Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

EMBODIMENTS of Divine Love! For the development human personality, the development of the mind and the refinement of the heart are essential. All actions of man originate in the mind. The mind functions through thoughts. Hence, thoughts are the root came of man's actions. Humanness is the outcome of thoughts. When the thoughts are pure, the mind is also pure. With a purified mind, man's conduct becomes pure. Thin, for the purity or impurity of one's actions, thoughts are primarily responsible. It is easy for man to stand but it is difficult for him to run. But, in the case of the mind, staying still is difficult, but running is easy. This is the difference between man and his mind. The mind runs about swiftly. This is based on the power of the thoughts. When a stone is cast in a well, a series of ripples start from the point where the stone fell. From there, the ripples go upto the edge of the well and cover the entire well. In the same manner, when the stone of thought is cast on the lake of the mind, the ripples started by it fill all the senses and limbs in the body. When the thought is a pure and sacred one, the ripples emanating in the mind fill all the senses and limbs in the body; from head to toe, with pure reactions. This pure thought, entering the eye, purifies the vision. The same thought entering the ear, makes it listen to sacred sounds. Entering the mouth, this pure thought brings about purity in speech. Permeating the hands, the sacred thought induces them to engage themselves in sacred acts. The sacred ripples from the mind entering the feet, induce them to go on pilgrimages. If the thoughts are impure, they travel in ripples to the senses and induce to indulge in unholy acts.

Hence, the well-known saying "The mind is made up of thoughts and aberrations." It follows that people should not give room for bad thoughts, bad associations or bad relationships.

All that is good or bad in man is based upon his good or bad behaviour. This conduct is traced to the mind, which itself is dependent on thoughts. Therefore, to have good thoughts you must cultivate good company Good thoughts appear small in the beginning like one's shadow at noon. But as the day advances, the shadow lengthens. Likewise, the influence of the good thoughts also grows as time passes. In due course it acquires a magnificent form. It attains a highly sacred place. It confers divine bliss and redeems one's entire life.

Thus, sathsanga (company of the good) is supremely important. Good company, by promoting good thoughts, leads to the highest achievements in life. Bad company, on the contrary, is like the shadow caused by the morning sun. At dawn, the shadow produced by the sun is long. As the morning progresses, the shadow gets shorter and shorter. Ultimately, it gets limited to one's feet. This is how the effects of bad company operate. At the beginning the gains seem to be large. But as time goes on, the gains vanish. Human values get destroyed.

The power of thoughts is immense. Thoughts survive unchanged the death of a man. Therefore, everyone should foster noble thoughts. Bad thoughts should not be allowed to enter the mind. Bad company should be avoided as much as possible. The reason is: For Yogis meditation is important. For those who wish to sacrifice, wealth is important. For devotees, singing (poem) is important. For the sick, medicine is essential. The company of the sick will make you sick. The company of Yogis will make you a Yogi. Through yoga, you realise the Divine. Through yoga you control the mind. Hence, the importance of Sathsanga. What is Sath-sanga (the company of the good)? Does it refer to the company of persons performing bhajans or to a group of devotees? Or does it refer to association with persons engaged in social service activities? No. Sath refers to that which is everlasting. What is it that is permanent? It is Divinity. Sath-sangam means cultivating the company of the Divine. Where is the Divine? It is within each body. The body consists of Angas (limbs). These limbs are associated with Jangam (the Life-Force). The Life-Force exercises the power of discrimination to determine what is right and what is wrong. Today, this discriminating faculty is not used properly, with the result man becomes a victim of the evil forces of Sangam (lust, anger, greed, pride, etc).

Sath-Sanga really means the company of Sath (good). In another sense, good company means the company of good thoughts, good feelings. So company does not refer to individuals. For friendship or enmity, one's thoughts are the root cause. Who is an enemy? Who is a friend? One's thoughts are one's friends or enemies. Hence it is said- "The mind is the cause of mankind's bondage or liberation."

What does Samadhi mean? Is it a state of trance? No. Is it a state of emotional utterance? No. Is it absorption in one's self?. No. When people refer to a man in trance or in unconscious state as one experiencing Samadhi, they are thoroughly mistaken. It may be a case of hysteria or of epilepsy. It may be the result of some strong emotion, or one caused by excitement. The true meaning of Samadhi is: it is a state of union with Sath. Sama (equal) + Dhi (mind), equal mindedness is Samadhi. The proper term is Samadhi, not Samadhi. To treat alike pleasure and pain, heat and cold, darkness and light is true Samadhi. This is the quality of Sath. It has no pleasure or pain. It is all-pervading. (Bhagavan recited a poem in which the Gopikas describe Krishna as the Unknowable Infinite Divine, who is inscrutable and whose ways are baffling). The question is often asked: "Where is God?" And the usual answer is that "He is in Vaikunttha or in Svarga (Heaven), or in Kailasha." Not at all. The Lord has nothing to do in these places. The Lord is in Naraka (Hell). As the denizens of Hell are perpetually suffering and calling out to God, the Lord remains there. It is among those who seek peace that the Lord dwells. A hospital is needed to tend the sick. Where there is no ailment there is no need for a hospital. Likewise, the Divine doctor goes to those who are in pain and distress. "Vaidhyo Narayano Harih" (Narayana or Hari is the doctor). Therefore, where there is humanity there is the Divine.

The Divine descends to the earth in human form, declare the scriptures, to allay the sufferings of those who are sick of body or of mind. Man today seeks to have a vision of the supra-human transcendental Being. This is sheer folly, because as long as one has the feeling that he is a human being he can aspire to see God only in human form and is not entitled to see His transcendental form. When one transcends the sense of his humanness, he acquires the privilege to envision the Transcendental Divinity. That is the reason why Rama and Krishna came as Avatars in human form. To claim that when you close your eyes and meditate you see an effulgent light is only a delusion. Them are innumerable things that are not visible to your naked eyes and which are beyond your ken. How do you expect to see them or know them? You know only the human form. So, at the outset, try to understand humanness. You must understand the Life Principle that animates the human. From the Life-Principle you should seek to enquire into the nature of the Divine.

Dheha + Atma is Dhehatma (body + Spirit). Jeeva + Atma is Jeevatma (Life + Spirit). Parama + Atma is Paramatma (the Supreme + Self). Although Dheha (the body), Jeeva (the individual) and Param (the Supreme) are different terms, Atma (Spirit) is common and is equally present in all the three. The Atma is all-pervading. That is termed Sath (Being). It may be likened to sugar which retains its sweetness in whatever way it may be used. Chith (Awareness) is subject to change and movement. Even if it is carried to a high level, it rends to come down. When you mix sugar in water, you have neither sugar not water, but only syrup. When Sath, which represents the Divine and Chith, which represents the Life Principle come together, you have Anandha (Bliss). This is Sath-Chith-Anandha, It is like an ocean in which a myriad creatures come into existence and disappear like waves. Their names and forms vary but essentially they are the same as the ocean. They are all living beings which have emerged from Sath-Chith-Anandha.

When I begin my discourse with the words Divyatma svaruupulara (Embodiments of Divine Atma), I intend to convey that the same Divine Spirit is in every one of you. Just as the ocean, the wave and the foam contain the same water, the Spirit that is present in the body; in the individual being and in the Supreme is one and the same. To experience this spiritual oneness, your way of life should be holy. This can be accomplished only by entertaining sacred thoughts which lead to good conduct.

The Divine can be experienced by human beings only as manifested in the human form. Rama and Krishna are worshipped in the forms painted by Ravi Varma. If the Kodhanda (Rama's bow) and the flute (in the hands of the Krishna figure) are taken away, only the simple human figures remain. The human being is referred to as Nara. Ra means that which is perishable. Na means Not. Nara refers therefore to that which is imperishable in man, the Atma (Spirit), Narayana, a manifestation of the Divine Spirit. Consequently, sorrow should be alien to him. He should shed no fear.

Deem yourself as Divine. Live with this firm conviction. The divinity in every being should be revered. You have to recognise unity in diversity. "Beings are many, but breath is one." This may be experienced by everyone in the process of inhaling and exhaling. (Svami demonstrated how with every breath, everyone repeats the manthra, So-Ham - " He am I" or "I am God"). Do not give room to any bad thoughts. The body is a temple of the Divine and no evil thoughts should be allowed to enter it. Man should strive to reach the sublime, regardless of difficulties, and troubles.

Embodiments of the Divine! Develop good thoughts and feelings of sacrifice. Cherish divine spiritual thoughts. Cultivate friendliness. To hail God as father and mother and not to have fraternal feelings towards one and all is treason to God. You should cultivate unity as the children of God and live in harmony in the company of the good and the godly. Share the nectar of love that is in you with one and all. Do not bear ill-will towards anyone. Speak sweetly to everyone. Chant the Lord's name which will help you to cross the ocean of mundane existence.