December 17th 2006
“Parallels between the Teachings of Jesus and Baba”
Part3
OM…OM…OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
This is the third talk relating to Christmas. For the past two weeks, we have been discussing the parallels between Christ and Sathya Sai Baba . . . in their mission, teachings, and biography as well. This is the third one. I think we will also have this same topic next Sunday in all probability. God willing, we will be winding up with it next week.
My friends, we often hear people saying that something is wrong with the world. Times have changed, people have changed, the whole world has changed . . . that’s what people say. But, actually speaking, to be most impartial, if we have got courage enough to accept the facts, there is nothing wrong with the world. The world is beautiful. The world is worth living in. The world needs no change because it has been good throughout.
Creation is the manifestation of the Creator. Creation therefore has got to be as beautiful and as interesting as the Creator Himself. Therefore, there is nothing to complain about in this world. The world is really beautiful. It needs no change at all. What should take place now is that we have to change. So, we have to change; there is nothing wrong with the world.
May this Christmas help us to introspect and bring about change within ourselves, so that we don’t have to complain that there is something wrong with this world. I repeat, the world is beautiful, and there is nothing wrong with it.
Living the Scriptures
So what is to be done now? Our prayer for this Christmas should not merely be to read the scriptures or observe the festivity; not merely to have special preparations or varied clothes; not merely to spend time in dancing and drinking, fun and frolic. This Christmas should signify to all of us to observe the teachings of the holy gospels in the Bible.
We have to live the teachings of the scriptures. Living the scripture is different from reading the scripture. One can read, read and read; but scriptures are not meant only to be read. The scriptures are meant to be lived. The fulfilment of any scripture lies in its implementation, not only in the preaching of it. Therefore, practice is to be emphasised more than preaching. We should put stress on living the scripture more than just going through the scripture. Let that be our decision as we celebrate Christmas.
The third point that I would like to draw your attention to is this: Peter loved Jesus so much, and all that love he could not contain in his small heart. The bliss was so bounteous. The bliss was so plentiful that he could not contain it in his small heart, which ultimately made Peter share his joy, revelation and experiences with everybody. Therefore, the one who loves God intensely, the one who experiences God infinitely, the one who receives His grace abundantly, starts sharing it with others.
There is nothing wrong with sharing with others. Apparently we may be condemned for the best reasons known only to one’s own self. But the possibility of sharing is something given only to humanity. Sharing is not there in the animal kingdom; it is not there in the plant kingdom, much less in any inanimate matter. It’s only given to mankind to share. Therefore, let this Christmas be an occasion to share our experiences with all our friends and with all our relatives in the neighbourhood, like Peter did.
Why Share Experiences?
Peter the great, who shared Revelation with everyone, was a role model to everybody. We should have the courage to do this too. Some people observe silence because they consider their experiences to be totally private and personal. Some people don’t share their experiences since they think that they are risking their reputations, and that they will be displeasing those who do not accept their viewpoint. So we do not share because of certain limitations of our own making.
It’s not necessary. We need courage to share our experiences with everyone. Not physical or psychological courage, but courage born of conviction, of thought. Courage born of conviction will make everybody share their own experiences.
Why should you share your experience? Why? The whole bookstall is full of thousands of books. Many more books are going to be added in the future. Sai experiences and Sai’s teachings have been published in almost all languages all over the world. Why? Why should you speak, why should you share, why should you write? Some are irritated by those who want to speak, to share and to write. They are indeed bothered.
But they do not understand the yearning of the person – how agonised he feels within, by keeping all the bliss inside himself. He cannot contain it. That’s the job of the prophets; that’s the job of the saints, seers and seekers. Bliss is different only in quantity; the quality of the bliss remains the same.
Therefore, we have to share. Why? For the simple reason that the bliss I enjoy has to be equally experienced by you. The mental peace I have is to be equally experienced by you. And the joy and thrill I feel today must equally be experienced by you too. So sharing experiences is not propaganda. Sharing scriptures is not a publicity stunt. Singing the glory of the Lord is not self-praise or self-glorification, much less selfishness. No!
So friends, understand the secret of my happiness; understand the secret of my health. Understand the reason for my blissful state. That is the background for any man to share his views, to share his thoughts, to share his experiences with his fellowmen. That background made Peter share his Revelation with everyone.
Recognise the Avatar
The fourth point, yes. It is very unfortunate that mankind does not recognise the Avatar, an Incarnation, or a prophet while He is alive, while He is in the physical form. We may be deluded, we may be mistaken; we may consider them as one with us, one amongst us – the same as ourselves. That’s the reason why the proverb says, “No prophet is recognised in his hometown.” No prophet is recognised. We don’t understand them.
Take the life of any of the great ones: Mohammed, Buddha, Jesus, or Adi Sankara. During their lifetime, no one recognised them. Maybe their physical frame deluded men. Maybe their common behaviour made those living then mistake them for ordinary people. So we are mistaken, we are deluded, when they are with us, amongst us, because they drink, eat, converse, dance and sing like any of us.
That’s the reason Baba always says, “Look here, I may be among you. I may look like you. My physical frame may be the same as yours; but what about My Divinity?” What about His power? What about His oceanic compassion? What about His infinite grace? What about His boundless Divinity? We cannot be simply carried away by the physical frame. This has been already happening over the ages.
Our good fortune
In spite of all our complaints regarding the modern age, in spite of all our misgivings about the contemporary world, one point has to be accepted in unequivocal terms. What is that? It is our good fortune that humanity, by and large, comparatively speaking, relatively speaking, has come to know of the Divinity of Bhagavan Baba. No other person in history is recognised in the contemporary society as much as, and by as many as Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It is our good luck. It is the Divine design. It is not your achievement or my achievement.
I often tell my friends and students, “Do not consider yourself great. Do not consider yourself unique. Never feel that you are privileged and talented. Come out of that magnetic orbit of self-greatness. Come into the electromagnetic field of Baba. Come into His orbit. Then you will know what you are. Nobody will trouble you. Nobody will bother about you.” Yes, it’s literally true.
Yes, the value of life lies in being with God. The value of life lies in the thought of God. The value of life lies in the company of God-loving people, not people who fear God. People who fear God are described as God-fearing. This is absurd, because God is not to be feared.
God is to be loved. We may fear the snake; we may fear a tiger or a lion. But is God like that? No. So this feeling of fearing God arises because of a guilty conscience, or because of an inferiority complex. But love is beyond fear. Love is fearless. Where there is fear, there is no love. Therefore, let us just revise our thought, our phrase, our nomenclature, our usage and our vocabulary. Let us say God-loving, instead of God-fearing.
Therefore, we are God-loving people, and thus it’s made possible for all of us to know and experience this Avatar, this Incarnation, in His physical form, as His contemporaries. This is a beautiful gift, a boon conferred on humanity.
Residents of Prashanti Nilayam
We do not realise our good luck. When some of the residents of Prashanti Nilayam go back to their native place for a holiday, they meet many, many people who congratulate them for their decision to stay here. Many people, thousands of people, may come to you and congratulate you saying, “How lucky you are to have stayed there!”
.
While being here, we do not understand this or we may forget it. However, once we are out there, we know what life here means. Therefore, my friends, acceptance of this Avatar in this lifetime is itself an achievement. We don’t have to look for any other achievement. This is the highest of achievements.
Instead of being told by someone else, instead of being regretful because of ignorance, instead of repenting for a lost opportunity — isn’t being here a fortune? Isn’t that a blessing? Isn’t that an attainment – to know Him, to live with Him, to converse with Him, to touch Him? What more? What more do we need? Therefore, we are indeed grateful to our Lord for having made it possible for all of us to realise His Divinity, and to experience Him at this moment in history.
What is it that you get in Prashanti NILAYAM?
At this point, I would like to draw your attention to this next idea: As we think of the Christmas celebration, some people ask me, “What has happened to me as a result of staying here for the past several years? What is it that I have gotten by staying here for a number of years?” My friends, this is a foolish question.
What is that you want to get? What is it that is worthwhile to get? A position? Yes, that’s there in the world. Property? Yes, that’s also there in the world. What is it that’s worthwhile getting? What is it that you want to get? What is it that you aim to get? So to ask the question, “What it is that I got by being here?” is to ask a foolish question, because there is nothing here to be ‘got’.
If you ‘get’ it, you will lose it. Why? ‘Getting’ something implies that you don’t have it already. “I want that”, means that I don’t have it now, but that I want it. I want to get it, as I don’t have it now. So getting is something like a promise of the future. But you are already Divine. You are already God. Tat Twam Asi — That Thou Art. Iyam Atma Bramha — You are the spirit, you are the soul, you are consciousness.
So, what is it that I ‘got’ here? You have acquired the awareness, you have ‘got’ the very idea, that you are not the body. What you have ‘got’ here is the feeling that you are not the mind. What is it you ‘got’? You got the conviction that you are beyond the body and the mind, that you are consciousness, that you are the spirit, that you are the soul, that you are eternal, that you are immortal, that you are blemish-less.
Awareness OF REALITY
All that you think you are (that you are the body and the mind) is an utter falsity. There is nothing true about it. This is not a realisation, nor is this an attainment. This wrong understanding of who we are is coming out of forgetfulness. We have forgotten our reality. So I am coming out of forgetfulness; I am coming out of the mask of total forgetfulness.
Now I live in awareness. What is it that I ‘got’? I got awareness. Awareness of what? Awareness of my true reality. What more? When compared to awareness, nothing is worthwhile in this world. The whole world may be given to you, but it is worthless. The whole world is actually worthless. Having this feeling of awareness, faced with the experience of awareness, before the knowledge of awareness, the whole world is worthless. Let that be the Christmas message to all of us, to put it in the words of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Silent Change within ourselves
My friends, I am sure all of you will agree with me when I say that there will be a silent change within us. We are used to loud declarations. We are used to open, conspicuous changes, a metamorphosis. We are used to sudden changes, a mutation. But this awareness of the Divinity, this awareness of consciousness, is so silent that you do not know it is happening.
I see. I can give you a clue. You don’t have as much temper as you had before coming here. You don’t have as many desires as you had in the past. You don’t have as many attachments as you had earlier. There is a silent change taking place of which you may not know or notice.
A simple example: If a friend meets you after two years, he will tell you, “Oh, you have totally changed! You have put on weight. In those days, you were so slim, so trim and so lean, and today — ho, ho! (Laughter) Today, you are so different.”
So, you did not know you were putting on weight because you were so busy adding to your weight! In front of the mirror, we look handsome (though no one agrees with us), which is not true. All those things that are false are so attractive. That’s why it is said that the truth is bitter. (Laughter)
When someone comes and tells me, “Anil Kumar, you look young,” I tell them that it is not a compliment. The statement itself, when you say, “You look young” means, “Dear fellow, you are not young, but you look young.” So to say that you look young is not a compliment. If you want to compliment say, “You are young and I am not.”
Therefore my friends, the point is that silent change within ourselves is better known to our friends, is better recognised in the neighbourhood, is better identified by a person who meets you after a gap of time — not one whom you meet every day.
I can give you thousands of examples. Many friends have said, “You know that man who settled in Prashanti Nilayam? When he was first here, we couldn’t touch him. We couldn’t face him — such an egoistic man. How he has mellowed here!”
I said, “Baba is the answer.”
Another man told, “See him? He was miser number one. But today, he is sacrificing a lot.”
He is with Swami. We understand. How these people were in earlier times is noticed by the people around them; yet those who are going through the process of change may not know how much they are changing. But people around them are noticing the change.
Spiritual Change is silent
In other words my friends, spiritual change is silent. Political change is shouting aloud. Spiritual change is permanent. Political change changes with the change of the government. Spiritual change is total. Political change is official . . . rules of the law, policy of the political party . . . but spiritual change is total; spiritual change is individual. Political change is societal, communal and national. Spiritual change is individual.
Individual change is noticed by others. You cannot notice it yourself, because the you does not exist when there is total spiritual change. I think you can follow me. So long as this I-ness exists, as long as I am there, as long as (the ego) I and the body and the mind are there, I will know. When once this I-ness is gone, when once I know I am not the body, when once I realise I am not the mind, then this I-ness of ego is gone. Then who is there? What is to be known?
Therefore, spiritual change is not to be known. Political change is to be known, in order to continue in politics. Political change must be known, in order to win in elections. But spiritual change goes unnoticed. So there is this silent, spiritual revolution. Spiritual change is silent spiritual revolution.
Who asked you to come to Prashanti NILAYAM?
Here’s a simple example: Suddenly, a man comes and walks on the dais and he says, “I am going to give 1 crore to the Super Specialty Hospital.” Who made him say that? Who prompted him to say that? All of a sudden, a person decides to come here. Who asked him to come? Who prompted him? Tell me that.
Who asked us to gather here? No, it is all done silently. Did anybody tell us that we should be here for darshan or we are going to be fined? If you are not going to come here, are you going to be punished or put behind bars? Who asked you to come here reluctantly? If you like it, that’s fine. If you don’t like it, you are welcome to go back. But we all feel like coming.
The funny thing is this: The reality is quite bitter. Though complaining, people don’t go. They say, “This is not right. That is not right.”
“Okay. Please go.”
But they will not go. They will say, “I don’t have this. I don’t have that. I have lost this, and I have lost that. This fellow is like this, that woman is like that. Things should be different!”
“Please go.” But they won’t go! (Laughter)
Why? It is the Will of God. You may complain about people. You may complain about the system. Things may not happen in accordance with your preferences. You may find the surroundings not in tune to your liking or choices; but you don’t leave. Ninety percent of the people are like that! (Some have the guts to declare it and some do not.)
You ask him, “Are you happy?”
“What is this?” (Mumbling)
“I see. Please go. I will give you the train times. Please go. The times are there.”
“No, no!”
That is spiritual change. Anything that has physical change, you can certainly manipulate. Mental change, you can also manage. But spiritual change you can neither manipulate nor manage nor avoid. It is there. We are not to question why or to reason why. You are that. You are there. That’s all.
Therefore, the very fundamental fact that there is spiritual change silently taking place within each one is a revelation, something to look forward to. Let us allow this spiritual change, which has always been there, to gain full momentum from this Christmas onwards. And let us allow this Christmas to be a message to all our Christian brothers and sisters. As we know, out of our human population, our global population, one fourth are Christians.
Baba and Christianity are complementary
By following Baba's teaching, by listening to Baba's gospel, by following whatever Baba wants us to do, our Christianity is renewed and refreshed. Our Christianity is rejuvenated, and will actually be lived in our day-to-day life situations. Our Christianity will no longer be there as a particular faith or belief. We will understand that Christianity is life; Christianity is a way of life. Therefore, Baba and Christianity are complementary, not opposing. Hence, Christianity will be renewed with a new life, leading to transformation among Christians.
Therefore, the meaning of Christmas to all non-Christians is something to be learnt and grasped, something to be emulated. Christmas expresses the messages of the love of Christ and the sacrifice of Christ. This message of the love of Jesus Christ is to be learnt by the people of all religions. In fact, Christmas is a celebration for all of humanity. Christ is universal, while Christianity is a religion. We Sai devotees observe and celebrate Christmas and Christ as universal.
ForgIVE and ForgET
Christ belongs to everybody. That’s our way of celebration. We learn from the life of Jesus Christ about the principle of love. The very basic idea -- to forgive and forget — this very metaphor is the foundation of the life of Jesus Christ. To forgive and forget. That’s what Bhagavan is always telling us, “Forgive and forget.”
“No, I am not one to forget.”
“Okay. You lead the life of a snake that never forgets, a life that is highly vengeful.”
“I will not forgive!”
“Okay. Then you will not be forgiven tomorrow.”
Therefore my friends, to forgive and forget carry the very meaning of life. These are the two very great Divine qualities found in every great man. If you are worthy of any religion, if you and I deserve to be called followers of any religion, more so followers of Baba, we must forgive and forget. We should show in practice this fundamental principle of forgiving and forgetting. Then only we can call ourselves ‘theists’ or religious people. You may be a man of religion, but you are not religious if you cannot forgive and forget.
What is THE Golden Age?
That brings me to another point -- the guiding force for all of us, as we celebrate Holy Christmas this year. As I said last week, the Golden Age is something that we expect.
Many people ask me, “Sir, Baba referred to the Golden Age. When is it going to come? When can we expect it? January 1st, 2007? What do you mean by Golden Age?”
I answered this last week. But it may be worthwhile to repeat it. Golden Age is the age of satisfaction. Golden age is the age of sacrifice. Golden Age is the age of contentment. Golden Age is the time of sharing, caring and loving. That is how we have to view the Golden Age. Not in terms of the metal gold.
The metal gold is so cheap when compared to the golden Divine qualities. Such qualities are much greater than the metal gold. Only these qualities add real value to our life. It is something like the glitter of diamonds or gold. Just as shining glitter adds value to a diamond and adds value to gold, so the human qualities add glitter and glamour to the human personality.
Therefore, once again, what is the Golden Age? The Golden Age is the age when all the teachings are practiced. That’s what Baba wants from each one of us. Baba always tells us, “It’s most essential that you practice, not merely speak.” Therefore, let this Christmas be an occasion when we decide we will practise and live His teachings.
Understand the Divinity of Bhagavan Baba
If we ignore this, what is going to happen? Yes, some people do not realise that we are the contemporaries of the greatest and noblest of all: Bhagavan Baba is an ideal human. Bhagavan Baba is an ideal teacher, an ideal friend, an ideal parent. He is all idealism embodied in a physical frame, and is called Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
If we do not understand this, if we ignore this, this is what will happen. It is something like a passenger who misses the train, or who misses the bus, or who misses the flight. If you miss the flight, what will be your plight? If you miss your train, what would you gain? In short, you miss your chance. Similarly, when we ignore the Divine person amidst us, when we ignore the value of the Divinity in front of us, we are the losers -- no one else.
Suppose you decide later, “I want to know,” then it is too late. The doors are closed. The holy Bible speaks of an analogy: When the bridegroom comes, if the bride is not ready, the door is closed, and he may never return. So, keep your lights ready, keep your lamps burning, to receive the bridegroom before it is too late.
Recognise the Jesus amidst us
Therefore, this kind of awakening should be present, so that we don’t have to repent later when it is too late. We should also celebrate Christmas because we have a chance to live and talk to the Jesus amidst us. The Jesus amongst us is readily here right now. It is a beautiful chance to see Him and enjoy His presence. If it does not happen now, what will happen?
Future generations will introduce you, “Here is my grandfather who lost the chance. Here is my grandfather who missed the bus. Here is the grandfather who lived the life of a fool. Let me not be like him.” Let not the future generations blame us for our foolishness, for our Himalayan ignorance.
Therefore, what is life? I ask biology students, “What is life?” They speak of it in terms of physiology, anatomy, blood circulation, neurology and biology.
I ask, “What is life? I am not a scientist to hear from you your entire lecture. Just tell me in one word what is life, or at least in one sentence if you can.”
The answer is so simple. What is life? Life is here, now. That’s all.
If you ask anybody, “Where is God? Who is God?” they will say, “I will give you a lecture this evening at 6:30.”
I will say, “Thank you, but we don’t want your lecture. We suggest you write a thousand-page book. Keep it as a pillow to go to sleep on.”
So, we don’t want to read such volumes. We don’t want to listen to talks for days and hours. No. Tell me in one word, who is God? Where is God?
The answer is this: God is here now. Life is here now. God is here now as Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Let us understand that. If we do not understand the here and now, when are we going to understand it? Where are we going to find it? Therefore, we should not be a late-comer and give future generations a chance to blame us.
Beware of Impostors
At the same time, I am warning my fellow seekers not to be carried away by impostors. They are the people who claim. Let us not be carried away by those who claim.
You know, there are many people who dress like Sathya Sai Baba. Yes, it can be arranged. So, what is there? Yes, the dress is available. But you cannot be Him by mere dress — impossible! By having stripes on my body, I can never become a tiger – impossible! A pig may be fat, but it can never be an elephant. That is the meaning of a poem that Baba has told.
So let us be careful not to be carried away by impostors, those who imitate Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Imitation is a sign of weakness. There are some people who want to imitate. You imitate because you are not creative. You imitate because you are not original. You imitate because you are full of emptiness or gaps, lacuna; there is a vacuum within you. Imitation is so cheap. So my friends, let us not be carried away by impostors who imitate Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
No one can tell exactly what Baba said
Let us not be carried away by people who say, “Baba told me in my dream to tell you this.” Why should He tell you to tell me? He can tell me directly! (Laughter)
There are some people who say, “Baba will possess me. It is Baba who speaks through me, do you understand?”
We can tell him, “Please consult a psychiatrist!”
Or they will say, “He can speak to my inner voice within me.”
I don’t need you! Why? Because you will dilute what is said, even if any of it were to be true. Anything that comes through a medium cannot be 100% correct. Even if Swami mentions three points, the medium will say only two or four, never the correct three.
I have yet to meet a person who reports exactly 100% of all that is transacted in the interview room. Because of ego, we may add; because of weakness, we may delete; because of suspicion, we may omit. For example, Swami tells me, “You are a fool.” I don’t tell you that. I will tell you, “God gave me this ring.” While giving me the ring, He will tell me, “You are a fool.” But I don’t tell you that.
So our mind is a censor board; our mind acts as an ‘immigration checkpoint’. You tell that which gives you a good name; you tell that which establishes you in society -- your name and fame. Therefore my friends, don’t be carried away by anybody who tells you, “Swami told me to tell you,” or, “Swami speaks through me.”
I am also afraid that if I speak further, I may mention a name. I tell everybody, “The world knows of BBC – the British Broadcasting Corporation, and also ABC — the Anil-Kumar Broadcasting Corporation. (Laughter) I cannot hide anything within myself. Impossible, impossible! That is the trouble with me. That’s how I get into trouble!
There is one lady who told me, “You know, I had lunch with Swami.” Oh ho! Another time she told me, “Swami invited me and Abdul Kalam for lunch.” Oh ho! And she showed all the jewels given by Baba. What shall I say? And also she has a following. (Every fool will have foolish followers . . . why not?) What shall I do? I know her. Twenty-five years ago, she was normal. She was good. Suddenly, she decided to be a guru. Therefore, “I had lunch with Swami and Abdul Kalam.”
Then I said, “Out of all my countrymen, I feel very sorry for you.”
She said, “What! Why do you feel sorry for me?”
“You were alright twenty years ago. But now, all of a sudden, you had lunch with Baba. Perhaps you have imagined your house is Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the White House, official residence of the President. And you must have imagined that man dining with you to be Abdul Kalam. Baba is already there in your heart. Baba is already actually eating with you. Please stop this nuisance.” That’s what I told her, “Be normal.”
But some people want to be abnormal, because they think that religion is something which is abnormal. Religion is not abnormal. Religion is not unnatural. Religion is that which is normal and natural.
Suddenly, Swami spoke to a post-graduate student. I know him. He used to talk to him every couple of days, and He used to call him for packing and distributing food. This fellow thought he was abnormal (special), and started walking in a different style. (Laughter) He started looking in a different way, with the eyelids up. (Laughter)
I felt sorry for him. I watched this fellow for a sufficiently long period. Then one day I decided that it was time that I chat with him: “Your parents have sent you here, expecting you to return with a doctorate degree or a master’s degree. They don’t want to see you turn into a madcap. You are totally mad, my dear friend.”
He said, “Why sir, why do you say so?”
“Your walking is not normal. Your looks are not normal. And your silence is not an empty silence. You are too talkative a fellow. Now suddenly, you started observing silence. Your parents will cry; they won’t celebrate. Be normal. Be what you are.”
Therefore my friends, talking too much of inner promptings . . . please keep it to yourself. You may be mad, but why do you want to make others also mad? Madness seems to be contagious in the field of religion. Ordinary madness isn’t contagious, isn’t infective; but a religiously mad fellow can make it highly infective. Therefore, let us not be carried away by such false claims.
Baba will convey directly to you
If Baba wants to convey anything to you, He will choose to convey it to you all by Himself. He does not need any other medium. Some people say, “Sir, Swami told me this; could you please explain?”
“He told you. Who am I to explain? When I explain, the meaning may be lost. When I explain, what really applies to you may not be communicated. Your situation is not known to me.”
Then he asks me, “What shall I do?”
“Pray. Baba will let you know the meaning of it.”
So my friends, let us not ask anybody for the meaning of what Baba may tell you. Let us not go by somebody else’s opinion. Let us not mistake anyone as a medium of Sathya Sai Baba. Let that be the firm decision that we take during Christmas. Because the Bible clearly said, “Beware of the anti-Christ.” Anti-Christ refers to impostors, imitators, those who make false claims.
How to know ONE is Genuine?
How do you know when one is genuine? The one who accepts the Son, the one who accepts the Father, is genuine. It means that the one who accepts the Divinity of God is genuine. The one who accepts the Divinity of God will never say, “I am that, I am this; I want to tell you this; Swami speaks through me.” He will never say those things.
Therefore, it is clearly said that the one who denies the Father and the Son is an anti-Christ. John, chapter 1, verses 18 to 23, clearly says that the anti-Christ is the one who denies the Father and the Son. Everyone who accepts the Son, believes in the Father also. This only means that once we accept the Divine, we will never run after impostors. So, beware of the false prophets.
Some people say, “Okay sir, I am also constructing a hospital.” There are many hospitals. Because you are constructing a hospital, you cannot say, “I am Sathya Sai Baba.” Because you start a college, you cannot be a Sathya Sai Baba. No.
“Beware of false prophets,” says the holy Bible, “because they come in sheep’s clothing, giving you a false appearance. But inside, they are wolves, while outside they wear the skin of the sheep.” The holy Bible says that very clearly.
Then, how do you know when one is genuine? The Bible clearly says, “You will know them by their fruits.” You will know them by their fruits — their compassion, their kindness, their tolerance, their sacrifice, their simplicity and their humility. These are the qualities -- the fruits -- that will prove the genuineness of the true Divinity, as the holy Bible clearly says.
Oneness between Jesus and Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba
I can also tell you, Emmanuel is a name that you come across in the holy scripture. What do you mean by Emmanuel? Emmanuel means ‘God is with us’. Baba clearly says, “God is within you, below you, above you, around you, in you.” Emmanuel.
See the parallels. See the identities. Watch for the similarities. Let us be happy with the oneness of the teachings between Jesus Christ and Sathya Sai Baba. Let us not measure, let us not estimate. Let us not decide, let us not judge, because that is all a sign of ego. That which judges, that which gauges, that which establishes parameters, is the ego. No, no, no. Let us see the oneness that is there.
My covenant will not change
At one time, it was Jesus Christ who said, “My covenant will not change. Let there be rain or floods, My covenant will not change.”
Bhagavan Baba said, “Let all the seven seas come. Let all the people turn against Me; but what I decide will happen. Nothing can come in My way.” That is what Baba said.
People thought, at one time, that the university would be impossible. But it became a reality subsequently. The latest construction, the indoor stadium . . . we know its progress during construction time. Everybody doubted its completion. Everybody doubted its inauguration; but yet, He got it done, because that Divine Will will happen. (Applause)
Nothing can deter, nothing can come in the way of the Divine will. “My covenant will not change,” said Jesus Christ. Some years earlier, it was war-time and people said it was not possible to hold a conference.
Baba said, “It will be held.” What happened a few days before the inauguration of the conference? A cease-fire, a no-war pact, between India and Pakistan! The all-India conference went on, as willed by Bhagavan. “My covenant will not change.” “My Will will not change. What I decide will happen.” declares Bhagavan Baba.
Then Elijah is a character from the holy Bible. This Elijah sent his secretary, “Please go; we want rain now. Please go there and see if there is rain.”
The secretary returned and told Elijah, “Master, there is no rain there.”
Elijah tells the secretary, “Now you go once again.”
“Master, still no rain.”
Elijah made his disciple go to the distant land seven times to see if there was rain. The seventh time, the disciple returned and told Elijah, “Master, I see a little cloud there. Everything is dry. The sky is clear. There is a little cloud there.”
Elijah jumped in joy, “There will be rain now!”
My friends, the little cloud of promise, the little cloud of happiness, the little cloud of hope, the little cloud of cure, the little cloud of promotion, the little cloud of solace, the little cloud of comfort, the little cloud of support is enough to carry on the rest of our lives. That is the story to be learnt from this Elijah’s episode.
Rewrite — TRY AGAIN
I can also tell you there is another character in this holy Bible. He tells his secretary to go to the king and tell the future of the king. So the secretary goes to king with a book that has a number of writings in it, and tells the King, “This is your future.”
But the king refused to hear it. He didn’t pay any heed at all. When this man went and said, “Oh King, this is going to happen to you” the king refused to hear it. In fact, he was removing each page and burning it. And so, the book was burnt.
The secretary returned and said “Master, the king refused to read it. In fact, he burnt every scripture I took to him.”
His master told him, “Don’t worry, my boy. Write the whole book again.” The book was burnt; but the master wanted him to write the book again. It is a lesson to all of us.
As humans, we may have failed. Why might? We have failed. Every Christmas we make decisions. Every New Year we make resolutions; yet not even one is implemented. Years have rolled by, time is passing on, birthday celebrations galore, yet not even one resolution has been implemented. That may be true with everybody. Honest people will confess.
Therefore, we have failed, but God is so merciful. Rewrite, rewrite. Write again and again. Try again, try again. That is the greatness of our merciful Lord. Therefore, that master wanted the whole book to be re-written because it was burnt by the foolish king, who refused to know the future.
Similarly, we may neglect the scriptures; we may neglect the holy word of our master. We may neglect the teachings of our master; yet God gives us a chance. Write again, hear again, and don’t worry. Let that be a hopeful, helpful suggestion from the holy scripture to all of us this morning, as we celebrate the holy Christmas from now on.
Freedom is self-control and obedience to God
We want freedom. People want freedom. What kind of freedom is it?
Freedom, as defined in the holy scripture, means two points: self-control and obedience to God. Obedience to the word of God and self-control is what freedom has meant. But we think of economic freedom, political freedom -- all kinds of freedom may be at your beck and call. But it is no freedom at all. It’s bondage. You are chained much more than before. The real freedom lies in being free totally, which is attained by exercising control over one’s self.
Totally submitting (surrendering) into the hands of God, and having obedience to the word of God — let us try to move in this direction. (With the short time left, I beg of you to continue to stay for a short time more, because this is very interesting.)
The Book of Revelation, chapter 19, tells you all these things. For those people who doubt the Divinity of this place and the Divinity of Bhagavan, who question themselves about the sanity of their decision to come here, for those who expect something else and feel frustrated, the Book of Revelation, chapter 19, is helpful.
In the book of Revelation, chapter 19, it is said that Christ will come again. The Bible was not written today (meaning, recently). The Bible is not a newspaper communication. It was written a long, long time ago. The Bible is also called ‘the Book’. We don’t call every book, ‘the Book’. So ‘the Book’, which is a revelation composed long ago by prophets, clearly tells this point: Christ will come again.
THE Second Coming of Christ
For what you call the Cosmic Christ or the second coming of Christ, the prophets have given you certain indications; they have given you certain signs. How will you know Him? How will you meet Him? When I meet someone new, I have to show my identity card. When I go for my interview, I show my registration, my certificate . . . don’t you think so? How do you identify Jesus when He comes back? How do you identify the second coming of Jesus Christ?
I am giving you information right from the scripture itself. First, it says that there is a mole on the right cheek, a mole on the elbow . . . just as Christ had certain signs to identify Him when He was born. To identify the One to be born, the Book says, “. . . whose name is Truth.” When Christ is reborn, His name is Truth. Truth in Sanskrit is sathya — Sathya Sai Baba. In the second coming of Jesus Christ, as said in the book of Revelation, His name shall be Truth. That is what it says in the scripture.
Second point: “Crowned with many crowns.” Not a crown of metal or gold. It’s the crown of hair. Every hair is a crown . . . crown of crowns. The hair is a crown. What style is it? The crown of crowns is the second identification.
And third: “Whose eyes could be a flame of fire.” Just watch His eyes. Watch His eyes, particularly when He watches His devotees, particularly when He calls some for an interview. They flash. This is the third identification mark.
Next the book of Revelation says, “He wears red robes” — see that! If we still deny and don’t believe it, what else could be more misfortunate than that? What else can be more miserable than this — when the scriptures say these are the identification marks, and we cannot identify them?
Next, the book of Revelation says, “From whose mouth proceeds a two-edged sword” —meaning a direct point. When we speak, we beat about the bush. We cannot convey anything straight. When Swami speaks, it’s straight, that’s all. “Help ever, hurt never.” We don’t need any thousand page commentary. “Speak softly, sweetly.” Do you need an honours degree to explain that? Straight and simple is another mark of Divinity, the second coming of Jesus Christ.
The next point: “Armies dressed in white linen.” We know army people have their own dress, but Sathya Sai Baba is also surrounded by an army. It is a peace army. It is not an army with a barrel and a gun and a bullet. It is an army with a different kind of gun and bullet. The body is the gun. Therefore, this army has the white dress — the students, the seva dals and the devotees who want to wear the white dress. We find many, many people. Yes, you are all an army, a sufficient battalion.
Yes, it is also clearly mentioned here. At this moment, I can tell you He has a name. He has a name which only He knew. I see. That’s what Baba said. In the year 1940 on 20th October He said, “I am Sathya Sai Baba.” No one had heard of the Sai Baba name at that time, because He only knew His name; whereas we are named by our parents. We name our children. But He only knows His name. That is another sign of identification.
So my friends, there are a few more points to share with you. Let us celebrate Christmas in a holy way, in a spiritual way, in a joyful way. Let us lead our lives with hope and promise, not with frustration and depression. Let us know that God is our refuge. Our security lies at His Feet. Our health is in His hands, our wealth is His gift. Our intelligence is His. Therefore, with a spirit of surrender, with a spirit of hope, with all respectfulness, let us celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Sai Ram. Thank you very much.
May Bhagavan bless you . . . Sai Ram.
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
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji ki. JAI!