24^th August 2003

“Journey of the Unknown”

OM... OM... OM...

  Sai Ram

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am extremely happy to be back amongst you again. The topic this morning is “Journey of the Unknown.” In the course of the talk, you will certainly come to know the various aspects related to this topic.

BE CREATIVE!

In life, one has to be creative. In life, one has to be innovative. Life should be fresh. My friends, it’s most unfortunate that we have made our lives mechanical. We have made our lives routine. We have made our lives monotonous and mechanical. To put it another way, we live like a robot.  You know about robot science -- we are all like robots.

The other day, I was watching the Prime Minister of Japan on TV, having dinner with a robot. (Laughter) The robot shook hands with him, and he shook hands with the robot. Then there were three cheers and the rest followed.

We don’t want the company of living people anymore. This is the height of a mechanical life. My friends, it is time that we are creative. It is time that we know what we should be. Our life should not be programmed. Life should not always be scheduled. We should know how to make it creative and innovative, so that life can be lived well.

From the beginning, I have been telling you that life is not merely to be led -- life is to be lived. Leading a life is different from living a life. One has to live the life. You can live a life when you are blissful, when you are joyful, when you are happy, when you are creative. Naturally, it will be the other way round when you lead a life, which is mechanical and helpless, like a railway timetable.

So, my friends, the spiritual path is creative. The spiritual path is constructive. The spiritual path is a vision. The spiritual path is unknown. Spiritual goals are unknown, but there is a thrill in moving towards the unknown. If you move towards the known, there is no excitement. There lies the canteen. I go over there… it is known…no excitement. Anything that is known loses the thrill. We lose interest in it.

Therefore, spiritual goals are unknown. Many people say, “Why do you say, Anil Kumar, that spiritual goals are unknown? We know the goal of life is moksha or liberation.”  My friends, I must say, you do not know the definition of moksha or liberation.

MOKSHA IS A STATE OF MIND

Moksha or liberation is not a goal. Moksha or liberation is not an objective at all, no. It is a state of mind. It is an attitude. It is a state of detachment. It is a blissful state. One need not have to wait for death to attain moksha. Moksha is not just for the life-after-death. Moksha is an experience right here and now. Right here and now! A cheerful life, a joyful life, an ecstatic life, a non-dual life and a life of vision are the very symbols of moksha, of liberation or nirvana, or whatever you call it. Therefore, my friends, let us try to be creative, not mechanical.

Naturally questions will come. “How can we be creative?” We can be creative if we are child-like. That’s the reason why Jesus said, “Unless you are like a child, you cannot enter the gates of Heaven.” That’s what Jesus said. We should be child-like. But most often, we are childish! Childishness should be condemned; a child-like attitude is to be encouraged.

BE CHILD-LIKE, NOT CHILDISH

What is the difference between childish and child-like behavior? A child is innocent. We should have that same innocence. Bhagavan always says that primary school children are great. Why? In what way are they great? They have no bank account; they are not members of the Parliament; they are not leading businessmen; they are not the chairmen of a foundation -- nothing whatsoever. Still Baba says, “Primary school children are great.” Why? They are good. Oh!

There is a difference between being good and being great. I am not playing with words. For your information, I am not a student of literature. There is a difference between being good and being great. A great man need not necessarily be good; a good man need not necessarily be great.

What is Baba’s definition? “The one who sees God in everyone is good. The one who sees God in everyone is good, whereas the one who sees man even in God is great.” If you see God in man, you are good. If you see man in God, you are great. Now choose one of the two. (Laughter)

Therefore, the child is great and good. The reason is innocence. But an adult like me and a grown-up like you don’t want to be innocent. No. Because I am a post-graduate, or because I am a returning foreigner, I don’t want to be innocent. So, what do I want to be? I want to be a man of knowledge. I want to be a man of academic excellence. That itself is a barrier. That itself is an obstacle for the spiritual path.

So, my friends, if you ask me what is the biggest obstacle, stumbling block or bottleneck on the spiritual path, it is this state of knowledge: “I KNOW!” We have to forget about knowledge. The first thing I must know is that I do not know. Therefore, my friends, knowledge is the biggest barrier on the spiritual path.

Knowledge is useful in the world because people will give you a good job. People will give you a high salary. But in the spiritual field, you get zero. For knowledge, you get zero! Why? Knowledge is the information passed on to you by somebody, long ago. Long, long ago, Newton discovered gravitational force. You study Newton’s gravitational law and say that you have knowledge. Yes, you have knowledge, which is neither useful to you nor to others. So, knowledge is borrowed information. Knowledge is second-hand information. Knowledge is information passed on to you from other generations, previous generations. However, spirituality wants first-hand information.

“Sir, I can quote the Bhagavad Githa.”

“Very good! Thanks to your memory.”

“I can tell you any chapter from the Bible.”

“All right, we will felicitate you some day.”

“I know all religions.”

“I pity you. You know none of them.” (Laughter)

This kind of quotation, this kind of information, is computer knowledge.

Therefore Baba says, “Knowledge is allergy!” Knowledge is like an allergy! This is the biggest barrier on the spiritual path. A spiritual seeker wants to have his own personal, first-hand information. He does not want borrowed information, not second-hand information. He is like a child.

You tell your grandchild, or you tell your youngest child, “Sonny, don’t go there.”

He will ask, “Why?”

“No, no! There is a big pit. You will fall.”

“How do you know?”

“I fell yesterday. So, don’t go.”

“Let me also fall.” (Laughter)

The child will never go by the information you give. The child wants to have personal information. That is why Jesus said, “Be child-like to enter the gates of Heaven.” This means, have first-hand information, not borrowed information from others’ experiences. Experience all by yourself.

Secondly, it is a matter of great gratification, very highly satisfying, very highly fulfilling, if you watch the faces of primary school children -- not only here, but children everywhere. Ask a child to close his eyes. The child will immediately close his eyes, until you tell to open them.

But, if you ask me to close my eyes, I will half-close them, watching you to see what you are doing. (Laughter) Or, I don’t close my eyes because I am afraid that you may kill me. I am afraid that you may occupy my seat or chair. I suspect, so I don’t follow scrupulously. However, children will follow scrupulously whatever you instruct them to do.

Therefore, one has to be child-like to establish contact, heart-to-heart, being-to-being. A child will have easy contact being-to-being, heart-to-heart. They are unlike grown-ups, who do not allow heart-to-heart contact, because their heart is already lost. Even if it is there, it is in trouble. Therefore, to establish a connection between God, heart-to-heart, love-to-love, being-to-being, one has to be creative.

Well, how about me? How about you?

You say, “I am not having contact with Swami.”

Why do you say that?

“I don’t have any rapport.”

Why do you say that?

Maybe this will answer your question. You and I also have contact. It is not heart-to-heart contact; it is mind-to-mind contact. Mind-to-mind! That’s the reason why the mind is making everyone of us a monkey. What sort of a monkey? A drunken monkey, a mad monkey that got its legs burnt by stepping into the fire. Imagine the rock-‘n-roll dance of the monkey. It is already mad and intoxicated! What will happen? When we have mind-to-mind contact with Swami, we are not comfortable. Children are very happy, heart-to-heart and being-to-being.

You may ask me, “Why do you say that?” Our faces tell. Children, whether Swami talks to them or not, whether Swami grants them an interview or not, still have a nice smile. They will see Swami like that, whereas you and I, unless we are personally called in front of ten thousand people, will have no smile. This is because of ego - mind. Mind! The ego has already taken charge. That’s the reason why we are not able to establish communion with God.

Swami tells the children, “Come on! Ask some questions.” And Swami also asks some questions. All their questions and answers are from an open state of mind. Open!

Here is a simple example that I told you long ago. Even if I repeat, it doesn’t matter.

Swami asked, “How many brothers have you?”

“All are my brothers.”

“How many sisters have you?”

“All are my sisters.”

“How many wives have you?”

“All are my wives.” (Laughter)

“All are my wives!” Because all are brothers and all are sisters, why not! (Laughter)  Innocence! Open mind!

He doesn’t see anything wrong there because the answers come from an open mind. The answers are open, the heart is open and the mind is open, whereas we are not open. We are closed.

That’s why, when Swami asks a question, we take some time. ‘What will Swami say if I say this? If I say this, what will the next question be? If I say this, what will others feel?’ We are closed. Therefore, the chapter is closed. But Swami discloses all that you want to hide within you. What you have kept to yourself in your discussion, He will disclose in public!

I very well remember!  A long time ago, I had a letter written by my daughter that I kept in my pocket. Swami walked by slowly and said, “Where is the letter?”

I already knew that I kept it in my pocket. Still I said, “Swami, what letter?”

Then Bhagavan said, “That letter which is in you pocket!” (Laughter)

I said, “Bhagavan, it is a personal letter.”

Swami said, “Is there anything personal between you and Me? If you are not going to show that letter, I am going to loudly say all its contents!” (Laughter) All the contents of that letter!

Children wouldn’t do something like that. When Swami asks, “Where is the letter?” they would say,  “Here is the letter!” 

“What is written in it?” 

“This is what is written in it.

I don’t do that! Therefore, I get into trouble. Mind is the barrier. ‘What will He think if I show Him that? What will others think?’

Therefore, my friends, one has to be child-like, in a state of innocence. The questions asked by children are born out of purity. Pure. No exhibitions!

Some people have asked, “Swami, how long will the Kali Yuga continue?”

I really pity those people. Why are they are interested in how long it will continue? One thing is sure - you are not going to continue. (Laughter) You are not going to continue! Why are you interested in how long this Kali Yuga is going to last? It is a foolish question, you see.

Therefore, when people ask such questions, born out of the mind and earlier knowledge, it is very difficult to satisfy them. It is very easy to satisfy a child because the question is asked out of innocence and purity. It is very difficult to answer a grown man because he already has some settled notions, prejudiced ideas, and biased, partial views. He is already conditioned; his brain is already programmed, so you cannot convey anything worthwhile. Therefore, it is impossible to convince an adult, while it is quite easy to convince and convert a child.

That is the reason why Bhagavan Baba has undertaken the establishment of the educational institutions. If these youngsters are reformed now, if these youngsters are groomed now, the whole advancement and progress of the world is ensured, is guaranteed. He has not started any centre for us. There is only Balavikas, school for children, not Vridhavikas. It is paediatrics and never geriatrics. (Laughter) The reason is – yes, we are beyond any repair! (Laughter)

I can tell you another point. Suppose Swami says to the children, “Boys, look here! In the early morning, when you get up, offer a prayer. When you go to school, say a prayer. Before eating, pray. And as you go to bed at night, pray.”

If Swami said that, they do it most religiously. Most religiously! I know children who are doing it. Even when they go for vacation, they do it. But we are reminded to do it only when we are in front of Swami. At least, it is true in my case. When Swami says, then we think of prayer, ‘Oh! We should pray.’ Is that right? But children are not like that. They have a kind of commitment or religiousness, whereas adults belong to a religion. We belong to a religion, while children are religious.

RELIGION AND RELIGIOUSNESS

What is the difference between religion and religiousness? Religion is theory; religiousness is practice. Religion is full of rules, regulations, do’s and don’ts. Religiousness is methodology -- the principles and the practice of religion. Religion is only a banner; religiousness is the manner. Religion divides you; religiousness brings you together. Religion always identifies you with a particular path; religiousness will make you open, make you feel open. Religion, after all, may build up your ego; religiousness practised will make you feel blissful. Religiousness makes you blissful. Religion makes you dogmatic and a fanatic.

Fanaticism and dogmatism lead to religious conflicts, war and even bloodshed. We find most of the wars in human history were fought on the grounds of religion. For your information, my friends, most of the wars are fought for religion. But if we are religious, we don’t fight. Prashanti Nilayam is the best example of religiousness. There is no religion here; there is only the practice of religion. Therefore, Bhagavan tells us the spiritual path is the observance of religion. Observance of religion is religiousness. That will really help you to advance and progress.

SWAMI CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

I can give you another point. What is the spiritual path? You go to so many people; you go to so many temples; you visit many elders and noble souls. But what is Baba doing here?

Some people ask us, “Does Baba give you any upadesha, any manthra, or any spiritual path to follow?” To my knowledge, I have not seen Swami tell one person, “This is the path. Follow it!” No.

 Please remember one thing, my friends. If you go back, people will be asking you many questions. “What path are you following? What method are you adopting? What manthra did Baba give you? How have you advanced spiritually?”

These are the questions asked of us. Our answer is this: What Baba does here is not instruction; it is not indoctrination; it is not conversion. He creates an atmosphere, a climate, an ambience, a surrounding for you to evolve in, for you to emerge and grow by yourself. You can grow all by yourself. A convenient atmosphere or climate is developed here. A suitable ambience is created for you to emerge. It is something like a butterfly that comes out of its cocoon. You know how a butterfly comes out of its cocoon. In a similar way, we are here to prosper and progress spiritually all by ourselves. Bhagavan creates the suitable climate. We have to understand that.

WORK FOR YOUR OWN LIBERATION

Sometimes we hear complaints: “This man has been here for so many years, but he has not changed.” Or, “This man has been here for so long and he has become much worse than what he was. What kind of transformation is there in him?”

We often hear comments like these. We are mistaken if we think there is a magic wand that will make everyone transform all of a sudden. No. It is a process of metamorphosis; it is a process of development. It is slow and steady, all by your individual self. That is why the Bhagavad Githa says, “Udharethatma Aatmaanam: You have to work for your own liberation.”

Liberation is not something to be given, transported, bought or purchased, imported or exported and patented. Certainly not! You have to work for your own liberation. You have to work for your own Self. Self-awareness is to be attained by the Self. Why do we say that?

Baba said, “The mother loves the child very much. The child refuses to eat, like any child in the world. The mother goes on telling stories and singing songs until she is exhausted. But the child won’t partake even a morsel of food, more so the modern child.”

Now, what happens? The mother cannot eat on behalf of the child, just because the child is not eating. “Oh child! Since you are not eating, let me eat your quota also.” Will there be any foolish mother who says that? I don’t think so. Supposing the mother has a fracture; the first son cannot say, “Mother, since you are suffering from a fracture, I will wear the bandage on your behalf.” You cannot do that. You can take money on somebody’s behalf, but you cannot take someone’s pain.

Therefore, it is very clear that you have to work for yourself. You have to cure yourself. Your hunger has to be appeased by yourself. Your thirst has to be quenched by yourself. Your disease has to be cured all by yourself. Nobody can do it on your behalf. However, this place will provide a suitable atmosphere, a convenient climate, for you to evolve more and more.

One example: When the sun rises, what happens? The day begins. The sun will never tell you…I mean s-u-n…the sun will never tell you, “Here I am rising, my children. Come on, get up from your bed!” The sun won’t say that. The sun will never declare, “The day begins now, so start your work.” Nor does the sun say to the flowers, “Start blossoming.”

With the rising sun, a flower, like the sunflower, tosses its head in the direction of the sun. The sunflower, as you watch it, goes on moving, following the movement of the sun across the horizon. It beautifully tosses its head, drifts its head, from one direction to another. The sun will never say, “Sunflower, I am over here! Focus your camera on me.” (Laughter)

The sun rises and the whole universe becomes awakened. Humanity starts its work. Flowers start blossoming. In the early hours of the morning, peacocks start jumping. In the morning, you find dewdrops on the leaf of a lotus, shining like pearls. These are all things that happen with the sunrise. So, the only thing the sun does here is to create a climate for everyone to be busy, active and dynamic. You are active and busy and dynamic because of the climate created by the sun.

One thing is this: Spirituality is a release. It is not bondage. I want to give you this example.

Some people say, “Sir, where are you going?”

“I am going to the Mandir.”

“Why do you go? 

“What else can I do?” (Laughter)

“What else can I do?” is a stupid answer. You can sleep at home. Yes, why not? You can roam about the streets. “What else can I do?” is an answer given by a stupid man because he does not understand what it is happening here.

BEAUTY IS LOST IN DUTY

The main point is that we should not consider that anything is enforced here. Some people say, “Why do you go for darshan?”

“Swami expects me.”

Oho, I see! Swami has been giving darshan for the last sixty years, or even more. From the age of fourteen, He has been known as God, a Divine Incarnation. So, you came last year and say that Swami will miss you! (Laughter)

“Swami will feel very sad if I don’t go for darshan.”

So, you are not going for Swami’s darshan. You are going to give your darshan to Swami! (Laughter) It is foolish!

Therefore, if you say that you are important, that Swami will miss you, that Swami will certainly take you to task, that you are going there as a duty, then you lose the beauty of it. When you take anything as duty, it loses its beauty. Please understand. When I go to the Mandir, it is really beautiful. If I go to the Mandir at 2.30 because Swami will come at 2.30, it is dutiful. There is a difference between being dutiful and beautiful.

In being dutiful, you are under pressure: ‘Two-thirty…if I am late, say three o’clock, I may not be promoted. Swami may not look at me for one month.’ By looking at you for a month, what had happened? By not looking, nothing is going to happen. But this man is under pressure, under tension, because he takes everything as a matter of duty.

My friends, duty is for a salary, whereas beauty is for enjoyment. Beauty is for ecstasy! Salary equals duty; ecstasy equals beauty. Duty is enforced; beauty is natural. Duty has timings – 10 o’clock to 5 o’clock. If I ask you to stay one hour more, over-time money is expected. “How much more you are going to give me?” But, beauty is beyond time constrictions. If Swami is coming here around 12 o’clock, you will run to see Him!  On the other hand, you may say, “No, No. I am on duty. I will see Him between 8 to 9 o’clock. I am sorry.” But you don’t say that because beauty is beyond time regulation, time restriction, and time stipulation.

Therefore, my friends, it is time to feel that we are not imprisoned. That is nothing but a duty. No, everything is a matter of choice. Everything is a matter of preference. Everything is a matter of your own priority. “Let me have darshan and then go elsewhere” or, “Let me go elsewhere and then take darshan”? Who is there to keep priority? No, no, going elsewhere first and darshan next, “All right, come next line.” The priority is to have His darshan first and go elsewhere next!

Therefore, the spiritual path is not imprisonment. It is freedom. This is what is called the ‘journey to the unknown’ or ‘journey of the unknown’.

SHARING

Bhagavan wants to share with everybody. He doesn’t want to impose anything on anyone. If a Christian comes, He will speak on Christianity. 

I do not know how many people are aware of this. About a year ago, an archbishop from France stayed here. He stayed for one full month. He planned to be here for two days. Instead, he stayed for one full month, an archbishop -- a top man, with a big gown and all that.

Yes, his very dress and personality will make us stand with folded hands. His face was quite solemn and serene…quite pleasing, with a beard. Swami gave him His car to move about. He could drive His car straight into the Poornachandra Auditorium. He could dine with Swami and go anywhere. For one month, he had Swami’s personal car!

So, people started looking at him. One becomes a VIP, ‘Very Important Person’, when Baba looks at you. When He does not look at you, a ‘very insignificant person’. (Laughter) Both are VIPs (Laughter)! Also, a ‘Very Important Person’ can later become ‘a very insignificant person’!

So, when Swami kept giving him extra treatment, royal treatment, with all the reception, hospitality and welcome, people became interested in seeing him. Well, I too, followed the queue to see him. (Laughter) However, I could not see him because it was time for me to go to the college. If I remained there to see him, Swami would see me later! (Laughter) I didn’t want to take that risk, but the desire to see him was in me.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ARCHBISHOP

Suddenly one day, Baba called and I went in. Who was there? The bishop from France and his first disciple, who was also quite tall, very handsome, with a long face and a pointed nose – they were there! If I were to make a film, that disciple would be very well-suited for the role of Jesus Christ. There were ladies present, a Belgian princess and her lady companion. All four were called for an interview and I was there.

Swami began speaking and I was translating. Then I tell you, the bishop was surprised to hear a new interpretation from Bhagavan regarding some of the biblical sayings and some of the biblical teachings. Bhagavan gave a new interpretation and a new dimension, and this man was very much surprised.

“Well, I don’t know, Swami.”

“Therefore, I am telling you,” Swami said. (Laughter)  “Because you don’t know, I am telling you!”

This man was wonderstruck and he said, “Oh! Is that what the Bible says?”

“Yes! That is what it is.” Swami explained everything. 

Finally, by a wave of His hand, He materialised a gold cup of this size. (With his hands, Anil Kumar showed the size.) By another wave, He materialised a gold spoon. Oh! I didn’t know why this was being done. I was just watching all five of us. The cup was full of Amrith (nectar).

Bhagavan said, “I did this miracle thirty years ago, but not in recent years.” I was thanking the bishop because he was instrumental for me to witness this miracle.

Then Swami asked me to get up. He gave one spoon of nectar to everybody. He didn’t give me any! (Laughter) Then I was thinking, ‘Instead of nectar, He might give me the gold cup.’ (Laughter) Okay, if not the nectar, the cup will do better because whatever I drink, it becomes nectar. Why not? Somehow, Swami was kind enough to give me one spoonful. Then He went on speaking.

Ultimately, He wanted me to open my mouth wide, and then He emptied the whole cup into my mouth! (Laughter) Then He said, “Since you talk very much, hereafter let your talk be sweet.” (Laughter)

While carrying that little gold cup, some nectar spilled over and fell on my hand. It was very sticky, very sticky! When leaving the room, Swami said, “Don’t tell anybody!” (Laughter) But you know my weakness: ABC – ‘Anil Kumar Broadcasting Corporation’. (Laughter) If anything comes to me, it will certainly go via satellite. If you don’t want it to be known, don’t tell me. Take care of yourself; I am not interested. If you want the world to know, come on, tell me.

So Swami said, “Don’t tell anybody.” What to do? So, I kept my hands with the sticky stretched fingers like that. (Laughter) I came out of the room. There, seva dals noticed me. No one walks with his fingers like that. (Laughter) I never walk like that. Nothing is wrong with my fingers. So, they were watching.

They said, “What, sir? What, sir? What, sir?”

Swami said not to tell. What shall I do? (Laughter) Now, I used some logic. He said, “Don’t tell”, but He did not tell me, “Don’t let them smell.” (Laughter)  So, I put my palms right to everyone’s nose. (Laughter) I did not tell, but I let them smell! (Applause) (Laughter)

Then I washed both my hands on a plate with water. The smell remained for seven days! (Applause) No scent from France or anywhere would remain for seven days. What a fragrance it was, I tell you! That’s what Bhagavan is! It only means, my friends, that while talking about the Bible, the Bible itself was transformed into nectar and that remained for a whole week.

Therefore, the spiritual path is not in any way instructing or giving you some theory or dogma, no. It is sharing something that you already know. It is strengthening you on the path you are already following. That’s what Baba does. He does not impose anything on anybody.

LOVE AND MEDITATION

Here are two points that Bhagavan always suggests -- two points that we have not yet discussed. One is Love and the other is meditation. Love and meditation are the twins that one has to cultivate, in particular, on the spiritual path. You may say, ”Why not Love alone?” Or you may say, “Why not meditation alone?”

Meditation is what you do at the psychological level, at the emotional level, at the intellectual level, all alone by yourself. Love is an interaction among people in the neighbourhood. Love is necessary for interaction; meditation is necessary for inner connection. Meditation establishes inner contact; Love establishes outer contact.

In other words, Love, turned inwards, becomes meditation. Meditation, turned outwards, is called Love. In both these ‘wards’, we have to be careful. So, as we meditate and love, we can be quite pleasing with everybody and be closer to God.

NO STAGES IN SPIRITUALITY

We have to remember another point. There are people who claim, “I think I have reached some stage in spirituality.”

Can you declare it? How many stages are there? In what stage are you?

I can tell you, you have not made even a beginning. There are no stages in spirituality. So, if you say, “I am in this stage”, it is only ‘prestige’ and not a ‘stage’. The ‘prestige’ will make you claim a ‘stage’! However, there is no stage in spirituality because all are the same.

The same God is in you and in me. Where is the question of God being more in you, and God being less in me? “God is 100% in you and 20% in me.” It is utter ignorance. Therefore, in spirituality there are no stages. All are the same.

Here is one caution: The spiritual path is an eternal journey. It is a continuous journey. It is a path to the unknown. It is of the unknown, so we continue to go along, more and more, eternally, tirelessly, ceaselessly, and continuously enjoying.

If it is a goal, you stop there. You say, “All right, sir. I am going to London.” Very good! Catch the air flight and reach there, that’s all. But spirituality is not a be-all and end-all. It is a continuous journey. It is like a river that flows incessantly, or a river that flows continuously. The spiritual path flows on and on endlessly, eternally. That’s its beauty. It flows eternally, continuously.

STORY OF A WOODCUTTER

A simple example: It seems in a village, there was a poor man, a very poor man. He lived as a woodcutter. He went to the forest, brought some firewood and sold it. He carried on his daily living.

One day, this woodcutter saw a saint sitting under a tree. He thought this saint might help him. So he came and fell at his feet. “Oh saint! I am not able to do this job for a lifetime. Please help me.”

The saint said, “Young man, how long do you want to cut wood and live like this? Go deeper into the forest. You will find silver, so that you don’t have to lead the life of a woodcutter.”

Then he said, “Is that so? Silver? Good!”

So he went deep into the forest and saw the silver. He became a jeweller. Now he was better off. He had status, higher status. Again, he saw the same saint sitting under a tree. He said, “Master, I am fine.”

The master said, “You are a fool. You want to be satisfied with silver? Still go deeper into the forest, you will find gold.”

“Ah! Is that so?”

So he went into the interior forest, the thick, dense forest. There he found gold. “Ah, gold!” He became very well off, very well off! Gold! Not an ordinary thing.  After some period, he saw the saint again.

“Oh Master, I am very fine with the gold.”

“You seem to be a fool.”

“Master, why do you call me a fool?”

“Because you can go still further and you will find diamonds there.”

“Diamonds! I see!”

So he went into the innermost area of the forest. There he saw diamonds. He was very happy!

He came back to the saint and said, “Master, my salutations at your Lotus Feet! At one time, you gave me silver. At another time, you gave me gold. Then you gave me diamonds. I am very fortunate, Master!”

The master smiled and said, “ You are 100% fool now.” (Laughter)

“What, sir? Why do you say that?”

“It was only I who showed you the path to the silver. It was only I who took you to the path where gold was available. It was only I who showed you where the diamonds were put. But, where do you find me? On the road, under the tree. I know where silver is available. I know where gold is available. I know where diamonds are available. But I am still sitting under a tree.”

FREE FROM DESIRE

So, what is the happiest thing in life? Not to desire anything. Not to desire anything! A diamond is not the end of life. Die-mind is the end of life. It’s not diamond, but ‘die-mind’. Let the mind die. When the mind dies, we call it manolaya or manonaashana. When the mind is annihilated, you are beyond the realm of desire. You are beyond attachment. You are in a state of renunciation. You are a true renunciant. You are a real seeker after Truth, which is necessary.

DON’T STOP MID-WAY

Baba gave this example and told us, “You should not be satisfied at a certain stage.”

“Swami appeared in my dream.” Fine! Do you stop there? Tomorrow, you have to dream about Him again! He should prefer to appear in your dream for you to publicise it! (Laughter)

Life is not a dreamland. Life is reality, not a dream! It is an eternal journey. It is a continuous journey. We should move on and on. Those of us who are on a spiritual path are extremely cautious, so as not to halt, not to stop, not to come to a stage of standstill, with few meagre achievements. After all, on your way to New York, the flight may stop at Frankfurt or some other place. But your ultimate journey is to Kennedy Airport, New York.  Am I not right?

In a similar way, in your eternal, spiritual journey, there may be certain things that you may get. But you should not stop at that. Because it is an endless path, you should continue on and on. Spirituality is an endless path. Spirituality is an eternal journey, so we should not stop at any point.

EVERY DEVOTEE IS UNIQUE!

Another thing I need to tell you is this: Bhagavan deals with everyone as an individual. He does not deal with all of us as a crowd. Please understand this. He deals with every one of us at the individual level, not as a crowd.

A politician wants a crowd. A politician expects a mob. But a spiritual leader will deal with every person individually. Individually! Why? Our backgrounds are different. Our temperaments are different. Our attitudes are different. Therefore, Bhagavan says, “The Sathya Sai Organisation is for you. I don’t have anything to do with the organisation.”

It is only a connection, heart-to-heart, love-to-love, that’s all. We are very grateful to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for this important reason: He deals with everyone at his or her individual level, not as a crowd, and definitely not as a mob. Everyone has his own experience. No two experiences are alike.

Some say, “Sir, Swami appeared in my dream.”

Some say, “I saw Swami physically in my room in Germany.”

Some say, “Yes, Swami walked into the operation theatre in Australia.”

Some say, “I saw Swami in the theatre until the operation was over.”

Every experience is unique. Every devotee is unique. No one is a carbon copy of anybody else. Life is not a Xerox copy. Life is not a carbon copy, no. Everyone is an individual -- uniquely one’s own self. The answer that Bhagavan gives to one person may not be valid to another person. Let us understand this.

When Swami talks to scholars, it will be at one level. When He talks to doctors, it is at a different level, and when He talks with teachers, it is at still another level. Students are at a different level, and primary school children, in an all-together different world.

As a spiritual master, He has a multi-dimensional personality. The multi-dimensional personality of a spiritual master caters to the requirements of people, based on their levels of thought, based on their levels of awareness, based on their levels of understanding and based on their levels of consciousness. Therefore, Swami’s approach is different for each one.

BEND THE BODY, MEND THE SENSES, END THE MIND

Swami will ask a man who is highly educated, who thinks that he is a great scholar, to go and serve in the canteen. Why? Because this man thinks that he is a great man as he has read so many books.

Baba says, “No, no, no! You should work in the canteen, so that you will know how to bend the body. BEND THE BODY, MEND THE SENSES, AND END THE MIND.”

Bend the body in service. Mend the senses in devotion. End the mind in awareness. Bhakthi, Karma, Jnana. Bhagavan wants all three to be revised. That is the reason why you find people who earlier occupied very high positions, working in the canteen, in the stores or in accommodation. If you find time, ask them about their antecedence. They must have served as directors, managers, engineers, or as state level officers. They are just sitting there at the accommodation counter or in the bookstore. Why? Life is realisation. Life is an experiment. Life is an experience. So, by work, by repeating His name, you will have an experience. That’s the reason why it is an eternal journey, which I wanted to bring to your attention.

QUESTIONS

Within the short time left, I have a few questions that I received. I want to say that I am sorry to those people who have sent questions, which could not be addressed in the last two weeks, for the want of time. I’ll try to cover a few questions, if not all of them.

EMERGENCE OF THE LINGAM

‘“Whoever sees the Lingam at the time of its emergence will not have rebirth.’” That’s what Baba said. One should see its form as it emerges. Sir, I have not seen emergence. What will happen to me?” 

I, too, have not seen this occur. My answer is this. Many have not seen. Those behind Swami’s chair on the veranda, where all the VIPs are sitting, none of them have seen. We cannot see because we are behind Him. So, what will happen to us? Will we all go to the hell, or what? (Laughter)

Moreover, even if we are born again, there should be somebody to control us, some seva dal. We should give them some employment facilities. We should have somebody to push us, you know. Unless we are born, there will not be enough work for the other people.

You say that I will not be born again. What happiness when you are not born again? Can anybody say? No, no. What is the harm if we are born again? Can anybody say? No! So, we speak about that which we do not know.

Many people ask Swami, “Swami, I want moksha.”

One little boy asked, “I want moksha.”

Swami said, “Go to the canteen. They are selling it there.” (Laughter). Go to the canteen! This little boy thinks that moksha is a laddoo or a doughnut or a pie. (Laughter) So, we want what we do not know.

My friends, why did Baba say this? Perhaps it is so that you don’t sleep, so that you will be awake, to keep you on your toes, so that you don’t go to the canteen and leave after one hour. Such questions only imply that we are diffident. But spirituality wants us to be confident.

In fact, the lingam that emerges is a sign of the same lingam in everybody. That lingam is the soul.  So, this body and this spirit are the lingam within. The emergence is the spirit shown to you, the Atmic power. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about. If one is so particular, better luck next time!

BABA AND CHRIST ARE ONE

Here is a question: “I am a Roman Catholic. When I go to church, I feel Baba in my heart. What shall I do?  My grandson also goes to church, but I want him to have a Christian background. He has no problems right now. What shall I do?”  I see!

My answer is this: Don’t get high blood pressure! (Laughter) Don’t have any hypertension. Baba and Christ are one. Some believe that Baba is the second coming of Christ. Some believe that Baba is the Cosmic Christ. Christ promised that He would come again and many people consider that Baba is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

For your information, there are three books published along the lines of Christianity, establishing parallels between Swami and Jesus Christ, which are very interesting. The biblical sayings and Swami’s teachings run parallel, are identical. Beautiful! One should certainly go through those paragraphs. There is no difference between Baba and Christ. So, don’t worry. Let your grandson be a dutiful Christian.

SITA’S REAL FATHER

  “Janaka is the foster father of Sita. But who is the real father of Sita?” Oh ho! (Silence)  (Laughter)

Aha! Suppose you know who is the real father of Sita. Are you going to meet him? I want to know. (Laughter) Or are you likely to have dinner with him? Or congratulate him for begetting such a beautiful daughter like Sita?

My friend, Janaka is the foster father of Sita -- you are correct! The real father is not there because Sita is the daughter of the Earth. While tilling the land, while ploughing the land, a box was noticed. When they opened the box, they found Sita. Therefore, she is called Janaki - meaning, ‘born out of the earth’.

My friends, let us see characters as symbols, as symbolic. Everyone is a Janaki. You are a Janaki. I am Janaki. I am not born out of the sky. We are all born out of the soil, that’s all. Everyone is Janaki. With Rama inside as the spirit and Janaki as the body, then it is easy to understand who is the real father, who is the foster father. But there is the Godfather inside. There is no problem about it.

I am not making fun of the questions. No, no, no! I appreciate them, honour them and thank people for passing on the questions, which are of immense help to each and everyone of us here.

REPRESENTATIVES OF BABA

“There are so many Sai groups. There are two people in our Sai group who say, ‘Swami came to me to give you this instruction.’ They are the representatives of Baba. They give instructions. What shall I do?” The names of two people are mentioned. Better that I don’t say who they are -- a lady and a gentleman.

Baba has told us a number of times, “I have no representatives.” If anyone thinks that he is a representative, better that he opens an office near the Hanuman statue, (Laughter) with a chair and a table. Baba has no representatives.

When Swami says, “I am in you. There is only heart-to-heart, love-to-love connection”, what is the fun of some representative? Why do you need it? Why do you need it when Swami is here? So, Baba has no representatives. It is our weakness to think that somebody is giving replies on behalf of Baba. It is only our fate. God save us! We can’t help it.

KRISHNA’S WIVES

“Is Radha one of the 1000 names among the wives of Krishna”?  

Radha was not a wife. Radha was not the wife of Krishna. Please understand. The other 1000 ‘wives’ are not real wives. If a person has 1000 wives or 2000 wives, can he be God? If the number of wives is the only sign to become a god, there are many millionaires prepared to become gods by having thousands of wives. It’s not the wives’ number that counts.

They were not wives at all, my friends. Baba has said a thousand times: “A lotus flower has 16 petals. Each petal has 1000 shades. 16 x 1000 = 16,000 shades.”

There were 16,000 gopikas, not wives. You have a 16-petaled lotus in your heart, then that 1000-petaled lotus in your head, Sahasraara. Sahasra means ‘thousand’. A 1000-petaled lotus is here (Anil Kumar is pointing to each location) and an 8-petaled lotus is here. (In the heart charka, there is a 16-petaled lotus and in the heart of that 16-petaled lotus is another eight-petaled lotus.) Ashtadala, the 8-petaled lotus is here, the eight so-called ‘wives’.

So, you have eight ‘wives’; I have eight ‘wives’. It means the 8-petaled lotus flower in the human heart - ashtadalapadma. The 1000-petaled lotus is in your head - sahasraara. They are symbolic, but we consider them as human beings, saying, so many wives and all that.

With one wife, we have so many problems! You can imagine Krishna with a thousand wives! (Laughter) He would have a million problems. Poor man! It’s not like that!

UNABLE TO FOLLOW STUDY CIRCLES

“We attend study circles, but we don’t follow what is discussed there. Many times we have the question as to whether we should attend such study circles or not.”

My friend, attending study circles is a matter of self-awareness. Attending satsang like this is a matter of awareness. We know what Swami wants us to know. We know through somebody what Baba communicates to us -- what Baba intends that we should know…yes.

If I don’t practice, at least I know that I am not practicing, which is really a positive step. If I don’t attend, I think what I am doing is correct. By attending study circles, at least I am aware that I do not understand. Some day, I may make a beginning. Some day, I may be successful. So, we should go on attending.

Another point, Baba said, “Don’t stop anything immediately.” A fellow has a smoking habit. If he stops all of a sudden, what will happen? He will stop for one month. From the next month, he will increase his smoking habit four times more than before. So, don’t stop all of a sudden. Slowly, slowly, slowly, one has to evolve.

Swami also gave another example. “If you switch off the fan, it won’t stop immediately. It stops slowly.” Likewise, transformation is slow and steady. That’s the answer that I can give you.

  BLOOD TRANSFUSION

“What does Baba say about blood transfusion?”

To my knowledge, I don’t think that He has said anything. Next time, I’ll try.

KRISHNA AND THE GOPIKAS

Another questioner wants me to speak on gopikas, the stories of Lord Krishna, taking one full session, which I will certainly do one day.

DUTIES OF DEVOTEES IN THE ORGANISATION

“What are the duties of devotees of Swami, particularly when one is in the organisation. Let Anil Kumar pick up any topic in this direction, please, in one of the satsangs and speak on it.” 

Certainly, we will do it.

HARMONY OF THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED

“What is the best method to speak, think and do actions, with complete harmony? 

What is the best method? The best method is to act. What is the best method to know the taste of a cool drink? Drink! What is the best method to know the taste of the cake? Eat it! So, what is the best method to have the harmony of thought, word and deed? Do it! The taste of the pudding is in the eating of it. So, there is no method. It is only adopt. Adopt! Follow! Do it! That’s what I can say.

SELF-PUNISHMENT

“People say that self-punishment is required. What do they mean by that?”

Self-punishment is the word given for repentance. Repentance is the best method of self-punishment.

ROUTINE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

“What spiritual practices should one do from the time he gets up in the morning to the time he goes to sleep, so that he gets Swami’s blessings?”

Follow the Prashanti Nilayam timetable! (Laughter) The Prashanti Nilayam timetable is a spiritual process, where you are kept busy throughout. Even if you want to cry for sometime on genuine grounds, you will not have time, because this is darshan time. Even if you want to fight with your wife, you will not have time, because it is bhajan time. (Laughter) You are kept busy. The best way to follow the spiritual path is the Prashanti Nilayam schedule.

(Anil Kumar closed the satsang by leading the bhajan, “Sri Sai Natha Guru Govinda…”)

Thank you very much.

Om Asato Maa Sad Gamaya

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya

Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya

Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki - Jai!

Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki - Jai!

Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki - Jai!