No.5 : Questions put to Prof. Anil Kumar and answered by him. 65 to 80 (total 228 Q & A* )

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16 questions (total 228 Q & A* ) put to Prof. Anil Kumar and answered by him.

 

*Questions & Answers 65 to 80

80 “Are Comparison And Competition To Be Avoided?”

The next question: “Mr. Anil Kumar, you say that comparison and competition should be avoided.”

“Yes, I always say this. It is not an allegation. It is truth. Yes!”

“How do you relate to schools, which are highly competitive? In schools and

colleges, there is very keen competition. Mr. Anil Kumar, you say that there

should not be competition and comparison. How do you explain this?”

A very good question! What I mean is that there should not be competition and

comparison once you settle in life. Once you settle in life, whatever lot you

have, be contented. Whatever thing you have, be happy. Don't compete, thereby

denying yourself any happiness.

Here’s a simple example: Assume that God has given me a small car. God has given

you a bigger car, the latest model! If I go on thinking of you, I miss the

pleasure of driving in my own car. Therefore, competition and comparison will

deny me any pleasure, right at that moment.

But, as long as you are a student, you should be highly competitive. In

scholarship, one has to compete. In grades, one must compete. Pardhaya

Vardhathe Vidya. Pardhaya means ‘competition’. Vidya means ‘education’ and

vardhathe means ‘improve’. Out of competition, one will certainly improve and

advance in studies. Later in life, we want contentment and satisfaction. So,

you cannot quote me when you are at the student stage! But what you do as a

student should not be brought forward once you settle in life.

Here is another simple example: As a young boy, you can play with marbles. It is

very nice. Later, why can't you play with marbles in your office? (Laughter) It

is childish. What is good at one stage is not good later. Use competition and

comparison as a student; but once you are settled in life, experience

contentment and contemplate on self-inquiry. Be on a search -- a quest for

peace and bliss. At this later stage, the objectives or targets change. A

retired person cannot compete with a boy due to his age. (Laughter) If he does,

something is wrong with him. If a person goes on competing, after retirement,

with a boy of twenty, well what do you say? Something is wrong with him. If a

college student goes on saying, ‘Let me be content with 30% marks; let me be

satisfied with failure’, that would be wrong. Therefore, what I said applies to

settled life, not to a student

 

79 “After being here (this question was asked by an Indian in the USA), we face

‘culture shock’. What does Baba want us to do about culture shock?” So, for your

shock, He has to suggest something! (Laughter)

We have to clearly understand that culture is not geographical. One may be here

in India, yet leading a Western life. If you go to cities like Delhi, Calcutta

or Bombay, I don't think that you will see much Indian culture there. It is

India, but you don't see any Indian culture. So Indian culture need not

necessarily be practiced in India alone. No! So I can show you a thousand

examples in India where Indian culture is not followed.

Therefore, Indian culture is a way of life. It is an attitude. It is a sort of

interaction between an individual and the community. It speaks of the

objectives of life. It speaks of the purpose of life. It speaks of the nature

of the Divine and several other aspects.

Therefore, if you say that you are facing ‘culture shock’, it only means that

you have forgotten your own native culture. You are still not able to imbibe

the ‘alien’ culture, the new culture in the land where you are now. You are not

able to adopt that, yet you have forgotten your own culture. You are in-between.

Therefore, there is this ‘shock’.

So, culture shock is not the mistake of the culture. It is the mistake of the

individual. If you are really convinced of the validity of your own culture,

then wherever you are, you will never change.

Don't misunderstand me. I see many people. I know many people here -- the

Westerners working in the canteen, the bookstall and so many places. How do

they do it? With a smile on their face! They are very active. The culture of

the West is work-focused, with a spirit of excellence. Wherever you put them,

they are excellent workers. They want to be ‘number one’ at work. That spirit

has been imbibed. Therefore, every culture has its own uniqueness.

Suppose my work culture (say, an Indian working in the USA) wants me to be

number one in the world, but my native (Indian) culture does not want me to

take any credit! The Indian culture wants us to work with the spirit that this

work is an opportunity, a gift from God. It is not to dominate, not to be

number one. Our culture views it as an opportunity, as God's gift for

excellence. Don’t get me wrong -- I am not rooting out excellence all together.

You are supposed to be excellent; there is no doubt about it. But in this

culture, this opportunity for excellence is viewed as a gift of God.

Therefore, ‘culture shock’ is of your own making. If you are really aware of

what culture is – a way of life -- there will be no shock anywhere. You will

never be confused. Eternal values, even in a changing society, lay much

emphasis on the culture (the way of life) that has to be adopted, despite

worldly changes all around. What changes is the civilisation. What does not

change is the culture. We should not get confused with that. Culture does not

change; it is eternal. Culture has continuity with eternity whereas, from time

to time, civilisation changes because it is based on conveniences, comforts and

luxury. Culture stands for and represents values. When you have perfect

understanding about this, you will never get this ‘culture shock’.

 

78 “What has Swami said about the war between America and Iraq, and the present

conflict between America and the Middle East countries?”

What sort of answer could I give to the Americans, since I was staying with

them? (Laughter) I cannot say they are wrong; I cannot say they are right. I

was in a very embarrassing position. (Laughter) But Swami helped me to get

beyond this.

Swami's message cannot be limited to America and Iraq, American and Afghanistan,

India and Pakistan. No, no, no! Bhagavan's message is universal. Bhagavan's

message is meant for everybody, at all times, for all countries. You cannot

localise an issue. His message is based on Love. Bhagavan does not approve of

bloodshed. He is for non-violence. He is for open discussion, not for war. He

always believes in empathy, sympathy, friendship and understanding. I was happy

that they were satisfied with the answer. That way I did not have to blame

anybody. (Laughter)

While talking with Swami about this, I said, "Swami, I faced a very inconvenient question."

He said, "What? What?"

"Swami, people wanted to know whom You support - the Americans or the Iraqis?” (Laughter)

Swami asked me to repeat my answer. (Laughter)

I knew that some ‘music’ (some reaction from Swami) would be waiting for me to

follow. If anything went wrong, I would be beheaded (Anil Kumar is speaking

jokingly here) without even a month's notice! (Laughter)

“Swami, this is what I said: ‘I cannot bring down Bhagavan’s message to the

problem prevailing in America and Iraq. No! His message is universal. It may be

Palestine and Israel. It may be Iran and Iraq. It may be a conflict between any

other two countries. But Bhagavan’s message is based on Love and friendship.’”

“The correct answer!“ He said. Therefore, I continued on a good footing with

Swami, as He approved of the answer given.

77 “When parents and their son are discussing a particular issue, but see it

from different perspectives, whom will Swami oblige?”

This was a question raised by a young adult. Both sides continue to pray to

Swami. (Laughter) The boy is praying to Swami; his parents are also praying to

Swami. Both need Swami, but their temperaments disagree. What the boy wants,

the parents don't want him to have. The parents don't approve of his requests.

Still, this fellow wants it. When their desires are contradictory, when their

plans are opposite, when they continue to pray to Swami, whom does He oblige?

This is a very good question. (Laughter) Whom does He respond to?

The answer is simple. Baba said that it is absolutely necessary for the son to

follow the command of his parents. His parents know his interests much better

than he does. The mother, who has given birth and brought up the child, and the

father, who has sacrificed everything to bring up his son, will naturally be

very much interested in the future of their son.

So, the son has to necessarily follow the parents. There is no question of ‘I

have this idea and you have that idea; so let’s pray together and see who will

win?’ (Laughter) Prayer is not a matter of competition. There is nothing like

‘higher’ prayer and ‘lower’ prayer. Prayer is prayer. “I will pray more than

you!” There is nothing like that. There is nothing like parameters, nothing

like a measure for the intensity of prayer. A prayer is a prayer!

76 “What advice does Swami give to couples when the wife and the husband disagree?”

A husband and wife relationship means that there will be disagreements!

(Laughter) As long as they are friends, there will be total agreement. From the

day that friends turn into a couple, disagreements start. Disagreement is

everywhere. There is an agreement and a disagreement. We should agree to

disagree. If there is agreement always, there is no charm in life. (Laughter)

There should be disagreement. This happens everywhere. There are no exceptions.

 

I remember a joke shared with us by Sadhu Vaswani of Pune:

“A couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Everybody attended their

wedding anniversary function and congratulated the couple. They were

successfully linked together for 60 years, without wanting any change. People

told them, ‘You are really great. What is the secret of your success?’”

The question was asked of the husband. The husband gave this answer: '”We have

been very successful so far. We are able to celebrate our 60th wedding

anniversary because I take all the major decisions. (Laughter) She makes all

minor decisions. (Laughter) However, as yet, I have not made a major decision!

I have yet to make a major decision.’” (Laughter)

Therefore, my friends, disagreement is everywhere. Bhagavan gave an example of

Lord Shiva Himself. Lord Shiva's dwelling place is a burial ground. His consort

Parvathi lives in a paradise, Kailash. Shiva is almost naked, while Parvathi is

full of jewellery. They are opposites: Shiva is for total renunciation and

detachment, while Parvathi is full of affluence, plenty and prosperity. Yet,

they continue to be an ideal couple. This sort of idealism lies in establishing

harmony between the two.

Yes, the two wires - negative and positive -- unless the positive and negative

wires are there, the current won't flow. If you have only positive wires, then

there won’t be any current. Positive and negative are a law of life.

Bhagavan gave one example. Where there is understanding, there will be

adjustment. Yet, we go in the reverse direction. We want adjustment, then

understanding. That's why we are successful failures. (Laughter) We must

understand first -- then adjustment is fast.

Bhagavan gave an illustration: A newly married couple started their life in a

metropolitan city. The wife was very understanding of her husband because she

knew that he was highly qualified and she was fully confident that he deserved

a promotion. Yes – a double promotion if possible! He worked very hard. She

knew it very well. Therefore, when the husband returned home late in the

evening she wouldn’t mind. The office closed at 5 o'clock. Even If her husband

returned at 7 o’clock, she didn’t mind. She would be waiting at the gate.

She would say, “I understand that you are very tired. I know how busy you are. I

know you are very efficient. You never shirk your responsibility. Would you like

to have hot coffee now? Would you like to have coffee, or would you like to have

it along with tiffin?” She would continue talking like that. This man will

forget that he was tired and begin to have a broad smile on his face.

But suppose someone tells her that this man is having an affair with somebody!

Then, if he is late by five minutes, she will be waiting at the gate, no doubt

as before, (Laughter) but this time not with a cup of coffee! If possible, with

sticks especially made! (Laughter) She will ask for an explanation.

“What happened to you? When the office closed at five o‘clock, why the half-hour

delay? What happened to you? I suspect something is wrong; something is fishy.”

This sort of suspicion comes due to lack of understanding. As long as there is

perfect understanding, there is no suspicion. When there is misunderstanding,

there is no adjustment. According to Bhagavan, couples should understand this:

they need to understand each other. Thereafter, there would be 100% adjustment.

It should not be in the reverse direction of ‘adjust now and understand

tomorrow’. No! Then they will end up in a divorce. So, understand first and

then adjust.

Here is another instance that Bhagavan mentioned. A husband should know how to

treat his wife. His wife has left her parents, her relations, and her kith and

kin, and has gone to live with him. He should be sympathetic. He should be

tolerant. He should be understanding. He should be forgiving. She sacrificed

everything for her husband.

The wife should also be understanding of her husband. This man is returning from

hectic activity, having been so busy at the office. This is not the time to come

forward with demands or requests. Living together, they should come to know each

other - like two eyes with a single object of vision. ‘I look at you and see

only one person not two.’ Though there are two eyes, you have only a single

object or vision. Similarly, there may be two, husband and wife, but when they

are together in absolute understanding and total adjustment, they can be

together in perfect harmony. That's the answer.

75 “How can a wife develop self-confidence if she has to be submissive to her husband?”

These days we hear about the women's liberation movement. Women are trying to

claim equal rights with men. The Indian government is also attempting to

increase the percentage of seats in the Parliament and in the legislature for

women. There is nothing wrong with it. There's an awareness among women. They

will fight for their rights to be given as much salary as men get. There is no

question of discrimination on grounds of gender.

Along this line, a question was asked: “How can a wife develop self-confidence

if she has to be submissive to her husband?” (Laughter)

It is a sensitive question indeed. However, there are two aspects here. One is

that of self-confidence; the other is about the submissive nature, submission

and submissiveness. You have to clearly understand what both points stand for.

Self-confidence has to do with individual character. Self-confidence relates to

the individual, while submissiveness deals with an inter-relationship: I am

submissive to you, or you are submissive to me. This sort of submissiveness has

to do with an inter-relationship, whereas self-confidence is an individual

characteristic. They are never contradictory.

How can an individual character contradict an inter-relationship? It's not

possible. Both work in different channels. A simple example: I have total

self-confidence that I will be able to discharge my duties to the best of my

ability. That does not mean that I am, that I cannot be or that I should not be

submissive to my boss. I think I am clear.

Before the vice-chancellor, I am submissive. In front of the principal, I am

submissive. The submissive nature goes along with obedience, which is a code of

conduct, which is a disciplined way of behaviour on the part of an employee

towards an employer. But self-confidence is based on one's own ability, one's

own capacity, one's own skills and competence.

Submissiveness will make you very humble. It will make you better. It will

improve your inter-relationships: the boss will be pleased with you. Your

self-confidence will help you to be more competent, more efficient, and more

proficient. Therefore, a housewife can be both self-confident and submissive.

A self-confident person need not be arrogant. A self-confident person need not

be headstrong. A self-confident person need not be rebellious. A self-confident

person need not be a revolutionary. No. Self-confidence will improve your own

personal ability. Submissiveness is an expression of your humility.

That is the answer I gave to this question.

74 “Speakers always tell us about their interviews and how badly they feel if

Swami ignores them in one darshan. Most of us have had no personal interviews.

Swami tells us not to seek interviews, but inner-views, so why do most of the

speakers at the retreats tell us about interviews, but not about inner-views?”

(20.07.03) This is a very genuine question. It is a frank question and I like

it. Most of the speakers speak about personal experiences they had with Swami.

That is really damaging. As I have repeatedly said, I could not be close to

Swami anywhere in the vicinity for 7 long years.

What did I do during that period of exile, that period of long probation? What I

did was, immediately after my return from a visit to Swami, I avoided Sai

devotees for 15 days. Why? Every devotee used to come close and say, “Did you

get an interview? Did you get padanamaskar?”

People say different things like, “I got vibhuthi.”

“Baba gave me this ring.”

A person who failed an examination was told, “I got a gold medal.”

People who do not get these things say, “So you got it. Why did you tell me? I

did not get it. So I am worried. Why do you add fuel to the fire?"

This kind of advertisement and ‘show business’ should be avoided. Bhagavan

blesses you with gifts of grace, but not for publicity. It is absolutely

personal. But we do it because of our ego. Ego damages the organization. This

is not the purpose. Personal things are not to be shared with everybody unless

they have got a message behind it. If your personal experience has got some

message, yes, please share it.

People say these things because they have nothing else to say. They are not

familiar with His message; they are not familiar with His vision. So they go on

speaking of their personal experiences.

“Please excuse them, Father, for they know not what they do. Forgive them.”

That is the prayer we can say. I was myself like that for a long time and I know

it now.

73 “Is it not the bounded duty of the Sai Organization to actively and

resolutely campaign against people who use the name of Sai and indulge in

methods of treatment like vibhuthi and run temples by collecting money?”

(20.07.03) This question is related to the organization. My friends, I do not

know why we want to be foolish -- why we want to continue to live in

foolishness. How much longer? All these years, umpteen numbers of times, Swami

has made it clear that “fund raising, fund collection, has got nothing to do

with Me.”

Bhagavan has also said in Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 1: “I have no

representatives. I don’t transfer powers. I don’t possess anybody. I have no

secrets. I have no secretary. No one is delegated on behalf of Me to function

in this way.”

Bhagavan has stated this very clearly. Sanathana Sarathi also notifies to be

careful of people who collect funds in the name of Sai.

But alas, it is most unfortunate that we still get carried away by intermediary

people. When Bhagavan is available, His name is so miraculous, when so many

people have so many mystical experiences, why do we want a third person? The

moment we think of Him, He appears in our dreams or conveys some message or

gives some direction by way of intuition or inspiration. When we read a book,

we find a relevant passage; when we look at Swami’s picture, we get some

indication. Why do we run after other people like that?

 

72 “We are in the process of opening a new business. We would like to have the

Sarva Dharma emblem prominently displayed at the entrance of our store with

Baba’s quotation. Is it OK?” (20.07.03) I said, “No.”

Why? The symbol of the Indian government is three lions. You must have seen this

on the stamps and on currency. Can I have it in front of my house? No, because

it belongs to the government, for use of the government, for the use of all

communication at the top levels, not for private individuals.

We cannot have the national flag on the top of our houses or on our cars. The

flag carries authority that has some status, some specialty. You cannot have

national symbols on your letterhead: I cannot have ‘K. Anil Kumar’ with three

lions.

Therefore, the Sarva Dharma symbol is an organizational symbol; it is not for

individuals. It is for the use of office bearers for the purposes of

transactions and communications, but not for everybody.

So far as Swami’s quotations are concerned, nobody has any copyright. No one has

the copyright to the Holy Bible.

Somebody asked, “We want to translate your book into our language. Would you

give us your permission in writing?”

I said that suppose you want to quote the Bhagavad Githa. Should you get

permission from Krishna? It is foolish! No one has got any copyright on sacred

texts.

Bhagavan’s message is universal. Getting a copyright, etc., is the

personification of ego. They are Bhagavan’s words -- that is all. Who am I to

say? But my job is to see that you don’t misrepresent, to see that you don’t

misquote, to see that you don’t misuse them.

71 “Since we live in America, does Bhagavan want us to sing English bhajans?“

(20.07.03) I said, “English bhajans or Telugu bhajans or German

bhajans or Japanese bhajans -- bhajans are bhajans.”

The other day we heard some Japanese bhajans. Everybody started clapping. The

tunes were familiar. I heard many people singing equivalent songs, Prashanti

bhajans, in the same tune. That is Baba.

You are not a stranger anywhere. No language is alien to you, because Sai is the

common bondage. Sai is the connecting link. You will be comfortable in any

language. So if people want to sing English bhajans, yes, they have every

liberty to sing. No language should be imposed upon anybody.

70 “I am new to the Sai Organization. As my husband is a devotee since

childhood, I follow Sai. I like the good work of the Sai Organization. But I am

not able to accept Swami as God, like Rama and Krishna. How do you accept Him as

God?” (20.07.03) This was a question from a housewife. This is a very

interesting question as usually the question is the other way around: “My wife

is a devotee…what am I to do?”

I meet many people like that. But here is a wife who is complaining about her

husband being a devotee.

The answer is simple. It is immaterial whether the husband is a devotee or the

wife is a devotee. How do you say one is a non-devotee? Who is a non-devotee? I

have not met a non-devotee.

Even an atheist is a devotee. Because he believes that there is no God. He is

devoted to that concept of the non-existence of God, so he is also a devotee,

believing in the absence of God. Theist is a devotee, believing in the concept

of believing in God. So all are devotees.

If you are devoted to your husband, then you are also a devotee. All are

devotees -- some are devoted to the office, and some are devoted to computers.

All are devotees.

“You say you are not able to accept Him as Rama and Krishna. I doubt if you have

total faith in Rama. Then you have not experienced Krishna. Why do I say that?

Because a devotee who has total faith in Krishna sees Bhagavan in Him --

Krishna appeared as Bhagavan. A true devotee of Krishna observes non-duality. A

true devotee of Rama observes non-duality. A true follower of Christ sees

Bhagavan as Christ. If you are a staunch follower of Rama, a true devotee of

Rama, you will find that Baba and Rama are one and the same. Because you are

not truly devoted, because you don’t have the true experience, thus you

entertain this doubt.”

The wife appeared to be convinced.

 

69 “What is a typical day and what are the challenges you face, being so close

to God?” (20.07.03) What is a typical day? I think all of you will agree with

me that every day is typical in its own way. Every day is typical; every moment

is typical. Nothing is repetitive in existence; nothing is repetitive in this

creation. Everything is new. Sunrise is not a repetition. Sunset is not a

repetition. The blossoming of a rose is never repetition. The smile of a baby

in the cradle is not repetition. Life is not repetitive.

If you feel that life is repetitive, we are very close to doomsday! It only

means that we have lost the charm of life, the beauty of life.

This morning’s darshan is different from yesterday’s. Today is different from

yesterday. Tomorrow is going to be different from today. No day, no moment, is

repetitive.

Let us pray, “Oh God, let us enjoy this world in all its freshness. Let this

existence be one of beauty. Let us enjoy this whole creation, this universe, in

its ecstasy and in its entire splendour. Let us not take it for granted, because

nothing is repetitive.”

68 “What does it mean when Baba stands in front of you during darshan, waves

His hands and looks into your eyes, blesses you and walks away without saying

anything?” (20.07.03) They wanted me to interpret the meaning of this. But I

told them never to ask for interpretation, as no man can interpret. Please

avoid anyone who interprets on behalf of Swami. It is the job of Swami to see

to it that the message is conveyed to you. He will see to it that the message

is conveyed to you directly, by way of waving His hands, His postures, His

gestures, and the dialogue in the interview room, and so on.

Don’t ask anybody to interpret. Can anybody interpret Swami’s words? Impossible!

How does one know what Swami meant? The relationship between you and Swami is

direct. There is no mediator. Some people may ask innocently about what Swami

meant. Please tell them that they will know it by themselves. Who are we to

interpret Swami’s words?

When you want to know Swami’s message, what He meant, what He wanted to convey

to you, the best thing is to think and sit in silence. Reflect within, close

your eyes and meditate, then you will get the message. You will be confused if

you kept talking to everybody. Please pray and meditate. Swami will let you

know what He meant. Swami has made it very clear that there is no mediator

between the devotee and Himself.

67 “How do we pray to Swami when we are in difficulty and our life disturbs our

balance?” (20.07.03) What shall I say? In times of success, prayer comes out

naturally with all the sense of gratitude and with all the spirit of

thankfulness.

In situations of failure and when we are tested, during challenging moments of

life, you pray with deep agony, right from the inner recess of your heart,

crying for help. You don’t need to be specially taught. So, there is no special

prayer to be offered in difficulties or special prayer to be offered in times of

pleasure. It is only the feeling that makes the difference.

When someone comes out of the interview room, watch his style…(Laughter) as if

to say, “I am the only selected man in this world. (Laughter) No one else on

this earth got the interview.”

When asked about the interview he says, “Yes, you know, Swami was not scheduled

to come out this morning, He came purposefully to call me for an interview.”

The happiness, the intensity, is like that. We don’t blame him.

But the situation is different when Swami does not look at him. When you speak

to him -- anticlimax!

“How are you, Sir? ”

“I am busy.” (Laughter)

Earlier, he had stopped the entire traffic to say that he got an interview. Now

he simply says, “We will meet later.” (Laughter) The same situation, same

person.

66 “Does Swami get upset, angry? Is He emotional?” (20.07.03) I cannot say ‘no’

because I have been the victim. To say that He is emotional questions the very

Divinity. What shall I say?

I always pray, ‘Swami, bless me with one characteristic: to say what You said

and not manipulate, imagine or speculate things, but just quote You. And when I

really don’t know, let me be able to plainly say so. If answers do not strike my

mind, let me admit it and ask for more time.’ I have been doing this for the

last several years.

So this question was put to me: “Is He ever angry, upset, emotional?”

This is an example given by Swami: “I pretend to be angry; I pretend to be

emotional. Actually, I am never emotional, never angry. It is only in order to

correct you that I pretend to be angry. That too, I change my tone, that's all.

I change my voice into a stern voice. This pretension is only to correct you.

That is all. The hailstones may hit you, but they melt away very soon.

Similarly, I may be harsh, but I melt very soon.”

Swami gave another example: The five Pandavas asked to be protected by a sage,

Durvasa. Durvasa was known for his anger and temper. He could be head of the

department for people who lose their temper quite often! (Laughter) But he lost

his temper for the benefit of humanity, while we lose our temper to benefit our

doctor.

Krishna approached Sage Durvasa and said, “Oh Sage, let these five Pandavas,

five pious people, be under your protection…just for one day. “

He asked, “Swami, against whom?”

“Against anybody. You must hide them somehow.”

But the sage said, “Oh God, I will safeguard them. I can hide them in some safe

place. But I shall never utter a lie. If I am asked where they are, I will tell

their address. (Laughter) I will never utter a lie.”

Then Krishna said, “Look here, Durvasa! Will I ever ask anybody to speak lies?

No, no. You manage somehow. They will be under your protection.”

“Oh God, I shall do all I can, but I shall never utter a lie.”

Sage Durvasa dug a deep and wide pit. He made the Pandavas sit there and put

wooden planks covering them. He then sat on the wooden planks.

In the meantime, some fellows came there in search of the five brothers. They

said “Oh, Durvasa, where are the five Pandavas?”

Durvasa decided to speak the truth. But he changed his tone and said (roughly),

“They are here!” (Laughter) Being afraid of his tone, they ran away. So Durvasa

spoke the truth, but the very truth made them run away. Therefore, you can

certainly be truthful. Hold on to the principle of truth. As Bhagavan says,

just change your voice. Change your tone to correct people.

Bhagavan is never emotional. I can give you another example. A VIP was asked on

the previous day not to sit in his usual place. According to that individual,

VIP means ‘Very Important Person’. In front of God, he is a very insignificant

person. Who is a VIP before God? I believe that everyone is a VIP. All are

equal in the sight of God.

Bhagavan told that VIP person, “Don’t sit there tomorrow. A very important guest

is coming. He is a king of a country. You sit at the back.” But as this person

was an old man, he might not have heard what Bhagavan said clearly, so he sat

in his usual place. The guest of honor came and he also sat there. You should

have seen the drama that went on! (Laughter)

Swami looked at the king and said, “How are you? When did you come? How are your

children, and is your wife here?”

Then He looked at the other fellow and said, “Why are you sitting here even

though I told you not to sit here?”

He said this simultaneously. You try to do such a thing -- you cannot. You will

laugh at the wrong place. Bhagavan can manage both the situations at the same

time - the Divine actor, the Divine dramatist. So, He is never emotional. He

just pretends to be emotional.

65 “Does Baba speak all languages?” (20.07.03) ‘Mother tongue’ is a familiar

phrase. He, being the Mother, can speak all the languages.