September 10th, 2006
“Whole Creation Is One Family”
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
There is one oft-repeated sentence which goes like this: “Vasudaika Kutumbakam”. It means the whole creation is one family; we are all one family, Vasudaika Kutumbakam, only one family. This particular idea is very well explained by people in different ways, but I would like to share with you how I look at it. This was a topic given to a study circle wing of the Sathya Sai organisation and they viewed it from a particular angle. However, I would like to look at it in a different way.
Vasudaika Kutumbakam means that we all belong to one family. People usually restrict it, limit it to human society, that all of us belong to one family—Americans, Russians, Australians—the whole human race belongs to one family. That’s how they interpret it, that’s how they view what they mean by ‘one family’. I, however, would look at it this way: Bhagavan’s life demonstrates this oneness at various levels.
Divinity within the stone
In His younger days, Bhagavan, around the age of 14 or 15 years, was studying in a school located in a place by the name of Uruvakonda. He was sitting on a boulder. A photographer came to Him and wanted to take a photo. Swami kept a very small stone in front of Him and asked the photographer to click the camera. The photographer took a picture. What did he see? An idol of Shirdi Sai was photographed out of a shapeless stone. Out of a shapeless stone, a Shirdi Sai idol picture appeared.
What does it mean? It means a stone is not just a stone; it means it is not a shapeless, static, non-living matter. It is something very important, more than that. A stone could become an idol. It means a stone may appear lifeless externally to you and me, but there is latent consciousness within the stone. There is Divinity within the stone which Baba manifested when the photographer photographed and got Shirdi Sai’s idol from a stone.
So, matter is not just matter, as it appears to be. There is Divinity inside; there is Divinity within. For example, every temple has got an idol inside the sanctum sanctorum made of a stone; but is that a stone? If it is a simple stone, why should you go to a temple? Why? No! It is not an idol made out of a stone; it is something more than that. There is Divinity inside. The mineral matter, like the stone, the dynamite or whatever you may call it, is not passive, static, lifeless matter. There is Divinity within. That belongs to our family.
The mineral matter belongs to our family. The Divinity within you is very much the same as the Divinity within a stone; but in a stone the Divinity is latent, whereas the Divinity is more expressed, more manifest in a human being. Therefore, it is a question of magnitude of manifestation, it is only a question of the measure of expression; but the Divinity is all the same. So quality is the same; there is only quantitative difference.
So, when I say we belong to one family, Vasudaika Kutumbakam, our first members in this family happen to be the stones, mountains, hills, sands, valleys, the whole planet—these are part of our family. We worship them, we adore them, and once they are disturbed, it leads to n imbalance in Nature.
Earth belongs to our family
The second member of our family is the planet Earth. The Earth belongs to our family. If you neglect it, a vacuum is created within the earth, and this vacuum leads to earthquakes. Earthquake tremors are due to planetary imbalances. We must consider the Earth as a member of our own family. We should not neglect it; we should not exploit it. We should revere it, respect it, and be grateful to it. Therefore the Earth is referred to as Mother Earth, Bhu Mata.
People worship earth at the time of a ground-breaking ceremony. We worship earth before breaking the earth, before digging deep enough to lay the foundation, what we call a foundation stone-laying function. You pray so that, as you dig deep enough, Mother Earth would be merciful to you; you are expressing your reverence and respect to Mother Earth. So, earth is not a non-living thing; it is living and therefore you worship it.
It is only out of earth that you get grains. You use earth for cultivation; you get ores, metals, diamonds, gold, etc. out of this earth. It is very precious. Without earth we have no place to live on and we have no place to live in. It is a place that offers sufficient ground for us to move about and to construct our houses. So, earth belongs to our family.
Long back in Brindavan, Swami picked up a few stones and started playing with them. Shifting from one hand to another hand, the stones materialised into a parrot—a parrot out of stones! It started flying. It is on record. Can you bring a parrot out of a stone? It is possible for Baba; it is not possible for you and me. We can make a parrot into a stone. We can do the reverse, but He did that. Why? Because He could make the Divinity within the stone manifest, expressed in the form of a parrot--the Divinity expressed. My friends, just think of this!
Plants belong to our family
Our next member in this family happens to be the plants. Plants also belong to our family. Why? Because they give us fruit. Trees bear fruits and these trees offer food for all of us. Vegetarians partake off plant products, vegetables, while non-vegetarians depend on plants indirectly. Basically, however, we are all vegetarians; some are direct and some are indirect: A non-vegetarian may partake of an animal, but that animal fed on plants earlier. So, all are vegetarians—some are direct, some are indirect, that’s all.
Without plants, we have no food, we have no energy. Plants draw energy from the sunlight and prepare nutritious food, which we then eat—readymade food. Plants belong to our family. Our energy and health depend upon plants.
Swami named His ashram in Bangalore as Brindavan. He did not call it mydaan, plain grounds—no, Brindavan. He named His residence in Ooty as Nandanavanam. He loves gardens, He loves plants, and He loves flowers, particularly in Brindavan, where His building, ‘Trayee Brindavan’ stands. Around that building, there is a beautiful garden with very beautiful flowers.
As Swami steps down to grant morning darshan to His devotees around 7:00 to 7:30 AM, it is a sight for the gods. The flowers dance, swaying from side to side, touched by the wind; the lawns are so beautiful, as if a green carpet is spread all around. You find the ducks with wings fluttering, the deer dancing and running, coming close to Swami, birds flying; you find peacocks dancing—morning darshan is a sight for gods! The whole of Nature rejoices in the celebration of the darshan of the Creator. The creation welcomes the Creator open-heartedly, a grand, gala, beautiful, natural welcome.
A silent welcome is an eloquent welcome. An eloquent welcome is just one of empty, meaningless words; but a welcome that is silent is profound. A welcome born out of silence is profound because the language between two lovers is silence. The silence is eloquent; without talking, they communicate with each other. That is romance. The creation is romantic with the Creator in the depths of silence.
Nature is part of our family
Swami started looking that way and this way, slowly walking down. I very well remember, one day, Swami came close and asked, “Have you noticed?”
I did not understand what He meant. “Have you noticed any VIP?” That’s how I took it. “Have you noticed the crowd?” That’s how I understood it. “Have you noticed any brand new car on the way?” That’s how I understood it. But some good sense prevailed upon me not to open my mouth, which is a very rare thing that happens in my life (Laughter)! I just smiled and kept quiet.
Baba said, “Look, look at those birds, how happily they are flying! Look at those ducks, how softly, neatly, gently, majestically, slowly, beautifully they are walking. Watch the peacock, how nicely it is dancing. The whole Nature is rejoicing in Swami’s darshan, but…”
But… then I thought something is coming.
“But,” Baba said, “You fellows put on a castor-oil face!” While Nature is smiling, while Nature is rejoicing, we have put on a serious castor-oil face, even at the time of darshan! It is really tragic, really tragic, and most unfortunate!
What I want to draw your attention to is Nature is part of our family. When we learn to enjoy the beauty of Nature, we can enjoy our life much better than ever before. When we look at the flowers, when we look at the leaves, the peacocks, the deer and the birds, we love life more. Therefore, they belong to our family. When we neglect some members of our family, well, there will not be full happiness. There will not be complete happiness because we have neglected some members of our family.
Let us not neglect plants that belong to our family. Plants are very important. At the time of Christmas, you find a Christmas tree specially brought and decorated. It was Krishna who moved in Brindavan, the garden. Saints spend their time in forests, full of trees. Saints never settle in busy cities like Los Angeles or Chicago, in the din and roar of sound. They live in forests which are full of trees all around, and valleys. Trees are associated with saints because they provide shelter; they provide sufficient surroundings for meditation and contemplation—so beautiful. They, too, belong to our family.
Plants talk to us
When we cut down the trees all around, in the name of deforestation, in order to construct dams and palatial buildings, what happens? The whole atmosphere warms up, gets heated up. That’s what we call ‘global warming’ or ‘the green house effect’. When there is global warming, it leads to ill-health in humanity. It leads to severe diseases like cancer—because of global warming. We have neglected members of our family, the plant world.
When Swami comes close to a flower, how He looks at the flower! He will not allow anybody to pluck the flower off the plant. He will not allow anybody to do that. Once, I very well remember a person plucking the flower off a plant. Swami was highly disturbed. He gave him such a mouthful so that he would not do it again in his lifetime! A flower, as it is born to a plant, looks more beautiful when it is not cut off from it.
Plants talk to us. You can talk to the plants. How do you do that? When you look at plants with all kindness, with all consideration, they flower sooner than plants that are neglected. They blossom totally, compared with those plants which are uncared for. So, there is a silent communication between plants and human society. Unspoken words are more meaningful than spoken utterances. Plants belong to our family.
The tree is God
Believe me or not, in Brindavan there used to be a huge tree around which a shed was constructed, what we called ‘Sai Ram Shed’, do you remember? Swami used to sit under that tree. To me, that was more beautiful than Sai Ramesh Hall is today. I don’t find any beauty in that. I am sorry; it is purely personal, purely personal. When Swami used to sit under the tree on His chair, it was so beautiful. When this present structure was under construction, that tree had to be removed. They could not cut down the tree all of a sudden at one go. To begin with, they started to cut off its branches first.
When they had cut off its branches, I was there in Brindavan at that time; you can verify this with some of our seva dal brothers there. From the cut end of the branch they could see Swami’s face—you can verify this. They could see Swami’s face from the cut end of the branch! They did not dare to cut another branch. People could not sleep for a few days; the image of the face lasted like that.
At that time, the caretaker of Brindavan happened to be Ramabrahmam. He sent a message to Bhagavan: “What are we to do now? Should we cut off the tree or not?”
Then Swami said, “Don’t worry, don’t worry, you can proceed from tomorrow.”
Next day, they did not see Swami’s face on the cut end of the branch, so they could proceed with the total uprooting of the tree.
Now I come to the reason why I narrated this incident. When you see Swami’s face from the cut end of a branch, is that a simple tree? Is that a simple tree, bearing branches and leaves, fruits and flowers? No, it is Divine, it is Divine. The tree is God. That is the reason why in the Bhagavad Gita the human body is compared to a tree by the name of Aswatha.
“Urdhva-mulam Adhah-sakham Ashvattham Prahur Avyayam.”
Body is Aswatham. It is compared to a vruksha, Aswatha.
Petal to a Diamond
I also remember another incident. Swami plucked a flower, a yellow flower, which looked like a chrysanthemum, or a dahlia. Brindavan is full of chrysanthemums.
Swami picked one flower and called me. “Come here. What is it?” He asked me.
“Flower, Swami”.
“Oh, oh”, then He removed a few petals. “What are they?”
Arre! Anybody else will know, but only to make fun of me in public, He asked me, “What are they?” Alright, when I am an object of entertainment for everybody, why not? Yes. We say, “Swami, I want to be an instrument in Your hands.” So, let this instrument be a funny instrument in His hands! Why not? The instrument has no choice!
“Ok, Swami. They are petals,” I said.
“What are they?”
“They are petals.”
“Oh, oh! You are a student of botany, I know,” He said. Then He started playing with the petals. He blew air into them. All five or ten petals were transformed into one diamond ring!
“What is this now?” He asked.
Shall I say petals or shall I say ring? I said petals before. Now shall I say ring? I can’t say that.
So I said, “It was petals; now it is a ring.” (Laughter) “It was a bunch of petals; now it is a ring, Swami.”
“Oh, appa, knack, ayya, knack!” Then Swami said, “Give that ring to one gentleman by the name of Dr. Kakade, who wrote the book, Shirdi to Parthi.”
Now, were those petals, petals? Was that ring, a ring? No, petals or a ring or a stone, they are all Divine. That’s the reason why I conclude that they also belong to our family.
In Shirdi times, Shirdi Baba developed a garden, a lendi garden. Avatars are always after gardens, always after flowers and trees. They belong to our family. Any damage to our family members, cutting down the trees, will damage our health, will damage our lives. So, the plant world also belongs to us.
Animals belong to our family
The next member of our family is the animal world. Mineral matter belongs to our family. Plants belong to our family. Animals also belong to our family. Animals? Yes, why not? Sometimes we behave much worse than an animal! Yes, monkeys are much better; ants are much better. Sometimes each animal may have one bad quality. If I am to call animals bad, then we human beings are a collection or a museum of bad habits. Why not? An animal will feel insulted if we call any man, “You are a donkey.” The donkey standing there will say, “Don’t say donkey! I am much better than him!” (Laughter)
So animals belong to our family. Why do I say that? Long back, as recorded by Howard Murphet in his book, Swami stayed near Hartley Hills, very close to Madanapalli in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Madanapalli in the Chittoor district is very famous for two reasons: for Sai devotees it is important because Bhagavan stayed there, and secondly, there is a place by the name of Rishi Valley where J Krishnamurti started a school. J Krishnamurti is also known as JK. I don’t know how many of you have heard his name. J Krishnamurti, JK, is a very great philosopher, a great thinker of this century, known at least in 70 countries. JK is one of the greatest intellectuals of our times. To read JK, to understand him, one should have some background and competence.
Don’t misunderstand me and think I am trying to propagate or indulge in propaganda. I am open to everybody. When all the windows are open, air can blow from all sides, so that we have enough ventilation. It is in that context that I refer to JK’s name. A very great man, brought up by Annie Besant, he spent most of his time in the UK, in Great Britain. He spoke English far better than many British people, and was a man of extreme simplicity. To read JK literature, well, you should have that eligibility. All cannot read his work; all cannot understand him as he was a man of depth.
He stayed in Madras at a place by the name of Vasantha Vihar, Adayar, in front of the Theosophical Society. I had been there and heard his talk. Short, very fair, lean, elegant, handsome, as bright as gold in complexion, white silky hair, wearing a long kurtha, he came out of his residence with folded hands. He spoke softly, silently, gently like the morning breeze during dawn. The whole speech was like a lullaby. I really enjoyed it. I narrate this because of the school he started in Madanapalli in Chittoor district.
Thank you
Bhagavan went to that same district, but Bhagavan stayed near Hartley Hills. Swami stayed there on the top of the mountains. While returning from Hartley Hills, Swami came very close to a buffalo, patted him on his back and said, “Thank you, thank you.”
Everyone started wondering, “Fellows don’t thank other fellows; but here is Swami, thanking a buffalo!” People started wondering why Swami was thanking a buffalo.
Swami turned to everyone and said, “This buffalo brought water from the ground to the mountain top every day. Pots and pots of drinking water are supplied by this buffalo every day. So I am thanking him.”
Trip to East Africa
So animals also belong to our family. Swami speaks ecstatically about His trip to East Africa. When Swami speaks about His trip to Africa, it is very interesting. Of course, people like me get frightened. He speaks about the lions that He saw; He speaks about the elephants He saw; He speaks about the tigers that pass by just like street dogs do here. Swami also speaks of His ride sitting on the back of an elephant.
“Ah, Swami, Your reporting itself is frightening me; leave alone the direct sight of those wild animals!”
He speaks so beautifully about those wild animals in the forest. Swami said, “They don’t do any harm; they are so nice, they just go like that.” Oh, let them go please! (Laughter)
He spoke so beautifully about how the giraffe bent its head forward through the open window of the car, touching His back. Ah, ah, ah, ah, that’s enough, that’s enough! He went on describing all the giraffes, lions, and elephants along the way. Baba said they are also members of our family. They don’t harm you. But once you want to harm them, you are finished! Swami was very happy there.
It was in the year 1989; Swami had been to a forest very close to Mysore—the Bandipur forest. He was taking a group of students along with Him. He came to me and said, “You remain here.”
Why should I remain here?
He said, “Mr. Anil Kumar, there will be some wild animals there. I know, I know you, so it is better you stay with some people here. Spend some time here. The kitchen is always ready. Whenever you feel like having a cup of coffee, you can have it.” (Laughter)
Swami went and started reporting on all that He saw on the way. He feels very close to those animals. That’s why in Brindavan we have so many birds, so many monkeys. Suddenly when monkeys start jumping, the boys will look up. Swami will look up and say, “Your own brothers are calling you brothers!” (Laughter)
Jack and Jill
Why, in the life of Swami you must have also heard of an episode where His own school classmates, Ramesh and Suresh, took subsequent births as dogs in order to be near Swami. Swami gave them the names ‘Jack and Jill’. Jack and Jill were the two dogs that stayed with Swami in Brindavan earlier, who were none other than His two old classmates, Ramesh and Suresh. Swami told this, do you know that? Those two dogs sat near Him all the time.
You must know that episode. One dog, while showing the way to Puttaparthi, died all of a sudden because of a car. The driver unknowingly rolled the tires of the car on the back of this dog. The dog dragged its body barking. He came all the way to Swami and laid its head on the Feet of Sai. Looking at His face, the dog breathed its last.
The other dog could not bear the separation; it died in the natural course of time. Swami constructed a tomb in Brindavan in memory of these two dogs.
So, animals belong to our family. Animals are not inferior; they belong to us. They are also members of this family, Vasudaika Kutumbakam.
THE Gods have animals as vehicles
You must have heard of Ramana Maharshi of Thiruvannamalai. Squirrels used to run all over Ramana Maharshi’s body. Some cows lived in the vicinity and Swami gave them names. He gave the name of Lakshmi to one cow. “Lakshmi, Lakshmi!” He used to talk to that cow. (While we don’t know how to talk to our fellowman, He could talk to cows!) He built a tomb in memory of that cow, Lakshmi, after its death. Ramana Maharshi loved birds, squirrels and cows. He could converse freely with them, talk freely to them. They belong to our family.
You find Jesus carrying a lamb always. Animals belong to our family, Vasudaika Kutumbakam. Lord of the Seven Hills, Venkatesha in Tirupathi, where the Seven Hills are adored and worshipped. Sabari Malai, the abode of Ayyapan— that mountain there is also worshipped.
What is the Divine vehicle of Sri Maha Vishnu? Garuda—a bird. What is the vehicle of Ganesha? A rat. What is the chariot or vehicle of Lord Shiva? The bull. What is the chariot of Durga? A lion. So, all gods have animals as vehicles or chariots to ride on. So animals, too, belong to our family.
Matter of fun is a torture
In those days, when there were no transportation facilities, people used to travel by bullock cart to reach Puttaparthi, across the sands adjacent to here, all along Bukkapatnam and Puttaparthi.
Swami used to tell them, “Get down! Get down. Let the bullock carts move freely. Don’t sit there. Because of the sand, those bulls have to struggle hard to pull the cart.” No, no, no. He sees life in them, while we see life in our own comfort. Let this ‘bull’ be carried by another bull. The one who sits in the cart is a bull and wants to be driven by another bull!
I also remember very well that a couple of years ago, the Brindavan students brought horses for the annual sports day. They wanted to perform stunts on horses before Swami. They, with support from the police, brought the horses all the way from Mysore. The police gave them training on how to ride horses.
Boys are boys, as you know. They like horse riding, jumping and all that—all horse stunts. Swami was there on the dais. They thought that Swami would be very much thrilled, and would appreciate the stunts. I was there on the dais. But Swami was not happy. The boys were happy; the audience was happy, clapping, tak tak, while the horses were jumping. The horses were jumping across the obstacles on the way—tak tak, wah wah! So beautiful! But Swami was not happy. Why?
Suddenly Swami made a comment. While jumping over the obstacles, the students had to whip the horse. While they were whipping, Swami was feeling very badly. And moreover, it was approximately 11 o’clock in the morning. It was hot and the horses were sweating awfully while the boys were whipping them.
Swami said, “I don’t like it! I don’t like it!” Suddenly He got up and left the dais. What was a matter of fun for the boys was torture to Swami. What was a matter of loud applause and cheers to the audience was bothering to Bhagavan. He didn’t like it. So, animals are not simply animals. They belong to our family and deserve to be treated as such.
Animals are Divine
Once, Shirdi Sai Baba said to a lady, “I will come to your house tomorrow for lunch.” But He did not come at the appointed time. So in the evening, that lady came to Him and said, “Swami, you did not come! You promised that You would come. I got all the sweets ready.”
Swami said, “No, I came.”
“No Swami, You did not come.”
Then Swami showed His back, revealing black stripes. Swami laughed and said, “I came in the form of a dog, but you beat me. See the stripes on my back!”
So Shirdi Sai Baba said that He would come for lunch, and then showed the stripes on His back. When the dog was beaten, the stripes, the marks were seen on the back of Shirdi Bhagavan. This means that He was the dog. Yes, what do you say now? When the dog was beaten on its back, Shirdi Baba showed the marks on His back.
So, are animals just animals? No, they are Divine. They belong to our family. We cannot neglect them; we have to care for them.
Verses from Bhagavad Gita
For your reference, I will read out from the Bhagavad Gita, my friends. I am not going to read out the whole thing because I know that Sanskrit is not known to all, including me. So, I will just give you the references.
The fifth chapter, 18th sloka says clearly that the same God is present in a scholar, a dog, and an elephant.
The sixth chapter, 32nd sloka clearly says that if you have the same feeling as you have towards yourself for others also, that is spirituality. Just as you feel hurt when anything happens to you, if you have the same feeling towards others, that is spirituality. What hurts you would equally hurt others. What pains you would equally pain others. This is what is required for a spiritual man.
Sixth chapter, 9th sloka: The spirit of equality, the spirit of equanimity towards all creation, is true religion.
Fourteenth chapter, 24th sloka: That spirit of equal-mindedness in pleasure and pain is religion.
Twelfth chapter, 18th verse: Your same reaction towards an enemy and a friend is the quality of a devotee.
The sixth chapter, 29th verse explains clearly that there is God in every creature, in every being.
Sixth chapter, 19th verse: Unless you have the grace of God, you will not experience that awareness of the Divinity in everyone.
Seventh chapter, 7th verse: Just as a thread that binds flowers together, making a garland, so Divinity is the thread or attachment. Divinity is the One that brings the whole creation together, making a beautiful garland adorning the neck of the Creator.
The seventh chapter, 19th verse clearly says that real knowledge is the awareness of Divinity in the entire creation.
The eighteenth chapter, 20th verse says true knowledge is that which helps you to be aware of Divinity in the whole of creation.
I tell you, these are all the things that I collected from the Bhagavad Gita which tell us that God is present everywhere.
On the other hand, there is a chapter entitled Vibhuthi Yoga, where clearly God explains, “I am that, I am this.” In Vibhuthi Yoga, He says, “I am the sun; I am the Himalayan mountain; I am the moon; I am Time; I am the lion; I am the bird; I am Margaseera—the name of a certain month in the calendar year; I am the spring season among seasons; I am fire; I am the mountain; I am the tree; I am the horse; I am the serpent; I am the wind; I am the crocodile; I am the Ganges.”
Some may be wondering, “Why is this man speaking about plants, animals, planets, Bhagavad Gita, where He says, ‘I am that and this,’ and what not?”
The point is that the whole creation is one cosmic Divinity, one organic family.
Baba’s poem
What does Baba say in a poem?
Sukalaneau Brahma, Suryaundu Brahma.
Chandrudandalu Brahma, Jalamu Brahma.
Sukalaneau Brahma.
Stars are Divine.
Suryaundu Brahma.
Sun is God.
Chandrudandalu Brahma.
Moon is God.
Jalamu Brahma.
Water is God.
Sorgamanamu Brahma, Vaikuntam Athi Brahma.
Heaven is God.
Thalliu Brahma, Thandri Brahma.
Mother is God, Father is God.
Bhagyam Mananu Brahma, Vallabyam Adi Brahma.
Jevarasulu Brahma, Jeeveyu Brahma.
Jevarasulu Brahma, Jeeveyu Brahma.
All living creatures are Divine. The individual is Brahma.
Puttingchuttathe Brahma, Pushingchutathe Brahma.
Gittingchuttathe Brahma, Grihini Brahma.
Birth is Divine, Death is Divine.
Housewife is Divine, Master is Divine.
Kaalam Anthayau Brahma, Ee Shrustri Brahma.
(Arre arre arre! That is Baba!)
Kaalam Anthayau Brahma, Ee Shrustri Brahma.
Time is God. This creation is God.
Prakruthianthayum Brahma, Aashakthiyu Brahma.
Prakruthianthayum Brahma, Aashakthiyu Brahma.
Nature is Divine. This energy is Divine.
Sarvamunu Brahma, Ee Sabhayu Brahma.
Sathyamunu Delpu Baata Ee Saiye Maata,
Sathyamunu Delpu Baata Ee Saiye Maata.
Prakruthianthayum Brahma.
Nature is Brahma.
Sarvamunu Brahma.
The whole universe is Brahma.
Ee Sabhayu Brahma.
(Pointing to the whole congregation in Sai Kulwant Hall)
The whole assembly, the whole congregation is Divine.
Sathyamunu Delpu Baata Ee Saiye Maata.
This is the word of Bhagavan.
This is the truth of Sathya Sai.
Swami explains Divinity this way.
Baanudhechamukuntae Bassilnuchundunu,
Shines brighter than the sun,
Mansuthelupukante Mincheyundu Mansuthelupukante Mincheyundu,
Whiter, brighter than the white snow,
Aaksayamuna Kandae Akkisukshamaiyndu,
Sarvajeevunalona Parveyundu.
Aaksayamuna Kandae Akkisukshamaiyndu,
Subtler than space, lighter than space,
Sarvajeevunalona Parveyundu.
God is present in the entire creation, in all beings.
Paramathmane Ithi Paramavunu Laethu.
There is no atom without Divinity; there is no atom without God.
Anthata Nendi Thaan Antakundanundu.
Arre, arre! Those people who know Telugu please bear with my English translation. In translation, 50% of the beauty of the meaning is lost. Translation, after all, is a translation. Swami’s Telugu carries with it the beauty of the language.
If I were to translate Shakespeare into Telugu, English people would murder me! (Laughter) If I translate Milton into Telugu, you have to perform my last obituary rites! (Laughter) So, when you translate into English, some of the meaning is lost.
Paramathmane Ithi Paramavunu Laethu.
Anthata Nendi Thaan Antakundanundu.
There is no atom without God.
Though God is present in all, He is not attached.
Current is there in the bulb; but the bulb is not there in the current. The mike has got the flow of electricity, but the mike is not there in the electricity. That is what is meant by Anthata Nendi Thaan Antakundanundu.
Paramathma Santharshchaiya Baiva Vikaasamu,
Paramathma Santharshchaiya Baiva Vikaasamu,
Lokamu Moodintha Nelechiyundu.
Three fourths of this Divinity is responsible for the functioning
of this cosmos or the universe.
This is the quintessence, the bottom line, the punch line:
Brahmamandura Meeru Meelona Brahma.
Brahmamandura Meeru Meelona Brahma.
Meerae Brahmamdu Meerae Brahmamaiyu
Brahma Maiyulaku Meerae Brahmalaiyugathuru
Kaanea Kaanea
Mohaathikulakuta Kaanarairi
Mohaathikulakuta Kaanarairi
Once again:
Brahmamandura Meeru, Meelona Brahma.
You are in God, God is in you.
Brahmamandura Meeru.
You are in God.
Meelona Brahma.
God is in you.
Meerae Brahmamdu.
You are God.
So, God is in you, you are in God and you are God.
Arre…arre...arre…arre, see that!
Brahmamameeraeayyu,
Being God yourself,
Brahma Maiyulaku Meerae Brahmalaiyugathuru.
You are none other than Divine, none other than God.
Mohaathikulakuta Kaanarairi.
Because of this attachment, because of this body identification, because of this name and form, you are not able to understand that you are God, that you are Divine.
See how beautifully He puts it!
Once, He was reciting this poem, and I could not translate it; or at least, I did not do so. “Ah, ah, Swami, ah?” I hesitated.
“Yenu matala, cheppu cheppu!”
“Tell, tell, tell” He commanded.
“Swami, how shall I translate such a beautiful poetic style? How am I going to do justice to such beautiful language?”
“Cheppu, tell! Why do you say, ‘Ah, ah, ah, why?’ ”
I said, “Swami, I am not a machine, I am not a machine. The language that you are speaking is my mother tongue. I enjoy the beauty of the language. I enjoy Your talk. How can I translate mechanically, Swami?”
“Manjuthaiy. Mundu cheppu!”
“It is good. Come on, you can enjoy later. First, translate.” (Laughter) First, finish of your job, He said.
Visvamandu Vebudu Veluguchudanu,
Visvamandu Vebudu Veluguchudanu.
Vebudiyandu Velugu Visvam Eppudu,
Vebudiyandu Velugu Visvam Eppudu.
That’s what Swami says.
Visvamandu Vebudu Veluguchudanu.
All this light, all this bliss, all this delight is nothing but that of God.
It’s only God’s bliss that we experience; it is only God’s brilliance that we see.
Vebudiyandu Velugu Visvam Eppudu,
Vebudiyandu Velugu Visvam Eppudu.
The creation shines because of God, or else it is totally dark.
Vibudu Velugakonna Visvambu Veluguthu,
Vibudu Velugakonna Visvambu Veluguthu.
Minus God, there is no light, there is no power supply.
Now, what happens? It is time to leave the place; it is totally dark.
That’s what Swami said.
Swami’s Sanskrit slokas
Swami also composed a few Sanskrit slokas, which He rendered in the year 1973, during the summer course.
Bhaskarae Bindae Bitham Daivam.
Lochanamachae Sukam Daivam.
Bhaskarae Bindae Bitham Daivam.
We think it is the Sun that shines, no.
It is the Divinity in the sun that is responsible for the light.
Lochanamachae Sukam Daivam.
With the eyes, you are able to see; it is not the eye that sees.
It is the Divinity in the eye that sees.
Seethalakiranae Guptham Daivam.
The moonlight is so cool and comforting because of Divinity.
Thrigunitha Bhuvanae Vyaptham Daivam.
Bhaskarae Bindae,
Bhaskarae Bindae Bitham Daivam.
Arre, arre, Swami!
This is Sanskrit.
Thrigunitha Bhuvanae Vyaptham Daivam.
All the three worlds are pervaded by Divinity.
Aakhash Shamala Gaathrum Daivam.
Taaraaravichise Neethram Daivam.
Vyapaka Mandala Hasitham Daivam.
Paraavaara Swedam Daivam.
Bhaskarae Bindae.
The entire space is full of Divinity.
The planets, the stars, the galaxy are all Divine.
These are all Sanskrit verses composed by Bhagavan Himself.
Therefore my friends, the theme of this morning talk is Vasudaika Kutumbakam: We are all one family. In quintessence, in summary, it means there is only One that has manifested into many.
That One, our dearest Bhagavan, the only One, may He be with you forever and ever! Sai Ram. (Applause)
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