Creation has emerged from God, Who is free from desire. It is a spontaneous unfolding, beyond human understanding. No one can unravel the Divine Mystery. Human activity, however spontaneous it may seem, can be explained to originate from some patent or latent wish or other. But, God’s activity can never yield an answer to human enquiry about its why or whence or wherefore.

God is omniscient. He is the source of supreme delight, of extreme ecstasy. The joy flashes as sport, as prank and purposeless play, leela.

God needs neither helper nor material for the process of Creation. His serene, stable, sovereign Fullness can become movement, rotation and vibration, when He Wills. And, all the living and non-living entities God projects are led towards acquisition of the very Ecstasy whose overflow they are. God is the paramount principle of Bliss that is not affected by time or materiality, for He is the basis for the material world of time and matter. His Bliss pervades all Creation. That is the way His leela works.

But, created beings are diverse and entangled in duality. If they emerge from the Bliss of the One, how could some be so fearful and anxious and some calm and peaceful? An inference such as this is very wrong; it is unwarranted and unjustified. The Rain God showers his gift on all things on earth, edible crops as well as thorny weeds. The seeds of both sprout and grow in accordance with their different natures. Likewise, the Divine Bliss, Love and Light are the sustenance for all nature. The qualities of head and heart, either virtuous or vicious, decide whether life is happy or miserable, praiseworthy or blameworthy. Good deeds mould men into saints; bad deeds shape them as sinners. God initiates men into innocent, tender, loveable and loving childhood. But men relish envy, greed and hatred and cast off the gift of softness and sweetness. They cultivate instead the thorny weeds. Men seek joy in this Cause Consequence duo.

God has no gain to achieve, no need to project the Cosmos. He has everything; He is everything. He plays motiveless and unattached out of sheer elan.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Many speakers have spoken before Me but none has said anything about Subhash Chandra Bose, who was endowed with many great qualities and capabilities. After passing his ICS, he came to India, joined the political movement and made a significant contribution to it in many ways. But, unfortunately, he had to leave the country as there was no unity among the Bharatiyas. Even while staying in overseas countries, he played a very important role for the freedom of India from the British rule.

Important Role Of Subhash Chandra Bose In India’s Freedom Struggle

Lalita Bose, the daughter of his brother, once came to Puttaparthi. She regretted that her uncle Subhash Chandra Bose, having been born in this sacred land Bharat, had to leave the country. She was happy that she was able to live in this country and have Swami’s darshan. She came to Brindavan, Whitefield also and stayed there for a few days. Later on, she followed Me in a car wherever I went. She used to play on harmonium and sing bhajans. She came to Ooty and Kodaikanal also when I went there. All the time, she was chanting ‘Sai Ram’ ‘Sai Ram’. She had no other thought except this in her mind.

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Subhash Chandra Bose was endowed with great physical, mental and spiritual powers. But he never revealed his spiritual powers to anyone. He had a burning desire to make India a great and prosperous country. No other leader had such a strong aspiration for the freedom and progress of the country as Subhash Chandra Bose. He was the one who believed in action; not merely in speech like many other leaders. There are many great leaders in our country even today, but what is the use if they do not put into practice what they say? They say a million things but do not put into practice even one! I am very much pained to see that today nobody remembers Subhash Chandra Bose who had done so much for the country. He was the one who dedicated his entire life to the country. Even when he was staying in overseas countries, his love for his motherland was uppermost in his mind. Rather, it went on increasing day by day.

He is verily a living corpse who does not declare with pride that this is my motherland, this is my mother tongue and this is my religion.(Telugu poem)

Subhash Chandra Bose strove very hard to put the country on the path of progress and prosperity. He demonstrated the ideals of love and forbearance. One who does not have love for his country is verily a living corpse! Only a person who upholds the good name of the country can be called a living person in the true sense of the term.

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Attain The Independence Of The Self

Meanwhile, India attained swatantrata (independence). But this was merely ‘Swatantrata’, not ‘Swaatantrata’. What is swatantrata? It relates to the body, mind and intellect, while Swaatantrata is related to the atma. Those who follow the atmic principle are truly independent. The same is the difference between ‘swarajya’ and ‘swaarajya’. We should aim at achieving ‘Swaarajya’, not merely ‘Swarajya’. When we follow the atmic principle, everything becomes good for us. Not only that, it will lead to the well-being and prosperity of the entire world. We should not merely be satisfied with political independence; we should achieve that independence which relates to the atma. Subhash Chandra Bose strived to attain the independence related to the Self. Ultimately, he succeeded in his endeavour. Everybody should make efforts to know such noble souls. Subhash Chandra Bose was one of the few Bharatiyas of his times who attained ‘Swaatantrata’ (independence of the Self) when others were pursuing their selfish ends. They harboured narrow considerations and differences while Subhash Chandra Bose considered the entire country as one.

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The principle of atma is the same in everyone. All are endowed with atmic power. Man is the embodiment of atma. That is why Krishna declared in the Bhagavad Gita, Mamaivamsho jivaloke jivabhuta sanathana (the eternal atma in all beings is a part of My Being). He said, “All are an aspect of My Divinity.” When I consider you as part of My Being, you should also consider others as your own self. Love All, Serve All. You should not observe any difference between individuals, thinking one as a pauper and another, a millionaire. There are many millionaires in Bharat. But they are engaged in filling their own belly. They are not prepared to give even a morsel of food as alms to a beggar who stands at their doorstep saying, “Bhavati bhiksham dehi (mother, give alms)”. What is the use of having such rich men in our country? They are rich only for name’s sake but in reality they are the poorest of the poor. In spite of so many rich people in our country, righteousness and charity seem to have disappeared from it. Therefore, people of this country should pursue the path of charity and righteousness. Consider others as your own brothers and sisters. Rather, consider them as thyself. People just address others as ‘brothers and sisters’ from the stage, but who is actually putting it into practice? None.

Remember Noble Souls Like Subhash Chandra Bose

Today wherever you go, you see people hankering after money. People are striving to amass wealth but none is making efforts to cultivate love and righteousness. The earlier three speakers spoke about the world, but none of them spoke about the atma. The same principle of atma is present in everyone. It is present in you, Me and everyone else. Daivam manusha rupena (God is in the form of a human being). It is not proper to show disrespect to anyone because everyone is the embodiment of God. You should lead your life with this conviction that all are your brothers and sisters. We can attain swaarajya only when we develop such broad feelings. Till then, we merely have swarajya where ‘swa’ means swartha (selfishness). But we should aspire for swaarajya, in which ‘swaa’ is related to the spiritual heart (Hridaya).

You are all performing Grama Seva and serving the poor. But first of all, you should achieve true swaatantrata. Love, respect and help everyone. Only then can you be called a true Sai student. Everything can change but not the atma. Even a wicked person or a demon cannot bring about any change in the atma. Strive to attain such changeless and eternal atmic kingdom. Have self-confidence. Only then can you attain the natural state of a human being. This is your true and eternal state. I bring My discourse to a close with My good wishes and blessings that you may attain the kingdom of the Self and earn a good name.

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I spoke only out of My love for Subhash Chandra Bose, though none invited Me to speak. Such persons like Subhash Chandra Bose should be born in Bharat again and again. India should attain its pristine glory again. Had Subhash Chandra Bose been alive today, he would have attained the highest name in history. There would have been no beggars in this country. But, unfortunately, the Bharatiyas themselves were responsible for his leaving the country. As a result, they now face great difficulties. We should love and trust such noble souls. Love and trust are our true strength. We should never forget Subhash Chandra Bose. His teachings were full of noble thoughts and great ideals.

Unfortunately, people forget such good persons and remember the bad ones. It is a great mistake. Never forget good people. They are like precious jewels. I wish that you should always remember such noble souls. I bring My discourse to a close with My blessings to you all.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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What is meant by Dharma? What is the essence of Dharma? Can common people lead a happy life and survive if they stick to Dharma? Naturally, these doubts confuse the mind in the course of life. Solving them is necessary, even urgent.

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As soon as Dharma is mentioned, the ordinary person takes it to mean: giving alms, feeding and providing lodging to pilgrims, adherence to one’s traditional profession or craft, law-abiding nature, discrimination between right and wrong, the pursuit of one’s innate nature over the freaks of one’s own mind, the fruition of one’s fondest desires, and so on. Of course, it is a long, long time since the spotless countenance of dharma was tarnished beyond recognition.

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Beautiful fields and groves run wild with neglect and soon become unrecognizable bush land and thorny jungle; fine trees are hewn by greedy people, and the shape of the landscape is changed. With the passage of time, people get accustomed to the new state of things and don’t notice the transformation, the decline. This has also happened to Dharma.

Everyone has to acquaint himself with the outlines of Dharma, expounded in the Vedas, Scriptures (sastras), and Puranas. Misunderstood by incompetent intelligence, unbridled emotion, and impure reasoning, these works have been grossly diluted, and their glory has suffered grievously.

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Just as raindrops from the clear blue sky get coloured and contaminated when they fall on the soil, the unsullied message of the ancient sages (rishis), the example of their shining deeds, and the bright untarnished urges behind their actions are all turned into ugly caricatures of their original grandeur by uncultured interpreters and scholars.

Books written for children contain illustrations to clarify the text; but the children spend their time with the pictures, forgetting what they are intended to clarify. In the same way, the unwary and the uneducated mistake the rituals, which are designed to illustrate the grand truths, as profoundly real in themselves and ignore the truth that they were meant to elucidate. Travellers moving along the road rest for a while in wayside shelters, but during their stay, they damage by neglect or misuse the very structure that gives them rest. So too, the dull and perverse alter the very face of Vedic morality and deceive the world into believing that their handiwork is what the Vedas teach!

When such mauling of Dharma took place, when the face of Dharma suffered disfigurement at the hands of the enemies of God, the Lord responded to the call of the gods and the godly and saved the world from ruin, by restoring Right and Truth in the field of Dharma and Karma, i.e. in both ideal and practice.

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Now, who can cure the present blindness? Man has to slay the six-fold beast of inner enemies (arishadvarga) that lead him on to disaster: lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, and hate. Thus only can Dharma be restored.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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All the former students who are working here are discharging their duties with steadfastness and devotion. It is because of their hard work that this Book Stall has made great progress. It is not enough if you merely bring out books; you should put into practice what is given in the books. You should understand and assimilate all the teachings that are contained in the books and practise them. Pustaka (book), Mastaka (head) and Hasta (hand) should be in harmony.

Reading without Practising is Useless

What the world needs today is service. You should love everybody. Love All, Serve All. This is what you are supposed to do. Whatever work you may do, do it with the feeling that you 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 not there. He is everywhere. God is in you, with you, above you, below you and around you. Whatever happens is only due to the Will of God, and not merely by your own efforts. (Bhagawan showing His handkerchief) Here you see a cloth. It may appear to be a cloth, but in reality it is not so; it is a bundle of threads. Further, the threads are made out of cotton. So, first cotton, next thread and then 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.

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With regard to a book also, there are three persons involved in it: the one who writes it, the one who prints it and the one who reads it. Merely bringing out of books is not important. It is more important that you should bring out good books which broaden the vision of the people in the wide world. We should not be narrow-minded; we should develop broad feelings. We should publish books which are essential for everybody. Money is not important; morality is important. Money comes and goes, morality comes and grows. We should develop morality. Many books are written, many people read them, but it is all useless if nothing is put into practice. We should put into practice at least one principle given in the books we read. There may be many items of food in the plate, but our hunger is not satiated by merely repeating the names of those items. Take at least one item and eat it. A large number of books have been written on Swami. But, are you putting into practice even one principle contained in them? No. What is the use of reading books if you do not put anything into practice? If you read ten teachings in a book, put at least one of them into practice. Only then will you derive the necessary strength and capability from your reading.

Writers and Publishers should have Purity of Heart

Our Rajan is putting in a 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, thereby creating a congenial environment which is conducive for the smooth functioning of the Trust. You may consider any workplace, good results are possible only through cooperation. What sort of cooperation is required? It should be a cooperation which is based on heart-to-heart relationship between each other. Not only that, you should know each other’s mind and develop perfect understanding.

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 sell it. But all should work in perfect harmony. When there is unity, there will be peace and harmony. How can you develop purity? Purity is not possible when there are negative feelings in your mind. First of all, there should be unity. Where there is unity, there will be purity. Where there is purity, divinity will manifest there. Therefore, first of all develop unity and purity. Then only can you attain divinity. Hence, you should all be united. What I see is not the Pustaka (book) that you print; I see your Mastaka (head). Rajan brings so many books and other publications to Me that are printed by the Trust. But these do not give Me any satisfaction. I see the purity of the heart of the person who has written the book. The taste of the food will be good if it is cooked in a clean vessel. Cleanliness of the vessel is very important. So is the purity of the heart. Therefore, make your heart pure and sacred.

Control your Desires

Everything may change in the world, but the heart does not change. Here I am referring to the spiritual heart, not the physical heart. Spiritual heart signifies God. God has no specific form. He is referred to as Atma which is present everywhere. But you cannot see it when it is clouded by your thoughts and desires. The moon is always present in the sky, but you will not be able to see it when it is covered by clouds. You cannot deny the presence of the moon just because it is covered by clouds. If you want to see the moon, you have to wait for some time. You will see it once the clouds move away. 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 our thoughts and desires. In some seasons, you find thick clouds. When there are thick clouds, you are not able to see the moon. In the same manner, the Atma is immanent in everyone. You are unable to see the Atma because of the thick clouds of your thoughts and desires. So, you should control your desires. Less luggage more comfort makes travel a pleasure.

 You can experience immense happiness if you reduce the luggage of your desires which overshadow your happiness. When you reduce your desires, everything will become good for you. This is referred to as Vairagya (renunciation) in Vedanta. What is meant by Vairagya? It means reducing your desires. Do not go on increasing your desires day by day. As our body grows old, our life-span goes on decreasing with every passing day. Hence, it will be very beneficial for us if we reduce our desires. You can be always happy when you reduce your desires. You may read any number of books and listen to all kinds of sacred texts. But first and foremost, you have to reduce your desires. Only then can you derive benefit from them. Everyone has desires, but some are necessary and some are not. When we wake up in the morning, what is it 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 have you achieved by spending all the time from dawn to dusk in acquiring worldly knowledge and earning wealth while forgetting God. (Telugu Poem)

Develop Steady Devotion

Whatever you may do will be a mere waste if you forget God. Keep God as your highest goal. God is not present in a far off land. He is present everywhere. People may say anything, you may face any number of difficulties, but you should never forget God. Only when you have such pure, steady and unwavering devotion can you be called a true devotee. You cannot call yourself a devotee if you have wavering and unsteady devotion. Your devotion should be full and total like an ocean which is ever full and does not diminish at all. On the one hand, its water keeps evaporating and on the other, rivers keep pouring water into it with the result that it always maintains its fullness. Make your heart like an ocean. Do not allow it to be disturbed by the waves of your desires. 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 straining hard to bring about changes in the publication of books. He brought out many good books on 80th Birthday. Do your work without any expectation. Whatever you do, do it as an offering to God. Sarva Karma Bhagavad Preetyartham (do all actions to please God). That is true devotion. Do not observe differences such as, “This is my work, that is Swami’s work and that work pertains to Mandir or public.” All work is God’s work. One who writes the book, one who prints it and one who reads it, all are one. Never entertain any feelings of difference. You can develop steady devotion only when you do not observe differences. Your devotion should always be steady. Devotion that is wavering is of no use. What happens when you have a wavering mind? Your entire life becomes unstable. Do not give room to unsteadiness of your mind. Desires and thoughts may arise. But we should use our power of discrimination to determine, “Is it good or bad? Is it right or wrong?” When you know that something is right, follow it; never leave it. Your discrimination is like a signal. Never ignore this signal. When your inner self tells you that something is right, you should 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; understand the essence contained in them. Essence is of prime importance. There can be no book without matter. Similarly, there can be no matter without subject. What type of subjects should you select? You should select such subjects which are related to the heart. Ignoring those subjects will amount to ignoring the voice of the heart.

Writers should write good books which are beneficial for readers. We should not print substandard books which create debasing worldly desires in readers. What is the fate of such books? Nobody reads them. Eternal truths should form the subject of books, which get imprinted on the hearts of readers. 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 of each other. We can achieve anything when we follow Sathya and Dharma. When we make Sathya and Dharma as our goal, we will certainly achieve the object of our life. Today it is not possible to explain this subject in detail due to time constraint. I wanted to tell you something related to publication of books only. What type of books should you publish? You should publish only good books. You have listened to many Discourses and read many books. Treasure all that you have heard in your heart and try to put it into practice.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavanthu II

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In the vast cosmos, man is like a speck. Essentially, there is no conflict between man and creation. Just as a child is entitled to enjoy the milk from its mother and the bee is entitled to enjoy the honey from flowers, there can be no objection to man enjoying the resources of Nature.

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But as a result of uncontrolled desires and reckless exploitation of natural resources, Nature is exhibiting frightening disorders. Natural calamities like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts and floods are the result of disturbances in the balance of Nature caused by reckless exploitation of natural resources. Mankind today appears like a foolish man who is wielding the axe at the branch of a tree on which he is sitting.

Men have to develop a sense of Spiritual Oneness. Out of that sense of Oneness, Love will grow. Love alone can bind the whole of humanity into one unit.

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What do you see in this hall today? Here are people gathered from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries. What is it that has brought them together in this small village? It is only love and the sense of oneness with others. The bliss of life is embedded in this love. Pure bliss is derived from this love. When this love is shared with others you have the bliss of collective joy. When your life dances on the waves of this love it attains the fulfilment of humanness.

Man today does not recognise this sense of oneness. Man does not mean the body alone. Man has the mind, the intellect and the Atma. It is the combination of all these that constitutes true humanness. When the balance among these four constituents is upset, man is plunged in troubles. When man maintains the balance among these four, the nation will prosper.

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Man is considering Nature as entirely a creation of providence for his enjoyment. This is a mistake.

Nature exists for enjoyment by man according to certain limits. Scientists today are exploring the powers of Nature with a view to enjoying them without limit. They want to bring all those powers under human control for their unrestricted enjoyment. This is responsible for so many of the natural disasters that we witness today.

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II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Manthra is not a mere collection of words. It is a compounded set of words pregnant with enormous significance. It emanates from the inner power of man. Filled with such power, the manthra (sacred formula), when it is pronounced properly, brings out the Divine power in man.

The vibrations produced by the utterance of the manthra, uniting with the Cosmic nada (primal sound) in the Universe, become one with the Universal Consciousness. It is these Cosmic vibrations which assumed the form of the Veda (sacred revelations of spiritual knowledge).

For all the manthras, the primary manthra, which enshrines the attributeless, Omniself, is the Omkara. The Omkara embodies in the form of sound the Supreme Brahman. For this sound, the presiding deity is Saraswati. In common parlance Saraswati is regarded as the consort of Brahma (Demi God of Creation). It is the union of Brahma and Saraswathi that accounts for all the knowledge in the world. Who is Brahma and who is Saraswathi? Saraswathi is commonly worshipped as the Goddess of speech and as the deity who has to be propitiated for acquiring knowledge. She is also described as Varade (the giver of boons) and as Kamaroopini (one capable of assuming any form). But Saraswathi is not one who conforms to these descriptions. Saraswathi is present in all beings as the Goddess of Speech.

Omkara is the manifesting of Brahman as sound

The body is regarded as Brahma and the tongue is regarded as Saraswathi and the vibrations emanating from the heart find expression in sound through the union of the body and the tongue.

Although there are many letters and words, the fundamental aksharam (letter), which has primacy of place, is the Omkara. “Om ithyekaaksharam Brahma (the single letter OM is Brahman Itself) ‘says Bhagavad Gita. All other letters and words are linguistic creations. They do not possess the unique sacredness and divine character of ‘OM’.  The special significance of ‘OM‘ is not generally recognised or understood.

The Manthra Shasthra (ancient scripture related to sacred formulas) has laid emphasis on the letter ‘OM‘. Omkara has no form. It is the manifestation of Brahman as sound. It is present in all creation. It is effulgent. It is in all speech. It is ever blissful. It is Paraathparamayee (embodiment of the Supreme). It is Mayamayee (the repository of illusory power). It is Shreemayee (embodiment of prosperity). The Omkara is the only sound that has these ‘eight divine attributes, according to the Manthra Shasthra.

Only by elimination of ego can Brahman be realised

What is the difference between the Omkara and all other sounds and words? The Omkara has a unique, distinctive quality in the way it is pronounced and the goal it represents. When other letters are uttered, the lips, the tongue, the cheeks and the jaws are in action. But when the Omkara is ‘pronounced, none of these move at all. This is a unique characteristic of Omkara.

Hence ‘OM’ alone can be regarded as Aksharam (imperishable). All the other sounds are expressions of different languages.

The Omkara is the base for the Veda. To. grasp the full significance of Omkara, which is all pervasive, it is necessary to have the same kind of self-control which one has to exercise to bring the sensory organs under control.

In reciting any manthra the primacy to be accorded to OM should be recognised. The manthra ends with the word Namah (as for example, in Om Keshavaya Namah: Prostrations to Keshava). In the manthras Keshavaya namah, Govindaya namah, Narayanaya namah, the significance of Namah which occurs at the end of each manthra should be noted.

The worshipful attitude signified by the term Namah will be lost if the word Om is not used at the beginning of each manthra. It is only when Om is said at the beginning and Namah at the end that the full purport of the manthra will be brought out. The integral connection between Om and namah should be recognised. Namah represents Prakrithi (objective world). In ordinary parlance Namah is understood to mean namaskaram (salutation). But it has a wider meaning. It means Prakrithi (the phenomenal world). OM connotes Purusha (Divinity). The purpose of the manthra is to reveal the connection between Prakrithi and Purusha. Based on the inner significance of this, the Mahaavakya (great declaration) Thath Thwam Asi (That Thou Art) has to be understood. Asi is the link between “Thath” and Thwam. In Aham Brahma asmi, Asmi provides the link. In the Mahavakya Prajnanam Brahma, Asi does not figure.

Only by elimination of ego can Brahman be realised

If in the manthra Om Keshavaya Namah the word Keshavaya is omitted, and Om Namah is uttered, the unity of Shiva-Shakthi (Purusha and Prakrithi) is established and the dualism implicit in the manthra is removed. The manthra states, “I am offering obeisance to Keshava,” thereby positing two entities, besides the action of obeisance itself being a third element.

To eliminate this dualism, the Manthra Shasthra laid down that if instead of namah, na mama (not for my sake) is employed, the identity of the worshipper and the worshipped will be established. “Om Keshavaga, na mama” would mean “for Kesava, not for me.” By this process, the ego is destroyed. And only by the elimination of the ego can the attributeless Brahman be realised.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Time is fleeting like a fast moving wind. The Body is melting away from moment to moment like a block of ice. And, Man is discarding his mortal body without performing his duty.

If human life does no more than, being born, brought up and die, then what is its achievement? What is the fruit of all the effort? Is this the use to which the education and training that man acquires are put?

Why should one make a special effort to acquire such qualities if it is only to know what is already known. One should use one’s intelligence to know what we do not know.

The beasts and the birds too eat and sleep: they express fear and love in the same manner as men do. The differences are only in appearance and in name; the desire and the passion, are the same for man and beast.

How can we then establish the uniqueness of man? In spite of the fact that wisdom and judgement are special gifts to man by God, if man does not draw upon such gifts of what use is it to proclaim the sanctity of the human species? What is the use of claiming supremacy? There is no sense in such pride. To relate one’s actions with one’s utterances and to relate one’s utterances with one’s thoughts is to be human. If on the other hand, there is no correspondence between one’s utterances, one’s actions and one’s thoughts, the individual can be only a man in outer shade; truly, he is devoid of all title to life.

Your hearts should be filled with compassion towards all living beings. You should fill suffering hearts with Prema. You should radiate thoughts that can generate Ananda.

The heart is like the overhead tank. Actions are like taps. Whatever quality of water is used to fill the tanks, only such will flow out of the taps. Fill the heart with Prema; then, Ananda flows from the taps. It will reach the world around us.

The utterance of Tukaram, “Dil ka Ram; Hath ka Kam” should be regarded as the motto of life. Prema is the main pillar of the Sai teaching. Life should be filled with Prema. The world should be looked at with Prema. Society should be contacted with Prema. Fulfilment of one’s life should be through Prema.

Prema alone is God. Prema alone is Life. There is no living without Prema. Life devoid of Prema is equivalent to death. Life filled with Prema is Ananda. Life without Prema is sorrow, Prema is festivity. Absence of Prema is mourning. Prema is fearlessness. Absence of Prema is fear. Prema is the messenger of good. Absence of Prema is the harbinger of death.

Man should aim at being Siva and not behave like Yama. Man should become himself fearless; he should not frighten all around him. To strike terror is the nature of the hunter beast! To be afraid is the nature of the hunted animal. Man is neither a hunter beast nor a hunted animal. He should neither cause terror nor lie afraid. He should saturate Life with Prema.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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No one has the power to protect one’s own self. It is only the Divine power and divine will that enables man to protect himself. Only divinity has free will, none else.

Whatever God says or does is for the welfare of humanity. God is selfless. There is no trace of selfishness in God. What is the benefit accruing to the sun by rising and setting? None at all. Sunrise and sunset are for the benefit of mankind. It enables man to discharge his duties during the day and rest during the night. Similarly, every act of God is for the benefit of mankind, not for His own.

As Narasimhamurthi pointed out, Kasturi once urged Me not to neglect this body in the process of saving a devotee. I replied, “This body has come for the sake of devotees and shall be  utilised for  doing  anything  and  everything for their welfare.” Body attachment is human and total detachment is divine. Attachment to the body is responsible for all suffering and misery. Since God does not have any body attachment He does not attach any importance to the suffering of His body.

Once He assumes a body, many things are bound to happen to the body. Whatever happens is for the welfare of the whole world.

Students’ Safety Pleases Swami

Students, both boys and girls, are very good. Students participate in various activities, be it academic or sports, only with a desire to please and satisfy Swami. I am very well aware of this fact. No doubt, students strive to please Swami and make Him happy. But, they do not enquire what actually pleases and satisfies Him and makes Him happy. Will Swami be pleased if you display your valour by jumping through a ring of fire or for that matter from a lorry moving at a high speed? Will it satisfy Swami if you display your courage by doing dare-devil stunts on motor bikes like jumping over 10-20 people lying on the ground? I am pleased when you are safe and sound and the audience are pleased and happy with your performance. He is the blessed one who conducts himself in a manner in which neither he is hurt nor others. You should be safe and secure and at the same time desist from activities, which cause apprehensions in others. This is what I want. I am pleased with nidarsana and  not  with  pradarsana (exhibitionism). Even a small action done with a heart full of love pleases Me.

What happened on the Sports Meet day?

While returning from Bangalore (in the month of December), I instructed the Warden not to bring the boys for the Sports Meet. They attributed various reasons to this word of Mine. There may be many reasons (karana) but what I am interested in is the action (karya). After coming over here, I told the Vice Chancellor that I do not object to boys participating in various sports and games such  as badminton, tennis, volleyball, etc. At the same time, I cautioned him to ensure that no harm  is  caused  either  to  the  participants  or  to  the  audience during the course of the programme scheduled for 11 January.

Students are tender hearted, full of noble feelings and love for Swami. They planned various programmes with a view to please Me. I was very well aware of the impending danger.

But, students were not receptive to My words. I felt there was no point in advising them in such a situation. Only when they face the consequences of disobeying My command will they realise  the  value  of My  words. Till this moment nobody is aware of what exactly happened on the morning of January 11.

They said that the Sports Meet was a grand success. I am also happy when you are successful. Students performed extremely well. Each contributed to the success of this event based on his capacities and capabilities How Swami protected the students. That morning, as I entered the stadium, I spotted two lorries. Immediately, I could visualise the danger lurking in the corner. I saw the lorries with huge scaffolding  placed  over them. The boys planned to perform a few acrobatic feats on them. I knew that one of the rods was not fitted properly and was about to give in. If it were to happen, the boys would suffer a major head and spinal injury. I willed the boys should be saved and decided to take it upon Myself.

Prior to this, one boy had suffered a spinal injury and had been admitted to the Manipal Hospital in Bangalore. Without any delay, I arranged for an ambulance to shift the boy to the hospital in Bangalore  and  gave  10,000 rupees to  defray the immediate expenditure. I also ensured that our doctor accompanied him. Parents shed tears of gratitude when they came to know of the love showered by Swami on their son.

The doctor said that the boy would not be able to sit or lie down as his spinal column was badly damaged. I told him, “Don’t entertain any misgivings. Do as I say.” Miraculously, by the time the boy reached the hospital, he could sit. He could sit on the bed in the hospital. He regained sensation in all his limbs, which were numb till then. No danger whatsoever. He was  protected  because  of My  infinite mercy  and  boundless grace. I willed that such an untoward incident should not recur.

Once the spinal column is fractured, it is impossible to set it right. All students should be safe and secure. I have repeatedly declared that students are My property. I consider student welfare  as My  welfare  and  their  happiness  as My  happiness. I never think of My happiness and My comfort. My one concern is that the students should not be disappointed or put to any inconvenience.

A day before the Sports Meet, I had instructed four boys to surround the chariot and keep a vigil. They are also full of love and devotion for Swami. But I noticed that none of them was present at that spot. Nobody is to be blamed. No one does this deliberately. Swami is the very life-breath of the students. I asked for the chariot to be stopped.  A senior devotee was driving the chariot with all sincerity, love and devotion. He stopped the vehicle in accordance with My command. Just when I was about to speak to the Vice-Chancellor, he  accidentally lifted his foot from the clutch. That resulted in a jerk and I fell down in the chariot. As a result, I suffered injuries on my head, hand, and spinal column. What the boys had to face, I took it upon Myself.

Many men and women were seated in the gallery, but I took care that none noticed My injuries. I pretended as though nothing  had  happened.  The Vice  Chancellor  was  worried, thinking  that  Swami was  unable  to  get  up. I  knew  that  any further delay would cause anxiety in the minds of devotees. So, I immediately got up, forgetting the pain, and started blessing the devotees waving My hands. The pain was very severe, and the cut on My hand was so deep as though it was pierced with a  knife.  Actually  the sleeve  of  the robe  covering My  hand should have been torn before I got the injury. But the cloth was not torn at all. This incident gives you a glimpse of the infinite power of Divinity. I found Myself in an awkward situation. I had to walk up to the dais without My injuries being noticed. So I willed that no one should notice My injuries, lest they should become anxious. I  walked  up  to  the  dais  and  took My seat. But  in  the meanwhile the  dhoti below the robe was drenched in blood.

Concerned that the devotees may get to know of this, I walked into the bathroom discreetly. The available towels were insufficient to wipe the oozing blood. I did not want to leave the bloodstained towels in the bathroom, lest someone should notice them. Though there was excruciating pain, I washed the towels Myself with soap, squeezed them and put them up for drying. Under no circumstances do I reveal My suffering, pain, and fatigue.

Some boys were curious to know why I went to the bathroom repeatedly. I replied, “Why are you concerned? It is My job.” Usually, I go to the bathroom only twice a day, morning and evening. Since it was bleeding profusely, I had to go to the bathroom five or six times in that short duration.

In the meantime, two students came and prayed that the flag may be hoisted. When I got down from the chair, the sensation was such that it seemed as though I was subjected to electric shock. I smiled at My own Divine leela. I could not stand firmly on the ground. I thought I should not be deluded by the attachment to the body and walked forward smilingly to hoist the flag. Then I lighted the lamp. I found Myself in an embarrassing situation. I could not sit in any posture comfortably. When I exhort all devotees to give up body attachment, I should set  an  example Myself in this regard. Saying this to Myself, I conducted Myself accordingly.

The  Primary  School  children  performed  extremely  well and desired to have a photograph with Me. Acceding to their prayers I walked up to them to be photographed, as I did not want to disappoint them. Subsequently, I had to walk up to the playground five more times to be photographed with the remaining students. In this manner, I detached Myself from the body. My body was numb. There was no sensation whatsoever.

My head was reeling. I resolved to make them happy no matter what happened to the body. I decided to keep this to Myself. Concerned that the bloodstains may be visible while returning to the dais from the playground, I ascended the steps leading directly to My seat. Is it possible for a human being to conceal such a major injury from the public gaze for a long time being amidst such a huge gathering? No. I was seated on the chair for five long hours.

Comprehend the nature of divinity I Am relating  all  this so  that students  and  devotees may comprehend the nature of divinity. Anyone in My predicament would not have been in a position to sit in the chair even for a second. It would have been impossible even to put a step forward. It  was  as  though  the  electric shock  was  piercing My body. It is the electric current that gives shock, but when I am the current Myself, where is the question of Myself being subjected to shock? With that feeling, I sat through the whole proceedings and returned to the mandir.

The Central Trust members followed Me, but they were not aware of what had happened to Me. I asked them to have their food. The senior devotee who drove the chariot apologised for what had happened. I told him, “Why do you worry about the past? Past is past. I am happy. Do not worry about Me.” All of them had their lunch. After the lunch, it started bleeding again.

Students and band boys were waiting outside for photographs. Again I went into the bathroom to wipe the blood. Noting this Indulal Shah cried out, “Swami, what is this?” I told him lovingly, “Indulal Shah, whatever had to happen to the body has happened.” Saying so, I showed him My injury. All of them cried out in agony. They noticed blood all over the body. I told them  that I  would  not reveal  anything  in future  if  they  expressed their sorrow like this. No one knew about it  until I reached the Mandir.

Whatever is bound to happen will happen

Likewise, I take upon Myself the untold suffering of students and devotees at various points of time in order to protect them. No one is responsible for this mishap. You may find fault  with  one  individual  or  the  other,  but  no  one  is  to  be blamed for this. Whatever had to happen happened. That’s all.  Whatever is bound to happen will happen. You are bound to experience the pain and pleasure that you are destined to even if you hide yourself in a dense forest. When the time comes, your body is bound to perish, in spite of utmost precautions.

Even mighty  emperors  and kings who had taken  all precautionary measures had to give up their body at the appointed hour. Whatever is bound to happen will happen. One should not resist this unduly.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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I have called all of you here today so that I may tell you something about the attitude you must cultivate while doing volunteer service at Prasanthi Nilayam. I Myself have selected you for this and that itself is a rare privilege. There are so many who are pleading with all their heart to be given the chance; but you have caught My eye and you alone have been picked. I must tell you that volunteering is not just a momentary spurt of interest to do service; it can never be done well without deep discipline, long training and humility. You cannot be ready for that role, all of a sudden, as soon as the badge is pinned on your vesture.

Aajna and Prema – Two Necessary Virtues for a Volunteer
First, you must be conscious of the value of aajna (command), which so far as I am concerned, is more a Direction, than an Order. The Geetha was the aajna of Krishna, though Lord Krishna supplemented it with copious explanations of the why and the wherefore. Arjuna admitted that he was a prapanna, one who had surrendered to His will. So, there was no need for Krishna to argue with him or convince him about the correctness of His Command. Still, in order that Arjuna might fight with a full heart, He gave him the reasons which supported the course He laid down for him. Likewise, I too want you to know why I desire that you should act in a particular way and also why I do not like you to behave in another manner.

Next, you must develop prema (Love) for all. Do not think that a volunteer is a superior person, more devoted than the rest. Do not look down upon the others as disturbances and nuisances. If you have prema towards Me, you will have prema towards all, since Sai is in everyone. During bhajans, you sing Anthaa Sayi maayam; ee jagamantha Sayi mayam – “Everything is full of Sai; this world is filled with Sai.” Then, how can you have love for this Sai alone? On the walls of this Prayer Hall there are many pictures of Swami. You revere these photos and take each of them to be Me. You stand before these pictures and exclaim in joy, “O, Swami!” If someone speaks unfavourably about any of them you do not like it. Remember every human being is My picture; why, every being is Me – Anthaa Sayi mayam. So, when you treat anyone harshly, you are being discourteous to Me; when you insult anyone, you are ridiculing Me.

“Prasanthi Nilayam is Your Home”
This is your home and all those who have gathered for these festivals are atithis (guests) or your kith and kin. There are six duties that every grihastha (householder) has to perform every day: snaana, sandhya, japa, homa, puja and atithi sathkaara, that is, take shower, venerate the Lord in the morning, noon and evening, recite the Name of the Divine, present sacred oblations to the sacrificial fire, worship God ritualistically, and offer hospitality to guests. It is in this spirit that the guests are to be served. You are a sevaka, one dedicated to service. Whether the people whom you serve thank you or traduce you, you must gladly do the task allotted to you. For, remember you are serving yourselves, not them. Be it bouquets or brickbats, receive them with equal calm. It is only those who identify themselves with the body who experience exultation or pain. You must feel that you are the dehi (the Self or the Indweller) and not the deha (the body); this will give you the strength to serve best.

When you are performing your work do not argue about a particular task being in your jurisdiction and the other being not. Do not be sticklers for boundaries and limits. Support and supple­ment each other in joyful co-operation so that everyone is strengthened. Act like an ideal satsang (spiritual community), where each one infuses energy and enthusiasm into another. This however does not mean that you should carry a greater load than that is allotted to you. Do not interfere without reason with the work of the other person or sullenly criticise. Be worthy of the status of persons associated with Prasanthi Nilayam. There should be no place in your hearts for malice, envy or even competition. Spread around you the atmosphere of Prasanthi, that is, tranquility. Do not be in haste and create accidents or discover faults where there are none; this is misdirected enthusiasm.

The Rules of Prasanthi Nilayam are Sacrosanct
Do nothing to disturb the calm of others. For, you know how valuable peace and quietness are in your own case; I hope you recognise this. Behave towards others as you would wish them to behave with you; this is the measure of your Love. Seek out the old, those sitting under the sun or in darkness, outside the auditorium, for they are too weak to push themselves to the lines in the front. Look out for those who are visually or aurally challenged, bring them gently near the dais and ask younger persons to vacate their seats and make room for these people. You should not claim any special privilege for your badges in the Bhajan Hall or at the Auditorium. Those who come early have the first chance; there is no need to argue and create a scene. Let people sit quietly wherever seats are available. When they arrive, each must earn their place and claim it, not in the Auditorium, but in My heart. Do not assert for it in these brick and mortar halls.

In the rules of Prasanthi Nilayam, it is laid down that those who come after the bhajan or discourse begins, must not distract the focus of those who are immersed in it by striding up to the front lines or striving to occupy some empty space near the dais. Please see that this is strictly observed. Nothing should be done by anyone to disturb attention once the programme starts. You have come here, away from kith and kin, eager to uplift yourself and progress on the spiritual path. Then, why should you slide into old habits that breed egoism and hatred?

Seek the Opportunities to Serve
Volunteers must not wait for chances of service to come to them. They must be on the lookout for them, always alert and ready. Then, they can find them all around. It is the heart of stone that blinds the eye to the pain that others endure.

I have directed all residents of the ashram to enquire of their neighbours if they are well; this is the first task of the day. And it should not just be a courtesy call, but a genuine act of Love. Among the thousands who have gathered here, there are many who would be thankful for some help – someone kind enough who will lead them to food or shelter, the river or the Mandir, the auditorium or the hospital. Speak to them gently and offer to be of use to them.

Do you not see Me and hear Me when I move among them? I speak softly and endearingly, for, I Love them ardently in spite of all their faults. Then, why should you be harsh and rude? There is no kinship as dear as the bond forged by spiritual ties. Family relationships are not so firmly based on commonality of aims and likeness of effort. You are bound by links that are more long-standing and pleasant. Let these people return home and exult in the discovery that at Prasanthi Nilayam they have a close associate who respects  and loves them as no relative has done so far.

Volunteers Should Forsake a Life of Pleasure and Possessions
You must realise now that this badge which I gave you is not a passport for easy life; it means strenuous routine, the foregoing of comfort, and the acceptance of hard toil, sleeplessness and sacrifice. If you are accustomed to a soft life you are of little use as a volunteer or for anything else for that matter. Reduce your wants to the minimum. Examine your room, table, wardrobe, and so on, and find out how many superfluous things you have accumulated. You have acquired them because you saw someone having them and felt that unless you too possessed them you will look small in their company.

A foolish desire to be esteemed as up-to-date and in tune with fashion has made you gather habits and articles that are unnecessary. Man can be happy with much less assets than you seem to think as essential. Once an object is with you for a while, you feel it is indispensable; you do not know how to live without it. Like the silkworm, you weave a cocoon for yourself out of your fancy. Therefore, do not allow for the growth of expensive habits in you; they are costly from the monetary as well as spiritual point of view. Watch your likes and dislikes with a vigilant eye and discard anything that threatens to encumber your path.

Volunteer’s Role is a Call for Personal Improvement
Detachment is generally called vairagya, or the absence of raaga. It is a precious spiritual quality, which, if it must sustain you must be based on jnaana or wisdom. You have here this silver image of Shirdi Sai Baba. Looking at the statue, when you think of the silver – its fineness, cost, quality, etc., there is no Sai in it for you. On the other hand, when you dwell on Sai – His leela and mahima (Divine play, power and glory), there is no silver!

At Tirupati, when you stand before the idol, if you think about the stone – its colour, geological structure, weight, etc., you will have no thought of Lord Venkateswara in your mind. On the contrary, fill yourself with the sacred glory of the Lord of the Seven Hills, and then, there is no stone before you! In exactly the same manner, see everywhere – in this carpet, towel, vessel, wall, and so on – the basic Brahman (the Eternal Absolute), and you will be filled with knowledge or jnaana. You will experience no attachment; this is the state of Sarvam Brahmamayam (All is filled with Brahman) – the finale of all sadhana (spiritual practices). Do not despair; practise this from now on, one step at a time. At least see everything as His; offer everything to Him. Do everything as for Him and leave everything to Him. Be an instrument – a tool has no likes and dislikes; just be a tool but an efficient one.

Spread joy at all times. Do not pour into others ears your tales of woe and worry. Carry a smile on your face so that everyone who sees you can catch the exhilaration. When you tell others of your success, your purpose is to create envy in them. You must not only love others, but also be so good that others too love you. Try to console, encourage, strengthen and enlighten those who are miserable, down-hearted, weak or ill-informed. Get yourselves equipped for this role. This is the role into which you are ushered in now. This chance that I have given you, to move about as a volunteer here, is a call for personal improvement and sadhana. When thousands are thirsty for this chance, imagine how lucky you are and how great is the responsibility!

When you assist some eager aspirant to do meditation undisturbed, you earn not only gratitude, but also even a share of the merit. For example, a mother may hasten into the hall when the bell strikes at 4:30 a.m. for the pranava (Om) recital leaving her child sleeping in the shed. If the little one wakes up in the meanwhile and starts crying and screaming, a lady volunteer, without calling the mother out, can herself take the child on her lap and pacify it with a soft lullaby until the mother arrives. Serve others gladly. Do not help with an air of superiority or the sour face of disgust. Let people know that you are genuinely happy at the chance to help.

Prasanthi Nilayam is a Workshop
Do not pretend or patronise. If you simply say, “Do not talk loudly” or give some other such blank direction, you are patronising and treating people with disdain. They deserve to be told why. Tell them that silence is the very first rung in the ladder of sadhana; that it is the hallmark of Prashanthi Nilayam; that they must learn to make every place where they are, a Prashanthi Nilayam; that loud talk disturbs those who practise Naamasmarana (remembrance of Lord’s name) or dhyana (meditation) or japam (recitation); that noise breeds further noise. This is a workshop where damaged minds and hearts come for repair or overhaul. In such a place, there will be the din of hammer, the clang of wheel, the whir of engine and the clatter of chains. However in this workshop  there must be heard only the whisper of the Name of God. With replaced parts and fresh coats of paint, cars emerge out of the garage as good as new and run smoothly, without trouble, for miles together. People must find this place too as an overhaul cell for persons who are travel-worn, weary, or are about to undertake a long journey.

The Sacrifice a Volunteer Should Make
You as volunteers have to forgo your comforts and even chances to have darshan or listen to My discourses when service calls you somewhere else. This tyaga or renunciation gladly undertaken is a very important qualification for the sadhaka. If you feel the urge, “My need is first, the other person’s is later” then, what you perform is not seva, it is strategy. Give up your seat to someone who is older or infirm, or more deserving, this is seva; not, sticking to it when there are people desperate for space and accommodation.

You will earn My grace more by such service and sacrifice than by sitting in the front line and nodding to whatever I say. Do not push or pull people. Speak softly and sweetly. I have known many volunteers who reel off the excuse, “Swami, they won’t obey if we speak softly. They are used to only rough treatment.” I will never pardon such sevaks. The fault is always in their manner of speaking, the way in which they explain their actions, their temper, attitude, and approach.

The Unique Prospect to be Prasanthi Nilayam Representatives
Have you reflected on the responsi­bility which is now being endowed on you? You are being invested with the chance to be Prashanthi Nilayam Rep­resentatives entrusted with the traditional duty of extending hospitality towards your brethren who arrive to this holy town. Therefore, you must have Prasanthi in your hearts and not be agitated, worried, angry or upset. Conduct in keeping with the dignity conferred on you. When guests come to the house, does the wife tell the husband, “We shall feed them after we have eaten”? Their needs take precedence, and they have to be attended to with care and consideration. It is the same here too. The men and women who have come are to be met with love and care, irrespective of your convenience and comfort. That is the way to please Me and win My grace.

You must have not merely enthusiasm to serve, but also the intelligence and the skill. Only then can you be efficient and useful. Enthusiasm without efficiency is often a source of loss and grief. You must do the seva that is delegated to you intelligently and to a successful finish. It does not matter if the recipient is not fully satisfied. You must have done your best, without hesitation or favour.

What is the use of hurrying along the ranks of persons who are sitting for meals with a basket of laddus shouting, “Laddus, laddus, who wants laddus?” without pausing and serving even one laddu on the plate of a single person? The diners in this case have the benefit of only the name, not the substance. Nowadays, service has become more talk and less deed. But the Lord cannot be deceived; He is vigilant and all-knowing.

Sai Himself Serves so that We May Learn
Observe Me. What benefit can I derive from all My activity when it is I who assigns the rewards to all actions according to what they deserve? But yet, you will find Me busy from dawn to dusk, night and day. I finish My lunch or dinner within minutes so that I can teach you the value of time; I attend to the smallest detail of all the various items of work, for I try to set an example for you, in meticulous attention to, and careful anticipation of, all contingencies. I know many of you idle away hours on end, wasting precious time in gossip, purposeless talk and debate. When you practise the attitude that God is everywhere as the witness of every act of yours; that God is in every being you meet and serve, then you will certainly be rewarded by a Vision of the Lord.

The Blessed Chance of a Lifetime
When you have the brilliant chance, do not let it go through ignorance or negligence. Grasp the opportunity and advance! The best way to win Grace is to obey instructions, to follow the advice and submit to the controls exercised with lots of Love. I am worried that people are not benefiting from Me as much as I would like to confer. In the lotus pond there are many frogs. The bees coming from afar partake the nectar of the lotus blooms but the frogs do not seem to realise the value of what is there in their midst.

Seva done lovingly and well to the people who gather here to have darshan and to listen to the discourses is a great opportunity for you to acquire discrimination and non-attachment, to widen and deepen your bhakthi, and to realise how Sai is the Inner Motivator of all beings. I wish you well. Be humble, sweet and sincere.

II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Of all the Sai programmes for pro­moting Harmony and Unity among the peoples of the world nothing is so signi­ficant and far‑reaching as the observance of “Akhanda Bhajan “on a global scale, initiated by Bhagawan. It represents a unique attempt at making people in every part of the world conscious of their Divine essence and to experience the sense of oneness spiri­tually. The Akhanda Bhajan, which is ob­served by Sathya Sai Centres in all coun­tries, from Tokyo in Japan to Vancouver in Canada, from Fiji in the Pacific to Trinidad in the Caribbean, has become over the years one of the most looked‑for event in the Prasanthi calendar.

A simple exercise started over a quarter century ago by a great devotee of Bhagawan, Dr. R.S. Padmanabhan at his Bangalore residence, enthused by His greater inner prompting, has become a global phenomenon, when devotees from the fraternity opt to sing bhajans for a marathon 24-hour, invoking Universal Peace.

Akhanda Bhajan involves constant contemplation on God in the morning, evening or even during the night time. It is constant contemplation on God during all the three states – the waking, dream and deep sleep. It is “Sarvada Sarvakaleshu Sarvathra Harichintanam, said Bhagawan long ago, explaining the significance of the marathon spiritually elevating saga.

…And Akhanda Bhajans of yester years used to have Bhagawan’s greater participation. Reminiscing the beauty and subtlety of the marathon Bhajan Saga, one of the former students of Bhagawan’s University, who has been blessed by Bhagawan to sing in His presence writes:

“Akhanda Bhajan was about to begin in a few minutes. Bhagawan entered the bhajan hall from the rear side and was slowly walking on the carpet towards the altar where He had to light the “Akhanda Jyothi” to mark the commencement of the Bhajans. As He reached the altar, He noticed a glittering artificial garland placed around the neck of the Hanuman Idol by the side of His chair. One could see a frown on His face as He went close to the Idol, bent over the lamp placed by its side, removed the garland and dropped the same saying ARTIFICIAL. We all know that every act of Bhagawan has an inner meaning. We felt that Bhagawan was indirectly teaching us to sing Bhajans from the Heart and not as an Art. He says, whatever we do should be “Heartificial” and not Artificial.”

As Prasanthi and the devotees world-over gear up for the Akhanda Bhajan 2012 we have an illuminating Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagawan on the occasion of Global Akhanda Bhajan 1976. Read on.

SHRAVANAM (hearing the Glory of the Lord), Keerthanam (singing the name and Glow of God), Vishnosmaranam (allowing the mind to dwell on that Glow),  Paadhasevanam (adoring the Feet of the Lord), Vandhanam (experiencing gratitude and joy at His Grace), Dhaasyam (feeling oneself as His instrument), Sakhyam (awareness of his being one’s constant and closest companion) and Aathmanivedhanam (dedicating one’s full being to Him)—these are the nine steps In the path of Devotion.

“Listen, O people! Revel in this iron Kaliyuga, for there is none so propitious for liberation such that mere remembrance of the Name of the Lord and adoring Him thus are enough to win His Grace and set you free.”

“This is bad, this is good—can such judgements ever be made about anything in God’s creation when all are manifestations of His Will.”

Samkeerthan is manifestation of inner ecstasy

Embodiments of the Pure Aathman!

Last November, on the 23rd, people from all parts of the world had assembled here to celebrate the Golden Jubilee and office-bearers of the centres were here for the Second World Conference and other functions that took place. Later they expressed their desire that they be allotted a date before the close of the jubilee Year, when they in their own places could celebrate the happy occasion. In order to overcome their disappointment it was decided that in all centres all over the world, bhajan and naama-sankeerthan (congregational singing and spirituals) be held for full twenty four hours, beginning at 6-30 p.m. on Saturday (yesterday) and ending at 6-30 p.m. today. Therefore in 42 countries around the globe more than 7,000 centres have enthusiastically taken up this pleasant assignment.

This has been named an akhanda-bhajan, that is to say, bhajan done without a break. But was it really an akhanda-bhajan? It is begun at 6-30 on the evening of one day, and is closed at 6-30 on the evening of the next day. Can we call it ‘unbroken’ bhajan? What is a period of 24 hours when we consider the vastness of the Universe and the eternity of time? it is just a wink, a minute part of the life of man on earth. By engaging yourselves in the recitation of the Name of God for one single day, you claim to have done bhajan “without a break!” Akhanda-bhajan must be as continuous as breathing itself if it is to deserve its name.

You must probe into the real significance of the samkeerthan that you are engaged in. Keerthan is “singing aloud the Glory of God.” Samkeerthan is the process of singing that originates in the heart, not from the lips or tongue. It is the expression of the joyous thrill that wells up from the heart when the Glory of God is remembered. It is the spontaneous manifestation of inner ecstasy. No attention is paid to the blame or praise that others may give. It does not seek the admiration or the appreciation of the listeners. It is sung for one’s own joy, one’s own satisfaction, one’s own delight. Keerthan of this supreme type, alone, deserves the name samkeerthan.

 Naamasamkeerthan can cleanse the atmosphere

Singing this intense yearning for God and enjoying the experience of adoring Him, helps to purify the atmosphere. Man is today forced to breathe the air polluted by sounds that denote violence, hatred, cruelty and wickedness. Therefore he is fast losing the high attainments that are in store for him. The vibrations of the naamasamkeerthans (heart-felt recitation and Lord’s name) can cleanse the atmosphere and render it pure, calm and ennobling. It is with this high purpose in view that this programme of global samkeerthan was designed.

No man can escape the influence of the pollution of the air he breathes. The sounds that we produce, with good intent or bad, spread throughout the air around us. This is our daily experience. The sounds produced at radio stations pass through the atmosphere and reach our homes when we tune in. The vibrations travel vast distances and affect the nature of those who inhale them. The atmosphere affects also the food man consumes. The pollution in the atmosphere is imbibed by the plants, the plants supply the grain, the grain is the basis of the meal and the meal shapes the character and behaviour of the person who consumes It. When the environment is clean and free from evil vibrations, the. food too, is pure, and the person develops a tendency to be loving and simple. It is to ensure such an atmosphere that this saadhana (spiritual effort) initiated the world over.

Prayer should come shrieking through the heart

When a man falls Into a well, of what use is it if he controls his voice and his emotions and whispers quietly, “I have fallen into this well, I have fallen into this well. I am in great danger. Please save me?” No one will be able to hear or save him. He must shout full-throated, with all the anguish he is experiencing and with the extreme desire to be’ saved, “I HAVE FALLEN INTO THE WELL! SAVE ME! SAVE ME SOME ONE!” Then can he hope to get succour.

Similarly, when you are caught in the coils of this world, when you have fallen Into this deep well of worldly misery, shout with all your might, with all your heart, that you may be saved by God. There is no use muttering faintly and half-heartedly, “Save me, save me; I am floundering in this samsaar (worldy life).” When the prayer comes shrieking through the heart, help is assured. Samkeerthan or bhajan is of four types. Guna-samkeerthan, leela-samkeerthan, bhavasamkeerthan,and naama-samkeerthan, guna means ‘attributes’ (of God). So guna-samkeerthan is the adoration, in song, of the manifold Attributes of God—Omnipresence, Omniscience, Compassion, Majesty, etc. Leela means ‘divine sport.’ Therefore leela-samkeerthan is the adoration, in song, of the various expressions of these attributes as evidenced by the accounts of sages and seers of all faiths. Bhaava means ‘attitude’ (of the mind). So bhaava-samkeerthan means the adoration, in song, of God pictured and contacted under various relationships.

Path of devotion is the most effective Sadhana

Some may prefer to adore Him as the Giver of equanimity (shaantham), others as a Friend, Guide and Guardian (sakhya), still others as the child one loves and tends (vaathsalya) and yet others as the lover whom one loves with sovereign love (madhura). Naama means the Name of God, and so naama-sankeerthan means the adoration of God, calling upon Him by various Names, each describing His glory, His achievements, His relationship with the individual.

The Names are many, or even countless; it is so in all languages. We have many groups of ‘thousand and eight Names’ which can be used, for God, as the Vedhas (ancient revealed sacred scriptures) declare, has a ‘thousand heads, a thousand eyes and a thousand feet.’ Devotees can adore Him and derive bliss through that adoration, filling each Name with the meaning and significance it carries.

By whatever means God is adored, the path of devotion is the easiest and the most effective for it is a saadhana of the heart, and results in love and service to all as fellow pilgrims to the same Divine Goal.

Some people do question the propriety of calling God by means of such a multiplicity of names. But each Name is indicative only of one aspect of Divinity. It denotes a single part of the Supreme Personality. The eye, the nose, the mouth, the hand or the finger may be denoted by distinct words, but they all belong to the same individual. So, too, one must remember that every Name is but a facet, a part, a ray, of the Supreme. The saadhana consists in recognising and becoming aware of the One that supports and sustains the many. That is the precious gem of wisdom that one must secure and treasure.

Let Liberation be your only desire

There is, however, a thief that lurks in the inner consciousness of man, planning to rob him of this gem. He is kaama (desire). When we have gained what we desire, lobha (greed}, the accomplice of the thief, steps out and prods us to desire a few more objects. When what is desired is not gained, another accomplice, krodha (anger), steps out and prods us to hate and harm those whom we suspect. stood in the way of the gain.

Of course you cannot instantly eliminate all desire from the mind. So you should nourish the one desire prescribed by’ the Vedhas. The Vedhas lay down four goals before man: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kaama (desire) and moksha (liberation). Since the first and the last are difficult to attain without detachment and deprivation of sensual pleasures, man has given them up as impracticable and is struggling in all lands and climes with the middle two— wealth and desire. All the fear and misery of life can be traced to this dire mistake. What has to be done is to take the four as two inseparable pairs, Dharma-artha and kaama-moksha. That is to say, earn wealth through righteousness and use wealth for the promotion of righteousness. And let liberation be your only desire.

Words have a profound effect on the mind

Liberation means getting rid of bondage. Many people give up hearth and home, wife and children, property and possessions, and escaping into forest retreats pride themselves on their ‘renunciation.’ But this act of fleeing cannot be honoured by that name, for such an act by itself cannot confer release, when the mind still remains bound. The fundamental bond which has to be got rid of Is the bond of ajnaana (primal ignorance). Death is sweeter than the bondage that Ignorance can impose on man. Cast away ignorance- you are free, liberated from all bonds that very moment. All spiritual disciplines have this liberation as their goal. Naamasamkeerthan (Heart-felt singing of divine names) too, helps you get rid of this basic ignorance.

Those who rely on reason alone or on the limited laws of science, argue that the repetition of the Name which is, after all, sound, cannot cleanse or correct the mind of man. But the Name is not just ‘sound.’ You are sitting quietly there, listening, but if someone merely says, ‘scorpion,’ you get frightened. Or when someone says, the juice of a lemon, your mouth starts watering. You may be sitting before a plateful of delicacies, but if someone speaks of something dirty or disgusting, you are apt to refuse the food. The mere sound creates so much of reaction:

A certain officer was inspecting the work of a teacher in a school. He had a hearty contempt for mere talk, so he asked the teacher, “How can you ever transform the nature of these children by the words you utter? Show them by deeds; act, don’t speak.” The teacher protested and argued that words have a profound effect on the mind. The argument continued for some time. At last the teacher resolved upon a plan to convince the officer of his point of view. He told an urchin of his class, “Here! Catch this officer by the neck and push him out of the room.” Hearing those words, the officer flew into a great rage and started pouring abuse on the teacher. The teacher said, “-Sir, I only said a few words. No one pushed you or hit you or touched you. It was all mere sound. But see how it has enraged you. Words, sir, do help in modifying character and shaping nature. They have vast power,” he said.

Do not seek to discover the evil in others

When words referring to worldly situations have such a transforming effect on the mind of man, words conveying spiritual and elevated meaning will certainly help in  cleansing and correcting the mind of man. When we fill the air with harshness, we become harsh in nature. When we fill the atmosphere with hatred we, too, have perforce to breathe the air, and are hated in turn. When we saturate the air with sounds full of reverence, humility, love, courage, self-confidence and tolerance, we benefit from those qualities ourselves. The heart is the film and the mind is the lens; turn the lens towards the world and worldly pictures will fall on the heart. Turn it towards God, and it will transmit pictures of the Divine.

Therefore always do good, see good, remember good and be good. Do not seek to discover or discuss the evil in others for the attempt will tarnish your own mind. When you are engaged in searching for the faults and failings of others, you are paving the way for developing those faults and failings in yourself. Dwell on the good in others, and in time it will prove an asset to you.The goodness latent in you shall then be urged to sprout and blossom.

Every thought leaves an impression on the mind

When you pray. “Swaami, appear in my dream tonight,” there is a chance that you may be lucky to visualise Swaami in your dream. But if you pray, turning your attention to bad things, “Swaami, let not a pig or an ass appear in my dream this night,” in all likelihood, the pig and theass will present themselves to you in your dream. Why pay undue attention to things you do not need and do not benefit from? Every thought leaves an impression on the mind, so be ever alert that contact with evil is avoided.

Ideas which are opposed to spiritual tendencies, that narrow the limits of love, that provoke anger or greed, that cause disgust—these have to be shut out. For the saadhaka this is a very essential discipline. He must sublimate such thoughts before they cause an impact on the mind, and should concentrate on the very source of the thinking process. This can be achieved by the practice of equanimity, unaffectedhess or balance. This attitude is the mark of the jnaani (liberated person) and is called jnaana-shakthi (the power of wisdom). Of course it is not easily acquired. The path of devotion and dedication—the bhakthi-maarga—is easiest for most. It is attainable by love, for love leads you quickly to the Goal.

God responds to prayer that emanates from the heart

Once upon a time, Naamadheva (noted for his mastery of the bhakthi-maarga through constant recital of the Name) and Jnaanadheva (noted for his mastery of the path of wisdom), were together crossing a thick jungle. They were both afflicted with severe thirst but could not find water anywhere in spite of a tiresome search. At last they came upon a ruined well with a little water far down its depths, but they had no means of going down the steep sides. So Jnaanadheva used his power and transformed himself into a bird. The bird flew down and drank its fill, only to change itself into Jnaanadheva again! Naamadheva relied upon the power of the Name. He sat on the edge of the well and called, ‘Naaraayana,’ in great anguish. God responded to his prayer. The water rose up to where he sat and he could gather it in his palms and quench his thirst. He had no need to embody himself anew and disembody himself again for the satisfaction of a physical thirst.

When God is invoked by prayer that emanates from the heart, let it be but once, He responds immediately. But now the call emanates only from the lips, it has not the ring of sincerity and faith. From the lips, it must roll back on the tongue: from the tongue, it must go deep into the throat; from the throat, it must reach down into the heart.  Continuous saadhana alone can grant success in this endeavour. You must become like an Infant with no inhibitions or stratagems. The mother may be attending to her daily chores on the first floor of the house, leaving the infant in the cradle on the ground floor. But when the child sends up a loud wail, either through fear or hunger, she rushes down to lift the child, fondle it, feed it and comfort it on her lap. She will not stay away because of the wall not being musical or melodious.

Man’s life has become pathetically artificial

Similarly, the Mother of the Universe. will not weigh the quantity of yoga (divine communion) that you have practised, or calculate the number of Japams (repetition of sacred formulae) you have rolled on the rosary, or the time taken by you for saadhanas of various kinds. She can be moved and Her Grace can be won by a genuine appeal emanating from the heart. Man is finding it increasingly difficult to call upon the Supreme Source of power and grace with such genuineness. His life has become pathetically artificial.

Kaamadhenu (the wish-fulfilling heavenly cow, can be drawn and tied to a post by means of a rope. God, too, can be drawn towards you by the rope (the Name), and tied to the post (the tongue). Then His Name will be dancing upon the tongue forever, conferring the sweetness of His Majesty. The Name has to be sung for your own delight, to quench your own thirst, to appease your own hunger. No one eats to appease another’s hunger, nor takes drugs to alleviate another’s illness. So do not care for what others feel about your dhyaana (meditation) or bhajan.

Do not seek the approval, appreciation or admiration of others, or refrain from dhyaana or bhajan because others dislike it or ridicule it. Be self-reliant, self-confident. See through your own eyes; hear through your own ears. Most people today believe their ears and deny their eyes; or they use the eyes, ears and even the brains of others and thus fall into error and fear.

You are shaped by the company you keep

Consider this : Here you do bhajans twice a day, but bhojans (meals) are taken four times a day! Physical exercises are resorted to in order to make the body strong and fit. Dhaanya (grain, cereal) is grown and stored and used to strengthen the body; dhyaana (meditation) is equally necessary for strengthening the mind so that in its weak state it may not yield to the viruses of lust, greed, anger, hatred, pride, etc. If the body is well-developed and the head is weak, it is a case fit for the lunatic asylum. Food should be for both body and head, and both these should be dedicated to the Realisation of God, the Truth behind and beyond all truths.

Seeking good company and spending all available time in that comradeship called sathsang (holy company), will help the aspirant a great deal. You are shaped by the company you keep; a piece of iron turns into rust if it seeks the company of the soil. It glows, it softens and takes on useful shapes if it enjoys the company of fire. Dust can fly if it chooses the wind as its friend; it has to end as slime in a pit if it prefers water. It has neither wing nor foot, yet it can either fly or walk, rise or fall, according to the friend it selects.

Knowing this truth, Kabir, the great mystic-poet, sang, “Here are my prostrations to the bad. Here are my prostrations to the good.” When asked why he offered prostrations to the bad along with the good, he replied, “I prostrate before the bad so that they might leave me alone; I do the same before the good, so that they might remain near me always.”

By the power of Sadhana, man becomes Divine

Here is a burning coal; here, at some distance, is a cold piece of coal. When they contact each other, the heat spreads to the cold piece of coal, and the part that is in contact with the burning coal is rendered hot and red. If you vigorously sway a fan over the contact area, soon the entire coal becomes a burning ember. ‘Near,’ alone, is not enough for realisation; one has to make it ‘dear’ by the fan of saadhana. This is the power of saadhana, by which the human becomes Divine. The Vedhas say that he who knows Brahman, becomes Brahman. The coal knew fire and became fire. Saadhana is the cultivation of prema (love). Be full of love, taste the exhilaration that love can confer. Man is love embodied: he thirsts for love and he finds real joy in 1ovlng and receiving selfless love. You have forgotten your real nature, which is love, and so you exude misery, hate and jealousy. Never be morose or melancholic. Let all see you exuberant with love and light and joy. Do not entertain passion or prejudice, anger or anxiety. Take the saadhana of the Name, the naamasankeerthan, and the path will be smooth.

This programme of bhajan continuously done for 24 hours all round the world in all lands, has therefore and spread the message of love through the Names of Embodiment of Universal love. It has saturated the atmosphere with thoughts of God and of the peace and joy that He showers.

The bhajan that you have done here has affected not only this particular area and its environment, but it will transmute the entire atmosphere. Continue this attitude of  devotion and humility, of service and tolerance, and the atmosphere will not be polluted by hatred. Do not contaminate the air by voices of acrimony, scandal, insult or slander. Keep silent when you feel like expressing such ideas; that itself is a service to you and to others.

Life is a song, sing it. That is what Krishna taught through His life. Arjuna heard that song on the battlefield, where tensions were at their highest and when the fate of millions was to be decided by the sword. Krishna sang the Geetha for Arjuna to listen. Geetha means ‘song,’ and He sang because He was Aanandha (Divine Bliss), wherever he might be—in Gokulam, on the banks of the Yamuna or at Kurukshethra between the warring armies.

You too must pass your days in song. Let your whole life be a bhajan. Believe that God is everywhere at all times, and derive strength, comfort and joy by singing His Glory in His Presence.

Let melody and harmony surge up from your hearts and let all take delight in the Love that you express through that song.

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