July 20, 2009 – Special Divine Discourse on Atma

[Guest guest]

HomeArticles

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent ArticlesPrevious IssuesArchivesSearch by TopicSearch by Issue

 

 

 

 

 

Bhagavan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who is Sai Baba?The Sai StoryThe Divine DeclarationThe AVATAR on Himself

 

 

 

 

Prasanthi

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Prasanthi Niliyam?Where is Prasanthi Niliyam?How to Reach?Is He Always in Prasanthi Niliyam?Food and AccommodationThe Daily ScheduleHighlights and InstitutionsKey Places of

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

FestivalsAbout

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Heart2HeartFAQs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Search:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 20, 2009 – Special Divine Discourse on Atma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It

turned out to be a wonderful evening at Prasanthi Nilayam - an evening

that began like any other day, progressed and ended in a very special

manner. As it happens everyday, the bhajans began at 5:00 p.m. and were on when Swami arrived for darshan

on a special white chair. It was a wonderful sight and Swami looked so

different and beautiful. The saffron of His robe stood out against the

white of the chair. Even His hair was seen in all its glory as it stood

out against the white backdrop! Swami moved through the ladies side and

into the gents’ side via the central students’ area.

Swami arrived on the stage and sat for the bhajans. At about 5:30 p.m., prasadam

was brought to seek His blessings before the distribution. Swami

blessed it but as the distribution was about to begin, He told them to

stop. He then moved around the portico for a bonus darshan

and blessings round for all those seated there. And now, arriving on

stage, He asked for the podium and mikes! He told Prof. Anil Kumar to

speak. For about 20 minutes, the professor spoke on the Upanishads and

the principles of Tat Twam Asi and Aham Brahmasmi. He also dilated on the various Vedic declarations on Swami that highlighted His reality and nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As

he concluded, Swami blessed him and asked Mr. S. V. Giri to address the

gathering. He too spoke on the Upanishads and other holy texts. When he

was explaining the meaning of Upanishad as, "To sit near the Guru",

Swami corrected as, "Down", meaning not only near the Guru but also

below the Guru! That correction was however low in volume and was

understood only by those whose eyes were riveted on Swami. After his

speech, Swami decided to deliver His discourse. Needless to say, there

was thunderous applause. Here is the exhaustive summary:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All ask Swami about Atma and

none ever understand it. All that has been spoken about the Upanishads

are only words. It is said that the Vedas gave rise to the Upanishads

but in reality, the Upanishads gave rise to the Vedas. Without the

Upanishads, there is no Ramayana, Mahabharata or the Gita; those are

mere books.

 

The ancient sages studied and investigated thoroughly and found that the Atma was the basis for all. Atma

is the changeless primordial principle. It has a birth and death when

it takes up the body. Shivaratri is not the birthday of Shiva. Shivam means auspiciousness. It is everywhere as declared in the Vedas - "Sarvatah panipadam tat Sarvatokshi Shiromukham. Sarvatah Shrutimalloke Sarvam Aavrutya tishtathi."

 

Whatever the eyes see, the ears hear or all that is said are all

Brahman. Sound, light, speech, movement, etc. - all of these are

Brahman. There is nothing apart from that principle. This kerchief, for

instance, is Brahman. It arose out of threads which in turn were made

of cotton.. This is not a cloth in reality but just interwoven threads.

It can become either a gown or a dhoti or even a saree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A powerful mind is that which can convey the Atmic

prompting. Without mind, there is no movement at all. So investigate

into the mind. The mind keeps changing and that is why it is called the

monkey mind. What the mind conveys is not the Truth if it is not

prompted by the Atma. Without Atma, there is no Chitta (awareness) and without that, there is no Viveka (discrimination).

 

The infant grows into a boy, lad, man and becomes a householder. All

are same and one cannot exist without the other. The fundamental is the

Atma.

 

People give different forms to the Atma. Some give it the form of the primordial sound - Aumkara. Others call it Tat Twam Asi. It is the same in all. One became many. Just like a mother become a mother and a baby after delivery. The pranava, Aumkara, arises out of the navel as we chant it; it is divine. But all cannot chant Aum. So, they take up other names like Rama, Krishna, Allah, Jesus and the like.

 

God has no form in reality. The form is used only as an indicator. The

form is chosen out of liking. Whether you like Venkateswara, Rama or

Krishna, all the forms you have are from Ravi Verma (an artist)

paintings! You may shift between forms but all are one.

Ekameva Adviteeyam Brahma. The

Brahman is only One and without the second. People imagine and get

delusional and that leads to confusion. In a drama, a boy dons the

vesture of Krishna. The next scene, he comes as Rama. Though the names

you call him are different, the same person arrives. The variations are

only due to our delusion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If

you think someone is bad, he appears thus. It is so, also when you

think someone is good. It is all based on your feelings towards that

person. All these are based on thoughts. Thoughts change due to change

in mind.

You think that you are meditating on a form.

But it keeps changing from time to time. That is only contemplation. It

is steady for some time but it changes. It is meditation when it is

absolutely steady. None have meditated so far but they say so. It is

all artificial.

 

 

It is not good but it is necessary in the beginning. It should be made

steady. Concentration leads to contemplation which leads to meditation.

 

 

That is acquired by constant practise. Nobody becomes elder at the

minute of birth. It is a process of limited growth. It is wrong to

think that everything happens as you will. If that is true, then you

will not desire anything. You yourself will not exist then. Know

yourself first.

 

"I am Atma". Then why do you considerate it separate from you? All you

do today is full of confusion and depression. That leads to

disappointment. The wayward nature is responsible for depression. When

examinations are held, you either fail or pass. Change is everywhere.

 

There is change in the environment, water, air, sound, weather –

everything changes. How can you remain changeless? Food also changes.

What you eat today, you cannot eat tomorrow. It is only the Constant

Integrated Awareness that is changeless.

To achieve that, develop the feeling of oneness. The Atma

is the same in all. Bodies are like pots and the mind is the water in

the pots. The moon is reflected in every pot. Nothing is true without

reflection, reaction and resound.

 

Children! You do not understand the Atma.

It is not the letters 'A', 'T' or 'M'. Have the feeling of oneness. All

are one. You do different jobs but the spirit of work is the same. It

is from the Truth the whole creation has come and it will dissolve into

it. That Truth is the Atma. It is changeless. Satya + Satya + Satya = Satya!

 

Always speak the truth and speak it pleasingly. Truth gives birth to

righteousness and together they give rise to Peace. Then there is no

anger, pomp, jealousy and ego. There is only Love.

 

Hanuman went around the whole of Lanka searching for Sita. Though he

searched in the palaces, he realised that Sita would never go to

Ravana's palace. When he met Ravana in the court, he addressed him in

the singular. Ravana was enraged and said that none had the impunity to

address him so.

Hanuman then said that he was the servant of Lord Rama and so he

would call him in the singular alone. Ravana ordered Hanuman's tail to

be set on fire. Do the demons need any provocation for such deeds? They

brought all their clothes and rags and wound it around Hanuman's tail

and set it on fire. Hanuman leapt and went to every home in Lanka and

set it on fire.

Everyone was rushing helter-skelter wondering which house to enter

and be safe. Only Vibhishana's house was saved from the carnage. It is

all karma. You decorate yourself with jewels and brilliant necklaces of gold. It is only the garland of your karmas that accompanies you always and adorns your neck. All good and bad are recorded. Nothing else matters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you sow, so shall you reap. When you eat pakodas (a south Indian savory), your belch will have that flavour. Nothing more, nothing less. Keep your actions right.

If you have Love for God, you will automatically fear sin and refrain from it. You will love society. Daiva Preeti, Paapa Bheeti and Sangha Neeti. Earn these three. Do namasmarana. Singing the praises of the Lord leads to liberation. Aham Brahmasmi. Ayam Atma Brahma.

 

Focus on the Consciousness alone. Follow your conscience. Do not

spend time in idle gossip. Have pure looks, thoughts and words. Then

you will be perfect and good.. The Ramayana, Mahabharatha and

Bhagawatham - all teach good ideas. Develop love for god more and more.

All else will follow. Then you can experience consciousness. Then you

become God. Practise is needed for that experience.

 

So begin to practise. Even for small things, you have to practise. Then

you become perfect. Otherwise, you make mistakes. The first step is to

say, I am not animal, I am not demon - I am human. Become men first.

Avatars have come to make humanity realise the divinity.

 

Be perfect as humans first. Accept and follow whatever God has said.

Then the experience will come easily. If you follow bad, you become

bad. Tell me your company and I shall tell you what you are. Now, do bhajans.