God alone is the Sadhguru

Embodiments of Divine Love!

It is not easy to understand the divine principle. The ego of "I" and the attachment of "Mine" are responsible for all difficulties. Man attains divinity very easily the moment he gives up ego and attachment. Aathma is omnipresent. Aathma is infinite. Aathma is the One without a second. But, it appears as many because of the diversity of forms. Spirituality is that which recognizes the One that subsumes all diversities as the Aathma.

Unfortunately, to-day there are many intellectuals who divide the One into the many. But there are very few who see the One in the many. Here is an example. We have built a mansion. In this mansion we have one room for bath, one for cooking, another for dining and yet another for living. What is it responsible for this division? It is walls in between. If you remove the walls, the mansion becomes one again. Because of the walls in between, there are different rooms with different names and forms. Similarly, the mansion of Aathma is only one. Since we have created in this mansion of Aathma, different rooms of the body, senses, mind, intellect, will and ego, the diversity appears.

Since this divisive tendency is on the increase among mankind to-day there is great need for the Guru. Who is a true Guru? What is the truth underlying the Guru principle? Is he the one that teaches worldly education? Is he the one that explores the properties of matter, a Guru? Is he the one that describes in detail Natural Sciences, a Guru? No, they are only teachers. A true Guru is the embodiment of Brahmaanandha (transcendental bliss). Who is this Brahmaanandha? Where does he exist? When we enquire on these lines, we find that there is nothing comparable to it in the universe. All the joys of the world are immanent in Brahmaanandha (transcendental divine bliss).

Thathvamasyaadhi lakshyam is the next aspect. What is Thathvam? There are four great pronouncements. "Prajnaanam Brahma"--this is the essence of Rig Vedha; "Aham Brahmaasmi" is the essence of Yajur Vedha; "Thath Thvam Asi" is the essence of Sama Vedha; "Ayam Aathma Brahma" is the essence of Atharvana Vedha. All those four great declarations point to One Divinity. Though they state and explain differently, their goal is One Divinity.

The second pronouncement is "Aham Brahmaasmi". People think that Aham is "I". No. It has another meaning also. It is witness. He is witness to everything. He is the Aathma. Aham is the very form of Aathma. The Awareness or Consciousness which is present everywhere is installed as Aathma in man. Aathma, Consciousness and Brahma are not different. What is this? (Bhagavaan showed the handkerchief in his hand). This is cloth. If you remove the idea of cloth, you see thread and if your remove the idea of thread, you see cotton. The cloth, thread and cotton are one and the same. Similarly the same principle takes upon the names of Aathma, Brahman or Aham at different times and situations. Therefore, the statement of "Aham Brahmaasmi" means that the witness Aathma or "I" in me is Brahman Himself.

The third declaration is "Thath Thvam Asi." This is the essence of Sama Vedha. Thath means "That" and Thvam means "This," Asi means "one and the same." When "I" and "you" stand apart, "I" am different from "you." But when "I" and "you" get together, the difference is lost and they together become "We." The two become one. The one with the Upaadhi (body) is Thvam and the one without the Upaadhi is Thath. One is Jeeva (the individual) and the other is Dheva (God). Saama Vedha explains clearly that Jeeva and Dheva are one and the same.

"Ayam Aathma Brahma." You should enquire into this statement clearly. There are three words--Ayam, Aathma and Brahma. But, they are one and the same. This statement depicts the oneness of the three persons--"The one you think you are." "The one others think you are" and "The one you really are!" i.e. the body, the mind and the Aathma. You act with the body, think with the mind and you witness both as the Atman. In wakeful state you are the Vishva, you are Thaijasa in dream state and in the deep sleep state you are Prajna. Who is the Prajna? "Prajnaanam Brahma." Prajnaanam is the Aathma.

The real Guru is the very embodiment of the Divine principle, which is the inner meaning of these four great pronouncements. He is the one who has experienced and enjoyed the essence of these declarations and takes upon Himself a Form to teach the same.

Achalam: All things change and move. The earth rotates around its axis at a speed of 1016 miles an hour. Not only does earth revolve around itself, it moves round the sun at a speed of 66,000 miles. But, we cannot see its movement. We think we are moving and the earth is still. No. The earth is moving. The moon and the sun and the planets are also moving. On a cinema screen 16 pictures of the film move in one second but the screen is steady. Similarly, He is steady and motionless. He need not move anywhere, because He is here, there and everywhere.

Who is a Guru?

Who is a Guru? Is one who teaches a 'manthra' a Guru? No.

Guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Eeshvara. Some people may say that Vishnu and Eeshvara do not go together. But it is ignorance to think so. It is only the narrow-mindedness of these devotees. Some call themselves Vaishnavites (the worshippers of Vishnu) and some others namely Shaivites (worshippers of Shiva or Eeshvara). But Vishnu and Shiva are one and same.

Vishnu holds in the four hands the Conch, the Discuss, the Mace and the Lotus. Conch is the symbol of sound, the Discuss of time, the Mace of power and the Lotus of the heart. He is the master of sound, time, power and the hearts of all beings. Similarly Siva holds in the hands Damaru (the drum), and Thrishuula (trident). Here Damaru stands for sound and Thrishuula for a three-pronged time. He is the master of time and sound. Thus both are same, only names and forms are different.

Here is an example in the context of Indian traditions. Both Vaishnavites and Shaivites visit Tirupati. There is only one God there. Shaivites call Him Venkateshvara and Vaishnavites call Him Venkataramana. There may be difference in their feelings but God is one. They create differences in order to satisfy their petty minds.

Another example. Shiva is called Pashupathi, the Lord of pashu or beings. The individual with mind-principle are beings. Vishnu is called Gopaala, the Lord of Cows or beings. Actually both mean the same. Only narrow minds create differences. Narrow minded people can never attain higher states whatever practices they undertake for any length of time. We should recognize the unity in diversity. This is true spirituality. You are yourself God. As long as you do not know this truth you are Jeeva (individual); once you know, you are Dheva (God).

Today you have heard Anil Kumar speaking with joy about the devotion and the experiences of devotees in Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong. Some people think, these people from far off places have such intense devotion, sense of surrender and many experiences, but how is it that being so near to Svaami for so long we do not experience these? Svaami does not shower any extra compassion on them. God responds according to one's faith. Their faith is responsible for everything.

Of course, there are right and wrong things both here and there. But because of the great distance, they develop more intense devotion and sense of surrender Intense feelings remain secure under all circumstances. When the devotion is not intense, it becomes fickle. Here is an example. There are huge trees on the roadside. These trees remain green in spite of famine and drought. On the other side there is the paddy crop nearby. You have to water it everyday. Even if you do not water it one day, it will dry up. Foolish ones may think, "Paddy crop dries up if it does not get water for a day. How is it the trees remain green even, in a long period of drought?" What is the reason for this? The roots of the tree have gone deep down to the water level, whereas the roots of the paddy crop remain on the surface.

We do not have steady and strong faith. Faith is our breath. We listen to Svaami's discourses everyday, but we do not derive any benefit. There are some who hear only once but remain strong for ever. Anil Kumar had delivered discourses all over India. His discourses are highly attractive and colorful. But his monkey mind is full of jumps and bumps. Some times, he doubts these things which he himself talks. In order to remove his doubts I sent him to Tokyo. He went and saw for himself their devotion and sense of surrender. He has understood that their faith is responsible for every thing. All the difficulties begin when one's faith wavered.

Prahlaadha loved Hari (God) and his father Hiranyakashipu hated Hari. The father went on arguing and denying the existence of God, whereas the son went on establishing His existence. Who protected Prahlaadha when he was thrown down the mountain? His faith protected him and not Vishnu. His faith took the form of Vishnu.

Once in Shirdi, Thahtya's wife prayed to Baba to visit their home and partake food there. Baba accepted her request and promised to visit their home. She prepared everything for Baba's visit and kept everything ready. But Baba did not come at the appointed hour. She served food in the plate and went to Baba's photograph and said, "Baba why are you putting me to shame? More than my humiliation, you will be called a liar if you do not come. Why do you utter a lie? You should keep up your word!"

Meanwhile, a dog came into the house, started eating the food in the plate served for Baba. When she turned round to see what was happening, she found the dog. She got angry and beat the dog with a stick and sent it out. She was very sad that food served for God was eaten up by a dog. Next day she went to Baba and pleaded with him, "Baba! Should you not keep up your words? Why should you Utter falsehood?" Baba got angry and shouted at her. 'Saitan! What is the need for me to utter falsehood?" In Shirdi, Baba used the word 'Saitan!' often, now Svaami uses the word 'Dunnapotu' (he buffalo in Thelugu). Baba continued angrily, "There is no need for me to utter any lie even if it is to satisfy you. My form is Truth but you are not able to recognize it out of your narrow thinking. You assume that Sai Baba is only this body measuring five and a half feet. All forms are Mine! You do not have such broad mindedness. You are narrow-minded. The dog was none other than Myself."

We have built the Super Specialty Hospital here. Why did we start it? Many people suffer from many diseases. It is difficult to expect every one to develop divine feelings of devotion and surrender. Some people have faith in medicines, some in operations and some others in doctors. Whether it is a verandah or a choultry, it is enough if one sleeps. Similarly, here our purpose is that people should get rid of their ailments, given good health and live happily. Further, many medical experts like Dr. Venugopal and his team from Delhi, and the team from Hyderabad are performing the operations with great devotion and dedication. What is the reason for all these people to come here and carry on the operations? Apart from their faith and devotion, they have the good aspiration to give joy to one and all. They do all this keeping Svaami in view.

Earlier, heart operation was a very frightening thing and people would shudder at the prospect of this operation. They would be afraid of the consequences. The patients would cry and make their kith and kin cry. But in Prashaanthi Nilayam today, heart operation has become an easy thing like removing the thorn from one's foot. None has any fear. That is fearlessness!

Even little children come to our Hospital with a smile on their face. When Svaami went to the Hospital a little child in the cot who was operated, saluted Him with a broad smile on her face. Neither her parents nor relatives were there but she was full of joy. What is the cause? It is because of the environment. Their faith is mainly responsible for this. All the things are going on very joyfully. Every one thinks it is God's work. There is no trace of ego in those who work here.

We may get fresh vegetable from the market. We prepare good sambar with dhal, tamarind, chilies and salt. But the sambar is spoilt. Is it the mistake of the salt or dhal or tamarind? No, the vessel is not tinned. The operation may be done spending lakhs of rupees. If there is no love and devotion in the work, it is like cooking sambar in an untinned vessel. Faith is most important for success or failure. It is faith or lack of faith which is responsible. Without this faith if you get into argumentation in the name of devotion, it is only the effect of ego and ostentation.

Embodiments of Divine Love!

If you want to understand divinity, you should have the firm faith that divinity is every where. There is no place or object without divinity. Gurupuurnima means full moon without any defect or lacuna. Moon is nothing but mind. When the mind is completely perfect, it sheds light. Gurupuurnima is not performed by circumambulation and offerings to the Guru. What is the real offering? It is the offering of one's love. To know that God exists everywhere is circumambulation. If you understand these terms, everyday is Gurupuurnima. There is only one Guru, that is God and there is no other Guru. Contemplate on that Guru.