Sri Sathya Sai Speaks

THIS day of 19th November is celebrated as Ladies’ Day in order to delve into the sacred qualities of women and disseminate them. Women are the repositories of truth and culture. Though the earth is one, the plants vary depending upon the seeds sown. The womb of the mother symbolizes the mother earth. As is the seed of thought sown in it, so is the fruit that it yields. You cannot expect mangoes by sowing a neem seed. So, the mother should foster good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Only then can she beget virtuous children. Today we find many children having bad qualities and wicked conduct. The reason for this can be attributed to the bad thoughts of their mothers.

Aryamba was born in Kerala. She was a paragon of virtues. She spent all her time in the contemplation of God and in undertaking noble deeds. As a result, Sankaracharya was born to her. Sankaracharya could become Jagadguru (world teacher) because of his mother’s virtuous thoughts.

Noble souls like Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa could attain exalted positions in their lives only due to the sacred feelings of their mothers.

Putlibai, the mother of Mahatma Gandhi, spent her life in the contemplation of God. She used to observe a vow wherein she would not partake of food unless she heard the singing of cuckoo. One day it so happened that the song of cuckoo was not heard. Gandhi, who was a small boy then, could not bear to see his mother fasting for a long time. He went behind the house and mimicked the singing of cuckoo. Putlibai felt very sad as she knew that her son was uttering a lie. She cried, “O God! What sin have I committed that I gave birth to a son who speaks untruth?” Realising that he had caused immense grief to his mother by uttering a lie, Gandhi took a vow that he would never indulge in falsehood thenceforth. So, it is imperative that the mother gives training in moral values to her children right from their childhood. She should not overlook the mistakes of her children. She should punish her children whenever they stray away from the right path and reward them for their good deeds. It is because of the feelings of the mother that the children become good or bad.

Gandhi’s mother was a strict disciplinarian and pure-hearted. As the saying goes, “Yatha Raja, Thatha Praja” (as the king, so the subjects), she had a maidservant named Rambha, who used to look after the children with love and care. One day, Gandhi came running to her and told that he was haunted by fear. Rambha told him, “My dear one, where is the need to fear when all-protecting Ramachandra is with us always. Recite the Name of Rama whenever you are fear-stricken.” From then onwards, Gandhi chanted the Name of Rama till his last breath. Can we find such noble-hearted women today? It is because of such women that the children take to the path of righteousness.

Here is a small example. After the war for the liberation of Rangoon, a mother and her son somehow managed to reach Chennai, having lost their near and dear ones. They had no shelter over their head nor any food to eat. The mother would go begging for alms from house to house, give most of it to her son and partake of whatever little was left. When she would not get enough, she would give the entire food to her son and herself would go without food. She was put to many difficulties, but she bore everything for the sake of the well being of her son. Consequently, she became weak day by day. One day the son, unable to see her suffering, told her, “Mother, it is not proper on your part to feed me and starve yourself. From today, you take rest and I will fetch food for both of us.” But the mother said she could not bear the sight of her son begging for alms. However, on a certain day, the mother was too weak even to walk. So, the son went to beg food. He stood in front of the house of an officer and cried,” O sir, I am hungry, I am hungry.” The officer, who was relaxing in an easy chair in the verandah, brought food on a leaf and told him to sit and partake of it. But the boy said that he would take it home. The officer said, “I don’t think you are really hungry, otherwise why should you take it home.” When the officer was uttering these harsh words, the boy felt giddy and fell down. He was trying to say something, but could not say it loudly as he was very weak. The officer went close to the boy and tried to hear what he was saying.” Sir, I would like to give it to my mother first, only then I will eat. First, to my mother, to my mother...,” and he breathed his last.

Can we find such noble sons today? We cannot find such mothers and sons today. It is not merely the effect of Kali age, but also the result of modern education system. Today’s education is meant only for earning a living. The educated do not think of the welfare of society and the country at large.

You all know the story of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar. He was living with his mother in a village near Kolkata. They were very poor. She used to feed her son with whatever she could earn everyday and did not care much about herself. Her son’s well being was uppermost in her mind. She wanted him to lead a peaceful and sacred life. Being a hard working student, Vidyasagar used to study under street lights. He completed his postgraduation and took up a job. Initially, his salary was very less, just enough for his mother and himself. Gradually, he attained good position. Once a fair was held in the village. Vidyasagar’s mother went to the fair wearing an old sari as she had no other good sari to wear. Seeing this, Vidyasagar felt very sad. That very evening, he bought a good sari for her. Once during the course of their conversation, Vidyasagar asked his mother if she had any desires. She said, “Son, the people of our village are facing hardship due to lack of drinking water. I feel pained to see them trekking long distances to fetch water. I will be happy if you can get a well dug in our village.” Vidyasagar immediately got a well dug and fulfilled his mother’s desire. Her joy knew no bounds. She said, “Son, water sustains life. You have quenched the thirst of the villagers. I am extremely happy that I have given birth to a noble son like you.” On some other day, Vidyasagar asked his mother if she had any more desires. She said, “Son, the children of our village are going to the neighbouring village to attend school. I am pained to see children walking such a long distance everyday. So, please construct a small school in our village”. Accordingly, Vidyasagar established a school in the village, giving immense joy to his mother. She said, “Son, you have set an ideal not merely to our village but to the entire nation. Your life is sanctified.” After a few days, one evening, when Vidyasagar returned home from office, he found his mother in a pensive mood. On being asked for the reason, she said, “Son you have provided water to the village and also established a school for children. But, it is the lack of medical facilities in our village that is troubling my mind. Please build a small hospital here.” As per her wish, he constructed a small hospital which had one doctor and one nurse. His mother was overjoyed at this. The reason for My telling you all this is to emphasise that the feelings of mothers are noble. Each one has to resolve to fulfil the sacred disires of his mother. One should never act in such a way as to cause pain to one’s mother.

Like the mother of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Swami’s mother had also some sacred desires. One day, while I was having My food upstairs, Griham Ammayi (mother of Swami’s physical body) came to Me. I asked, “Amma, what is the reason for your coming here?” She said, “You finish your food first, then I will tell You.” After I finished My food, she said, “Swami, ours is a very small village. Here people are put to a lot of suffering due to the absence of medical facilities. They have to run to Bukkapatnam even for a small problem.” Then I assured her that I would build a hospital in the village. As promised, I got a small hospital built immediately.

On some other day, she again came upstairs and said, “Swami please don’t think otherwise, I have one more desire”. I asked her not to have too many desires. She said, “Swami, You are fulfilling the desires of thousands of people who are coming to You. Why can’t You fulfil my one desire?” Then I said, “Tell Me your desire”. She said, “Swami, the wells of our village have dried up. Please get a well dug in our village.” As per her wish, I got a well dug in our Mandir itself. All the people of the village used to take water from this well. She said she was extremely happy but added that she had one more desire. She said, “Swami, the children of our village are going to Bukkapatnam for their studies. Poor children, they don’t have the strength even to walk such a long distance. Please construct a school here”. I fulfilled her that desire also. She felt very happy and said that she had no more desires left. Just as a small seed becomes a huge tree, the small school I established then has become a big university now. At that time, I constructed a small hospital. But now here is a big Super Speciality Hospital. The small well that I got dug here in the village has assumed gigantic proportions of a water project for the entire district. If the feelings of the mother are sacred, so too will be the feelings of the children.

If the thoughts are sacred, they will certainly fructify. One need not think that one does not have enough money or resources. If you resolve to do something good, you are bound to succeed. The power of noble thoughts will give you the necessary strength. Once Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to a temple along with his mother Sachi Devi. He prayed, “O Lord, You are the master of the world. You are the master of the body, life and soul. You can grant any wish that I ask for. But I don’t have any worldly desires. I do have one desire. You are the embodiment of love. Love is our life. So, please grant me the strength to love You. I don’t want anything else.” Chaitanya Mahaprabhu developed such noble thoughts because of the noble feelings of his mother Sachi Devi. She always taught him that all the needs of a person were automatically taken care of once he became the recipient of God’s grace.

Chaitanya used to go round the streets singing the glory of Krishna. Good and bad, auspiciousness and inauspiciousness co-exist. Where there is light, there is bound to be its shadow. Likewise, good people are bound to face difficulties. But those difficulties will enhance the goodness in them.

Once when Chaitanya was singing the glory of Krishna in the streets, some evil-minded people snatched away the cymbals from his hands. But he was least perturbed. He continued to sing the glory of Krishna with firm faith and devotion. Seeing Chaitanya, the children would get inspired and they too would join him in singing the divine name. Chaintanya used to make children sit around him and impart sacred teachings to them. Chaitanya became a noble soul because of the noble feelings of his mother. So, the mother should have pure thoughts and good conduct. Only then will she be blessed with ideal children.

Since time immemorial, Bharat has been punya bhumi (the land of merit), yoga bhumi (the land of spirituality) and thyaga bhumi (the land of sacrifice). The greater the sacrifice you do, the greater will be the tejas (effulgence) around you. I am giving you a small example.

I always have tejas around Me. But some people who came during the last fifteen days said, “Swami, Your tejas is ever increasing.” Right from the beginning, welfare of the villagers has been dear to Me. But as I got involved with education, health and water projects, I could not pay much attention to this work. A month ago, while I was sitting in a chair, I happened to see a small piece of paper. When I picked it up, I found the photographs of dead bodies of a mother and her son. The mother could not bear the sight of her son suffering from hunger. Neither could she go out for alms as it was raining heavily. Seeing no possibility of stopping of the rain, she felt very dejected, mixed rat poison in water, gave it to her son and drank herself. As a result, both of them died. This incident took place last month only. This was published in a newspaper. Some newspapers usually ignore good news and publish such bad news items only. They are always in search of bad news. Their hands do not write and their intellects do not function when it comes to publishing good news. This is the effect of the sins accumulated over their past lives. I felt very sad that such an incident took place in this sacred land of Bharat which is known as Annapoorna (goddess of food). Immediately, I stopped all other activities and started village service programme. Food and clothes were distributed in various villages giving encouragement and happiness to people.

Our students are like gold. They worked hard right from morning till night with enthusiasm. They went to each and every house in the villages and distributed food. I felt very happy. If anybody does any noble act of sacrifice, I am prepared to do anything for him. The more one sacrifices, the greater will be one’s tejas. Though I eat very little, My tejas is ever increasing. Everyday after the morning bhajan, I take a little ragi sankati (gruel made of a coarse grain) and chutney or curry made of leaves.

This is what I used to take earlier and it is the same now also. There has been no change in it. I eat a little food, yet I have tremendous tejas. The tejas comes not because of food but because of the spirit of sacrifice. One gets a lot of strength when one involves oneself in social welfare activities. When I walk slowly among the devotees, some people wonder if I have pain in My legs. Neither I have pain in My legs nor I get any disease. I walk slowly among the devotees only to give them darshan for a longer duration of time. I have no pain whatsoever nor any disability. I am always blissful. My bliss is ever increasing day after day. Consider service to humanity as your very life breath. Then you too will have divine effulgence.

God is not separate from you. Donot be under the impression that God is present only in temples. Deho Devalaya Prokto Jeevo Deva Sanathana (body is the temple and the indweller is God). So, you do not need to go in search of God elsewhere. Turn your vision inward and you will find God. He is the embodiment of bliss. You are getting drowned in illusion on account of excessive attachment to the body. Get rid of body attachment and develop attachment towards God. Then you will become God yourself. God and man are not separate from each other. God is everybody. This temple of body is able to move around because God is within. It is said, Sathyam Jnanam Anantham Brahma (Brahman is truth, wisdom and eternity). One has to tread the path of truth in order to understand the principle of Brahman. To know the principle of Brahman you need not go here and there. Have total faith that the body is the temple of God. Then you will get infinite bliss and tremendous strength.

Consider every work as God’s work. Some people may wonder how going to office can be God’s work. That is also God’s work because God is allpervasive. Sarvata Pani-padam Tat Sarvathokshi Siromukham, Sarvata Sruthimalloke Sarvamavruthya Thishthati (with hands, feet, eyes, head, mouth and ears pervading everything, He permeates the entire universe). You may undertake any action but do it as an offering to God. Since ancient times, Bharatiyas fostered such noble feelings. That is why Bharat attained the exalted position of the teacher to the rest of the world.

There are many scholars, intellectuals and educated people in this country. But all their learning and intelligence is proving futile because they are immersed in selfishness and self-interest.

Foster love, speak the truth. Do not waste time in acquiring merely bookish knowledge. One cannot be called educated in the true sense just because one acquires degrees. True education is that which confers good intellect and noble qualities like adherence to truth, duty, devotion and discipline. You have to sanctify your life with good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Only then will the ancient culture of Bharat be revived.

Chant the Name of God incessantly. It should be like your pulse beat. Body becomes lifeless if there is no pulse beat. Likewise, you will become a living corpse if you do not chant Divine Name. Consider whatever happens as good for you. When you foster such good thoughts, they will naturally turn into good actions, which will set an ideal to others.

Today people are prepared to undergo many difficulties in pursuit of Sri (wealth). But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu considered Hari (Lord Vishnu) as his only wealth. He gave up Sri and contemplated on Hari. That is why I often sing, Hari Nama Bina Anand Nahin (one cannot have bliss without chanting the Divine Name). So, chant the Divine Name, take to the service of society. Do not make distinctions between your people and other people. Consider everybody as a member of the universal divine family. Experience bliss by cultivating the spirit of unity. Do not entertain any differences whatsoever. Treat each body as a temple and offer your salutations. Have the firm conviction that God is present in all. When you cultivate such noble thoughts, God will certainly become manifest in you.