Swami teaches... Part 3. Divinity Is in Everyone

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Light and Love Swami teaches... Part 3 Divinity Is in Everyone Iswara (Supreme Being; name for Shiva) is said to have three forms. The first is Virat-Swarupa (the Cosmic form), the second is Hiranyagarbha (the subtle form) and the third is Avyakrutudu (the Causal entity). Virat-Swarupa is Viswarupa - the entire manifested Cosmos is His form. All the myriad forms and names in the Universe are contained in His form. This is described as Jagrata-Swarupudu (the Cosmic form as experienced in the waking state). The second one is Hiranyagarbha, the Divine form as experienced in the dream state. In the waking state, we use our limbs, see with our eyes, and hear with our ears. In the dream state, we perform many actions. What are the hands, which we use, what are the legs, which we walk? What is the mouth that speaks in dreams? When no organs and senses of the body are functioning in the dream state, how do these experiences occur? That is the subtle form of Hiranyagarbha. Avyakrutudu, the third form, has no specific form and therefore is called Avyakruta. However, Ananda (Bliss) is present. There is consciousness of experience.

 

You are the same person experiencing the waking state, dreaming in the sleeping state and enjoying the bliss in the deep sleep state. The one entity existing in all three states is the Atma - in the body in the waking state, in the mind in the dream state and in the Chitta (Higher Consciousness) in the deep sleep state. The Iswara Principle unifies all the three entities. There is no place, object or being where God is not present. You have to correct your outlook and recognize the unity in the apparent diversity as well as the reality of the Supreme power of the Divine will. There is the legend of Iswara Sankalpa (Will of the Supreme Lord) how nothing could stop its realization. Shiva was every day discoursing on Kailasa to sages and saints and devas in the evening hours. One day, Parvathi (Shiva's consort) suggested that a Hall have be constructed for accommodating them all, so that they could all listen without being affected by the constant fog and mist and cold winds. Shiva did not have the Sankalpa to put it up; still, Parvathi insisted that her idea must be implemented. The astrologer who was consulted before the foundations were dug said that "The stars forecast that the Hall will be consumed by fire, since Shani (Saturn) is not propitious from the very beginning." The Hall was completed, nevertheless. Now, that set a problem for the Couple. Shiva proposed to ask Shani for the favor of saving the Hall from his anger, though He doubted whether the planet, reputed for his inevitable ire, would ever agree. Parvathi felt deeply hurt and she resolved not to give the tiny tyrant, Shani, the credit for destroying the Hall that She had got built. She swore that instead of giving him the chance to declare arrogantly that he had set fire to the Hall, she would herself set fire to it. Shiva asked her to first await the outcome of His appeal to Shani, for He was Himself proceeding to his headquarters. He told Her, "If Shani agrees to exempt the Hall from his anger, I shall come back and report the good news to you; but if he is adamant, I shall raise My Hand and twirl this Dhakka (double drum). On hearing that signal, you may set fire to the Hall and rob Shani of the credit for doing so."

 

Parvathi was ready with a burning torch in anticipation of the signal, so that there may not be a moment's chance for the wicked planet to execute his nefarious plan of revenge. Shani, however, agreed to the request made by Shiva; he said that he would not bum down the Hall in Kailasa and Shiva was happy at his reply. So, when Shani prayed that he may be granted one small boon, Shiva agreed and asked him what it was. It seems Shani had never before seen the famous Dance of Shiva which all the stellar divinities were extolling and Shani craved that Shiva may show him a step-or two. Shiva readily assented and started the Thandava (frantic dance of Shiva), raising His hand and sounding the Dhakka. Listening to the signal, Parvathi applied the torch and the Hall was, as per the Sankalpa of Shiva, burnt to ashes. Divine Sankalpa must be fulfilled. Shani was just a tool in the Divine Plan. Everyone, without exception as a "Son" or "Daughter" of God has the same powers of creation, but in order to realize those powers, certain principles need to be observed. (However, if your thoughts are not pure, or you wish to others harm, the result will be such that whatever you thought of others will be attracted into your own experience). “Dharma (Righteousness) is the root of the world,” says Shruti (sacred text); so, as Krishna said, when Dharma declines, the Lord incarnates as Human. “The Veda is the root of Dharma,” says Shruti. Dharma is the fruit of Veda, which is the Tree. (Now, Veda itself is getting dried up. So, fostering Veda is one of the tasks of the Avatar). The Vedas say, “Srunvantu viswe amrutasya puthraah,” (Oh listen! The son of immortality). You are not mere mortals; you are the children of immortality. You should conduct yourself in such a manner that would befit your stature as the children of immortality. Ekam Sath (Truth is one). Truth is God. The whole world rests on Truth. Creation emerges from Truth and merges into Truth. Is there a place where Truth does not exist? The Vedas describe this as Ritam. It is the Principle of Oneness (Ekatma swarupa). It is changeless and transcends time, space, and circumstances. Human attributes various names and forms to such divinity and worships it in various ways. You may call the Lord as Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Swami, or even Cosmic Consciousness, but God is one. Divinity has no specific form. It is changeless and beyond all attributes. In fact, all forms are the forms of Divinity. The fundamental basis for the apparent multiplicity is only the Great One. The Atma is the undercurrent in all names and forms. Atma means the power of consciousness. It is the power of eternal, supreme, spiritual, and non-dual bliss. (Such principle of unity in multiplicity is forgotten today. All the Upanishads emphasize the principle of unity. However, because of worldly feelings, human views multiplicity in unity). Realize that the same Atma dwells in one and all. When Atma is present all over, how can it be divided? It is easy to visualize oneness in diversity. When God is omnipresent, what need is there to go in search of God? Do not think that God is in you. You are in God and so too is everyone. 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 aphorism Tattwamasi, the eternal, pure, unchanging, the witness of all functions of the intellect, beyond all mental conditions and the three qualities of purity, passion, and dullness (sattwa, rajas, and thamas). Consider everyone as the embodiment of Divinity. Whomever you salute or ridicule, they will reach God. Offer your respects to everybody. Get up from your bed with a peaceful mind. Think of God. Under all circumstances, do not give room for anger or hatred. You may have to face difficulties and sorrows, but never mind. Be calm and composed. Realize that you are not the body. You are the embodiment of eternal Atma. When you understand this truth, you will not be affected by the physical suffering. The body cannot escape difficulties. Difficulties and suffering are but natural to the human body. Bliss is natural to the Atma. Follow the nature of the Atma. Human's body is unclean, but yet it craves to achieve both cleanliness and Godliness, because its nature is purity and holiness. Inner cleanliness should be your main aim. Which do you cleanse more in a drinking vessel, the interior, or the exterior? You may have fine vegetables, excellent tamarind juice, chillies, salt, dal; the cook may be a master of the art; the oven may be the perfect type; but, if the copper vessel is not tinned, the soup will be turned into dangerous stuff that cannot be taken. Virtuous deeds and good habits act to protect from contact with copper. Until you see the akshara (the unchanging), you must practice the kshara (the changing), which helps you to transcend it. When once you are able to pronounce 'cat', you can give up reading the word as 'c-a-t'. The aim of all human effort is to achieve this One (Ekam) that lies behind all this plurality. Without achieving it, human can have no peace, within or without.

No amount of repetition of the shanthi mantra is capable of granting that. The guru reveals to the disciple the invisible current that activates the many seemingly distinct instruments, like the bulb, the mike, the fan, etc. Guru is like the stranger who entered the cottage of a poor people and announced that underneath the floor of that hovel, there lies hidden a precious treasure which he can take and own, by a few minutes of digging. The sage Vishwamithra devised the Gayatri mantra* as a fine drug for you what awakens your buddhi and confers upon you wisdom, discrimination, and non-attachment - the three distinguishing marks of humans, elevating them far above other animals. The Gayatri has the subtle power of removing evil tendencies and implanting virtuous habits. Gayatri means 'that which saves, when repeated'! It is the torch of jnana, given into the hands of these lads venturing into the regions of intellectual inquiry and sensory restrictions. Supplying the calories for the spirit is as necessary a process for happy living as supplying calories for the body; breakfast, lunch and dinner, Morning worship, Noon worship, and evening worship are equally essential. Usually human imagines him/herself weak, limited, bound and he/she is so shaped by the mind, which is the source of that imagination. How are you to overcome this bhrama or delusion? If you desire to overtake a train, you must speed in a car or board a plane. No vehicle slower than the train will help. So too, if you intend to overcome the delusion, you must establish yourself in God; the delusion of human-power can be overcome only by the attainment of God-power. You are enjoying Divine Grace day in and day out. In what way are you showing gratitude to God for all that He has been doing for you? God does not expect anything from you. You have to do your duty by expressing your gratitude to God. (Some people have wicked feelings within but talk in a pleasing manner in front of others. Such people are verily demons. Demons are known to become powerful at nights. Here, night symbolizes wickedness and darkness of ignorance. When you are immersed in the darkness of ignorance, you will find only wickedness everywhere). Join hands with your fellow travelers in a spirit of tolerance and love. The Vedas have taught, "May we be protected and nourished together! May we perform heroic deeds! May we be filled with Divine energy! May we never hate one another!. *"The Deha-maatha (the mother who born the body), the Loka-maatha (the Mother who sustains the Universe) and the Gayatri-maatha (the Mother who saves you from bondage and ignorance) - all three deserve your devotion and worship," declare Vedas. (Reet's Compilation from, Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 2. "Shiva sankalpa," Chapter 16; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 5. "Recruits for my Army," Chapter 7 and "Shiva in shava," Chapter 8; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 22. "From love : to love" Chapter 5; Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. 36. "RISE ABOVE BODY CONSCIOUSNESS," Chapter 6). Namaste - Reet