Thoughts and Will-Power - Prof. Anil Kumar

[Guest guest]

October 10th, 2004

 

“Thoughts and Will-Power”

 

( Prof. Anil Kumar

)

OM… OM… OM…

 

Sai Ram

 

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

 

Let me first apologise to you unconditionally for my absence last Sunday without

prior notice. There was a communication problem, and I could not get in touch

with you. Last Sunday, examinations commenced at the college, so I had work

there and could not spend time here with you. I am sorry if it caused any

inconvenience or disappointment. I think it was probably a relief for you

anyway. (Laughter)

 

The great festival Dasara commences next week, on the 17th. The festival goes on

for a week and we hope that we will also have yajna this year. We never know

what is going to happen beforehand. Until an announcement is made, or until we

get there, we will undoubtedly have pleasant surprises. We have gotten used to

that.

 

I am hopeful that we will have yajna this year, commencing on the 17th. The word

is that students will have Grama-seva activities on 15th of this month.

Grama-seva is an annual activity in which students go to different villages

distributing clothes, prasadam and other material needed for children in

schools.

 

What Is Thought?

This morning, I want to bring to your attention three important thoughts

regarding thought…three aspects and stages of thought. First, let us inquire as

to what thought is, and how thought can be either powerless or powerful.

 

Thought: It is said in our scriptures that it is thought that is responsible for

our birth and rebirth. It is thought that is responsible for pleasure and pain.

It is thought that is ultimately responsible for loss and gain. But to begin

with, it is the initial thought that is responsible for the whole life that is

to follow.

 

When there is no thought, there is no life at all. A life is full of thoughts; a

bundle of thoughts. And when this thought becomes strong, when this thought

becomes firm, when this thought becomes established and deep-rooted, it creates

a state of will. The thought that is firmly established transforms into will.

Thoughts not firmly established do not. The human mind is a bundle of thoughts

-- one thought after another thought; rushing, crowds of thoughts, groups of

thoughts. One thought leads to another -- chains of thoughts.

 

But the thought which becomes firmly established, that thought which becomes

deeply-rooted, transforms into the will. And that will has a power, one that

the thought alone lacks.

 

Thought is powerless. That’s why one thought is replaced by another thought.

Some thoughts are meaningful, and some of them are meaningless. If I have a

thought about my job, immediately replaced by another thought pertaining to

lunch, where is the connection between the two? It is foolishness. If I have

another thought, concerning my work in the laboratory, and then another

thought, a critical thought, about that person with whom I confer, there is no

sequence; there is no connection between the flow of these thoughts.

 

But if one thought is established, kept in mind and made strong, it is called

the will. The will is powerful. This is what we call will-power. This in

Sanskrit is called Icha Sakthi.

Icha Sakthi or will-power. It has nothing to do with thought power.

 

Icha Sakthi is deep thought, strong thought, singular thought. It is

firmly-established thought. It is born out of conviction. Therefore, it is

necessary to keep our thoughts as clean and as pure as possible.

 

As is the thought, so is the action. As is the action, so is the reaction. As is

the action, so is the result. The whole life is based on thought. So, what

factors determine the nature of our thoughts?

 

1.Thoughts Arise Based Upon Samskaras or Vasanas

The scripture tells us that our thoughts, at times, come from our previous

lives, having remained from our previous lives. They are what we call samskaras

or vasanas.

Samskaras or vasanas are of a previous life, earlier lives, and are still

affecting our thought process in this life. How do we explain it?

 

There are some people who are spiritual right from the beginning, without any

formal coaching, without any formal instruction and training. They are

religious from childhood. We also sometimes have people who, from childhood,

are rogues of the first order, even though all the people around them are very

good. Sometimes we witness a top official suddenly become corrupt and

dishonest. Why does this happen?

 

It can happen because they are affected by their samskaras or vasanas, which are

always present at an unconscious level. They are expressing a thought form their

backlog of thoughts from previous lives, expressing thoughts remaining from past

lives, which now manifest during this lifetime.

 

So we cannot dismiss thoughts in a simple way. Thoughts are also the reflections

of one’s own culture. Thoughts are the manifestations of one’s own vasana or

samskara of an earlier life. It is a person’s thought that decides his destiny.

It is his thought that sets his goals. So, thoughts are not so simple that we

can dismiss them. No. Thoughts can be very powerful.

 

That’s why Bhagavan always says to be mindful and aware of your thoughts. When

Bhagavan is speaking to us, if my thoughts center on my return journey, I am

very unfortunate. Being here in a temple, if I entertain a thought to pilfer

one or two articles from the store or to speak lies or to do something which is

not expected in a temple like this, it is most unfortunate and most unbecoming.

 

Why does this sort of thought happen? It happens because of the actions of

previous lives -- vasanas or

samskaras. So, my friends, the thought process we experience now is often the

consequence of thoughts and actions from earlier lives, that lie in wait, in

our subconscious as vasanas or samskaras.

 

2. Thoughts Arise Based Upon the Food We Consume

The second point relating to thoughts relates to the food we consume. Thoughts

are also based on the kind of food we consume.

 

As is the food, so is the head;

As is the head, so is the God.

 

That’s what Bhagavan says. So, the thought process is also influenced and

informed by the food we consume…about which we have got to be careful.

 

If we take thamasic food, we may develop thamasic thoughts. Dullness, inertia,

bestial, animality, violence, sluggishness, and gluttony – these are all

thamasic thoughts.

 

If we take rajasic food, the

rajasic food will breed rajasic thoughts. Our thoughts will be full of fervor,

full of enthusiasm, full of emotion, full of activity, full of expectations –

that is the effect of eating rajasic food.

 

On the other hand, if we take sathwic food, it naturally generates

piousness…calm, peaceful thoughts.

 

So, the thought is based on the food we take. That is the second point, which I

want to draw your attention to.

 

3. Thoughts Are Affected By the Company We Keep

Thoughts are also controlled by or affected by the company we keep. If we

surround ourselves with bad company, naturally bad thoughts will flourish. If

we are in good company, good thoughts are anxious to get in. So, it is

necessary to be in good company.

 

Then, how do we define what constitutes good company and what constitutes bad

company? There is seemingly good company that can actually be bad company. We

have got to be very careful.

 

What do I mean by that? Even in the

Mandir, we find people talking about the prices of saris, the latest price of

dresses, the latest stuff available in the stores; whether we desire a pizza

today or not. (Laughter) This all makes for bad company.

 

Bad company does not necessarily mean people who are violent. No, no, no. Bad

company is company that does not suit the objective of our life; company that

will not support us in going in the direction that we want; company that will

not be a kind of cooperative company that encourages me to proceed on the

direction of my choice.

 

Company that stands as an obstacle in the path of my sadhana is bad company. Bad

company does not mean company of robbers and goondas and kidnappers, no, no, no,

no. Anybody who interferes with your objective in life, who does not encourage

you to proceed along your chosen field of sadhana, who always lead you into

disbelief, who always frustrates you, disappoints you, discourages you, that is

bad company.

 

Thought, therefore, is affected by these three factors—previous lives, the food

we eat, and the company we keep.

 

Stable Strong Thoughts Creates Will-power

Out of all our bundles of thoughts, that thought which becomes stable and strong

is called the will, and the will is powerful. This is why we say will-power.

This is icha sakthi.

 

Will-power is found in all of us. Will-power. Icha sakthi. I have got the will

to stand first in my class. I have a strong will to be number one in my

business. I have a strong will to achieve what I want to. That is strong

will-power. Icha.

 

We pray to God for the fulfillment of our will. We pray to God for the

fulfillment of our icha, sankalpa, or will. ‘Swami, I want to be a powerful

instrument in your hands.’

 

It is not enough if I have a will or a thought, unless it is supported by God’s

Grace. Every will, even strong will, will have its fulfillment only if it is

blessed by God, only if it is graced by the mercy of God, only if it is

sanctioned by God, and not otherwise. Therefore, we pray for the fulfillment of

our will or thought. That’s what is called Durga.

 

Durga. We worship Durga during the days of

Navarathri, which begin on the 15th of this month, and end on the 23rd,

Vijayadasami. On the 21st is a day of worship to Durga. Who is Durga? Durga

represents will-power, Icha sakthi. We worship Durga so that our thoughts are

pure. We ask that our thoughts be selfless; that our thoughts center on God

only; that our thoughts are pure, selfless, unsullied.

 

We ask God for this: ‘O God! Bless me with good thoughts! Bless me with pure

thoughts! Bless me with strong will, with determination, with what I call

will-power. O God! Bless me so that my thought centers only in You, so that my

thought is focused towards You, only in devotion to You.’ That’s why we pray

God.

 

Thoughts are yours. To purify the thoughts, you have to pray to God. Milk you

purchase. To make coffee, you have to boil the milk. Rice you purchase; but you

have to cook it. Am I right? Vegetables we buy; but we have to cook them, boil

them. Am I right?

 

Similarly, thoughts may be mine, but my thoughts have to be pure. My thoughts

have to be processed, polished, refined, and cultured. That is in the hands of

God.

 

Adversity Creates Doubts

Thoughts are mine when I take good food, when I am very much assured that my

past life is so lovely because some gentleman told me, a palmist or an

astrologer, that I will be receiving some huge sum (Laughter), when I know that

in my past life I was an emperor, Mr. Anil Kumar, don’t you know…” I see. Good.

 

“I eat only vegetables. I don’t cook them. I eat only raw vegetables.” Oh, I

see. Great! “I don’t join any company at all. I forget about bad company or

good company, so thoughts are mine. So why do I pray to God?”

 

Simple: At times, when my thought is so strong, I have 100 percent faith in Baba. Am I right?

 

We find people coming and talking to us, with tears streaming from their eyes.

They say, “Sai is great! Sai is great!” Why do they say that?

 

“Swami saved me from this problem. Swami solved this problem. Swami is great!”

 

Then just one month later, we meet him again. He now has a long face, and says,

“Sir, Swami is not looking at me.” (Laughter)

 

We meet him three months later and he says, “Sir, do you think Baba is God?” (Laughter)

 

Why? If a thought is really yours, it should be constant. Why does it change?

When all things are answered, when all things are favourable, when all things

are positive, we have 100 percent devotion.

 

If anyone asks, “Is Baba God?” I will slap him! I am spiritually violent now,

(Laughter) spiritually aggressive. (Laughter) A spiritual reactionary, a rebel.

 

 

But when things get worse, when our business faces losses, when our children

successfully fail in the examination (Laughter), then I am the one who asks

(slowly) “Is Baba God?” That’s the question that comes to me.

 

So, our thoughts are not constant. They go on changing. Why? Why in the morning

do we have strong devotion, in the afternoon we fall to 50 percent, and by

night we have we are down to 20 percent or 0 percent? It’s like the

temperature, like an American weather report. (Laughter) Showers in

California, nice weather in Texas, a sunny bright day! (Laughter)

 

Just as the weather is unpredictable, our thoughts are also unpredictable.

Sometimes we feel like visiting Puttaparthi immediately. ‘Swami wants me to see

Him. Let me see Him.’ Other times we think we visit Him. ‘Let me plan to see Him

in the year 2006.’ (Laughter) How do you know that you will live up to that

time? (Laughter) How do you know that you will live until 2006? Your account

may be closed in between. (Laughter) So, my friends, some thoughts call for

immediate action; some thoughts postpone action. Thought is never constant.

Some thoughts are selfish; some thoughts are selfless.

 

Prayer Purifies Thought

By praying to God, our thoughts can be purified. The thought that promotes

disbelief will not be there. A frustrating thought will not be there. A

depressing thought will not be there. A discouraging thought cannot be there

once we pray to God.

 

If anyone says, “I am thought-free”, I cannot accept that. They have many

psychiatrists to consult. I cannot accept anyone saying, “I am thought-free.”

Ramana Maharishi can say that. Sage Ramana Maharishi can say that he has no

thoughts. You and I cannot say it. The more we say it, the more of thoughts we

have.

 

Given that we have thoughts, the goal is for our thoughts to remain pure, for

the thoughts to continue to be sacred, for the thoughts to be strong and

powerful, so that the thoughts can be transformed into will-power. For that,

we need the Grace of God.

 

Mahadurga symbolises will-power. That Godhead helps to make your thoughts strong

and powerful, pure and sacred -- what is called

icha sakthi or Durga.

 

Mahadurga:

Maha means mighty. Durga means will-power. We think Durga is a lady with a silk

saree, a crown and jewels; but those are all symbols that form an object of

worship.

 

Behind that object of worship, however, there is some spiritual depth. There is

spiritual profundity in the concept of Mahadurga -- Mahadurga meaning

will-power.

 

So, my friends, as we prepare to celebrate

Dasara next week, we pray to God that our thoughts are made and kept pure,

selfless, sacred, and Self-centered. Not selfish, no, but Self-centered,

centered on God, so that our thoughts are Divine. That is the purpose behind

praying to Mahadurga on the 21st of this month.

 

When Thought Is Blessed, It Is Translated Through Will into

Dharmic Action

Icha sakthi. Good. The second the thought becomes powerful, it will never allow

you to sleep. It will never allow you to rest. This is everybody’s experience.

 

In a family, when the housewife decides to come to Puttaparthi, the husband

cannot help but to give the green light. When the husband decides to go to

Puttaparthi, even a termagant cannot stop him, because that thought is Divine.

That thought is promoted by Swami! That thought is blessed by Bhagavan! None

can stop that. That thought which is promoted, that thought which is blessed,

that thought which is graced, that thought which is encouraged by Bhagavan,

will certainly be translated into action.

 

Not all thoughts lead you to action. In a lighter vein, I can say that if all

our thoughts were translated into action, I don’t think we could continue to be

gentlemen. I don’t think we could continue to be in this temple, because not all

thoughts are pure!

 

We have so many thoughts about which we are ashamed. We have some thoughts which

we cannot share with others, because of

samskaras. So many thoughts. Good, bad, horrible, terrible. All kinds of

thoughts. Our thoughts are more polluted than the air and water. Thought

pollution. It’s a very powerful thing going on.

 

Therefore, my friends, if the thought is powerful, when coupled with prayer,

that graced thought becomes will-power. And it does not stop there. That

will-power will take you into action. This is everyone’s experience.

 

Suppose you want to participate in a service activity in your center. No one can

stop you. If you want to meditate, nobody can stop you. If you want to sing

bhajans, no one can stop you. If you want to read Sai literature, no one can

stop you. Why? Because my decision, my will-power, is so strong.

 

But what if that thought is diluted?

 

“If possible, I will go to Puttaparthi.”

 

“If possible” -- that means it is only 50% powerful.

 

“Let me see.” Now it’s at 25%.

 

So, the diluted thought is not powerful. We cannot expect any fulfillment of

that thought. We cannot expect any fruition of that thought. We can never

expect the thought to lead to action. It is not possible.

 

Therefore, the thoughts that are strong, pure and blessed by God will be

translated into action. The action is called

kriya. Kriya means action. The action should be as powerful as the thought.

 

Our Actions Should Match Our Thoughts

I have a thought that I will be a gold medalist. But in action, I read just one

hour per week. Only once in a week I read? Will I get that gold medal? No,

because my thought is good, but my action is poor.

 

I want to do good business and earn a nice profit, but I don’t go to the office

regularly. How can you be a good businessman acting in that way? What is this?

 

I want to be a good devotee, but by evening I want to be in a casino gambling.

It is not bhajan time; it is whisky time! So the action is not in line with the

thought. Action and thought are parallel. That’s the reason why life is full of

contradictions. We are not able to live up to our good thoughts. We are not

able to act purely on our good thoughts. That’s why we are frustrated.

 

Sometimes I say I am not able to do meditation as you do. I am not able to sit

silently as you sit. I am not able to concentrate as you do. Why? I feel

frustrated because I am not able to have 100 percent concentration. I have the

thought, but in action I am not able to match my thought. In thought, I want to

meditate; but in action, I am not able to.

 

Therefore my friends, one of the reasons for our spiritual depression, one of

the reasons for our religious frustration, is due to our thought and action

being at variance with each other. They do not match. They are not uniform.

They are not in harmony. Just as when you wear a uniform, the garments must

match. Yes, it is a uniform. If it doesn’t match, that’s a different style

altogether. So, my friends, depression or frustration is due to the fact that

our thoughts and actions are quite different or divergent. Thought and action

should converge; they should never diverge.

 

Action should also be as powerful as thought. That action is kriya, what we call

action, and it has got to be powerful. Kriya sakthi. The power of action.

Sakthi: How can we be powerful in action? How? We have to pray to God again.

 

‘O God! Help me to see to it that my action is also powerful. You have helped me

to have a thought which is steady and strong, pure and sacred. Thank you! Now, I

pray to you to make my action steady, strong, fruitful, purposeful, objective,

goal-oriented, to the standards of my thought.’

 

So, that Godhead who blesses our action is called Mahalakshmi. Mahalakshmi is

the aspect of Godhead that strengthens the power of action. Durga strengthens

the power of our thought; Lakshmi strengthens the power of our action. That’s

what we seek in our worship on the 22nd of this month.

 

21st Durgashtami. 22nd

Maharnavami. Maharnavami is the 22nd of this month. On this day we pray to

Goddess Lakshmi, Mahalakshmi, and ask Her to strengthen our action, to make our

action powerful; to make our action match our powerful thoughts.

 

If my thought is pure, but my action is impure, well, my life is a total

failure. If my thought is strong and my action is weak, well, I am a failure.

Thought and action should be directly proportionate. One should be as strong as

the other. Thought precedes action and thought is succeeded by action. Both

should be equally powerful.

 

My friends, these are not my thoughts. These are not my words. Please do not

mistake me to be a philosopher. I am not. I am down to earth. Being a teacher,

I go through Sai literature and share these thoughts with you.

 

If I am to be credited, I am to be credited with one thing: not polluting

Bhagavan’s message. Not diluting Bhagavan’s message, or at least, for

presenting Bhagavan’s message as it is: unpolluted, undiluted, as concentrated

as it was originally meant to be.

 

All right, we have had sufficient discussion about thought up to now. Now, let

us think about action. Action. How do we make our action powerful? How can we

do powerful action? Or rather, how we can be powerful in action. Not inaction.

In action. (Laughter) Inaction -- I need not tell you how to do that, because

many of us are experts in that. (Laughter)

 

Bhagavan always jokes. I don’t know why Swami always jokes with me about food

and nutrition. Swami comes to me and says, “How many idlis have you eaten?”

 

I don’t know why He chooses to talk about food, and… all right! I am happy that

He chooses to talk to me. That is enough. Whether it is about idli or dosa or

payi or

poori, it doesn’t matter. Any excuse to talk to Him. Good! It doesn’t matter.

 

But sometimes I wonder if He entertains any other thought? Is there not a better

way of communicating with me? That’s what I think. Perhaps for a healthy

diversion, He may talk like that. Good!

 

I also notice that He never addresses me by a masculine name. No. Always

‘Draupadi’ or ‘Vyjayanthi Mala’ (Laughter) or ‘Yamini Krishnamurthy’. Always!

Always! Dancer. These are all familiar names. Well, I am happy about it

because, as God, He is beyond gender. He does this, but people laugh at my

expense when He calls me ‘Draupadi’ and ‘Vyjayanthi Mala’. (Laughter)

 

Who knows? I might have been a woman in the previous life, or I might have a

feminine temperament now. Who knows? I may be taking birth as a woman in the

next life. (Laughter)

 

Once, as it so happened, Swami was distributing saris to all the lecturers of

the Anantapur campus, and one saree He gave to me (Laughter) there on the

veranda. Had He sent it to me secretly, I would have managed. In the veranda,

everybody started staring at me! (Laughter)

 

Then I said, “Swami, saree?”

 

Then Bhagavan said, “Don’t you like it? It is a sari.” (Laughter)

 

And He didn’t keep quiet. He said, “Wear it!” (Laughter)

 

“Wear it!?! (Laughter) Swami, no chance of that this life. No chance.”

 

He said, “What?”

 

“Swami, how can I wear a saree? Perhaps in the next life.”

 

Then He said, “To wear a saree should you have a next life? A next birth?” He asked.

 

Then, to make it lighter, because Swami was joking, I said, “Now that You said I

should wear the saree, I will; but I am sure that I will be more beautiful than

all the women here!” (Laughter)

 

Swami laughed and laughed and enjoyed the joke! The thought of wearing the saree

made me feel that I am more beautiful than all the women here. (Laughter)

Action!

 

Start Your Action with Prayer

So, the action should be as powerful as the thought. How do we make our thoughts

powerful? So we need to make our actions meaningful, purposeful, goal-oriented,

and spiritual. Baba said, whatever action we undertake, first just offer a

prayer and then start.

 

In business or engineering, in medical practice, at the post office, as a

professor, a national leader or a cook in the kitchen, you may do any job for

your livelihood; but once you pray and start your action, it becomes worship.

Work is thus transformed into worship. That’s what Baba says.

 

So, the first condition, to be very, very powerful in our activity, to ensure

that our actions are purposeful, is to begin our work with an offering of

prayer.

 

Do people do that? Yes. Watch lorry or truck drivers. Truck drivers, watch them.

As they sit and put their hands on the wheel, before starting, they will do

namaskaram and then start driving. Watch them!

 

Dancers on the dais: They bow down to the ground and then start dancing. All

musicians, before they start playing, they pray and then begin the action. Why?

So that the action will be successful; so that the action be blessed; so that

the action will never be left half-finished. Suppose I am playing tabla. In the

middle, it breaks to pieces. Once this has happened: One boy was playing the

khanjhar. Tada! It broke into pieces. Swami was sitting there. Oh! He enjoyed

that a lot, watching the face of that fellow. He could not do anything; he

could not play with that broken drum.

 

So, in order to see that we don’t drop in the middle, in order to see that we

carry on until the end successfully, in order to see that we reach our goal, in

order to see that our actions match our thoughts, we need God’s blessings. So,

we bow down to our actions:

 

Tasmai Namah Karmani.

 

‘I bow down to my action. I bow down to my duty. I consider this duty holy. I

consider this duty a ritual. I consider this duty as an offering unto you, O

God!’

 

That’s what is meant by:

 

Tasmai Namah Karmani.

 

So, let all actions be offered unto God, so that they will be successful; so

that they will be dedicated with a spirit of surrender; so that our actions are

selfless and pure. We need God’s blessings.

 

So that aspect of the Divinity that blesses our actions is Mahalakshmi, on the

22nd of this month. So, on the 21st pray to Mahadurga, the Godhead that blesses

our thought. On the 22nd, pray to Mahalakshmi, the Godhead that blesses our

action. I think I am clear.

 

I know you are highly sympathetic, I also know that you are understanding and

excuse me if I am repetitive at times. I may be repeating certain statements

time and again, because of the way certain truths have surprised me, the way

certain dicta have gone deep into my heart, and also partly because of my 40

years of service as a teacher. The latter is more at play here than the former.

(Laughter)

 

Divine Thought and Sacred Action Give Knowledge

Now, thought and action together -- a pure Divine thought with sacred action,

together these give you what? Experiential knowledge; existential knowledge.

 

Why do I use these words? Is that because of my fascination with these three

words? No. We read for reading’s sake. All the knowledge is not experienced

because we don’t experiment with it. All the knowledge is not existential

because we want to experience it on a future date. I want to meditate! From the

year 2010. Very good! My five-year plan. My ten-year plan. (Laughter)

 

So, our knowledge is not existential. Our knowledge is a five-year plan, a

ten-year plan. Our knowledge is not experimental because we have not taken to

action immediately. Our knowledge is not experimental, is not existential. It

is not experiential because we have not experienced our knowledge. Therefore,

the knowledge remains as knowledge, like in a computer.

 

If you want to gain some epic knowledge from Bhagavad-Gita, yes! Click “My

Documents”. If you want some knowledge on the Brahma Sutras, yes! Click “My

Pictures” or “Show Pictures” or something like that or “My Computer”.

 

The brain has become a computer with so many folders -- so many folders and

files. It is ready to repeat, ready to quote, ready to give lecture. It has

never been experimented upon. It has never lived in existence. It has never

been experimented with nor experienced.

 

Therefore, my friends, thought and action together are an experiment. Thought

and action together are a life in existence. Thought and action together are a

life that gives me an experience.

 

Jnana Is Known Experientially

That existential knowledge, that experimental knowledge, that experiential

knowledge is called jnana or wisdom. Jnana or wisdom is experiential knowledge.

It is not bookish information. It is not recitation; it is not just from memory;

it is not learning things by heart; it is not scholarship; it is not a library.

It is not any sort of a reference.

 

Jnana is an experiential knowledge. Jnana is an existential knowledge. And that

knowledge is so deep. It is not superficial. That knowledge will come with us

for several lives to come. That knowledge is awareness.

 

That knowledge is in the heart, not in the head. All the information,

statistics, and data, all the records, they are in the head. The experience is

in the heart; the expression is in the head. So my friends, the true jnana, or

existential knowledge, is wisdom, which stays with us permanently.

 

A simple example: Bhajan is going on. I close my eyes. I begin to experience

Swami in my heart. I enjoy Him. I watch the celestial dance. I am ecstatic. I

forget myself and get lost. After arathi, I come back as rude and as pruned as

before. (Laughter)

 

All of us have these stray experiences, experiences like a flash of lightning --

the state of bliss. All of us have experienced the state of bliss like

lightning, like a flash of a camera. When you press the shutter on the camera,

tada! The light flashes, then it is pitch dark. So, all of us have experienced

that state of bliss like a flash.

 

The awakening of kundalini: The awakening of kundalini is a science unto itself. Once the

kundalini is awakened, the experience is of that state of bliss. All of us have

it, at one time or another, like lightning, like a flash.

 

When I think of Swami at the center of my forehead, or when I sit for

meditation, or when I lose myself in bhajan, or when I forget myself while

reading His literature, or when I am transported to the other world while I

speak about Him with several devotees, all of these can equally give me that

flash of bliss, that awakening of kundalini.

 

Some people say, “Mr. Anil Kumar, is there anybody to teach me the technique of

awakening the kundalini?”

 

I say, “I don’t know anybody. I don’t know even what kundalini is; but I can

tell you one thing… don’t approach anybody to do it for you.” Don’t approach

anybody. I can tell you that.

 

He then asked me, “Why?”

 

If a person would teach you this process of awakening the kundalini in a

technical, scientific, rational, practical, systematic way, instead of in terms

of bliss, you would soon find yourself in a mental hospital. Guaranteed!

(Laughter) I will show you many people to whom this has happened…even here.

There is nothing like that. Keep a distance from them. There is something wrong

there. The knowledge of bliss must be gained experientially.

 

The second process about which we have got to be careful concerns the breathing

exercises or pranayama. Breathing exercises, or pranayama, have to be learned

under the strict supervision of an expert. This is said by Bhagavan in Jnana

Vahini. In Jnana Vahini, Bhagavan says emphatically that it is very dangerous

to practice pranayama if it is not done under the supervision of an expert.

Instead of bliss, we will develop breathing problems. Breathing exercises lead

to breathing problems, lead to a nervous breakdown. These can all be dangerous

practices.

 

It is our foolishness that makes us run after these things. Somebody once asked Ramana Maharishi,

“Oh Bhagavan! What should I do to enjoy the state of bliss?”

 

Ramana Maharishi said, “Don’t do.”

 

The question was, “What should I do?”

 

The answer is, “Don’t do.” What? Don’t do?

 

Somebody said, “What, Swami? What did you say?”

 

He explained: ‘I’ wants to do, meaning ego. “I want to do this.” It means mind.

“I have done this.” This is ego and mind. “I want to continue to do this.” That

is ego and mind. But reality is beyond ego and mind.

 

When the reality is beyond mind and ego, what is it that ‘you’ want to do? So,

all that is done with the mind is undone, is rendered useless.

 

So Ramana Maharishi said, “What should you do? Don’t do!”

 

Wisdom or Jnana

Therefore, my friends, we come to the third stage. The first stage is icha

sakthi, thought power, will-power, on Mahadurga, 21st. The second stage is

kriya sakthi, Mahalakshmi, the power of action. These together give us the

result of the third stage -- jnana or wisdom. The two wires, plus and minus,

positive and negative together, will allow the flow of current, yes? The

positive wire is thought. The negative wire is action. The flow of current is

wisdom.

 

So, both are necessary for illumination, for current to flow. That current is

jnana, or wisdom, or the power of wisdom, or jnana sakthi – Mahasaraswathi.

That’s on the 23rd of this month.

 

We worship the Goddess Saraswathi, Jnana

Saraswathi, the goddess of wisdom, the goddess of experiential, experimental,

existential knowledge…awareness.

 

“Sir, when I have jnana, why should I worship her?”

 

To say that only means you have no jnana at all. You are drowning in ajnana or

ignorance. Jnana, which is latent, jnana, which is immanent, jnana, which is

the very core of my very being, should continue to manifest throughout my life.

 

It does not continue throughout. One day I am completely detached. The next day

I am utterly attached. One day I am completely desireless. The next day I am

drowning and steeped in desire. One day I am balanced. The next day I am full

of temper and fire. I have become unpredictable.

 

The knowledge, that wisdom, is just there like a flash. It is not there

constantly. So, for that flash of bliss, for that current of ecstasy, for that

illumination of bliss, for that thrill and excitement to continue to stay with

me, I need the Grace of God.

 

So, we worship Mahasaraswathi, the 23rd,

Vijaya Dasami, to ask that the experience of bliss continue to stay with us throughout our lives.

 

The Three Aspects of Divinity in Our Lives

So, my friends, Mahadurga, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswathi represent three

aspects of Divinity, three aspects of the same God, like a triangle. This is

Mahadurga. This is Mahalakshmi. This is Mahasaraswathi. Like a 3-D picture.

Like a prism of glass. Similarly, my friends, these three facets of Divinity,

which they represent, are very important in our lives. That’s why our Dasara

celebration is so holy and sacred in all parts of India. It is a season during

which one decides to start a spiritual activity. It is a season when one

determines to go through the scriptures.

 

Navarathri: Number 9 Is Divine

We have so much paraphernalia these days. There are so many ritualistic

practices going on. I do not have adequate time right now to go into the

details of the yajna, to go into details of all that you will find on the dais

beginning on the 17th.

Yajna is there. So, today, I feel myself content to share with you the objective

and purpose of the celebration of Navarathri.

 

Nava means ‘nine.’ The number nine is Divine.

 

The number nine is Divine? Why?

 

9 x 2 = 18 1 + 8 = 9

9 x 3 = 27 7 + 2 = 9

 

Go all the way to 9 x 9 = 81. 8 + 1 is 9. Number 9 is Divine. That’s why our

students, soon after they get their number, their examination registration

number, they immediately add it up and see whether the total is a 9 or not.

 

Some people are also so fanatical that they have to have this number 9 for their

car registration and their telephone number. Number 9 is Divine.

 

Navarathri, Divine number. These coming days are spent in holy, ritualistic

activity by performing yajna and yaga. By going through the scriptures

thoroughly, deeply, in order to purify or sanctify my thought and action,

jnana, wisdom, comes to stay with me once for all.

 

Govindaya Namah! May Bhagavan bless you. Thank you. (Applause)

 

 

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 Babaji ki

JAI!!!

Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji ki

JAI!!!

Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji ki

JAI!!!

 

Source:

http://www.saiwisdom.com/sunday/English/2004/10.10.2004(E)central.htm