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Have Faith in God, the only True Friend
How is it that the
sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening with utmost
regularity everyday? How is it that the stars glitter beautifully
in the sky at night and hide themselves during the day? How
is it that the wind blows incessantly and sustains the living
beings without taking rest even for a moment? How is it that
the rivers make gurgling sounds as they flow perennially?
(Telugu
Poem)
The whole world, nay, even every individual is permeated by
the Pancha Bhutas (five elements of earth, water, fire air
and ether). What is Prapancha (world)? ‘Pra’ means
vast and ‘Panchamu’ means permeated by the five
elements. Therefore, Prapancha means the vast space, permeated
by the five elements. Wherever you see, you will find the
effulgence of the five elements enveloping the vast world.
Embodiments of Love!
God is the source and sustenance for all creation. No one
can question why God acts in a particular fashion. He is the
Supreme Lord of the Universe and He can act according to His
Divine Will. The creation, sustenance and dissolution of the
Universe are all His Will. But whatever He does is only for
the good of the world. For example, one cannot find a place
or time without air; though air is not visible, one can experience
it. Every act in this world, the tiniest one, is happening
as per the Divine Will. For instance, a particular act of
God may bring you some inconvenience or sorrow. That is at
your individual level. But, in God’s creation, there
is nothing like sorrow. Whatever God does is for the welfare
of humanity. Some people feel depressed and wail as to why
God gave them troubles and sorrows. But, sorrows and difficulties
are our own making. God does not differentiate or cause trouble
to anyone. Sorrows and difficulties are only your feelings.
Everything in God’s creation is meant to provide happiness
and convenience to the living beings. That is what I have
been repeatedly emphasising. Whether you are in sorrow or
enjoying happiness, always think that everything is for your
own good. One has to develop a firm conviction that whatever
God does is for one’s own good and not for putting one
to trouble. Unable to realise this truth, man experiences
all sorts of difficulties and sorrows. This is not the correct
attitude. One has to strive to recognise the truth underlying
God’s creation. There are countless people in this world
with various feelings. Also, there are several people striving
to sharpen their intellect. But, there are very few who strive
to cultivate noble qualities. Without cultivating noble qualities,
what is the use of intelligence alone? All ancient Rishis
had exhorted people to cultivate noble qualities. It is a
great mistake to consider oneself as very intelligent and
well educated, merely by acquiring high degrees. Mere intelligence
and acquisition of high degrees in education are of no use.
One has to cultivate noble qualities along with education
and intelligence. Intelligence without noble qualities is
undesirable.
Today is the first day of the Navaratri celebrations which
are held for nine days (Nava Rathrulu). All festivals are
meant to remind mankind that they should cultivate noble qualities
by engaging themselves in activities beneficial to one’s
own self and society. Whatever activity we undertake, we must
analyse for ourselves whether our intention, and resolve to
do the same are good, and whether we would be able to develop
noble qualities by performing such an act. Due to the effect
of Kali Yuga, man has been able to develop his intelligence
in several areas by conscientious effort, but he is not making
any effort to cultivate noble qualities. Man has lost confidence
in himself. Though he is able to occupy high positions in
worldly life with his intelligence, it is of no use without
noble qualities. Therefore, the need of the hour is for man
to deepen his Nammakam (faith). Faith is like the two eyes
to a man. Devoid of faith, man is blind. It is only when he
has faith in himself, can he have faith in God.
Some people declare “I have no faith in God”.
This is a meaningless statement. If they have no faith in
God, on whom else do they have faith? It is only when one
develops faith in God that he can have faith in everything
else. Therefore, one has to develop faith in God, in the first
instance. With faith in God, one can achieve success in all
his endeavours. One who has faith in God will be able to develop
faith in every individual. Such a person will develop a firm
conviction that God is immanent in every living being. The
Upanishads declare Isavasyam Idam Sarvam
(the entire universe is permeated by God) and Easwara
Sarva Bhutanam (God is the indweller of all beings).
God is immanent in every being as “Nammakammu”
(faith). Therefore, one has to cultivate faith in God, as
his first and foremost duty. All the Vedas, Upanishads and
scriptures emphasise this as duty of a man.
Today, man has faith in everything in the objective world.
For example, when a news item appears in the newspaper that
so and so died in Russia under such and such circumstances,
we believe that news without an iota of doubt. How did we
believe that news? Who gave this news to us? It is only through
the newspaper. We are able to believe the newspapers, but,
we are unable to believe an experience born out of eternal
truth and its practice in daily life. In order to develop
firm faith in the eternal truth, we have to cultivate noble
qualities. This is our foremost duty. By doing so, our faith
in God also increases. Unfortunately, today we are setting
aside our faith in God and believing in what others say. We
thereby are entering the wrong path. We have to develop self-confidence
first. Only then can we develop faith in every aspect of God’s
creation.
Dear Students! Devotees!
What is of utmost importance today is to develop faith in
God. Man develops ego, believing that he knows everything
in this world. This ego is, in fact, a sign of ignorance.
Without having faith in God if one says that he believes everything
in this world, then such kind of faith is not based on solid
foundation. Man today believes everything in this world, even
that which he has not seen. But, he is not prepared to believe
that which is right in front of his eyes, the manifestation
of Divinity in ever so many ways. There is fire latent in
the branches of a tree, which becomes patent when one branch
rubs against the other and friction is generated. Can anyone
deny the existence of fire in the branches of a tree? But,
why is man unable to recognise this truth (Divinity)? It is
because of his ego. Just as the fire born out of the branches
of a tree destroys the tree itself, so also the ego born out
of a human being destroys the very human being. Hence, man
has to develop firm faith in the existence of God. Without
this faith, man degenerates himself into a demon.
Students! Teachers! Patrons of education!
You should understand the true meaning of education. Education
does not mean mere acquisition of bookish knowledge.
Can you call all those who know how
to read and write educated?
Can one be called educated merely by acquiring degrees?
How can you attain the eternal knowledge if you do not know
your true Self?
(Telugu Poem)
You should make efforts to know your true identity.
All your education will prove futile if you do not know who
you really are. When you are seated here, you listen to the
discourses in rapt attention. But, once you leave this place,
you forget everything. You will lose faith in what you have
heard here. This is not expected of a human being. You should
have total faith in the spiritual teachings, put them into
practice and experience bliss.
Faith is the first and foremost quality that man inherits
by birth. He develops faith in his mother in the first instance.
His mother may scold or beat him, yet his faith in his mother
remains firm. That is the greatness of the love of a mother.
Man should develop as much faith in God as he has for his
mother. But unfortunately, he lacks such firm faith in God.
Everyone wants to have the direct vision of God. Who is God?
Where is He? It can be said that the sun is the direct manifestation
of God as he gives us light and sustains our life. The sun-god
bestows his love on all in the form of light. If you do not
have faith in the light of love, your life will be filled
with darkness.
Once a disciple asked his Guru, “Where is God?”
The Guru replied that He was everywhere and was present in
all beings. The disciple expressed his doubt as to how it
was possible for God to be present in all beings. The Guru
asked him to bring ten vessels and fill them with water. The
reflection of the sun could be seen in all of them. Likewise,
God is present in all beings. Vessels may vary, but the sun’s
reflection is one and the same in all. Hence, the sun is the
Pratyaksha Paramatma (direct manifestation of Divinity). However,
there can be no reflection without water. Our physical body
can be compared to a vessel and the Vasanas (inborn tendencies)
to water. If your thoughts and feelings are good, you can
see the reflection of Divinity clearly. When your thoughts
are impure and bad, you will not be able to see the reflection
of Divinity. Mistake lies in your thoughts and not in the
reflection. Likewise, you alone are responsible for your happiness
or sorrow. Hence, cultivate noble and sacred feelings in the
first instance. I often tell you that the physical body is
like a water bubble and the mind is like a mad monkey. Therefore,
do not repose your faith in the body or in the mind. You should
have firm faith in your Self. It is from the Self that the
body and the mind have originated.
Students!
When you have faith in your Self, you will not experience
difficulties and sorrows. Therefore, you should at least have
faith in the teachings of elders and follow them implicitly.
The sun-god is only one, but he appears separately in different
parts of the world. When the sun rises in America, it is time
of sunset in India. The Indians will say that the sun is setting
and at the same time the Americans will say that the sun is
rising. There is no question of argument here. Time may vary,
but both are correct from their own points of view.
As part of Navaratri celebrations, people worship different
forms of divinity. You should develop sacred feelings and
experience divinity. What is the inner meaning of Navaratri
celebrations? These nine nights represent nine planets. Each
planet has its own significance. However, these planets are
not outside, they are within. If your feelings are impure
and unsacred, the result also will be the same. You are responsible
for the good and bad you think and experience. They are not
the products of outside world. They are the reaction, reflection
and resound of your inner being. Man faces the vicissitudes
of life as he is bound by these three. But he forgets these
three and tries to search for solutions to his problems. He
thinks he is highly intelligent. In fact, that is not true
intelligence. He lacks faith in Divinity. That is the real
cause of his suffering. God is one. Likewise human beings
are one though Akara (forms) and Acharana (behaviour) may
vary. But due to his narrow-mindedness, man is unable to understand
this unity.
When you eat a mango, you cannot get the belch of a cucumber.
Likewise, whatever you experience is the result of your own
thoughts and feelings. No outside force is responsible for
it. Do not be carried away by the external influences. Follow
the sacred feelings that originate from your heart. Navaratri
celebrations are symbolic of the nine forms of energy. What
we have to cultivate during this Navaratri is the feeling
of oneness. Though there are nine forms of energy, the underlying
truth in all of them is one and the same. That is the principle
of Atma. It is all-pervasive. It is present not only in human
beings, but in all living beings.
If you are walking towards the West when the sun is rising
in the East, your shadow will be moving ahead of you, much
bigger than your size. As the sun rises gradually, your shadow
becomes smaller. At noon when the sun is right above your
head, the shadow will be right under your feet. Likewise,
when you develop equanimity, your ego will be subdued just
like the shadow under your feet. First and foremost, you have
to give up ego to understand the oneness of the Atma. Ekam
Sath Viprah Bahudha Vadanti (God is one but the wise
refer to Him by various names). Ekam
Eva Adviteeyam Brahma (God is one without a second).
There is only unity everywhere; multiplicity is your own imagination.
Mistake lies in your vision, not in the creation. We should
make efforts to understand the underlying principle of oneness.
Firstly, develop faith in yourself. See only goodness in others.
If you see bad in others, it is the reflection of your own
feelings. Develop Atmabhimana (love for the Self) and Atma
Shakti (will power). Exercise self control. Only through self
control, can you achieve self satisfaction. Visualise unity
in multiplicity.
Embodiments of Love!
You are the Ekatma Swarupas (embodiments of one principle
of Atma). You have only one heart, not two. If you have two
hearts, you have to be admitted in the hospital. Likewise,
there is only one Atma. That is the ultimate truth. Hence,
develop the feeling of oneness. If you follow the path of
truth, you will find the manifestation of truth everywhere.
There is only one principle of love in you. But, you are dispersing
it in diverse ways. You think that there are various forms
of love. It is only your imagination.
Make efforts to understand the principle of spirituality.
Have firm conviction that you are the embodiment of Atma and
there is no second entity in this world. All worldly relationships
such as mother, wife, children, etc., are of your own making.
It is only a temporary relationship but not the reality. You
should not get deluded by such worldly relationship. Develop
firm faith in your ‘real nation’ i.e., the Atma.
Do not believe in the world. Believe in yourself. Have firm
conviction that God is everywhere. Sarvatah
Panipadam Tat Sarvathokshi Siromukham, Sarvatah Sruthimalloke
Sarvamavruthya Tishthati (with hands, feet, eyes, head,
mouth and ears pervading everything, He permeates the entire
universe). But, you see duality because of your mistaken identity
and delusion.
Embodiments of Love!
Love is in you. It need not be acquired from outside. Worldly
love is based on worldly relationship. Whomever you love,
you love your own reflection. It is a mistake to think that
you love someone else. You point to somebody and say, “He
is my friend.” But in fact, God alone is your true friend.
He will never betray you. Sometimes, you may doubt your true
friend, but He will never doubt you or forsake you. Your feelings
may change according to time and situation, but God is changeless.
He always has the feeling of oneness. Once you consider God
as your true friend, everyone will be friendly towards you.
Truly speaking, you have no enemies. There is none other than
you in this world. When there is no second person, how can
there be an enemy? All are like passing clouds. But you think
they are permanent and repose your faith in them. Consequently,
you are unable to have faith in God who is pure and selfless.
You are forgetting the Divine love and getting intoxicated
with the ‘deep wine’ of worldly love.
Embodiments of Love!
If you want to know God, imbibe the principle of oneness.
When you have the feeling of oneness, you can see the direct
manifestation of God. The sages of Vedic times adored the
sun as the direct manifestation of God as described in the
Gayatri Mantra. Consider God as your mother, father, friend
and everything.
Twameva Mathascha Pitha Twameva,
Twameva Bandhuscha Sakha Twameva,
Twameva Vidya Dravinam Twameva
Twameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva
(He alone is the father and mother, friend and relation,
wisdom and wealth to every individual).
But people have forgotten God and are craving for fleeting
pleasures. Nothing is permanent in this world. All your worldly
relations are temporary. Your life itself is temporary. Such
being the case, how can you consider someone as your permanent
friend? There is only one permanent friend; He is God. If
you want to experience true love, have full faith in God.
God’s love is steady. It never diminishes. You may undergo
any amount of suffering, yet you belong to God. You are His
and He is yours. No third person can come between you and
God. It is only because of illusion that you think there is
a third person. You say, “He is my classmate; he is
my sportsmate.” But none of them can come to your rescue.
You have to look after yourself. You should have faith in
yourself. Only then can you realise the truth.
Embodiments of Love!
Never forget love. Love is the form of God. Love
is God. Live in love. Only then can you understand
the reality. Do not go by what others say. Follow your conscience.
Never lose faith in God under any circumstances. Sometimes
even your parents may try to dissuade you from taking to God-ward
path. You should tell them that God means everything for you.
He is your true friend. You love your mother because it is
she who has given you birth and fostered you. You consider
someone as your teacher because you learn your lessons from
him. You treat so and so as your mother, father, teacher,
etc., based on your relationship and experience. Truly speaking,
all these relationships come and go just like moving pictures
on a cinema screen. Do not be deluded by the pictures that
appear on the screen. Have the picture of God imprinted on
your heart. Develop strong conviction and consider Him as
your sole refuge. Only then can you have the vision of God.
This morning a Russian lady came to Me. During the course
of conversation, she said, “Swami, I have a friend.”
When I asked as to who he was, she took out her wallet and
showed a small photograph. Then I told her, “Mother,
he is your husband, not your friend. Do not consider your
husband as your friend or your friend as your husband.”
She said, “Swami, this is what I have been doing all
these years. Is it a mistake?” I said, “Yes, it
is a mistake, it certainly IS a mistake.” Then I asked
her as to when she had met him first. She said that she knew
him for the last three years. I told her, “This type
of relationship is temporary. God alone is your true friend.
You may forget Him, but He will never forget you. He will
be with you even after your death. Hence, treat God as your
true friend. Ultimately, you will become one with Him.”
Embodiments of Love!
There are many in this world who do not understand what is
true spirituality and thereby forget the reality. God alone
is your true friend. That is the reality. He is your mother,
father, Guru, etc. Develop such firm conviction. Then God
will always take care of you. When you cultivate Ekatma Bhava,
all divine qualities will manifest in you. You will be an
ideal to the world. You will be free from suffering. You will
have neither death nor any punishment. You will realise your
true identity. If someone puts a question, “Who are
you?”, say with firm conviction, “I am I.”
Never identify yourself with the body. He who realises this
truth is a blessed one. I will elaborate on this subject in
the days to come.
Worldly Gurus undergo change with the passage of time. God
alone is changeless and He alone is your true Guru. Have total
faith in God. Develop faith day by day. Only then can you
be called a true Manava (human being). Daivam
Manusha Rupena (God incarnates in the form of a human
being). Hence, consider yourself as divine. Declare with total
conviction, “I am I.” When you lead your life
with such a sacred feeling, divinity will certainly manifest
in you. Never be under the mistaken notion that God is elsewhere.
He is always in you. Your reflection is God’s reflection.
Your reaction is His reaction. Everything is basically divine
in nature. It is God who makes you play your role in this
cosmic drama. It is He who makes you sing, dance, etc. He
is the cosmic play director. You may call Him by any name.
But He is only one.
Embodiments of Love!
If you want to attain God, develop Ekatma
Bhava. You will certainly be able to see and experience Him,
everywhere.
(Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, “Prema
Mudita Manase Kaho…”)
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