Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

Wherever you look today, the world is in a state of turmoil, fear, unrest and sorrow. At a time when the demons of unrest, impropriety and unrighteousness are indulging in fearful death dance, only students are capable of restoring peace and security in the country.

Only when you develop the spirit of oneness can you drive away differences, sorrow, and unrest and thus establish peace and security. One Atma dwells in all beings (Ekatma Sarva Bhutantaratma).

It is the foremost duty of students today to recognise the truth that Divinity is present in all and conduct themselves accordingly. But, unfortunately, students today have their own ways and strive for their own self-interest. There is none who serves society, keeping in view the welfare of all. Just as water becomes one with milk, students should identify themselves with society, join hands with everyone with the spirit of unity, forbearance, and empathy, and strive for the progress of society. Only then can there be peace in the country.

The citizens you see and the men of authority whom you follow today were also once students like you. Today’s students are tomorrow’s citizens and leaders. Therefore, it is your responsibility to set right the deficiencies and disturbances that you find in society.

As are the roots for a tree, so are the students for a nation. When the roots become weak, the tree falls to the ground. Similarly, when the students become weak-minded, the nation will suffer. Therefore, students should become strong-minded, lead an ideal life, and give happiness to society. They should never give room to narrow feelings like I and my family. The happiness of an individual depends on their family, and the happiness of the family depends on society. In the same way, the happiness of society depends on the nation. The happiness of a nation, society, and family depend on the character and virtues of the individuals.

People come here from various places and countries, but the same divinity is present in all.

Since ancient times, the sacred land of Bharat has been bestowing happiness on one and all by propagating the principles of unity and divinity. The Upanishads teach the principle of unity and exhort humanity to recognise this unity as the goal of life. Due to the defective system of education and the prevalence of selfishness and self-interest in society, this principle of unity has been destroyed. The educated today are causing unrest in society by observing diversity in unity instead of visualising unity in diversity.

In ancient times, there was great unity and purity in villages. Whenever there was a marriage function in some house, all the people of the village would join in a spirit of unity and help the concerned family. They believed in the principle of unity. If there is a marriage in their house today, tomorrow there may be a marriage in your house. If you help others now, tomorrow others will also come to your help. Such broad feelings promoted sacredness in villages.

There was a system of joint families in those days. If there were four brothers, all of them with their spouses and children lived together in the same house like one family. But with the passage of time and change in circumstances, human mind has become perverted, with the result that there are differences even in villages.

If there are four members in a family, they have four different opinions. What is the reason? Selfishness and greed are mainly responsible for this situation. The desire for money and power has crossed all limits in today’s world. Money comes and goes. How long will it stay with you? What will you do with excess of money? Keep as much as you require; excess of money will spoil your mind.

People today do not want to leave their position of authority till their last breath. Politics promotes wicked qualities and evil intentions in villages. It is politics that is responsible for the degeneration of values in villages.

Never allow politics to enter your villages. Do not hate anyone. Bear no hatred against anyone (Adveshta sarva bhutanam). Love all. If you allow politics in your villages, your samaj (society) will turn into samadhi (tomb). People in villages today are allowing such things to happen.

Happiness would reign supreme were there is unity between the members of a family. There would be no scope for unrest. All would be free from worries. When differences develop between members of a family, it will become worse than hell.

The body is a temple and the indweller is God (Deho devalaya proktho jivo Deva sanathana). There are three persons living in the house of human body, namely, thought, word and deed. One can enjoy peace and happiness only when there is unity among these three. But the mind today goes in one direction and the speech goes in another direction. One’s actions take a different route altogether. If these three ‘persons’ go in three different directions, how can there be peace in such a ‘house’? There will be neither santhi (peace) nor kanthi (light). There will be total darkness and ignorance. In such a situation, what can be the fate of a person except misery?

Many people appear very calm and quiet outwardly, as if they are free from worries. They put up such appearance due to their ego. But the fact is different. A fig may appear to be very nice from outside, but when you open it, it may be full of insects. Similarly, some people appear to be shining outwardly, but when you observe closely, there will be nothing in them except evil qualities and evil thoughts. There will be no scope for divine feelings in them.

Understanding the present-day situation, you should follow the right path in your life. Do not observe differences of caste and creed. There is human skin. What is the caste of the skin? Blood circulates in the body from top to toe. What is the caste of blood? Similarly, there are muscles and bones in human body. What is their caste? Atma pervades every cell of human body. What is the caste of the Atma? What is the caste of the five elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air, and ether?

But, unfortunately, humanity has developed differences based on caste and creed. This is the greatest ignorance and foolishness of humanity. In fact, this is a demonic quality. It is these differences of caste and creed that have created so much unrest and misery and plunged society in turmoil today.

All are one, and all are the children of God. Therefore, develop the spirit of brotherhood of humanity and fatherhood of God. There is none who is not the child of God. All are the embodiments of Divinity. The eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being (Mamaivamsho jivaloke jivabhuta sanathana). Lord Krishna declared emphatically in the Bhagavad Gita, “All of you are an aspect of My being, not of five elements or nature.” You have been coming to Prasanthi Nilayam for many years and have been participating in many functions. You have been noting down all the teachings of Swami and have been saying, “How nicely Swami has taught these truths!” But how many of you are following My teachings? What for do you come here? What is the purpose of your coming? If you do not put even one of Swami’s teachings into practice, your life will be a waste. In fact, animals are better than you.

We have our elephant Sai Gita. Whatever instructions are given to her, she follows earnestly. How intelligent she is! You call yourselves devotees. What a shame it is if you do not practise even one instruction of Swami in your daily life! Is there anyone of you who has peace, who is devoid of ego and hatred? On the contrary, your ego is increasing day by day. As ego increases, your Atmic power decreases. Whatever you touch turns into ashes. That is the cause of your suffering. That is why mother Nature complains to the Lord.

Prakriti (Nature) and Paramatma (God) have an intimate connection and are inseparable. The philosophy based on the Upanishads of the sacred land of Bharat (India) is unparalleled. In 1926, a British philosopher visited India. since India was under British rule at that time, he could move around in the country as per his will. He was deeply impressed by the unity of the Bharatiyas (Indians).

When he went back to England, he declared, “What a great spirit of unity the Bharatiyas have! How sacred are the teachings of the Upanishads! All the Bharatiyas are united by the single thread of divinity.” He further said, “If I am born again, I would like to be born in the sacred land of Bharat and would also like to die in India. There is no country which can match the sacredness of Bharat.” The sacredness of Bharat was acknowledged by many British philosophers. But, today, the people of other countries have better understanding of Indian culture and philosophy. Many of them are coming to India in search of truth, renouncing all their material comforts. All physical pleasures are momentary.

One should not be proud of youthful state of one’s body. What are the physical pleasures and comforts! Truly speaking, there is no happiness in them. That is why Adi Sankara declared in those days itself.

All physical pleasures are momentary. You cannot enjoy true happiness even for a minute. Just as total darkness follows bright lightning, sorrow follows physical happiness. You see only the bright light of the lightning and feel happy, without realising that what follows it is total darkness. You feel elated seeing the light of your momentary youth and don’t realise that the darkness of old age is about to follow. At that stage, your own children will make fun of you.

What you need to achieve today is unity. But, unfortunately, there is no unity even between the members of the same family. Similarly, unity is lacking between neighbours, between people of one village and another and one nation and another. What a misfortune it is! This is a sign of wickedness.

One who aspires for the progress of the nation will not give room to conflicts. There is no dearth of water in Bharat. Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri are big perennial rivers. Why don’t people make proper use of water of these rivers? Instead they are fighting with each other, saying, this is mine and that is yours.

Why do you fight with each other when your body itself is not yours? When you depart from this world, who will take your body? Nobody will even touch it. All your relatives will follow you only up to the cremation ground. Nothing belongs to you, not even your body, so where is the question of mine and thine? You keep on amassing wealth all your life but at the time of death, you have to leave everything behind and go emptyhanded. What did you bring with you at the time of birth? What can you take with you when you leave this world? Once you properly understand this truth, there will be no scope for greed at all.

Is there anyone who has brought even a small piece of cloth with him at the time of birth? There is none. All your life, you develop attachment, saying, “My family, my children and my relations.” Who is actually yours? At the time of death, can you give them your address where you are going? If they truly belong to you, why don’t you give your address to them at the time of departing from the world? Nobody belongs to you. Who belongs to whom? However, you have to discharge your duty as long as you are alive. But in matters relating to God, each one has to follow a separate path of their own.

Every mother loves her child very dearly. When the child is sick and suffering, the mother undergoes ten times more suffering. Just because the mother loves her child so dearly, will she be able to take upon herself their suffering? It is totally impossible. In the same manner, will the hunger of the child be satiated when the mother eats? Everyone earns their own merits and sins. It is not possible for a mother to share the merits and sins of her child and vice-versa. You can share your property with others, but you cannot share divine grace with them. What you do is yours and what they do is theirs.

But you should always pray for the welfare of all. That is a noble task. That is why at the end of every bhajan session, we pray: “May all the beings of all the worlds be happy (Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu)!” Adorn yourself with the ornaments of virtues Embodiments of Love!

Do not turn your small differences into big fights in villages. Who is the ultimate loser in this? If you enquire deeply, you will realise that the entire village has to suffer because of your momentary anger. Therefore, do not give room to differences and conflicts. Be united. At times, you may be angry, but allow your anger to cool down. Keep in view the welfare of your family and your village. Strive to earn a good name. Be prepared to sacrifice even your life to uphold your good name.

What provides beauty to your hands? A bracelet or a golden bangle? No, no. The real ornament for the hand is charity. Charity is the true ornament of the hand (Hastasya bhushanam danam). Truth is the true necklace (Sathyam kanthasya bhushanam). It is not the necklace that provides beauty to your neck. Truth is your real ornament. Listening to sacred texts is the true ornament of the ears (Srotrasya bhushanam sastram). What is the use of ornaments other than these? These are the ornaments that everyone should adorn themself with and earn a good reputation.

Speak truth, develop the spirit of sacrifice, and listen to sacred teachings. If you possess these three virtues, no god is greater than you. In fact, you are God. God is not separate from you.

Constantly remind yourself, “I am Brahman (Aham Brahmasmi).” When you imbibe such sacred feelings, you will develop divine thoughts. When you think ‘I am God’, your conscience will guide you to conduct yourself like God. In order to cultivate such sacred feelings, develop the conviction, “I am God.” Neither sin nor merit is present in a foreign land. They are all within you. Likewise, God also is in you. Therefore, put your body to sacred use.