Human Values Emanate from the Heart

Sadayam Hridayam Yashya
Bhashitham Satya Bhooshitham
Kaayah Para Hitheyasya
Kalistasya Karoti Kim

Embodiments of Love,

A pure, unsullied, selfless heart, speech full of truth and a body which is prepared to render service to fellowmen are noble divine qualities. This is the true meaning of human life. The proper study of mankind is man. The human value lies in the harmony between thought, word and deed. The human society has been investigating truth over ages. This sacred Bharat is the birth place of many of the sages and saints in the past who made many of the investigations and research in spiritual field and had many experiences of divinity. At the same time, there is a second trend now. This investigation of truth is proceeding along the direction of scientific research and inquiry and they could know certain secrets and mysteries of nature.

From Atom to Universe

What all that has been revealed by spiritual investigation and scientific truth has all the energy present in an atom. All that is seen and heard in the physical world is present within an atom. It is only the combination of the atoms that has taken the shape of the world now. The five elements represent the combination of the atoms. All the food that we take, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the sound we listen to is a result of the atom. There is no world without an atom. The whole world is nothing but expansion of an atom. What is the inner significance of this? Be that as it may. What is the inner significance of this?

The field of science has taken about a thousand years to prove the fact that the atom is present all over the world. But, thousands of years ago Prahlada, a little boy, could know and reveal the mystery of an atom. The teaching of Prahlada is this that the divine principle is present right from microcosmic atom and spread to the macroscopic universe. It is also the same teaching of Bhagavad Gita

Sarvatah Paanipaadham Tat
Sarvathokshi Siromukham
Sarvatah Srutimalloke
Sarvam Avritya Thishtathi.

This energy is present everywhere. All that is heard and seen is full of energy. To know this vast expanse of ever spreading energy, spirituality has given us certain paths. Whatever you may do, whomsoever you may look at, whatever service you undertake, it is just God's work. Love, truth and service are one and the same. However, love and service are the two wings for mankind. Just as the bird can fly with the help of its two wings, man, with the two wings of love and service can understand the innate quality of human nature and can move out freely everywhere.

The Search for Truth

You don't need to investigate truth. Truth is present everywhere. Why search truth which is present everywhere? Therefore, the search for truth only means to bring out the latent truth present within. This eternal truth and energy is present in all. All are embodiments of God. Easwara Sarvabhoothaanaam - God is present in every being. Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma - everything is Brahman. Under such circumstances what is the meaning if you say that I am in search of God? As you do not understand the divine power, you call it search for truth. There is nothing like searching for truth if you really understand. In order to recognize this divinity, the truth, one has to develop the sacred qualities and experience.

Morality is the true nature of the human race. We are subjected to all types of problems the day when we lose this morality. Truth is morality. Righteousness is the path. Sacrifice is the reputation. Human race is the combination of these three. Human society is the combination of these three - morality, truth and sacrifice. Man has lost this spirit of sacrifice today. He has no morality at all. He is not making any attempt to search for the truth. He is attracted by this transient, ephemeral world; being intoxicated by worldly pleasure, he has forgotten divinity and wasting his time.

Information for Transformation

The organization was started to know one's own self. What is the main aim of the organization? All are the sparks of the divine. You are not the spark of the body, not the world. You are the very Atma - self Mama Evamso Jeeva Loke, Jeeva Bhutha Sanathanah. You are the spark of the divine. The organization is started with the sole purpose to know this truth, share this truth with everybody all around. This is not the one that could be changed or converted.

All speakers said that Swami is bringing about transformation of minds. When do you expect transformation? Transformation is possible only after receiving information. Therefore, to know the spirit of the self Atma, you should gain information. The organization is started with this purpose of gaining this information and passing on this information by sharing it with others.

The main thing is service. We have to understand first truth that the body is gifted to render selfless service. Paropakaarartham Idam Sareeram. The body is meant to render service. The body is not for selfishness and self-interest. It is meant to render selfless service. You develop broad feelings through this selfless service. It kills the ego. It originates bliss. Service confers infinite bliss. It also teaches the principle of brotherhood of man. We can understand this information if only we have the two principles of brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God. We should not end with that alone.

Duality is not Truth

We should also teach the principle of oneness. It is dual principle when you say brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God. Duality is not truth anyway. It is not truth when you say I am God. There are two when you say I and God. A man with dual mind is half blind. There are two here when you say I am God. I am I. I am God. God is God. We have to reach the position that all are embodiments of God.

We have to start this eternal journey from the point of dualism. You have to proceed from dualism to non-dualism. We should have this fundamental faith that everyone is the form of God. There are many critics of the spiritual path. It is easy to criticize, to know is difficult. How do you know the foolishness in simply criticizing?

Some persons approached Buddha at one time and asked him many questions. Does God exist? Then Buddha replied if you argue like that, it is waste of time and foolishness. Just as we find that there are lots of differences among people, faiths also differ. Our faiths also differ when we define our own way. One will attain a certain state based only on one's faith. If you say no, you will get the response no. If you say yes, the response is yes. Yes and no relate to our speech. To God, everything is yes. No and yes depend on our feelings. It has nothing to do with God. Truth is God. Righteousness is God. Non-violence is God. Follow these three, worship the three, proceed along the path of truth. Satyam Naasti Parodharmah - There is no other higher way of life better than truth. Therefore, truth is God. You should first accomplish and achieve this truth.

Whatever we speak should come out of the heart. We should speak with all love. Whatever you speak with love is bound to be truth. When there is no love, there is falsehood. We have to take truth as the basis in all pursuits. It is not that easy. We have to practice.

Sreyo hi jnanam abhyaasaath
Jnaad dhyanam visishyathe
Dhyaanaath Karmaphalatyagas
Thyagae chaanthir anantharam.

Everything, walking, talking, reading, writing, eating is the result of practice. We need to practice this search for truth. It is only through practice, you will be successful. It is not possible without practice. What is this practice? Sadhana. Sa is Salokhya, Sameephya, Saloojya - the nearness, the identity and the merger. That is the true form. They are the feelings that come out of the heart. That is called conscience. Today we don't have conscience. We only think of conscious. The level of conscious is the senses. The senses are full of disease. What you get by senses is not truth. It is only truth that comes out of the heart. That is the true path. This is called heart, Hrid + daya = Hridaya. The heart is full of compassion. Share this with others. That is the Sadhana you have to do. Share the love with everybody. Don't make use of it for selfishness and self-interest. To have that selfish ground is foolish style which is more now. Self lives by getting and forgetting. Love lives by giving and forgiving. Therefore, we have to develop love, making every effort.

Where there is love, there is no hatred. What we need today is self- confidence. You cannot achieve anything without this self confidence. For everything, there is a definite existence. 'I am' is one feeling of existence. You should have faith in that. At times, we have don't have faith in ourselves. If one does not have faith in oneself, then what will one believe?

Self-confidence to Self-realization

So, first you should develop self-confidence. Then we get self- satisfaction. We will be happy then. We will sacrifice anything with this happiness. That is self sacrifice. When you pass on the self-sacrifice, you will have self-realization. So, self-confidence is the foundation of our life. Self-satisfaction is the wall. Self-sacrifice is the roof. Self-realization is life. Therefore, self-realization depends on self-confidence. So, you should have faith first. We have to develop faith first.

What is the meaning of manava - human being? The one with faith is a human being. We believe everything but we do not have belief in ourselves. How can you call yourself a human being?

Hanuman at one time said one is nara - human being and the other vanara - monkey. But the monkey is better than a human being in one way. I serve Rama whereas human beings are serving desire - kama. I keep Rama as my ideal. I live with Rama but you lead your life in desire. That is the difference between you and me. Where there is Rama- God, there cannot be kama - desire. Therefore, we should have to limit our desires. This, in our Organization, is the program on ceiling on desires. We have to reduce our desires.

The Values Within

We also have human values. What is this human value? The value is within us. Values are not to be acquired a fresh. We are born with the values. Just as there is no difference between you and the shadow, likewise, there is no difference between you and your value. The values are all within you. You are far away from them because you do not make use of them. You are truth. You are dharma. You are peace. Everything is yourself. You are the embodiments of truth. You are embodiments of peace. You are embodiments of love. You are embodiments of God. You must understand this truth.

God is not separate. Daivam Maanusha Roopena- God is in human form. Human life is the result of the merits of several previous lives. Jantunaam Nara Janmam Durlabham- Human life is very rare. Nara is not anything new. Nara means Atma. Atma is imperishable. Raha is perishable. Na means no. Nara means imperishable. It is only the body that changes. The Atma does not change. We do not understand the imperishable Atma, the soul within but we are carried away by this worldly sense and take to wrong directions. We have to direct the external look inward.

Reduce your desires to a certain extent. There will be increase of spirituality with the decrease of desires. Less luggage, more comfort makes travel a pleasure. The desires are our luggage. Desires are needed in the world but they should be within a limit. You should not transcend the limit. You will be put to danger if they become limitless. Every desire must have a limit.

We are what we eat

There are certain habits. Members of the Organization should have some good habits. Jaisa Anna, Vaisa Mann - as is the food, so is the thought. As is the feeling so is the experience - Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati. So we have to partake of food in a proper way. It is because of food that we have all sorts of durguna, duralochana and duschinta- bad habits, bad thoughts. So give up smoking. Also eschewing drinking. This alcoholism and smoking are ruining your health. One without health cannot achieve any small thing. Meat eating is also very bad. If you partake animal food, you will develop animal qualities. As is the food, so is the head. So you should have regulation of food. Then the fourth one is gambling. Those in the spiritual field should immediately give up smoking, drinking, meat eating and gambling. All these four are bad qualities.

You take this meat eating. Many people have to kill the animals because of your non-vegetarianism. You are responsible for the death of those animals. They are killed because you eat them. This is a sin. What a sin to kill innocent animals and eat them.

You should know two important things. Help ever. Hurt never. We should not hurt anyone. This is the true human value. It is not human value when you just declare Sathya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema. True human value is not hurting anybody. Not only that, no one should be put to any harm because of us. We should not harm anyone either by thought, word or deed or food.

We pray to God. How do we pray? We pray to God that we want this, we want that. Who is God? Sat, Chit, Ananda is God. Your desires will be fulfilled if you adhere to Sat, Chit and Ananda. We resort to these mean desires because we have not understood the divine principle of Sat, Chit and Ananda.

Sin and Merit, in Our Actions

What is spirituality? Satyam Bhruyath - speak the truth. That is moral value. Priyam Bhruyath- speak what is pleasant. That is dharmic. Na Bhruyath Sathyam Apriyam' - do not speak the unpleasant truth. That is spiritual value. We worship and go on pilgrimage. These are spiritual. These are only aspects of spirituality. We have to develop sacred qualities. There is no other spiritual path more than this.

God is not present in a foreign land. God is present in one's own body. Sin is not present in a foreign land. It is attached with your own actions. Sin or merit are not present in a foreign land. They are present in our actions. Everything has these three - reaction, resound and reflection. Do good. You will have good results. See good. You will get good. Think good. You will have good things. As is the thought, so is the result. Our actions are responsible for pain and pleasure. So, we should do good actions. The human life is given to do good actions. One should help others to please God.

Whom does God love? God loves those who help others. This is because God is present in others. We should not think that we are serving others. You are serving God Himself God has come in this form. You may serve anyone but it is service rendered to God. All actions are service to God. Then work will be transformed into worship. Never divide that this is my work and that is God's work. Go to office. This is God's work. Do business. It is God's work. You teach. It is God's work. Everything is God's work. There is nothing where there is no God. Develop that faith today.

All These Reach God

Our Vedas also declare Sarva Jeeva Namaskaram Kesavam Pratigachati whomsoever you respect, it reaches God. Not only this. Sarva Bhootha Tiraskaram Kesavam Pratigachati - whomsoever you accuse or criticize, it reaches God. You should have equanimity in both the contexts. The organisation is started to establish this equanimity. Sai organisation is not meant for publicity. We do not need publicity. Who invited you here? It is the relationship of love. It is all the continuous flow of your love towards Swami. What is our relationship? It is love to love and heart to heart. You love Swami and Swami loves you. That is the contact, connection - love to God.

You have to understand another factor in the organisation. You have all participated in the conference. One important thing is that the service rendered by Seva Dal to maintain cleanliness in the campus cannot be estimated in a way. Seva Dal members are the true Sevaks. There are lakhs of workers in our organisation who are prepared to sacrifice. But we should not have the feeling of a worker. All are workers. Everyone is a servant here. You think you are a master. No. You think you are a President. You are not a President. This is because basically everyone in this world is a servant.

All Are Servants, God is the Master

A person had at the tender age a classmate who became a king later. The old friend came to see the king. The king asked his friend, "What are you doing now?" He said, "Oh King, I am a poor man. I am suffering because I could not carry on my life. In this world, all are workers. They submit to one thing or the other in this world." Then the king became very angry. He said, "I have authority on all. How can I be a servant? I have got so many servants. I have so many helpers". He said, "I am the master". The friend dropped the stick he was holding in his hand to teach the king a lesson. He could not bend. He said "How can I walk now as my support, the walking stick, has fallen down." The king bent, picked up the stick and gave it to his friend. He said, "Oh king, now you are my servant because you have picked up the stick and given me. It is service." Service is not merely done with the body. The child serves the mother and the mother serves the child. The husband serves the wife and the wife serves the husband. So all are servants. God is the only master. We have to follow the trend and nature of the master.

Everyone says he is a master. What is the meaning of master? Some say the divine master, some say station master, postmaster. All are masters. The word master has no value. Everybody feels that he is a master. You should be totally perfect to have that total divinity.

There was a musician by name Johnson in Italy. He makes violins. He takes one or two years to make a violin. Others ask him 'Johnson, if you take one or two years to make a violin, how can you live?' Then he said 'brother, God is totally perfect. So for that God, who is perfection, I do a perfect job.' 'God is total. So my work should also be total and perfect. Poornamadha Purnamidam Purnath, Purnamudhachyuthe; Purnasya Poornamadhaya Purnameva Visishaythe. God is all perfection. I should also be perfect.

WATCH for Transformation

It is no service at all if you think that you are serving because of the pressure of the organisation. You should do it to satisfy your conscience. One may know or not but one should do to the satisfaction of the conscience because God is all perfection. We should do it perfectly to satisfy that God who is all perfection. We start serving when others watch us and discontinue when they are gone. God is watching whether others watch or not. What do you mean by watch? Understand what watch means. Watch is spelt as W a t c h. The first W is Watch your word. Then A, Watch your actions, T, Watch your thought, C, Watch your character and H, Watch your heart. This is the real watch. We can understand God clearly if we live in this way.

You have to change yourself. No one in position need watch you. Samithi President need not watch the worker. Samithi President and workers should watch themselves. One has to watch one's own self. No one has got any power. Then everything will be in perfect order.

You have to satisfy your conscience. That is the path to self-realization. We are put to so many troubles as the conscience is not clear because we could not understand it. Swami is fully aware of the good work done by the organisation. In fact, it need not be declared separately because there is no other organization in the world equal to Sathya Sai Organisation. In no other organisation would you ever see food supply, water supply in all perfection to lakhs of people as you see here. Not only this. We should understand the patience of the foreigners. They live in palatial mansions. They will have everything promptly. They sleep on Dunlop beds. Today the foreigners spend their time in sheds. They do not have Dunlop beds there. They do not have bed, coffee, cheese, but they adjust. This adjustment is real devotion. Adjustment is spiritual practice. When do you get the quality of adjustment? When there is understanding, there will be adjustment. The understanding is He is my Swami, He is my God. This sort of understanding leads to adjustment. This is true spiritual practice. So have understanding in the first instance. Having understood, practice it. You will be blissful when you practice.

When do you practice if you read all through your life? It is not reading that is important. Practice is very important. Reading is bookish knowledge. You need practical knowledge. Practice from now on to have practical knowledge. Proceed on the path of truth in daily life and set an ideal.

One Goal; Different Paths

It need not be separately said about the organization. All know this. All are educated. I want to go along the right path. You are all following the path of truth. The whole world is one. We should not hate any religion. Our life will be good if all the religions are on the right path. The listeners will forget themselves listening to the music from the strings of the instrument Veena. If one string is broken, naturally the tune will be wrong. The whole country is Veena. Each religion is a string on that. The whole world is a Veena and all religions are the strings. The country will be good if all the strings are in perfect order. All religions should be happy and good. All religions should take us to perfection. We should not hate each other. We should not make fun of each other. We should not hurt anybody. All should be like brothers and sisters because the whole world is one.

God is one. The goal is one. But the paths are different. Religions are different but the goal is one. Though the clothes are different, the cotton is one. Jewels are many; gold is one. The color of the cows may be different but the milk is one. Beings are many but the indweller is one. Flowers are different but worship is one. We are bound by this world. It is only for our living that we have so many varieties. All are one in fact.

No Religion Teaches Hatred

It is a mistake if you have the feelings of difference that one is an American, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim. There is only one divine principle whether one is a Zoroastrian, Mohammedan, Christian or a Hindu. No religion will teach to hurt anybody. No religion will teach you to speak falsehood. No religion will teach you to harm anybody. It is no religion if one religion teaches to harm anyone. Where does the mistake lie? Religions are different but the path is one. We are confused in this single path. The teachings of religions is one - protect truth and righteousness. Keep up your life. Follow morality and integrity. Develop human quality. That is the true teaching today.

All religions together teach good things. Conduct yourself with all intelligence. Which religion is bad if the minds are good? Nothing is bad. Only the mind is bad, not the caste or the religion. Every difference lies in our mind. We should have unity in this world. We should be members of this universal family. We live as one family in Prasanthi Nilayam. All are one here irrespective of their language, country, habit and religion. This is real spiritual practice. It is not the one to be converted. One has to change by oneself. How? You change yourself because of your love for Swami. That love brought the whole transformation.

The Three Ds

We have certain stipulations and regulations in this conference from the worldly point of view. Rules and regulations are very essential. We should abide by all our resolutions in total. There are many conferences in the world. They also pass resolutions. The moment they come out, they tear the resolutions. We should not be like that in our organization. The moment you pass a resolution, you should pass in practicing that. When you practice, then you will pass. We should never disobey the regulations. That is discipline. When do you develop that discipline? There will be discipline when there is devotion. When do you get devotion? Where there is duty, there is devotion. The three Ds, discipline, devotion and duty, the trinity, should be unified. That is true spirituality.

There should be devotion in every duty. We should have devotion not diversion. There should be devotion not deep ocean. We have to develop that devotion. What is that devotion? Paripoorna Prema unsullied love is true devotion. We have to understand this love clearly. Foreigners say I love you, I love you. This sort of love has no meaning. There is none in this world who will love you. God is love. The husband tells the wife I love you. The mother tells the child I love you. Brothers say I love you. They are just physical, worldly love, and not true love. Prior to marriage, who is husband, who is wife? Where was the love earlier? No love. Who is the mother, who is the child prior to birth of the child? Mother starts loving the child after birth. Love is not a temporary thing. Love is not a passing cloud. Love is permanently present in the past, present and future. God's love is true love. The rest of the love is mere attachment. But we use this word love. We say so not knowing the meaning. Love is God. Live in love. Start the day with love. Spend the day with love. Fill the day with love. End the day with love. This is the way to God. We have to develop love this way.

Swami Asks for Quality

One may belong to any country, any religion, any language; they have to develop love. God is the embodiment of love. Others may or may not love. You share your love. We have to develop this spirit of love.

Swami is not bothered about quantity. How many organizations have increased, how many units have increased. How many devotees have increased? Swami is not concerned with this statistics. Swami wants quality. This quality is enough. One teaspoon of cow's milk is enough. Why barrels of donkey's milk? Many people are after quantity. Desire quality. It is enough if there are only ten people. See that improvement, this quality with the rest of the people. This is the service you have to do. Share with everybody the happiness and bliss you experienced here. That is true service. Never transgress our regulations. You are not mindful of the money and effort spent and the inconveniences here because of his love. Thyagaineike Amritatwmanasuhu. Without sacrifice immortality cannot be attained. Develop this spirit of sacrifice.

This body has to go one day or the other. Body is like a water bubble. Mind is like a mad monkey. Don't follow the body. Don't follow the mind. Follow the conscience. That is the way to God. Follow conscience and achieve the true bliss. Where is this happiness? You do not see it anywhere. You cannot get it. Happiness is union with God. You will not have this happiness in material or worldly things. You can get this happiness only from God. Brahmanandam, Parama sukhadam, Kevalam, Jnanamurtim, Dwandahaateetham, Gagana chatursam, Meghavarnam. You will get happiness only in this way. Nithyanandam - be always happy.

Swami, The Tank of Bliss; Devotees, The Taps

Many tell Swami 'Happy Birthday'. Swami said I am always happy. I don't want happiness. You need happiness. So take back your happiness. When do you take it back? When you receive Swami's bliss, you will be happy. Swami's bliss is the tank. You are all taps. Open the tap, you will have the bliss of Swami. God is the tank. Devotees are the taps. Bad water cannot be there in that tank. The water there is sweet and pure. Drink this sweet water of God, Swami. Quench your thirst. Be blissful and set an ideal to the world. You are all here because you are thirsty. What kind of thirst? The thirst of God. Drink well, more and more. Do not enter into undesirable paths. Do not be bothered of the outer world. Lead a peaceful life in Prasanthi Nilayam. Fill it up well. Fill up all the vessels.

Go certainly. Share the bliss you experienced herewith everybody back home, in the neighborhood and among your friends. Develop this spirit of love. What Swami gives is only love. People understand it in different ways. You may understand it in your own way but love is love. Swami has no trace of selfishness. Swami's love is selflessness and you develop selfless love.