Discourse: DEVELOP BROAD-MINDEDNESS TO EXPERIENCE DIVINITY

Discourse of Sathya Sai Baba, Guru Purnima Day, Prasanthi Nilayam, 24 July, 2002
Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust

The moon illumines the world at night and the sun during the day.
Righteousness illumines the three worlds, and
a noble son illumines his entire clan.
(Telugu Poem)

During the day the sun shines resplendently and enables people to see the world. During the night the moon gives us light. It is Dharma that shows the ideal path to all beings in all the three worlds. Similarly, a noble son illumines his entire clan by his exemplary behavior. All these are related to the ephemeral and transient world.

Kaanaada was the one who experienced and propagated the truth that God is all-pervasive. Anoraneeyan Mahato Maheeyan (Brahman is subtler than the subtlest and vaster than the vastest). Kaanaada recognized the existence of God in every atom. He even described God as Anusvarupa (the very form of atom). The world cannot exist without the atom. Earlier, nothing existed in the universe. In the beginning, the sun, the moon, the stars, the Earth, the sky, etc., did not exist. There was only pitch darkness all around. The combination of atoms resulted in the formation of hard matter of a very high density. As a result, a lot of heat was generated. Then all of a sudden, the hard matter exploded with a big bang into pieces and spread all over. This was the cause of creation. This was also the experience of Kaanaada. The sound that emanated when the big bang took place is "Pranava". That is Omkara, the primordial sound. This sound of Pranava is all-pervasive. It originated from Paramaanu (minutest atom). There is nothing other than atom in this creation. "How can one understand and realise this?" This was the Enquirer of Kaanaada. Ultimately, he realized the principle of Pranava. This primordial sound has to be contemplated upon by man for attaining liberation.

The primordial sound ‘Pranava’ is verily the Divinity
which is subtler than the subtlest and vaster than the vastest.
It is all-pervasive and stands as the eternal witness.
(Telugu Poem)

This truth was propagated by Kaanaada. It is from this Pranava that the sun, the moon, the Earth, the sky, etc., originated. The atom is the fundamental basis of the entire creation. Every human being is a combination of atoms. There is no matter without atoms. But modern man is unable to understand the mystery of atoms. He considers the teachings of our ancient Rishis as mere stories and ridicules them. He does not have the ability and capacity to understand the sacredness of ancient Bharatiya culture. He is not able to understand the reality that is within him. He installs the statues of ancient Rishis and noble souls as a mark of respect for them but fails to understand their teachings and put them into practice. He has to install their sacred forms not outside but in the altar of his heart and follow their teachings. To which time does Kaanaada belong? Twenty thousand years ago, people were all praise for Kaanaada and his teachings. Kaanaada recognized the principles of Hydrogen and Oxygen. The scientists observed that hydrogen represents the water principle, while oxygen represents the fire principle. Today people attach great value to the observations made by scientists, but fail to understand and appreciate the great truths taught by our Rishis out of their experience.
 

How can one understand the atomic power? Atom is not visible to the physical eye but it is present everywhere. The water we drink the food we eat the words we utter the sound we hear everything is permeated by atoms. Though man treads on atoms, eats atoms, drinks atoms, he is unable to understand their mystery. He thinks that only scientists can investigate into the nature of atoms. Atomic process is highly sacred. By conducting a proper enquiry into this, one can understand Divinity. This was the teaching of Kaanaada. But today nobody is conducting a proper enquiry to experience the atomic process. People are leading their lives with materialistic outlook.

Once Emperor Shivaji and his minister were going on an evening stroll. On the way, they came across a Buddhist monk. Immediately, Shivaji removed his crown and prostrated at the feet of the monk. The minister did not like this. He thought Emperor Shivaji demeaned his own stature by placing his head at the feet of an ordinary monk. The Emperor at once sensed the feeling of his minister and wanted to teach him a lesson. Shivaji was one who followed the path of righteousness and sacrifice and set an ideal to mankind.

One day he asked the minister to bring the head of a goat, a sheep and of a human being. He collected the heads of a goat and a sheep. He went to a burial ground and cut the head of a dead person. He took them to the emperor. Shivaji commanded him to sell them in the market. The heads of the sheep and goat were sold in no time, but nobody came forward to buy the head of a human being. When this was informed to the emperor, he said, it may be given free of cost to anybody. The minister took the human head to the market and waited there for a couple of days. In spite of his best efforts, nobody was willing to accept it. When this was conveyed to the Emperor, Shivaji said, "Oh minister, you felt very sad when I placed my head at the feet of a monk. Do you realize that the same would be the fate of our heads too, when we leave our mortal coils. They would have absolutely no value. Hence, we should sanctify our lives by prostrating before noble souls."

Material wealth and position are momentary. Only Truth and right conduct will remain with man and redeem his life.

The body will be respected so long as there is So-ham (life-breath) in it. That is the sound of Pranava. That is the energy contained in an atom. This energy has its origin in Divinity. None can create it. This truth was propagated by Kaanaada. It is very difficult to understand the power of an atom. God is in the form of an atom. The entire world is the manifestation of the atom. The space and sound are the expressions of the atom. Therefore, do not neglect the principle of the atom. It has mighty power in it. Scientists have been experimenting on this principle since long. It takes twenty-two thousand crores of years for an atom to go back to its source. It is rather strange that man is unable to unravel the mystery behind an atom.

The Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the sun. Who is responsible for these phenomena? Nobody can explain this. As earth rotates on its axis, we have day and night. As it revolves around the sun, we are able to get the food required to sustain our body. It is the Divine Will that is responsible for all this. It is the Divine masterplan for the benefit of the world. Nobody has understood the Anushakti (power of the atom) in its totality till this day. People think that the atom has no life in it. It is a wrong notion. The life force that holds the entire world together is present in the atom also. Hence it is said, God is present in microcosm as well as in macrocosm. Man should make an attempt to understand the mystery of creation. He should recognize his responsibilities and conduct himself accordingly. Man has to necessarily understand the principle of the atom. If he understands this, he would have understood everything else, for atom is God. The life-principle present in the atom is present all over the universe. Kaanaada said that proper understanding of the principle of atom will lead to the understanding of Divinity. When you close your fist, you would have caught hold of many atoms. When you release it, the atoms will travel in different directions. The sound of Pranava that emerges from the atoms will be as minute as the particles themselves.

Devotees offer their prayers to God. Some people doubt the efficacy of prayer. But, in fact any mighty task can be accomplished through prayer. It makes impossible things possible. Here is a small example. There has been a swelling on My cheek for the past ten days. I never take any medicine. Yesterday I observed that the attention of all those assembled here was focused on My cheek, not on Me! They were worried that the swelling had still not reduced and that Swami was undergoing a lot of pain. After I delivered the Valedictory Discourse, I retired to My room. As I was resting, a number of devotees were praying to Me that I should cure Myself at least by the auspicious day of Guru Purnima. All their prayers reached Me. When I got up in the morning, the swelling reduced and there was absolutely no pain whatsoever. In fact, I had not willed that it should be so. It is the result of the prayers of devotees. Yesterday, many did not even take food. With tears in their eyes, they were praying continuously. My thoughts went to them for a moment. But I never willed that I should be cured. I never do it. Why? As Sanjay Sahni rightly pointed out, "I and you are one." You are not different from Me. This is not My body, it is yours. So, it is your responsibility to take care of this body. I never think of My body and its well being. I never make a Sankalpa (Will) that such and such a thing should happen, so far as My body is concerned. There is no selfishness in Me from head to toe. That is why I have got every right to declare that I and you are one.

Every man is endowed with the same atomic power. He has to make every effort to understand this. Since ancient times, man got accustomed to worshipping God in the form of idols. You worship Rama and Krishna in the form of idols. But can you see their physical forms now? No. You worship Easvara. But are you able to see Him? The forms of Rama, Krishna, Easvara are ever existing. But man is not able to visualize them because of his narrow-mindedness. Expansion of the heart is divine; narrow-mindedness is death. One with narrow-mindedness is verily a living corpse. One should always be broad-minded. You find divinity installed in the heart of one with expansive feelings.

Saints and sages of yore undertook various types of spiritual practices. Kaanaada also performed penance. Ultimately, he realized that he had originated from the atom and would merge into it. He gave up body attachment. Today man is leading a materialistic life and striving for his own selfish ends. So long as there is selfishness in man, he will not be able to understand the divine principle of atom. One may do Japa, Dhyana and penance, but one’s mind should always be steadily fixed on the principle of the atom. Everything is contained in this. Our body, mind, intellect, etc., are nothing but the manifestations of the atom, which is verily, divine.
 

God certainly listens to the prayers of His devotees. Some people hesitate to pray lest their prayers should cause inconvenience to God. They are mistaken, for God can never be put to any inconvenience whatsoever. God has no suffering at all. He considers devotees' happiness as His happiness. However, your happiness results from material things; whereas My happiness is related to the principle of Atma. I am pleased by the smallest of small offering if it is made with Love. Your tiny offering will assume gigantic proportions to Me. On the other hand, you are not satisfied in spite of receiving mighty favors.

What is the significance of Guru Purnima? Guru is one who illumines the path to divinity. Purnima stands for the cool full moon light. Full moon stands for a mind with total illumination. It is spotless and blemishes. Even if there is a trace of blemish in the mind, it will lead to darkness. It cannot give you total bliss.

Embodiments of Love

Let your mind be filled with the radiance of divine love. Acquiring mere textual knowledge is of no avail. What you have studied is only a fraction of the total knowledge. Yet you feel proud about it. Your worldly education is insignificant compared to divine wisdom. You cannot attain God with your education, power and wealth. He is accessible by Love and Love alone. You can experience Him only when you develop Love. Devotion means to Love God wholeheartedly.

Embodiments of Love!

What is it that you are supposed to know on this day of Guru Purnima? You must understand that God is in you, with you, around you, above you, below you. In fact, you are God. Recognize this truth in the first instance. Do not entertain excessive desires and become beggars. Do your duty sincerely. That is the true Sadhana. When you are in office, do office work only; do not think of your family matters. Likewise, when you are at home, take care of the needs of your wife and children. Do not make your home an office. But today because of too much work in office, people take office-papers to their homes to complete their work. They are thus facing difficulties because they mix up their office work, household work, business and spiritual matters.

Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu were great scientists. The modern scientists have traveled only up to moon, but Hiranyakasipu traveled up to the sun. He even touched the pole star and consequently suffered. One may be a great scientist, but one will be put to suffering if one crosses one's limits. The saints made concerted efforts to experience Divinity. One should develop broad-mindedness in order to experience Divinity.

Man has death but the mind has no death. Whatever he does during his lifetime are imprinted on his mind and get carried over to the next birth. None can understand the nature of the mind. Some people think that suicide is the only way of putting an end to all their troubles. They think, "It is the mind that is responsible for our suffering. Let us put an end to it." It is the worst of sins. The mind cannot be killed so easily. One should never entertain such low ideas. One should be prepared to face any difficulties with fortitude and strive hard to sanctify one’s life.

Atma is God and God is Atma. Prahlada said, "Never doubt that God is here and not there. He is present wherever you search for Him."

The Atma is eternal without birth or death.
It has no beginning, middle or end.
It is omnipresent as the witness of every being.
(Telugu Poem)

Hence, man should lead his life with the conviction; "I am God. Only body has death. I have neither birth nor death." So long as he is alive, his love is dedicated to God and God alone. One day a rich man came to meet Baba at Shirdi. He had stuffed his pocket with a number of currency notes. Baba decided to test his devotion. He called Shyam, who used to be by His side always, and said, "I need five rupees very urgently. Go and ask Patel." After sometime, Shyam returned saying that Patel was not at home. Baba asked him to approach another businessman. Shyam again returned with empty hands. Baba sent him to another person. Patel was a witness to all this, but he did not volunteer to give five rupees from his pocket. He had no spirit of sacrifice. For many people, money is God; politics is God. Will the money or politics follow them after their death? What are they going to achieve? What is the purpose of life? Having attained human birth, do not waste it in trivial pursuits. Take part in activities that are beneficial to society. Do not misunderstand Me when I say this. Politics is the root cause of pollution of the world. The minds of even small children are polluted by politics. Conflicts and agitations have become the order of the day. There is no unity even between husband and wife. Prior to Independence, people did not suffer this much. In those days, the conflict was between the whites and the colored, whereas today the non-whites are quarrelling amongst themselves in factions. This is not what is expected of people today. Shun evil qualities and develop noble feelings.

Embodiments of Love

Fill your lives with Love and end your lives with Love. That is true human life. The Upanishads have accorded great value to human life. Maanava is one who has to be loved and respected. He has to welcome happiness as well as sorrow with equanimity. In China there is a proverb which says, "Difficulties are our friends, let us welcome them." The happiness that we get out of difficulties cannot be obtained anywhere else. Na Sukhat Labhyate Sukham (one cannot derive happiness out of happiness). Many people come to Me saying they are facing lot of difficulties. I feel like laughing at them. I want to know what difficulties and sorrow mean. But they do not come anywhere near Me. I keep telling the devotees that they should not be bogged down by difficulties. I never give any scope for sorrow. This body has entered its 77th year. Till this day, I never experienced sorrow even for a moment. Man aspires for bliss. He is the embodiment of bliss. Bliss is his true property. Such being the case, why should he give scope for sorrow? It is because he has not understood his true nature. Worldly relationship comes and goes. But that which comes and grows is the principle of Love.

Embodiments of Love

Right from this day, try to reduce your attachment to the world to the extent possible. Be happy and make others happy. Do not hurt anybody. Consider difficulties as passing clouds. You have developed family relationships and there are bound to be some worries. But do not be perturbed by them. When you look at the vast sky, you find many clouds. Likewise, in the sky of your heart there are clouds of attachment. They just come and go. Do not worry about them. What is the shape of worry? It is a mentally created fear. It is the result of your imagination. Every man is bound to encounter difficulties and losses. We should face them with courage.

Remember what Shivaji taught his minister. This body will be respected so long as there is life in it. Once the life ebbs away, it will not have any value. The same was stated by Duryodhana during his last moments. He said, "I was respected so long as I was alive. Tomorrow crows and dogs are going to feast on me." Whatever has to happen will happen. Lead a respectable life while you are alive. Develop divine feelings in you. Only then you would have led a true human life. Today man is leading a purely materialistic life. This is also necessary to a certain extent. Remember that there is the transcendental principle even in this secular life.

Embodiments of Love

From this day of Guru Purnima, make your hearts sacred. Just as you wave away the mosquitoes that bite you, brush aside any difficulties that assail you. Do not be depressed by sorrow nor be elated by happiness. Develop equanimity and strive to attain Divinity.

There is only one Guru. There cannot be two Gurus - inner Guru and external Guru. Guru is one who treads along the path of Truth. He is truth himself.

Gurur-Brahma Gurur-Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheswara;
Guru Sakshat Param Brahma Thasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.
(Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Maheswara.
Guru is verily the supreme Brahman. So, salutations to the Guru.)

You are the embodiment of Divine Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu, Maheswara. Hence, Guru is not separate from you. You are everything. Let your concentration not waver. Let it be steadily fixed on your goal. Be he a student, a celibate, a householder or a renunciant, the goal is one and same for all. Contemplate on the principle of So-ham that your inner voice teaches. Say Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahma). There is nothing wrong in this statement. Some people have a mistaken notion that to say so, is a sign of egoism. In fact, that is not ego at all. It is your right. To think that you are a mere human being amounts to demeaning yourself. You are the embodiments of God. Develop such faith and become God. There cannot be any bad qualities in God. So, you should lead a pure, steady and selfless life. See good, speak good and do good. You should be an ideal to everybody. No benefit accrues from worship if you do not purify your heart. You are worshipping Swami and have been visiting Swami for a number of years.

But is there any transformation in you? You are coming and going without any aim. Such people need not come here at all. Wherever you are, do your Sadhana. When you come here, you should imbibe divine feelings and become divine. Gradually reduce your attachment to the world. The world will not go with you when you die. You cannot even take away a fistful of dust. You can take only the virtues you have cultivated. Respect your teachers, elders and parents. Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava (revere your mother, father, preceptor and guest as God). Consider everyone as God. There is God even in a dog. Have faith that God is all-pervasive. There is no greater Sadhana than this. When people develop such faith, the whole nation will be blessed with plenty, prosperity and all auspiciousness. Fill your heart with divine feelings. This is what you have to learn today.