally forgotten.
It is said, Manasyekam vachasyekam,
karmanyekam mahatmanam (Those whose
thoughts, words, and deeds are in perfect
harmony are noble ones). Unless there is
perfect accord between your thoughts, words,
and deeds, you are not a human being at all!
You get very angry against someone
and slap them. But think for a moment;
it is a great sin to hurt others. In the
process, you are hurting not your enemy
but God, verily! All are divine. Hence,
never hurt anyone. It is natural to help
those who help you, but you should be
able to help even those who harm you.
There is nothing great in helping those
who have helped you. The noble ones are
those who help even those who have
harmed them.
(Telugu poem)
It is only Sai in this world who helps
even those who try to harm Him, ignoring
their faults. I never mind the harm done to
Me by others. We must always be calm,
serene, and peaceful under all
circumstances. If only you maintain the
quality of peace, you can achieve anything
in life. Wherever you see in the outside
world, it is only pieces and pieces! Do not
hurt the feelings of others, come what may.
Always treat your parents with love and
respect. In fact, your parents are your
first teachers. Respect them. Any amount of
your good work that inconveniences your
parents is of no avail. That cannot be
considered good work at all. Though it may
appear to be yielding some benefits
temporarily, the end result of all this work
will turn out to be very bad. Hence, ensure
that you do not cause any inconvenience or
suffering to your parents. The more you
inconvenience them, the more you will
suffer.
With regard to charity, the more you give in
charity to others, the more benefit you will
receive later. Therefore, try to help
others, always. Do any kind of seva
(selfless service) that you are capable of.
When you thus go on helping others, you will
be progressing in the path of truth.
As you travel in the path of truth, dharma
will automatically follow. Where sathya
(truth) and dharma (righteousness) go
together, santhi (peace) will reign
there. Then prema (love) will follow.
Where there is love, there hatred cannot be.
You will not have enemies then. It is only
when the spring of love gets dried up in
your heart that you will try to cause
suffering to others. Hence, develop love for
all. Sathya, dharma, santhi,
prema, and ahimsa are human
qualities.
Today, there is rampant violence everywhere
in the world. People are afraid to stay
alone even in their houses. Several changes
are taking place all over the world.
Earlier, the United States of America was
considered to be a super power and a wealthy
country, but now, all that glory is gone. As
a result, people who were going to their
workplaces in cars earlier are now walking.
We think money and wealth can do anything.
But money is not important; your mind is
important. If only you can control your
mind, everything will turn out to be good
for you.
Dear students!
Whatever work you undertake, do it with a
sense of dedication to God. Sarva karma
Bhagavad preetyartham (do all actions to
please God). Always remind yourself that God
is the doer and you are just an instrument
in the hands of God. You can achieve
anything in life only when there is the Will
of God. Perform your duty and remain a
witness to all that goes in the world.
It is said, "Paropakarah punyaya papaya
parapeedanam". Always follow the
principles of "be good, do good, and see
good." Let your tongue speak only the truth.
Let all your deeds be helpful to others.
Whoever undertakes service in society with
such a motto will always be happy.
Pride, jealousy, etc, are all bad qualities.
They drive away good qualities. They do harm
to you as well as to society. Hence, be good
and do good to others. If someone is in a
difficult situation, go all out to help them
even at the cost of your own work. This is
the foremost duty of a human being. "Help
Ever, Hurt Never" should be your motto. It
is enough if you remember these two commands
always.
Do not cause harm even to your enemy. Hurt
never. Do not cause even the slightest
inconvenience to others. This is true
education.
You make your parents suffer in the house,
come to the office and show your egoistic
power on your subordinates, and draw a huge
salary for your so-called work and
responsibility. This is a great mistake. As
you go up in your career and life, your ego
and jealousy must come down. Then only will
you earn respect from one and all.
Always remember society and its welfare. You
are a member of the society and therefore
you have a social responsibility. You owe
your very existence to society. Similarly,
society is not separate from you.
Individuals make a society. You and society
are inseparable and mutually dependent. Only
when fellow members of the society prosper
will you also prosper.
Dear students!
You all have done well in your studies,
getting good marks and securing ranks. You
brought good name to the Institution in the
fields of education, sports, and cultural
activities. Yesterday, you witnessed a play
on Bhakta Potana. He did not feel bad, in
spite of criticism and belittling from his
brother-in-law Srinatha, also a great poet.
Since Potana was a great devotee of Rama and
surrendered himself totally to the Lord,
Rama Himself composed the great epic
Bhagavatam on his behalf. Potana always
believed that his poetry, his life, and even
his very existence were all the gift of Lord
Rama. He was a true devotee.
When Potana was suffering from acute poverty
and finding it very difficult to make both
ends meet, his brother-in-law advised him to
dedicate his works to the King and make a
comfortable living with the money and
jewellery gifted by the King. Potana refused
to do, so saying that he would take refuge
only in Lord Rama. Instead, he decided to
live by cultivating his small piece of land.
One day, while Srinatha was going by the
side of the fields in a palanquin, he saw
his brother-in-law Potana working in his
field. He derisively passed a comment on
Potana, addressing him as "haalika!",
meaning, "Oh farmer! Are you Ok?"
Potana gave an apt reply saying, "how does
it matter if I am a farmer? I feel it is
better and nobler to make a living by
farming than dedicating my poetry to earthly
kings and living upon their charity. That
gives me great satisfaction!"
The earth is the basis for all objects and
activities in the world. Whoever reposes his
faith in the land will never undergo any
difficulties. Hence, I advise students to
develop faith in their motherland and pursue
their vocations in this great land of Bharat
itself, instead of dreaming to go to other
countries like America and earn lakhs and
lakhs of rupees. Earn name and fame in your
motherland itself.
Earning money is not something great. Even a
beggar can earn a lot of money. "Money comes
and goes, but morality comes and grows."
Cultivate that morality. Whoever has
morality will never undergo any difficulty.
Source:
http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/MakaraSankranthiDiscourse2009.htm |