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MAHA-SHIVRATRI DISCOURSE |
Experience of Unity is Real Satsang |
Shivarathri 2003 - 01 March 2003
Oh
spiritual aspirants! Whether one is a
renunciant
or a householder, whether one is attached
to the world or not, whether one performs actions or not, when one realizes that
the same Atmic principle is present in himself as well as in others, he will
always experience and enjoy the company of God in all the three states of
existence. (Sanskrit
Sloka)
Devotees
should recognize the unity of the Atmic principle that exists in all beings.
Satsang (good company) is very essential to understand the oneness of Atmic
principle. Satsang does not mean association with good people, devotees or
spiritual aspirants. ‘Sath’ is that which is changeless in all the three
periods of time. It is the Atmic principle. When ‘Sath’ and ‘Chit’ come
together, what results is
Ananda
(bliss). Sath-Chit-Ananda is the very form of Atma. This is referred to as
Transcendental Truth. In order to understand this truth, three mantras are to be
practiced. They are Bhadram Trunvantu, Bhadram Srunvantu and Bhadram
Kurvantu. When you practice these three principles, you don’t need to
search for God.
Bhadram
Trunvantu means,
I am not different from the Atma. “There is no entity in this world
other than the Atma. Bhadram Srunvantu means I do not listen to anything
else!’ Bhadram Kurvantu means I don’t need to perform any Sadhana!’
When one recognises the oneness of the Atmic principle, where is the need for
him to undertake any Sadhana? Every sound that is heard is a resound of the
Atmic principle. One who realizes this will not listen to anything other than
the Atma.
Divinity
is the essence of all actions. Bhadram Trunvantu, Bhadram Srunvantu and Bhadram
Kurvantu means that the Divine Darshan, Divine Sambhashan and Divine activities
are embodied only in God. Hence, to live always in the company of God is true
Satsang. God is one. He is referred to as ‘Sath’. Ekam Sath Viprah Bahudha
Vadanti (Truth is one, but the wise call it by different names). That which is
changeless in all the three periods of time is ‘Sath’. You should live in
the company of the One who is changeless, with unwavering mind and steady
vision. Your thoughts, words and deeds should be steady and sacred. But due to
the impact of Kali Age, modern youth find it difficult to control their
thoughts, words and deeds. They do not have a steady vision. They do not keep up
their word. Their activities belie their thoughts and words.
Manasyekam
Vachasyekam
Karmanyekam
Mahatmanam
Manasyanyath
Vachasyanyath
(Those
whose thoughts, words and deeds are in complete harmony are noble ones; those
who lack harmony of these are wicked.)
Your
deeds should be in consonance with your thoughts and words. Harmonizing
thoughts, words and deeds is true Satsang. To experience the oneness of Self is
true Satsang. The Atma is only one. It attracts the entire world. What is
Prakriti (Nature)? It consists of objects that delude man. All objects in Nature
are transitory. You do not find anything permanent. They attract man and delude
him. The objects which are temporary in nature, will give only momentary
happiness. The Vedas speak about the principle of Ritam. It symbolizes
the truth that is changeless. All worldly objects undergo change. When you
develop Ritam, you will be able to understand the changeless and eternal
Divinity.
You
may question, “How can I have the vision of God?” Oh simpleton! You don’t
need to search for God. Wherever you see, He is there. He is imbued in every
object. You are unable to see Him because you are deluded by external
appearances. Pashyati lti Pashuhu (that which goes purely by external
vision is an animal). Whatever you see, whatever you experience is but the
manifestation of God. In fact, you are God yourself. Hence, the Veda exhorts man
to develop faith that I am God and God is none other than myself.” Names and
forms are many, but God is one. Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma (verily all this
is Brahman). Such unity in Divinity has to be realized. There is underlying
unity in apparent diversity. Satsang means experience of unity. Today people
think that Satsang means a congregation of spiritual aspirants. People join such
congregations and think that they are in Satsang. But it is not Satsang in the
true sense of the term because people whom you think to be good may turn wicked.
They are bound to change. How can such temporary association confer everlasting
happiness? It is impossible. Till this day, people have not understood the true
meaning of Satsang and its significance. Tell me your company I shall tell
you who you are. When you associate yourself with ephemeral things, the
results also are bound to be transitory. You should develop friendship with
Divinity which alone is true and eternal. Divinity is very much present in you.
You cannot find it outside. The external world is subject to change. The world
is nothing but a combination of matter. Everything in this world is transitory.
Nothing is permanent. All that is seen in this world is illusory. The unseen
Atmic principle alone is true and eternal.
If
you pose a question as to “Where is God ?” some people will say, “He is in
me”, pointing to their body. Body is not permanent. Hence, this is not a
proper answer. (Swami holding a rose) When I say the flower is in My hand, the
flower is smaller than Me. In the same manner, when you say God is in you, you
are bigger than God! In fact, the whole world is in the hands of God. Hence, it
is not proper to say that God is in you. You are in God. All are in God. The
world itself is a manifestation of God. This is the Transcendental Truth. This
is the changeless truth. The word Sivam symbolizes truth. Here truth does not
correspond to your body. It corresponds to the changeless and eternal Sath.
Today people go by the physical and worldly meanings and, as a result, spoil
their mind.
Man’s
life can be compared to a tree. Asuya (Jealousy) and Ahamkara (ego) are like
pests which destroy the tree of life. The day man rids himself of these pests,
he can become a true human being.
What
you have to know today is the principle of eternal and changeless truth. Our
Narasimhamurthi (one of the previous speakers) said Divinity is in the form of
the Atmic principle. How can one visualize the Atma? The Atma has no form. How
can one visualize that which is formless? Bliss is the form of the Atma. It is
present in everyone. Man is the embodiment of Ananda. But he is unable to
experience bliss as he is deluded by the material objects. One should not crave
for materialistic possessions. How long can they last? Here is a flower. Now it
looks fresh but by tomorrow it will fade away. Likewise all objects are bound to
change with the passage of time. The Atma is permanent. Ananda is permanent.
Bliss can only be experienced; it cannot be expressed in words. None can explain
the nature of bliss. It can be understood only by experience. As I told you
earlier, your Drishti (vision), Sravanam (audition) and Karma (action) should be
constantly focused on the Atma. Then you will certainly experience Nijananda,
Nityananda and Advaitananda (true, eternal and non-dual bliss).
People
sit in meditation for some time and start shedding tears of joy. They say they
have experienced bliss. It is nothing but their imagination. Bliss is not that
which comes and goes. It is permanent. In whatever state you may be, waking,
dreaming or deep sleep, you should be able to experience it continuously.
You
should strive to attain Atmic bliss right from a young age. That should be your
only endeavor. Your thoughts, words and deeds should be aimed at this. This can
be termed as true Satsang. Worldly experiences, however long one may enjoy,
cannot confer the eternal bliss. You can experience the eternal bliss only in
the company of God. All the worldly activities and experiences are bound to
change. The Atma alone is changeless. This is referred to as Ritam in
Sanskrit. In order to experience this eternal principle, you should give up body
attachment and understand the truth that the Atma in you is the same as the one
in others. Just as the same electric current flows in different bulbs, the same
Atma is present in all beings. Ekatma Sarva Bhutantaratma (the one Atma
is present in all beings). But, today man does not have such broad-mindedness.
In order to experience divinity, which is the very form of love, you have to
become the very personification of love. Divinity and love are not separate. As
man is endowed with such sacred divine principle, it is said, Jantunam Nara
Janma Durlabham (out of all living beings, human birth is the rarest).
Today
man does not enquire as to what is gamyamu (goal of life). Instead of
trying to know the goal of life, he is worrying about his janmamu (worldly
life). Even animals and insects are concerned about their worldly existence. It
is not essential to know the secret of life; one should know the purpose of
life. That is very important. The goal of our life is Truth which is symbolized
by the principle of Atma. Instead of enquiring into the goal of life, man is
trying to know the secret of life. It is a futile exercise. Any number of births
will not be sufficient to know this. Fix your mind on the gamyamu (goal).
Do not worry about the janmamu (life).
Adi
Sankara said,
Punarapi
Jananam Punarapi Maranam
Punarapi
Janani Jathare Sayanam
Iha
Samsare Bahu Dustare
Kripayapare
Pahi Murare.
(Oh
Lord! I am caught up in this cycle of birth and death; time and again, I am
experiencing the agony of staying in the mother’s womb. It is very difficult
to cross this ocean of worldly life. Please take me across this ocean and grant
me liberation.)
You
are born again and again seeing, doing and experiencing what you have already
seen, done and experienced. You should realize that you are born not to be born
again. You should see and experience that by which your life will find
fulfillment. That is the oneness of Atmic principle. Once you have experienced
the Atma, you do not need to experience anything else. Thousands have gathered
here today. Each of you has a different form and behavior. But the Atmic
effulgence that shines in all of you is one and the same. When a bulb is
glowing, one may sit and do his homework. Another person may write accounts with
wrong calculations. Yet another person may write a letter with evil motives.
Whatever one may do, the light is unaffected and untainted. It remains a
witness. Likewise, the Atma also remains an eternal witness to all that man
does. External activities undergo change, but the eternal truth of Atma remains
the same at all times.
God
is one; goal is one. The same is conveyed in the following statements: I am in
the light; the light is in me, I am the light.” Here ‘I’ symbolizes love
and devotion and light stands for wisdom. When you say, I am in the light,” it
means devotion is contained in wisdom. The statement “the light is in me”
reflects the truth that wisdom is contained in devotion. Light and love you have
to understand the unity of these two. Devotion is an essential prerequisite to
know the reality. You should develop love more and more and ultimately transform
it into wisdom. You should not follow the vagaries of the mind. Come what may,
your vision must be firmly implanted on the Atma. With such one-pointed
devotion, sages and seers of yore performed penance and experienced bliss. Today
people chant mantras and perform Japa. They do so for the sake of their mental
satisfaction. They want to attain peace. In fact, what they get out of such
practices is not peace but pieces! In a rosary there are I08 beads, but the
thread that strings them together is one and same. It symbolizes Divinity.
Divinity
is like a magnet that attracts the entire world. In some places this power of
attraction is maximum. It is something very special. Here is an example. So many
of you have gathered here. Who sent you invitations? It is the Divine Magnet
that has drawn you here. This magnet is present not only here, but everywhere.
Here, there and everywhere, Divinity is present in the form of Atma. Here you
can experience the power of divine attraction. Such power cannot be acquired for
the mere asking. It can be acquired only through love. Love is something that
originates from the ‘source’. It cannot be obtained by ‘force’. Worldly
knowledge can be thrust on you but love has to spring forth from within in a
natural way. Love is God. Love alone can confer true wisdom. Jnanad evatu
Kaivalyam (wisdom leads to liberation).
Worldly
knowledge is associated with multiplicity. Love enables you to visualize unity
in multiplicity. Hence, you should develop love and understand the fundamental
truth that the same Self is present in all. Different people partake of
different items to satisfy their hunger. Food items are different but hunger is
the same. You should understand such unity. Each one of you may undertake a
different Sadhana (spiritual practice). Whatever may be the Sadhana, it should
be performed with Atmic feeling. You should make efforts to understand the
principle of oneness. That alone constitutes true Sadhana. The principle of love
in you should be steady. However, the love in modern youth keeps vacillating.
One day it is sacred and the very next day, it is unsacred. Such love cannot be
termed as true devotion. Ekam Sath (Divinity is one). You are in the
light and the fight is in you. Bear this in your mind. Ultimately, you will
realize that I am V’. If you want to understand the principle of Atma, you
should not give scope to multiplicity. All that you see and hear in this world
are merely reflections, reactions and resounds. The reality is within you. I see
many students here. Where have they come from? They are My reflections.
Otherwise, they cannot be seen. Likewise, every person and every object is your
own reflection . Life is like an
ocean with the waves of Samyoga (union) and Viyoga (separation).
You should treat this duality with equanimity. The principle of Atma is beyond
union and separation. To Me, there is neither Samyoga nor Viyoga.
Viyoga results only when there is Samyoga. They are but your
imagination. In order to realize the principle of Atma, you have to get rid of
such imagination and develop the faith Ekam Sath. It is only one and not
two. It is changeless and remains the same at all times and in all states of
existence. You should join Satsang to know this truth.
This
body is an Angamu (limb) of society. There exists a Sangamu (association of
attributes) in Angamu, a Jangamu (individual soul) in Sangamu and Lingamu
(Paramatma) in Jangamu. Linga is Atma which is our very life principle. That is
why the Atma is considered to be of the form of Linga. A Linga has neither a
beginning nor an end. It has no head or feet. Hence, when you perform worship,
you can keep it anyway you like. The Atma has a name but not a specific form.
Bliss is its true form. It is very much present in us. When you crave for
external happiness, you lose your innate bliss also.
Today
is the auspicious day of Sivarathri. What is Sivam? It means auspiciousness. God
is the embodiment of Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram (Truth, Auspiciousness and
Beauty). All that you see, hear and experience should be offered to God.
Tridalam
Trigunakaram Trinetramcha Triyayudham;
Trijanma
Papa Samharam Eka Bilvam Sivarpanam.
(Offer
a trifoliate Bilva leaf to Lord Siva, the three-eyed Lord having trident in His
hand which destroys the sins of three births.)
People
undertake various Sadhanas and different modes of worship on the basis of their
own imagination. Whatever may be the Sadhana, one should not give up the
resolve. One should have single-pointed attention. One should listen only to the
principle of oneness. One should offer one’s actions to God. Karmanyevadhikarasthe
Ma Phaleshu Kadachana (Action is thy duty, fruit is not thy concern)
Whatever you do, let it be pleasing unto God. Sarva Karma Bhagavad
Preethyartham (do all actions to please God). Then no sin will accrue to
you. There is no easier path than this to experience the Atmic principle. Today
as different people follow different paths, troubles are on the rise. Such
delusion is leading to confusion. As a result of this confusion, you lose the
‘fuse’ that links you and God. In fact, you are God. I am God. He is God.
Everything is God. In order to understand this truth, you should rise from the
level of the human to the Divine. You should know the principle of Sath which is
the underlying unity in diversity. You should not give scope to differences
based on Akara (form). You should experience Ananda by being in the
company of God. God is your true property. When you experience Ananda, you
become God yourself. Give up differences. All are in God. Keep this unity in
mind. Being students, you may pursue your studies. All your studies take place
at the physical level. Along with your studies, contemplate on the principle of
oneness at one. Have unflinching faith in the unity of divinity. Undertake such
Sadhana which will enable you to realize the changeless and eternal principle of
Truth. If you attribute various names and forms to God, you will not be able to
realize the Truth. Names and forms are subject to change. Who was Rama? He was
the son of Dasaratha. Who was Krishna? He was the son of Yashoda. In this
manner, you will remember only their physical relationships. When you worship
God without attributing any particular name and form, the question of His
physical relationship does not arise. There will be no differences whatsoever.
Who is the mother of God? In fact, He is the mother of all. Today we find
differences because we attribute various names and forms and physical
relationships to God. You should get rid of such relationships. Isavasyam
Idam Jagat (the entire world is permeated by God). Easwara Sarva Bhutanam
(God is the Indweller of all beings). When you contemplate on these twin
principles, you can visualize unity in humanity. There will be intimate
relationship between man and man. When you think of Divinity, you will not have
any differences or difficulties. Difficulties come and go like passing clouds.
You don’t need to worry about them. Keep your vision fixed on the sun.
Sometimes, clouds cover the sun. Then you don’t need to be worried about it.
Have patience. When the clouds move away, the sun will be visible again. In the
same manner, the clouds of worldly delusions come in the way of Atmic vision. In
such situations, you should not let your mind waver. Have patience. The
clouds’ will recede and the ‘sun’ will reappear.
You
may get some thoughts which are like clouds. Do not be carried away by them. Do
not pay heed to all and sundry and ruin yourself. You should rise to the level
of Divine and not degenerate to the level of demon. In order to rise to the
level of divine, Satsang is very essential. “One thought, one vision and one
action.” These three must be unified. Sivarathri is celebrated to recognize
the oneness of Divinity. When you do Bhajans tonight, you will have only one
thought. You will experience the bliss of Bhajan. It is the non-dual bliss. Why
is it prescribed that you should do Bhajans all through the night? Bhajan is
done to control the mind and focus it on Divinity. Some people keep discussing
about worldly matters even while they are doing Bhajan. Do not go anywhere near
such people.
Tyaja
Durjana Samsargam;
Bhaja Sadhu Samagamam;
Kuru Punyam Ahorathram
(Give
up bad company; join good company and perform meritorious deeds day and night).
You
should constantly think of the Atmic principle. Your parents may try to tell you
some worldly matters. They may tack discrimination. Why should you listen to
such matters knowing fully well that they are useless? Let them say anything. Do
not waver from your chosen path. You should convince your mother saying,
“Mother, you have your own likes and dislikes and I have my own. You are my
mother and I am your son, yet our thoughts and feelings are different. Being
your son, I will serve you and express my gratitude to you. But I cannot deviate
from the path of truth
To
night Lingodbhavam will take place. I created this Linga in answer to his (B. N.
Narasimhamurthi’s) prayer. But another Linga will emerge from within. In this
manner, I can create any number of Lingas. Everything is in My hand. The Lingas
that come from the hand, from the stomach, from the mouth, all are one. Wherever
you see, there is the principle of Atma. Understand this unity. Along with your
education, develop Atmic feeling. When you develop Atmic feeling, evil qualities
like hatred, jealousy, etc., will not come near you. You will not be perturbed
by pain and suffering. You will be in a state of non-dualism. That is true
bliss.
Focus
your mind on God. Follow His command. Then your life will be redeemed. Now you
can commence Bhajans.
Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, “Sathyam Jnanam Anantham Brahma...” and “Hey Shiva Shankara namami Shankara”