God is the embodiment of love. If you don't understand even a fraction of that love in this world, how do you expect to realize truth and fulfill your ambitions?

Embodiments of Divine Love!

Peace, friendship, servitude, sweetness, affection, these are all synonyms of the basic principle of love. The more a man develops love, the more blissful he will be. Man aspires to be blissful. Man always wants to be happy. What is the reason? Man is born out of this bliss. He lives in bliss. He ends in bliss. This bliss is Divine. Though this Divine quality is latent in him, man searches for it outside. Bliss does not have a separate existence . Man strains himself thinking that he would be happy by learning. He makes every effort to take up a job, to be happy. Thinking that he would find happiness in it, he struggles hard to occupy exalted positions. He thinks that he would be happy by becoming a householder. In spite of all these efforts, he is far from this happiness. Of all the attributes and names of God, Sat-Chit-Ananda is the most precious. To attain such a bliss, one has to follow this path of Sat-Chit-Ananda. Sat is the truth which remains the same in all the three worlds and in all the three periods of time. In order to know this truth, one has to tread along this path only. Chit means total awareness. Out of this total awareness, you can attain Divinity. Where these three principles, Sat-Chit-Ananda exist, there is supreme bliss, Brahmananda.

Attain Bliss

Man undertakes many spiritual pursuits to attain this bliss (Divinity). But they all give him temporary satisfaction, not the bliss in total. They are all worldly pursuits. Once you give up these external paths and take to inward path, you attain bliss. Those who want this eternal, supreme, non-dual bliss should follow this path of Sat and Chit. In order to reach this blissful state, one has to follow the path of truth. Truth is God. Truth is all pervasive. Truth is beyond time and space and all reckoning. Truth is attributeless. Once you follow this truth, naturally you can attain God, who is the embodiment of truth. This is what Veda means, when it says, "Uddhareth Atmanaatmaanam". You should work for your own emancipation. You should know your truth. Investigate your own heart. There lies real bliss. All physical paths confer temporary satisfaction. This body is called "Pindamu". Body is the temple of God. True spiritual path lies in offering this body to God. Man has four primary objectives in life. They are Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Desire), and Moksha (Liberation). These four objectives give us peace and enjoyment in the external way. They give us all worldly comforts, but this is not the true happiness. There is a fifth objective of life called supreme love. It is the science of love that makes you love God intensely. The one who understands and follows this sacred text of love will attain liberation. What is liberation? Mukti (liberation) is that which would put an end to external pursuits. What is to be offered to God? This body which is the temple of God should be offered to God. This is called "Pinda Daanamu". This body is Pindamu; offering this to God is liberation. It only means, all the actions that we do with this body should be offered to God. This is the fifth objective of human life, i.e., the sacred ideal of love. To teach this sacred rule of love, to pass on the sacred love, to propagate this love, to make people drink the nectar of love, the formless God descends from Goloka to Bhuloka in a human form. The day of descent of God on earth is celebrated as the birthday of God. Why does He incarnate? God descends on earth to make humanity drink the nectar of love and enjoy the sweetness of Divinity. One who drinks this sweet nectar, forgets himself and identifies himself with God and enjoys the blissful state thereafter. "Shariramaadyam Khalu Dharma Saadhanam", body is gifted to perform sacred actions. We have to discharge our duties and sacrifice the fruits of our actions. We have to cultivate the principle of "Thyaga" or sacrifice and be far off from "Bhoga" or worldly pleasures. God is the embodiment of "Thyaga". The bliss which you get out of sacrifice is truly Divine. Those who want to enjoy the blissful state of God must give up the body attachment and turn inward. We should not spend all our time for our bodily pleasures. We do need to safeguard our body. What for is the body given? It is given to serve God. What is that to be offered to God? We have to offer our total love to God. Wherefrom is this love born? God is love. We have to live in love. We know that water bubble is born in water, sustained in water and ultimately merges in water. Similarly, man has come out this bliss, is sustained in bliss and ultimately merges in bliss.

Body is bound to perish at some point of time. Just for the sake of this fleeting body, we should not waste our time and energy. What we need is good character. The modern student tries to acquire only the physical strength, friendship and wealth. But all these things are not important. Character is important. Without character, physical strength, friendship and wealth are of no use. It does not matter even if wealth or friendship is lost, but you should keep up your character. In the ancient days, Bharathiyas believed "If wealth is lost, nothing is lost, if health is lost, something is lost, if character is lost, everything is lost." But due to the effect of Kali Age, people now say, "if character is lost, nothing is lost, if health is lost, something is lost, it wealth is lost, everything is lost". This is the modern trend. This is not the path, which we have to adopt. It should be this way, "if character is lost, everything is lost." A person without character has no place in this world. We should make every effort to sustain and develop character. In order to foster character in man, Krishna taught in many ways and propagated the principle of love. The previous speaker, Prof. Chatterjee, narrated the incident of Krishna lifting the Govardhanagiri, in order to protect the Gopalas and Gopikas from the torrential rain. Man is full of doubts from top to toe. When Krishna told them to come and take shelter under the mountain, which He had lifted with His small finger, the people were afraid to do so. They doubted His Divinity thinking Him only to be a small boy. Human beings form their opinion based on the physical frame and physical strength. It is only the Divinity that goes by the character and not by the physical strength.

Love is the best Sadhana

We have to make an effort to know the difference between God's love and human love. God always gives and gives and never receives anything in return, but man always receives and is never prepared to give. The one who receives will have his hand down, but the hand of the giver is always on the top. The hand of God is always on the top. Whatever God says or does is absolutely selfless. There is no trace of selfishness or self-interest in God. Man considers selfishness and self-interest as foremost in life. Only when man sacrifices his selfishness, he can become spiritual. What is this selfishness? What is its goal? What is the outcome? What is the bliss that one gets out of these? It has no goal, it has no bliss. It is only because of illusion, that man gets entangled in selfishness and self- interest. All the results of this physical activity, be it profit or loss, happiness or sorrow are transient in nature. They are all momentary. Why should we lose our permanent blissful state for the sake of these momentary pleasures. Since we are not aware of the permanent bliss within us, we struggle for the transient pleasures. When once we know permanent truth, we will not be mindful of the fleeting pleasures. In every activity we have to inquire the principle of truth. One who recognizes the truth will always live in bliss. Love is truth, love is life and love is the goal. Love is second to none, love equals love alone. Only through the path of love, you can reach the embodiment of love, which is God. It is not physical or worldly love. It is not "Pravritti Prema", which is external, but it is the "Nivritti Prema", which is eternal and Divine. You can win God's love, either by criticism or praise. When Dharmaja was offering first respects to Krishna in the open court, Sisupala started criticizing Krishna in many ways. Dharmaja could not bear this. As he was listening to this uncharitable criticism, he could see the life principle of Sisupala merging in Krishna. This made Dharmaja much more unhappy and dissatisfied. He started wondering how the life principle of a person like Sisupala could merge in the Lord. Dharmaja requested Narada, who was by his side, to explain how such a thing could happen. Narada said, "O king! criticism or praise relate only to the body, not to the spirit, and also Sisupala criticized Krishna only out of love, and not hatred; since he knew that the more he criticized, the sooner he could merge in Him. There is no mistake if you criticize God out of love. Even such a criticism is a kind of praise".

Kamsa having come to know that he would die at the hands of Krishna, decided to kill Krishna and Balarama. Immediately, he called Akrura and commanded him to go and fetch Balarama and Krishna saying, "O Akrura, you are a good friend and devotee of Krishna, if you go, they will surely condescend to your request." Since he could not disobey the command of the king, Akrura went and met Yashoda and Nanda and told them that Kamsa was performing a yagna and wanted Krishna and Balarama to attend it. But Yashoda and Nanda were not in favor of their children going to Kamsa's palace. Gopikas having heard of this surrounded Nanda's house and said Krishna should not go to Mathura, as He was their life and they could not live without Him. They raised objections in several ways. Krishna is the very form of mystery and wonder. He did not utter a word, since he knew that Gopikas would not be convinced so easily. So he sat in the chariot and made it disappear with his Divine power. Until He reached the banks of Yamuna, no one could see the chariot. As Gopikas found themselves helpless, they returned to Brindavan. As is the feeling, so is the result. Gopikas had this intense love for Krishna, so they could see this love pervading all over. They started asking the creepers and the flowers that cannot see and speak, saying "The dark-complexioned one, whose eyes are like that of a lotus; the one who showers compassion; the one who wears the peacock feather, He has captured everything that belongs to us. O jasmine flowers! Could you please tell us whether He is in your bushes?" They went on questioning in such a manner. That is also a quality of love. Love has no reason. Love is the basis for love. Only through this love, we can attain God. Any other spiritual pursuits give us the temporary joy and not the permanent bliss. Only through the principle of love and its practice, we can recognize and realize the embodiment of love. Where is this love? This love is within us, but we divert this love in different ways. We have a variety of sweets, but the same sugar is present in all of them. Similarly, the Divine love is inherent and immanent in everybody. There is no human heart in which there is no love. So, we should visualize the love which is in everybody. To teach this path of love, Krishna incarnated. Krishna said, "Yadaa, Yadaahi Dharrmasya Glaanir Bhavathi Bharatha; abhyuthaanamadharrmasya, Tadaatmaanam Srujaamyaham." Whenever the hearts of human beings become barren, because of unrighteousness and lovelessness, in order to sow the seeds of love and in order to propagate the principle of love, God incarnates.

The main mission of God is to develop the principle of love in mankind. Only when we get intoxicated and forget ourselves drinking the nectar of Divine love, we can find the path to liberation. In order to experience Sat-Chit-Ananda, we should tread along the path of truth. We should have the total understanding of the Self, then we will enjoy the manifestation of God Himself. God is not present in a foreign land, He is present in your body. Why should we search for God, when He is everywhere. When God is within us, why should we search for Him outside. God is eternal bliss, supreme happiness, the wisdom, non-dual, ethereal, pure, eternal attributeless and unchanging. Such eternal bliss is present in everyone. Then how do you visualize this? You place a pot with ten holes over a land, you have covered it with a thick turkey towel. What is that you have to do, if you want to see the light. First you have to remove the turkey towel, then you can see the light coming from ten different holes. Only when you break the pot, you can see the flame. Our body can also be compared to a pot with ten holes, placed over "Atmajyothi " (flame of spirit). We have covered it with the blanket of Thamo Guna or delusion. First, you remove the blanket of Thamo Guna. Then you break the pot of body feeling. Only then you will see the flame of the spirit. Though only One exists, we find multiplicity, because of our senses. So, we should be able to see the single light, the light of the Divine everywhere. We should see and experience unity in diversity. Though there are many bulbs, current is the same. Similarly, the principle of Atma is the same in all bodies. We should make an effort to find this unity in diversity. Without seeing the unity in diversity, we are undertaking the nine paths of devotion - "Sravanam (listening), Keerthanam (singing), Smaranam (chanting), Padasevanam (service), Vandanam (salutation), Archanam (worship), Dasyam (servitude), Sneham (friendship), Atmanivedanam (surrender)." Only those who have got the body attachment follow these paths. In fact, those who do not have any body attachment need not follow any of these Sadhanas. You can give up all spiritual pursuits, once you realize that you and God are one. The true Atmic Principle is only one. I (Baba) often tell you, you are not one, but three. The one you think you are (physical body); the one others think you are (mental body); the one you really are (Atma). So keep the Principle of Atma as your aim. This body is made of five elements, and is bound to die. But the indweller is permanent. He has no birth and no death. Truly speaking, the indweller is God Himself. The body is full of dirt and diseases. O man! Never think that this body is permanent. Surrender yourself to the lotus feet of God. Money and comforts come and go, like passing clouds. None of them are permanent. So, all our actions should be sacred.

Twin Principles of Love and Truth

Krishna once questioned the Gopalas around Him, "Who is the true victor?" One of them said, One who emerges victorious in the battlefield is the true victor". "One who can face all the difficulties and troubles with steadfastness and courage is the true victor", said a few. In this manner, each of them gave different answers. Then Krishna smilingly said, O Gopalas, whatever you mentioned are temporary in nature. None of them can be termed as a true victor. True success lies in controlling one's senses. Then one will be a victor. One has to control the senses, the senses belong to the body. Make this body a temple of God. No one can describe God. Gopikas sang, "O Krishna, can we understand You? You are smaller than an atom, mightier than the biggest. You are present in all the 84 lakhs of species always. Right from the atom to the entire cosmos, You are present everywhere." It is impossible to understand God. We have to understand Him as the embodiment of love and recognize Him as the embodiment of truth. We should see that we follow the twin principles of truth and love. Then we will be able to control our senses. We cannot control our senses by any spiritual pursuits or physical exercises. All these are temporary. Only through the principles of love and truth, it is possible to gain control over the senses. The combination of truth and love would shape into Dharma. Therefore, speak the truth and follow Dharma. Once we awaken truth within us, we can see God. Vedanta says, "O ignorant man, arise and awake, stop not till the goal is reached." Light the lamp of wisdom and shed ignorance. Experience the Divinity. The ignorance is due to many desires. "Mamaiithi ithi Saryam Duhkham ", to consider everything as mine is the cause for misery. "Na Mamaiithi ithi Sukham ", to consider nothing belongs to me is happiness. You do not know, who you are; how can you say, something belongs to you. This type of feeling is sheer delusion. Ego and attachment are the cause for all misery. In order to give up these two, develop love. Under any circumstances, we should not give up love. Only through love, you can develop faith. Love is God, live in love. In the human love, there is selfishness, but in Divine love, there is not even a trace of selfishness. What is the reason? God does not have the feeling of 'I and 'Mine'. In fact, everything is God. There is nothing like second object to claim as His own. "Ekam Sath Vipraah Bahuda Vadanti ", truth is one, but the learned refer to it in many ways. With number one in the front, we can add as many zeroes as we want, the value keeps increasing. If one is removed, everything becomes zero, irrespective of the number of zeroes you add. That One is the Hero. Hero becomes zero, if he forgets God. So, we should never forget God. In fact, God is the primordial principle, love is the main cause. Gopikas prayed to Krishna thus, "In order to sow the seeds of love in our barren hearts, in order to see that there will be downpour of rain of love, so that the rivers of love would flow continuously, O Krishna! Please play on Your Divine Flute." Earth, seeds, rain, river, trees, fruits, all are filled with love.

Greatness of Bharat

Having taken this human life, which is full of love, how is that we have lost it? Because we make use of our love in the worldly sense. When does it become true love? Only when we offer our body to God. This is true offering. Many people offer different things to God, but a true devotee offers himself to God. Emperor Bali offered himself to God and he did not have rebirth. We should consider this body as the flower, which has to be offered at the lotus feet of God. Therefore, human life gifted to you has to be spent in doing good actions, and ultimately offered to God. Brahmins think that the word, "Pindaarpanam" is connected with the obituary rites. But. that is not so; offering our body to God is the true "Pindaarpanam". This is true offering that gives us liberation. Once the body is offered to God, there is no attachment (Moha). Once attachment is gone, that is liberation - "Moha Kshayam is Moksham". Those, who know this truth and conduct themselves accordingly, can enjoy bliss. Until we reach that sacred exalted state, we have to protect our body. We have to discharge our responsibilities. Bharatiyas, since ancient times have given top priority to sacrifice. They give utmost importance to Dharma. They held the quality of renunciation in the highest regard and they welcomed truth. Since ancient times, the heads of Bharathiyas are full of compassion. I (Baba) have told students many a times about Max Muller. He was also called "Moksha Muller", because of his noble qualities. Though he was a foreigner, his love for Bharat was beyond all limits. He wanted to leave his mortal coil in this sacred land. Many of his friends questioned him, as to what was so special about Bharat. He told them, "The air of Bharat has truth in it. There is Dharma in the dust of Bharat. There is love in the mud of Bharat. In the Ganges, there is sacrifice. There is no other country as sacred as Bharat. That which is not present in Bharat is not present anywhere else in the world". Having been born in Bharat, and being called as Bharatiyas, we are not able to recognize the greatness of Bharat. We have to put in great effort so as to know the sanctity and greatness of Bharat.

Significance of Krishna's Pranks

Once Gopikas complained to Yashoda that Krishna was stealing butter from their houses. Then Yashoda reprimanded Krishna saying, "O Krishna, you don't eat what is served at home; you steal the butter from the neighborhood. I have got all problems with you. Your mouth smells of butter. The whole village talks of your mischief. You are such a tiny tot, but you are causing a lot of trouble. Give up your mischievous ways. Don't we have butter at, home, why don't you eat that? Why do you steal butter from the neighborhood?" Then Krishna replied, "O mother, butter has no difference, whether it is from home or from the neighborhood. The hearts of Gopikas are themselves like butter. That butter is very soft and sweet. The butter you churn is rather hard because of your motherly attachment. But Gopikas have no trace of attachment. Love is beyond attachment, it is fully nectarine."

One day Balarama brought a few cowherd boys with him and started complaining to mother Yashoda: "O mother, Krishna is always so hungry? He eats at home as well as outside like a glutton. Why should he eat mud? Today he started eating mud". Yashoda felt sad and was furious. She caught hold of Krishna's hand and asked: "Krishna, am I not serving you enough food? Are you not eating enough of butter in the neighborhood? Why have you started eating mud?" Then Krishna started explaining: "O mother, to eat mud am I a child or a madcap?" Though Krishna was only 5 years old at that time, by telling that He was not a child, nor a madcap, He meant it indirectly that He was the mighty Great One. Thus Krishna conveyed many inner secrets. No one can understand in depth, Krishna's leelas. They have got some external implications and inner significance. But, today very few people know the inner reality. People are full of doubts. Mother Yashoda saw all the worlds in Krishna's mouth, but she herself doubted. What is the main reason? It was the feeling that Krishna was her son. It is the physical attachment that causes doubts.

One should attach oneself to Atma. When Atma merges in Atma, everything becomes unified. This Atmic relationship is spirituality. The body relationship is physical. Therefore, it was Krishna who clarified all the doubts, demonstrated, manifested Divinity in everybody. Though all incarnations are Divine, Krishna avatara was special in this sense that He spent all his time smiling and smiling, full of love. At no point of time, He was angry. He was always smiling. This is the main quality of God. God has no trace of ego or pride or jealousy whatsoever. Such sacred qualities are present only in Sai Avatar again. In no other incarnation, this was noticed. Though the Divinity is uniform in all the incarnations, each Avatar expressed Himself on the basis of the prevalent circumstances. So, you should develop full faith in God. Just as you have faith in yourself, have faith in God. Faith in yourself, faith in God This is the secret of greatness. You are God, and God is you only. Why do you give scope to doubts? In fact, these doubts will ruin you. So, give up all these doubts. Develop love, follow the path of truth and experience the Divinity. This is true Sadhana, this is true spirituality.

[Bhagawan concluded His discourse with the Bhaians, "Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama, Rama, Hare, Hare... " and "Govinda Krishna Jai, Gopala Krishna Jai... ]