Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

The Bliss of Realisation is not an article that one can give another or which one can receive from another. Brahmananda is not transferable. This Truth has to be first accepted by every one. For, what has to be earned by one's own effort is nowadays sought for, from others. This is mere waste of time. The Atma or Self is holy; it is full; it is free. So, each one is holy, full and free. Know this and you are free. Feel it and you are full. Live it and you are holy. But, through sheer ignorance of this fact, man imposes on himself sacrilege, incompleteness and dependence and he laments his fate and destiny. This is indeed behaviour to be ashamed of! The human being is not simply this conglomeration of the five elements that form the material body we see. It contains the mind, prone to resolution and Irresolution crisscrossed by wishes, desires and wants; it contains also what are called the 'inner instruments' - the intellect, the ego, the levels of chitta or consciousness etc. These compose the Sookshma Sarira of the individual, the subtle body. Also there is another entity in man, beyond the dual regions of thought, beyond the ups and downs of birth, death, and growth, a 'body' referred to as the Kaarana Sarira, or the 'causal'. It is not an effect, but, a cause. That is the image of God in man, the Divine Spark.

When you sit before a picture of the Divine or stand before an idol, in reverent adoration, you usually close your eyes, in order to have Darshan of the Form! Imagine a person closing his eyes to get a clearer vision! This is the Darshan the Bharatiyas crave for the vision that can be won by insight, rather than by outer view. Many seekers, especially in the West, believe that God is in some Heaven or some Height in outer Space and point to those regions when they speak of God. But, Indians believed in the authenticity of the experience of Rishis recorded in the Vedas and by later seers; they had the faith that their own Reality and the Reality of the universe are identical, that the Universe is the Body of God, who is Eternal, Pure, Intelligent, and Absolute. Many have visualised that this is the Truth.

Religious texts of all faiths have but one aim - to develop the Inner-vision and through cleansing the Consciousness. While other religions proclaim that their Scriptures have been composed according to the directions of God, the Vedas have declared themselves as the authentic Breath of God Himself. It is a pity that the children of India are neglecting this precious heritage, that has such profound and unique validity.

It is a hard task to cleanse the consciousness only by the discharge of one's duties. The Grace of God is also essential for this consummation. When Self-confidence is lost and the Grace of God is absent, all human efforts will lead him along the downward path; from that moment, fall is inevitable. One must also remember that unless society has peace, one cannot live in peace. Therefore, one must ensure social peace, so that one can have the blessings of peace, for oneself.

The fruit of all Sadhana is the achievement of the knowledge of the Atma as one's real core. In order to help the Sadhaka to attain this result, it is necessary to impose some hard rules and limitations. An illness cannot be conquered by mere drugs alone; a tight regimen of food, drink, and habits is also to be prescribed and followed. All are 'ill' with Bhavaroga, perpetual journey from birth to death and from death to birth. Repetition of, the Name is the drug; but, this must be accompanied by the regimen, Disciplinary Limits and Laws. 'Na sreyo niyamam vinaa' - No spiritual progress without regulated disciplined lives. A song is pleasant to the ear only when there is a consistent tune and proper timing - a raga and a system of taal. So, even for your spiritual sadhana through these Seva units, some rules of discipline are essential and they have to be strictly observed. You should not deviate from them.

Man takes to the easier, smoother path and lands himself in disappointment and despair. He does not identify the Madhava in his manava-hood, the Divine in his human-ness; he does not realise that society is the body of God; he does not respect the heritage that, has, come down for him from the sages of this land. He moves about as an animal, regardless of the Divinity in him and around him. Imitation has become the order of the day; it is an insidious infection. The imitator becomes the bondsman of the person he imitates. Surely, this is not the way of life for self-respecting people. Look at the tiny seed; it has much greater self-respect than these persons who borrow their thoughts, attitudes, likes and dislikes from others. The seed is hidden in soil; but, it does not become `soil'. It is fed with water; but, it does not turn into water. It is given manure; but, it does not change into manure. It preserves its individuality, in spite of all the forces that operate around it. It sprout`, grows into a sapling and a tree, according to its own, innate nature. Learn from the seed this great lesson and you can be saved from the evils of 'intimation'. Mix with people; but, do not give up your uniqueness. Benefit by Satsang and by association with the good and the great. But, be yourself, your own true Self.

The Sathya Sai Seva Organisation has been working all these years through its various Units. It is necessary to assess now what benefit it has conferred on the individual as well as on Society. Members and Office-bearers must endeavour ceaselessly to promote the Ananda of others, to improve the standard of life of others and to ensure peace and mutual good-will among others. They must utilise all their skill and resources for this purpose. Those of you who have taken up office must lead others in this effort; when you simply preach and admonish, others will have no enthusiasm to work. Let bygones be bygones. There is no use worrying over the past. From now on, Office-bearers who have assembled here as delegates must be ready to set examples, themselves, of earnest, intelligent, Sevaks and Sadhakas.

Of course, it is very easy to drive men on from behind; but, leading them on from the front-line is highly desirable, as a Sadhana. Office bearers must take the lead in Nagarsankirtan; then, the others too will follow and get inspired. For what reason is Nagarsankirtan prescribed as an item in the programme of the Units? Is it for-spreading a cult? No. It is for your own good, so that, you may start the day with Love, with Bhakti and Shraddha and Seva, so that you may pay your debt for having been born in this sacred land of Tyaga and Yoga.

Of what avail is a life spent in selfish pursuits? When is man to yearn for and enjoy the bliss of the transcendent? Is it not obligatory for man to express gratefulness to Nature and Nature's- God for all the benefits and thrill he derives from them? He pays tax to the municipal authorities for the little house he occupies, for the electric current he uses, for the water that flows in the taps in his dwelling place etc. But, who provided him the energy, the space and the water? The gratitude that you have to show God is named `ball' in the Vedas. It is usually taken to mean `sacrifice of some animal', but, how can the killing of an animal make up for the absence of, gratitude? Bali means tax and this is the more appropriate meaning for the Vedic word, the correct one. How is this tax to be paid? By three modes of behaviour - fearing sin, loving God and serving brother man. Sathya Sai has nothing to do with money; he does not concern himself with your riches. He is concerned with your Gunas, your virtues and the quality of your lives. For carrying on the activities of a Bhajan Mandali, Satsang, Study Circle etc., why should funds be necessary? For Bal Vikas classes too there is no need for money; there are the Gurus and there are the children. Lessons can start in an atmosphere of Love and Seva. When money is on hand, pride envy, and greed will increase; when these, afflict man, vices multiply. Spiritual riches will decline. Virtue is the best treasure; good conduct is the best form of wealth; Sadhana is the highest of professions; Seva is the noblest of ideals. Though Lord Vishnu has Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth as part of Him, it is said He is a mendicant with a begging bowl-clamouring for the alms of Love from every human heart. It is resolved, in this Conference that, members and office bearers of Units should on no account collect donations, but, the task of providing money for approved purposes will be the duty of the State Trusts. The Samiti is the thumb; the Mahila Vibhag is the Forefinger; the Seva Dal is the middle finger; the Bal Vikas is the ring-finger; the Bhajan Mandali is the little finger. All are fingers of one hand. So, there should not arise any ill feeling between these; they should all co-operate and help each other. If, any one of these develops egoism, it will harm itself and others. Egoists is the crown of all vices. Be always in the attitude of servants; that is the best training to become masters. Every one must feel equally entitled to the Grace that can be won by Seva. Every one of you must ready to sacrifice everything, even your lives, for the welfare of those in distress.

The age of Seva Dal members was hitherto fixed as between 18 and 35. But, now, this has been revised. The age can be anywhere from 16 and above. Why should we deny the chance to any one or discard any one as too old? The skill and enthusiasm, the discipline and sense of duty of every one can be put to some good use. Seva Dal members have to observe many disciplinary rules, like the sexes keeping away from each other, in all activities of Seva. It is best that the Seva activities of our Organisation are kept free from contact or involvement with other Seva Organisations in the country. For, other Organisations do not have the same strict rules and regulations regarding many matters. The environment which marks their service programmes and the atmosphere created thereby may not be congenial to the Seva of this Organisation. The Seva Dal has to plan and perform Seva activities on its own, in this way, they can also avoid complications that may hamper work.

Units of the Organisation are taking up, more and more service activities in the villages. The villages have preserved, at least to some extent, the ideals of Devotion to God, Brotherhood of Man, Compassion to the Disabled etc. You have to direct them on the methods of sanitation and help them for literacy and means of self-reliant livelihood, supplementing their meagre incomes. You have to serve the villages during festivals and fairs; also during droughts, floods, fires and other calamities. The problems of people in cities and towns are much more difficult and urgent. They are fast losing hold of all things that distinguish man from animals. Morality, virtue, mercy, charity, brotherhood, Love - these are becoming rarer and rarer in individual and social life. Fear, suspicion, rivalry, greed - these are making city life a nightmare. So, there is greater need of Seva in the Cities. Villagers too are catching the infection from the city-dwellers and from the books, newspapers and films that the City people produce. So, by means of Satsang and the influence of your own lives, you have to modify the habits and behaviour, the ways of thinking, of City dwellers, so that they may have less fear and anxiety and more peace and contentment. You have to plan out a programme and dedicate yourself for fulfilling it.

Another point: We are having now in our Bhajan Mandalis participants from all Religions. The Sathya Sai Religion is the Religion in all Religions; it accepts all religions as authentic, for each strives to cleanse the Consciousness, so that the Divine may be revealed therein. Encourage them to share in the joy of Bhajan by singing their own prayers. Older devotees must inspire the newer ones by their Love and their enthusiastic support. On account of the enormous development of activities and the multiplication of responsibilities, it has become necessary to give some new people a few responsibilities and some older people changed functions and positions.

But, whatever happens, you belong to Swami and Swami belongs to you. This fact shall not alter. Install this belief in your hearts. Watch attentively for the alterations and additions made in the rules during this Conference and observe them strictly in your dealings. Engage yourselves to the fullest extent possible, with sincere enthusiasm, in the duties cast upon you.