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Click on
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Mahashivatri Discourse -
Divine Discourse on
Mahashivatri Day by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
23rd
Feb. 2006 |
|
Prasanthi Nilayam |
Divine Discourse on 23rd Feb.
[quick
download discourse text file - Right click & save]
by
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Note:
Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba
on this SBOIwebsite/group are unedited, authentic & only
sourced from the official Sai baba Org.
"I know everything about everyone"
Shivaratri Photographs 1. :
Images from Maha
Shivaratri 2006-27th Feb. including Photos of materialization of a
Shiva Lingam.
2.
For more new pictures from Shivaratri
click here
Click on the link below to read the latest
Mahashivatri Discourse -
Divine Discourse on
Mahashivatri Day by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
CONTROL OF SENSES IS THE REAL SADHANA
Embodiments of Love!
My blessings to you all. I am happy that you all have studied here right
from the Primary School stage up to the 12th standard and obtained good
marks and earned good name for yourselves. No doubt, you were all well
behaved with good character up to the Primary School stage. But after you
left the Primary School you yourself can imagine what change has come
about in you. As long as you were in the Primary School, you had developed
many good qualities like love, compassion, kindness and joy. You were all
moving like brothers with mutual love and affection. Your speech, your
play, your songs were all full of sweetness. But, the moment you joined
the Higher Secondary School, the quality of purity in your thoughts, words
and deeds deteriorated. I am not saying that all the boys are like that.
It is only a few boys who took to wrong ways and are spoiling their mind.
You can judge for yourself how pure is your mind. Humanness consists of
five components – the gross body, mind, intellect, consciousness and the
senses. If a human being is to attain liberation, he has to cleanse his
mind first. It is a serious mistake to desire for that which does not
belong to him. Whenever the mind desires for something, one has to enquire
first whether the particular object belongs to him or someone else. When
you know for sure that it belongs to someone else, you must be careful to
divert your mind from that object. The mind has to be kept absolutely pure
and sacred. One should not taint the mind with the impurities of conflict
and agitation. You all have to develop such kind of Jnana, right from this
early age. Unfortunately, today you are all spoiling your life by
cultivating desires for all and sundry things. This is all madness and
delusion. Whatever you do, you must do it with a sense of dedication and
surrender to God. All the work you undertake must be carried out with this
spirit. Sarva karma Bhagavad preetyartham (do all actions to please God).
In fact, what you think to be yours is not yours. First and foremost
enquire into yourself, “Who am I?” The entire universe, right from the
microcosm to the macrocosm, is permeated by Divinity. Sugar, sand, an ant,
a mosquito or an elephant – all are Embodiments of Divinity. God is
assuming all these forms like the different characters in a drama. There
is nothing in this universe which is not permeated by God. Everything in
this universe is God. The entire creation is an Embodiment of Divinity. In
fact, He dons all the characters in this cosmic drama. All dialogues and
songs are His only. Yet, the characters He dons appear to be different.
Hence, whatever we do, whatever we see and whatever we say – everything is
God. One has to realise this truth and conduct himself accordingly.
Unfortunately, today some people take to wrong ways due to the effect of
bad qualities, bad practices, bad thoughts and bad looks. Whomever you
come across, treat them as Embodiments of Divinity. Whatever you say, it
must reflect Divinity. When you conduct yourself in such a manner, that
itself is Mukti (liberation). One has to cleanse his five senses. One
should conduct himself in such a manner that neither he hurts others nor
is hurt by others. The words you make use of must be sacred. You should
not covet others’ property or develop a desire for it. One has to
cultivate faith in the unity of Divinity. Everything is Divine.
Unfortunately, some boys are not able to develop such universal outlook.
They are languishing in a feeling of separateness. They distinguish
between people as “mine” and “thine”. The ancient history of India is
replete with instances of the ill-effects of such divisive tendencies.
You all know about the history of Kauravas and Pandavas in the great epic
Mahabharata. The Kauravas were one hundred in number and were the sons of
King Dhritarashtra. The Pandavas were five in number. They were the sons
of Pandu, the younger brother of King Dhritarashtra. There ensued a fierce
battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. But, who is at fault in this
battle? In fact, Dhritarashtra and Pandu, both were the sons of the same
father. They were brothers. Their kingdom was one. But, their thoughts and
aspirations were different. A malicious desire for annexing the entire
kingdom for themselves on the part of the Kauravas resulted in evil
thoughts and divisive tendencies. Similarly, in the Ramayana there were
two brothers – Vali and Sugriva. They were also brothers born to the same
father. But, some unfortunate and selfish interests on their part resulted
in a fierce battle between the brothers. While Vali the valiant king was
enjoying regal comforts in the city of Kishkindha, his younger brother
Sugriva had to languish in the hills and forests.
There is no use doing Japa and Tapa for months and years without giving up
divisive tendencies. Such Tapas converts itself into mere Tamas. Several
people give up their Sadhana in the middle with a sense of frustration and
despair, thinking that God is not merciful enough to reveal Himself before
them in spite of doing Japa for long years. If you wish to have the vision
of God, first and foremost you must develop a sense of oneness with God.
In fact, your own mind is an Embodiment of Divinity. People often
question, “Where is God?” “Who is God?, etc.” I would say, “Your mind is
God.” It is said, Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandhamokshayo (mind is the
cause for bondage and liberation of man). Both bondage and liberation
occur due to the mind only. Hence, mind is God. Similarly, the intellect
is God, so also the Chittha (consciousness). It is a common sight to see
people praising a person of sharp intellect as an intellectual. But, God
alone is the true intellectual. We have to dedicate our Chittha to God.
Once a great devotee sang, “Oh! God! Let me offer my worship to You with
chittha suddhi” (purity of consciousness). Hence, you should all pray to
God with purity of consciousness.
Just as the mind, intellect and chittha are the Embodiments of Divinity,
so also the senses. Hence, one should not taint his senses with the
arishadvargas (the six inner enemies of lust, anger, greed, delusion,
pride and jealousy). Kama signifies the desires, which you can divert
towards God and pray that you want only God and none else. You love God
alone. Such love only will be sanctified. To love people on the basis of
their name and form cannot be termed as real love. That is only worldly
love. When you love God, everything will be added unto you. All your
desires must be God-oriented. Every desire of yours must be to please God.
Suppose you love someone, do not treat him as a mere mortal. On the other
hand, you must be able to visualise the divinity in him.
There is no object other than the Panchabhuthas (the five elements of air,
water, earth, fire and ether) in this universe. You will not find a sixth
element, however much you may try and explore. For example, this is a hand
consisting of five fingers. There is no sixth finger. In case someone has
a sixth finger, he will be taken to the doctor for removing it by surgery.
Similarly, we all have five senses. What is Mukti (liberation)? Liberation
is control of the senses. Unless one controls his senses, liberation is
not possible. It is foolish to think that God is somewhere in a distant
place. Strictly speaking, who is God? The Panchabhuthas are Embodiments of
Divinity.
It is only the senses that bring us good or bad. Hence, controlling the
senses should be our top priority. You often express your inability
thinking “Swami! Is it possible for us?” I am emphatically saying that it
is possible, provided you make an effort with firm determination. When you
are able to please God and obtain His grace, sense control is not a big
task for you. The senses are very trivial things. Unless you are able to
control the senses, you do not deserve to be called a human being. It is
said, Jantunam nara janma durlabham (of all living beings, human birth is
the rarest). To be born as a human being is a rare gift of God. Having
obtained this rare gift, one should strive to achieve sense control. Even
if you succumb to the wishes of even one of these five senses, you will
stoop down to the level of an animal. It is said Daivam manusha rupena
(God is in the form of a human being). Having attained such a rare and
sacred birth of a human being, how foolish it is to say that you cannot
control your senses? One who succumbs to the wishes of the senses is a
Rakshasa (demon), verily! In fact, such a person is worse than a Rakshasa.
One has to evolve himself into a noble human being. You may be fond of
your wife and children. But on that basis, you cannot denigrate others.
You should not entertain a feeling that so and so is mine and others are
different. All are Embodiments of Divinity! All are children of God. There
is such an intimate relationship between people in this world. Whatever
object you come across in this world, it belongs to God only. It does not
belong to any particular individual. In every object, every being,
Divinity is immanent. Divinity is present in every grain of sand and every
particle of sugar. It is said, Viswam Vishnu swarupam (the entire universe
is the Embodiment of Lord Vishnu). The whole universe comes under one
family. Hence, one has to cultivate such universal love. That is real
Atmic Love. It is only when you cultivate such love, you deserve to be
called a human being. Only then can you visualise the Atma Tattwa. Devoid
of love, if you go on cultivating evil qualities like anger, hatred,
jealousy and a feeling of difference between one another, you will be
worse than animals. Beasts and animals fight among themselves. If you also
fight like them, what difference is there between you and the animals? In
fact, anger and hatred are not the qualities of a human being. The feeling
of difference originates in human beings when man considers himself as
different from God. Where there is a feeling of difference, there hatred
raises its head. Whatever activity you undertake, it must be done in a
spirit of dedication to God. We extol Lord Easwara as Hiranya Garbhaya
Namah (I offer my Pranam to the golden-wombed Lord). He is the embodiment
of gold. Here gold signifies immutability. You are all golden children.
But, you forget your real nature and associate yourself with dust and
rust. Hence, great souls have to take birth in this world now and then to
cleanse you and make you realise your innate divinity. However, when some
great soul embarks upon such a mission, some people doubt his effort
saying, “It is all his foolishness. Can earth become gold? Can sand become
sugar?” Modern man is full of doubts and doubts! What could be the reason
for these doubts? It is only when one thinks that he is separate from God
that doubts arise.
It is a well known fact that a vessel filled to the brim will be steady.
Similarly, God is omniscient and hence He is steady always. Many people
who come here have several experiences. (Swami called a student onto the
dais). I am aware of the past, present and future of every individual,
irrespective of caste, religion and place of birth. Some people who come
here may think, “Perhaps Swami does not know who I am.” But, there is
nothing that I do not know. Even though I know everything, I pretend as if
I do not know. (Pointing to a student) The parents and brothers and
sisters of this boy visited Prasanthi Nilayam sometime ago. I called all
of them for an interview and promised to the father, “My dear! The mother
of these children may not survive for long. In fact, she may breathe her
last even before you reach your village. You don’t worry. I will take up
the responsibility of all your children.” The children started crying. I
told them, “Don’t cry. Why fear when I am here? I will look after
everything.” From that day onwards, I have been looking after their
welfare, as promised. The girls are all married. All the children have
been provided with their requirements. None of them faced any difficulty.
There is one boy among our Band group. That boy is the youngest of all the
brothers. He was very young when he came here along with his parents
sometime ago. I called him and told him, “My dear! You don’t need to worry
for anything. I am your father, mother and everything. I will look after
you in every aspect.” Whenever he came here, I used to call him and talk
to him instilling a sense of security and confidence in him. Now all the
members of the family are happily living. This boy was very young then.
Now, he has grown up. Thus, I have been showering My love and grace on one
and all, whether I talk to them particularly or not. What is My property?
Love! Love! Love! I have no anger whatsoever on anyone, at any time. It is
only to correct an erring individual, I pretend to be angry. But, I have
no anger on anyone. My entire body is suffused with pure love. It is said,
Easwara sarva bhutanam (God is the indweller of all beings). Who is
Easwara? Easwara is not merely the one who is portrayed as wearing
rudraksha garlands around His hands and serpents round His neck. It is
only a form that is created for the common man to comprehend divinity to
some extent. The various names and forms like Easwara, Vishnu, Parvati,
Lakshmi, etc., were created to enable the common man to worship God in
some form or the other. In fact, every human being is an Embodiment of
Easwara. There is nothing in this world which is not permeated by Easwara.
The Earth is Easwara. This handkerchief is also an embodiment of Easwara.
All names and forms originated from Easwaratwa.
In fact, it is only the one who has gained control over the five senses
that can comprehend Divinity. Divinity is not limited to one name and
form. People say they had the vision of Rama, Krishna, etc., but it is
only their imagination! However, Divinity is only one and that has been
named as Easwara. Unable to comprehend the Divinity, people ascribe
several names and forms to it and get deluded. Today, it is the devotees
who change their chosen deities, frequently. But, God does not change. God
is one. He is permanent. Real sadhana is gaining control over the five
senses. One has to undertake such type of sadhana instead of engaging
himself in Japa, Dhyana, etc. For example, even if you are engaged in Japa
and Dhyana closing your eyes, your ‘monkey mind’ will be roaming about all
the three worlds. People do not realise this truth and engage themselves
in different types of sadhana. There is nothing but Divinity in this
world. Whatever you see, whatever you hear, everything is permeated by
Divinity.
Once the Pandavas were performing the Rajasuya Yajna. At the conclusion of
the ritual, Sri Krishna was honoured by the Pandavas in the presence of
all kings in the court. Sisupala could not bear with this honour bestowed
on Sri Krishna. He reviled Lord Krishna in ever-so-many ways, criticising
Him for various omissions and commissions. One of the points of his
criticism was that Krishna stole the saris of women who were bathing in a
lake. The Pandavas could not bear these insinuations heaped upon their
dear Lord Krishna. They felt humiliated. Krishna then tried to reason with
them saying, “He did so out of ignorance. I am beyond praise or scorn. I
am the eternal witness to everything that goes on in this world. You
should not, however, respond to that criticism and start paying him in his
own coin. Do not ever get attached to anyone deeply. If you lead a life of
detachment thus, I will be with you constantly guarding you and guiding
you.”
Divinity never encourages differences among men. God is Love and Love is
God. There are several thousands of people gathered in this Hall. However,
the love that is permeating every individual is only one. There may be
differences in the names and forms of people and their relationships, but
the Divinity permeating all people is one and the same. Hence, all should
lead a life filled with love like brothers and sisters. In educational
institutions where the system of co-education is in vogue, the boys and
girls should move like brothers and sisters. Nowhere should any difference
on account of gender raise its head. When the children get into the Higher
Secondary stage, these differences crop up. You should not give scope for
such things. Whoever entertains such differences, is sure to fail in the
examination, the examination of ‘pure love’. There is nothing great in
passing examinations in the worldly sense. Everyone can pass, provided one
puts in a little effort. There is no use passing a worldly examination,
while at the same time failing in pure and unsullied love for a fellow
human being who is none other than God. He who has passed the examination
of divine love is the most successful person in life.
All are God’s children. All are reflections of the Hiranyagarbha present
in the human body. Hence, from now onwards all of you should live like
brothers and sisters with mutual love and affection. Then only you deserve
to be called ideal students. But, I do not find in the present-day
students such feeling of kinship. Instead they are cultivating differences
such as, “I am different” and “You are different.” You should not, under
any circumstances, cultivate anger and hatred. Anger should be controlled
and hatred given up. Your safety and welfare lie in controlling anger. It
is common knowledge that when the controls in a railway station are not
functioning properly, the trains moving on the track derail. In such a
situation, the controller in the railway station is held responsible.
Similarly, the mind is the controller for all thoughts and feelings
arising in us. Hence, if the mind is kept in control, the entire body
comes under our control.
You are all embodiments of pure gold. You are all golden children. Your
words are sweet. Let your conduct also be sweet in comformity with your
words. Wherever you go, as students of Sri Sathya Sai Educational
Institutions, you must display an exemplary conduct and behaviour. Merely
because you wear white dress, you do not deserve to be called students of
Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions. In keeping with your white dress,
keep your mind pure and your heart sacred. Only then will you become ideal
students. Swami will constantly be with such students, guarding and
guiding them. I will give them everything. In fact, I am protecting
several people in several ways; but, no one has realised this point till
today.
Your own Atma is divinity. That is Easwara. One has to develop firm faith
in that feeling. How can you be called a human being if you do not develop
such faith? Love is God; live in love. Your love should not be limited to
an individual or some family members. You must share it with all. If only
you develop such broad-mindedness, you can become a leader and set an
ideal to others. (When Swami enquired of the students whether they had
faith in Swami’s words, all of them unanimously responded by saying
loudly, “Yes Swami!”). It is not enough if you just pay lip service by
saying ‘yes’. The conviction must come from the depth of your heart. You
commit a mistake and say ‘sorry’. That is not enough. You should desist
from repeating the same mistake. Truth is the very life-breath for a human
being. Truth is God. Do not speak untruth. If only you follow truth in
your life steadfastly, you can achieve everything. Truth is like a shield
that will protect you. Truth is your support. If you give up such a noble
quality of truth and speak untruth, how can you be called a human being?
You should never give scope for falsehood in your life. God is the only
leader for the entire universe. God is the only leader and judge. It is
only God who can decide justice or injustice. You should not forget such
an omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient God. Do not entertain feelings
of difference like “mine” and “thine”. Develop equal-mindedness. May all
people live together happily and bring good name for themselves and the
country (Bhagawan created a gold ring with a green stone embedded in it
and presented it to the student standing in front of Him). Everyone should
thus earn the grace of God. The green colour is a sign of peace and
welfare. I wish that all of you should earn such peace, welfare, love,
devotion and grace of God. It is only when you drive away the bad
qualities in you, that you will be able to live in the divine presence.
May you make proper use of the Panchabhutas (the five elements of earth,
water, fire, air and ether). May you control your Panchendriyas (five
senses). Then God will be constantly with you guarding and guiding you.
Divinity cannot be attained merely by offering prayers and doing Bhajans.
Along with these sadhanas, you must also develop a pure heart and offer it
to God. Let your mind, intellect and chittha be constantly associated with
God wherever you are and whatever work you are undertaking. Then your very
mind, intellect and chittha will be transformed into Divinity. When God is
present right in front of you in the form of Panchabhutas, where is the
need for searching for Him separately? There is no scope at all for such a
feeling! It is a serious mistake to think that God is separate from the
Panchabhutas. Considering God as your everything and sole refuge, dedicate
your senses to Him. This is an easy method to reach God. When you follow
such an easy path, you will attain Moksha (liberation). After all, what is
Moksha? Moha Kshaya is Moksha (coming out of delusion is liberation).
There is no use chanting “Ram, Ram, Ram …”when your mind is full of Moha
(delusion). Whatever work you undertake, do it with a sense of Bhagavad
preetyartham (to please God). Whomever you come across, consider him as an
Embodiment of God. Even the beggar standing in front of your door is an
Embodiment of God. He may be a beggar from the point of view of the
physical body. But, he is really an Embodiment of Divinity from the Atmic
sense. Whether one is a king or an emperor or a beggar, the same Divinity
permeates every individual. May you dedicate your lives to win the love of
God and His grace. Undertake every activity as an offering to God. Even
your reading your textbooks can be done with such a sense of dedication to
God. You will surely pass your examinations in 1st class. I am happy that
you are all good boys. But, one caution, you must exhibit the same good
behaviour in your Higher Secondary School, as in the Primary School.
Let Me remind you that the teachers in the Higher Secondary School will
not hesitate to punish you whenever necessary if you go wrong. They have
nothing against anybody, but they are duty bound to put you on the right
track. If a teacher shirks his responsibility and condones your bad
behaviour without giving a punishment, then he is a ‘guddi guru’ (blind
teacher). He cannot be called a Guru in the real sense. The role of a
headmaster in the school is also important. In fact, he is the ‘head’ for
all the teachers. Hence, he should oversee the work of all the teachers.
Education does not mean simply reading of books. One cannot become great
by acquiring an academic degree. In fact, degrees are not great; Divine is
great. Hence, develop such divine nature. Only then will your life become
sanctified and your education meaningful. Your parents will also be happy.
You might be aware that your parents have admitted you in Sri Sathya Sai
Educational Institution with great hopes. You must not disappoint them.
You must earn the praise of your father, mother, teacher and God – all the
four. Make your life meaningful and sacred by good thoughts, feelings,
practice and behaviour.
Also download New: "Absolute Shiva" Divine wallpaper
with progression of Atma Lingam materialization.
Source: http://sssbpt.org
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