Sri Sathya Sai Baba Articles

Talk by Anil Kumar on March 4th , 2001

GOD IS BLISS, BLISS IS GOD, LIVE IN BLISS!



OM… OM… OM…

Sai Ram.

Welcome back to the Sunday sessions!

My humble salutations at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

The day before yesterday Bhagavan surprisingly asked three youngsters to come close to Him. You must have watched it. I guess one is an engineer. One is working in the university. One is doing business. They are quite young, in the age group of 20, 22, and 23. They came close to Him and took padanamaskar. They are from Mexico.

Immediately I said, "Swami! Indira Devi hails from Mexico, if I'm right." Bhagavan said, "Yes, she hails from Mexico and she is no more." Then I also said, "The wife of John Hislop also hails from Mexico, am I right?" Bhagavan said, "Yes. America and Mexico are very close. She hails from Mexico." That's what He said.

He spoke to those boys. While talking, He said, "Why are you here?" "Swami, we have come for You." "Where are you going to be?" They said, "Wherever You are." "What do you want?" "We want You." Kindly note this point: "We want You." This is the age where what youngsters want, we know. We can guess. But they said, "We want You, not other things known to us. We want You."

Bhagavan said, "Why are you here? How long are you going to be here?" They said, "We'll be here till April 25th or so. We are here to spend vacation with You." Then Bhagavan turned to all of us and said, "This is devotion." Yes.

Later, He called three more youngsters. One is a professor, one is a doctor, like that. He asked them, "Where do you come from?" "Venezuela." "Ah! I see. I will call you tomorrow. I will talk to you. How many are there in your group?" They said, "We are seven." "Oh, I see. I'll call you tomorrow." And they were so happy!

After they left, Swami made an important statement, which I want to make the theme of this morning's talk. What did He said? "They're always happy. I see their smiling faces. They are extremely happy." That's point one.

Point two: "These people coming from long distances. They don't waste their time. They join in small groups and they practice bhajans. They exchange their experiences with Sai. Every second they make the best use of their stay here." These are the statements and remarks made by Bhagavan after talking to those youngsters from Mexico and Venezuela.

As I understand, Swami wants us to be happy. There was one occasion, at the end of His talk, when He said, "Happy, happy, happy." The word 'happy' is repeated thrice at the end of His public discourse, on one of the occasions. Those who have the treasure of cassettes will surely agree with me. He wants everybody to be happy.

Then it so happened one day, He just blasted me in particular, long back, a few years ago for some mistake in running the college in Bangalore. Something went wrong. He has shown me the other face of Bhagavan, which is so hot and serious, worse than the hottest summer. (Laughter) Ah! Scorching, burning!

The very same evening, He asked me to get up and wanted me to translate. I'm very unwilling to do that because my mood is totally upset. I was not prepared to do anything. Even during Darshan time, I had put on a very long face because I could not take it. But He asked me to get up. And He started His Divine Discourse.

What did He say? "God is Bliss. Bliss is God. Live in Bliss." Oh- ho! (Laughter) Number two: "God will not look at those people who are serious." (Laughter) Hmm! "God will not look at the faces of those who are crying with long, Shakespeare faces. (Laughter) God wants everybody to be cheerful!"

I was doing my job like a machine. But I felt within me, 'Bhagavan! Do You need to make a discourse like that? You can tell me privately! (Laughter) You can tell me privately that I don't have to be so serious about things, that I can simply take it in a lighter vein, correct myself, find out where the mistake is, and still continue to be happy. But You have chosen to make a discourse. Oh-ho! I see.' That was an occasion when I understood that He wants us to be happy.

God is Bliss. Bliss is God. What is Bliss? How far are we away from Bliss? Why are we not blissful? Let us consider this morning a few of those things. Are we really enjoying that state of Bliss? Unless we know what Bliss is, we cannot say whether we are blissful or not, whether we are blissful or awful! What is the state of Blissfulness? How to be blissful? What is Bliss? That is the thing that we have to understand and investigate together this morning.

We are happy, no doubt. Occasionally we are unhappy. But we remember the unhappy moments and we forget the moments of happiness. "How are you?" We immediately say, "Oh, so-so." "How are you?" "Pulling on." "How are you?" "Carrying on, pulling on. This is really a nasty statement that we should not say anytime, at any age.

"How are you?" "Very fine! Fine, wonderful!" That's what we should say, being Sai devotees. "How are you?" "Wonderful!" Yes, why not? In fact, in life, as Bhagavan says, moments of joy, moments of happiness are many, many, many. But troubling moments are only a few seconds of unhappiness, a very few days of sickness. But for the majority of days, for the major part, we are happy.

Bhagavan gave one example. One day a wife was serving food to her husband - rice and other things. The husband, while eating, suddenly started shouting at his wife, "What! Don't you know how to cook?" She said, "What happened?" "I found a small stone there in the rice." She said, "You have been eating all these years. Every time it is fine. Only now, because of a small stone or pebble that you find, you are making a big fuss about it." This Bhagavan gives as an example.

We feel so much upset because of one thing that happens in life, forgetting 99 other things that are really blissful, God's Blessings. Many things happen because of Providence. God has blessed us with 99% of happiness and 1% 'pebbles'. Yet we go on hampering about and clinging onto that which is unhappy, forgetting the 99%. This is what is called, 'Testing the Providence.' We should never test the Providence. Most days are happy. After all, in this long life, if you really calculate, only for 15 days we must have been in bed because of a small sickness; or, maybe two or three days in a life of 60 years or in a life of 70 years.

So, the way to be happy is to count God's Blessings, to think of God's blessings always: 'Swami, You have helped me like this! You have blessed my family like this. We are thankful to You.' The spirit of thankfulness, the spirit of gratefulness, will keep us always happy. We are unhappy because we are not grateful. We are not happy because we are not thankful. So, my friends! Let us learn to be thankful to God. Let us learn to be grateful to God all the time. Yes.

It so happened one boy started crying a few days back. Swami came to him and said, "Why do you cry?" "Swami! You are not talking to me, so I am crying." Then He said, "How about those thousands of people? They are not crying. So you deserve to cry. Continue to cry!" (Laughter) "Because you are happy while crying. Al right." But it's not so. If we are upset because Swami does not talk to us and start crying, if we are upset because Swami doesn't look at us and start crying, He told it means we don't have proper understanding of God.

I'll give you one example. Long ago it so happened that Swami wanted my mother to attend the Summer Course in the year 1990, I suppose. I'm very poor in my memory. I don't remember dates and years. I remember incidences, Swami's discourses, examples, and illustrations. God purposely withdraws certain capacities and talents from people. Yes, this is withdrawn from me, maybe for your good perhaps. By giving more statistics, I may be responsible for your headache! So He has not given me that art of remembering dates and years, for the benefit of many of my friends.

He wanted my mother to attend the Summer Course there in Brindavan. I never wanted her to be there, though Swami wanted her. I didn't want my mother to be there. Why? She passed 50 and is a heart patient. She needs the attendance of a doctor every day. Being a heart patient, she got used to a particular doctor from Canada. She goes to him only. Because of her heart complaint, she has become more suspicious. Suddenly she says, "I'm feeling some palpitation! What shall I do? I cannot get doctor from Canada all the way now! Impossible." So, in my heart of hearts, I didn't want her to be present.

But Baba said, "Let her come." What shall I do? Well, before the commencement of the Summer Course, two days before, He said, "When is she coming?" (Laughter) Immediately I gave an answer, "Swami!" See, luckily I go through the newspaper every day. One incident in the newspaper came to my rescue. As an excuse, I said, "Swami! There is some agitation going on. Trains and buses are not running regularly. Some strike or something is going on there. I don't think she can come!" (Laughter)

I thought that I was a very successful bluff master. But you know what He said? "Why do you say that?" He mentioned the name of one gentleman, Sita Ramayya, who works for RTC Department, Road Transport Corporation. He said, "Sita Ramayya, I saw him. He's there in the 55th row in the auditorium! I saw him there. When he came, why can't your mother come here all the way? Both of you hail from the same place. You cannot expect the bus is not running for your mother's sake, while that man could be here. Don't bluff like that!"

Now, the cat is out of the bag. (Laughter) Caught red-handed! Somehow I managed to get her there and she did participate in the Summer Course that year.

Why I tell you this is, when certain things happen, much against our choice, much against our preference, we are unhappy. The happiness is cut off from us. The happiness is denied, particularly when certain things happen against our wish or against our choice. Then we are unhappy. So, to be happy is to be choice-less. If you are really to be happy, be choiceless. Do not be preferential.

It so happened that the marriage of a very big industrialist was performed when I was there in Bangalore. That industrialist is known to me. He is a very big man, who was responsible for the construction of this Sai Srinivas Guest House. He's a very big man, not by virtue of his size, but I mean he's a very rich man. A very, very rich man.

He arranged the marriage of his daughter and I, too, received the invitation. Baba was to go there and bless the couple. I was so sure that He would take me there - 100% sure! The marriage was to take place at 9:30 in the morning. So I got ready with a new suit and all that (Laughter). Many dignitaries would be attending, you know, Ministers and all. I can't be dressed in an ordinary way. I wanted to be extraordinary, at least that much. Ya!

I got ready with all my dress and all that, but Swami's car just passed through the crowd, right by my side. He did not stop. He did not ask me, 'Why aren’t you coming there?" He did not say, "Get in!" or, "Get into the next car." He did not say anything. The car speeded up, Zuug, Zuug, Zuug, like that!

Then I understood. 'Oh-ho! I am not supposed to go.' I kept quiet. I changed and wore my normal dress, attended the college and came for evening Darshan. Swami said, "Why did you not attend the marriage this morning?" (Laughter) Hmm.

What to say? Immediately I said, "I had college Swami, classes. (Laughter) So I couldn't." "Ah-re! What a bluff master you are! You got ready with a new suit, eh? (Laughter) And you expected that I would take you. And now you say you had college, therefore you have not attended!" (Laughter)

"I had college, Swami! I was ready so I would not delay, so I can get into the car and attend the marriage immediately. So that I don't need to go and change my dress, ceremonial dress."

"It's all right, it's all right."

This was a sort of dialogue, a conversation that made me happy so that I would forget that moment of unhappiness, for not having attended the marriage. I was unhappy because I could not attend along with Swami. But when Swami spoke nicely, all right, I forgot all that.

This is only an instance to let you know how, when we have some choice, when we have a preference, when it does not happen, we become unhappy. Therefore, to be happy, to be blissful, let us be choiceless. Let us be non-preferential. So that anything may happen, yet I can be happy.

One day it so happened here in Puttaparthi, He was calling somebody like that. One student told me, "Sir! Swami is calling you! Go!" Well, students are quite sharp enough, quite intelligent. I don't question them. 'Well, yes, they must have been correct, quite young fellows.' I went straight and closed the door.

He said, "Why are you here?" (Laughter) "Swami, You called me?" "No, no! I did not call you. Why are you here?" "Swami! Whomsoever You call, I feel you are calling me." (Laughter) "I always wish and pray that You should call me." He said, "Oh-ho!"

Then I said, "Having come here, let me take padanamaskar and go." (Laughter) "I will go! Somehow I have come all the way, so let me have padanamaskar and go." He said, "Oh! Pakka (perfect) businessman!" (Laughter, A.K. also laughs)

I should be able to receive things, not as a matter of shocks. It is not a shock. Anything that comes as a shock in our life will have a negative effect. It will take away our happiness. Instead, let us receive them as a surprise, not as a shock. A shock is negative, whereas a surprise is positive. So, if we take things surprisingly enough, we'll be quite happy.

I'm giving my own experiences so that it's a kind of exchange. It's a kind of learning together. Once it so happened, He started talking to everybody - that side and this side, and He conveniently ignored me, as if I'm a non-entity. As if there is only empty space - the body does not matter. He was talking like that. 'Oh-ho, good! Let me enjoy this Divine Romance for the moment.'

Then in the evening He said, "What happened to you? I was searching for you. Where were you?" (Laughter) Swami! Very nice! Shall I say, 'Swami, in the morning I was there'? No, no! Then I said, "Swami! I am happy that You have searched for me. I'm happy that You wanted me! Now I am available."

So my friends, this is the attitude we should have. Ready to accept anything that happens to us. - anything. It's not necessarily as per our wish. Particularly Sai delights more by bringing surprises, if not by giving shocks! He will ask for you particularly at a time when you go for your breakfast, when you are not available. Then He will ask, "Where is he? Where is he?" (Laughter) When you are available right in front, He doesn't care for you!

When the boys were feeling so badly like this one day, I told them, "Don't worry. I'll give you some formula to be still happy." "Sir, what is it?" "When Swami does not pass that side, we may feel that He is avoiding us, right?" We feel, 'Swami usually comes this way. Today He has not come this way. So, He's avoiding me.' We feel so badly.

We don't need to feel badly. Why? Because even to avoid you, He must see you first! (Laughter) Without seeing you, how can He avoid you? So, 'Oh Lord! You have seen me first and so You have avoided me. I am blessed. You have avoided me first You have seen me! Or else You would have come on Your own.' I always tell the boys this.

The second case: Supposing He looks at you and calls you for an interview. You are blessed because He looked at you and wanted to pick you up. In both the cases, He has to necessarily see you. In both the cases, it is to your advantage.

So, this sort of positive attitude will make us happy and blissful. Swami wants us to be happy and happy always. This attitude is spirituality. The right attitude towards life is spirituality. Or else, it is an expectation. It is expecting something in return. It is a business transaction. But life is not so. Life is religion. Life is spiritual.

If at all we take it in a positive way, then what is Bliss? All the moments of happiness that come and go, all the moments of joy that appear and vanish, all these moments are trivial, worldly, physical, dual, transitory. All this is like this.

In the morning, I am happy. By night, I am unhappy. Morning and evening I am happy, but at night I am unhappy. So, happiness is an interval between two states of unhappiness. Unhappiness is an interval between two states of happiness. As Swami says, 'Pleasure is an interval between two pains.'

This is not Bliss. That which comes and goes is not Bliss. It is only happiness. Happiness comes and goes. Happiness is worldly, while Bliss is spiritual. Happiness is temporary while Bliss is permanent. Happiness is human. Bliss is Divine. Happiness comes to you by a certain effort: You work hard, you read well, get through the examination, and stand with high grades - you are happy.

By effort you can be happy. But Bliss is not obtained by any effort. Bliss is your natural state. Bliss is your state. Bliss is our right. Bliss is natural. It is not obtained by any effort, no! Bliss is our nature, unlike happiness that comes and goes.

Happiness is something that relates to the stature, the dignity, the qualification, the property, the wealth and so on. Bliss has got nothing to do with these things. Bliss is original. We were born with Bliss, we are in Bliss, and we merge in Bliss. You are born in Bliss, you grow in Bliss, and you merge in Bliss. That is the doctrine, that is the dictum of philosophy, of Sanathana Dharma, whereas happiness is only worldly.

By having a cup of coffee - hot, hot, steaming cup of coffee - I am happy. When I don't have a cup of coffee in the early hours of the morning when I get up, I am unhappy. But Bliss is not that, whether you take coffee or not. Bliss is always in you, with you and around you, because you are the Bliss. Bliss is your Self. Bliss is spontaneous. Bliss is natural.

Bhagavan gave some examples in this direction while talking to a couple of us a few days ago, which I want to share with you.

Bliss is not that which you obtain through your senses. Senses will never give you the state of Bliss. Mind will never take you to the state of Bliss. It is beyond our comprehension. It is beyond the level of thought. It is beyond the level of taste. It is beyond the level of touch. It is beyond the level of sight and beyond the level of audition.

The five senses do not confer Bliss. If the five senses make me blissful, well, I can afford to be blissful. By listening, if I can be blissful, we have got music all along. There are 40 channels, in some places 25 channels. Any channel will make me listen to music, pop music preferably! Or rock music. Yes!

So, continuous hearing will never make me blissful. On hearing again, again, again, again, I get bored. "I don't want to hear, please stop it!" So, the happiness that you get initially through the senses will vanish after some time, by continuing the same thing.

I watch cinemas or films regularly. I am happy. But by watching every day and night, I am disgusted! "No, I don't want!" So, this happiness exists at one time and is the source of unhappiness after some time.

I like sweets, pie, donuts and cakes, particularly in Foreigners' Canteen, yes! The Italian-made cakes are very nice, I know. (Laughter) Ah! Good! Two cakes - gulp! I should eat as many as possible. Eating takes time, but gulping is easy. So all right, easy! I am so happy! It is so tasty. Then the third cake - "Ah! Enough! I don't want!" Why?

So, all those things that are received or accepted through the senses give happiness but they are also the very sources of unhappiness!

All of the examples that I have given to you are because Bhagavan made one statement: "Senses will never give you Bliss. Senses will never take you to the state of Bliss." To substantiate Swami's statement, we had to think of these examples. I hope that I am clear.

The mind also cannot take you to Bliss. Why not and how? Swami gave one example. A girl got her B.A. degree, Bachelor of Arts. Unfortunately she had to marry a fellow who failed Intermediate level. He's not a degree-holder. The fellow failed Intermediate successfully, 12 times! So, this graduate girl had to marry a matriculate fellow. 'Matriculate' means 11th class or 12th class, like that.

This boy is very happy. 'My wife is a graduate!' Yes, feeling happy at the time of the wedding, he looked at her repeatedly (much to the embarrassment of the audience)! Then, after the wedding, this girl joined him. And this man sat on an easy chair and called his wife.

"Hi! I want a hot, hot cup of coffee. Get it." She said, "I'm sorry! You go and prepare coffee - two cups, one for you and one for me, OK?" That fellow is very unhappy now. There on the wedding day, that girl was the very source of happiness, the very personification of Paradise. But by the time she joined him, she said, "Sorry! You make coffee for me, OK?" Now this fellow feels, "Chi! She must be a devil! I don’t want her." So, the same lady, at one time, is the source of happiness and, at another time, is the source of unhappiness.

But Bliss is not like that. Something cannot be the source of Bliss at one time and not at another time. No! Bliss is constant. We all know Bhagavan's favorite word: C - I - A, meaning, Constant Integrated Awareness, not Central Intelligence of America! (Laughter) Bliss is nothing but Constant Integrated Awareness. It is a constant factor, not anything that comes and vanishes, not anything that comes and disappears. It is with us throughout.

Happiness is a hope for most of us. "Hey! How are you carrying on? How is life?" "I hope things will turn positive some day. I hope to be happy. Right now I am having problems." Happiness is a hope. Happiness is a promise. But Bliss is a guarantee. We want to be happy. We expect to be happy. But that moment, whether it comes or not, we do not know.

The child wants to be happy as the child grows. By the time the child grows and goes on to college, a grown-up boy now, he also wants to be happy. He expects to be happy after getting into the University and doing a post-graduate course. The moment he becomes a University student, he expects to be happy when he gets a job. After getting a job, he is still hopeful to be happy after getting married. After getting married, better not to say! (Laughter)

All this is said by Swami in a poem. I don't want to repeat all that in Telugu, because most of you don't follow me. Unless I've got that vanity, to show the depth of my knowledge, which is not a worthwhile enterprising exercise at this age, at this hour. I'm not for publicity.

All this Swami said in a poem: A child wants to be happy as an adult. An adult wants to be happy after getting a degree. After getting a degree, he wants to be happy getting a job and settling in life. So, it is something like a football, kicking and kicking it up to far-off places. This happiness has remained only a hope, only a promise, but never a reality!

But Bliss is not like that. It is constant. Not only this, my friends. Happiness sometimes leads to boredom. The modern people, all of us, we feel bored, particularly youngsters. We say, "Sit here for sometime." "Sir! Boring! I can't sit for long like that. No, it's boring!" Or, "Wait here until I come." "Oh! Boring! I can't wait."

Boredom is a usual, common complaint today, which is an evil of the modern society. We feel bored. Why? Why do we feel bored? Because we always want to live in the future. We always view things from this point of the past. We view things from the standpoint of the past, from the backdrop of the past. And we look towards things in the future. We do not live in the present. As we do not live in the present, life is boredom.

A simple example: We live in the future, meaning, we wait. If we go on waiting and waiting, life is a big bore. You cannot wait. It's boring! So, boredom is nothing but a psychological feeling, a psychological reaction to our state of mind that peeps into the future or goes back into the past. So, past and future are responsible for the present boredom. But, on the other hand, if you live in the present, there is no boredom at all. The secret of happiness is to live in the present. Let us live in the present, let us live in the moment.

Life is existence. When once we realise that life is existence or existential, life is in this moment, then we are blissful. But we always peep into the future, make it a hope, make it a promise, and get bored.

Let's suppose I meet a friend. If I meet that friend now, from the background of the past, I don't enjoy his company. No. In the past, we lived together, we had many, many differences of opinion. We fought a lot in the past. Then we meet after a long time. But, instead of saying, "Hi! Very nice to meet you! After a long gap, after a long time, I'm so happy to meet you," instead of saying this, when I think of the past, all the differences and all the clashes, I am not happy. (A.K. says in a half-hearted voice:)"Oh, how are you? Are you OK?" That's it. So, I don't enjoy the present because the past is coming into my mind.

Supposing I meet you and I expect something from you. I want you to do a favor or I have a fear that you may rob me or you may take away something from me or you may exploit me. In other words, I have a suspicion. So, if I meet a person with suspicion, thinking of the future, 'Oh, this man may ask me, might try to influence me," I don't say, in a happy voice, "How are you?" No. I speak artificially, in a half-hearted way, "How are you?" That's all.

So, keeping the future in view or the past in view, we lose the present. We don't enjoy the present. So my friends, Bliss is the life in this moment. Bliss is the state of existence. And if we really want to be blissful, let us live in the moment, in the present.

Bhagavan gave one example: The sky is like that. It is open space, ether. But there are clouds. The clouds appear and pass off, but the sky remains all through. Similarly, Bliss is like the sky. Bliss is like space, which is eternal, full, and permanent, whereas clouds are moments of happiness, seconds of pleasure. Why? I don't know how far you like it.

One example: Swami started joking with the MBA boys there in Kodaikanal long back. He wanted to tease young chaps, you know. They are post-graduate students. He was asking one boy, "What are you doing?" "Swami! I am in final year MBA class, business management. "Oh-ho! What do you want to do next?" "Swami, as You say." "Oh! I see. Now you do M.R.S." "M.R.S, Swami?" "Mrs.! Get married!" (Laughter) Oh! That boy gave a smile. His face was bubbling with joy! "So, you're ready, oh-ho!" He said.

Next evening He said to another boy, "What are you doing?" "MSc., mathematics, final year." "Good! What do you want to do after? In just one month the results will come. After finishing, after you've completed your course, what do you want to do?" "Swami, as You desire." "Oh-ho! That girl is waiting for you. Your girlfriend is waiting for you, come on! Go!" "No, Swami!" "Go! Get married!" "No, Swami!" "Oh, OK!"

This had been going on every day. One time He also said, "Oh, boy! You're so happy to get married? You know? What is the spelling of 'wife'?" One fellow said, "W-I-F-E." "Oh-ho! W-I-F-E, wife? Oh, you know the spelling! Are you ready for a wife? Ah!"

Then He said, "Oh boys! You say, 'Swami, Swami' now, but when you get to your wife tomorrow, wife is the life and life is the wife." Everybody laughed.

Then He said, "You know what W-I-F-E means? 'Worry-invited-forever'!" (Laughter) Oh! Everybody had a hearty laugh. This He repeated twice but I was feeling guilty within me. I cannot undo what has already been done!

Then I said softly, "Swami! A humble submission, if you don't mind." "Ah, what? Tell!" "Swami! I can give You thousands of examples of devotees where men have become devotees because of their wives. Can you still call them 'worry-invited-forever'? Because of the wife, the husband has become a devotee. Is she the worry then?"

Swami was watching me. I was prepared for anything! What to do? (Laughter) Having gotten into that trap, I had no choice. Then I started speaking in support of my statements. "In my case also, it is the same. I'm not an exception. And furthermore, most of the responsibility was carried on by her while I was very, very busy going around all places, talking to people in the organization for two decades and a half. I was never at home. I was never available. The whole responsibility was taken care of in a better way by the better half. Now shall I say, 'worry-invited-forever' even now? I would not have come to You at all, but for her!"

Bhagavan said, "Ah! Very good, sit down." It was lunchtime and our meeting was adjourned. In the evening, again we assembled. Swami said, "Come on, get up!" He started giving a talk in praise of women, yes! It is the woman who maintains the prestige, dignity, culture and heritage of the family, not the man.

Oh Swami! Now You 'play the 'B' side of the cassette'! Oh, I see! (Laughter) It's a double-edged sword, I tell you, the way He was talking: "She takes care of the family. She carries on the burden and the responsibility of the family. A women is the symbol of sacrifice, love, pity, piousness, what not!"

So, man is some symbol of cruelty or what? (Laughter) Only morning You said, 'worry-invited-forever'! But now? I don't know! Whole thing changed. He went on praising like that.

Finally He cut a joke also. He said, "Many women come to Me. They go on crying, 'Bhagavan! I don't want to live any longer. My husband died. Please see that I also pass off like this. I don't want to live away from my husband! Life is meaningless.' That's what a women says when she loses her husband."

"I find some men whose wives are no longer there. Although the man suffers from the death, he comes to Me for permission to get married again! (Laughter) No woman till this day came to Me for permission to get married for the second time. But many men come to Me for permission to get married for the second time. That is the difference between men and women."

While translating the whole thing, I said, "Swami! This morning, You said like that. Now it's like this. How am I to understand?" Slowly I said this. I don't want everybody to hear because if I am banned, it is entertainment to all of you at my cost. But I don't want to be like that!

Then He said, "In case of those who are aware, alert, active, those that encourage their husbands to tread along the spiritual path, it is not 'worry-invited-forever'. It is 'wisdom-invited-forever'!" (Laughter)

"Swami, what is this? 'Worry-invited-forever' in the morning, 'wisdom-invited-forever' in the evening? What am I to do?" Then Bhagavan said, "My car has front gear and the reverse gear also!" (Laughter) These are the moments of happiness. These are the moments of Bliss.

Bhagavan was giving another example the other day: With clay, you can make a pot with a lid. A pot has a form and a name. But when the pot breaks, it goes back into that clay. Out of the clay, pots are made. Pots have names and forms. But clay has no specific form.

Swami said, "All that has a name and a form gives you happiness. But the Bliss is beyond name and form. Bliss is beyond name and form, whereas happiness is attained through a specific name and form."

Further He said, "Bliss is non-dual." He gave a simple example. What was it? He gave the example of a theatre screen. He said, "On the screen, you project many, many films - for example, a film where people dance. We enjoy it. After that, there is another scene where there is terrific fighting or, in English films, shooting with pistols, guns, or revolvers. That also we see. Then, in the next scene, the heroine goes on crying and the hero goes on crying because of separation. That scene also we see."

"Now the film is over. We all get up and leave the theatre. But the screen is not like that. It is not dancing. It is not crying. It is just like that, as before. All films are projected onto the screen, but the screen is undisturbed, unruffled, unagitated. It is not disturbed. It is not agitated. The screen does not respond, whether it is a romance or a war, whether it is a union or a separation, whether it is a dance, a tragedy or a comedy. The screen is a screen. That's all. It is unaffected. This screen represents, is now the Bliss."

That's what Baba said. The screen is the state of Bliss, which is unaffected by the happiness and unhappiness of the world. The screen is a permanent, constant state, which is unaffected by the pain and pleasure of the world. It is beyond profit and loss. It is beyond success and failure. This means Bliss is non-dual. So, God is Bliss. Bliss is God.

The other day I said, "Swami! This Sivarathri was fantastic!" Baba said, "It was nothing special. Why do you say 'fantastic'? Did you not attend last year's Sivarathri?" "Yes Swami, I attended. But this year, ah!" "Why? Perhaps you have not slept this time? (Laughter) This time you were awake, so you enjoyed it. Last year you must have slept!" "No, no, everything was as usual."

But God is still curious. (Divine curiosity is very interesting. Human curiosity is disgusting. Curiosity at the human level is disgusting and vexing, whereas Divine curiosity is fun, frolic and interesting.) He said, "Why was it special this year?"

A chance to speak! "Swami! Some people asked me to pray to You so that Your chair would be a little higher up. It is so low that all are not able to see. They wanted You to have a chair which is a little higher so that everybody can see."

"Then?" "Some people also wanted me to pray to You." I have put it like this for my own safety. (Laughter) They wanted me to 'convey to Swami', but I added, 'wanted me to pray to You.' (We have to take care of everybody's safety.) "Some people wanted me to pray to You to install a few TV sets on all sides so that everybody can watch because, at the time of Lingodbhava, as the Linga originates, some people may get up and then others cannot see. But when TV sets are put up, all can see and enjoy."

"Hmm. What did you say? What did you tell them?" "I know, Swami, that I should not tell You these things. They wanted me to tell, but I did not tell because I know my limitation. And I also tell them that I am here because I don't tell these things. The moment I tell, my seat will be elsewhere not here. (Laughter)

Then He said, "You also tell them that you will be respectful so long as you don't open your mouth! You go and tell them! If you refrain from telling these things, you’ll be more respectful." "Oh, Swami!"

Then He said, "Why were you happy this year?" Divine curiosity, persistent, insistence to know. Then I said, "Swami! This year was thrilling because You got up! There was no question of raising the chair. There was no question of installing TV sets. Without my telling You, without anybody telling You, You stood up and the Siva Linga came out. "Oh! Good, good! I know, I know. You don’t need to tell Me."

And then further He said, "You know what happened? The Siva Lingam came out by force - like that! Not slowly." You must have watched. All of you must have watched. It came out forcefully like a jet, just like that!

And Swami explained why it happened: In the body of every one of us, all the metals are there, including gold. That’s the reason why in Ayurveda (Indian school of medicine) even gold is also given as a curative medicine. So, all metals are there in our body. All these things are there in a liquid form.

Bhagavan said, "When the liquid gets transformed into a solid, a heat is generated. Liquid becomes solid at that time. Heat is generated and therefore the Linga came out forcefully."

"Not only that, I was sweating. You must have watched." That’s what Baba said. "I asked two or three lecturers just to fan Me like that. They were doing it. You must have watched. I was sweating because heat is generated when the liquid gets transformed into solid. So it came out forcefully. Because of the heat, I was sweating. So many boys had to fan at that moment." "Oh, Swami."

Then He said another point. "In your case, solid is transformed into liquid. But in My case, liquid is transformed into solid. That is the difference. Gold is there in you. The solid is transformed into liquid. It remains like that. But in Swami’s case, liquid is transformed into solid. Therefore it came out in the form of Siva Linga. "Ah! Swami!"

Then He said, "This is a demonstration to all of us to know that Siva Linga is there in every one of you." Swami has brought it out as a symbol, as a matter of symbolic effect, with a spiritual meaning behind it, such that we’ll enjoy the state of Bliss. So Bliss is not an ideal. Bliss is not a notion. Bliss is not a hypothesis. Bliss is not theoretical. Bliss is the actual state of existence. So, God is bliss. Bliss is God.

Bliss is a witness, but not a participant. I see a film on the screen. So many things are happening - the hero is beating and thrashing everybody. But I am not beaten. I simply watch that. I am not a participant. I am only a witness. I see all that is happening on the screen. That's all.

Bliss is a witness but not a participant, whereas happiness is obtained by being a participant. As a participant, you can be happy. As a participant, you can be unhappy. But Bliss has nothing to do with your participation. It is irrespective of participation, because Bliss is the witness. Bliss is the state of witnessing. Bliss is Consciousness.

Consciousness exists in all three states. Consciousness exists in all levels. There cannot be anything without Consciousness. One is physical Consciousness or Waking Consciousness. With this Waking Consciousness, I am able to see everybody. All of us now are in the state of Waking Consciousness. This alertness, this wakeful state involves the body, the mind and Consciousness. All three work together in this state.

Then comes the second state. Dreaming Consciousness is the second state. Bhagavan gave one example: Now I am here. All of us are here. We go back tonight and we dream. We dream as if we are here in this hall. Is this hall there in the dream? No! Are all of you there in the dream? No! It is only the mind that created this hall. It is only the mind that created all of you. It is the mind that created me also. So, that Dreaming Consciousness is the expression of the mind and Consciousness.

So, Swami says that the mind and the senses are equal to Waking Consciousness. "Swami? The senses?" Why? Because when anesthesia is given, you don’t feel the pain since the mind is unconscious. So when the mind is unconscious, you don’t feel pain. When the mind feels pain, it means that the mind and the body are existing together.

Disassociation of the mind is Dreaming Consciousness. Association of the mind with the senses is Waking Consciousness. So, the first state is Waking Consciousness, where the mind and body exist together. The second is Dreaming Consciousness, where the mind exists. There everything is created by the mind.

Then there is the third state, Sleeping Consciousness. This means, I have a sound sleep. Sound sleep is a very funny word. It is figurative and it is literal! In Darshan line, we find some people in sound sleep snoring! (Laughter) But actually, sound sleep means something different.

Sound sleep (also referred to as deep sleep) is the state where you don’t dream. There will be no dreams at all. Ah! You’ll have a good sleep! That’s the reason why some people ask, "Had a good sleep last night?" they mean, "Did you sleep without any dreams?" "How did you sleep last night? Had a good sleep last night?" "Yes!" "You never had any dreams? Nobody attacked you? There was nothing like visa and passport? No reservations? Nothing to do with British Airlines or Indian Airlines or hijacking? Or plane crash?"

You enjoyed a good sleep, a dreamless sleep, dreamlessness, where Consciousness is only there as a witness. That’s all. But even that is temporary.

I'm trying to conclude my friends, kindly cooperate with me. This is a serious subject, which Bhagavan dwelled on at length two days ago. Swami sat there for one hour and ten minutes, talking about these things. That’s why I really wish to share with you all of these things. If anything goes wrong, it is my mistake. Swami explained in a perfect way, but as it comes through the second hand, 50% perfect vocal cords of Anil Kumar, things might not have been to your satisfaction. But Swami explained very clearly.

Waking Consciousness is the first state where there are three functions: body, mind and Consciousness or Atma. Atma means Consciousness. Body, mind Atma: B-M-A. ‘B' for body, ‘M’ for mind, ‘A’ for Atma, or Consciousness. All the three are active in the first level, known as Waking Consciousness.

The second is Dreaming Consciousness, where two are functional. This is where we find the mind creates everything. The body is not there. There is only ‘M’ and ‘A.’ ‘M’ is the mind, ‘A’ is Atma or Consciousness. That’s all, as mind creates the dreams.

And the third state, Sleeping Consciousness, is without any dreams. Only ‘A’ remains, Atma. Consciousness is there as a witness. So, Waking Consciousness, Dreaming Consciousness and Sleeping Consciousness, there are these three levels.

But even that Sleeping Consciousness is not permanent. I get up from sleep and say, "I had a good sleep last night!" If you ask me, "What kind of sleep? Can you please explain it to me?" Then I’ll say, "We’ll meet tomorrow. Don’t disturb me!" I cannot describe the Deep Sleeping Consciousness. It is neither sweet nor hot. It is neither tall nor short. It is neither fair nor unfair, or dark. No, no, no!

Deep sleep is only experience. Now, the deep sleep experience is not permanent. It also vanishes. Because the moment I wake up from bed, I will say, "I had a nice sleep last night. Now I’ll have the real life."

Baba said there is fourth state still. There is Waking Consciousness, Dreaming Consciousness, Sleeping Consciousness, and the fourth one is Pure Consciousness. The pure gold is 24-carat, unalloyed, unpolluted, crystal-clear. So, what is that Pure Consciousness? The Pure Consciousness is beyond these three levels.

"Swami! If it is beyond these three, how am I to know it? Waking I know. Dreams I have had. Good, deep sleep I enjoy. But what is that fourth state? I do not know!" Swami said, "The fourth, Pure Consciousness, is in all these three states but above these three states." Oh-ho! In all the three, but above the three. Then what am I? How to know that?

Swami gave a simple example: "This mike helps you to amplify My sound. You’re able to listen to Me because of the mike. But the mike is just an instrument, a medium. That’s it. A breeze you get from the fan, but the fan is not there in the electricity. Electricity is there in the fan, but the fan is not there in the electricity. Electricity, current supply, is in the mike, but the mike is not there in electricity. So, electricity is in the light, in the mike, in a fan, in the TV, heater or what not. But all these electronic gadgets are not there in the electricity."

So, Swami said, "Electricity is Pure Consciousness, which is there in all these three states, like in the fan, the geyser, the fridge, the TV. Electricity is there in all these things, but they are not there in the electricity. Similarly, Pure Consciousness is there in the Waking State and the Dreaming State. It is there in the Sleeping Consciousness, but it is beyond all these, like the electricity is beyond the specific gadgets. That Pure Consciousness is Bliss."

"Then, Swami! If it is Bliss, why am I not blissful? It is there in all of the three states! Then, why am I not blissful? Why?" Swami said, "You are not blissful because of attachment. Because of attachment, you are not blissful. Bliss is there. It is only this attachment that robs, that denies this state of Bliss." So, finally Bhagavan said, "The more and more you cultivate detachment, detachment towards everything, then you’ll enjoy the state of Bliss or Pure Consciousness."

Before leaving this morning, I should also share with you one or two questions that I put, along the same line of talk.

"Swami! You say that I should have detachment. How about my family? Should I be detached from my family? I'm a professor. If I'm detached from my teaching profession, how can I teach? If a doctor is detached, how about a patient? So, is it possible to practice detachment? Is it desirable to practice? Is it necessary to practice? Will not detachment lead to inefficiency? Will it not lead to laziness, dullness, inertia?"

Swami looked at me in a mischievous way and said, "Do you think that I can’t answer you?" "Swami! You are the only one who can answer! Therefore I ask."

Then Bhagavan said, "Detachment does not mean in the way you have said. You can be detached, but continue to do every activity as a responsibility, not with attachment. It is your duty. It is your responsibility. That’s all." "Swami! How to do that? How? Please tell me."

Then Bhagavan said, "Take Me as the best example. I do all these things. I talk to you. I give everything, but I am totally detached. So, you can take Me as the best example. I do, but I'm not attached. It is My duty to help you. It is My duty to save you. It is My duty to love you. It is my duty to come to your rescue. But I am not attached."

So my friends, detachment, meaning doing everything, discharging everything as a matter of duty and responsibility, will help us to experience the state of Pure Consciousness, which is our right, which is guaranteed, which is our True Nature, which is actually Bliss. Bliss is God. God is Bliss. Live in Bliss is the Thought for the Day. May Sai bless you. Thank you very much. (Applause)

Om Asatoma Sadgamaya
Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya
Mrtyurmaya Amrtamgamaya

Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Thank you very much. Sai Ram.

Hopefully we will be meeting again same day same time.

Sai Ram.

© Anil Kumar Kamaraju 2004 - Here reproduced for personal use of the devotees for the purpose of seva.
Anil Kumar website: http://www.internety.com/anilkhome/ - http://www.internety.com/saipearls/
 

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