Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

THE youth of today are the future leaders of the nation and the architects of the new society. The future of a nation depends on its youth. The strength of the youth lies in their spirit of patriotism. The primary duty of the youth is to render service to the society. The physical and mental strength of the youth is the foundation on which a nation is built.

This is not the time to relax. Do not waste time. Wake up from the slumber of selfishness and narrowmindedness and resolve to serve the nation. Perform all activities keeping the esteem and honour of the nation uppermost in your heart. Understand the mystery behind human birth. Every individual has a goal. It is unbecoming of the youth to forget divinity and the goal of life, and to waste time in physical and materialistic pursuits. The youth should express human qualities by cultivating noble character and by rendering service to the society. They should discharge their duties with sincerity and re-establish the ancient culture of Bharat by practising and propagating its pristine values. But modern youth are neglecting their duty to the nation. They are not giving priority to the progress and prosperity of the nation. First of all, they should understand that the well-being of the individual lies in the safety and security of the nation.

Understand the truth that in the myriad forms of life, human life is the most sacred. Lead your life in a way so as to uphold Dharma, not merely to eat and sleep like birds and animals. Birds and animals act according to their innate nature, but man is forgetting his responsibility of fostering righteousness. Modern youth are under the mistaken notion that education is meant for udyoga (job). udyoga without yoga is futile. Contemplation on God is true yoga and udyoga. That is the primary duty of man. Without understanding this truth, some people take pride in their jobs. Ahamkara (ego) is the pest which attacks the root of the tree of human life. Raga (attachment) and dwesha (hatred) foster ahamkara. The three together spell doom for human life. Man’s life will shine forth brilliantly only when his mind is filled with divine love. The life of one who forgets God and gets immersed in selfish love is heading towards disaster. The one who has total faith in God and love for God will lead a life of joy and bliss. Therefore, man should make an effort to understand his innate divine power, which is truly immeasurable.

Bharat is the source of the Vedas and sacred rituals like yajnas and yagas. How is it that such a sacred land is passing through hard times? The people of yore considered Truth as God and sacrifice as true human quality. They adhered to them and experienced the bliss derived therefrom. But the modern students and the educated consider money as God and think that they can lead a happy life by holding positions of authority. This is not the true human quality. One should aspire for bliss, which can be experienced only by acquiring the knowledge of Brahman (divinity). Brahman is that which is changeless in all the three periods of time. This eternal principle is referred to in the Vedas as Prajnanam (Constant Integrated Awareness), which is immutable and invariable.

From the principle of Brahman emerged Akasha (ether). From Akasha, Vayu (air) originated. From Vayu, Agni (fire) emerged. From Agni, Jala (water) emerged. From Jala came Prithvi (earth). From Prithivi, Oshadhi (vegetation) emerged. Oshadhis gave rise to Annam (food) and man is born out of food. Thus, you can see that man and Brahman are intimately related. On this basis, Lord Krishna declared:

“Mamaivamso Jeevaloke Jeevabhuta Sanathana” (the eternal atma in all beings is a part of My Being) Without the principle of Brahman, nothing can exist, be it ether, air, fire, water, earth, vegetation or food. And man cannot survive without food. On this basis, the Vedas declared: “Annam Brahma” (food is God). What is food? Does it constitute merely cereals and vegetables that we consume? No. The whole world is composed of food. One body is the food for the other body. That which is consumed is food and the one who consumes food is also food. Everything that exists in this world is food. Therefore, it is said, food is God. You offer food to God chanting the Sloka, “Brahmarpanam...” before you partake of it. But where is Brahman? He is very much in you. That is why He responds to your prayer immediately from within: “Aham Vaishvanaro Bhoothva...” meaning, “I am in you in the form of Vaishvanara (digestive fire) digesting the food that you consume.” Sathyam Is That Which Creates Food Sathyam (truth) forms the basis for food. What is Sathyam? It is that which creates food. Sathyam comprises three syllables - Sath, Ye, Yam, which stand for the jiva (individual), annam (food) and the sun, respectively. Sunlight produces food, and food sustains the individual. So Sathyam is the primordial principle and the basis for everything. Our ancients considered truth as their life and righteousness as their breath. They considered human life as a combination of truth and righteousness. Therefore, truth is God. Man today has forgotten truth and he aspires only for food. He fails to understand that truth is the basis for food.

Brahma (divinity) is the basis for everything. Who is Brahma? All pervasive Nature is Brahma. Brahma pervades the air, the sound, the water, the earth and the sky. The five elements are the manifestations of Brahma. That is why people worship earth as Bhudevi, water as Gangadevi, air as Vayudeva, etc. But they do not realize that the same Brahma permeates all the five elements. All the five elements are present in the human body. So, Divinity is not separate from man. Man is the very form of Brahma. He is the embodiment of Truth. He should make every effort to manifest his latent divinity. That is true sadhana. Brahma is not a four-faced god as shown in pictures. Brahma permeates the entire uni-verse. So, every living being is the embodiment of God. Man should therefore recognise his innate divinity.

Students participated in various sports and cultural activities and emerged victorious. But this should not inflate their ego with the mistaken notion that they are responsible for their victory. They should realize that it is the divinity within that does all. Students, who had never sung earlier in their lives, also sang melodiously. Similarly, some of you participated in those games, which you had never played earlier, and emerged victorious. How could you do that? In fact, everything is the reflection of the inner being. This proves that it is the divinity within that brings forth the latent talents and skills. Brahman dwells in you. In what form do you see Him? You see Him in the Soham mantra, which is echoed in your each breath and proves the presence of divinity within. Soham means That I am. You repeat this Soham Mantra 21,600 times a day, which reminds you of your divinity as many times. When power of divinity is in you, why should you consider yourself weak and helpless? In fact, man is the embodiment of all powers and faculties.

You are under the false impression that knowledge is acquired through books. In fact, it is the manifestation of that which already exists within you. Nothing is possible without divinity. There are flowers, thread and needle, but they cannot form a garland by themselves. There should be someone to string them together. Similarly, separate letters by themselves do not convey any meaning, unless there is someone to combine them into words. For example, G, O, D are three letters. When they are brought together, they form the word God and you get a meaningful word. You have curd and a churning rod, but can you get butter out of curd without churning? No; likewise, the infinite power latent in the individual should be manifested through self-effort. It is possible only when you fill your mind with love for God. It is evident that self-effort and grace of God are essential in any human endeavour. The reason for all misery and grief is that your mind is not directed toward divine love. You will lead a blissful life only when the mind is suffused with divine love. Divine love is the ultimate goal of life.

Perform all actions with divine feelings. Do your duties sincerely. Only then the udyoga (job) that you do will be transformed into y o g a (spiritual practice) and work will be transformed into worship. But man lacks such noble feelings. He differentiates between his work and others’ work without understanding the truth that the same divinity exists in all. “Sahasra Seersha Purusha Sahasraksha Sahasra Pad” (the Supreme Being has thousands of heads, eyes and feet). The entire universe is His manifestation. divinity exists in one and all, be it an asthika (theist) or a nasthika (atheist). There is God even in a nasthika. Na + Asthi = Nasthi. Asthi stands for divinity. This means divinity is the basis even for nasthika.

Man uses words without understanding their inner meaning. This is due to his ignorance. He gets immersed in worldly pleasures and says that he is experiencing Brahmananda (eternal bliss). Worldly pleasures are transient, whereas Brahmananda is eternal. The type of joy that man derives out of worldly comforts and conveniences is manavananda (human joy). Hundred times more than Manavananda is Indrananda. Hundred times more than Indrananda is Devendrananda. Hundred times more than Devendrananda is Devananda. Hundred times more than Devananda is Brihaspathiananda. Hundred times more than Brihaspathiananda is Prajapathiananda. Hundred times more than Prajapathiananda i s Brahmananda. This is the true measure of Brahmananda. It is not that which comes and goes; it is with you permanently. But you have forgotten this blissful state. “Brahmanandam Paramasukhadam...,” only Brahmananda confers supreme joy. All the joys relating to body and mind are like passing clouds. They are related to waking state alone. But Brahmananda can be experienced in all three states, namely, jagrat, swapna and sushupthi (waking, dream and deep sleep states). It is changeless in all three periods of time. Man aspires to be blissful always, but he is sub-jected to misery because of narrow feelings and unsacred thoughts. He can experience eternal bliss only when he gives up narrow feelings and becomes broad-minded.

You can experience the eternal bliss only through love. There is no bliss greater than love. divinity is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. The Vedas declare: Sathyam Jnanam Anantham Brahma (divinity is Truth, Wisdom and Eternity). This infinite wisdom is latent in man, but he fails to understand this truth. He has become weak-minded due to wrong food and bad habits. He is totally ensnared in his body attachment. All his thoughts, words and deeds are engulfed in body attachment. He should get rid of body attachment and develop attachment towards the Self to realize his innate divinity. Body is not permanent. It is bound to perish one day or the other. None can predict with any degree of certainty when one would leave one’s mortal coil. This physical life is but a dream. So, do not develop undue attachment to the body. So long as you are alive, discharge your duties sincerely. Suffuse your thoughts, words and deeds with divine feelings. Then you will verily become God. Modern youth should recognise this fundamental truth.

The youth should resolve to eradicate poverty, suffering and injustice from this country. This can be accomplished only by developing sacred thoughts, adhering to truth, righteousness and justice and realizing that God is omnipresent.

You are the emancipators of Bharat. Take refuge in divinity, serve the nation and resolve to script a golden chapter in the history of Bharat. That is the essence of true education. Do not take pride in the acquisition of bookish knowledge. Bookish knowledge only helps in eking out a livelihood. It will not confer total wisdom. Perform your activities with unflinching faith in God. Then you are bound to be successful. Do not therefore study just for the sake of acquiring of degrees.

That is true education. That is Brahma Jnana (knowledge of divinity). There can be no greater bliss than realizing the truth that God is everywhere. No doubt, worldly education is also essential, but it should be under a certain limit; otherwise, it will corrupt the mind. When you are thirsty, is it not foolish to desire for the whole of river Ganga? A glass of water is enough to quench your thirst. Likewise, it is foolish to entertain excessive desires. Na Sreyo Niyamam Vina (virtue cannot be attained without discipline). Everything should be within a certain limit. Proper discipline has to be maintained in eating, earning and spending. Only then will your life be blissful.

Sports and games are essential to keep your body and mind in good shape. There is no point in having a healthy body if it is not used in the service of the society. Likewise, all your intelligence will be a waste if it is not used to discriminate between good and bad. Before undertaking any activity, enquire whether it is good or bad.

Do not spend all your lifetime in acquiring degrees. All your physical, mental and spiritual powers come from God. God is the giver and also the receiver. He is the one experienced. Understand the truth that everything, be it good or bad, happens according to the Divine Will. Do not develop craze for acquiring degrees, going abroad and amassing wealth. The true wealth is within you. Never forsake your motherland. For the simple reason that your mother is not beautiful, can you forsake her and consider another lady who is beautiful as your mother? Preferring a foreign land to one’s own motherland amounts to doing the same. Janani Janma Bhoomishcha Swargadapi Gareeyasi (the mother and the motherland are greater than even heaven). So, one should have love for one’s motherland. Develop desabhimanam (spirit of patriotism), not dehabhimanam (attachment to the body).

If you do not know the purpose of your birth, you will become a burden on mother earth. The purpose of human birth is to experience divinity. Try to understand your true nature. Do not compare yourself with others. Follow your own conscience and enjoy bliss. Do not imitate others. Imitation is the quailty of the weak-minded. Suppose, you come to know that someone has found a wallet on the road while passing through a particular locality. If you go to the same locality expecting to find another wallet on the road, you may even lose your own wallet! In order to progress in the field of education, imitation is desirable to a certain extent, but in all other fields imitation is deplorable. Imitation is weakness, creation is divine. Let your thoughts be sacred; the result will be sacred.

This Sports and Cultural Meet has given immense joy to one and all. Do not consider sports and games as merely an annual affair. Your life itself is a game. Each moment that you spend is a part of this game of life. Play this game in the true spirit and emerge victorious. Human life is highly valuable and noble. Do not squander it in mean activities. Life is a long journey, not a short cut. Don’t waste time. Time waste is life waste. Undertake righteous actions. Render service to the society. Strive for the welfare of your fellowmen. The Puranas affirm Paropakaraya Punyaya Papaya Parapeedanam (one attains merit by serving others and commits sin by hurting them). So, Help ever, Hurt never. This is the essence of the Mahabharata. The Kauravas always tried to hurt the Pandavas. Ultimately, not even one out of hundred brothers survived in the Kurukshetra war. Lord Krishna foretold this before the commence-ment of the war. He told Dharmaraja, “Do not give scope to worry. Follow your Dharma and do your duty sincerely. You will certainly emerge victorious.” He infused courage and confidence in Arjuna, saying,

The Kauravas ruined themselves because they forgot God and reposed their faith in the world. I do not advise you to forsake the world, but do not get totally immersed in worldly life. Have faith in God. Respect your parents and make them happy. The Vedas say, Matru Devo Bhava Pitru Devo Bhava (revere the mother and father as God). Do not hurt their feelings. Perform all your activities as an offering to God. Then you will certainly emerge victorious in all your endeavours.

You gave immense joy to thousands of people with your performance. However, pleasing the entire world without pleasing God is of no use. Even if the whole world is opposed to you, so long as God is with you, you need not fear. When God is with you, the whole world will follow you. When God is pleased with you, the whole world will be pleased with you. Therefore, let all your efforts be towards pleasing God.

Tirumalacharya, the author of Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhatam, used to live here. He had served in the royal court of Venkatagiri. He was a great scholar in Sanskrit and Sastras. He accompanied Bhagawan to Badrinath at the advanced age of ninety. Bhagawan asked him whether he was fit enough to undertake such an arduous journey. He affirmed that with Swami by his side, he would travel any length of journey without any discomfort.

He said, “Sai Matha, if You forsake me, my entire existence is a waste. If you accept me as Yours, it is as if I have everything at my command.” This was the state of Bhakti and surrender in which Tirumalacharya spent his life. He was constantly meditating on Sai Matha. He spent all his time in Swami’s proximity, whether it was here or in Brindavan. His Bhakti was beyond measure. Consequently, his end was peaceful.

He very well knew that his end was approaching and one day expressed his feeling. On being questioned as to how he knew about it, he replied, “Swami is telling me from within.” He went for his bath, brought some water, washed Swami’s feet and sipped a few drops of the sanctified water and said, ”Swami, my life has found fulfilment. Poornamada Poornamidam Poornat Poornamudachyate Poornasya Poornamadaya Poornameva Avashishyate (The whole is all That. The whole is all this. The whole was born out of the whole. Taking the whole from the whole, what re- mains is also the whole). Physically, mentally and spiritually. I have attained this wholesomeness. Now the time has come for me to merge in You.” Thereafter, he cast off his mortal coil and merged in Swami.

There is no shortage of men filled with Bhakti of this kind in the world. It is only because of the presence of such devotees that the world is able to sustain itself.

Wherever you may go, never forget truth. The only form of gratitude that you can express towards this university is by adhering to truth. Earn a good name to the Institute through your good conduct. That is all I expect from you.

You know Swami sent a few students to Bangalore for training in horse-riding and driving of gokarts. Lt.Gen. Mehta gave them all help and facilities. He arranged the horses and also the trainers. The trainers were astonished at the skill and dexterity displayed by the boys, who learnt the art of horse-riding within a short span of time. They extolled the character of the students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, saying they were knowledgeable, smart and intelligent. Such a good name is what Swami expects you to earn for yourself and the Institute.

There are a lot of people in the world who wear white dress, but they may have black hearts. Students of our Institute are pure both from inside and outside. Just as the dress they wear is white in colour, so also their minds are pure. That makes Swami very happy.

Swami is always near you, with you, in you and around you. You should all become men of character and propagate spiritual values. You know the state of the country now. There is strife, misery and turmoil everywhere. Strive to alleviate this misery. This is what Swami expects from you. Do not wait until the next sports event. Perform your daily activities with diligence and constantly contemplate on God. Sanctify your life with divine love.