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Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at
Prasanthi Nilayam
September 22, 2002
The Sunday Talk Given by Anil Kumar
Dasara - Part 1
September 22nd, 2002
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram.
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of our
Most Beloved Bhagavan,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Questions and Comments Welcome
I have one important announcement to make. Not the one that I
usually make on the veranda! So many friends, brothers and
sisters, are approaching me with doubts, seeking answers to their
questions. I have been galloping for want of time. The constraint
of time is a big factor, and meeting with you only once a week is
another limiting factor.
Within the time limitations, without any grudge over matters
beyond our control, I thought of a media method. Please pass along
your questions on paper. We will pool them. The questions that
have already been answered will be omitted. The questions posed
for the first time will be answered.
In other words, we have to screen all the questions. If it is a
matter of repetition, we’ll be wasting our time. Since all the
information is already available by way of transcriptions,
audiocassettes and other ways besides, let us not waste our time.
I beg of you to co-operate. Gather your questions on a paper and
pass them on so that we can screen them. We will avoid questions
that have already been answered during our sessions. That will
maintain the time factor.
Secondly, your comments are also most welcome. I would be failing
in my duty if I did not take into account your comments for
improvement. Your comments are most welcome. Negative comments
don’t matter. Negative comments will also help for a constructive
process and progressive development. I welcome your comments also.
If it is a comment, put that as the heading. Then give the
comment. If it is a question, put the question down and underline
it. I will appreciate you mentioning your name and the place where
you belong. The questions need not be anonymous.
I can also tell you that the questions you ask will help me to
collect information from the Sai literature. I do not believe in
answering as per the stretch of my imagination; I don’t believe in
that. I call that nonsense! If you interpret in your own way,
there will be another man who will interpret in his own way. Let
it not be like that.
I will try to gather answers from the Sai literature and try to
answer the questions. Those that I fail to answer, I will pray to
Bhagavan to provide a satisfactory answer at an appropriate time.
The only thing that we have to do is pray to our Lord that He will
give me a time to ask these questions. This is not a thing to be
taken for granted. I eagerly look forward to a day when I can ask
these questions on your behalf and solicit answers at an
appropriate time. From this week onward, that is our job.
Dasara Celebrations
The Dasara Celebrations commence from 9th October to 15th October.
I understand that is the concluding day. We call that day Vijaya
Dasami. The Dasara festival is a nine-day function. The 10th day
is the Valedictory function.
What is Dasara, why is Dasara and how it is done? I want to speak
to you about this from this Sunday onward. We will have three
Sundays, God-willing.
Let us go into detail about the Dasara Celebration, collecting
information from the infinite Sai literature. It will help to do
our homework. That way we can enjoy the celebration meaningfully,
purposely and joyfully, so that we observe a celebration toward
fulfilment and enlightenment, not merely passing time or being
entertained. It should be a ‘Celebration of Enlightenment’. For
that, we need to do some homework. Therefore, I thought it best to
do homework from this Sunday on. I hope you will appreciate this
process.
Why Dasara and what is it celebrated for? The Dasara festival is
celebrated to commemorate the ‘Victory of Good over Evil’. For
your information, all festivals remind us of our duty; all
festivals have a purposeful direction. We have many festivals in a
calendar year. Every festival is a milestone; every festival is a
signpost; every festival will remind us, at least from now on, to
turn Godward. From now on, let us direct our minds toward God.
From now on, let us turn within. So every festival is not only a
celebration. It is also a caution.
Life is coming to a close. How long will we waste our time? Life
is coming to an end. How long do we want to have the sort of life,
which centers on birth, growth and death? It is nothing but
feasting, merrymaking, dancing and drinking. That’s all. How long
will we go on like this? At least from now on, let us focus our
lives in a new direction. It is against this background that
festivals are celebrated every month, scrupulously, religiously
and carefully. Why? To understand the inner significance!
Good Over Evil Good
over evil - who would wish that evil win over good? Nobody would
wish like that. We always wish that good should triumph and that
good would win over evil. During the Dasara Celebration, if we
focus on seeing to it that good will win over evil, if we work
toward that and pray for that with all our efforts in this
particular direction, the whole year will be blissful.
Here the good are called ‘devas’. Devas are good forces. The evil
are called ‘asuras’. Asuras are evil forces. These are Sanskrit
words. They are not only present in the outer world. They are
present within each of us. All of our weaknesses - the lust,
greed, anger, desire, hatred, avarice and animality - are asuric
qualities, demonic qualities, and evil forces. On the other hand,
qualities like truth, peace, love, bliss, sacrifice, tolerance,
forbearance, purity and patience, these are all good qualities or
daivic qualities, the qualities of angels, the qualities of
deities (the gods). So the Dasara Celebration commemorates the
Victory of Good (the devas) over Evil (the asuras).
Dasara Celebration Is Not of Recent Origin
Secondly, the origin of the Dasara Celebration is not recent. It
was observed long, long ago, even in the Thretha Yuga when Lord
Rama was the Incarnation. In the Thretha Yuga, thousands of years
ago, Dasara was celebrated. It was during Dasara then that Rama
was coronated, after killing Ravana and returning from Lanka. So,
Dasara is a joyful occasion of celebration, going back thousands
of years to the Coronation of Lord Rama in the Thretha Yuga.
The Celebration of Dasara also dates back to the Dwapara Yuga,
during the time of Krishna’s Incarnation. The story goes like
this: The Pandavas - the noble souls, the pious people, and the
righteous people - had to spend a year incognito. They had to
spend one full year without being noticed by anyone. During the
period when they had to hide themselves, they had to keep all
their weapons on the branches of a tree. After that year, they
collected their weapons from the branches of the tree and
retrieved them. Subsequently, they fought and won the war. That
was Dasara!
So, Dasara was the time when, after one full year of exile spent
incognito, they retrieved their weapons from the branches of the
tree where they were hidden. I think that I am clear!
Dasara Is Related to the Vedas
Now the third point: Dasara is the festival that is related to the
greatest scriptures, the greatest spiritual texts of humanity,
called the Vedas. The Vedas are the greatest, highest scriptures
of humanity. The Vedas mention the Dasara Celebration,
particularly with reference to human life, human conduct and human
behaviour. This comes under the title of Dharma, which means
‘quality of life’. The best way of life, the nobility of life, the
highest peaks of humanity, the attainment of the highest peaks of
humanity is all contained in the word, Dharma.
The Vedas speak of Dharma - the way for humanity to conduct itself
in Nature or prakrithi. The Vedas speak of performing Dharma by
observing certain spiritual practises in Nature and in the world.
Performing a certain spiritual ritual is called yagna. A spiritual
activity, a spiritual ritual, is performed to maintain Dharma. By
doing this, we will be quite happy in this world and thereafter.
In the four Vedas, there is one important Veda, which we call the
Yajur Veda. Yajur Veda speaks of performing prayers, activities
and rituals to please the gods, to please deities, to please those
who are responsible for our safety, peace, and plenty, and for the
prosperity of the whole world. We have to pray to God and to
propitiate and appease the deities.
All the prayers are said in the form of manthras. Manthras are
prayers to appease and propitiate the gods, to ensure peace,
safety and prosperity on earth. We call dhana as wealth and dhanya
as food. These two are important. Dhana (wealth) and dhanya (food)
are necessary for humanity. To ensure these two, yagna or
sacrificial acts or rituals are performed. The procedure and
process to follow have been well stated in the Yajur Veda.
My friends, I repeat once again that all these points are
collected from Sai teachings only, not from any other texts. It is
not my interpretation. I repeat this in every talk so that none of
you will ever think that these are neither my own ideas nor my
scholarship. No! Basically, I'm a student of botany. Being
interested in communication, I read a lot and share with Sai
brothers and sisters. These ideas are all collected from Sai
literature only.
We Worship the Divine Power
What is done during this season of Dasara? God is worshipped in
the form of energy, in the form of dynamic energy, in the form of
Cosmic energy, in the form of Transcendental energy, in the form
of Universal energy. There is a name given to God in the form of
Cosmic energy, namely Para Shakthi or Maha Shakthi. Para Shakthi
or Maha Shakthi is the name given to the Goddess who represents
Cosmic energy, the dynamic Universal energy. She is the embodiment
of Divine power. So, the dynamic aspect of Divinity is Para
Shakthi or Maha Shakthi.
During the Dasara season, we worship the Divine power and we adore
the Divine energy, so that we will be energetic. Everyone needs
energy. If I don’t have energy, I cannot stand. If I don’t have
energy, I cannot speak. If I don’t have energy, I cannot exist. If
I don’t have energy, the different systems - the digestive
systems, the circulatory system, the sensory system and the
heartbeat - don’t happen. The result is that a man without energy
is very close to death or doom. We all need energy and we all need
dynamism.
Everyone wants to be dynamic. Nobody would like to be sluggish;
nobody would like to be inert; nobody would like to be dull;
nobody would like to be passive. Everybody would like to be
dynamic. By worshipping Maha Shakthi or Para Shakthi - God Himself
in the form of Cosmic energy, the embodiment of Divine power - it
is possible to be dynamic and it is possible to be energetic.
We do not use this Divine power, this Cosmic power, as it is.
Where is this Cosmic power? Am I to import it? If I can import it,
I can export it. But it can neither be imported nor exported,
neither reported nor deported. We only have to realise that this
Cosmic energy - this Para Shakthi or Maha Shakthi - is within us.
It is not outside, but within us!
God is so great that He has sent us all into this world with this
energy. He doesn’t want us to wait. He doesn’t want us to look for
it elsewhere. He doesn’t want us to purchase it with dollars or
rupees (the value of which is going down day-by-day). Dollars,
pennies, pounds, marks, shillings or rupees have no value here! We
don’t have to buy this energy. We don’t have to manufacture it. It
is not alchemical, artificial or polyester. No! It is within! We
are all born with it!
The Awakening of Kundalini
This Primal energy is present within everyone in the form of
Kundalini. Kundalini is Maha Shakthi. Kundalini is the Para
Shakthi in everyone. The Kundalini or Para Shakthi present in
everyone has to be awakened. We must withdraw money from the bank
to spend it. Am I clear? Just like all the vegetables we buy must
be cooked and the rice we buy must be boiled! Similarly, though
the energy is present, the Kundalini within us has to be awakened.
The awakening of the Kundalini is called the prayer to Maha
Shakthi. I pray to Maha Shakthi and I pray to Para Shakthi. This
prayer is the awakening of the Kundalini. People follow many paths
- breathing exercises (pranayama) worship, singing or service.
Whatever we may do, the awakening of the Kundalini within is
called the offering or prayer to Para Shakthi or Maha Shakthi.
Kundalini Expresses In Three Levels
This Para Shakthi or Maha Shakthi present within everyone in the
form of Kundalini manifests in three different directions, not in
a single one. Here is a simple example: a white light, when it is
allowed to pass through the prism of glass, will come out in the
form of seven colours, is it not so? (Excuse me if I am behaving
like a typical teacher. After forty years of service as a teacher,
it is not possible to forget all of this!) (Laughter)
In a similar way, this Para Shakthi present within us expresses
itself in three levels, in three directions, in three forms, which
manifest for three different purposes, using three different
names. That’s all.
What are they? The first aspect of the Kundalini is the Para
Shakthi, the Cosmic energy within. The first expression is called
Maha Kali, the second is Maha Lakshmi and the third is Maha
Saraswathi. These are the three different names.
Do all police do the same thing? Some are in the task force; some
are reserve police; some are railway police; some are law and
order police. Yet, they all belong to the police department, is it
not so? Some police are there to rise to an occasion for a special
purpose – the task force. Some police take care of passengers on
the railway platform – the railway police. The regular police are
in the police station to hold thieves. The regular police are for
law and order. All belong to the police department. Am I not
right?
Similarly, Para Shakthi or Adi Shakthi or Maha Shakthi is the
Primordial, Cosmic, and Universal energy present within everyone
in the form of Kundalini, which expresses itself in three ways.
Just as my body has three parts - the head, neck and torso,
similarly the Cosmic energy has three expressions for functional
purposes, for operational purposes.
They are given designation like railway police, reserve police,
law and order police. Like the police example, the body parts are
given three names. What are they? Maha Kali or Maha Durga, Maha
Lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi.
“Oh I see! If Maha Shakthi is within me, then where is Lakshmi?
Where is Durga? Where is Kali?” That will be our next question.
These are titles or names given. Maha Kali or Maha Durga is the
body. Maha Lakshmi is the mind. Maha Saraswathi is the Atma,
Spirit or Soul. Body, mind and Atma all have names. The body is
given a name - Maha Kali or Maha Durga. The mind’s name is Maha
Lakshmi. Atma’s name is Maha Saraswathi. These are just names,
that is all!
Maha Kali or Maha Durga Is the Body
This question will arise now: “What are the functions of these
three?” The body is born and is sure to perish. The body is born
and is sure to die. Therefore, Kali or Durga is the Destroyer, the
Annihilator. This body needs rest; this body needs food; this body
needs sleep. This body has all these features of rest, sleep,
thirst and hunger. These qualities all come under the title of the
thamasic quality. What are thamasic qualities? Sleep, hunger,
thirst and rest are thamasic qualities, which are born and will
vanish; they will come and go.
The body, which is given to us while on Earth, will go back. That
is Maha Kali or Maha Durga. The body is given to us for a purpose.
An officer is here to do some job, not just to sit at a table and
then leave. So, this portfolio of Maha Kali or Maha Durga has one
purpose or one job, something like a Minister of Finance, or Home
Affairs, or External Affairs.
So, the Maha Kali in me, the Maha Durga in me, is the body, which
has a job to do. With this body, I'm supposed to act and I'm
supposed to discharge different functions - kriya shakthi. Kriya
means ‘actions’; shakthi means ‘power’ - the power or energy
behind our actions. If I have no energy, I will just be lying
down. If I'm just lying down, I am like a vegetable.
We are not supposed to vegetate our lives away. No! We are not to
simply vegetate or hesitate. We have to discharge our duties well
and do the functions and actions expected of us. This is possible
because of energy. So, Maha Kali or Maha Durga represent the body
with thamasic qualities like sleep, hunger, thirst and rest. And
then, the body is endowed with another energy to discharge
different activities, which we call kriya shakthi. I think I am
clear!
Maha Lakshmi Is the Mind
What is the second expression of Maha Shakthi or Para Shakthi, the
Cosmic power in the form of Kundalini? It is Maha Lakshmi. Who is
Maha Lakshmi, and where is she? Maha Lakshmi is within us as mind.
Mind is Maha Lakshmi. Body is Maha Durga. I think I am clear!
During the Dasara Celebrations, you’ll be hearing these names. So
don’t get confused: Lakshmi, Durga, and so on - there are so many
gods! The god population and the human population are a global
problem, is it not so? The only difference is the portfolios or
names, that’s all. At different levels, God is only One. For our
comprehension, apprehension and experience, many different names
have been used. That’s all.
So, Maha Lakshmi is the mind. Why has mind been given that name?
Lakshmi is wealth. When wealth comes and when it goes, nobody can
say. A millionaire may be a pauper next morning, like during an
incidence such as earthquake in Gujarat. In Gujarat, there was an
earthquake, which made millionaires into paupers the next morning.
So, who is a millionaire and who is a pauper, we cannot say.
That which goes on changing, that which goes on moving, is the
mind. Mind is never stable. Mind is very happy in the morning,
very unhappy in the afternoon and miserable at night. Mind is
enthusiastic during the morning, dull in the afternoon and wants
to sleep at night. It has nothing to do; it has no constant
values. It goes on jumping, making full use of our personalities.
It is only the mind that is a mad monkey, as Bhagavan calls it.
So, the mind is a mad monkey, as it goes on changing. Why the Maha
Lakshmi aspect?
There’s No Guarantee
The mind has a rajasic quality. What are rajasic qualities?
Rajasic qualities are ambitions, desires, plans, super-plans, so
many desires, and so much ambition, scheming, and planning. “I
want to plan my life after retirement, after seventy.” Oh-ho! This
is a rajasic quality. “You may not be here the next moment.”
Some people tell me, “I am planning a few lakhs for each of my
children and a couple of lakhs for myself, so that in twenty years
things will be comfortable.”
“Where is the guarantee that you’ll live until that time? There is
no guarantee!”
Bhagavan often gives this example: A priest, an old Brahman,
approached Dharmaja the great king of the Pandavas. He said, “Oh
King, please help me. I'm very poor. I'm a beggar. Please help
me.”
The king Dharmaja said, “Not now. See me tomorrow.” Perhaps the
Revenue Department started then! (Laughter) “Come tomorrow, not
now.”
Bheema, his younger brother, overheard this. Immediately he
ordered that the whole city of Hastinapura be decorated. The whole
city of Hastinapura should be filled with music, dance,
paraphernalia, festoons, festivity and gaiety everywhere.
When Dharmaja came out of the palace, he heard music and saw
dancing everywhere. He called his brother Bheema, “Oh brother,
what is all this?”
He said, “This is all because you are sure of your life tomorrow.
(Laughter) While no one is sure of life tomorrow, you are sure of
your life tomorrow. Therefore, we are celebrating today.”
So my friends, this kind of planning or ambition for a future that
is unknown is the nature of the mind - Maha Lakshmi. This is a
rajasic quality. The will or the thought is called ichcha shakthi
– it means ‘will power’. Kriya shakthi is the power of action;
ichcha shakthi is will power. That is the portfolio of Maha
Lakshmi.
Maha Saraswathi Is the Spirit
The third aspect of Para Shakthi, which is present within
everyone, is Maha Saraswathi. This is Atma, Spirit, Soul or
Consciousness, whichever you prefer to call it. This Maha
Saraswathi – Spirit or Consciousness - is always in a state of
balance. It is unruffled, pious, calm, peaceful, and equanimous.
So, Maha Saraswathi symbolizes the equanimous state of the Spirit,
the balanced state of Atma.
The qualities of equality and equanimity are sathwic qualities.
This is called jnana shakthi - meaning Divinity Itself. Jnana is
Divine. It is spiritual knowledge. The Spirit or Consciousness has
its own awareness. Consciousness is awareness. Consciousness is
alertness. Consciousness is awakeness. So this state of awakeness,
alertness and awareness is Consciousness. This is Maha Saraswathi.
These qualities of Divinity are sathwic.
My friends, before I go to the next point, I want to say in brief
that the Primordial Maha Shakthi or Para Shakthi principle is in
everyone. Each of us expresses ourselves in three forms - action,
thought and the Divine.
The action level, which is performed by the body, is Maha Kali or
Maha Durga. Having thamasic qualities, the body becomes
annihilated or destroyed in the course of time. The second level
is the mind with all of its desires, which is rajasic. It is
called Maha Lakshmi. The final level is Consciousness or Atma
(Maha Saraswathi), which is equanimous. It has pious, sathwic
qualities, with all jnana or awareness. It is Divine in its
nature.
So, there is kriya shakthi, ichcha shakthi, and jnana shakthi –
the body, mind, and Atma – which we call Maha Kali or Maha Durga,
Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswathi. This is one part of the
significance behind the celebration of Dasara.
The Sacrificial Altar Is the Mind
Of the four Vedas, one Veda is called Yajur Veda. This is the one
Veda that deals with the ritualistic aspect. It also mentions that
all deities, presiding deities or gods (whatever you prefer to
call them) have different tongues. You are going to witness,
beginning the 9th of October in the Poornachandra Auditorium, the
sacrificial fire on the altar on the stage. At the time of the
yagna, that fire is nothing but the tongue that stretches forward.
Just as fire accepts everything – meaning, it does not reject
anything - the gods accept and receive our prayers. This
description is in the Yajur Veda.
There is a place where this yagna, the sacrificial fire, is kept.
We call it an altar. It is where offerings are made. In Sanskrit
that place is called Homa Gundam. Homa Gundam is the mind! There
is yagna going on in our body every minute, every moment. That
outer yagna is a symbolic expression of the inner yagna or
sacrifice, regularly going on within everyone. Within everyone, it
goes on, while the outer one is only symbolic. We want to
understand that what happens on the altar is also happening
within. So, the mind is the altar or Homa Gundam, where all
offerings are made.
How Do They Reach God?
Then the modern man begins doubting: “How do all those things
thrown into the fire reach God?” We doubt, yes, because we’re
students of science and technology.
“Whatever is thrown into the fire gets burned. How do we expect it
to reach the gods?” This seems like a very natural, sensible
question. However, if we go deeply, we will understand it is a
senseless doubt. Why?
All letters put into the same post-box will reach different
people. There is no separate post-box for Delhi, or a separate
post-box for Hyderabad or for Bangalore, no! All letters are put
in the same post-box. Am I clear? In either India or abroad, all
letters are posted and put into the same post-box, but they reach
different people, according to the address written on the
envelope.
Similarly, all the offerings - ‘swaha’, ‘swaha’ - that are offered
into the sacrificial fire will reach different deities, like our
letters put in the post-box.
Bhagavan gave us this forgoing example. No one else could do it,
impossible! We are living with the latest God and the latest God
uses the latest examples to help us to understand.
Fire Compared with a Tiger
Next, Yajur Veda compares the fire with a tiger. The fire in a
yagna, why compare it with a tiger? The tiger is known for its
nails - long, sharp nails. With those nails, the tiger can catch
and kill any prey. With those same nails, it will protect its
offspring; it will protect its children. Therefore, the same nails
used to kill are the same nails used to protect.
Similarly, the same fire that burns, is the same fire that gives.
The sacrificial fire in a yagna is meant to give everything to
humanity, in particular protection. We only see its burning
nature, burning everything to ash. Yet, the same fire also gives
us everything.
How can we say that fire gives us everything?
“No! Fire burns! Fire will never give.” This is our doubt. But it
is totally wrong to think like that. Why?
What is the body temperature? 98.4 degrees. This keeps us safe. If
there is no heat in the body, Hari Om Tat Sath! (An expression of
finality, as well as being a Name of God.) That fellow will have
left the body! Now tell me whether fire is necessary or not? It is
necessary! It declares that we are still alive!
Secondly, there is fire in the abdominal area so that the food we
eat is digested and assimilated. That is called jatharagni.
Jatharagni is the fire of the digestive system in every human
being, responsible for the processes of ingestion, digestion and
assimilation. So, fire is everywhere. It protects and it sustains.
We only think that it destroys. No! No! No! It is something like
the nails of a tiger that can protect, but can also kill. That is
the comparison, which Yajur Veda brings out.
You will be watching this yagna from the 9th of next month. The
fire is not lit with the help of a matchstick or petrol or
kerosene. No! No! No! Two pieces of firewood are rubbed against
each other. Then fire comes. In other words, there is fire within
which comes out by rubbing two pieces of firewood. The fire
(spark) comes out automatically. Similarly, when you take two
stones and strike them against each other, you will find fire (in
the form of a spark) coming out of them. Am I not right?
Similarly, when two pieces of firewood are rubbed against each
other, you will find fire coming out of it.
The Son Becomes One with the Parent
Now, Bhagavan says that the piece of firewood that you keep, which
is present on the upper side, is called puroorava, while the piece
of firewood on the lower side is called oorvasi. These are their
names, yet we do not understand their significance.
We readily congratulate ourselves for having being born during
this time because we can know the significance of various things,
as God Himself is giving us the explanation. We don’t need to
depend on second-hand information. Books are not necessary! Sai
gospel is there. Sai’s teachings are direct!
So, the upper piece of the wood is called puroorava, while the
lower piece is called oorvasi. They are equal to mother and
father. When they are just rubbed against each other, fire - the
son - is born. Fire is the son. What does this son do? He burns
both the parents! (Laughter) The very same fire (son) born out of
them (the parents) burns the two pieces of wood.
The inner meaning is that the son becomes one with the parents;
the son becomes merged into the parents. The son and the parents
become indistinguishable, non-separable, a single entity. This
means that the son becomes the father and the son becomes the
mother. Thereafter, there is no difference between father, mother
and son. Then there is only the ‘Father’! We call this the state
of awareness, the state of samadhi, where we are beyond duality,
immersed in a total experience of Oneness. There is nothing like
father and son, no blood relationships. There is only the One
principle of the Spirit, only the Spirit of Consciousness. This
all occurs in lighting the sacrificial fire.
Bhagavan gave this example in a discourse: “If we watch, we will
see birds rest on tree branches at night. We don’t see any birds
on the ground during the night. All over the world, birds rest on
tree branches during the night. Why? Birds can feel the heat
coming out of the earth during the night. Therefore, they settle
on tree branches. This only means that there is fire everywhere -
within you, within a stone, within wood and within the earth.”
Many Offerings In
the sacrificial fire during the Dasara season, we will find many,
many offerings: ghee, tins and tins of ghee, and precious grains,
so many forms of grain! So there will be many offerings put into
the sacrificial fire. Yes!
Some people may say, “What a waste of money it is! Why is one tin
full of ghee put into the fire? After all, if they give it to you
or me, we can use the same amount for one full year. What is all
this? A waste of money, a waste of food! So many grains are put
into the fire: grains - navadhanya, meaning nine types of grain,
plus ghee and everything. Why all this waste? Particularly at a
time when we do not have enough food to eat, why should we waste
like that?”
This is the question of a modern man. However, it is not a waste!
Bhagavan gave this example: A modern man, a student who completed
his B.Sc., thought that he was the greatest scientist on earth.
Whether someone considers him great or an idiot, please understand
- only a stupid person will think that he is great because
actually no one is great. If you want to call anyone great, there
is only one who is great today: that is this Incarnation by the
name of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba! That’s all! All the rest are
nobody. (Applause) The sooner we understand this the better.
Bhagavan gave another example: One modern fellow went to a village
where there were a number of fields. This modern man watched the
fields, enjoying the breeze. Then he saw a farmer throwing paddy
grains into the air just like that.
This fellow said, “Why do you waste grain like that? Useless
fellow! Can’t you store it? Can't you preserve it? Why do you
throw it like that?”
The farmer explained, “Oh modern man, now I understand that all
those coming from cities and towns are dunces. I'm not simply
throwing the grain away, no! One bag of paddy grain thrown into
the field will yield four bags of paddy later. One bag of paddy
grain today will yield four bags of paddy very soon. This is the
secret of agriculture. You do not know this. You think of culture,
but you have forgotten agriculture.” That was the farmer’s reply.
Therefore, the one tin of ghee we may offer today is going to
provide food for the whole earth. All the grains that are offered
here may look like a waste of food. No! No! No! It is going to
provide food for the whole year. Today we have to remember this.
There is fire in water too. There is fire within me. That is
called jatharagni. There is the element of fire (for example,
heat) in water. That is called badabagni. Badabagni is the name
given to the fire in water.
Different Tasks of the Priests During Dasara
I’ll just mention the names of the tasks today. Next Sunday we’ll
go into greater detail. Starting on the 9th of October, watching
the process of the yagna on the stage, you’ll see all the priests
coming in a procession, sitting in different places and doing
different tasks assigned to them. What are these tasks?
One will be praying to the Sun god. This is called Surya
Namaskaar.
One will be praying to Siva, doing what is called Rudra Homam or
rudras. Then there will be many Siva lingas and Sahasra
Lingarchana, the thousand names of Lord Siva, will be repeated.
This is a special worship to Siva.
There will be someone reciting the “Devi Bhagavatham”, a text
relating to the power of Maha Shakthi.
Somebody else will be reciting the great epic “The Ramayana.”
Another priest will be reciting the Rig Veda. The priest who
recites the Rig Veda has a special position. The name of that
person who recites Rig Veda is called ‘Hotha’.
Then another priest will be reciting the Sama Veda.
Still another priest will be reciting the Yajur Veda.
In addition, the chief priest of all will recite the Veda that is
called ‘Adharva’. The chief priest in this position is Brahma.
Brahma is the chief priest who recites the Atharvana Veda.
There may be several mistakes during the process. Because of our
own lapses, our own forgetfulness, there may be omissions. I may
forget to do a certain thing expected of me. So there is one
priest who will be offering these prayers: “Excuse me, God! Pardon
me! There may be lapses, but why worry about them? Please excuse
me!” That priest will be praying constantly to atone for sins. He
is called ‘Adhivarya’. ‘Adhivarya’ is the priest who continuously
prays to atone for sins.
Next week, we will discuss the other details. The coming two
Sundays I want to speak on Dasara. That way we will have done our
homework. Then we can enjoy Dasara in a purposeful way.
As you recall, I made an announcement in the beginning that
questions and comments are welcome from all of you. They will all
be screened and time will be allotted, depending on the questions
asked. Hereafter, if there are many questions, we’ll spend half an
hour for them and half an hour for a regular talk.
I received two questions, so I’ll try to answer them and wind up
this morning.
Do We Have Free Will or Not?
“Do we have free will or not?” That question was given to me.
The answer is simple. As I told you before and I repeat here, all
the answers are from Sai literature only. What did He say? “You
don’t have free will!”
Straight! God does not mince words. There is no ambiguity; it is
straight!
“Why not?” we question again!
The answer is simple: You are not free, so how can you have free
will? Am I not free? Yes, I am not free! Why not? We see what we
should not see. We hear what we are not supposed to hear. We do
what we should not do. When we are a slave to our senses, when we
are a slave to our mind, when we are chained, when we are
imprisoned, when we are in a cell, we are not free! How can there
be a question of free will? Utter nonsense! To be free, first we
have to have free will. Oh I see! Will you show me one person who
has free will?
The straight answer - God has free will! He is totally free!
Therefore, His Will will happen!
Bhagavan gave this example to the question of free will: “If the
left part of your body is paralysed, you cannot move the paralysed
part.”
All right, you have free will, come on and lift it! No free will!
You have a will; that is all! But, you are not free! You cannot
lift that paralysed part. Therefore, you have no free will!
Will He Take Care of Us Now?
This is the second question I received: “As Swami’s mission,
including seva projects, are expanding everyday, will He still
look after His devotees of many years in the same manner as He has
been doing from His declaration in 1940’s? Because Swami is very
busy nowadays, will He take care of us now?”
Oh-ho! This answer is so simple! Perhaps we have taken Him as a
human being. ‘He is so busy with office work; He's so busy with
audit accountancy, inspection and what not; so, will He have time
for me?’ It is not like that!
Bhagavan is not a person! Bhagavan is not an object! Bhagavan is
an energy unto Himself! Bhagavan is energy! Bhagavan is
everywhere! Bhagavan is in everyone. There is no sense to a
question like this: ‘Will He have time for me?’
Because Bhagavan is time, there is no question of, “Will He have
time!” No! Because He is time and available at all times!
We are not giving Him time! We have no time to think of Him; we
are not giving Him an audience. He is waiting, waiting and waiting
for everyone! Yet we ask, “Since You are so busy with water
projects, universities, etc., do You have time for me?”
What a thing to ask! He has all the time because He is everywhere
and in everyone.
Someone asked Baba a question last night about a long and healthy
life. “What is the secret behind a long and healthy life?”
Physical exercise? Or meditation or what?”
Bhagavan said this: “Two things will guarantee a long and healthy
life. What are they? Prema - love and thyaaga – sacrifice, these
two will give you a long, healthy life. No other thing will, no
other!” Bhagavan said this last night to His students.
The Secret of a Long and Healthy Life
In this connection, Swami gave this example of Rockefeller, a man
from the United States. Rockefeller was a millionaire, the richest
man in this world, having earned lots and lots of money. Suddenly
he fell sick. All the doctors declared, “One and a half or two
years more to live. You cannot live longer because you have
ailments that are incurable. You are sure to die.”
So, Rockefeller started distributing his property and his money to
everyone. There is a Rockefeller Foundation in the United States,
which takes care of charitable trusts. It takes care of the
forlorn and handicapped. It also takes care of students, offering
the highest standards of education in the field of research and
investigation. The Rockefeller Foundation is the biggest
charitable trust in the world today.
After beginning these acts of charity, Rockefeller lived beyond
eighty years. He fell sick at the age of forty-eight. As per the
doctors’ predictions, he should have collapsed within two years.
Yet, this man lived beyond eighty years.
To live a long life, one should have love as the food and
sacrifice as the medicine. These two – diet and medicine – are
normally required. Every person requires diet and medicine: if you
take medicine and don’t follow the diet, you will never be free
from a disease. If you observe the diet regulations and don’t take
the medicine, well, the disease will continue. Therefore, medicine
and diet are the two requirements – namely, thyaaga, meaning
sacrifice, and prema, meaning love. Bhagavan said this last night.
Thank you very much for being with us this morning and listening
to our talk.
Thank you very much!
May Bhagavan bless you!
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!
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