Birthday Speech -23.11.02

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I am delighted to provide the birthday speech of our Beloved SWAMI. Thanks to

website Kingdom of Sai from which I could able to download this and send across

to everybody.

At his LOTUS FEET

Bharadhwaaj P R

 

LISTEN TO THE MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE AND TRANSFORM YOURSELF INTO IDEAL HUMAN

BEINGS"Who makes the sun rise in the morning and set in the evening with utmost

regularity every day? Why does the stars glitter only at night and hide

themselves during the day? How is it that the wind, without taking rest even

for a moment, blows incessantly and sustains the living beings? Who makes the

rivers flow perennially making pleasant sounds of ripple and gurgle? Who is the

cause of delusion in creation? How do you find differences based on money,

religion, community and nationality? Who is the Master and under whose

sovereignty all these marvels are taking place? Come, listen to His words and

obey His command." (Telugu Poem)Embodiments of Love!Every man and every living

being aspires to attain peace and happiness. Everyone is trying to know the

objective of life. But they are not able to succeed in their endeavor. One in a

million will persist with strong determination and he will not give up till he

realizes the goal. Ordinary mortals will not make any efforts in this direction

as they think it is something beyond their reach. They spend their lives in the

pursuit of physical and ephemeral pleasures. They are under the delusion that

food, raiment and shelter are the three main objectives of human life. Their

life centers round their wives and children. They fail to realize that there is

a higher purpose in life than this.People pursue various paths to experience the

everlasting bliss. The Taittiriya Upanishad gives the analogy of a bird in this

context. The head of this bird is called Sraddha (sincerity). The right and

left wings are compared to Ritham and Sathyam respectively. The body symbolizes

Mahattattwam and the tail/ Yoga. What is Ritham? Trikalabadhyam Ritham (Ritham

remains unchanged in the three periods of time - past, present and future).

Sraddha is very important. Sraddhavan Labhate Jnanam (with sincerity, wisdom is

won). In the Bhagavadgita, Krishna said, "One with Sraddha can attain Me." He

further declared, "I am the very embodiment of Sraddha." One without Sraddha

cannot accomplish even a small task. Especially, in the field of spirituality,

Sraddha is very essential. Strong and unwavering faith leads to Sraddha. The

Upanishads have expounded the principle of Sraddha in varied ways. Wisdom

attained through Sraddha is Tharakam (liberation). Lack of Sraddha is Marakam

(bondage). The eternal principle of Tharaka must be understood, practiced and

propagated. This is the fundamental teaching of Taittiriya

Upanishad.Embodiments of Love!The Taittiriya Upanishad emphasises the need to

develop Sraddha in all walks of life. In spirituality Sraddha is the Tharaka

Mantra. It is eternal and immortal. Man can attain Jnana (wisdom) only when he

purifies his heart by developing the five aspects, namely, Sraddha, Sathyam,

Ritham, Yogam and Mahattattwam. Jnana is not textual knowledge. Advaita

Darshanam Jnanam (experience of non-dualism is wisdom). There is an underlying

principle of non-dualism in the apparent dualism. This is the fundamental truth

that Taittiriya Upanishad teaches.When Adi Sankara was proceeding on his Jaitra

Yatra (victory march), he met a great scholar by name Mandana Mishra in the

northern part of India. Sankara entered into a scholarly debate with him.

Ubhaya Bharati, the wife of Mandana Mishra, was also a great scholar. She was

well-versed in the principles of Ritham, Sathyam, Mahattattwam, etc. It was

decided that Mandana Mishra would take to Sannyasa if he were to be defeated in

the debate. Sankara chose Ubhaya Bharati to be the adjudicator of the contest.

As the debate was in progress, she listened to the arguments and counter

arguments with utmost concentration. She was impartial in her judgement and

declared Sankara to be the winner. Being one of wisdom, she did not feel

dejected that her husband was defeated in the debate. Mandana Mishra took to

Sannyasa in accordance with the terms and conditions of the debate. Ubhaya

Bharathi, being his Ardhangi (better half), followed suit. Both husband and

wife renounced the world and propagated the path of wisdom. Human life has no

value if one does not acquire wisdom.It is said that Annum Brahma; Raso

Vishnuhu; Bhokta Devo Maheswarah (food is Brahma; the essence is Vishnu; the

one who partakes of it is Maheswara). These three correspond to body, mind and

action respectively.Manasyekam Vachasyekam Karmanyekam Mahatmanam(those whose

thoughts, words and deeds are in complete harmony are noble ones.)The oneness

of thought, word and deed is Ritham. They represent the Trinity of f Brahma,

Vishnu and Maheswara. Hence, everyone must strive for the purity of these

three. Take for instance a glass chimney placed over a lamp. After sometime, a

thin layer of soot gets accumulated over the glass. Consequently, light becomes

dim. It is only when you clean the glass, can you see the light clearly. This is

what you are supposed to do. The soot that you find over the glass can be

compared to ego that envelops your mind. It is because of ego that you are not

able to visualise the Divya Jnana Jyoti (divine flame of wisdom). How does ego

enter your mind? It enters your mind when you give up the path of truth. You

become egoistic when you do not know your true Self and develop worldly

thoughts and feelings. In order to drive away ego, you should keep your worldly

thoughts and feelings under control. It is impossible to acquire wisdom without

getting rid of ego. To have the vision of the effulgent light of Atma, you have

to remove the soot of ego covering your mind. This was the teaching of Ubhaya

Bharati.She was living in a hermitage on the banks of the river Ganga,

imparting spiritual teachings to women. Many women had become her disciples.

Every day in the morning, they used to go the Ganges to have a bath. On the

way, there lived a Sannyasi whom people called Brahma Jnani. Truly, he was a

renunciant and one of wisdom. However, he was very much attached to a small

earthen pot in which he used to preserve water. One day, he was lying down

using the pot as a pillow, lest somebody might steal it. Ubhaya Bharati who was

on her way to Ganges with her disciples observed this and remarked, "Though he

is one of wisdom, there is a small defect in him. He has renounced the world,

but is attached to his earthen pot which he is using as his pillow." The

Sanyasi overheard their conversation and became angry. When Ubhaya Bharati and

her disciples were coming back from Ganges, he threw away the pot on the road,

just to show that he was not attached to it. Seeing this, Ubhaya Bharati said,

"I thought there was only one defect in him -Abhimana (attachment). Now I

realise that he has another defect also - Ahamkara (ego). How can one with

Ahamkara and Abhimana be a Jnani (one of wisdom)?" It was an eye-opener for the

Sanyasi.Ubhaya Bharati toured the length and breadth of the country preaching

and propagating the path of wisdom. Women are by nature the embodiments of

Vijnana, Sujnana and Prajnana. They are the repositories of all virtues. But

due to the impact of Kali age, women are being looked down upon. It is a grave

error. They must be treated with due respect. Today women compete with men to

take up jobs. However, they must take care of their home needs before doing

so."If all the womenfolk go to work, who will take care of the homes? If

husband and wife both go to office, who will run the household? If women go out

to teach other children, who will teach their own children? If women go out like

men holding books in their hand, who . will work in the kitchen ? Earning money

may solve some financial problems, but how will it solve domestic problems? If

you seriously think about it, there is no happiness for woman holding office."

(Telugu Poem)If women also go out and earn money, the financial constraints may

be overcome, but there will be lot of problems on the home front. Women are the

personifications of courage and determination. They put up with all | hardships

with fortitude and safeguard the honour of their family. They live up to the

reputation of a Grihini (housewife).Man has to follow the path of truth to

acquire wisdom. It is said, Sathyam Bruyath, Priyam Bruyath, Na Bruyath

Sathyamapriyam (speak truth, speak pleasantly and do not speak unpalatable

truth). These three correspond to moral, dharmic and spiritual values

respectively. Everything is contained in truth. You don't need to visit temples

in search of God. Truth is verily God. It is all-pervasive. It confers plenty

and prosperity on all. Hence, follow the path of truth. Practise righteousness.

Acquire wisdom. For all this Sadhana, partaking of proper food is the first

step. Purify the food by offering it to God. Annam Brahma. Consider food as

verily the form of Brahma. Raso Vishnuhu. The essence-of food that spreads to

all parts of your body is Vishnu Swarupa. Bhokta Devo Maheswarah. The partaker

of food is the very embodiment of Siva principle. When man develops such sacred

feelings, he becomes Siva Himself.Siva symbolises complete sacrifice and

renunciation. In this world every one has dehabhimana (body attachment)

However, Siva has absolutely no body attachment. He has only Atmabhimana (love

for the Self). He has abundant hair with the moon adorning His head, the cool

water of the Ganga flowing between the matted locks, with His radiant eye of

wisdom in the middle of the forehead and the purple neck gleaming like the

sheen of a blackberry. He wears serpent bracelets and a snake belt, His entire

body is smeared with Vibhuti, His forehead is adorned with a kumkum dot, His

ruddy lips glow with the juice of the betel, diamond-studded gold earrings

dangle from His ears and His whole swarthy body glows with divine effulgence.

(Telugu Poem)Once Parvati approached Lord Siva and expressed her desire to have

a house built for themselves. She said, "Oh Lord, You go from house to house

begging for alms and are not concerned to provide a dwelling for us. Without a

proper shelter, how can we live together?" Siva pacified her, saying, "Parvati!

What is the use of building a house? Rats will make it their home before we even

enter it. In order to control the rats, we need to have a cat. Then we will have

to buy a cow to provide milk for the cat. In this manner, our requirements will

get multiplied and we will lose our peace of mind. Hence, do not entertain such

desires." Siva has no body attachment. He is the personification of

renunciation. Total renunciation leads one to wisdom. This is the teaching of

Lord Siva to mankind.What is wisdom? Purity of thought, word and deed is true

wisdom. Your body, mind and actions must be pure. On this basis it is said. The

proper study of mankind is man. It means that the unity of thought, word and

deed is true humanness. It is very simple and easy to practise. But no one is

making any effort in this direction. Though Ganges is flowing nearby, people do

not take a dip in it and clean their body. People do not make use of the

conveniences available to them. This is utter laziness and a sign of Thamo

Guna. You have to get rid of this animal quality, develop humanness in you and

rise to the level of Divine.Embodiments of Love!Strive to attain purity of

heart. Let this be your foremost endeavour. With purity of heart, you can

achieve anything. In order to attain purity of heart, you have to partake of

sacred food. One who cooks food should have sacred feelings. In olden days,

orthodox Brahmins used to insist on partaking of food prepared by their wives

only. The reason being, housewives wish for the well-being of the entire family

and prepare food. On the other hand, if you employ cooks. God knows with what

feelings they prepare the food! The unsacred thoughts of the cook enter the

food, which in turn poisons your mind. Annam Brahma (food is God). Hence, it

should be prepared with sacred feelings. Mere physical cleanliness will not

suffice, the mind also should be pure. You should see to it that the vegetables

used for preparing food are procured in a righteous manner. For example, husband

brings vegetables from the market. He might have misused his position of

authority and brought them without making payment or the vendors themselves

might have procured the vegetables by unfair means. When such vegetables are

consumed, your mind gets polluted. You do not realise that the food you eat is

responsible for the actions you perform. Unsacred food makes you do unsacred

deeds.Embodiments of Love!Have your food only after praying and offering it to

God. Only then the food will become sanctified and illumine your intellect.

Once there lived a Sannyasi in a hermitage near Sivananda's Ashram. He was a

pious soul. One day an aged businessman donated money to prepare food for the

Ashramites on the eleventh day after the demise of his young wife. The

businessman, being rich, somehow had enticed the girl's father with money and

married his young daughter. She spent her time languishing over her fate in the

businessman's house. Disgusted by leading such a life, one day she jumped into

the Ganges and ended her life. The businessman was doing the obituary rites on

the eleventh day. There was a convention in the Ashram that cooked food was not

accepted. So, the businessman gave the required amount for preparing the food.

The pure-hearted Sannyasi partook of the food along with other inmates of the

Ashram. He could not get proper sleep that night. He saw a young girl in his

dream. He thought to himself, "I never had any such thought nor do I have a

craving for sensual pleasures. Then, why do I get such bad dreams?" He got the

same vision even in his meditation. So, he went to his Guru by name

Satchidanandam and explained his predicament: "Swami, why am I getting such

unsacred visions?" The Guru told him not to worry. He sent word for the

businessman, spoke to him and found out the reason behind the untimely death of

his wife. He understood that she was appearing in the dream of the Sannyasi as

he had partaken of the food prepared as part of her obituary rites. From that

day, the Sannyasi stopped eating food and lived merely on fruits and milk.

Bhikshannam Deharakshanartham (food is essential to sustain the body). A car

needs petrol to run. In the same way, the body requires food to sustain it. So,

one has to eat something or the other to sustain the body. Sometimes, you get

bad dreams and bad visions during meditation. This is the result of unsacred

food. You have to enquire before cooking whether the provisions are got through

sacred means. Only then the food becomes fit for consumption.Before partaking of

food, you should pray,Brahmarpanam Brahma HavirBrahmagnou Brahmanahutam

Brahmaiva Thena Ganthavyam Brahma Karma Samadhina.If you pray with sacred

feelings, the food gets sanctified.At one time. King Vikramaditya convened a

big conference. He posed a question, "Is Buddhi (intellect) greater or Medhas

(intelligence)?" The participants said that Medhas is greater. But Vikramaditya

did not to their viewpoint. He said that Buddhi is greater because it

is very sacred and the knowledge of the Self is contained in it. Buddhigrahya

Matindriyam (intellect transcends mind and senses). Embodiments of Love!Before

partaking of food, chant the sacred Mantra. Then no unsacredness would enter

your heart. Annam Brahma;Raso Vishnuhti; Bhokta Devo Maheswarah (food is

Brahma; the essence is Vishnu; the one who partakes it is Maheswara). These

three correspond to body, mind and action respectively. Purity of thought, word

and deed is true wisdom. You don't need to undertake any other spiritual

practice. People undertake various Sadhanas. But they confer only temporary

satisfaction. On the other hand, when you have purity of thought, word and

deed, you will experience eternal happiness.Embodiments of Love!Ritham is that

which is changeless in the three periods of time - past, present and future.

That is true wisdom. That which undergoes change is Marakam and that which is

changeless is Tharakam."Understand the principle of Tharakam with the grace of

Sadguru and find the difference between eternal and ephemeral. Know the secret

ofTharakam (Soham) which the Jivatma (individual soul) repeats without a break

in all the three states offagrat (waking), Swapna (dream) and Sushupti (deep

sleep)."(Telugu Song)You may belong to any religion or community; you have to

understand this Tharaka Mantra. Today people call themselves devotees, but

their actions do not match their claim. Their thoughts, words and deeds are

filled with untruth and unrighteousness. Their love is tainted with selfishness

and self-interest. They pose themselves to be devotees, go round the world and

indulge in all sorts of evil deeds. Externally, they look to be pious, but

inwardly they are filled with evil propensities. They ruin their lives for the

sake of money. You should beware of such people and keep them at a distance. It

is a sin to even look at their faces.Some devotees said, "Swami, we want to

attend Your Birthday celebration, but we are unable to get leave. So, we have

decided to apply for sick leave and come." Then I told them, "It is not the

right thing to do. It does not matter, if you are unable to come, but do not

tell untruth." Observe Sathya Vratam (vow of truth). Only then can you have the

vision of Sarveswara (Lord of the universe). You can purify yourself through

prayer. Wisdom will dawn on you through prayer and that prayer is Annam

Brahma;Raso Vishnulzu; Bhokta Devo Maheswarah. No other spiritual practice is

required.Nine paths of devotion have been prescribed for spiritual aspirants.

They are: Sravanam (listening), Kirtanam (singing), Vishnusmaranam

(contemplating on Vishnu), Padasevanam (serving His s| Lotus Feet), Vandanam

(salutation), Archanam (worship), Dasyam (servitude), Sneham (friendship),

Atmanivedanam (Self-surrender). You should develop friendship with God. If God

is your friend, the whole world will be under your control. But today the

unfortunate ones are losing their friendship with God. It is not easy to make

friendship with God. But you have to make every effort in this direction. Once

you develop friendship with God, you have to take full advantage of it through

Sadhana. Do not waste time in idle talk.Embodiments of Love!Speak truth always.

This is what you have to learn today. Truth is the basis of your life. Truth is

verily God. Hence, never stray away from the path of truth.Students!Having

pursued your education here and having listened to Swami's teachings, you

should transform yourself into ideal human beings. People from far-off lands

wait for a chance to come here. Having been blessed with the sacred opportunity

of constantly living in the Divine Presence, make full use of it. Never use

harsh words. Never speak untruth. Sometimes, telling truth may lead to danger.

In such a situation, speak neither truth nor untruth; remain silent. You should

transcend the dualities of truth and untruth. As you are all in the prime of

your youth, this is the best time to embark on the sacred path. Start early,

drive slowly, reach safely.I am not at all interested in celebrating My

Birthdays. Devotees wanted to arrange various programmes on this occasion. But

I did not permit them. As many of you have gathered here, this meeting is

taking place, otherwise, I have no interest in even this meeting. To Me, every

day is a festival day. I am always blissful. I am the embodiment of eternal

bliss. What type of bliss? It is not something which others give. I don't wait

for others to give Me bliss. My bliss originates from within.Nityanandam,

Parama Sukhadam, Kevalam Jnanamurtim, Dwandwateetam, Gagana Sadrisham,

Tattwamasyadi Lakshyam, Ekam, Nityam, Vimalam, Achalam, Sarvadhee Sakshibhutam,

Bhavateetam, Trigunarahitam (God is the embodiment of eternal bliss, He is

wisdom absolute, the One without a second, beyond the pair of opposites,

expansive and pervasive like the sky, the goal indicated by the Mahavakya

Tattwamasi, eternal, pure, unchanging, the witness of all functions of the

intellect, beyond all mental conditions and the three Gunas of Sattwa, Rajas

and Thamas).I am beyond all attributes. Believe it or not, I am bliss

personified. If you think otherwise, the defect lies in you. Whatever I do is

for your own good, for your welfare and for your happiness. Lead a blissful and

unblemished life. That is what I desire from you. I have no worries or suffering

at any point of time. Why should I worry when I have everything? I have no

desires. Whatever I tell, whatever I do is good for you, not for Me. I have

come for your sake. Hence, make full use of Me. I am always ready, provided you

develop sacred thoughts. Lead a divine life. Sometimes, I do not talk to you.

You think, "We might have committed some mistake. That is why Swami is not

talking to us." But truly speaking, it is not My nature to look for defects in

others. My vision is highly sacred. | I always see good in you. The bad you see

is your own imagination. Because there is bad in you, you are seeing the same in

others. But to Me, even bad appears as good. Hence, do not entertain any doubts

regarding Swami. Samsayatma Vinasyati (one with doubts will perish). Have firm

faith. Embodiments of Love!Welcome your guests and give them due respect. Give

your love to all. Feed the hungry. Only then can you have peace of mind.

Harmonise your thought, word and deed. There is no greater wisdom than this.

Practise Ritham. This is the path of Tharakam (liberation). If you waver from

time to time, you are the most unfortunate one. Waywardness is the nature of a

monkey mind. You belong to mankind. Having been born as a human being, you

should develop steadiness of mind. Mankind symbolises Tharakam. Monkey mind

stands for Marakam (bondage).Embodiments of Love!On this Birthday, you have to

learn something very important, i.e., do not waste your time in idle talk. Time

once lost cannot be regained. Consider truth as God. Sathyannasti Paro Dharmah

(there is no Dharma greater than adherence to truth). Hence follow the path of

truth and practise righteousness.Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the

Bhajan, "Sathya Dharmamu Santhi Premalato..."

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