February 5th, 2006
“Three Different Paths Leading To Divinity”
Part 1
OM…OM…OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
Spiritual thought is three-dimensional
I unconditionally apologise to you for my absence last week, as I was away, out-of-station. In fact, I got ready with the subject, but then I was absent. I wanted to have a question and answer session. We do not go by numbers. Numbers are important for political platforms, but we are here to share sincere sacred truths. I thank Swami for making this session possible.
My friends, I am not boasting, but two weeks ago, I dealt with the subject of Swami’s departure. I shared with you some random thoughts on the subject of Swami leaving all-of-a-sudden. Those points spoken in spontaneity have received the rapt attention of many of our good friends. I am very glad about it. Those of you who want copies of the talk may contact our group here.
This morning I want to share with you a few important aspects concerning spiritual thoughts. Spiritual thought is three-dimensional or triangular. The field of action is karma; the field of devotion is bhakti; the field of wisdom is jnana. Let us think in this particular direction and explore together a few points relating to the three-dimensional view of karma, bhakti and jnana on the spiritual journey.
Karma or Action is very necessary
First, let us talk about karma or action. Some people think that action is not necessary, that karma is not necessary. They think that by reading the spiritual books, their birth in heaven is ensured. They think that by discussing certain spiritual topics with people, they are guaranteed their place in heaven.
My friends, let me be very clear. Book-reading, discussions, arguments, counter-arguments, be they scriptural, textual or academic, will take us nowhere. At the most, thorough reading will help us to get more information and knowledge. But all the knowledge, all the information stored in the head, is of as much use as the books stored in the bookcase. It is only as much use as the menu is to satisfy your hunger.
Action is very necessary. That’s the reason why Bhagavan will not spare anybody, irrespective of their age. I do not know whether I have said it earlier or not. Even if I did, it is worth repeating. In all centres of work here in the ashram, be they the book centre, the Central Trust, the canteens, the university, or the hospitals, most of the workers are like me, young adults or senior citizens. Swami does not allow us to stay free or vacant or idle. As the proverb says, “the idle brain is the devil’s workshop.”
Particularly after retirement, we senior people should not be allowed to sit idle because it will affect the peace of our kith and kin. We don’t allow our children to be peaceful. We don’t allow our children to go their own way; we want to interfere. We want to dictate, while they want to disobey. We want to command, while they want to transgress. As a result, children go their own way, and our way is to the hospital to get our blood pressure checked! (Laughter)
So the best technique that Baba has given us is to keep ourselves engaged, even at this age. That is the reason for our good health. This is what I was sharing with my friends on my way here. So my friends, karma or action is most essential.
We cannot escape the consequences of our actions
Somebody may say, “Sir, what do you get from action? What do you get by doing something?”
Actions are of two types: good actions and bad actions, or evil or wrong actions. If I do good actions, I have good consequences. If I get involved in bad actions, naturally I have to face those consequences. I cannot escape from the results of my actions. I studied hard throughout the year (a good action); I got first class (good results). I never opened the book, never attended the class, so the ‘good result’ is a ‘successful failure’ in the examination! (Laughter)
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That is one of Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of gravitational force. As you eat, so you belch. As is the action, so is the reaction. As is the cloud, so is the rain. As is the seed, so is the plant. Therefore our actions must be good and sacred.
The scriptures go a step further. We do evil actions but expect positive results. I do all that is horrible, terrible, evil, devilish, but I expect heaven in return. We want to do whatever strikes our mind, but we are not prepared for the results. Therefore, the scriptures warn us that we cannot escape from the consequences of our actions. Once we understand this, we will be very careful in our actions.
Scriptures have answers for centuries to come
We are in the space age, the computer age, and so we think we need ‘package deals’. There are some aspiring ‘wise men’ that need a package for liberation or moksha too. Today’s wise man has a technological temperament and rational thinking. So he questions, “Sir, if I do some good action, I’ll have good results. If I do bad actions, I’ll have bad results. But spirituality is beyond good and bad; so I won’t do any action.” (Laughter)
His thinking goes like this: ‘Why should I have good and bad results because spirituality is beyond good and bad! There is no need for action.’ Very good!
But the scriptures say, “My dear young man, understand that I am more intelligent than you. Understand that I thought of the whims and fancies, and vagaries of your mind. Understand that I know what’s going to be in your mind even after 100 years!”
Therefore, every scripture has answers for centuries to come. That’s the reason why every scripture (be it the Bible, the Gita, the Koran or Guru Granth Sahib) is valuable because it anticipates our problems, ideas, notions and thoughts before they strike us.
The scripture says, “I know you are wise. You say that you don’t act because spirituality transcends the duality of good and bad. But you are breathing. It is action.”
Breathing is an action. Similarly, blood circulation, the thought process, digestion all are actions. Action takes place whether you want it to or not. But any action that you do in society, in the community, has to be good, proper and sacred.
Before I move on to the next point, let me draw your attention to the three advantages of the path of action or karma yoga. The path of action in the spiritual field has three consequences or advantages.
Karma helps develop sense control
The first advantage is that the path of action or karma yoga will help us to develop sense control. What do you mean by sense control? It means while I am talking, I cannot do anything else. When I am talking, I cannot think of any topic other than this. Or you are doing something. For example, when you are digging a pit, you cannot be thinking of anything else. By thinking of something else while digging a pit, you won’t dig a pit at all; you’ll dig your own feet! So, one has to be very careful.
Therefore my friends, karma will see that all other channels are closed because of our one-pointed concentration on work. Hence it will help us to develop sense control. Vivekananda always advised youngsters to undertake some activity with bubbling enthusiasm, dynamism, leadership, and firm determination. Youngsters should never have idle time.
Karma Yoga leads to sharp intellect
The second advantage is that once I have sense control due to action or karma yoga, I will also develop a sharp intellect. What does that mean?
It means that the intellect, like a thermometer or a barometer, like a microscope, a telescope or a periscope, will tell us what is right and what is wrong, then and there itself. It will never give you scope to regret later because the intellect will indicate immediately, like the battery indicator in head phones. When batteries are exhausted, the red light glows. It means the batteries are weak and it is time for you to charge them or else throw them in the dustbin.
Similarly, the intellect will warn you, “My dear fellow, don’t do this. My dear fellow, be careful; think twice before you do that.” It cautions you. That is the second advantage.
Good actions lead to merit
The third advantage of karma yoga or action is merit, called punya in Sanskrit. How should I explain this? All the results of your good actions are deposited in a bank. You can withdraw from it whenever you want. When there is cash in the bank, you can withdraw. When the bank balance is nil, what is there to withdraw? Even the watchman won’t allow me to get into the bank because I have no account there. People think I am a suspect! (Laughter)
Therefore my friends, to lead a normal life, we should have a sufficient amount in the bank. Similarly, just as we deposit money in the bank for our safety and comfort and happy sojourn in life, we have to deposit some merit, acquire some credit, by undertaking good actions.
Path of action is only a preparation
Therefore my friends, karma yoga or the path of action has three advantages:
1. Sense control
2. Sharpened intellect
3. Earning merit
But this is not the be-all and end-all. The path of action is only a preparation. I go to the market and buy all the vegetables and provisions, and then pass them on to the cook. I’ll be ready for dinner, but it still takes time. The vegetables must be cut first, and only then the cook can cook delicious items. Only after that can you have your food. Am I right?
There are three stages. You cannot go to the market and say, “I am ready for dinner.” First, you have to buy things. The moment you buy them, you cannot say to the cook, “C’mon, serve me dinner.” He must first cook it. After the cooking is over, you cannot say, “Where is my dinner?” You must then eat it.
Path of action is not the ultimate because we get attached
So karma yoga or the path of action is not the ultimate. Why do I say that? There are some people who, after long periods of service, are suddenly told, “My dear man, your body is not cooperating. You have aged, so please relax. You are discharged from your duties.”
This man falls sick immediately because he has become a workaholic. Workaholics suffer more than alcoholics. Alcoholics get a kick when they take alcohol, but workaholics will receive the kick until they are kicked out! (Laughter) When people say that you have aged, that your body is not cooperating, please take rest, one should be happy; but people are not happy.
They say, “Why? I am capable. I can take insulin injections and do my work. Why not? I may lose my memory, but do you think other men are alright? They are worse than me.” Why? He is not prepared to be relieved from his work.
When I retire, why should I cry? Some people are not happy when they retire. Why? Not because of their love of work but because of the love of their position and authority, and because they are left with nobody to command. The moment I ring the bell, somebody should come. After retirement, I ring the bell, but only I come there (Laughter). I should hear the bell and say, “Yes, sir. I’m here.” Just like that, talking to myself.
Since I can no longer command any authority or influence, since I am out of power and the income is only one third (in the form of pension), I develop this sense of insecurity. I worry that my wife may not serve me hot coffee in the morning because I am retired now (Laughter).
The fellow forgets the fact that his wife serves hot coffee not because he is working, but due to the sins she has committed by marrying this fellow (Laughter). This fellow forgets the fact that because of this life-long bondage, she has to serve hot coffee!
‘Oh, she may not give me hot coffee! She may not prepare delicious items as before because my income is less’ are the thoughts that bother him. She is more interested in his health than income, but our mind is like that. No one is an exception to this, at least at some point in time.
If someone simply goes without greeting him (because they are busy or she is uncomfortable), the retired fellow immediately thinks, ‘I get the feeling that because I am retired, that fellow is not saying, Sai Ram.’ This is ego, reflection. One gets worked up and tensed.
Therefore my friends, most of us are not prepared to be relieved of our duties, though we are proved to be unfit, because of our love of authority and influence, not for the love of the work. Therefore, here Bhagavad Gita clearly tells us that even karma yoga has limitations because you get attached to your work.
We should always be prepared to quit
I met an elderly man sometime ago, who walks with a walking stick; but he tells me that he works in the bookstore.
I said, “Sir, I derive inspiration from you because you are my senior by a couple of years. I hope to be as smart as you.” I was talking like that.
After a month, he said that he met with an accident and a fracture; therefore he needed two sticks now. The irony is that that fellow told me, “Mr. Anil Kumar, because I am helpless now, I am relieved of my duties there. That is more agonising than the fracture. That is more miserable than the pain in the hip.”
I said, “Sir, I do not know whether I am competent to speak or not, whether I am eligible to open my mouth or not. But sir, I pity you. I pity you because things should not be like that. Under any circumstances, you should be ready to quit, that’s all, even in the prime of your youth.”
Even though it may be your legitimate right to continue to be in power, when you are prepared to get out, you are free from the attachment to karma. So to be free from the negative aspects, to be free from the negative effects of karma yoga, the first requirement is detachment: “I am ready to quit.”
Somebody told me, “If Swami asked you to go, what you will do?”
I gave him one straight answer. “You don’t fuss, you don’t hang around. Swami asked you to come. He has equal right to ask you to go. You came because He asked you to come. You’ll go because He asked you to go. How are you affected? You are here because He asked you; you leave because He asks you to go. How are you affected? You don’t have to worry about it.”
The negative effects of the path of karma or action can be overcome by being ready to quit at any point in time, so that there is no attachment whatsoever.
Results of the path of karma are temporary
Secondly, whatever results you get out of karma or action, however high and lofty they might be, the results of the path of action are purely temporary.
Here is a simple example. In the scriptures it is written, “If you do good actions like charity, compassion, service, you will go to heaven.” Ah, very good! But heaven is not a permanent address. It is only a contract. You have done good work, and for this good work you are permitted to stay in heaven for two years. Oh, I see. Two years you will enjoy and then you have to use the return ticket.
So any place, be it hell or heaven, one reaches by purchasing a return ticket. Even if we don’t buy them, return tickets are attached to these one-way tickets (Laughter). All the results of the path of action are purely temporary and time-bound. So you cannot expect to have permanent bliss.
Purpose of Path of wisdom: awareness of the self
Next is the path of wisdom or jnana yoga. What do I mean by it?
In karma yoga or the path of action, I act with both my hands; I walk with both my legs; I bend my body; I make use of my senses to be competent at work, etc. But in jnana yoga, what am I to do? Shall I read books? No. Shall I make the library my residence? Useless…the watchman is already staying there (Laughter). What do you mean by jnana yoga, my friend?
The path of wisdom is not about acquisition of information. The path of knowledge is not about collecting data. The path of knowledge is not about familiarity with the scriptures. The path of wisdom or jnana is awareness of the Self. Jnana yoga means awareness of the Self.
“Sir, I am aware of a number of books in the library.” Good! Apply there to be a librarian next time.
“Sir, I know how to preserve the books in the library and prevent them from being eaten away by moths or insects.” All right, apply to be an attendant in the library.
The purpose of the path of wisdom or jnana is awareness of the Self.
Discrimination is A requirement of path of wisdom
There are two requirements for that. One is discrimination. To get to the path of jnana or wisdom, one should exercise the discipline of discrimination which we are gifted with, but do not use as we have our own personal agenda. We want to do certain things which are not socially accepted. We want to do certain things that are not justifiable. We make certain mistakes, fall into certain pitfalls, which should not be known to others. Therefore, this shows that we don’t exercise our discrimination.
But God has given us an intellect which has the sense of discrimination. We are born with it; it is not cultivated. Discrimination is not generated; discrimination is not purchased. We are born with it. Has anyone given you this hunger? No. Similarly, you are born with appetite, thirst and sleep; nobody gives them to you. This sense of discrimination has got to be exercised thoroughly in the field of jnana.
What is this discrimination? Discrimination tells you what is momentary and what is permanent. Discrimination distinguishes between transitory and eternal, real and unreal. It separates what is perishable from what is immortal.
Self-inquiry helps us to understand our true identity
After exercising fundamental discrimination, we can immediately go to the next step of Self-inquiry or Atma vichara. What is Self-inquiry?
Every post office, every bus station, every railway station has an inquiry office. I am not speaking of that inquiry. This is not the inquiry that takes place in the outer external world. It is the inquiry into the Self. It is the inquiry that happens within. Without any table or chair, without any external help, this inquiry happens within.
How should we inquire?
Baba has said clearly, “This is my watch; I am not the watch. This is my pen; I am not the pen. This is my table; I am not the table. Then who am I? Am I the body? No, because it changes.”
I think I was more handsome, more presentable, 30 years ago. I definitely know I am not now the same as then. I can imagine what will happen after 10 more years. If I am the body, I should remain the same, but I don’t. In spite of all cosmetics and plastic surgeries available, we age. So, you are not the body.
If you are the mind, it should stay the same. But it doesn’t. What did I take for breakfast? I don’t remember. Did you not say it yesterday? I might have said it, I don’t remember. Memory fails, so you are not the mind.
So you are not the body and you are not the mind. “No sir, I am an Indian,” someone might say. But you may settle in America. Only yesterday Bush announced that they plan to give more visas; so many of you may get a visa and settle there. If you settle in America, you are an American. If you settle in India, you are an Indian. So how can you say you are Indian? Tomorrow you may be an American or an Australian. I am in Puttaparthi today; I may be elsewhere tomorrow, who knows!
Therefore, you are not the place you belong to. You are not the job you do. You are not the name that you bear. Imagine if my parents gave me an old-fashioned name like Subhaiya (Laughter). It is really old-fashioned and outdated, so I decide to get myself a ‘latest’ name like Subhama or Subha. Oh good, the latest! So I can change my name, too.
I am not the place; I am not the job; I am not the body; I am not the mind. Then who am I? The reality is the ‘I’ ness. ‘I’ is constant. ‘I am the body.’ ‘I am the officer.’ ‘I am an Indian.’ ‘I am the post-graduate.’ ‘I am an engineer.’
All these statements may be different, but ‘I’ is one and the same. This ‘I’ which is one and the same is the spirit or the soul or the conscience or Atma or the Self. This process of Self-inquiry which leads to the understanding of the true identity of this ‘I’ is called the path of wisdom or jnana yoga.
Advantage of jnana yoga is permanent liberation
My friends, a couple of minutes ago I said that the advantages or the benefits of karma yoga are self-control, a sharpened intellect and gaining merit. All of them are temporary.
The advantage of jnana yoga or the path of wisdom is one ever-lasting permanent bliss or ananda, an irreplaceable, unparalleled, unrivalled, unbeaten, eternal, permanent place of moksha or liberation. Moksha or liberation is permanent, whereas karma yoga leads you to certain stages, which are temporary.
But is moksha permanent? Do we say that because I said it? No. Once the sugar is dissolved in water, it’s gone. When the river merges in the ocean, the merger is total. A merger is not incomplete or partial. Am I clear?
Similarly, when you attain moksha or liberation, the individual gets merged with the cosmic Divinity. It’s one holistic Divinity. There is no separate identity or entity. That is the difference between karma and jnana. The results of jnana are permanent -- eternal, blissful liberation, while the results of karma are temporary. However, it helps us as a preparation ground from which to take off.
Requirements for earning god’s grace
My friends, whether it is karma yoga or jnana yoga, the path of action or the path of wisdom, what are you doing right now? When I work sincerely, Swami will be happy with me. When my work is satisfactory, Swami is pleased. To please Swami, I work. To receive His grace, I meditate. To receive His mercy, I do bhajans. So all things that we do, whether service or bhajans or meditation, the ultimate purpose is to earn His Divine grace.
Now is it that easy? I do good work, so I get the grace. I meditate; so is it true that I get instantaneous grace? We have instant food, instant coffee. Why not instant grace (Laughter)? No! No instant! In addition to meditation and bhajans, you need other things also. What are they?
Be at peace with yourself and others
First, to be eligible to receive God’s grace, one should be at peace with one’s own self and one should be at peace with others. If I am not peaceful, if I don’t allow you to be peaceful, how can I earn that grace? If you lose your peace and my peace is torn to pieces, then I don’t deserve that grace. So to deserve that grace, one should be at peace within himself and with others. That’s one thing.
Always entertain good thoughts
Two, the mind should always entertain good thoughts because thought is energy. The latest science also certifies this. If thoughts are bad or dangerous or harmful, you lose energy. You can ask any medical expert. By having good thoughts, sacred thoughts, one can even cure cancer. Do you know that?
It appeared on TV this morning. This person said on TV, “I am suffering from cancer but I treat cancer like any other fever or cold. Cold comes and goes; cancer comes and goes. What is there to worry about?” This fellow did not look like a cancer patient at all. He looked quite romantic, a good bachelor. His body may have been sick, but mentally he was very strong and healthy.
Our situation is that the body is healthy, but mentally we are sick. That’s the reason why, though we are healthy, we don’t look healthy. Though we are fine, we don’t look fine. Why? Something is going on here.
So my friends, mind should always entertain good thoughts because thought is energy. Thoughts are a form of ions. Pure thoughts make you more energetic, make you pure. Your blood pressure will also be normal. On the other hand, impure thoughts, manipulative thoughts, tragic thoughts, evil thoughts will make the blood pressure shoot up, sugar content high, and the body will fall sick. Therefore, the second requirement is that the mind should entertain good thoughts.
Always discriminate
The third requirement is to always be prepared to discriminate. ‘Always’ is important, because we may miss this link at any moment of time. A man, who is healthy in year 2000, is imbalanced in 2001. A man, who is peaceful in 2002, is highly restless in 2003. Morning is peaceful and evening is restless. So do not think that we are sure of our peace for all time to come. Let’s not rely on our judgement. We have to exercise our discrimination constantly.
These three things are necessary to deserve grace. If we deserve to be the recipients of God’s infinite grace, God’s infinite mercy, then we can say that we have advanced on the spiritual ladder.
Linking the path of action and path of wisdom
I would like to bridge both now. In the beginning, I discussed the path of action; later I talked about the path of wisdom. Let me not differentiate or measure by my parameters. My own understanding may be insufficient. My own comprehension may not be enough to come to a conclusion. Therefore I will bridge both the ideas: the path of action or karma and the path of jnana or wisdom. How to link both?
They are linked, but we disconnect them. How to reconnect them? Here Bhagavad Gita clearly tells us, “My dear boy, when you act, results will follow. But do not aim for the results; concentrate on your work. Whether you ask for or not, whether you wait or not, whether you want or not, the consequences will follow. But do not concentrate on the consequences or the results. Concentrate on the action; concentrate on karma; concentrate on your work. The rest will take care of itself.”
I met one gentleman yesterday. He looked serious. I know he has got children who are well settled. I know he has got a good balance in the bank, but he appeared to be serious.
I asked him, “Sir, how are you? Is everything ok?”
My job throughout my life until today has been to make people smile. I smile and I want people to smile because there is no reason to cry. Crying is not a solution to any problem. When you cry, the problem becomes bigger than before.
So I asked this fellow, “Why are you serious? What is the issue?”
“Anil Kumar, I am worried.”
“Why?”
“I’ve got some money with me. Will that be enough if I have to undergo heart surgery after three years (Laughter)?” Ah, after 10 years, you may have a heart attack and that money may not be enough for this future heart attack. Therefore he starts worrying today!
I said, “Sir, you may not get heart attack after ten years, but you may get one right now (Laughter). You are preparing for a heart attack to come after three years, but it is there right now at your doorstep.”
After we had a good laugh, I said, “Sir, the reason for heart attack is not your money. Just because you have sufficient money, the heart is not ready to get itself attacked (Laughter). Heart attack is not like a foreign invasion. It is not a war that you are ready to fight just because you have enough food and ammunition. It may come at anytime.”
A most unfortunate event occurred yesterday. One of our colleagues’ wives serves in the Mandir. Yesterday she did all her Mandir activity and returned home by 6 o’clock. Suddenly she complained of some chest pain and discomfort. She got into an auto rickshaw and went to the General Hospital. There they said it was nothing major, maybe some acidity problem.
In the meantime, another doctor came and said, “It is not an acidity problem. It could be a heart problem. Why should you take the risk?” He insisted that she be shifted to the Super Specialty Hospital. In the meantime, the husband came to know that his wife had gone to the General Hospital so he rushed to the hospital and joined her in the same auto rickshaw. They were speeding towards the Super Specialty Hospital and on the way she died. She was 50 years old, and quite young and healthy. She was all right until 6:30, and at 7:30, she was declared dead.
Therefore heart disease does not think of your bank balance or weight or position; it can happen anytime. Therefore my friends, we should know how to be happy and not be worried about the future so that we can be healthy right now.
Sacrifice the results of your actions to get wisdom
I want to bridge both karma and jnana now. Lord Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita, “Give up or sacrifice the result or consequences of your actions. Karma Phala Pari Tyaga. Renounce the fruits of your actions. Then you get wisdom or jnana.”
So karma and jnana are linked; they are not separate. If you are attached to the results, you are in the field of karma. When you give up the results or karma phala, you have shifted to the field of jnana or wisdom.
I positively and prayerfully hope that God blesses us with another satsang. I shall deal with certain fundamental questions as to why we are not successful in our devotion. People say that they attend bhajans religiously, meditate regularly, and serve to the best of their ability. So why are they not successful?
What is bondage? How to get out of this bondage? How do you continue on the physical path as a householder, as a professional busy with problems? These are the fundamental questions which I would like to share with you next week. Thank you very much for your gracious presence and active participation. (Applause)
I am very grateful to each and every one of you because you are giving me an opportunity to read up on these topics and prepare myself. Thank you for giving me the blessing of sharing with you because, as it is said, the best way to learn is to teach. Speaking here is a matter of self-study, I am learning more. Not even in my dreams do I think that I am more than anybody. No. I am not that foolish as of now. I am grateful to each and every one of you.
(Anil Kumar concluded his talk by singing, “Jai Jai Prabhu Giridhari Natavara Nandalala.”
OM…OM…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