Swami's Guru Poornima discourse-24-7-2002

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DEVELOP BROAD-MINDEDNESS TO EXPERIENCE DIVINITY

 

(Text of the Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagawan

Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Sai Kulwanth Hall, Prasanthi

Nilayam on 24th July 2002 on the occasion of

GuruPoornima Day)

 

“The moon illumines the world at night and the sun

during the day. Righteousness illumines the three

worlds, and a noble son illumines his entire clan.”

(Telugu Poem)

 

During the day the sun shines resplendently and

enables people to see the world. During the night the

moon gives us light. It is Dharma that shows the ideal

path to all beings in all the three worlds. Similarly,

a noble son illumines his entire clan by his exemplary

behaviour. All these are related to the ephemeral and

transient world.

 

Kaanaada was the one who experienced and propagated

the truth that God is all-pervasive. Anoraneeyan

Mahato Maheeyan (Brahman is subtler than the subtlest

and vaster than the vastest). Kaanaada recognised the

existence of God in every atom. He even described God

as Anuswarupa (the very form of atom). The world

cannot exist without the atom. Earlier, nothing

existed in the universe. In the beginning, the sun,

the moon, the stars, the Earth, the sky, etc., did not

exist. There was only pitch darkness all around. The

combination of atoms resulted in the formation of hard

matter of a very high density. As a result, a lot of

heat was generated. Then all of a sudden, the hard

matter exploded with a big bang into pieces and spread

all over. This was the cause of creation. This was

also the experience of Kaanaada. The sound that

emanated when the big bang took place is "Pranava".

That is Omkara, the primordial sound. This sound of

Pranava is all-pervasive. It originated from Paramaanu

(minutest atom). There is nothing other than atom in

this creation. "How can one understand and realise

this?" This was the enquiry of Kaanaada. Ultimately,

he realised the principle of Pranava. This primordial

sound has to be contemplated upon by man for attaining

liberation.

 

“The primordial sound 'Pranava' is verily the Divinity

which is subtler than the subtlest and vaster than the

vastest. It is all-pervasive and stands as the eternal

witness.” (Telugu Poem)

 

This truth was propagated by Kaanaada. It is from this

Pranava that the sun, the moon, the Earth, the sky,

etc., originated. The atom is the fundamental basis of

the entire creation. Every human being is a

combination of atoms. There is no matter without

atoms. But modern man is unable to understand the

mystery of atoms. He considers the teachings of our

ancient Rishis as mere stories and ridicules them. He

does not have the ability and capacity to understand

the sacredness of ancient Bharatiya culture. He is not

able to understand the reality that is within him. He

installs the statues of ancient Rishis and noble souls

as a mark of respect for them but fails to understand

their teachings and put them into practice. He has to

install their sacred forms not outside but in the

altar of his heart and follow their teachings. To

which time does Kaanaada belong? Twenty thousand years

ago, people were all praise for Kaanaada and his

teachings. Kaanaada recognised the principles of

Hydrogen and Oxygen. The scientists observed that

hydrogen represents the water principle, while oxygen

represents the fire principle. Today people attach

great value to the observations made by scientists,

but fail to understand and appreciate the great truths

taught by our Rishis out of their experience.

 

How can one understand the atomic power? Atom is not

visible to the physical eye but it is present

everywhere. The water we drink, the food we eat, the

words we utter, the sound we hear, everything is

permeated by atoms. Though man treads on atoms, eats

atoms, drinks atoms, he is unable to understand their

mystery. He thinks that only scientists can

investigate into the nature of atoms. Atomic process

is highly sacred. By conducting a proper enquiry into

this, one can understand Divinity. This was the

teaching of Kaanaada. But today nobody is conducting a

proper enquiry to experience the atomic process.

People are leading their lives with materialistic

outlook.

 

Once Emperor Shivaji and his minister were going on an

evening stroll. On the way, they came across a

Buddhist monk. Immediately, Shivaji removed his crown

and prostrated at the feet of the monk. The minister

did not like this. He thought Emperor Shivaji demeaned

his own stature by placing his head at the feet of an

ordinary monk. The Emperor atonce sensed the feeling

of his minister and wanted to teach him a lesson.

Shivaji was one who followed the path of righteousness

and sacrifice and set an ideal to mankind.

One day he asked the minister to bring the head of a

goat, a sheep and of a human being. He collected the

heads of a goat and a sheep. He went to a burial

ground and cut the head of a dead person. He took them

to the emperor. Shivaji commanded him to sell them in

the market. The heads of the sheep and goat were sold

in no time, but nobody came forward to buy the head of

a human being. When this was informed to the emperor,

he said, it may be given free of cost to anybody. The

minister took the human head to the market and waited

there for a couple of days. In spite of his best

efforts, nobody was willing to accept it. When this

was conveyed to the Emperor, Shivaji said, "Oh

minister, you felt very sad when I placed my head at

the feet of a monk. Do you realise that the same would

be the fate of our heads too, when we leave our mortal

coils. They would have absolutely no value. Hence, we

should sanctify our lives by prostrating before noble

souls." Material wealth and position are momentary.

Only Truth and right conduct will remain with man and

redeem his life.

 

The body will be respected so long as there is So-ham

(life-breath) in it. That is the sound of Pranava.

That is the energy contained in an atom. This energy

has its origin in Divinity. None can create it. This

truth was propagated by Kaanaada. It is very difficult

to understand the power of an atom. God is in the form

of an atom. The entire world is the manifestation of

the atom. The space and sound are the expressions of

the atom. Therefore, do not neglect the principle of

atom. It has mighty power in it. Scientists have been

experimenting on this principle since long. It takes

twenty-two thousand crores of years for an atom to go

back to its source. It is rather strange that man is

unable to unravel the mystery behind an atom.

The Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the

sun. Who is responsible for these phenomena? Nobody

can explain this. As earth rotates on its axis, we

have day and night. As it revolves around the sun, we

are able to get the food required to sustain our body.

It is the Divine Will that is responsible for all

this. It is the Divine masterplan for the benefit of

the world. Nobody has understood the Anushakti (power

of the atom) in its totality till this day. People

think that the atom has no life in it. It is a wrong

notion. The life-force that holds the entire world

together is present in the atom also. Hence it is

said, God is present in microcosm as well as in

macrocosm. Man should make an attempt to understand

the mystery of creation. He should recognise his

responsibilities and conduct himself accordingly. Man

has to necessarily understand the principle of the

atom. If he understands this, he would have understood

everything else, for atom is God. The life-principle

present in the atom is present all over the universe.

Kaanaada said that proper understanding of the

principle of atom will lead to the understanding of

Divinity. When you close your fist, you would have

caught hold of many atoms. When you release it, the

atoms will travel in different directions. The sound

of Pranava that emerges from the atoms will be as

minute as the particles themselves.

 

Devotees offer their prayers to God. Some people doubt

the efficacy of prayer. But, in fact any mighty task

can be accomplished through prayer. It makes

impossible things possible. Here is a small example.

There has been a swelling on My cheek for the past ten

days. I never take any medicine. Yesterday I observed

that the attention of all those assembled here was

focused on My cheek, not on Me! They were worried that

the swelling had still not reduced and that Swami was

undergoing a lot of pain. After I delivered the

Valedictory Discourse, I retired to My room. As I was

resting, a number of devotees were praying to Me that

I should cure Myself at least by the auspicious day of

Guru Purnima. All their prayers reached Me. When I got

up in the morning, the swelling reduced and there was

absolutely no pain whatsoever. In fact, I had not

willed that it should be so. It is the result of the

prayers of devotees. Yesterday, many did not even take

food. With tears in their eyes, they were praying

continuously. My thoughts went to them for a moment.

But I never willed that I should be cured. I never do

it. Why? As Sanjay Sahni rightly pointed out, "I and

you are one." You are not different from Me. This is

not My body, it is yours. So, it is your

responsibility to take care of this body. I never

think of My body and its well-being. I never make a

Sankalpa (Will) that such and such a thing should

happen, so far as My body is concerned. There is no

selfishness in Me from head to toe. That is why I have

got every right to declare that I and you are one.

 

Every man is endowed with the same atomic power. He

has to make every effort to understand this. Since

ancient times, man got accustomed to worshipping God

in the form of idols. You worship Rama and Krishna in

the form of idols. But can you see their physical

forms now? No. You worship Easwara. But are you able

to see Him? The forms of Rama, Krishna, Easwara are

ever existing. But man is not able to visualise them

because of his narrow-mindedness. Expansion of the

heart is divine; narrow-mindedness is death. One with

narrow-mindedness is verily a living corpse. One

should always be broad-minded. You find divinity

installed in the heart of one with expansive feelings.

 

Saints and sages of yore undertook various types of

spiritual practices. Kaanaada also performed penance.

Ultimately, he realised that he had originated from

the atom and would merge into it. He gave up body

attachment. Today man is leading a materialistic life

and striving for his own selfish ends. So long as

there is selfishness in man, he will not be able to

understand the divine principle of atom. One may do

Japa, Dhyana and penance, but one's mind should always

be steadily fixed on the principle of the atom.

Everything is contained in this. Our body, mind,

intellect, etc., are nothing but the manifestations of

the atom which is verily divine.

 

God certainly listens to the prayers of His devotees.

Some people hesitate to pray lest their prayers should

cause inconvenience to God. They are mistaken, for God

can never be put to any inconvenience whatsoever. God

has no suffering at all. He considers devotees'

happiness as His happiness. However, your happiness

results from material things; whereas My happiness is

related to the principle of Atma. I am pleased by the

smallest of small offering if it is made with Love.

Your tiny offering will assume gigantic proportions to

Me. On the other hand, you are not satisfied in spite

of receiving mighty favours.

 

What is the significance of Guru Purnima? Guru is one

who illumines the path to divinity. Purnima stands for

the cool full moon light. Full moon stands for a mind

with total illumination. It is spotless and

blemishless. Even if there is a trace of blemish in

the mind, it will lead to darkness. It cannot give you

total bliss.

 

Embodiment of Love!

 

Let your mind be filled with the radiance of divine

love. Acquiring mere textual knowledge is of no avail.

What you have studied is only a fraction of the total

knowledge. Yet you feel proud about it. Your worldly

education is insignificant compared to divine wisdom.

You cannot attain God with your education, power and

wealth. He is accessible by Love and Love alone. You

can experience Him only when you develop Love.

Devotion means to Love God wholeheartedly.

 

Embodiment of Love!

 

What is it that you are supposed to know on this day

of Guru Purnima? You must understand that God is in

you, with you, around you, above you, below you. In

fact, you are God. Recognise this truth in the first

instance. Do not entertain excessive desires and

become beggars. Do your duty sincerely. That is the

true Sadhana. When you are in office, do office work

only; do not think of your family matters. Likewise,

when you are at home, take care of the needs of your

wife and children. Do not make your home an office.

But today because of too much work in office, people

take office-papers to their homes to complete their

work. They are thus facing difficulties because they

mix up their office work, household work, business and

spiritual matters.

 

Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu were great scientists.

The modern scientists have travelled only up to moon,

but Hiranyakasipu travelled up to the sun. He even

touched the pole star and consequently suffered. One

may be a great scientist, but one will be put to

suffering if one crosses one's limits. The saints made

concerted efforts to experience Divinity. One should

develop broad-mindedness in order to experience

Divinity.

 

Man has death but the mind has no death. Whatever he

does during his lifetime are imprinted on his mind and

get carried over to the next birth. None can

understand the nature of the mind. Some people think

that suicide is the only way of putting an end to all

their troubles. They think, "It is the mind that is

responsible for our suffering. Let us put an end to

it." It is the worst of sins. The mind cannot be

killed so easily. One should never entertain such low

ideas. One should be prepared to face any difficulties

with fortitude and strive hard to sanctify one's life.

Atma is God and God is Atma. Prahlada said, "Never

doubt that God is here and not there. He is present

wherever you search for Him."

 

“The Atma is eternal without birth or death. It has no

beginning, middle or end. It is omnipresent as the

witness of every being.” (Telugu Poem)

Hence, man should lead his life with the conviction,

"I am God. Only body has death. I have neither birth

nor death." So long as he is alive, his love is

dedicated to God and God alone. One day a rich man

came to meet Baba at Shirdi. He had stuffed his pocket

with a number of currency notes. Baba decided to test

his devotion. He called Shyam, who used to be by His

side always, and said, "I need five rupees very

urgently. Go and ask Patel." After sometime, Shyam

returned saying that Patel was not at home. Baba asked

him to approach another businessman. Shyam again

returned with empty hands. Baba sent him to another

person. Patel was a witness to all this, but he did

not volunteer to give five rupees from his pocket. He

had no spirit of sacrifice. For many people, money is

God; politics is God. Will the money or politics

follow them after their death? What are they going to

achieve? What is the purpose of life? Having attained

human birth, do not waste it in trivial pursuits. Take

part in activities that are beneficial to society. Do

not misunderstand Me when I say this. Politics is the

root cause of pollution of the world. The minds of

even small children are polluted by politics.

Conflicts and agitations have become the order of the

day. There is no unity even between husband and wife.

Prior to Independence, people did not suffer this

much. In those days, the conflict was between the

whites and the coloured, whereas today the non-whites

are quarrelling amongst themselves in factions. This

is not what is expected of people today. Shun evil

qualities and develop noble feelings.

 

Embodiment of Love!

 

Fill your lives with Love and end your lives with

Love. That is true human life. The Upanishads have

accorded great value to human life. Maanava is one who

has to be loved and respected. He has to welcome

happiness as well as sorrow with equanimity. In China

there is a proverb which says, "Difficulties are our

friends, let us welcome them." The happiness that we

get out of difficulties cannot be obtained anywhere

else. Na Sukhat Labhyate Sukham (one cannot derive

happiness out of happiness). Many people come to Me

saying they are facing lot of difficulties. I feel

like laughing at them. I want to know what

difficulties and sorrow mean. But they do not come

anywhere near Me. I keep telling the devotees that

they should not be bogged down by difficulties. I

never give any scope for sorrow. This body has entered

its 77th year. Till this day, I never experienced

sorrow even for a moment. Man aspires for bliss. He is

the embodiment of bliss. Bliss is his true property.

Such being the case, why should he give scope for

sorrow? It is because he has not understood his true

nature. Worldly relationship comes and goes. But that

which comes and grows is the principle of Love.

Embodiment of Love!

 

Right from this day, try to reduce your attachment to

the world to the extent possible. Be happy and make

others happy. Do not hurt anybody. Consider

difficulties as passing clouds. You have developed

family relationships and there are bound to be some

worries. But do not be perturbed by them. When you

look at the vast sky, you find many clouds. Likewise,

in the sky of your heart there are clouds of

attachment. They just come and go. Do not worry about

them. What is the shape of worry? It is a mentally

created fear. It is the result of your imagination.

Every man is bound to encounter difficulties and

losses. We should face them with courage.

 

Remember what Shivaji taught his minister. This body

will be respected so long as there is life in it. Once

the life ebbs away, it will not have any value. The

same was stated by Duryodhana during his last moments.

He said, "I was respected so long as I was alive.

Tomorrow crows and dogs are going to feast on me."

Whatever has to happen will happen. Lead a respectable

life while you are alive. Develop divine feelings in

you. Only then you would have led a true human life.

Today man is leading a purely materialistic life. This

is also necessary to a certain extent. Remember that

there is the transcendental principle even in this

secular life.

 

Embodiment of Love!

 

>From this day of Guru Purnima, make your hearts

sacred. Just as you wave away the mosquitoes that bite

you, brush aside any difficulties that assail you. Do

not be depressed by sorrow nor be elated by happiness.

Develop equanimity and strive to attain Divinity.

 

Here Bhagawan sang the Bhajan, "Vahe Guru Vahe Guru

Vahe Guru Ji Bolo …" and then continued the discourse.

 

There is only one Guru. There cannot be two Gurus -

inner Guru and external Guru. Guru is one who treads

along the path of Truth. He is truth himself.

 

“Gurur-Brahma Gurur-Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheswara;

Guru Sakshat Param Brahma Thasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.”

 

(Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Maheswara.

Guru is verily the supreme Brahman. So, salutations to

the Guru.)

 

You are the embodiment of Divine Trinity - Brahma,

Vishnu, Maheswara. Hence, Guru is not separate from

you. You are everything. Let your concentration not

waver. Let it be steadily fixed on your goal. Be he a

student, a celibate, a householder or a renunciant,

the goal is one and same for all. Contemplate on the

principle of So-ham that your inner voice teaches. Say

Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahma). There is nothing wrong

in this statement. Some people have a mistaken notion

that to say so, is a sign of egoism. In fact, that is

not ego at all. It is your right. To think that you

are a mere human being amounts to demeaning yourself.

You are the embodiments of God. Develop such faith and

become God. There cannot be any bad qualities in God.

So, you should lead a pure, steady and selfless life.

See good, speak good and do good. You should be an

ideal to everybody. No benefit accrues from worship if

you do not purify your heart. You are worshipping

Swami and have been visiting Swami for a number of

years.

 

But is there any transformation in you? You are coming

and going without any aim. Such people need not come

here at all. Wherever you are, do your Sadhana. When

you come here, you should imbibe divine feelings and

become divine. Gradually reduce your attachment to the

world. The world will not go with you when you die.

You cannot even take away a fistful of dust. You can

take only the virtues you have cultivated. Respect

your teachers, elders and parents. Matru Devo Bhava,

Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo

Bhava (revere your mother, father, preceptor and guest

as God). Consider everyone as God. There is God even

in a dog. Have faith that God is all-pervasive. There

is no greater Sadhana than this. When people develop

such faith, the whole nation will be blessed with

plenty, prosperity and all auspiciousness. Fill your

heart with divine feelings. This is what you have to

learn today.

 

Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajans,

"Hari Bhajan Bina …", "Subramanyam Subramanyam …"

 

 

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