Sai message for the day

[Guest guest]

Some say that satkarma, good action is enough; some argue that puja

is essential, but some hold the view that atmavidya is the only way

to liberation. How are we to coordinate and integrate these three?

Are these not contradictory to each other? Why should these three be

prescribed?

 

First, be very clear that they are not contradictory. Performance of

good action is karma marga. The three activities you have mentioned

are like three different kinds of travel by train. The first is the

direct train that takes you to your destination. This is jnana marga

the path of Wisdom. The other one is, the train in which you have to

change to another at a railway junction, as it is not a direct train.

This is karma marga the path of action.

 

But, there are still other trains to which the carriage you board

will be connected, and you don't have to get down and change it on

the way. This is bhakti marga the path of devotion. You can view

these paths in this way.

 

Another example, a mother has three sons. She feeds the youngest, a

child all by herself. But the second son is a grown up boy who will

go to the kitchen straight and will have his food served by the cook.

The eldest son being an adult can serve food for himself and eat it.

Similar is the situation here. The youngest child stands for the path

of action, the second son represents the path of devotion, while the

eldest symbolises the path of wisdom.

 

Another example, a king had three wives. He had to be away from his

kingdom longer than planned. So he sent a message to his three wives

telling them that his return was delayed and also asking them to

inform him as to what he should bring home for them as gifts. The

first wife said that she needed nothing except his safe return. The

second wife who was ailing for quite sometime wanted medicines, while

the third one who was very fond of jewels wanted the latest designs

to be brought. On his return, the king went straight to the first

wife and stayed there. The other two wives came and pleaded with him

to visit them also saying, " Oh King! Your return was already delayed.

You. have been spending much time with your first wife. How about

us? " The king replied, " Look! This one wanted my safe return. So I am

with her. But you wanted medicines and jewels, and accordingly I sent

to both of you what you had asked for. " Thus, the first wife who

asked for the king himself and none else stands for vairagya,

renunciation. The second wife who wanted medicines represents

prakrtika jnana, material knowledge, while the third one who wanted

jewels symbolises prakrtika bhakti worldly devotion for worldly gains.

 

Therefore, different spiritual paths are prescribed and suggested

considering the eligibility, temperament, suitability, capability and

the samskaras, vasanas qualities of the past life of different

persons.

 

The same thing I tell my students. There are three `W's. The first

`W' indicates `work', karma marga, the second `W' means `Worship' or

`Devotion', Bhakti marga and the third `W' signifies `Wisdom', jnana

marga. These three are contained in the name of SAI. `S' stands for

`Service (karma yoga) `A' for `Adoration' (bhakti yoga) and I for

`illumination' jnana yoga).