Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

BY perseverance anything can be accomplished, says a Telugu proverb. The Geetha declares that by repeated practice one acquires the wisdom that ultimately leads to Thyaga (renunciation). Every activity in life is based on practice. Likewise, to realise the Divine, constant practice is necessary. Mere repetition of the lord's name is not enough. Devotion should express itself in social service. Any service done with social well-being in mind will become service to God.

"The one Self dwells in a myriad bodies like butter in milk, oil in thil seeds, fragrance in a flower, sweet juice in a fruit and fire in a faggot," says a Sanskrith sloka. This is the truth proclaimed by Vedantha. Today, modern youth, not realising this truth, are wasting their lives in every way.

Adhi Shankara demonstrated that underlying all forms, names and qualities, there is one basic reality which alone is real and changeless. This is the doctrine of Adhvaitha (Non-dualism). Out of a mango seed comes a tree with branches, leaves, flowers and fruit each with distinct forms and uses. But all the myriad things that have come from the seed owe their existence to the seed from which the tree arose. This truth was declared by Krishna in the Geetha when He said: "Beejam mam sarvabhoothanam" (I am the seed that is the origin of all beings). All things in the universe are manifestations of the One Divine.

Yesterday I related the story of how Adhi Shankara took to sanyasa at an early age and came to his guru, Govindha. The preceptor for Govindha was Gaudapadha. Gaudapadha distinguished the Riks in Rig-Veda which proclaimed the oneness of the Divine. Shankara received this teaching from Govindha and mastered all the Vedas and Shasthras by his fourteenth year. Earnest pursuit of knowledge leads to total understanding (Jnana).

One day, to test Shankara's mastery of the scriptures Govindha engaged Shankara in a philosophical debate. It was a debate between the preceptor and the disciple. Shankara was full of humility and reverence for the guru Hence, before entering on the debate he prostrated before the preceptor and prayed to him for permission to argue with him. With the guru's sanction he began his argument with amazing skill and demolished, with due scriptural authority, the propositions of the preceptor and presented his views in accordance with Vedhik authorities with due regard to worldly understanding and showed how the Nivritthi (inward) path could be harmonized with the Pravritthi (external) path.

Shankara was deeply perturbed over the conduct of great Vedhik scholars of those times who were concerned about making a money out of their scriptural scholarship than to gain spiritual wisdom from it. They forgot that knowledge should not be used for commercial purposes. Even today many students consider education as a means for earning a living. This is utterly wrong. One should work for a living. But knowledge should be sought for acquiring wisdom. Shankara sought to bring about a change in the use of scriptural knowledge.

Shankara was deeply distressed over the conduct of the scholars. His preceptor Govindha observed Shankara's sadness. Govindha's guru, Gaudapadha, also felt unhappy over this state of things. Both of them were elated at the sublime feelings of the young Shankara. They both realised that Shankara was best qualified to use the sacred teachings of the Vedas to combat the prevailing unrighteous and immoral tendencies in the society. They summoned Shankara-and told him "Child! There is no need for you to stay here any longer. Leave for Kasi tomorrow. You must meet the great pandiths in Kasi and propagate the doctrine to the whole world. Nobody else can carry out this mission."

Students today should realise that they are the most powerful instruments for rectifying all the evils rampant in our society today.

With the permission of the two preceptors, Shankara set out for Kasi. No modern means of transport were available in those days. Shankara had to walk all the way to Benares. The sixteen year-old lad gathered his disciples and left for Kasi. On the way he saw a pandith sitting under a tree and cramming the rules of grammar. At that moment, he began composing the famous hymn. "Bhaja Govindham." (Swami recited the opening stanza from Bhaja Govindham). "You dull-witted fellow! Why do you immerse yourself in the rules of grammar? They will not save you when death knocks at the door. Instead, worship Govindha!" At the time of death nothing and nobody will follow the departing soul when it leaves the body. Only the remembrance of the name of the Lord will keep you company at all times. Shankara advised the pandith to chant the name of the Lord instead of conning the rules of grammar.

After teaching him this lesson, Shankara proceeded to Kasi with his disciples. Shankara's teachings were spreading far and wide. The of Benares arranged for a grand assembly of scholars in the holy city.

Many scholars had gathered there in all their regalia. Nothing was lacking in terms of ostentation at that assembly. Shankara entered in a simple way, wearing a dhothi covering upto his knees and a towel over his shoulder. On seeing him, the pandiths seemed to feel that it was all a joke. Some pandiths remarked: "He does not even wear a rudhraksha mala (a garland of beads). Apandith should have an imposing figure. What is it that this stripling can tell us?" They addressed him thus: "We have come to know that you are proficient in all the Vedas and Shasthras, an authority on grammar and logic and a great exponent of the Adhvaitha doctrine."

Shankara then sang the Bhaja Govindham songs, pointing out the transitory nature of material wealth and exhorting all to give up worldly desires. He declared that pandiths should be equal minded and should give up the desire for wealth, which is the result of one's actions. "Give up this thirst for money. Develop the thirst for God," declared Shankara in strident terms. Then he gave a superb exposition of the metaphysics of Adhvaitha.

All the pandiths and their disciples were astonished at the performance of the young Shankara. They realised that here was one who was not only a great teacher but one who practised what he taught. This unity in thought, word and deed is the mark of greatness. Shankara was the very embodiment of unity and purity in thought, speech and action.

Many pandiths got up and plied Shankara with questions. He answered them all with perfect ease. He declared that Adhvaitha means oneness of the spirit and awareness of this oneness is true Jnana (wisdom). Spiritual wisdom alone is true wisdom. Pandiths today, he declared, are not having this realisation.

Shankara pointed out that though names and forms may be many, the Self is one only. That Self resides in everyone's heart. He exhorted the pandiths to purify their hearts and follow the dictates of the conscience. Shankara made it clear that creeds may vary but God is one.

Shankara called upon the pandiths to be content with moderate incomes and not hanker after riches. Vast knowledge and petty desires go ill together.

Students should realise how a young lad born in Kaladi brought greatness to Kerala and Bharath.

Students should cultivates human values like love, compassion, righteousness and truth and become truly human. Every student should strive to lead an ideal life like Shankara.

In this context, I should like to mention that in Bhaja Govindham Shankara commends renunciation of all worldly attachments. People may feel that Swami is telling the students these unworldly teachings. This does not worry me, because what I am saying is the Truth. Is renunciation acquired so easily?. No. People who have been listening for years have not changed to the slightest extent. To imagine that a single discourse is going to make a big change is fanciful. Only a fortunate few experience such transformation. If real renunciation is promoted in anyone, there can be no greater blessing than that.

Nearness to God will inspire the spirit of renunciation even without one being conscious of it. In that renunciation lies fulfillment. And one's life is redeemed.