Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

The culture of Bharat (India) affirms the allpervasiveness of God. In this world, there is no entity, living or non-living, that is not divine. From a stone to a diamond, from an ant to a lion, from a small bird to a mighty eagle, from a pebble to a mountain, everything is divine. That is why the Bharatiyas (Indians) have been worshipping trees, anthills, hillocks, stones, etc.

But today, people have forgotten this sacred tradition and consider such practices as acts of superstition. Modern students also condemn these ancient traditions, considering them as acts of foolishness.

In fact, there is a deep inner meaning associated with the sacred traditions of Bharat. The Bharatiyas do not limit the principle of love that God has bestowed on them to human beings alone. Rather, they share their love with all sentient beings and insentient objects. That is why Thyagaraja also sang:

Divinity is all-pervasive. Never doubt that God is here and not there. The Bharatiyas (Indians) worship even a small roadside stone. They worship even an anthill, in which poisonous snakes live. There is no object in this world that is not worshipped by the Bharatiyas. They worship every hillock, considering it as the sacred Govardhana mountain and every hillock as the Himalayas. In this manner, every hillock, anthill, tree, bird, and stone is the object of veneration for the Bharatiyas.

They feed the ants by providing food to them in the form of rice flour and look after them with love. In this way, this sacred land of Bharat earned the reputation as the land of compassion and penance. There can be no greater foolishness than considering such sacred traditions of Bharatiya culture as superstitions.

Many people in other countries believe that there is no greater principle than the principle of Brotherhood of Man. But there is a principle that is even superior to this principle of Brotherhood of Man, and that is Ekatma bhava (the Principle of Oneness). There is no greater foolishness than condemning the sacred culture of Bharat (India), which propounds the truth that the same Atmic principle is present in all.

It is this sacred land of Bharat that promotes the principle of unity in diversity and the principle of social justice. Since ancient times, Bharat has been sharing her spiritual wealth with other countries and promoting peace and prosperity in the world. In this modern age also, one should not forget such sacred traditions and divine feelings associated with the culture of Bharat. Only broadminded people can understand this truth. But to narrow-minded people, this will appear to be foolishness.

Where is the place where there is no God? What object is not permeated with Divinity? Everything is God.

All objects in this world are a combination of atoms. Can any scientist in the world can deny the existence of Divinity in every atom of the universe? A scientist who denies this is no scientist at all. There is divine effulgence in every atom.

That is why Ramdas sang,

There is no principle other than Rama principle in this world. The divine Name of Rama is that which confers bliss. Due to the defective modern system of education, students are forgetting this divine principle. Modern education is only for a living; it does not illumine the intellect.

Having attained such a precious human birth, is it what you are supposed to attain? Should you attain this type of mundane happiness in your life? No, no. Your purpose and goal of life are different. What you should achieve is true happiness.

But forgetting such an eternal and everlasting happiness, you are craving ephemeral and transient happiness. No doubt, secular education is required. I don’t dispute that. Worldly education is for life here and spiritual education is for life hereafter. However, worldly education leads only to the path of pravritti (worldliness). What you should follow is the path of nivritti (spirituality).

All that is related to pravritti is momentary and transient, and all that is related to nivritti is true and eternal. That is why you should aim at attaining the happiness that comes from following the path of nivritti.

Books are no doubt full of knowledge. But what is the use if the head is filled with mud? How far is the bookish knowledge useful? If your head is filled with mud, even the knowledge contained in the books will become useless for you, like mud. What is the reason? The reason is association with wrong company. When you fill your mastaka (head) with knowledge contained in pustaka (book), your mastaka itself will become pustaka. What you need to acquire is not knowledge of pustaka but the knowledge of mastaka. That is practical knowledge. It is possible to acquire practical knowledge only when you follow the path of spirituality.

When your feeling and faith are sacred, the result is also bound to be sacred.

In olden days, there used to be a niche in the wall at the entrance of a well-to-do family, in which they used to place a small lighted lamp. The people of the village would come to their house to light their lamp from it. This tradition originated from the belief that if they lighted their lamps from the one kept in the house of a prosperous family, they would also become prosperous.

In accordance with this tradition, Yasoda also kept a lighted lamp in the outer wall of her house so that the gopikas (cowherd maidens) of the village could come and light their lamp from it. It was the time when Krishna had left Gokul and was living in Mathura.

A newly married gopika named Suguna came to Repalle after her marriage. When she heard the divine leelas (sports, plays) of Krishna in Repalle, she became ecstatic and thought it was her misfortune that she had come to Repalle only after Krishna had left for Mathura.

She felt dejected and cursed her fate, thinking: Is it possible to change one’s destiny?

Earlier her mother-in-law used to come to the house of Yasoda to light her lamp. Once, her mother-in-law was laid up with fever, so Suguna had to go to Yasoda’s house to light the lamp. This opportunity turned out to be her good fortune. She was overjoyed to think that she would be seeing the place where Krishna lived and moved around.

She approached the house of Yasoda with pure heart and total faith in Krishna. Experience of Divinity depends on faith rather than on spiritual practices or scholarship. There have been many great scholars, yogis, and men of great penance and sacrifice in this world. But they could not attain the deservedness that was attained by Suguna. Right from the time when she set her foot in Repalle, she contemplated on Krishna all the time, thinking that she did not have the good fortune to see Krishna.

When she lighted her lamp from the lamp placed in the house of Yasoda, she saw Krishna in the flame. She became so ecstatic that she lost all her body consciousness. She even did not know that her fingers were getting burnt in the flame. Seeing this, Yasoda came running and asked, “Where are you, my dear? You are not even aware that your hand is getting burnt! Have you fallen asleep? Did you not sleep last night?” Other gopikas who had come to light their lamp also watched this. Suguna was seeing Krishna in the flame all the time, and, as a result, she had no body consciousness. The other gopikas surrounded her and asked, “What is the matter? What are you seeing?” When she said that she had seen Krishna, the gopikas burst into a joyous dance, singing:

What type of sadhana (spiritual discipline) and worship did Suguna perform? She had no knowledge of spiritual practices like japa and dhyana (chanting and meditation). Women in those times were not educated. That, in fact, was their good fortune. If they had this type of modern education, they would not have been able to attain such divine bliss. Their entire focus in those days was on Divinity.

But the focus of modern students is always on acquiring bookish knowledge. After they acquire it, their focus shifts to passing the examination. During the time of examination, they drink cups and cups of tea and coffee to keep themselves awake at night. Thereby they ruin their health and lose their memory power also. In this way, man today is ruining his innate powers.

But people like Suguna in those days always focused on Krishna. It was their firm faith that was responsible for their deservedness. Deservedness depends upon faith and nothing else.

When one wants to go to the terrace of one’s house, one has to climb a ladder. The ladder has to have support at both ends, at the base and also at the top. Love is the support at the base of this ladder of spirituality and faith is the support at the top. Without the support of love and faith, it is not possible to reach spiritual heights. In fact, to develop love and faith is the real sadhana (spiritual discipline).

During the time of Shirdi Sai Avatar, there was an ardent devotee of Baba named Hemadpant. His other name was Annasaheb Dabholkar. He always contemplated on Baba and kept repeating, “Baba, Baba, Baba” all the time. One day, he was awakened at night at 3 o’clock by a tall person who patted his back and said, “Hemadpant! Tomorrow I am coming to your house for food.” He wondered whether what he saw was a dream or a reality. When he noticed that the door of his house was open, he realised that this was not a dream. Then he was filled with joy and started shouting loudly, “My Baba came to me and told me that he would come to my house for food tomorrow.” Hearing this, his wife got up and asked, “What happened to you? Did you have a dream? Have you gone mad that you are talking so loudly like this? How is it possible for Baba to come tomorrow? Where is Shirdi and where is our house? All this is your imagination only.” Hemadpant said to his wife, “Oh foolish woman! For God, there is nothing like far or near. How can there be any coming and going for God, who is all-pervasive? God neither comes nor goes; He is everywhere. Those who have deservedness can see Him anywhere. But those who lack deservedness cannot see Him. It all depends on one’s faith.” Hemadpant told his wife, “Baba will come to our house tomorrow. Therefore, prepare befitting food tomorrow morning.” She was very happy to hear that and said, “Is there any greater fortune for us than Baba visiting our house?” She got up early in the morning, cleaned the house and the cooking utensils, and prepared many delicious items such as vada (savoury snack of South India), payasam (sweet pudding), etc. She decorated the house with mango leaves and garlands of flowers and waited for the arrival of Baba.

It was 12 o’clock, but no sign of Baba’s arrival was visible. She was beset with anxiety. Hemadpant tried to pacify her, saying, “Baba will never go back on his promise. Baba is the embodiment of truth. In fact, he is verily Lord Sathyanarayana. Therefore, Baba will definitely come.” It was already two o’clock but Baba did not come. Hemadpant did not know what to do. At that very time, two persons came to their house and said, “Hemadpant! You appear to be very busy. Maybe you are waiting for the arrival of some relatives. That is why you have already prepared food for them. Hence, it does not appear proper for us to disturb you at this time. We will come later. But kindly take this packet.” Hemadpant took the packet, and they left. When he opened the packet, he found Baba’s picture in it. He put the picture close to his head with reverence and exclaimed, “Oh dear Baba! You have come to my house in the form of this picture!” Devotion is a sort of madness. Sai Baba is the embodiment of Sat-Chit-Ananda (ExistenceKnowledge-Bliss), who removes your worldly madness and makes you mad for God. Why does he make you mad for God? It is only to drive away your worldly madness. If you want to get rid of your worldly madness, you should become mad for God. Baba wipes away the tears of your worldly sorrow and makes you shed tears for God.

Hemadpant placed the food before Baba’s photo, closed his eyes and prayed, “Baba! You must eat this food.” When he opened his eyes, a vada was missing from the plate of food. He could also see the marks of Baba’s fingers in the rice served in the plate. Then he said with joy, “Baba has eaten the food,” and offered it as prasadam to all.

Baba used to satisfy his devotees in this manner. Having given his word to his devotees that he would visit their house, he would come to them in some form or the other. In order to make his devotees realise that God is present in all beings, he went to their house in the form of animals also, like a buffalo, a cat, a dog, etc., and ate the food meant for him.

Now I don’t do like that. Once I promise that I will come to your house and accept your food, I will go Myself and have food there. I told many people that on coming to Mumbai, I would visit their house and have food there. Accordingly, I went to their houses and partook of the food served by them. Only then were they happy.

What was the reason of their happiness? It was the result of their love, faith, and feelings. Devotees in those days were full of love and total faith. But people today have only parttime faith. When God tells them that He will come to their house, they are very happy at that time. But, later, they start doubting whether Swami will come or not. They also think that Swami might have casually told them for their satisfaction.

Never give room to such doubts. When you develop total faith in Swami’s words, they will certainly come true. God’s words are divine and ambrosial. They are ever true. But if you lack faith, they may not come true.

Therefore, develop firm faith. Come what may, never give up your faith under any circumstances. Faith is your life-breath.

In My Avatar as Shirdi Sai Baba, some people could not understand the subtle meanings of My words and actions. They would come to Baba and complain, “Baba! We were waiting for you because you promised to come. Why did you disappoint us? Why did you put us to so much trouble? What sin have we committed?” Baba would reply, “You people are really very foolish. I did come to your house, but you drove me away with a stick.” These devotees would wonder and say, “What Baba! Can we ever commit this sacrilege of chasing you away with a stick?” Then Baba would tell them that he came to their house in the form of a black dog. In this manner, Baba demonstrated the truth that God is present in all beings.

When you see a rat, you try to catch it in a rat trap or kill it with a stick. But when you see it with Lord Ganesh, you offer your salutations to it. Similarly, when you see a snake, you try to kill it or call a snake charmer to catch it. But you offer your salutations to it when you see it adorning Lord Siva.

Whosoever is in the proximity of God will be revered and respected. Divine proximity is the real wealth. You will be honoured depending upon your closeness to God. But if you become distant from God, nobody will even look at your face.

In fact, you are always in the proximity of God. Whatever you look and whatever you see, there is only Divinity. The divine principle is omnipresent; it neither comes nor goes.

Once, Parvati and Parameswara held a competition between their two sons, Vinayaka and Subrahmanya. They told them that whoever came first after going round the world would be rewarded. Vinayaka has a huge belly, and his vehicle is a rat, so his parents were curious to know how he would compete with Subrahmanya.

Meanwhile, Subrahmanya got onto his vehicle peacock and sped away. However, Vinayaka continued to be where he was without even bothering to call his vehicle rat. When he noticed Subrahmanya returning after completing his journey around the world, he circumambulated Parvati and Parameswara and declared himself to be the winner of the race.

Parvati, said, “How clever you are! What sort of knack is this? Your brother returned after going round the world. Therefore, he deserves the reward. How can you claim to have gone round the world by merely circumambulating us?” It was not as if Parvati and Parameswara were not aware of this truth. They enacted the drama only to demonstrate to the world that God is all-pervasive.

Then Vinayaka said, “Mother! Is it not true that wherever we look, you both are present? Therefore, circumambulating you amounts to going round the entire world.” Wherever you look, there are only two things in this universe: energy and matter, represented by Parvati and Parameswara, respectively. Vinayaka could win the reward due to his intelligence.

Parvati took pity on Subrahmanya and gave him a fruit, lest he be disappointed after taking the trouble of going round the world. She said to him, “My dear! You have come first after going round the world. But Vinayaka came first because he understood the inner significance of the divine principle that God is everywhere.” When you enquire deeply, you will understand the inner significance associated with the divine principle. One who is totally immersed in water cannot say anything. Similarly, one who is totally immersed in divine love cannot describe it. Only those who remain at the surface can describe it in a superficial manner.

One who is totally immersed in the ocean of devotion, faith, and love for God will be saturated with bliss; that one will not know anything else. Scholars, educated people, and poets who claim to know Divinity are, in fact, those who are at this superficial level only. But one who is totally immersed in the divine principle will not be able to talk about it. Bliss is that one’s speech and bliss is their language. There is nothing higher than this. Therefore, it is a great mistake to say that you are in search of God. Where is the need to search for God who is all-pervasive?

There are nine paths of devotion: sravanam, kirtanam, Vishnusmaranam, padasevanam, vandanam, archanam, dasyam, sneham, Atmanivedanam (listening, singing, contemplating on Vishnu, serving His Lotus Feet, salutation, worship, servitude, friendship, selfsurrender). It is said that these paths lead a person to God. But one should realise that one is already God. In fact, everyone is the embodiment of Divinity. It is God who is in search of a true devotee.

Even birds and animals have true devotion, but, unfortunately, it is not found in human beings. Human beings have only part-time devotion.

Where is God? Have firm faith that you yourself are God. The body is the temple and the jiva (individual soul) is the deity. Therefore, you are God. Where else can you find God when you yourself are God? But you should strengthen this faith. Only then can you have the taste of true love and bliss. When you have sugar in your hand, you will not know its taste. Put it on your tongue and start chewing it. Only then will you be able to experience its sweetness.

(Bhagavan brought His Discourse to a close with the bhajan, “Madhura Madhura Murali Ghanashyama ...”)