Conversations with Sai

[Guest guest]

Swami, if God is present in all beings, why then are there

differences?

 

The Vedas declare that God is One. There is no question of there

being a second. Your doubt is, if there is only One who is present

everywhere, why then are there so many differences amongst beings? A

small example will explain the point. The current that flows through

various bulbs is the same, but the light outputs vary so much, don't

they? Some are bright while others are dim. Why? That is because the

wattage of these bulbs is different. God the In-dweller is like the

current. He is the same in all beings. People are like bulbs; they

differ in their Gunas [intrinsic tendencies], and hence the

differences.

 

Swami, if we are to progress further on the spiritual path, how much

of Spiritual Knowledge must we have?

 

Not much, really. Many people are always reading books on

Spirituality. They will be either listening to discourses or be

giving discourses themselves. But what is the use of all this? Such

people do not seem to change at all, and spiritually speaking, remain

where they are. They do not put into practice what they hear or

learn. In truth, there is no need at all to read many books or hear

many discourses. Progress can be achieved by sincerely following just

one or two important teachings. To commit suicide, a small needle is

enough! It is only to kill others that one needs bigger weapons like

knife, sickle or sword!! Those who wish to preach to others have to

read a lot. Those who want to improve themselves do not have to read

much; they only have to practice the little they read.

 

Swami, what is this Maya [illusion, supposed to be created by God]?

 

There is no such thing as Maya; it is all one's imagination. To think

that you are the body is Maya. You mistakenly believe that you are

something [body] that you really are not; that is Maya. Truly

speaking, there is no Maya; it is all one's imagination. Maya is like

the shadow of a tree. What casts the shadow? The branches of the tree

and not the rays of the Sun. If there are no branches, there is also

no shadow. The shadow called Maya arises from the branches called

human desires. If there are no desires, then there is no Maya as well!

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan