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The Divine and the Cosmos
Trees
produce fruits for the enjoyment of others. Rivers carry water to
meet the needs of others. Similarly, cows offer their milk to
humans. However, man, forgetting that he has been endowed with a
body for rendering help to others, is immersed in selfish concerns
and the pursuit of narrow ends. He does not exhibit even a
thousandth part of the spirit of selfless help to others shown by
the trees, rivers or cows.
From sunrise to sunset man today is steeped in selfish pursuits,
and the problems of humanity stem from this selfishness. Man does
not even live like a human. It is only when man becomes truly
human, that he can experience the Divine. What you think exists
is, truly speaking, not real. What you think does not exist, is
the Reality. God is the only Reality and there is nothing in the
world not pervaded by God. God is immanent in the entire Cosmos.
The Universe does not exist apart from God.
In every object (padaartham) there is
a Divine element (paraartham).
Without this Divine basis, nothing can exist. In this Universe,
there is no material object without a Divine basis, no living
thing without the vital force and no inert substance without
Consciousness.
It is usually supposed that the natural sciences are concerned
only with matter, while metaphysics is concerned with things
Spiritual. But the physical and the metaphysical are inextricably
related to each other. The uniqueness of the
Upanishads lies in proclaiming this basic unity. Many
imagine that there is no connection between the physical world and
the realm of the Spirit. This is a grievous mistake. The Divine is
the base and the physical world is sustained by it. Thus, the
Cosmos is the synthesis of these two, Spirit and matter.
To ignore the physical Universe and remain preoccupied with the
Spirit is a form of narrow-mindedness. You have to develop the
conviction that the Divine and the Universe are intimately
interrelated. If the phenomenal world does not exist, one cannot
understand anything nor cognize the Truth. The Universe is what
helps in distinguishing the Real from the unreal. It is impossible
to accomplish anything, if the world is discarded. Basing yourself
on the physical world, you have to aspire for realizing the
Divine. If you want to realize the Divinity in man, you have to
first understand the nature of the human state.
The true goal of human life is to discover the cosmic unity of
Consciousness and matter. The best way to achieve this is to lead
a life of righteousness and to share the fruits of such a life
with others. One's true goal should not change with time;
moreover, one should pursue the goal with firm resolve. A
righteous life develops Inner Vision, allowing one to perceive
Unity in diversity.
In this Kali age, owing to the various perverse influences
present, people are prone to ignore the prompting of Inner
Conscience and act in response to external impressions. This is
not correct. They must instead develop Inner Vision to achieve a
balanced attitude to the world as merely perceived through the
senses and the world as it really is, that is, as the ephemeral
superstructure resting on the Eternal Divine Principle. One must
learn to function in the world and yet not get bound by it - that
is the meaning of balance.
Source:
Radio Sai E-Magazine,
January 15, 2004
http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/02Jan15/03_SPIRITUAL_BLOSSOMS/SATHYA_SAI_SPEAKS/sai_speaks.htm |