Embodiments of Love!

In this vast world, among all living creatures, human life is the noblest. One is born as a human being as a result of meritorious deeds done in past lives. Just as a small gramophone plate contains many songs, poems and dialogues; likewise the human heart contains the entire universe in a subtle form. You can neither see the script of the dialogues and songs by keeping the gramophone plate close to your eyes, nor can you hear the sound by keeping it close to your ears. Only by playing it you will be able to hear the music and the dialogues that are in it.

The human heart, which can be compared to a gramophone plate, contains in it all the traits of past lives. The reaction, resound and reflection of all that you have seen, heard and experienced are contained in it. The infinite oceans, the mighty mountains and all the different places that you visited are imprinted in your heart. In short, the entire universe is imprinted on the human heart. So, it can be said that human being is Viswa Virat Swarupa (Embodiment of Cosmic Principle). But, man not being able to realize this truth considers himself low, and is affected by pleasure and pain, good and bad.

Where from this universe originated? The Sruthis (Vedas) have given a proper answer to this. The universe has originated from where the I principle has originated. That is 'Hridaya'. Sruthi has declared that 'Hridaya' is the origin of I principle. This I is all-pervasive. Everyone uses this letter I while introducing himself or herself. There is no place or person without this I principle. Even the birds and beasts have got this I principle, though they are not able to express it. Wherever I is, there is 'Hridaya'. Hridaya is not limited to body alone, it is all-pervasive. 'I' is the name of Atma. So, in everybody, Atma is present in the form of 'I'. It is associated with Buddhi (intellect). Right from an illiterate person to a scholar, everyone defines Buddhi as the power to discriminate between the transient and the permanent. This is not the correct definition. Buddhi has five aspects. They are; Sraddha, Rutham, Sathyam, Yogam and Mahatthatwam.

Sraddha has two powers: One is interest and the other is steadfastness. Rutham refers to unity of thought, word and deed. Rutham expressed in the form of words becomes Sathyam. Yogam refers to control over all the senses ( Yogaha Chittha Vritthi Nirodhaha). The fifth aspect Mahatthatatwam is that which is sacred and divine. When Buddhi has all these five aspects, is it not an understatement if we define Buddhi as that which only discriminates between the transient and the permanent?

Today, many talk of Manas (mind) and Buddhi (intellect) without understanding their true meaning. They think that the mind is only a combination of thoughts, but even the actions are associated with it. When mind and intellect unite, humanness reaches a state of freedom, which is referred to as Moksham (Liberation).

It is a mistake to undertake any spiritual practice to control the mind. The nature of the mind is mysterious. It is unsteady and associated with ego. Who can control such a mind? It is impossible. So, never try to control the mind. Follow the intellect, then the mind naturally submits itself. The master of the mind is intellect. The master of the intellect is Atma. Atma has no master. So, Master the mind and be a Mastermind.

Search for Truth is search for God, because Truth is God. So, worship Truth, follow Truth and practice Truth. People may deny God, but none can deny Truth. You cannot fragment Truth saying, this is Pakistani Truth, this is American Truth, this is Indian Truth and so on. Truth is uniform for people of all nations and all religions in all periods of time. Truth is one, so God is one. But you worship God in different forms. This is Bhranthi (delusion). As long as there is Bhranthi in you, you cannot attain Brahma. This Bhranthi is the cause for all your sufferings. So, first and foremost give up Bhranthi.

It is a mistake to consider that God is separate from you. Once you become one with God, you can never be separated. For example, when a pot full of water is emptied in the ocean, the water of the pot becomes one with the ocean. You cannot separate them. Similarly, once you unify your love with God, you become one with God. How to unify? When fire and coal are placed apart, they remain as they are. Only when both are brought close to each other, fire enters coal. If fanning is also done, coal gets transformed into fire. Likewise go closer to God and love Him wholeheartedly. Going close to God can be compared to coal coming in contact with fire (nearness) and loving Him wholeheartedly can be compared to fanning (dearness). Such nearness and dearness to God will ultimately make you one with God. This is what Vedanta declared, "Brahmavith Brahmaiva Bhavath? (the knower of Brahman becomes one with Brahman).

Human body contains all the three worlds, Devaloka (head), Naraloka (throat) and Nagaloka (heart). The head is referred to as Devaloka (heaven), as it has got all the five senses of perception that recognizes Shabda (sound), Sparsha (touch), Rupa (form), Rasa (taste) and Gandha (smell). The body is made of five elements and is bound to perish, but the Indweller is immortal. The Indweller has no birth, no death and no bondage. Truly speaking that Indweller is God Himself(poem). Such a sacred body, the temple of God, is being misused. Yesterday I told you that the world is made of five elements. Human body is also made of five elements. God is present in the form of five elements all over the world. The Vedas declared: Antar Bahischa Thath Sarvavyaapya Narayana Sthithaha, which means Divinity is present in you, with you, above you, below you and around you.

A Human being has five sheaths: Annamaya Kosha (gross sheath), Pranamaya Kosha (life sheath), Manomaya Kosha (mental sheath), Vijnanamaya Kosha (wisdom sheath) and Anandamaya Kosha (bliss sheath). In order to acquire wisdom, you do not need to go through sacred texts or hear the teachings of elders. The sacred sheath of wisdom itself is present in you. Once you experience the sheath of wisdom, you will experience the sheath of bliss. Just as the water bubble is born out of water, sustained in it and ultimately merges in water; so also human being is born out of bliss, sustained in bliss and ultimately merges in bliss. But you are not aware of this, wasting your time, money and energy in search of bliss.

Truly speaking man is wasting a lot of time in worldly pursuits. But he does not spend even a moment to know his Self. "Who am I? What for I am born? What am I doing?" Man does not put these questions to himself. Instead he questions others, "Who are you? Where do you come from? What are you doing?" He has got the inquisitiveness to know about others, but not about himself.

What is the purpose of life? It is not khaana, peena, sona, marna (eating, drinking, sleeping, dying). Body is gifted in order to follow Dharma. Your Dharma is to know your own Self. Consider everyone as divine and the whole world as the mansion of God. Offer all your actions to God. Let every word that you utter be a Mantra and every step you take be Pradakshina (circumambulating God). Instead of leading such a sacred life, man is wasting his time and energy in amassing wealth. What is the value of earning? Truly speaking, nothing. Due to excessive desires, his life becomes a big zero.

Zero gains value when number one (hero) precedes it. As the number of zeroes increases, the value too increases if number one precedes them. Similarly, if you keep God (hero) in view, all the zeroes such as your body, mind and senses also gain value. Hero becomes zero if he forgets God. The world is zero, human life is zero, the sky is zero, the sun is zero and the moon is zero. All these zeroes have got value only because of the Hero i.e., God.

Embodiments of Love! Take to service, do not think that you are serving others. You are serving only yourself. Similarly, all the spiritual practices such as Japa, Thapa, Dhyana and Bhajan are for your own satisfaction. God does not need them. God wants only one thing - you should know your Self. Only then you will know God. Confidence in you and confidence in God - this is the secret of greatness. Prahlada had total faith in Narayana, while Hiranyakashyapu had faith in the body. God will always protect the one with strong faith like Prahlada.

Today, man visits temples and pilgrimage centers in search of peace, but peace is not found in pilgrimage centers. Peace is not found outside, it is within you. You are the embodiment of Peace, Truth and Love. So search within, tread along the path of Love. Only then you will be peaceful. Through Love, you can achieve anything. God is Love, live in Love. Without Love, you cannot be successful. Love helps you to know your Self. In order to experience Love, you do not need to approach anybody, nor do you need to exert yourself. Turn your vision inward.

Krishna said, "Mamaivaam-sho Jeevaloke Jeevabhuthah Sanathanaha" (Human beings are the sparks of the Divine). Serve anybody, it amounts to serving God. The best way to love God is to love all and serve all. If you lead such a life, all your actions will be pleasing unto God.

Embodiments of Love! You need food, clothing, shelter and some money to purchase medicines if you were to fall sick. That is why I said in the beginning, "O man! Never be over ambitious, lead instead a noble life by making proper use of the intellect. Happiness lies in contentment. Dissatisfaction will lead to misery. In order to experience peace, keep your desires under control. Misery is the birthplace of all desires. In this journey of life, desires can be compared to luggage. "Less luggage, more comfort, make travel a pleasure." So, reduce your desires. This is called Vairagya (Renunciation). As the desire for the world decreases, the desire for God increases. This is what the Vedas declared: Na Karmana, Na Prajaya, Dhanena, Thyaagenaike, Amruthathwamaanusuhu' ( Neither by actions nor by progeny nor by wealth, it is only by sacrifice that one can attain immortality). Offer all your actions to God, consider all as children of God, treat money as God's gift and make proper use of it. So long as there is no sacrifice in you, you will have only Anruthathwa (falsehood). Only sacrifice will give you Amruthathwa (immortality).

What is the way to immortality? "Removal of immorality is the only way to immortality." Without getting rid of wicked qualities such as lust, anger, greed and jealousy, how do you expect to attain immortality? When the tumbler is already filled with water, you cannot fill it with anything else. Similarly, when the head is filled with evil qualities, good qualities have no place in it. You have filled the vessel of your heart with all types of worries. Then how do you expect to be happy? Vyasa gave the essence of all the eighteen Puranas in one sentence: "Help Ever; Hurt Never." Only then you can be happy. If it is not possible to help, at least do not harm anybody under any circumstances. You should serve wholeheartedly, not for name and fame.

Today, man is leading a worldly life, giving up all the ideals. Instead of trying to know his true identity, he is wasting his time on useless pursuits. "He knows the route to America, but not to Kaasi. He knows a lot about Botany, but not the use of Tulasi plant." What is the use of leading such a life? Develop Daya (Compassion) in your Hridaya. Today, there is only fashion, but no compassion. What is the meaning of mankind? Man should have kindness. The one without kindness is not a man, but a demon. "The proper study of mankind is man". There should be unity in Thought, word and deed. Whatever originates from the heart should be expressed in words, and the words in turn should be put into action.

Once a devotee prayed thus: "O God, people send many applications to you expressing their desires. Where is the leisure time for You to go through all this? When do You reply? We get headache even if we read two letters. But You read many letters and send many replies, yet You remain happy and cheerful. This itself is a sign of Divinity." I am doing all this not for My happiness, but for your happiness. Many people greet Me 'Happy Birthday'. I am always happy. You do not need to greet Me thus. Give happiness to those who are not happy. Happiness cannot be experienced through spiritual practices. It can be experienced only through Divine Love. You will never fail in your life if you have love for God. As the previous speaker said, there are people who have failed for lack of faith, but people with strong faith will never fail. Man is put to suffering because he lacks faith.

In order to experience bliss, you need to develop Love. Love is like a rose and lust is like a thorn. Cut the rose without touching the thorn and offer it to God. You should offer yourself to God. That is surrender. Love within you should be merged with the Divine Love. There lies the bliss.

In Ramayana, Vali and Sugriva suffered because they lacked unity. In the same way Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana also suffered due to lack of unity. Though the Pandavas had difference of opinion among them, they stood united. Therefore, their name and fame spread far and wide. With unity you can achieve anything. There are 95 crore people in India. If there is unity among them, this country can be transformed into very heaven itself. But there is no unity, no purity. Only enmity exists. Heart is like a single chair, not a musical chair or double-seated sofa. So, let Love be seated in that chair, then bad qualities have no place in it. Modern devotion has become artificial. People say something and do quite the opposite. There is no harmony in their thoughts and words. This is not proper. It amounts to cheating themselves.

Each one has to face one's own destiny. Even Rama had to suffer because of separation from Sita and the great Pandavas had to live in exile for 14 years. So, you should be ready to face difficulties. There can be no pleasure without pain. Do not feel dejected on seeing a dark night. Think of the moonlight that can be seen on the following night. Similarly, think of pleasures when you are in pain. Without dark night, there cannot be full moon night. There is happiness in sorrow too. You cannot have happiness out of happiness. You can have happiness only from difficulties.

Though you are the embodiment of Love, you have to necessarily do Sadhana and Seva, till you realize your true identity. Some people say, "Swami, why do we need to be devoted at a young age? We can as well think of God after retirement." When the messengers of death come to seize your life, when your relatives make arrangements to keep your body outside, and when your wife and children cry bitterly, is it possible to remember God at that moment? So, right from an early age, you should think of God. That is why I say, "Start early, drive slowly and reach safely."

Embodiments of Love!

Fight against bad thoughts and bad deeds. Run away from bad company and join good company. Develop good thoughts, good feelings, undertake good actions and attain Divinity.

[Bhagavan concluded His discourse with the Bhajan, "Bhajana bina sukha shanthi nahi ..."]