LOVE AND MORALITY - THE NEED OF THE HOUR

(Text of the Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 25th December 2002 in Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam)

Abandon pride and all endear, Shed anger and shed all care, Restraint on hankering is the way to wealth, Shunning greed is the royal road to joy. (Sanskrit Verse)

Embodiments of Love!

In this world every object has got five aspects, namely, Sath, Chith, Ananda, Rupa and Nama (being, awareness, bliss, form and name). Being, awareness and bliss are the three permanent attributes of every Jeeva (individual). Name and form are transitory. Man has forgotten his true Self and is leading his life believing the name and form to be real and the ephemeral world to be eternal. God is beyond all attributes and feelings. It is rather strange that man attributes qualities and feelings to Him. It is most essential for every individual to know the infinite love, truth and compassion of God. Though man is essentially divine, he is conducting himself like a demon as he has forgotten his innate divinity. Every man is endowed with the qualities of Deeksha (determination) and Dakshata (dexterity). One who makes use of these virtues for noble causes alone is a true human being.

The cosmic power lies in the navel of God. Hence, He is known as Hiranyagarbha. As He is full of divine effulgence and radiance, He is said to be the very personification of beauty and splendour (Soundaryavanthudu and Tejomayudu). The life of a human being is the noblest because he is endowed with the principle of Hiranyagarbha. God is also known as Prajapathi as He is the creator of the entire universe. In order to understand the principle of divinity, you have to understand the inner meaning and significance associated with each name of God. God has various names and each of them has a profound inner meaning. That is why our ancients used to name their children by one or other of the names of God.

Today man is in search of God and is enquiring into the nature of divinity. When God is within, where is the need to search for Him? God is the embodiment of love. Truth is His very swarupa and swabhava (form and innate nature). Sathyannasti Paro Dharma (there is no dharma greater than adherence to truth). But today man is unable to understand the meaning of truth. He considers untruth to be truth in order to satisfy his desires. Firstly, man should endeavour to understand his true nature which is Sathyam, Jnanam and Anantham (truth, knowledge and infinitude). God has gifted man with the Vedas, Sasthras, Puranas and Itihasas to open his eyes to the truth that he is essentially divine. In this world every man is endowed with truth, righteousness and love. He is the embodiment of Sath, Chith and Ananda. These attributes are verily divine. Sath is that which is changeless and eternal. Chith is Chaitanya (awareness). Atma is another term for God. Brahma is its synonym. It is present in every man in the form of Chaitanya. One who understands this principle of Chaitanya alone is a true human being. Sath Chith Ananda and Sathyam Jnanam Anantham are different words, but they have the same meaning.

In this world, we find various schools of thought, like atheism, dualism, non-dualism, qualified non-dualism, etc. The divine name of Kesava is the most important of all. The essence of all philosophies is contained in this. It consists of three syllables, namely, Ka + esa + va, which represent the Divine Trinity of Brahma, Easwara and Vishnu, respectively. Hence, Kesava symbolises the principles of creation (Brahma), sustenance (Vishnu) and dissolution (Easwara). Man can understand his true Self if he contemplates on the divine name of Kesava and understand its significance.

Our ancient sages undertook deep investigations and enquiry in order to understand Divinity. Ultimately, they declared to the world, Vedahametham Purusham Mahantham Adityavarnam Thamasah Parasthath (I have visualised the supreme Being who shines with the effulgence of billion suns and who is beyond Thamas - the darkness of ignorance). They exhorted man to make efforts to have the vision of Divinity. From then on, man started believing in God. But, with the passage of time, his faith started diminishing. He is subjected to grief because of his disbelief in God.

God is one, He has many names. Different religions have come into existence, but all of them lead to the same divinity.

Religions are many, but goal is one. Clothes are many, but yarn is one. Jewels are many, but gold is one. Cows are many, but milk is one. Beings are many, but breath is one. Castes are many, but humanity is one.

(Telugu Poem)

Therefore, if everyone enquires into his true nature, he can experience truth.
Jesus was a noble soul. He declared that he was the son of God, but he never said that he was God. When Jesus was born, three royal wise men from the east were guided by a star to a cowshed in Bethlehem where the baby Jesus lay in a manger. He was radiating divine effulgence. The first of them said, "This child will love God." The second said, "He will be loved by God." The third said, "He will love one and all. He is not different from God." The one who loves God is the messenger of God; the one whom God loves is the son of God; the one who understands the principle of unity becomes one with God. This is the inner meaning of the statements given in the Bible. The one you think you are; the one others think you are and the one you really are. You should understand the import of these statements.

The child was brought up by mother Mary and his father was working as a carpenter. It was the time of a festival in Jerusalem and the child Jesus was taken there along with his parents. They lost the child in the crowd and could not find him anywhere. Mother Mary naturally was very much worried. Finally, they went to the temple to pray. To their astonishment, they found young Jesus coming out of the temple. All the while the child had been in the temple, listening to the holy discourse of the Rabbi (Jewish Priest) of the temple. The anxious mother took hold of her child and started asking him several questions as to what he was doing all the while. The child replied, "Mother, why were you afraid? All the while I was in the hands of God. I have been listening to the words of God expounded by the Rabbi in the temple." Thus, the child was God-minded from a very young age.

After some time, father Joseph passed away. Mary told her son, "Now that your father passed away; you should continue your father's profession, so that we may earn our livelihood." But the boy was not inclined to continue in his father's profession. The mother was also not interested to oppose the natural inclinations of young Jesus. One day, young Jesus went to a lonely hilltop. The mother was very much worried, nay, depressed due to the absence of her son. Jesus was sitting and meditating on God all the while. After some time, he returned. As he was returning, he ran into a group of worried men on the coast of the sea of Galilee. When young Jesus enquired from them the cause of their worry, they said that they were fishermen and that for quite some time past, they were not able to catch any fish in their nets. Jesus said, "Follow me; are there any waters that do not have fish?" He took them along with him in their boats to the middle of the sea and asked them to cast their nets at a particular spot. To their utter astonishment and great joy, the fishermen found that their nets were full with fish. This event created a lot of faith in the minds of the fishermen. Therefore, faith is indispensable for humanity.

Where there is faith, there is love;
Where there is love, there is truth;
Where there is truth, there is peace;
Where there is peace, there is bliss;
Where there is bliss, there is God.

Jesus could instill such great faith in those people. One of those fisherman was named by Jesus as Peter. He developed intense love and faith towards Jesus. From then on, the fisherman regularly used to take Jesus out on their fishing expeditions and after their return in the evening, Jesus used to expound spiritual matters to them. When Peter's father passed away, his mother was filled with sorrow, but Jesus consoled her by telling, "Death is but a dress of life. Wherefore do you shed tears? Death is like changing one's dress. Therefore, stop grieving. These physical bodies come and go. Therefore, do not waste your thought on these ephemeral things. The indweller who lives inside this body is the true divinity."

"The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner or later, but the indweller has neither birth nor death. He has no attachment whatsoever. Truly speaking, the indweller is verily God Himself who is in the form of the Atma."

(Telugu Poem)

In this manner, Jesus preached and instilled confidence in the people around him. Thus, the fishermen community was spending its time happily in the company of Jesus. At that time, one Mathew, who was a tax collector for the Romans, used to visit them on official work and, during his visits, he also used to listen to Jesus and take notes of his teachings. Finally, he became a disciple of Jesus.

After a while, Jesus started facing obstacles and opposition to his preachings. Anyone donning a physical body cannot escape such vicissitudes of life. Without hardships man cannot exist. Death follows birth and with the same certainty misery follows happiness. Sukhadukhe Samekruthwa Labhalabhau Jayajayau (one should remain equal-minded in happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat). Pleasure is an interval between two pains. Human life is for the purpose of investigating the supreme reality and not merely for eating, drinking and procreation. Every human being must make an effort to know his inner nature and understand his true identity. Jesus was preaching such sacred truth and therefore, he became very popular among his contemporaries. Becoming popular in the world automatically begets jealousy and envy. Jealousy, pomposity and egoism are evil traits which will ultimately lead to ruin. None will pardon people with such traits.

You should not rebuke or ridicule others. Humanness will blossom in man only when he develops equal-mindedness. Today man is subjected to untold suffering because he lacks human values. That which has the innate capability to burn is called fire. In the same manner, only the one with human values is a human being. One bereft of human values is not a human being at all. You may be highly educated and occupying an exalted position, but if you lack human values, you will be considered inhuman. Hence, drive away evil qualities in the first instance.

Today the Messengers of Sathya Sai (old students' association of Anantapur Campus for girls) are celebrating their anniversary. They should not give scope to evil tendencies like asuya (jealousy), krodha (anger) and dwesha (hatred). Their members who are working in overseas countries are leading exemplary lives. Today you have heard the speeches made by our former students from Japan and America. Their thoughts and feelings are noble. Their speech is full of sweetness. The girl from Japan who spoke earlier is the holder of a Ph.D. degree. They are highly qualified, yet they conduct themselves with humility and obedience. Their devotion and surrender is worthy of emulation. What is the use of high academic qualifications and doctorate degrees if one does not give up wicked traits like jealousy and carrying tales against others? I really detest such behaviour. With love, enthusiasm and sacred feelings, you have established an organisation in the name of Sathya Sai for doing service to humanity. No doubt, a lot of good work is being done; but take care that the noble feelings do not degenerate into ill-feelings. I do not attach much importance to the work. What is important to Me is your qualities. Wherever you may be - whether in the forest or in the sky, whether in the towns or in the villages, you must develop noble qualities. Jealousy is a very bad quality. For people with jealousy, life will not go smoothly. Jealousy in fact is a living death. Added to this, if you have another bad quality of carrying tales, you are bound to suffer. Why do you criticise others? Instead criticise your own bad qualities. Remove your own ill-feelings and bad thoughts. You should not attribute bad qualities to others and spread such slander. In spite of My repeated advice, there is no transformation in many people. I am disgusted with their behaviour over the last five-six years. What is the use of establishing organisations? You have Sathya Sai Seva Samithis and Bhajan Mandalis. You are undertaking social service, conducting study circles. But no purpose is served if such service is not backed by love in the heart. Love is God. Live in love. Instead people are developing hatred against one another. Such people deserve exemplary punishment, for, others are also getting spoiled on account of such wicked people. I am prepared to give you anything, even My life, provided you get rid of your evil qualities. When you take the name of Sathya Sai, how nobly should the organisation function! How much respect should you command in society! Whoever establishes an organisation in the name of Sathya Sai must adhere to the principle of truth. Functioning under the banner of Sathya Sai, if you deviate from the path of truth, what purpose does it serve? It is only when you cultivate love and tread along the path of truth and morality, will the organisation develop and prosper. Therefore, at least from today develop the qualities of truth, love and morality. This is your first and foremost duty. It is not proper to undertake demonic activities in the name of divine organisation.

God is worshipped by several names, such as, Sathya Dharma Parayanaya Namah, Sathya Swarupaya Namah, Prema Swarupaya Namah, etc. There is a lot of meaning in these names. He is the embodiment of love. In fact, human beings themselves are embodiments of divine love. Love is their chief quality. Life has no meaning if you do not cultivate love. Carrying tales against somebody and backbiting are qualities to be condemned. In the past women were free from evil traits. But now even women are no exception to these diseases. What a shame! In My opinion, this is a distortion which is the result of modern education.

No purpose is served with an education coupled with evil qualities. What is important is not education, but good qualities, character and conduct.

If you associate yourselves with people with evil propensities, you too will become evil. Tyaja Durjana Samsargam; Bhaja Sadhu Samagamam; Kuru Punyam Ahorathram (give up bad company; join good company and perform meritorious deeds day and night). These three principles are most important for a human being. Karna was a great warrior in the Mahabharata. In fact, he even excelled Arjuna in this field. In spite of all this, why did he earn a bad name? It was because of his association with evil-minded people like Duryodhana and Dussasana. At last, he met with a miserable death in the battlefield. None of the great Asthras he mastered could come to his rescue. Therefore, all your education will be of little use if your mind is not channelled in the right direction. Hence, Students - Boys and Girls! Cultivate noble qualities. There is no use acquiring wealth without virtues.

"Excessive wealth gives rise to ego which in turn paves way to many wicked qualities. When wealth leaves you, ego also evaporates and as a result the evil qualities disappear."

(Telugu Poem)

Greatness does not lie in acquiring wealth. Cultivation of noble qualities is of paramount importance. Talk less. For, the more you indulge in loose talk, the more you are prone to bad qualities. There is no point in joining a service organisation if you do not cultivate virtues and transform your behaviour into a good one. Some people talk sweetly, but in their heart of heart, they are vicious. Such dichotomy will lead you nowhere. You must first develop softness and sweetness in your heart. It is said, Hrid + Daya = Hridaya. Your Hridaya (heart) must be full of Dhaya (compassion). You deserve to be called a Manava only when your heart is filled with love and compassion.

Jesus Christ developed such noble qualities. He gave protection to several poor and destitute people with a loving heart. In fact, several such people sought refuge in him. In the process, he had to face the wrath of several enemies. You should help people even if you have to undergo some difficulties. Never indulge in reviling others, for the same Atma is permeating every living being. If you abuse others, it amounts to abusing your own self. If you do not like them, keep yourself away from them, but never abuse them. Any amount of good work done by you will be of no use, if you do not give up bad qualities. If you cannot do good to others, at least speak good words. You cannot always oblige, but you can speak always obligingly. If you find someone suffering, try to help him. Today it is his turn, but tomorrow it could be yours. Always keep this in mind. Nobody can escape from pain and suffering. Always pray for the welfare of all. It is only in this context, the universal prayer of Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu (May all the people of the world be happy!) is addressed.

Your heart should be transformed into Hiranyagarbha. It is only when you cultivate good feelings, can you become a good person. You need not be a great man, but you should aspire to become a good man. You must earn the love of one and all. One of the prayers addressed to God is Hiranyagarbhaya Namah. God is loved by everybody. He is always happy and blissful. He has no hatred towards anybody. Whatever He does is for your own good. Everyone must cultivate such divine love towards others. Always tread the path of truth and morality. A nation without morality is bound to degenerate and disintegrate. It is not enough if you have patriotism; along with it you should have morality too. Merely giving lectures on morality will not suffice; it must permeate every activity undertaken by you.

Embodiments of Love!

God is not moved simply by sweet words. You must translate those sweet words into action. You may be a great hero in giving lectures on a platform, but if you are a zero in putting them into action, it will be of no use. You must become heroes in practical life. That is what gives Me happiness. Jesus Christ and Mohammad were highly noble. How could they acquire such greatness and goodness? It was only by their good deeds. Therefore, you must acquire goodness along with greatness. In fact, goodness is greater than greatness. Several great souls took birth in this land of Bharat. Saint Thyagaraja in one of his famous Kirtans sang, "Endaro Mahanubhavulu, Andariki Vandanamulu …" (there are several great souls, I prostrate before all of them). A great saint Thyagaraja himself, exhibited such humility. He was a great composer too. In one of his Kirtans, he described the greatness of God thus:

"You are beyond all description and human comprehension. Is it possible to estimate Your glory and splendour? I have been waiting for Your grace. Oh Lord! Listen to my prayer and redeem me. You are the one who brought back to life the dead son of Your preceptor. You are the one who suppressed the serpent Kaliya, freed Vasudeva and Devaki and saved Droupadi from humiliation. You fulfilled Kuchela's desires, You made ugly-looking Kubja beautiful. You protected the Pandavas and saved the 16,000 Gopikas. You are beyond all description and human comprehension. Krishna, it is not possible for even Brahma to describe Your glory. I have been praying for Your grace."

(Telugu Song)