|
The festival of
Sankranti has arrived in all its beauty and splendour. The sports and
cultural activities of our students - boys and girls have added grandeur
and bliss to the festivity. This day is no ordinary day. It marks the
beginning of the sacred Uttarayana (summer solstice). It confers on us
plenty and prosperity and helps us to develop virtues and undertake sacred
activities. In addition, this day happens to be the auspicious one of Mukkoti
Ekadasi also. That is, the day on which the devas and asuras obtained
the pot of divine ambrosia (Amrita Kalasa) after churning the ocean of
milk.
As man has filled
his heart with worldly thoughts and feelings, he is not able to put into
practice his innate divine qualities. Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakasipu,
Duryodhana and Kamsa were by no means ordinary. Though they were very
strong in their body and mind, they became weak as they were immersed in
worldly feelings. Man can conquer the entire world when his thoughts are
noble. Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu were great scientists. Hiranyakasipu
could reach not only the moon but even the sun. In spite of all his power,
he became weak as he was full of worldly feelings. Every individual is
endowed with mighty power and intelligence. But one should not fill his
heart with worldly feelings. Young men and women of today are the future
leaders of the world. The prosperity of the nation depends on its youth.
Hence, youth should develop virtues, noble thoughts and sterling
character. One who has filled his heart with noble thoughts can accomplish
any great task.
Students
- Boys and Girls!
You have
participated in the sports and cultural activities with all enthusiasm and
gave joy to one and all. Virtues are of paramount importance to youth.
Today, students are able to excel in various fields. But they are not
making any effort to understand the fundamental principle, by knowing
which they would have known everything. In every man there are noble
feelings springing forth from within. Every man is endowed with a mind
which is most powerful. Such a mighty power is not present in any other
kind of being. The mind is but a bundle of thoughts. One who has conquered
the mind can achieve any mighty task. There is no power greater than the
mind. Manah eva manushyanam karanam bandhamokshayoh (mind is
responsible for both bondage and liberation of man). But, today man is
unable to conquer the mind. Consequently, bliss eludes him.
Students
- Boys and Girls!
You have to achieve purity of mind in the first instance. The Sports and
Cultural Meet has come to an end. You should not consider sports as mere
worldly and physical activities. They teach you many moral and spiritual
principles. A true student is one who achieves excellence in the moral,
social and spiritual fields. One should not strive for physical strength
and happiness only. One should strive hard for the control of the mind.
One who becomes a slave to his mind is bound to become weak, however
powerful one may be. So, you should make the mind your slave. The power of
mind is matchless. It is from the mind that the most precious virtues
originate. If wealth is lost, it can be earned again. If health is lost,
it can be restored with the help of an efficient doctor. But, if human
values are lost, human life becomes a waste. Human values are the need of
the hour. They cannot be acquired solely from sacred texts nor can they be
passed on by learned preceptors. They originate from within. When we
develop noble thoughts and follow the path of truth in our daily life,
human values will blossom in us and protect us under all circumstances.
Embodiments of Love!
More than the worldly education, you should strive to uphold human
values, for, all powers are latent in them. Truth is God. Righteousness is
the very foundation of life. That is why the culture of Bharat declared, Sathyaannasti
paro dharma (there is no Dharma greater than adherence to truth).
Hence, you should be prepared to sacrifice your life to uphold these twin
principles of truth and righteousness. You should not crave for worldly bahumathi
(prize). Man is facing a lot of hardship, as he is unable to control the
one mathi (mind) he is endowed with. What will be his plight if he
has Bahu Mathi (many minds)? He will become worse than a monkey.
What you should aspire to attain is Nija Mathi (true mind), not Bahu
Mathi. Nija Mathi is the Pavitra Sukti (sacred message)
that originates in your heart. Mind is the source of all types of powers.
Hence, you should make friendship with the mind. Once the mind becomes
your friend, it redeems your life.
The culture of Bharat has prescribed nine paths of devotion. Sravanam
(listening), Kirtanam (singing), Vishnusmaranam
(contemplating on Vishnu), Padasevanam (serving His Lotus Feet), Vandanam
(salutation), Archanam (worship), Dasyam (servitude), Sneham
(friendship) and Atmanivedanam (Self-surrender). Self-surrender
is possible only after developing friendship with God. Friendship leads to
Self-surrender. So long as you do not develop friendship, all your talk of
self-surrender cannot be translated into action. More than the action, God
sees the feeling behind it. Hence, you should foster noble feelings.
Students! Wherever you are, develop divine feelings and a steady mind. Sarvam
Vishnumayam Jagat (Divinity pervades the entire universe), Sarvam
Khalvidam Brahma (verily all this is Brahman). God is not confined to
a particular place. He is with you, in you, around you. Just as the eyelid
protects the eye, He protects you always. How is it that you have lost
faith in such divine power? Having attained human birth, you are supposed
to develop human values. On the contrary, you have lost them.
Consequently, you have become weak in body and mind. You may secure high
marks in your examinations. At the same time, you should also take care
that you do not get any adverse remarks. Today students are going abroad
in pursuit of education and wealth. One can acquire the true wealth of
values only when one searches the recesses of one's heart. True wealth and
prosperity are present in our heart and not outside. Hence, students
should turn their mind inward and develop values. Only then will they have
the strength and capacity to emancipate the nation.
Students!
For the past one
week, I have been observing the enormous amount of hard work you have put
in to make this Sports Meet a grand success. You strove hard even forgoing
your food and sleep. Here, people have to understand the difference in the
sports activities of our students and the students elsewhere. The students
outside have only one goal in their mind, i.e., to win a prize or a medal,
whereas our students only aim is to please Swami. How can you please
Swami? First of all, you have to develop virtues. You should have
unwavering mind and a steady vision. You should have firm faith that God
is all-pervasive. With faith in God, any mighty task can be accomplished.
|
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.
|
Faith is the seed
and bliss is the fruit. When a seed is sown, it gradually grows into a
huge tree and yields flowers and fruits. In the same manner, when man sows
the seed of a sacred thought in the field of his heart, it grows into a
gigantic tree of spiritual power and confers the fruits of peace and
bliss. Everyone aspires for peace. It cannot be acquired from outside.
Peace originates from faith within. But modern man does not have strong
faith. He just pretends as though he has faith. Today, there are very few
true devotees; most others are merely pretending. When you have steady
mind, your faith will also be steady.
Students! If you want to experience eternal bliss, you should have a
strong and unwavering faith. People have no idea as to what faith actually
means. They say, we believe in God, we love God, but in reality they do
not understand the spirit behind the terms love and faith. True love has
righteousness as the undercurrent. It originates from the heart and
confers bliss. Love is related to the heart, not to an object or an
individual. Love is like the air that wafts around in the firmament of
human heart. It is around you and sustains you. This is the nature of true
love. The synonym of love is Dharma. Love is the main goal of our life.
That is our way of life. When you fill your heart with love, you will
become all-powerful. Even mighty personalities like Hiranyaksha and
Hiranyakasipu will be no match to you. All other powers pale in comparison
to the power of love.
The culture of Bharat has laid great emphasis on the principle of love. It
demonstrates the underlying unity in diversity. Names and forms may
be different but the inherent divinity is only one. Man is the repository
of all powers. He is one of courage, valour and majesty (Dheera, Veera and
Gambhira). Hanuman is extolled as Santhudu, Gunavantudu and Balavantudu
(one of peace, virtues and strength). The divine name of Rama was the
basis for all his accomplishments. He could cross the mighty ocean because
of his love and faith towards Rama.
Today is also the most auspicious day of Mukkoti Ekadasi. It is
also called as Vaikuntha Ekadasi. The great warrior of Mahabharata
war, Bhishma laid down his arms after fighting a heroic battle and lay on
the bed of arrows for 56 days. His body was pierced all over with arrows.
As he lay on the bed of arrows, his body rested on the arrows, but his
head was sagging down, for want of support. In the meanwhile, the Pandavas
along with Droupadi went there to see Bhishma. They were greatly moved on
seeing the condition of Bhishma. Bhishma said, "I have done my duty
in the Kurukshetra war. The body is given to us to protect truth and
righteousness. It is dedicated for the welfare of the country. Of what use
is it, if we do not perform our duty? I have done my duty and I do not
regret for the present condition of my body. But, Oh! Arjuna! The arrows
shot by you during the war struck my body only. They, however, did not
affect my head. Hence, as I lay on this bed of arrows, my head is without
a support and is hanging. You gave me a bed, but without a pillow. Please
provide a pillow also for me, so that I can comfortably lie down on this
bed of arrows." Arjuna was deeply moved by Bhishma's words. His heart
melted. He enquired from Bhishma as to what he was expected to do to
provide comfort to him. Bhishma requested Arjuna to shoot two arrows into
the earth into an X position and then place his head on them. Arjuna did
accordingly. Thereafter, Bhishma further requested Arjuna, "Oh!
Arjuna! I am the son of Ganga. I, therefore, acquired the name of
'Gangeya'. I am now in the last moment of my life's journey. Please,
therefore, provide the Ganga water and help me to merge in my mother,
Ganga." Arjuna was a great warrior and all-powerful. He earned many
titles: Arjuna (the pure one), Phalguna (the one born under the star
Phalguna), Paarthah (scion of the Prithu clan), Kireeti (the crowned one),
Swetavaahanah (rider of a milk-white horse), Beebhatsu (eliminator of
disgust), Vijayah (embodiment of victory), Krishnah (the swarthy one),
Savyasaachi (ambidextrous), Dhananjayah (the winner of wealth). He shot an
arrow into the earth. Immediately, water gushed forth from the earth like
a spring and fell into the mouth of Bhishma. Bhishma was very happy that
Arjuna could fulfil his last desire. He expressed his gratitude thus:
"Oh! Arjuna! There are several people in this world, who help others
in different ways. But, there is none to help one to return to his mother.
Today, you helped me to reach my mother. You provided great joy to me with
the help of your Dhanus (bow)." So saying, he blessed the Pandavas
that they would win the Mahabharata war. Thus, if you wish to earn the
blessings of elders, you must provide comfort and solace to them and win
their hearts.
In the Sports and Cultural Meet held two days ago, our students
participated in several sports and games and displayed their talent to
please Swami. But, this happiness and satisfaction must not be limited to
sports. It should pervade every aspect of your life. Your entire life must
run smoothly and happily.
|
Nityanandam,
Parama Sukhadam, Kevalam Jnanamurtim, Dwandwateetam, Gagana
Sadrisham, Tattwamasyadi Lakshyam, Ekam, Nityam, Vimalam, Achalam,
Sarvadhee Sakshibhutam, Bhavateetam, Trigunarahitam
|
| (Telugu
Poem) |
(God is the
embodiment of eternal bliss, He is wisdom absolute, the One without a
second, beyond the pair of opposites, expansive and pervasive like the
sky, the goal indicated by the Mahavakya Tattwamasi, the eternal,
pure, unchanging, the witness of all functions of the intellect, beyond
all mental conditions and the three Gunas of Sattwa, Rajas
and Thamas).
Every human being must lead a life full of joy. We have the body. We are
performing several chores with the help of this body. But, that is not of
much importance. There is a great Atmic principle in this body. We must
strive to realise that principle. Every human being has a mind. But,
today, that mind is polluted. Wherever you see, pollution and pollution.
The food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and finally our
behaviour itself - thus, everything is polluted. Therefore, ensure that
your mind is not polluted by bad thoughts. You must always have a positive
mind, not a negative mind. You may undertake a great task; but, it cannot
succeed if it is undertaken with a negative mind. You must always have a
positive mind to experience happiness. You should also share that
happiness with others. That is the real nature of a human being. A human
being is also called "Manava". What is its underlying meaning?
It means, he who conducts himself with peace and joy, without doing
injustice to others. You must cultivate such noble feelings, free from
pollution.
Dear
Students!
You have acquired great academic
qualifications. Some of you have acquired more than two Postgraduate
degrees. This is really a great effort. But, that is not enough. You must
also acquire the degree of "Amruta Puthra", since the
Upanishads exhort Srunvanthu Viswe Amrutasya Puthrah (Oh! The sons
of immortality, listen!). The degree of "Amruta Puthra"
is the real degree one has to acquire. We should not hanker after trivial
titles.
Embodiments of
Love!
Fill your hearts with love. Undertake divine activities. This is the type
of education, you have to pursue. No doubt, worldly education is also
necessary. But, true education is that which teaches unity among all human
beings. The main principle of Indian culture is to seek unity in
diversity. It is not to divide unity into diversity. That is true culture.
What is culture? It is not related to any particular religion. It is
purely related to the heart. It is not a caste or a faith. It is fully
associated with divinity.
Embodiments
of Love!
You have provided great happiness to one and all with your display of
talents in various events of sports and games. Keep up this happiness
throughout your life. True love lies in realising the Ekatma Bhava.
That is the real love which does not change with the passage of time. It
is eternal. No doubt, you love Swami with all your heart. But, that love
should not be a fleeting love. You must always develop the feeling,
"I belong to Swami and Swami belongs to me." Only then you will
achieve oneness with Swami. That is the real Sadhana. That is the true
path.
|
The
creation emerges from truth and merges into truth,
Is there a place where truth does not exist?Visualise such pure
and unsullied truth.
|
| (Telugu
Poem) |
It is said,
"Truth is God." You may belong to any country or religion - but
truth is the same for one and all. There is nothing like American truth,
Pakistan truth, etc. Truth is truth.
Embodiments
of Love!
Lead a life full of truth. Lead the life of an eternal being. Lead an
ideal life, which is an example to others to emulate. An education that
teaches such a Sadhana is the true education. It is not to transform your
brain into a book shelf. True happiness lies in your own heart. Realise
it.
Embodiments of Love!
Wherever you are, in whatever circumstances you are placed in, do not ever
forget God. Sarvada sarva kaleshu sarvatra Hari chintanam (Everywhere,
at all times, under all circumstances contemplate on God). Devoid of God,
you will become devils verily. You must live like embodiments of Divine
Atma, not devils. The Upanishads declare, Srunvanthu Viswe Amrutasya
Puthrah (Oh! The sons of immortality, listen!). You are "Amruta
Puthras". Live up to that name. Only then your life will become
fruitful and sanctified. Whatever activity you undertake, dedicate it to
God. All the powers in your body are the gifts of God. In fact, divinity
pervades every inch, every cell and every atom of your body. If you waste
such a divine power, it amounts to sacrilege. Dedicate your body, mind and
intellect, in fact, everything of yours to God. The games you play should
not be limited to one day. In fact, Life is a game; play it. Unity
is divinity. Whatever you do whatever you speak whatever you think --
in every aspect of your life, that unity must reflect. That is the true
culture of the Bharatiyas. The essence of Bharatiya culture is Sathyam
Vada, Dharmam Chara (speak truth, practise righteousness). I
exhort you to cultivate these two principles throughout your life. With
blessings, I conclude My discourse.
Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan,
"Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahi…"
|
