THE LORD OF THE HEART

[Guest guest]

THE LORD OF THE HEART

By Dr. John Hislop

 

This is the transcript of a talk by Dr John Hislop delivered at

Dharmakshetra, Mumbai on Jan 1, 1971, which was subsequently

published in the February 1971 issue of Sanathana Sarathi. We bring

this special article from the archives of Sanathana Sarathi to

celebrate the golden jubilee year of this hallowed magazine.

 

When Baba sent word that I was to make some remarks at this great

New Year's gathering of Sathya Sai Devotees, the thought occurred to

me was that if I were to speak with all the truth that I could

muster; there was only one topic on which I could speak. And, that

topic is personal in its reference, not general.

 

It is: What does Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba mean to me, to this

mind and body, educated and cultured in a foreign country and also,

what does He mean to that subtler aspect of me, which is without

nationality?

 

Hearts Spring with Love

 

Swami with John Hislop

 

My wife and I first heard of Swamiji in 1968, through a description

of Him as given to a friend of mine by a lady who had visited

Prasanthi Nilayam. This lady had brought back some sacred Vibhuti, a

beautiful ring as a gift to her from the miraculous nature of Baba

and she had many fascinating stories to tell. But one special remark

struck fire to my mind and imagination. The lady said that she had

felt a change in her character, while at Prasanthi Nilayam, and that

change persisted even after returning home.

 

This statement really struck my mind with the impact of a great

storm. Could there be a man, was there a man living today, whose art

was so subtle, so powerful, so mysterious; so divine, that he could

change the human heart.

 

If it were indeed true that such a man lived in today's world, then

nothing else in my life could equal the urgency of seeking Him out,

prostrating myself at His Feet, and praying that through His Grace,

He would be so kind as to cultivate my dry heart with His Divine

Power so that my heart might open into fresh life as the dry fields

become alive and vibrant with the spring rain.

 

My wife and I heard the story of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on a

Monday and that same week we were abroad a plane to India. I should

not imply that my faith was able to keep up with the eager rush of

my heart to the Lord. After all, my mind was educated in the cold

scientific methodology of a Western University and then, cultured in

the profit climate of the business world. Moreover, I had

disappointing experiences with various spiritual preceptors.

However, my intellectual doubts which had gained considerable

strength during the journey were unable to survive even the first

meeting with Swamiji. In His Divine Presence, how can doubt maintain

itself? In His Presence, doubt is like very shallow water in the

burning sun - in no time at all, it disappeared.

 

As my wife and I sat before Swamiji at Prasanthi Nilayam, in the

room reserved for meetings with inquirers, we soon realised that the

elegant and charming Indian gentleman speaking with us was

unmistakably something far more than that. We listened to His sweet

voice, felt the warmth of His loving smile, noted the impression of

irresistible power conveyed by the cast of His features, looked as

deeply as we dared into His eyes - now soft, now flashing. But,

beneath these surface impressions, our awareness was deepening, we

became conscious that a state of love and affection now existed in

the room. In my heart, there arose a movement, a new feeling, a joy

so intense that tears came from my eyes.

 

So to me, first of all, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the Lord of

the heart, He who is able so quickly to remove all the hardness

accumulated in the years and make the heart fresh again, new again,

joyful again.

 

The Mystery of His Divinity

 

Then, the next aspect of Baba that strikes me with real force is the

overwhelming and incomprehensible mystery of His Divinity. There

appears to be a man, but, even a dullard can see that Baba is not a

man. One looks at Him and sees the blue perfect calm of the deep

sky. One tries to define His Form but can see only space. The only

thing certain about Him is that He loves us - otherwise, to predict

Him or define Him is like trying to capture the wind, or the silver

of the moonlight.

 

Even the stories we read of the Avatar are just other futile

attempts to define Swamiji. It is said that the Supreme and Only

Being wills to take Form as an object within that world of Maya

created by Himself and that, there He plays a human role without in

any way compromising His Total Subjectivity.

 

Out of such words, reason may satisfy itself, constructing some

framework of meaning. But, that meaning can only be relative,

whereas Baba is not relative. So, if we are honest about it, we end

up where we started ­facing a Divine Mystery that is incomprehensible.

 

The Divine Teacher

 

The third aspect of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba which has a

tremendous importance for me, is Baba as the Supreme Teacher of men,

He who guides us to, liberation - to re­union with Him.

 

Each word that He speaks carries a lesson intended for our benefit.

Certain basic principles are repeated by Baba again and again.

Perhaps these basic principles could be sum­marised into seven

cardinal points:-

 

No. I. Be happy. Bliss is God's Nature expressed in the Individual

and happiness is also our social duty. Simple happiness rooted in

good becomes value to every one around us.

 

No. 2. Feel always that you are Divine. There is One Only. We are

not different from that One.

 

No. 3. Let thought, word and action flow from that Divine which is

one's essential nature. How happy we feel when we engage in noble

action, and how miserable when our action is petty or hateful!

 

No. 4. Behave to others with the same kindness that we use to

ourselves, because at some subtle level of our being, I am you and

you are me - we are not two, opposing forces.

 

No. 5. Awake with love, fill the day with love, end the day with

love. It is not that we should feel love. In truth, we are love. As

man, we are just appearance. In truth, each one of us is a flame of

love, dancing in ecstasy against the background of the Lord's Maya.

 

No. 6. Love God with all your heart. Trust Him completely. Abandon

your will and your life to Him. He is the only refuge. Even though

pain and death be our lot, only in God may we find refuge.

 

No. 7. Let the mind be alert, always to penetrate appearance, and

uncover Reality. Let the mind never be caught up in appearance, but

let it be engaged always in ceaseless enquiry: Who am I? What is my

real nature? Where do I come from? Where am I going? Where and what

is my home?

 

This summary of the seven cardinal points of Swamiji's Teachings is

just as it appears to my mind, which is severely limited. Today we

have the great joy of being able to hear the Truth from the

unlimited, from the Lord Himself, from our beloved Bhagavan Sri

Sathya Sai Baba.

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan

rgcjp