| Date:7 May 2001 | Occasion:Buddha Purnima | Place:Brindavan |
Attain God's Grace through Sacrifice and Love
I am neither merit nor sin, neither happiness nor
misery. I am none of these either - places of pilgrimage, scriptures or Yajnas
(sacrifices). I am not the food, the consumer of food or the process of eating.
I am the Atman, the very embodiment of Divinity. I am Siva Himself
(Sanskrit Verse)
Embodiments of Love!
In
this world, there is nothing like merit or sin, happiness or sorrow. Mantras,
Yajnas and Yagas are mere rituals. God alone pervades everything.
You are the very form of the Divine.
True humanness lies in understanding the significance of truth and
righteousness and putting them into practice. Truth is referred to as Neeti
(morality), righteousness relates to Reeti (procedure) and sacrifice
confers Khyati (reputation). Manava ,lathi (human race) is the
combination of Neeti, Reeti and Khyati. Unfortunately,
these three are not found in the present day world.
Siddhartha,
who came to be known as Gautama Buddha, undertook various spiritual practices
in order to realize his true Self. He studied the Vedas and sacred
texts. He met many elderly wise men and tried to know the truth from them. But
none of these practices could show him the path to Nirvana. Ultimately,
he realized that Nirvana lay in making use of the five senses of speech,
touch, vision, taste and smell in a sacred manner. He understood that Japa,
Dhyana, Yoga, Yajna, etc., were mere physical activities.
These spiritual practices are needed for those who are attached to the body.
One who is attached to the Self need not undertake any of these practices.
Buddha taught that Nirvana could be attained only by cultivating Samyak
Drishti (sacred vision), Samyak Vak (sacred speech), Samyak
Sravanam (sacred listening), Samyak Bhavam (sacred feeling) and Samyak
Kriya (sacred action). Today man is polluting his mind because of his evil
vision. Once the mind is polluted, how can he expect to attain Nirvana?
So, first of all he should develop sacred vision. See no evil, see what is
good. Man is subjected to hardships because of his unsacred vision. Evil vision
is sure to lead to sinful acts. In fact, it destroys his humanness itself.
Buddha
undertook various types of spiritual practices, but ultimately left all of
them. He could realize the truth only by renouncing everything and by
recognizing unity in the plurality of the world. He could know the ultimate
truth by sacrifice. This is what the Vedas say: Na Karmana Na Prajaya
Dhanena Thyagenaikena Amrutatthwamanasu (immortality is not attained
through action, progeny or wealth. It is attained only by sacrifice). This
immortality is true Nirvana. Samyak Drishti is the first step
towards Nirvana. Consider all that you see as divine. Let your vision be
suffused with love. Vision filled with love is the hallmark of a true human
being. All are one, be alike to everyone. You can understand unity in diversity
only when you develop sacred vision. Samyak Drishti makes you realize
the presence of divinity in all. The Vedas declare, "Ekam Sath
Viprah Babudba Vadanthi” (truth is one, but scholars refer to it by many
names). See the world with the vision of truth. All are one; all are
essentially divine. Give up multiplicity to attain unity. The Vedanta
declares that the Atmic principle is the underlying unity in diversity.
Bulbs are many but the same current flows in all of them. Likewise, the Atmic
principle exists in all. Man's inability to understand this principle of unity
is the cause of his ignorance. True humanness lies in understanding unity in
multiplicity. You have to develop Samyak Drishti in order to develop
unity. This was the first teaching of Buddha.
Next,
he stressed the need for Samyak Vak (sacred speech). Anudvegakaram
Vakyam Sathyam Priya-hitham Cha Yat (one should speak only those words,
which cause no annoyance to others and which are truthful, agreeable and
wholesome). Whatever you speak should not cause any disturbance to others. It
should be truthful as well as pleasing. You cannot always oblige but you can
speak always obligingly. Sacred speech is the manifestation of divinity. God
exists in the form of Sabda Brahmam (sound principle). Divinity is
represented in eight forms, viz., Sabda Brahmamayi, Characharamayi,
Jyothirmayi, Vaangmayi, Nityanandamayi, Paratparamayi,
Mayamayi and Srimayi (God is the embodiment of sound, mobility
and immobility, light, speech, eternal bliss, supreme majesty, delusion and
wealth). Under any circumstances, do not let your speech be tainted by
harshness. Never become agitated. When you understand that all are one there
will be no chance to get agitated. All bodies are like mirrors. You are seeing
your own reflection in them. How can you ever be angry with your own
reflection? You should speak with love. There is no divinity greater than love.
When you fill your heart with love, your thoughts, vision, words and deeds will
be suffused with love. Because you are not filling your heart with love, many
evil qualities are finding their way into it and destroying your very
humanness.
How
can you attain God's grace? Here us a small example. You toiled hard, earned
money and deposited it in a bank for safety and security. No doubt that money
belongs to you, but the Bank Manager will not give it to you on your mere
asking for it. There are certain rules and regulations for the withdrawal of
money from the bank. You can withdraw the money only when you sign the cheque
and surrender it to the Bank Manager. Likewise, you have deposited the 'money' of
meritorious deeds with God, the Divine Bank Manager. Affix the signature of
love on the cheque of sacrifice and surrender it to Him. Only then will He
confer the wealth of His grace on you. This is the royal path to attain peace
and purity; it leads ultimately to Nirvana. Though God is the embodiment of
sacrifice and the money belongs to you, there is a proper procedure to get it.
God is the Manager of the Bank of Love. You have deposited your money in His
bank. In order to withdraw money from
this bank, you have to submit the cheque of sacrifice with the signature of
love. Love is God; live in love. Anything may happen, your love for God should
not change. Only through such love can you follow the path of sacrifice and
withdraw 'money' from the Divine Bank. Here 'money' does not mean currency
notes. It is the 'money' of grace, wisdom and righteousness.
Having
undertaken various types of spiritual practices for a long time, Buddha felt
sad that he had wasted a lot of time without attaining the desired result. He
realized that one could attain divinity only by making proper use of the five
senses. God has given the five senses equally to all, be they rich or poor. You
can see the manifestation of God only when you use your senses in a sacred way.
Today man misuses the senses for the sake of comforts and worldly happiness. He
uses the God-given faculty of speech to criticize and hurt others. Speak
lovingly, softly and sweetly. That is known is Samyak Vak.
Along
with Samyak Drishti and Samyak Vak, you should also have Samyak
Sravanam (sacred listening). Why has God given ears? Is it to listen to
vain gossip? Ears should listen to only those things, which are related to the Atmic
principle. Only the vibrations of the soul should percolate through the ears.
Never listen to anything unsacred or evil. Your ultimate goal is to realize the
innate Atmic principle, which is the same in all. There are no
differences whatsoever. The Atma that is present in you is present in
everybody. It is attributeless. In order to realize this Atmic
principle, you should fill your heart with love. The heart is like a vessel.
Fill it with the qualities of truth, love and sacrifice. Then you don't need to
ask for peace; it will automatically manifest from within. In fact, love,
truth, etc., are within you. You should manifest them from within. You cannot
acquire them from outside.
Everything
is the reflection of the inner being. Your innate nature is always pure. You
pollute it because you follow the worldly path and fill your heart with worldly
feelings. The heart is always pure, steady and selfless. It gets polluted
mainly due to unsacred vision, unsacred listening and unsacred speech. You can
maintain its purity only when you use the five senses in a responsible and
sacred manner. Hridaya (heart) is that which is full of Daya
(compassion). Just as one God is worshipped in many forms and names, the Atma
has various names like Sathya, Dharma, Prema, etc. You
have to make efforts to understand and experience unity in diversity. Buddha
could experience bliss only after understanding this principle of unity. He
sacrificed all sensual pleasures. He understood that all that we experience
through the senses is useless and leads to bondage. He realized that misuse of
the senses destroys the very humanness itself. He left his house and family and
renounced the world. Ultimately, he realized Atmic unity and attained
the state of Nirvana.
When
Buddha was about to leave his mortal coil, his cousin Ananda was by his side.
Ananda started shedding tears. Then Buddha said to him, "You are born to
experience Ananda (bliss). It is possible only when you make proper use
of your senses." Brahmanandam, Parama Sukhadam, Kevalam Jnanamurtim,
Dwandwateetam, Gagana Sadrisham, Tattwamasyadi Lakshyam, Ekam, Nityam, Vimalam,
Achalam, Sarvadhee Sakshibhutam... (God is the embodiment of supreme bliss,
He is wisdom absolute, the One without a second, beyond the pair of opposites,
expansive and pervasive like the sky, the goal indicated by the Mahavakya
Tattwamasi, eternal, pure, unchanging and the witness of all functions of
the intellect). Instead of experiencing such eternal bliss, modern man is
getting carried away by sensual pleasures. What is the use of being born as a
human being if you get carried away by sensual pleasures like dogs and monkeys?
A monkey also experiences the same type of sensual pleasure that you indulge
in. Then why should you be born as a human being at all? You should not behave
like a monkey. You belong to mankind. You should have kindness and compassion.
You are born to experience eternal bliss, not to indulge in fleeting pleasures.
At
the time of birth, every human being cries, "Alas! I am born in this world
again. I have become distant from Ananda due to my separation from
God" What is the use of human birth if man cries at the time of both birth
and death? First of all, man should understand the purpose of life. What is it
that he has achieved during the course
of his life if he cries at birth, and also at death? Having been born crying,
man should leave the world smiling. It is possible only when he puts his senses
to proper use in the course of his life. What is death? It is just the change
of dress. Death is the dress of fife. Body is like a dress. After death, you
change over to another dress.
Every
man aspires to attain Nirvana (liberation). What is the effort that he is
putting in? He has deposited the merits accrued over the past lives with God.
God even gives 'interest' over the 'principal amount'. All that you need to do
is to submit the cheque of sacrifice with the signature of love. Sacrifice
bereft of love is useless. Only when these two come together can man attain the
desired result.
God
is showering His love and grace on everybody, but the unfortunate ones are
unable to receive them. What is the reason? Their feelings do not match with
God's feelings. They do not understand God's Will. God is the embodiment of
love and the ocean of compassion. But you are unable to receive God's love and
compassion because you have filled your mind with worldly feelings. If you want
to receive something sacred, give up all that is unsacred. If the head is
empty, it can be filled with anything. But if the head is already stuffed with
worldly desires, how is it possible to fill it with sacred feelings? First and
foremost, empty your head of all worldly feelings. Only then can it be filled
with divine love. For this, you have to cultivate Thyaga (sacrifice).
That is true Yoga.
Today
people are taking to meaningless practices in the name of Yoga. They are
distorting the meaning of Yoga. What is Yoga? Yoga Chitta
Vritti Nirodha (controlling the vagaries of the mind is Yoga).
Without controlling the mind, if you merely perform physical exercise, it
amounts to Roga (disease). Fill your mind with love. You become sacred
when your mind becomes sacred. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati (as are your
feelings, so will be the result). What is the spiritual practice required to
purify the heart? It is neither Japa nor Dhyana nor Yoga. Yoga
does not mean controlling your breathing process. You should inhale good
feelings, which are like oxygen and exhale bad feelings, which are like
poisonous carbon dioxide. 'Oxygen' emanates from the heart and 'carbon dioxide'
from the head. Head is the source of all poisonous feelings. Control them and
inhale the nectarine feelings that emanate from the heart.
You
aspire to see God, talk to Him and touch Him. None can describe the bliss that
one experiences when one has the Darshan, Sparshan and Sambashan
(sight, touch and talk) of God. In fact, you see God in the form of people all
around you. Your vision becomes sanctified only when you develop the feeling
that all are the embodiments of God. Everything in this creation is sacred. All
that you see is only the manifestation of God. You see God in the form of the
world, yet you feel that you have not seen Him. God has no specific form or
dwelling place. He is the eternal witness and is present in all forms. You can
progress on the spiritual path only when you have such a feeling. Do not
confine God to the form of Vishnu or Krishna that you find in Ravi Varma's
paintings. They are all pictures born out of the painter's imagination. In
reality, God has no form. He is the Cosmic Being. Easwara Sarva Bhutanam
(God is the indweller of all beings). Isavasyam Idam Sarvam (the entire
universe is permeated by God). Saryam Khalvidam Brahma (verily all this
is Brahman).
You
can achieve anything with sense control. Today man has become weak because he
lacks sense control. Instead of ascending to Daivatwam (Divinity), he
has degenerated to the state of Deenatwam (helplessness). He gets angry
even at the slightest provocation and becomes miserable at the smallest
problem. Then, how can he expect to experience Divinity? He should treat
pleasure and pain alike. You are happy when you beget a son and become
sorrowful when he dies. Who is born and who has died? What is marriage?
Marriage is like a mirage. Can a mirage ever quench your thirst? Prior to
marriage, who is wife and who is husband? Prior to birth, who is mother and who
is child? Today man is developing undue attachment towards his family. "Matha
Nasthi, Pitha Nasthi, Nasthi Bandhu Sahodara, Artham Nasthi, Griham Nasth/,
Thasmath Jagrata Jagrata." (parents, friends, relatives, house and
wealth are all temporary. Be aware of this truth.) All the worldly
relationships are like passing clouds. They come and go, but morality comes and
grows. Do your duty sincerely. Duty is God; work is worship. Never
differentiate between work and worship.
Embodiments
of Love!
You
have to recognize these three first is that which once comes, then never goes;
the second, once goes, then never comes back; the third, neither comes nor
goes. The first is Jnana (wisdom), the second is Ajnana
(ignorance) and the third is the principle of the Atma. The Atma
is steady and eternal; it never changes. The knowledge of the Atma is
nectarine. All your worldly knowledge is useless without the knowledge of the
Self. All that you read in Pusthaka (book) comes from Masthaka
(head). But the knowledge of the Self cannot be found either in Pusthaka
or Masthaka. It originates from the heart. First of all, control your
mind. Mind is like a mad monkey. It is nothing but a conglomeration of
thoughts. The nature of the mind is determined by the nature of thoughts. So,
have pure thoughts and hence pure mind.
Today
man aspires to attain Mukti (liberation). What is Mukti? It is
not the attainment of a heavenly abode. Mukti means freedom from
suffering. You need to have Mukti at three levels - body, mind and soul.
For example, you are hungry. When you eat food, your hunger is satiated. This
is also a kind of Mukti. You are suffering from a disease. You take a
medicine and get cured. This is also Mukti. All this is related to the
body. At the mental level, Mukti means controlling the vagaries of the
mind. But true liberation lies in understanding the principle of the Atma
which neither comes nor goes. This is termed as Nirvana.
One
should have Daiva Preeti, Papa Bheeti and Sangha Neeti
(love for God, fear of sin and morality in society). That is true Nirvana.
Be away from sin. Understand that Daiva Sannidhi (proximity to the
Divine) is true Pennidhi (wealth). But ignorant people are unable to
understand the Divine principle. They feel that they can experience God through
meditation. What is meditation? It is a way of life. While you are walking on
the road or driving a car, if your vision is not focused on the road, you may
meet with an accident. Concentration is necessary in all aspects of life. But
concentration does not become meditation. One should go beyond concentration
which means the mind should become still. You should be free from thoughts.
That is true meditation.
The
Gopikas followed the same path and their mind was constantly fixed on Krishna.
The Gopikas used to go to Yashoda's house to light their lamps. They had the
belief that their families would be sanctified if they brought light from
Yashoda's house, which was blessed with the advent of Krishna. Once a newlywed
Gopika named Suguna went to Yashoda's house to light her lamp. As she was doing
so, she had the vision of Krishna in the flame. She was so lost in the
enchanting form of Krishna that she had no awareness of her hand getting burnt.
Yashoda smelt that something was burning and came running to the spot. She
immediately pulled Suguna's hand out of the flame. She was astonished that
though her hand was getting burnt, Suguna did not feel any pain and was in a
world of her own. When she was asked to explain her strange behavior, Suguna
revealed that she had the vision of Krishna in the flame and forgot herself
completely. Hearing Suguna's words, all the Gopikas became ecstatic and started
singing: "Our Suguna saw Krishna at the residence of Nanda. He appeared to
her in the flame." (Telugu
Song)
What
does this mean? When you have one-pointed devotion towards the Lord, you see
Him everywhere. When your thoughts, vision and words are sacred, you are verily
God yourself. Then, you don't need to search for God. God Himself will come
searching for you. God is everywhere; one need not search for Him. In fact, God
Himself is in search of a good man. One who is a recipient of God's love is a
good man. Such a good man is a godman. One should become a good man and a
godman. There lies the fulfillment of human life.
Embodiments
of Love!
The
principle of love in you is highly sacred. But because of delusion, you are
polluting it, and thereby diminishing your value. I want to give a small
example before I close. Gold in its pure form is brilliant and highly valuable,
but when you add metals like silver, copper, brass, etc., to it, its shine as
well as value diminishes. Likewise, man is like pure gold, but as he is
associating himself with worldly desires, he has lost his value as well as
effulgence. When you develop the human values of Sathya, Dharma, Santhi,
Prema and Ahimsa, you will attain exalted position and people
will respect you wherever you go.
Embodiments
of Love!
Do
not pollute your mind with worldly desires. You have attained this human birth
as a result of meritorious deeds done in past lives. Do not misuse it. Human
life is highly valuable. Keep up its value by practicing human values. This was
the teaching of Buddha. People aspire to attain Nirvana. In order to
attain Nirvana, one should have a pure heart. True Nirvana lies
in having love for God, fear of sin and morality in society. Animals do not
know what sin is. So, they do not have fear of sin. But you should have fear of
sin, as you are aware of what it is. You should have control over your senses.
Recapitulate
all that you have heard and experienced here. Charge your spiritual batteries
by joining good company. Only then will you progress in life and become ideal.
[Bhagavan
concluded His Discourse with the Bhajans, "Govinda Krishna Jai
Gopala Krishna Jai..." and "Vahe Guru Vahe Guru..."]