Chapter 9  ·  Contents  ·  Chapter 11

10. AVAIL YOURSELF OF THIS RARE CHANCE TO BE SAVED

Embodiments of Divine Love,

One cannot know what would happen in this world from one moment to the next. The world is continuously changing like passing clouds, like flowers that drop from a plant. But the state of Truth is changeless and omnipresent. What sort of changes should a human life undergo; where and how should it go? The stage of youth is only an interval, a passing stage; wealth, jobs and positions also change. Money tends to make human qualities unsacred, since more arrogance and ego develop with the accumulation of money. When there is no wealth there is not much ego.

All relationships such as that between husband and wife are temporary. They were not with one another in the beginning and eventually would both disappear. It was time and destiny that brought them together. However, Truth and Love are permanent and Divine. Truth is God. Love expresses itself in all of us. Love proves the existence of Divinity. Love is God. Live in love. God was there before creation and was the energy for creation. In the beginning there was only consciousness and God was responsible for the entire creation. The evidence for this is in the sacred texts, the Vedas. The culture of Bharat must share this Divine Wisdom with the entire world. In this sacred land of Bharat forbearance adds to Divine beauty. Adherence to Truth is the highest form of Prema (Divine Love). The sweetest feeling is the motherly teeling. One predominant trait of this land is that character is more important than life. Now, unfortunately we are imitating foreign countries. Like an elephant that has submitted itself to a mouse, India does not recognise its own strength and power. The culture of Bharat is spiritually highly powerful and valuable, but because of modern education and culture, all sacred values are on the decline. In ancient times, the Bharathiyas began the day contemplating on the nature of the creator, sustainer and dissolver. In all matters including the building of houses, marriages or other ceremonies and customs they first thought of God. We have now forgotten the Primal basis and we are taking this ephemeral world as permanent. We should think of God first in every matter, from the time we arise from bed until we sleep, but unfortunately we are now drowned in worldly pleasures. Spiritual life is not one of solitude. Spirit has been designed to experience the unity of the entire human race and the Divinity thereafter.

Take the example of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Though they were cousins there were big differences between them. The Pandavas considered God as everything, that whatever actions they performed were dharmic and that whatever they said was the truth. They always considered God first, the world next and themselves last. Krishna was first for them in all matters and they believed that whatever happened was Krishna's plan. Arjuna had intense faith in Krishna who was his only refuge. The Kauravas were the opposite in that they considered themselves first, .the world next and God last. Thus Pandavas were victorious since they kept God first. In all acts and thoughts of the Kauravas there was no Truth and they had lost the farsighted vision.

Today spirituality has become ridiculous. Devotees are afraid to have vibuthi (holy ash) on their foreheads. From where has the world come without God? God and creation have the relationship of cause and effect. As one's body has been gifted for righteous action every person must do righteous acts. As an iron machine when not in use becomes rusty, man without work becomes dull. Determine to render service to society. Your happiness depends on the happiness of society. Human life has to be redeemed through the path of action. Sai has advocated worship and wisdom. Although you may not get the work you love, love the work you get.

In the word SAI, S stands for Service, A for Adoration and I for Illumination. All must attain these three states. Every person should involve himself in action. Nowadays we consider a person lucky if he only eats and does nothing but this is most unfortunate. Birth is action. Everything is action. We think that action is work but this is not true. Seeing and breathing are also actions. A human being has been born due to action, grows in action and returns for another birth in action. Even though one's actions are responsible for one's pleasures and pain, unfortunately man today is not understanding this and discharging his duties properly. Happiness and Bliss are derived through actions. Since ancient times Bharatiyas had attached great importance to service for society. One's body has been given only for service. Since it is from one's own actions that one get reactions, resounds and reflections, it is for one's own sake that one does service. If you lead your life like oil on water it is like a dead life. Thinking of God is most essential as He is the first cause of creation. The entire universe is the gift of God. All are Divine; everything is Divine. We should have strong faith in God, but man has lost this faith. When man gets his desires fulfilled he extols God, but when they are not fulfilled he blames Him. We sow poisonous seeds and yet desire sweet fruits. God is the witness. He only confers Bliss as He is Bliss. You yourself create your own misery as a result of reaction, resound and reflection. Divinity remains pure and unsullied but as a sign of his weakness man blames God. Due to their weakness the Kauravas continued to blame Krishna for their misery. To make devotees happy, God Himself suffers. God is ready for anything and performs acts we cannot conceive of. We cannot know what He is able to do for us.

There are so many ideals in Bharat. One great devotee of Krishna named Kuchela was so poor that he could afford only a very small house. God Himself made a more suitable home for Kuchela who was suffering tremendously. Kabir the poet was a weaver of cloth. As he wove his cloth, he continuously chanted God's name; Ram, Ram, Ram. As God was his sole support he overcame his poverty. Only experienced devotees know that if one surrenders, he will not suffer due to God's grace. True devotees will resist trouble, stay attached to God and move ahead towards God. Many obstacles do come when we try to reach God, yet we should have faith and face them. Don't give up until your desires are fulfilled. Retreat is not a sign of a devotee. Exert yourself to earn God's grace; have great determination and faith, then your desire will be fulfilled. Faith is the cause for everything. Faith will make you say yes or no. Baba says "yes" to those who say "'yes"; He says "no" to those who say "no." To Sai everything is "yes." You should never give up God who is Love and Truth which are permanent. Although there is only one God names and forms are different. Though flowers are different, worship is one. To know Divinity you must have faith. Everything is His.

Narada sang, "Krishna can we know You? You are smaller than the smallest and bigger than the macrocosm. You are all over the universe in the company of fifty-four lakhs of people. Among thieves you are the greatest thief. You steal the hearts of devotees'- "Chitta chora Yasoda ke bal." Chitta (heart) is sacred. Where is God? Eshwara is to be found in a place called Himachala. "Hima" means soft, white and bright snow. "Achala" means immovable, stable. Likewise to attain Divinity, the human heart should be pure and steady. Purify it and keep it peaceful and equanimous. If it is hot with anger, how can you attain Divinity? You should give up bad qualities. God is always with you and around you and those who deserve Him will attain Him. Even though God is so near, still many do not receive what He wants to give. Even though God has now descended in human form we doubt Him. Why? Because we compare. What about God's Love? It is infinite, so He is the blue - coloured one. Rama and Krishna were called blue colored, signifying that it is not possible to understand their power and Love. Blue is the colour of the sky which is infinite and the ocean is blue signifying that no one knows it's depth. If you hold the water in your hand, that water is colourless.

At one time when baby Krishna had eaten mud, Balarama complained and so Yasoda asked Him why He should eat mud when there are milk and curd at home. Krishna replied, "No, I did not eat mud. Am I a child not to understand and eat mud?" Yasoda slapped Him and asked him to open His mouth. When Krishna opened His mouth all fourteen worlds could be seen inside His mouth. Yasoda asked, " Is it a dream? Is it God's will? Is it true? Am I Yasoda or not? Is He Krishna? Is this an illusion? What mystery is all this?" Immediately when these thoughts manifested, she bugged Krishna. God, when He comes, wears illusion. Although Krishna is known as God, illusion covers Him. Just as ash covers a fire, cataract covers the eye, moss covers the lake, so too, God covers Himself with illusion. The cataract is from the eye, moss grows from water and the cloud has come as a result of the sun. God or Brahman has maya as His vesture or illusion. With the body as illusion, He manifests infinite power. He will make you experience Divinity, so you should have full faith in Him. Rama always said that he is the son of Dasaratha even though the Sages told Him he was Narayana, and even though He is satshatkara Bhagavan. Rama always asked Sita "Am I God?." When He was alone with Sita He would tell her, "Demons must be killed so this entire drama has to be enacted though it is limited to the stage only. What is behind the stage? This can be .understood only by rishis and sages like Vasistha and Vishwamitra.

The Sages knew the Divinity of Rama but could not publicize it. If Sita had not been abducted, it would not have been possible to kill Ravana. Sage Agasthya had sent Rama and Sita to live in Panchavati because he knew Rama had the intention to kill Ravana and the demons. Everything happened when they went to Panchavati. The Sages knew the master plan as they had pure hearts and full faith. Since Vishwamithra had the spirit of sacrifice, he took Rama to Mithila and had His marriage performed. This was part of the masterplan. God is beyond the senses. Divinity is consciousness, but we think from the bodily perspective. We can only understand Divinity when we go beyond the senses.

Swami says:

"Twameva Mata Cha Pita Twameva,
(You are my Mother and Father)
Twameva Bandhu Cha Sakha Twameva
(You are Friend and Relative)
Twameva Vidya Dravinam Twameva
(You are the Highest Knowledge and Wealth)
Twameva Sarvam mama Deva Deva"
(You are Everything)

Why should Sai Baba be in action? I have no need to act. Yet, unless I act no one would be able to follow Me. I have to be an ideal for mankind. When God fills the entire universe, how can you construct a temple for Him? When He is Effulgence Itself, is a lamp necessary? When God moves in all waters, is it possible to give Him a bath? When He is present in all stomachs is it possible to give Him food? What more do you want conveyed? Even angels cannot know and understand Him, as it is so difficult to understand Divinity. Follow your conscience and the commands of God and forget yourself. By doing your duty all your desires will be fulfilled. The main quality of a devotee is to follow God's command immediately without having to be told and re-told. There was a person who committed theft all the time and was in prison. After a six months stay, the guard declared that he is released. The thief replied, " Why should I take my luggage, I will be coming back"? We have been born once, we should not be born once again. So develop God's Love; never forget God. Think of God continuously. Human life is rare. Human life is the highest in all of creation. Having taken human birth, if you do not redeem yourself, you have lived in vain.

Swami ended His Discourse by singing, "Govinda Gopala Prabhu Giridhari. "

April 15, 1996

Chapter 11