O Man, why do you go hither and thither in search of God, when He is present in your Hridaya itself? Serve all and be a recipient of His love. There is no greater Sadhana than this, no greater bliss than this. (Telugu Poem)

Embodiments of Love!

Human life is the most sacred in the entire creation of God. Daivam Maanusha Rupena (God incarnates in the form of human being). Humanness is pure, unsullied and beyond attributes. Such a sacred human life is being polluted with evil desires and thus man is bringing disrepute to human birth itself. Janthoonaarn Narajanma Durlabham (human birth is the rarest and the noblest). It was God who created everything in the universe, right from the microcosm to macrocosm. In that case, why is it that He has attached utmost importance to human birth alone? Only man has the capacity to accomplish things which no other living being can.

Why has God created man? One should delve into the inner significance of this. Man's life will find fulfillment only when he understands the purpose of human birth. Human body is given to serve God, not to meet selfish needs. Sareera Maadhyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam (the purpose of human body is to practice Dharma). God has gifted human body to serve the fellowmen, but man has forgotten his primary duty of service to others.

In childhood, man is immersed in playing and frolicking. In youth, he succumbs to the temptations of cupid. In middle age, he spends all his time in amassing wealth. In old age, instead of contemplating on God, he leads a life of discontentment. Unable to give up his bad habits, not having the strength and interest to follow the path of devotion, he gets caught up in the quagmire of action and reaction and ultimately meets his doom. (Telugu Poem)

This is not the way one should fritter away human life, which God has gifted with lots of love and hope. Under all circumstances one should be ready to utilize the slightest opportunity that comes his way to serve others. Human life should be suffused with idealism, but today's man is leading the fife of a beast. He does not spare a thought even for a moment to enquire what the purpose of life is.

O man, think for a while whether you have really attained happiness, forgetting God and struggling incessantly from dawn to dusk to eke out a livelihood (Telugu Poem) For whose sake are you living? Understand this and you will know the purpose of life. Why does God incarnate? He incarnates to lead man on the fight path.

In 1899, hundred years ago, 110 carat gold was in existence. It was extremely pure and effulgent. Gradually it has lost its value and effulgence on account of its association with different metals like silver, copper and brass. Likewise, man at the time of birth is essentially pure and sacred, but as he grows up, loses his human values due to his excessive desires and association with kith and kin. Such is the sacredness of human birth that even Gods would salute him. Today human values have become extinct. Man should continue to be as pure as he was at the time of birth. (At this juncture Swami materialized a gold coin) It was minted in the year 1899. Exactly 100 years have passed since then. Just as gold has lost its purity over a period of time, man too has lost his human values. Excessive desires are responsible for the decline in human values.

Having been born as a human being, you should foster human values. This morning the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh met Swami. He too was of the opinion that the country is facing hardships due to the absence of human values. Therefore, he vowed that he would propagate the Sathya Sai Human Values in the society. Each and everyone, be it a student, a devotee, or a spiritual aspirant should practice human values and lead an ideal life.

The Bhagavad Gita reveals that the universe, which can be compared to a gigantic tree, has its origin in the seed of divinity. Different nations are like different branches of a tree. All the living creatures are like fruits borne by the tree. In every species and every creature, there is the seed of divinity. In this context, Lord Krishna said, Beejam Maam Sarva Bhutaanaam (I am the seed in all the living beings). Nations may vary names and forms may be different, but the life principle remains the same. Lord Krishna declared: "Mamaivaamso Jeevaloke Jeevabhuta Sanathanah" (all are the sparks of My Divinity). But man is not prepared to believe this truth. Today man believes reports of events occurring in distant lands like America and Japan, though he does not see them, but he does not believe in the Vedic declaration that God comes down in human form. This is predominantly due to the fact that he is not treading along the path of truth. God will be pleased only when man finds fulfillment in life by practicing human values.

None can escape the consequences of one's actions. O man, do not build castles in the air. It is not possible to sow a particular type of seed and reap a different fruit. You reap what you sow. At the time of birth you are born with an invisible garland, made up of the consequences of your actions, be it good or bad.

God has created man in His own image, so that his conduct should be in consonance with His command. You should not cause harm to anyone for God exists in all. Always speak with a smile on your lips. You cannot always oblige, but you can always speak obligingly.

Embodiments of Love!

Understand the pristine purity of Bharat. The Himalayan mountains form the boundary in the northern part. 'Hima' is that which is pure, 'Achala' is that which is steady. So, Himachala stands for purity and steadiness. The three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswathi symbolize the paths of work, worship and wisdom respectively. The sacred scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads make the hearts of Bharatiyas blossom forth with their teachings. 'Bha' means light and effulgence. So Bharat is the country which radiates light to the rest of the world. There is no country, which is more sacred than Bharat. Words are inadequate to describe the glory of Bharat and the fortune of those who are born in this sacred land. Having been born as Bharatiyas, there can be no greater misfortune than to lament that you are poor, weak and helpless. You need not feel sorry if you have not acquired education or money. Be proud that you are born in this sacred land. To be called a Bharatiya is in itself a great qualification. The country is your mother, and the culture, your father. You will become orphans if you forsake your motherland and its culture. He is a living corpse who does not have love for his motherland and its culture. Rama declared, Janani Janma Bhoomishcha Swargadapi Gareeyasi (there is no heaven greater than one's own mother and motherland).

Students!

What is the use of acquiring various degrees like B.A and MBA if you lead the life of a black sheep? You are Bharatiyas, that is your greatest qualification. Live up to it. Who is a 'Hindu'? H stands for Humility, I for Individuality, N for Nationality, D for Divinity and U for Unity. He is a true Hindu, who is endowed with these five sacred qualities. It is rather surprising to Me that people, having been born in this sacred land, crave to go abroad in search of greener pastures. One should serve one's own motherland.

Once there was a Vedic scholar who was hesitant to send his son abroad fearing that he might forsake Indian culture and take to Western culture. On the insistence of his son, he reluctantly agreed to send him abroad only on the condition that he would not give up the study of the Vedas. He extracted a promise from his son that he would continue the study of the Vedas and would contemplate on God always. But the son failed to keep up his word. Once he reached abroad, he forgot all the Vedas he studied and got absorbed in the western culture. He would always lie to his father, whenever called, saying that he was thinking of God and studying the Vedas. Four years passed, but he was in no mood to return home. On several occasions the father asked him to come back, but the son did not pay heed to his word. The father, as a last resort, sent a telegram that his mother was seriously ill. Immediately, the son rushed home and was received at the airport by his father, who took him to the temple of the Goddess en route home, to offer their obeisance. The father told the son to offer salutations to the Goddess, but the son did not know what it meant as he had forgotten Indian culture altogether. As they entered the temple, the son greeted the Goddess, "Hello madam, how are you?" On hearing this, the father became furious with his son and asked him to get out. This is how people change their lifestyle once they go abroad forgetting the sacred Bharatiya culture.

For the past 60 years, the overseas devotees have been requesting Swami to come to their respective countries. On many occasions, they brought special planes. Even now they have chalked out a program for Swami to make a world tour. But I have no such desires. That which is not present in Bharat is not present anywhere else. What is there to see in a foreign land! Instead, try to have the vision of your own Self. Stop questioning others, 'who are you'?. Ask yourself, 'who am I'? You will certainly get the right answer. Today many students are going abroad to amass riches. Even some of the parents are encouraging their children to go abroad. I do not say that you should not go abroad. If you want to see foreign lands, you can always do so. But wherever you are, you should uphold your culture. You should crave for divine love, not for money.

Embodiments of Divine Love! Students!

Participate in service activities and give joy to your fellowmen. This is the essence of Indian culture. Keeping this sacred culture in view, serve your motherland. Do not give scope for mean desires. If you lead the sacred life of a true Bharatiya, you can redeem not only your life, but also the lives of your kith and kin. Fill your heart with pure feelings and try to experience the ultimate bliss, Brahmananda. Tomorrow I shall teach you more about Brahmananda.

[Bhagavan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, "Hari Bhajana Bina Sukha Santhi Nahi..."]