Light and Love
Swami
teaches...
(16 December
2004)
God-directed activity
Yajna means, 'any activity dedicated to the glory of
God', this activity prescribed in the ancient
scriptures. Yajna is a continuous process; every one
who lives in the constant presence of God, and does
all acts as dedicated to God is engaged in Yajna. It
can be done in all climes, in all realms, by all
races. Every activity in the world is God-directed,
God-ward moving, whether you know it or not. If God
is not the inspirer and motivator, how can the
universe be moving in harmony, wheeling so smoothly?
Three processes go together in spiritual discipline,
as laid down by the sages; Yajna, Dhaana and Thapas
(sacrifice, charity and self-control). Yajna is
translated as sacrifice, for, the process of charity
or Dhaana is essential in Yajna. Also Thapas, that
is to say, strict regulation of emotions and
thought-processes, to ensure peace and faith.
There are various Yajnas prescribed by the Vedhas.
Every householder has the duty of performing for his
own welfare and the welfare of the society in which
he lives, five Yajnas like Pithryajana (Yajna by
which the forefathers are worshipped), Rishiyajna
(Yajna by which the sages are honoured, that is to
say, by the study and practice of their teaching),
Bhuuthayajna (Yajna by which the animals and
lower-beings are revered, that is to say, by
provision of shelters, fodder etc.) and Dhevayajna
(worship of God).
The Vedhapurusha is the Purushotthama (the supremest
person) for by His will He manifested Himself as the
cosmos and its components, out of Himself. There is
nothing that is not He; so, how can you be
different? In these matters, faith comes first; it
has to. Believe that you are divine; conduct
yourselves in accordance with that sovereign status;
then, you will be blessed with the Anubhuuthi - the
experience, the vision, the realisation, the
awareness, the bliss. And, as a result, you are
merged in that everlasting Aanandha.
Remember, you cannot have the Anubhava (experience)
and the Aanandha (bliss) first. And, you cannot
postpone faith, until you get them. You cannot
bargain: "Give me the Aanandha and then, I shall
have faith". See the Purushotthama in all Purushas.
Purusha means, he who lives in the Pura (port, city,
or town). Each one of us is the resident and the
sole resident of a distinct house of God. But, the
Purushotthama - the supreme resident in all the
cities - is God. You can recognise this
Purushotthama, if you educate yourselves properly.
You perform worship with 1008 names, a rite called
Sahasranaama Archana. You keep an idol or picture
before you and offer one flower at a time at the
feet of that symbol of God, repeating the names, one
at a time. The one symbol of the one God is only
one, though He can be reached by a thousand names.
To
realise the one, the universal absolute, which
personalises itself into God and creation, there is
no discipline more valuable and more effective than
Seva. All the 1008 names of the Sahasranaama Archana
reach the one. All the 1000 names of thousand-faced
society connote only the one God that plays in those
1000 roles. The one appears as if it is enshrined in
the 1000 bodies.
You have observed that the Vedhic Pandiths (priestly
scholars) are pouring Ghee into the fire, every time
the recitation of a hymn is over. Every day, when
you take food, you are offering eatables to the fire
that God has lit in you to digest food. You have to
eat in a prayerful mode, in profound gratitude.
You must perform another Yajna too, every day. Pour
the egoistic desires and emotions, passions,
impulses and acts into the flames of dedication and
devotion. In fact, that is real Yajna.
You must have noticed that the Pandiths close each
day's Yajna with a prayer that calls for world
peace, peace for all mankind, peace and happiness,
for there can be no peace without happiness and no
happiness without peace. "Lokaasaamasthaas Sukhino
Bhavanthu", they pray - "May all the world have
happiness, and peace."
Peace of mind cannot be gained by wealth or fame
or scholarship or skill. For that, you have to clean
the mind, purify the heart, yearn for service of the
divine forms that move around you. Do every deed as
an act of worship; make every thought a longing for
Him; change every word that comes from your tongue
into a hymn in His praise. (Extracts with
tiny compilation from the Divine Discourse of
Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba "Yajna - What it Teaches."
Prasanthi Nilayam, 11 Oct 1972).
Namaste Reet
