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Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at
Prasanthi Nilayam
November 25, 2001
"Echoes from Discourses"
November 25, 2001
Sai Ram.
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of our most Beloved Bhagavan,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
The Real New Year Begins
We’ll commence the New Year from this day. Why? Because after
Bhagavan’s Birthday, the real New Year begins. We don’t go by the
calendar year. The calendar year begins from the first of January.
We don’t go by the academic year, which begins on the first of
June. We don’t go by the financial year that starts the first of
April. So, it’s not the financial New Year; it is not the academic
New Year; it is not the calendar New Year. It’s the spiritual New
Year, beginning from 23rd November. So I welcome you all to listen
on this new spiritual year. (Applause)
I'm so glad to meet all of you. This being the first session in
this new spiritual year, I wanted to share with you certain
important points and highlights of Bhagavan’s discourses, which He
has so graciously delivered during the recent days. What are the
important points, these highlights? It may not be possible to
cover them all, nor is it necessary. But my attempt is to draw to
your attention to few points so that you’ll be encouraged to work
along similar lines.
Listening with Open-Mindedness
Spiritual activity requires three important things. The first is
listening or Sravanam. One has to listen patiently. Unfortunately,
we don’t have that. We listen as we think. We think and listen.
Therefore, neither do we think or listen. We listen in order to
contradict the speaker. We listen with prejudice. We listen with
bias. We listen totally negatively, without any positivity.
Listening in that way, we will not be benefited by such a
listening process. Listening with open-mindedness, listening in a
total state of silence, and listening with a spirit of acceptance
is spiritual.
So my friends, when we hear Bhagavan, we should not just hear Him.
We have to listen to Him. You can hear any stuff that is said to
you. "I got first line. I got vibhuthi." OK, OK. You can hear all
this and then forget about it. But certain things you have to
listen to and remember for your whole life. Those things we have
listened to we have to remember lifelong. But those things we have
simply heard are just passing clouds.
So, having listened to Bhagavan’s discourses for the past couple
of days, I thought of sharing a few of the important points and
highlights that caught my attention. As the time is inadequate to
cover them all, I limit my self to five of the important points.
We Are Not Prepared For Enlightenment
The first point is with regard to enlightenment. Bhagavan has
decided to speak on this subject of enlightenment. Since we are
not prepared for such enlightenment, those points do not get into
our head. I am not blaming anybody. (Whatever I say, I am also
included. I am not on a higher pedestal. I'm the first among you.
I'm sure, my good friends, you’ll never mistake me. I mean ‘we’,
including myself.)
We are not prepared for enlightenment nor are we making any
attempt for enlightenment. Therefore, these points don’t sink into
our heads. Some of you may ask, "Why do you say that? On what
basis do you say that? On what grounds do you say that? Why?"
We are disappointed when we don’t get interviews. We are
frustrated when Bhagavan does not look at us. We are depressed
when He does not take a letter. In fact, we are highly jealous of
those who get these interviews and get their letters taken by Him.
When Bhagavan declared last Guru Purnima, "No more padanamaskars.are
to be taken," we lost all hope as if our lives were lost.
These are all the features and all the points that indirectly tell
us we are not prepared for enlightenment. "Swami, I'm not prepared
for that." "Why?" "Well, I'm lost when You don’t look at me."
Somebody was complaining this morning, "Why did Bhagavan stop
walking toward the left side of Sai Kulwant Hall?" That was the
question put to me. (Laughter) Why is He not walking toward the
left side (gents’ side) of Kulwant Hall?
What should I say? The answer is, "He is walking towards the right
side." This is the answer regarding why He is avoiding the left
side! (Laughter) Yes! Just as I have no answer to tell you why He’s
walking this side, likewise I have no answer for why He’s not
walking on that side. I have the same answer – no answer – for
both questions. So, the questions of ‘why’ and ‘why not’ come when
we are not prepared for enlightenment.
There are also some people who write some chits: ‘yes-no, yes-no’.
There are two ‘yes’s and two ‘no’s. They put them in front of
Bhagavan saying, "You can take one." Supposing if it is ‘no’, they
are not prepared for that ‘no’. They do it again until they get ‘yes’!
(Laughter) Until they get ‘yes’, they do it. It means, "Swami,
though I give You a choice, it is really in my hands!" (Laughter)
So this is not an indication of enlightenment, no.
Moreover, all of us are also under one mistaken idea. Many people
come to me and ask me, "Sir, please tell us some experiences.
Please tell us some ‘miracles’." Well, I'm very much surprised
whenever I encounter such a question. Why? Baba has certain points
to say about these ‘miracles’. One thing He has said is: "All the
miracles and experiences come to the size of a mosquito when
compared to My Divinity, which is the size of an elephant." So,
since we live in the midst of mosquitoes, we appreciate mosquitoes,
along with their music at night in particular! Hence, we are after
these ‘mosquito-miracles’. Very good. Why not? (Laughter)
A Miracle Is Just a Visiting Card
The second point He said was regarding miracles or experiences.
They are just a ‘visiting (business) card’ for you to know that
God exists. For so long you have been under the opinion that
everything is under your control. "I can manage, I can dictate, I
am everything." This kind of ego, this kind of I-ness, is more and
more rampant, increasing day by day, Therefore, there comes a
‘speed breaker’ in our life, either wife or doctor or your good
noble Self. For example, doctors examine you and say, "It’s a
doubtful case." Then we suddenly turn to spirituality. So,
spirituality or God come into the picture when we fail. It’s the
case.
Then what happens? When things happen favorably, for example if I'm
cured totally or if I get a promotion also (sometimes overtaking
my immediate juniors), well, it is a ‘miracle’ in life! If I get a
free ticket or a place to sit in the front row, these are all ‘miracles’.
That’s what we think. But my friends, a miracle is not necessarily
a success. Failure is also a miracle. Please understand this.
Failure is also a miracle. Birth is a miracle and so also is death.
Victory is a miracle and so also is defeat. Therefore, our
attitude towards miracles is not correct.
A simple example: Many devotees or most of us are here for some
problem or other. I say ‘most of us’. There may be a few who are
above this. I cannot generate equations for them. When scientific
laws have their own exceptions, why not humans too? There are some
exceptions. But for a fact, most of the people are here due to
some problem or other.
Bhagavan is gracious enough to have these problems solved
immediately. So we develop some faith and we are very much
attached to Him. But the trouble comes later when we then expect
miracles to happen every day. Not only every day, but in our life
only! (Laughter) That is the tragedy. "Every day should be a
bright day, a successful day, a day of conquer, a day of valor, a
day unbeaten, unrivalled, unparalleled, a day where I always
maintain my supremacy." That is a ‘miracle’. I am just telling you
openly that this is our concept of a ‘miracle’.
But that’s not so. A trouble that we had at home, a family problem
that we had at home, a professional problem or a business problem,
a problem in politics, whatever it may be, some problem brought us
here. Though that problem is negative, it brought us here. So that
is positive. Thus, a negative thing gave you a positive result!
Now tell me what is a ‘miracle’ now?
A person is suffering from a serious ailment - a negative. He came
to Bhagavan - a positive. Now tell me which is positive and which
is negative! There’s nothing like that. A thing, which was so sad,
conferred upon him a thing that is so blissful. Sickness made him
spiritual! I think you’ll agree with me. The problem made him to
find a solution and he turned spiritual. Or else, had he been
hanging round his problem, his life would have been problematic,
and he himself would have turned into a problem for everybody! So
my friends, even a failure is also a ‘miracle’.
Death Is the Dress of Life
It so happened that some time back one of our friends from my
native place breathed his last. He died all of a sudden here in
Prashanti Nilayam during the Birthday celebrations. I knew him for
the last twenty years. He died all of a sudden. Well, it appears
to be a tragedy. Yes. But if we go deeper into the matter, he did
his service. He served as a volunteer. He was an ardent devotee,
quite an active man, who had all his problems solved. He was very
fine. That moment he just walked with some uneasiness, and within
couple of seconds, that uneasiness was gone because he found a
place on the Lap of Bhagavan: He merged in Him!
It’s only death, though it seems to be a tragedy. But ultimately
He brought him glory. Ultimately it brought him to bliss, rather
than falling sick at home and remaining bedridden, having to be
taken care of by everybody and making all disgusted with him.
Family cannot serve us for long because we haven’t served them at
anytime. We expect everybody to serve us. Then life becomes a
burden. Instead of life becoming a burden and full of boredom, he
just simply took the ‘intercontinental flight’, which took him to
the ‘other planet’ (leaving the body)! Easy transport, no further
visa problems, no more passport problems, no such thing, no more
seating problems. He can always have the window seat! (Laughter)
That’s the reason why Bhagavan says, "Death is the dress of life."
Hence, my only point is to draw your attention this morning to the
point that there is something good even in bad, and there is
something bad even in good things also.
Here is another simple example: I’m a very successful man and I'm
a very big businessman. I’ve got a lot of money. Good, good, it’s
a ‘miracle’! However, because of too much of money, I take to
vices, gambling, and drinking. I lose all the money, become so
weak and pathetic. So, that initial success, that initial
‘miracle’ of money, brought me the ‘miracle’ of hospitalization
too! (Laughter)
So what should happen in life? Should we always have only good?
But that may turn into bad later on. In addition, the bad of today
may turn into good later on. That’s the reason why, my friends, in
the last discourse Bhagavan made this important point. It has dug
so deeply into my heart that I have been waiting to meet you in
order to share with you this particular point, which is most
essential at one time or another in our life. What is it? Bhagavan
said: "Go to the Primal Cause, the Primal Foundation." Then look
at It.
Go To the Primal Cause
A simple example: here is a screen. On the screen, films are
projected. Without the screen, we cannot see the film. Mere film
projection into an empty space will make everybody feel that there
is something wrong with our heads! So, the screen is essential. On
the screen, we project the films. Let us say that we are watching
a film that shows floods. However, in spite of the floods being
projected on the screen, the screen will never be wet. You can
touch it…it’s not wet! Another film shows fire, a huge bonfire,
and the whole city is in flames! People watching are saying, "Ah,
ah, ah!" But please touch the screen! It is not burnt. Thus, the
screen that projects the floods is never wet, and the screen that
projects the flames of fire is never burnt.
In another film, a romantic film, we find the hero and heroine
just dancing for the time being. After an interval, we will find
the reverse side of life! (Laughter) During the honeymoon period,
they dance. Later, they make others dance (meaning, there will be
some troubles)! (A.K. and all laugh) So what happens is this: Oh!
We find a beautiful dance going on. It is so nice! But the screen
doesn’t dance. It doesn’t nod its head or anything like that. It
is just like that, like it always was. Then, after an interval of
time, there’ll be some misunderstanding between them. Then the
heroine goes on fighting with the hero, the hero may like to
manhandle that lady, and, in the end, both of them start crying!
Then it is finished.
But if you go to the screen, it is the same. Even during romantic
scenes, it is the same. During times of fighting and conflict, it
remains the same. It means the screen is the ‘primal principle’.
The screen is the foundation or background upon which or against
which life is being projected. I think I'm clear.
Therefore, Bhagavan says that there’s nothing like pain and
pleasure. Go to the Primal Cause, like you do with the screen.
That is the foundation, which has no change at all, which does not
respond or react to anything, which only reflects an image. There
is no reaction at all. Nothing remains like that. That stillness
is called the ‘Witness’. That is called the ‘Witness’, which is
our true Being. Our true nature is that of the Witness. Just as
the film screen is unaffected, the Spirit, the Soul, the
Consciousness, our Atma, is not affected. This state of being
unaffected is the non-dual state, which is called the Witness.
That’s what Bhagavan was talking to us about. The whole idea of
spiritual exercise, whether you do worship (puja), or sing His
glory (called namasmarana), or do meditation (dhyana), or go
through books (parayana), the ultimate aim, the ultimate reality,
the final goal, the last destination is only one thing. That is
experiencing the Self, being an eternal Witness. Self is an
eternal Witness, non-dual, not carried away by any sort of
experience. Due to our life and our experiences here, particularly
with Bhagavan, we will realize this Witness or Self some day or
the other. He won’t leave us until we do.
Maintain That State of Balance
When you are called for or granted an interview, you go into that
room and experience the way Swami talks to you. It will appear as
if you are the center of the world! You will feel that you are the
Universe, and that this Incarnation needs you. Yes, you will feel
that this Incarnation is purposeless without you. (Laughter) This
Incarnation has no Divine program without you! Why? Because
Bhagavan gives you that feeling of importance. That’s the reason
why, after an interview, when we walk out of the interview room,
we don’t walk like normal men and women! (Laughter) No, no! Ah! So
rhythmic! There’s music, "Hi, hi, hi, hi!" (Laughter) Why? Ah! The
Divine Spirit...it is not alcoholic spirit, but Divine Spirit! (Laughter
and applause) Even simple alcoholic spirit gives us kick! But
Bhagavan’s ‘Divine kick’ (sounds like ‘wine-cake’) is a thousand
times more than ordinary wine! (Laughter) All of us have that
experience.
Then what happens? The next day, as He passes by, He stands in
front of you. He lifts both of His hands and He starts looking up,
while you are down there. (Laughter) "Only yesterday morning You
gave me the impression that I'm so dear and I'm everything for You.
Yet today You fail to identify me!? (Laughter) You fail to
recognize me! Am I nobody to You, Bhagavan? I was everything to
You yesterday. And today, I’m nobody." That’s it.
Why is this? There are two points here. One point is that we have
to maintain that state of balance, when interview is given and
also when interview is not given. We are able to develop the
balanced state of mind. And secondly, Bhagavan also demonstrates
detachment. "Just because I talked to you, never think that I'm
attached to you. No!" There is no attachment.
It can even happen to a big (VIP) man. I can give you an instance,
but let me not name him (as it doesn’t look nice). A Chief
Minister was kept waiting for three days outside! A Chief Minister!
Whether he is a Chief Minister or the Prime Minister, it doesn’t
matter in front of Bhagavan. They are Ministers to the people
there in the Parliament, but not in front of Bhagavan. Unless you
forget that you’re a Minister, He will never remember you!
So, this understanding and balance, that’s what He was talking
about - samatwam, equanimity, and samatasthithi, a balanced state
of mind or being equanimous. If one remains like that, that is
really a spiritual life. When can we develop it? When we can
accept that good and bad are ultimately for our good only. This is
what is called ‘surrender’.
Somebody asked, "What is surrender?" Surrender is very simple.
Preparedness for anything that comes in life is surrender. It is
not helplessness. No! It is preparedness. Whatever might happen,
all right. If You look at me, good. If You don’t look at me, I
continue to maintain my own peace. I don’t disturb anybody. (There
are some people who go on disturbing because they themselves are
disturbed! Beware of them.) So, a balanced state is very much
necessary, as He has mentioned.
How to develop a balanced state of mind? What is equanimity? Is
that possible? Bhagavan said it is possible. If it were impossible,
that would not draw us to attention. It helps us to know that it
is possible. God is here to tell us how to achieve it, how to
attain the state of equanimity.
Consider Your Mind As Your Servant
He has said another important point. What did He say? Consider
your mind as your servant, not as your master. If you consider
your mind as your master, you are happy in the morning, but
miserable in the evening. You’re successful during the year 2000,
but an utter flop in the year 2001! So this kind of duality, good
and bad, these things like success and failure, such dual
attitudes happen as they are the products of the mind. That’s what
He was telling us. I think those of you who heard with rapt
attention the Divine discourse must be remembering all that He has
said without failure. So, that mind which is a servant, that mind
used as an instrument, will help you to develop that state of
equanimity. That’s what He was telling us.
Bhagavan further said that the senses are negative, the mind is
negative, and the intellect is negative. In fact, everything in
the whole world is negative. But there is only one thing that is
positive and that is your Self or Conscience, Spirit or Atma (whatever
name you may give). Some people call it Soul; some say it is
Spirit. Whatever you may call it, that is the only thing that is
positive. All the rest is negative. When once you know that you
are the Self, then the senses are instruments, the mind is an
instrument, the intellect is an instrument, and the Self is the
master.
So my friends, I'm bound to react. I'm sure to show my own
reactions during times of happiness and times of unhappiness. I do
show my reactions. People say that the face is the index of the
mind. I cannot say that I'm happy and then put on a long
Shakespearean face! "I am happy." Oh-ho, is this happiness? Some
people shout, "Well, I love people!" Oh-ho, shouting is love? I
don’t think so. It is terrorizing tranquility! Or violent peace,
or peaceful violence. It is not peace or happiness. So, the face
is the index of the mind. This sort of feeling of being a master,
of having control over the mind, will help us to remain in the
state of equanimity. By considering the mind as just an instrument,
we are able to transcend the dual experiences. That is what He has
said.
Be a Watchman, Watching Your Own Thoughts
Other point that deserves your attention, which I want to make
before I go on to the next topic, is this one. This is the last
point with regard to the mind. Here is a simple example. I'm a
member of the Seva Dal. I’m in the service wing. I'm given duty
there at the gate. What do I do? I see people come in and go out.
I see where people are seated and, if they don’t have seats, I
show them seats. I just watch. That’s all. People come and go.
That’s all that I do standing at the gate, right?
Similarly, all the thoughts that come into our mind, thoughts that
come and go, such thoughts create a traffic jam like at the
Bangkok Airport! These rush of flowing thoughts create a traffic
jam. Imagine this. There’s a terrific rush of vehicles. It will
take you at least three hours to reach Bangkok Airport because
there is a traffic jam all along the way!
So the point is, just as you find people coming and going, so are
thoughts coming and going. Watch the thoughts that come and go.
You are a watchman now, watching your own thoughts. You are not
the thought. When I think that I am the thought, I'm egoistic.
When I am the thought, I am proud. When I am the thought, at times
I am mad. So, just say to yourself, ‘No, I'm not the thought. I
should just watch my thoughts as they come and go.’ Then what will
happen? There comes a stage when thoughts stop.
Here is a simple example. These are all examples from Sai
literature. My brothers and sisters, I always emphasize this point.
Do not make a mistake and think that I'm speaking, based on my
intellect (which is non-existent, I know)! (Laughter) Never think
that these are all things that I can imagine and then speak to you.
Not in this lifetime! These are all from Sai literature only. If I
know anything, it is only from Sai literature. The rest you can
imagine. There is a college for that.
So, the point is this. Here is another simple example: You find a
small child playing, shouting "Takka-takka", and moving. Yes,
oh-ho! Just watch the child. Catch his look when the child starts
moving. After that, that’s it! The child will just sit there. You
don’t have to check on him nor do you have to beat the child. No.
Just watch the child playing like that. That’s it.
Similarly, like this child at play with the sand and pebbles,
everywhere moving hither and thither, inside, outside, and all
around, when once you start watching the thoughts, the thoughts
stop. A thought is like a child who is moving around. As with the
child, when you watch a thought, it stops. That is what is called
the process of the withdrawal of the mind or the annihilation of
the mind. It is also called the absence of mind, merger of the
mind, or disappearance of the mind.
(I'm using so many words. It is not that I'm an expert in English
language, no! It reflects more my struggle to be understood. That’s
all. I've been struggling to be understood. That’s it. It’s
nothing to do with my scholarship.)
So my friends, this sort of withdrawal of the mind is possible
when we are watchful of the thought process. When can you watch
the thoughts? When you are separate from the thought. Why are you
separate from the thought? You are separate because thoughts have
originated out of the mind. It is the mind that thinks. When once
you think you are not the thought, it means that you have a
feeling that you are not the mind either. You are not the mind.
Why do people say, "I have no mental peace. My mind has no peace."
What does it mean? It means that I'm separate from my mind. "I
have no peace of mind." It indicates that I am separate from my
mind, which has no peace. Am I clear?
So, when once I understand that I'm separate from my mind and I
start watching the flow of thoughts, the mind stops. This is the
secret of being non-dual. This is the secret of happiness. This is
the secret of bliss, provided we know the intricacy of the process.
This is one thing that Bhagavan said.
Happiness Lies In Union With God
The next point is this, regarding wishing "Happy Birthday!" People
say, "Happy Birthday!" Bhagavan repeatedly says, "You need to
greet a person, wishing him "Happy Birthday", if he’s not happy."
Thus you are suggesting to that person that at least on this day
or in the near future, he should be happy. At this time, on this
day, he should be happy. Bhagavan says, "But I'm always happy, so
you don’t need to say that to Me." That’s what Bhagavan has said.
So, here are a few points from Bhagavan regarding happiness.
Bhagavan has said in His discourses, "Happiness lies in Union with
God." Why? In the union with the world, there is only misery. In
the union with the family, we should know better! (I need not say
more because otherwise I stand the risk of certain things
following!) (Laughter) Union with the family, union with the
world, union with money, all that will never give you happiness.
Worldly matters give bumps and jumps. It is something like a share
market, having bumps and jumps. Dollars are valued so much today.
But tomorrow it may rise. It is all like a share market. The price
may go up or down and then one may lose. Therefore, my friends,
this sort of happiness, where we link up with the world, where the
mind identifies with the world or the position, pelf, power,
influence, or politics - whatever it may be, misery is the result.
Only in between, you may be happy.
This morning I was watching TV. So much fighting goes on there in
Parliament! People throw chapels and slippers at each other! (Laughter)
What very nice people, what wonderful representatives we have
elected! (Laughter) It reflects our true standard also. Who is
your representative? A fellow who cannot talk! A fellow who has no
mind at all! A fellow who is ready to break all the mikes! These
are the representatives. So, if we watch on TV when Parliament is
in session, we can't help but cry. I feel so badly for having
elected them to power!
So my friends, ultimately our understanding, our links, and our
contacts with the world will bring only misery. Let it be USA or
USSR or China or Germany. No man is happy by having too much of
indulgence or too much involvement in this world. It is impossible.
There comes a saturation point.
Here is a simple example. "Why do you say this, Anil Kumar? What
do you know about the happiness I have there in Germany, Japan, or
Trinidad?" I will answer, "Oh-ho! Why are you happy?"
"We have got the free flow of liquor there! (Laughter) Instead of
water, we’ll have liquor." "Oh, good! Liquor acts quicker! You
believe that. OK. Whiskey is not risky. That’s OK." As Bhagavan
says, man drinks the first cup, the first glass of wine. Next
glasses, wine drinks wine. Finally what happens? Wine drinks the
man. So, first step is the man drinks wine. Then, wine drinks wine
with repeated glasses. Finally, wine drinks the man. Do you
understand?
So, initially that habit might give you happiness. But ultimately
one ends up in sickness with a serious problem. So, true happiness
does not lie with our attachment to the world. True happiness lies
in Union with God. That’s what Bhagavan has said, which really
needs our special attention and focus.
True Happiness Is Not Objective
The second point is that true happiness is not objective. Here is
a simple example: A TV is an object. A car is an object. These
objects are all only objects and hence, obstructions to true
happiness. That's why ‘abject’ is very close in spelling to ‘object’.
All these objects are ‘objections’ to the real happiness. The very
term ‘object’ itself has come out of ‘abject’! So, you can
understand, there cannot be true happiness out of these objects.
It is impossible.
True happiness lies not in objectivity, but in subjectivity. True
happiness is subjective. Worldly happiness is objective. That’s
the reason why Swami says, "Happiness lies in Union with God." It
means never be objective, but be subjective. That is the point
that He has said.
By being a teacher for four decades, you may find me repetitious.
But I am sure that you will excuse me. Old habits die hard. I’ve
been a teacher for four decades. Not only that, I'm born in a
family of teachers, right from my great grandparents, maternal and
paternal. There are more ‘genes’ in me of a teacher than of any
other profession, allocation, provocation, or whatever else you
may call it. This whole body is full of ‘genes of teachers’ only!
Therefore, I'm prone to repeat certain things, for which I hope
that you’ll bear with me.
Happiness Is a Natural Thing
Now Bhagavan has spoken about this happiness: Happiness is a
natural thing, just as help is natural. I don’t question, "Why are
you healthy?" (Laughter) Will anybody put that question, "Why are
you healthy?" I would respond, "Oh I see, you want me to fall sick
or what? Huh? I'm not your competitor, so I don’t know why you put
that question."
So we will never ask anybody, "Why are you healthy?" Health is
natural. Sickness is unnatural. "Why are you sick? Oh I see! Who
is treating you? Get well soon, my dear child. Get well soon!"
This means that we want everybody to return to the natural state
of happiness. So, happiness is our natural state. Sickness is
unnatural. This we have to understand.
But unfortunately, we don’t want to look happy since we think
others are happier than we are. But it is not so. This is foolish!
We think others may be happier than we may be. No, no, no, no! He’s
much, much worse than you! (Laughter) No one is happier than
anyone. Please understand this! "He’s going in a Rolls Royce car,
which is so costly, wow! Therefore, he’s happier than me." But he’s
driving to a heart specialist for a heart check-up! (Laughter) He’s
happier than you are? Where? In heaven! Please understand this.
Therefore, we are not enjoying and we are not experiencing this
so-called happiness. We are not in the natural state of happiness
because we think others are happier than we are, which is nothing
but a fool’s paradise. All are happy. All are unique. Everyone is
great. Everyone is happy. We are the happiest creatures on earth
today, being at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan. Happiest people today!
(Applause)
Why are we so happy? Has He given us gunny bag-loads of currency?
No! Why? Has He given us dollars and pounds? So, why are we happy?
He has given us an attitude, a mental balance, courage, and a
spirit to take things with equal mindedness. He has given us that
conviction of equanimity. He has given us a feeling that we are
not the body. He has shown us the purpose of life, the goal of
life. My friends, this is the real ‘miracle’ of Bhagavan Sri
Sathya Sai Baba on everybody. It’s nothing like giving us some
money or giving us a position, after all. I'm so sorry if we
consider this as a miracle.
The miracle, the greatest miracle of Bhagavan, is transformation.
Transformation of our attitudes, transformation of our habits, our
thinking, of the ultimate purpose of life, this is the greatest
miracle. We should be aware of this. So, this kind of happiness is
Bhagavan’s gift. And this happiness is not to be achieved, please
understand this! Happiness is not an achievement. Please be
convinced of it. "I want to be happy tomorrow." Oh-ho! You
continue to want it. You continue to desire it. Next life, we’ll
see.
Happiness is not an achievement. Happiness is your reality.
Happiness is your reality, your own nature. It is not an
achievement. What is to be achieved? Sadness must be achieved.
Misery must be achieved. Therefore, my friends, we should learn
how to be happy in the true sense by looking inward. By turning
inwards, we can be very happy.
Because I Love You, I Choose To Correct You
I don’t know whether I told this earlier or not. It so happened a
couple of years ago that Swami blasted me like anything: TAH-DAH!
TAH-DAH! It was like ballistic missiles! I was finished, as you
find Afghanistan today. (Laughter) Totally gone! Something went
wrong in the office, and I could not come up to His expectations.
Therefore, He blasted me in public. Any rewards or rings are given
in the interview room. But this blasting is done in public so that
I will not repeat those mistakes for a hundred lives to come!
Humiliation in public! He does it purposefully so that we don’t do
that again. Yes. Surgery is very necessary. I was feeling so badly,
very upset. And I could not look at the faces of others because it
was the initial stages of my surgery. After repeated surgeries,
well, we gain experience. (Laughter)
So due to that situation, I was so very much upset. I could not
look at the face of anybody. I was seated. Swami was just sitting
there and looking at me like that. Do you see His Divine Romance?
See that? As I didn’t feel like looking at Him, I just looked away.
He was looking at me, while I was looking away like this. (Laughter)
He completed that bhajan session with just three songs that day.
He left.
The next day I was also serious because one cannot forget things
like that. With such a long service career, there is an artificial
image of one’s own personality, which is nothing but a mirage. We
react when once that ego is blasted because of the personality
that we have created over years of name and fame and because of
our own imagination (which is also non-existent and utterly
false). It’s not so easy to forget.
The next day I was also sitting there. He went and turned like
that and then like this, and then He threw a rose flower, which
fell on my lap! I did not look at the rose flower because I was
remembering the thorn! I was thinking of the thorn. ‘Why a rose
now? Yesterday He gave me only the thorn!’ (Laughter)
That evening He asked me to get up to translate and He started
giving a discourse. What did He say? "When I say certain things,
some are feeling hurt." Not some! Only I was there at that time! (Laughter)
"Some feel insulted, some feel humiliated, some feel very badly
about it." I was thinking, ‘Why ‘some’ Swami? You can mention my
name straightaway!’ (Laughter) Everyone knows it. Everyone knows
that already. This game has been going on for the last couple of
days. Finally He said, "Because I love you, I choose to correct
you. Because I love you, I consider you as Mine. So I have a
concern for you. If I had no concern, I wouldn’t need to correct
anybody. You can go on your own way. Because I consider all of you
as my children, I have concern and so I want to correct you."
God Will Not Look At Serious Faces
He just made a general lecture. I knew it was 100% meant for me. I
knew that. Then finally He said this point. (It’s not blowing my
trumpet. Of course, it’s not blowing one’s own trumpet when one
says that he’s been banged heavily. No, it’s not that!) I want to
draw you to this punch line and the important message behind it.
He said, "God will not look at serious faces. He will not look at
serious faces." That of course was the face that I had been
successfully maintaining for the last three days because of my
reaction, due to my pride being so much affected. (Laughter) "He
will never look at serious faces, unhappy faces, or castor oil
faces. So, smile, smile, smile all the way!" That is the message
of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. If we can smile, smile all the
way. (Applause) Life is laughter. Life is bliss. Life is never
seriousness. Seriousness is not life at all. If I consider
spiritual life to be serious, my place of meditation is in the
hospital, not in the Mandir. (Laughter)
Seriousness is a sign of sadness. Seriousness is a sign of ego.
Seriousness is an expression of a false image, a false personality
that one has developed over the years. Seriousness is a lack of
humility. Seriousness is a quality of jealous people. We should
smile and smile! We should be able to laugh because, "O God, You
have given me this beautiful life. O God, You have brought me so
near to You. O God, You have blessed me with this opportunity of
participating and associating with Your activity, with Your
institution. I am able to watch your beautiful face! So why should
I cry? Why? If I cry here, where else can I smile? If I'm not
happy here, where else can I be happy because this is the very
paradise! The very heaven is here."
This is a place where we have our concentrated attention on
Bhagavan. When you have your concentrated attention on Him, the
mind is withdrawn. Your body is withdrawn and your intellect
vanishes. He remains; I go. When He remains, when I go, as He is
bliss, the bliss remains with me forever and ever. That is the
secret of bliss. (Applause)
So my friends, this is not an achievement. Happiness is not an
achievement. Happiness is a continued state of living. Happiness
is a continued state of Eternity. Happiness is God's gift, which
we can spoil ourselves. That’s what I could understand from His
talk.
No One Is Extraordinary
Here is another point that comes in the way of our happiness. I
think that all of you would agree with me. In order to teach us a
lesson when we think that we are so important, Bhagavan will call
on a Primary School child and He will start talking with that
child. You are there, VIP’s are here, Ministers are there,
administrators are there, all having important programs or seeking
important clarifications or clearing of doubts. But He goes on
talking to the Primary child! ‘Is that child so important?’ (Laughter)
Oh no! Then why does He do this? He wants us to be ordinary. None
of us should consider ourselves to be extraordinary. We are
ordinary. That’s all. Ordinariness is extraordinariness. To be
ordinary is extraordinary!
To feel that you are extraordinary is abnormal. No one is
extraordinary. We are all ordinary. There is beauty in being
ordinary. There is glamour in being ordinary. There is humility in
ordinariness. There is simplicity in ordinariness. There is
prayerfulness in ordinariness. But once we feel that we’re
extraordinary, we’ll be on the cross! We’ll be humiliated and we’ll
be insulted. Today we are deprived of all happiness and all smiles
are missing because we feel we’re extraordinary. No! Let us
entertain the feeling of ordinariness. "Bhagavan, I am ordinary."
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa gives this beautiful example: "Why do
you disciples fight among yourselves? Why?" This fighting is there
every time. Every great teacher or every Incarnation had
associates with our same temperaments then, now, and forever! So,
they were fighting with each other. By fighting, I mean there were
those with ‘superiority complex’ and those with ‘inferiority
complex’. "My teacher talks to him only! So let me pray that he
will fall down in size!" Oh-ho I see. "But not on the day when I
come up, no! On that day, he should be completely ignored!" That’s
our (wrong) sadhana or spiritual practice.
Paramahamsa, being the all-knowing preceptor, could understand
this and said, "My dear disciples! Why do you fight among
yourselves? Why this competition?" And Paramahamsa said, "Where
there is competition, there is no religion." Where there is
comparison, there is no religion. All of you are here at the
doorstep of God, in the capacity of a beggar, begging for His
Grace and begging for His blessings. We cannot say 'superior
beggar’ or ‘inferior beggar’ or ‘class one beggar’, ‘class two
beggar’, and so on. That’s disgusting! A beggar is a beggar! (Laughter)
So, we are all at the doorstep of Bhagavan. We are equal cadres.
We are all equal, of equal standing, praying for His Blessings. No
one is superior to anybody. This sort of feeling of being
extraordinary, in order to show to others, "I'm extraordinary" (in
making every attempt to be extraordinary) is the main cause for
unhappiness. But if I consider myself to be ordinary, then there’s
no disappointment and no appointment. No appointment and no
disappointment, this is the secret of happiness.
Faith and Awareness
Bhagavan made a few statements about awareness. I picked up a few
points about awareness and I'm trying to elaborate on them within
the stipulated time. Awareness is very important.
To go back to the original point, miracles and experiences have
two basic factors. If you have faith, you will experience them.
This is the first way. Secondly, if you experience them, then you’ll
have faith. Both are true. Some have an experience and therefore
they develop faith. Some have perfect faith and therefore they
have an experience. Good. These are miracles. But true
spirituality is not an experience.
True spirituality has nothing to do with faith. Faith and
experience are the two that are related to miracles in the field
of religion, in the realm of rituals. But the true spirituality,
which He was referring to the other day, is transcendental. True
spirituality is transcendental. Why and how?
To know that I am Atma, to know that I'm Spirit, to know that I'm
Consciousness, do you call it an experience or faith? Even if you
have no faith, you continue to be the Self. Even if you don’t have
any experience, you continue to be the Self. Experience and faith
have got nothing to do with the true Self, as the Self is not an
experience. The Self is not born out of faith. Rather, the Self is
known out of awareness. Awareness is different from faith and
experience.
There are two pens in my pocket. This is not an experience, no.
They’re already there. This is not a matter of faith. It's not a
question of faith because a faithless man may find my pocket empty.
So, whether you have faith or not, two pens are here. Whether I
experience it or not, two pens are here. The only thing I have to
do is to be aware of the two pens in my pocket. I'm aware of the
two pens in my pocket. That’s all. It’s not faith. It's not an
experience.
So true spirituality, true philosophy, requires awareness.
Awareness of what? Awareness of that which is already in existence.
Being aware of that which is already in existence, of that which
is already in you, is what is called awareness. And that awareness
is so simple and innocent. Why? Faith is not like that. "You know
what a strong faith I have? Oh-ho! How many kilos is my faith,
would you tell me? Can you tell me the weight of your faith?"
Reminder Is the Teaching
Some people will come and say, "I have so many experiences!" "Oh-ho!
Please record them and keep it under your pillow!" People boast
about those two things - experiences and faith. People feel proud
of those two things. But awareness has got nothing to do with such
a declaration, nothing to do with any publicity, acceptance,
propaganda, pride, ego, or any other such thing. Why? Because
awareness is not anything new. Awareness is that which is already
in existence.
Suppose you say, "You are Anil Kumar!" You won’t say it as if I’ve
become the President of India! I'm already Anil Kumar! Whether you
call me ‘Venkayya’ or ‘Subbayya’, I'm not bothered because I'm
Anil Kumar. By calling me ‘Anil Kumar’, I have not suddenly become
Anil Kumar the moment you called me that, no! I was named like
that when I was born. That has been my name throughout. When you
call me by my name, well, it is not an achievement. It is not
anything that I have attained, no! Simply you have reminded me of
my name.
So, that kind of reminder is the teaching. The one who reminds you
is your Guru. The Guru is the one who reminds you. That reminder
or remembrance is upadesha or teaching. He reminds you of what? He
reminds you of what you really are through what you call manthra.
So, manthra is nothing but what you are. Upadesha or teaching is
nothing more than telling you what you are. And the teacher or
Guru is no one other than the one who tells you who you really
are. The Guru will not transport you to the moon, no! He’ll make
you sit where you are and tell you who you are. That’s all. This
is what you call awareness, which is so simple and so innocent.
Once Enlightenment Comes, It Never Goes
With regard to the experiencing of that enlightenment, once it
comes, it never goes. Let us understand this. Some people will say,
"I had a lot of information about these Upanishads, the Bible, and
all. Nowadays, I'm no longer reading." No, no. no! This is
foolishness. Enlightenment, once it comes, will never go. Please
remember these points.
Swami said, "That which comes and goes is not knowledge or wisdom."
Jnana or wisdom, when it comes, it will never go. That which comes
and goes is your money. That which comes and goes is the world.
But that which is true neither comes nor goes. That is what is
called jnana or wisdom. That is enlightenment.
So people cannot say, "I know that Baba was God last year. Today
I'm not able to know that He’s God." Oh-ho, I see. I can only
conclude that you never knew before. You claimed to have known,
but you actually never knew. Because once it is known, it cannot
be ‘unknown’ later. That is what you call wisdom. That’s what we
call enlightenment.
Therefore, my friends, this sort of enlightenment is possible only
by two methods. One way is what is called ‘through keen interest’.
Enlightenment about Bhagavan’s Divinity, enlightenment about
Bhagavan’s teachings, is possible out of keen interest. We don’t
have that keen interest. As Swami passes by, what is my keen
interest? It is on my letter, which I want to give to Him. (Laughter)
There is so much keen interest in the letter, but not about
Bhagavan. There should be keen interest in Him.
Here is another simple example: When you are competing with others,
when there are chances and prospects of promotion, you have got
keen interest in your job. When you start some new business, you
take immediate steps now so that you’ll have 100% profit tomorrow.
That is when you have got keen interest. So, such a keen interest
we should have towards God. That leads to enlightenment. Therefore,
having a keen interest is the first method.
As Bhagavan said, the second method is through authentic search,
making the true search, searching in the right direction. When
Swami’s coming this way, if I go this way also in order to get
closer to Him, can I say it is an authentic search? It is a
foolish search! So, where there is God, yes, walk towards Him. Go
forth towards Him. Follow Him. Follow His command in every way.
That is the authentic search He is speaking about. This means
following His teachings, following His footsteps, and following
His message. That is the authentic search. Plus, have a keen
interest to experience Him all the time.
My friends! As the time is up, as lines start from 12:30, I don’t
want to trouble you further. Thank you for having heard the talk
with attention. Thank you very much!
Sai Ram!
Om Asato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya
Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Thank You!
© 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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