Bhagawan visits
Book Trust, Images,
Report and
Discourse , 24 Aug 2007
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source: sssbpt.org
It was a very memorable day, a momentous occasion for the
staff members of Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust,
young and old alike since Bhagawan stepped again in the
portals of the Book Trust office after a gap of six years on
the morning of 24th August 2007 at 8.50 a.m. The building was
inaugurated by Bhagawan in the year 2001 on 23rd August.
Bhagawan gave a Discourse, watched a video presentation on
Book Trust, graciously went around various departments of the
office and blessed the staff members.
Bhagawan was received traditionally with Poornakumbham, Veda
chanting and Bhajans as He arrived at the central hall of the
office. After a few Bhajans, the Convener of the Trust, Sri
K.S. Rajan addressed the staff members. In his opening
remarks, Sri Rajan observed that they were all fortunate to be
here on this day. Bhagawan has set foot in this building on
this day, and it will become very prosperous in all respects.
Bhagawan’s message is being spread to every nook and corner of
the world through the medium of “Sanathana Sarathi”, Books and
Audiovisuals. He declared that this was all possible only due
to Bhagawan’s grace. This visit of Bhagawan would be written
in golden letters in the annals of the Book Trust. Sri Rajan
concluded His speech with a prayer to Bhagawan to address the
staff members so that they could cherish His words in their
hearts and act accordingly. Bhagawan in all His compassion
gave a Discourse,
full text of which follows:
All those students who are working here are discharging their
duties with steadfastness and devotion. It is because of them
that this Book Stall has developed. It is not enough if you
merely bring out books, you should put into practice what is
there in the books. You should understand and assimilate all
the teachings that are contained in the books and practise
them. Pustaka (book) and Mastaka (head) should be in harmony.
What the world needs today is service. We should love
everybody. Love All Serve All. This is what we are supposed to
do. Whatever work we may do, we should do it with the feeling
that we are doing the work of God. There is no place in this
world where God is not present. He is all-pervasive. Never
doubt that God is here and is not there. He is everywhere. God
is in you, with you, above you, below you and around you.
Whatever work you do, whatever happens is only due to the Will
of God, and not by your own effort. (Showing His handkerchief)
Here you see a cloth. This cloth is woven with a bundle of
threads. The threads are made out of cotton. So, the process
is first cotton, thread and then thirdly cloth. Similarly, you
are not one person but three. The one you think you are, the
one others’ think you are and the one you really are.
There are three processes involved in writing a book – the
person who writes, the people who read and the person who
prints it. Do not lay importance on just bringing out books.
The books we bring out should broaden the vision of the
people. We should not give room to narrow-mindedness. The
books should help people develop broad feelings. We should
publish books which are essential for everybody. But money is
not important, morality is important. Money comes and goes,
morality comes and grows. We should develop morality. What is
the use of writing and reading books without putting them into
practice? We should be able to practice at least one
principle. There may be many items in the plate, but by merely
repeating the names of those items, will our hunger be
satiated? Take at least one item and eat. In the same manner
there are many books. People are writing about the divinity of
Swami in many books. But are you putting into practice at
least one principle contained in them? No. What is the use of
reading books if you do not practice? You may listen to ten
teachings, but at least one of them you should be able to
practice. Only then will we derive the necessary strength to
carry on our lives.
Our Rajan is putting in lot of efforts to develop the Book
Trust. He is doing much more than what is expected of a person
of his age. Students are also cooperating and working in the
right direction to make it conducive for the smooth
functioning of the organisation. You may take into
consideration any workplace. Progress is possible only when
there is cooperation. Cooperation should be such that there
should be relationship between heart to heart. Whatever work
we are doing, we should first understand it thoroughly.
All are one, be alike to everyone. All should work with unity.
One may write the book, another may print it and yet another
may bind the book. But there should be cooperation and unity
between all the departments. Only when all work in unity can
we get the desired result. When can you develop unity? You can
develop unity when there is purity. How can you develop
purity? If there are any negative feelings in the mind, purity
is not possible. First of all, there should be unity. Where
there is unity, there is purity. Where there is purity,
divinity will manifest. So, first of all develop unity and
purity. Then you will attain the grace of divinity. If you
want to attain divinity, first of all you should develop unity
and purity. Therefore, I exhort you to develop unity and work
together – persons who are writing and those who are printing
them. What I see is not the Pustaka (book) that you print, I
see your Mastaka (head). Our Rajan brings so many things to Me
that are printed by the Trust. But I am not satisfied with any
of them. I see the purity of heart of the person who has
written the book. Hence, purify your heart in the first
instance. A cooked dish will be tasty only when the vessel in
which it is prepared is clean. Cleanliness of the vessel is
very important. In the same manner, purify your heart. Any
number of changes may take place in the world, but the heart
should not change. Here when I refer to the heart, it does not
mean physical heart. I am referring to the spiritual heart.
Spiritual heart means divinity. Divinity is referred to as
Atma.
God has no specific form, but He is all-pervasive. He is in
you, with you, below you, above you and around you. The Atma
is present wherever you see. But when there are passing clouds
you will not be able to visualise the Atma. Moon is always
present in the sky, but you will not be able to see the moon
when it is covered by clouds. You cannot deny the presence of
the moon because it is covered by clouds. If you want to see
the moon, you have to wait for some time. You can see the
moon, once the clouds move away. The Veda declares, Chandrama
Manaso Jataha Chaksho Suryo Ajayata (the moon was born out of
the mind and the sun out of the eyes of the Supreme Being).
The Atma is shining like moon in the sky of our heart. But
sometimes, it is covered by the clouds of thoughts and
desires. In some seasons, you find thick clouds. When there
are thick clouds, you will not be able to see the moon. But do
not deny the existence of moon just because you are unable to
see. In the same manner, God is present in the heart of
everyone. You are unable to see the Atma because of your
thoughts and desires. So, you should exercise control over
your desires. Less luggage more comfort makes travel a
pleasure.You can experience immense happiness if you reduce
the luggage of your desires. It is because of desires, you are
unable to see the Atma. Therefore, reduce your desires. This
is referred to as Vairagya in Vedanta. What is meant by
Vairagya? It is reducing your desires. You should not have
more and more desires. Our body grows with every day. But our
life-span decreases day by day. As the body grows, our
life-span also decreases. Hence, it will be very beneficial to
us if we reduce our desires. You can always be happy and
cheerful when you reduce your desires. You may read any number
of books and listen to many sacred histories, but first and
foremost you must reduce your desires. Only then can you find
benefit out of them. Everyone has desires, but some are
necessary and some are not. When we wake up in the morning
what is that we do? We get up from the bed with a lot of
desires.
Oh man! You struggle hard in life merely for the sake of
filling your belly. You acquire myriad types of knowledge from
various fields. Examine and enquire for yourself what great
happiness you have achieved by spending all the time from dawn
to dusk in acquiring worldly knowledge and earning wealth
while forgetting God.
(Telugu Poem)
Forgetting God, whatever you may do is a mere waste of time.
You should always keep God as your goal. God is not present in
a far off land. He is present everywhere – in you, with you,
below you, above you and around you. Hence, we should never
forget God. People may say anything, you may face any number
of difficulties, but you should never forget God. Only when
you have such pure, unsullied and steady devotion can you be
called a true devotee. You cannot call yourself a devotee if
you do not have steadiness of mind. Your devotion should be
steady like an ocean which never reduces in quantity. On the
one hand, the water gets evaporated from the ocean and on the
other hand, rivers merge in it, but still the ocean maintains
all its characteristics. Our heart should be filled with
devotion like an ocean. We should not entertain the waves of
desires and malign it. Any number of waves may arise, but the
ocean maintains its pristine state. Hence, keep your heart
always pure, steady and selfless. Our Rajan is putting in a
lot of effort. He is bringing about many changes in the
publication of books. For the 80th Birthday, many good books
were brought out.
Never entertain any desires. Whatever you do, do it as an
offering to God. Sarva Karma Bhagavad Preetyartham (do all
actions to please God). That is the sign of true devotion. Do
not give rise to differences like this is my work, that is
Swami’s work and yet another work pertains to public. Think
all work is God’s work. One who writes the book, one who
prints and one who reads the book, all are one. All are one.
Never entertain any differences. Only when you do not have
differences, can you develop steady devotion. Your devotion
should always be steady; it should not waver moment to moment.
When you have a wavering mind, everything will keep changing.
Do not give scope to a wavering mind. Desires and thoughts may
arise, but we should utilise our power of discrimination. Is
it good or bad? Is it right or wrong? When your conscience
tells something is right, follow it. Always follow your
conscience. It is like a traffic signal. Follow it
conscientiously. When your conscience tells something is
right, follow it scrupulously, irrespective of what others
say. Let people talk whatever they want, but we should remain
steady in our mind. Greatness does not lie in bringing out
books, but we should understand the essence contained in the
books. We should bear in mind the essence in the books.
Without matter, it cannot be called a book. Without any
subject, you cannot get matter. What type of subjects you
should choose? You should choose those subjects which are
related to the heart. If you do not go by the dictates of the
heart, you will not be successful.
An author should write good books which are beneficial to one
and all. We should not print unnecessary things. There are
many books brought out in the outside world which gives rise
to worldly desires. What is happening to all those books?
Nobody is reading them. Whatever subject is pleasing to the
heart should be the subject matter of books. They are true and
eternal. We should perform actions without deviating from the
path of Sathya (truth) and Dharma (righteousness). Sathya and
Dharma are not different from each other. Sathyannasti Paro
Dharma (There is no Dharma greater than adherence to Truth).
Sathya and Dharma are one and the same. Without Dharma there
cannot be Sathya and without Sathya, there cannot be Dharma.
They are interdependent and are like mirror images. We can
achieve anything when we have Sathya and Dharma on our side.
We should always keep Sathya and Dharma as our goal. Then we
will certainly achieve our goal. Now, I cannot explain in
detail any further due to time constraint. I wanted to tell
you something related to publication of books and nothing
else. We should publish only good books. Good books that are
beneficial to one and all. You have heard Bhagawan’s
Discourses, read many books. At least from now onwards put
them into practice.
After blessing the distribution of Prasadam to all assembled
and accepting the Arati, Bhagawan left for Sai Kulwant Hall at
10.15 a.m.