December 24th, 2006
“Parallel between the Teachings of Sai Baba and Jesus”
(Part 4)
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This is the last in this series of talks, given on Christmas Eve. We have been studying the parallels between the Christian scriptures and Bhagavan’s teachings. We are establishing the identity and unity between the two.
Bhagavan stands for the unity of religions, universal congregation of worship; and it is in this direction we are making an honest attempt, going deeply into the subject. This being the last in this series let us add altogether a new dimension this morning.
We prayerfully and respectfully look forward to Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas, which happens to be the birth of Jesus Christ, is to be welcomed not only as a historic event that happened in the past. In fact, the ‘birth of Jesus Christ’ is to happen in the lives of every one of us, all over the world. This ‘birth’ of Jesus Christ is the birth of love in our hearts, and Christmas indicates the birth of self-sacrifice in our hearts. Therefore, my friends, Christmas is a symbol of sacrifice and love. The moment love finds a place in our heart – that is the true celebration of Christmas. It is from this angle we welcome the Christmas celebration.
It is clearly said in Isaac 9:6:
“For to us a child is born; to us a son is given.
And the government will be on his shoulders
and he will be called wonderful counsellor,
mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
To be born as Christ is to be born a Prince of Peace and a wonderful counsellor. As Bhagavan talks to individuals, as Bhagavan grants interviews to groups or leaders or heads of governments, He counsels them, advises them, and gives them direction in their lives. Wherever Bhagavan is, there is peace abiding, there is bliss bountiful. Bhagavan’s presence is bliss; Bhagavan’s conversation is peace. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, is naturally experienced today by all Sai devotees.
It is clearly stated that Jesus Christ will help us to redeem ourselves or get liberated from this bondage of life. That’s the reason why we call him ‘Jesus the Redeemer’. It was Lord Krishna who said in Bhagavad Gita:
Moksha ishyami ma shuchah.
“I grant you moksha or liberation.”
It is liberation that God grants us. It is a gift of God to all of us.
In Isaac 44:6 it is said:
“What the Lord says is right, King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty.”
Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: My friends, while Swami was talking to a group of devotees, He told many, many names of the people who belonged to a place He visited long ago--say, for example, East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. He visited that place a number of times in the past, some fifty years ago. He remembers them by name, every one of them!
Someone asked, “Swami! How do You remember us?”
Besides this, to those who are given interview for the first time, Swami says, “I know you.”
“Swami, I have come here for the first time. How do You know me?”
“I know you!”
He knows you for the past several lives, because He is the past, present and future. It is clearly said in Isaac, once again:
“I am the first and I am the last. Apart from me, there is no God.”
It means He is time, He transcends time, He is the master of time and He is the knower of all--nothing can be hidden from Him.
Once a person started crying, “Bhagavan, You don’t know me? Swami, why don’t You look at me?”
He was a very famous singer from Andhra Pradesh named Ghantasala, a playback singer of the film world who will be remembered for a long time, there is no doubt about it. When Swami neglected him, he felt so badly that he started crying. He composed a song all by himself which is still very popular – our students also sing it in the Divine Presence. That artist was feeling so sorry not merely for being neglected but because others were feeling very sad about it, so he had to feel sorry in front of them. All his name and fame were humbled, gone!
Then, he composed a song:
Nalugurilo nanu nagubaatu che
Yaga naa sai nanu chera raadaye
Nannalarinche velaye naa sai nanu chera raadaye
“Swami, why do You mock me? Why? Why do You make me feel humiliated in front of all these people? They know me as a playback singer for four decades! And now You neglect me? What will happen to my name, what will happen to my popularity, my Lord?”
And then, out of desperation, he was lying on his bed, wearing only a towel. He was very sick—having come to this place as a last wish. He was totally frustrated not only because he was neglected, but also because he was humiliated and insulted in front of the general public. Such a famous playback singer!
All of a sudden, after bhajan he finds the door opening...
The door opens, and Swami comes close to him. This man is a writer and a composer too. He immediately composed a song:
Yentha hayi yentha hayi eenadu
Mandahaasa vadanamu tho palikarinchinaadu
Yentha hayi yentha hayi eenadu
“What a joyous day it is!
The Lord has come!
What a joyous day it is!”
Jesus has come down on earth to confer countless blessings on me, to make me smile, to restore my health; God has walked into my room.
“Kanulu kayalu kaache vela”
“O God! I have been waiting for you, waiting for you for long. Now you have come!”
That’s what Baba is--wherever Swami is, there is peace. Wherever Swami is, there is comfort, solace, peace, prosperity, health and happiness--nothing less than that. That’s what Jesus Christ is. As the Lord walks along the lines of the devotees, their hearts start dancing; they are ecstatic!
It’s also quite clear, my friends, Jesus has said we have to repose total faith in Him. Those who pray to Him will be answered. Their desires will be fulfilled because they have no other refuge in this world.
Somebody said yesterday, “Mr. Kumar, Swami is not looking at me.” (Laughter)
I said, “Why do you say ‘me’? You are representative of all of us. He is not looking at anybody, yet everybody. What shall we do?” (Laughter)
He said, “Would you please ask Him?”
“What should I ask Him?” If He is not looking at me, can I say look at him at least? (Laughs) Is that possible? (Laughter) Impossible!
Then I said, “My boy, Swami always looks after us. He will not simply look at us. He looks after us.”
When Swami is looking after us, day in and day out, we have come here to look at Him. Let us look at Him, as He looks after us day in and day out. If He didn’t look after us, you and I would not be here. So, we have come here to look at Him. Then you may ask me, why should I look at Him? I look at Him so that I may feel Him within me. I see Him outside to feel Him within – inside – while He looks after me, within and without, inside and also outside.
Therefore, a prayer – a genuine prayer – will always be answered. Once a person was sitting in a garden, crying, “Bhagavan, I had Your darshan long back, at least one-and-a-half years ago I saw you, Swami. I am not able to bear the pain. How long should I pass through this punishment? The pangs of separation are extremely painful.”
Feeling sad, with tears rolling down his cheeks, suddenly he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. He looked back and found Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba! “My child, why do you cry? I am always with you. I am always with you. Why do you feel sad that you have not come to Me for the last one-and-a-half years? You don’t have to come to Me, because I am in you. I have come to you. You don’t have to come to Me because I am in you.” Therefore, my friends, Christmas is an occasion to feel Him within us, to find identity with Him and to know that we are not separate from Him. That is the message of Christmas.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate God and to know about Him, with this limited understanding, with this limited reasoning power that man is gifted with. My friends, worldly things may be understood by our logic, but God is not given to logic. God is given to love. So, let us give place to love and not to logic. God is not given to any kind of experiment. “Let me experiment on God by putting Him in a test tube.” That’s impossible. You cannot do experiments with God; you can only experience Him. God is given to experience, not to an experiment.
With all our intelligence, rationality, reasoning and scientific temperament, we may try to investigate, we may try to analyse; but God is not given to analysis. Any length of analysis is just a waste of time. You cannot analyse Him, you have to realise Him. May this Christmas help us to realise Christ, the Redeemer! May this Christmas help us to experience Christ, the Protector! May this Christmas help us to feel Him within, always, rather than expect Him in physical frame in front of us.
When people stretch their hands to touch Baba’s Feet, that’s the reason why (you must have heard) He says, “Do it inside, do it inside.” When you offer your salutations to Him inside, it means that it will reach Him. You put the letter inside the postbox, and it goes to the addressee. You put the letter inside the postbox, not outside the postbox, right? So, do namaskaar inside the postbox of human body. (Laughter) That will go to the addressee, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Prashanti Nilayam. That is the kind of sadhana or spiritual practice we have got to start doing, at least now. Better late than never! Let this Christmas be the beginning of such spiritual practices.
It is clearly said in Isaac 55:8-9:
“How could man’s limited reasoning power
comprehend the inconceivable motives of uncreated Absolute?”
Some people ask me, “Why is Baba not walking?” How can I answer that? He is not walking, so you are asking the question; but you want me to answer. But I don’t know! You ask Him. Did you ask yourself why was He walking earlier? (Laughter) Had you asked this question earlier, “Why are You walking?” then you have freedom to ask, “Why are You not walking now?” Therefore, my friends, we cannot expect to know the inconceivable motives of the uncreated Absolute. What a sentence it is! How can you explain the Divine design? How can you explain the Divine plan?
Therefore, ‘not to question why’ is the spiritual path. It is in front of us now.
Some people ask me, “Why all this? Why did God create you and me?” (Laughter) “Why should you make me suffer? Why should you make me cry? Why me alone?” (Laughter)
So, you don’t mind if others cry? (Laughter) Very good! You are truly a spiritual man! (Laughter) Why me alone! So, let everybody cry, doesn’t matter. My friends, these are very silly questions. Why this creation? Why?
Here is a simple answer: You have seen children playing along the seashore. They gather sand and make a small hut. They jump in joy whistling and singing. The next moment, they kick the hut they built and jump again in joy. The same smile when the hut is made, the same music when the hut is totally demolished. Children enjoy this play; therefore it’s called ‘child’s play’. The child cries, then the next moment the child laughs; whereas you and I don’t cry. But if we do cry, we don’t stop. (Laughter)
Our cries go deeply into our hearts and precipitate, crystallize, solidify into revenge, retaliation, retort. That’s what we do, whereas children are not like that. They smile, cry, dance, sing, and play again – that is child’s play. Do you ever ask, “Oh child, why do you cry?” The child will say, “You can also cry with me!” (Laughter)
Child’s play has no reason, no logic. Child’s play cannot be explained; it has to be enjoyed. Child’s play has to be watched—it’s delightful. Child’s play is a matter of fun and frolic.
Therefore, my friends, experience clearly tells us that we cannot explain the reason behind God’s creation. It is clearly said in the Book of Revelations 4:11:
“O Lord, Thou hath created all things
and for Thy pleasure, they all are and were created.”
The whole creation is the pleasure of God – what we call the Will of God or Daiva Sankalpa. Why? That’s it. There is no reason – no question of why! Just as I said, it is like ‘child’s play’, but this is God’s play. You and I, on the other hand, don’t play. We play the game, but we are selfish. In a game, there is winning and losing, rules and regulations. Play has no rules and regulations—it is full of fun, that’s all. Therefore, the whole creation is nothing but God’s play, and He created the whole thing for His pleasure.
I would like to draw your attention to another thing that Bhagavan has said: “If you follow Me, you will certainly be happy, you are sure to be blissful, you are sure to be liberated.” “Yoga kshemam vahamyaham,” it is said in the Bhagavad Gita, meaning it is My responsibility to take care of yoga, that is deservedness, and kshema, that is safety.
Yoga is something like conferring a boon, a reward; kshema is safety and security. Both should go together. A simple example: Suppose I have yoga to become a government minister. Yes, I have become a minister; but there is no kshema or security there, because the next day the government may fall. So, you have the yoga to become a minister, but no kshema to continue and complete the full term.
Suppose I have one house, my own yoga. But there is no kshema, because someone occupied it and they don’t pay rent (Laughter) – so, no kshema. Therefore, yoga and kshema should go together. By conferring the boon as well as its safety and security, its longevity should continue. Therefore, we have to understand that if we follow God’s command, there is yoga, the conferring of all that we pray for, and kshema – its continuity is ensured.
That’s why in John 8:31-32 it is said:
“If you hold to My teachings, you are really my disciples.”
“If you hold to my teachings…” means not running after the car, not fighting for first line, not jumping over others, not coming out of the queue and sitting on the heads of other fellows! (Laughter) “Follow My teachings,” that’s what He said.
We crave to be near the physical form; we die to see Him physically. But we ignore practicing His teachings. It is clearly said that unless His teachings are followed, we can never be liberated, we can never be blissful. Therefore, the Lord says, unless you follow My teachings, you cannot be happy. If you hold to My teachings, you are really my disciples. We cannot call ourselves Baba’s devotees if we do not follow His teachings.
“Then yes, you will know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free.”
What a statement this is! “Then you will know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free.” Baba’s teachings are the very metaphor and personification, the very life and spirit of liberation. That is the truth. Baba says:
Aham Satya Bodhakah.
“I am the Truth, I am the Truth.”
It is said in the Holy Bible,
“I am the Truth, I am the Way, and I am the Light.”
Whatever Baba says to us, whatever He tells us is truth. And to go along with Him, to think of Him, to chant His Name, is the only way. Baba is our light. So, the Holy Bible says, “I am the Truth, I am the Way, and I am the Light,” meaning, the truth is Baba, to think of Him is the way, and to follow Him is our light. That’s the meaning. When once you know the truth, you will be set free.
As long as you think that you know, you cannot be free. The truth is you are permanent. That is the Truth of truths, Sathyasya Sathyam. Then you will be set free, meaning you will be free from all illusions and falsehood. What you think you are is not true; what others think you are is wrong; what you really are is the Truth of truths. That fundamental Truth will set you free, according to the Bible.
Baba clearly said, “What I say will happen! All the seven seas cannot come in the way of My declaration. Nobody can be an obstacle to My Will – no one!” God’s Will will happen. On the other hand, if human will were also to happen, there wouldn’t be so many mental hospitals (Laughter) or so many dejected and frustrated people around with ‘castor oil faces’ (as Baba puts it).
To understand things happen as per God’s will, as per God’s design – to understand it, accept it, welcome it and reconcile to it, is surrender. It is easy to surrender your money. After all, a check needs just one signature! It is easy to surrender your property. Just a signature is enough to transfer your property. If you want to surrender your position, you can do so (your colleagues may be waiting for you to quit the office because you are so boring and a torture to be around)! (Laughter) So, it is easy to surrender everything. But, have you surrendered the ego, have you surrendered the I-ness, the possessiveness? That’s most important.
The truth is surrender means accepting God’s Will unconditionally and joyfully because it will happen.
“Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”
Matthew 24:25
Long ago, Swami said to a young man, a lawyer who had just started his career, “You will become a judge.”
“Swami, that’s impossible!” (Laughter) “I started my career only recently, so how can I be a judge?”
“I will make you.”
In due course of time, he became a district judge. Swami went again to his house and said, “What do you say now?”
“Swami, I have understood.” (Laughter)
Then Bhagavan said, “This is not the end. You are going to the high court, you will see.”
“Swami, I am so young, I can’t be like that.”
“Keep quiet, we will see.” (Laughter) And later he went to the high court.
Swami went to his house again and said, “This is not all. You are going to be the chief justice of the high court.”
“Chief justice?”
“Yes! Yes!” And sure enough, he became chief justice. Still later, Swami visited him and said, “Still, some more chances…”
“No more chances, Swami, no more chances.” (Laughter)
“No! I am going to make you Supreme Court judge.”
“Swami, You can’t do that! You can’t do that because there should be a panel of names based on seniority. It should be approved by an act of Parliament. How can You simply make me a judge of the Supreme Court?”
“You will see.” He became a Supreme Court judge.
And then Swami said, “Now what do you say?”
“I have nothing to say, Swami.” (Laughter)
Some time later, “Swami, my term of office is going to end, I will be retiring.”
“No!”
“What?” (Laughter) “What post is there more than Supreme Court judge?”
“No. You will have a position of the same rank and continue to enjoy the same facilities for some more time.”
“But there is no post in India equal to Supreme Court judge! “(Laughter)
“I will create it.” (Laughter) “I will create it.” And He created it. So this gentleman headed that section, the Interstate Water Relationships Commission. He was the head of that commission, enjoying equal status to the Supreme Court Justice for a long time. He is no other than Balakrishna Erady from Kerala. (Applause) Balakrishna Erady from Kerala enjoyed all positions when Swami started telling him, “I am going to make you that which is absolutely impossible!” Therefore, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”
Long ago a young man came and said, “Swami, I have come to have Your darshan.”
Swami said, “Fine.” And Swami looked into his eyes and said, “I’ll make you a government minister.”
“Minister? I am not even a legislator. (Laughter) I am only a voter. (Laughter) I am only a voter, so how can I become a minister?” (Laughter)
“You are going to be.”
“Swami, impossible!”
“It is possible.”
This man said, “How?”
“When your father becomes Prime Minister!”
So, he thought, ‘My father will not become Prime Minister and me – no chance!’ That was his conclusion.
Later, what happened? His father became the Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, and the son, Ranga Rao, served as a minister here in this state. Both things have happened. Why? Clearly because, “My words shall not pass away, because they have to happen.” That’s God’s Will.
May this Christmas help us to forgive those who have hurt us or harmed us, or have come in the way of our progress, our career, or our advancement in life. It is jealousy or envy that makes people come in the way of our life and we may consider them ‘enemies’.
But Jesus clearly says, “Forgive everybody.” Let us learn to forgive everybody. Let us learn to excuse everybody so that we may be excused by God and we may be forgiven by God. If you don’t forgive anybody, how do you expect to be forgiven later?
If I forgive, God will forgive me. If I learn to excuse people, God will grant pardon to me also. May this Christmas be an occasion, leading to a determination in all of us, to forgive those who have acted against our interests, who have turned against us and our families.
Somebody asked, “Oh God! Should I excuse everybody?” Yes, you should. “How many times should I excuse? (Laughter) How many times?”
It is clearly said in Matthew 18:21-22:
“Then came Peter saying, “Lord! How often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Jesus said unto him, “I say not until seven times, but until seventy times.”
How many times? Seventy times! (Laughter) But how is it possible?
Then the Lord said, “How many times, O man, how many times do I forgive each of you daily?”
(Laughter) Therefore, my friends, this Christmas should be an occasion to forgive everybody so that we may be forgiven, as God forgives us.
There are many people who fall at Baba’s Feet and say, “Baba, excuse me! I could not come up to Your expectations, Swami. I didn’t fulfill the promise I made.”
The forgiving Baba says, “Past is past. Don’t cry, don’t worry.”
If you wear a serious face again, He will make you smile, because God does not pester, nor is God revengeful. Just having regret or repentance is enough to be forgiven. But human we are, so we repeat our mistakes. We repeat our mistakes and Baba goes on excusing us, Baba goes on forgiving us.
Once Kasturi said, “Swami, I am ashamed to seek Your pardon. You have forgiven me any number of times, but I have not given up committing mistakes. What shall I do? Excuse me, Swami.”
You know what Baba said? “As you go on committing mistakes, I will be walking behind you, correcting you, guiding you, forgiving you throughout.” I am just behind you. You commit mistakes, and I will correct you because I am right behind you. That is our forgiving God!
Therefore, my friends, our attitude should be such that we will never be vengeful against anybody; we will forgive. Baba goes one step further. He says, “Forget, don’t simply forgive. Forget!”
The Bible advises us to forgive; Sathya Sai Baba says to forget. When you forget, the question of forgiving does not even arise. When you constantly remember the number of times you have forgiven someone, you have not forgotten. Once you forget, you don’t count the number of times you forgave anybody. Therefore, in order to forgive, we should follow what Baba said – also forget.
And further Baba has advised, “Giving and forgiving.” That is, first you should forget, then the question of forgiving doesn’t arise; then finally, you should give. So you should not only forgive and forget; you should also give your love. That’s what Baba has advised.
Bhagavan always says that our human heart is not a double sofa or a musical chair. The human heart has only a single chair for God to be seated therein. Swami also says that God does not accept any partnership or any business deal. “There’s only place for you, my Lord, not for anybody else.” That means that only God is to be seated in our heart. That’s possible only if we love God unconditionally:
“Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Mark 12:30
With all our strength, let us serve Him. ‘With all your strength’ speaks of your love for God. ‘With all your mind’, what does that mean? It means singing His Glory and constantly thinking of Him. Therefore, constant thought of Divinity and service speaks of our total love for Him.
Swami also gives another example: Our love for God should be much more than our love towards our parents. You may be with your father for a month, and thereafter you may have to go to your job. Or you may be with your mother, but thereafter you leave her to do your duty, your responsibility. There is some chance of being away from the physical parents; but there is no scope to be away from God because He is inside you. Should you not love Him more than your parents? When you love your physical mother, when you love your physical father, how much more should you love Him, who is always constantly with you, in you, above you, below you, and around you?
That’s why in Arathi we sing:
Matha pitha guru daivamu mari anthayu neeve
Swami mari anthayu neeve
“You are God, You are Mother, You are Father…”
So how much more should you love Him?
In Matthew 10:37 it is said:
“He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
That’s what God says: “If you love your physical relations more than God, you are not worthy of Me.” What does that mean? Once you know that God is in everybody, you can love everybody. This not some kind of physical love or blood relationship or business transaction, nor is it any kind of political or ideological union. Once you start loving everybody, with the feeling that God resides in him or her, then you can continue to love because you are loving God in all.
This morning I was listening to a cassette of Bhagavan’s discourse which He delivered some time ago. In the discourse, Bhagavan said, “Don’t simply love the name and form. Love God in every person.” That’s what this gospel means.
Furthermore, Swami says that good company is always necessary. When asked, “How many brothers do you have?” someone said, “I have two brothers – one in America, another in Sri Lanka.” Are they brothers? No. Blood relationships are just an accident; the relationships that you develop subsequently are of your own choosing. Out of two brothers, one may be an atheist, while the other may be a theist. But two devotees, on the other hand, are very close and intimate. Therefore, spiritual bonds are more important than blood relationships.
“Whosoever shall do the Will of my Father, which is in Heaven,
the same is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50
Your true brothers and sisters and parents are those who tread along the path of Divinity, who accept God and the command of God and live accordingly.
My friends, we are also tempted by certain whims and fancies, if not vagaries. There are some people who go on shouting when Swami passes by, disturbing the silence and serenity. “Swami, Swami, Swami…” (Laughter) When you say “Swami, Swami, Swami…” He will nicely turn His face to the other direction. He knows there is a nuisance that can be avoided. In fact, if you deserve His attention and if the situation demands, He will certainly look at you.
There’s a lecturer working in the institute and his daughter is suffering from acute diabetes. She is hospitalised for the last couple of months, and doctors do not know what further treatment to give her. She is almost reduced to bones and putting in intravenous lines has become a problem. She is not able to eat even a spoonful of food.
Suddenly, one afternoon, the girl’s father got the information that he should meet Swami at 1:30 in the afternoon. This man ran there! Swami came out and asked him to sit in the car. Swami visited the hospital along with the father and spoke to the girl. The girl’s father had been telling me, “Mr. Anil Kumar, I am sure my prayers will be heard. I am sure Baba will listen to our prayers. We have been suffering for months, no sleep whatsoever. We are helpless.” Baba heard his silent prayers.
Therefore, by simply saying, “Baba, Baba, Baba!” aloud, you cannot draw His attention. He may turn away altogether. And if you are still spiritually violent, He may not come that way at all! (Laughter) There are some people who are spiritually ‘violent’. (Laughter) Yes, there is violence in spirituality also. (Laughter) Therefore, even if you want to pester Him or put pressure on Him, you will be most unsuccessful, take it from me. It is not possible to put pressure on Him.
Sometime back, one gentleman asked, “Swami, please give him vibhuti.” Baba said, “You are recommending or what?” (Laughter) “Swami, no, no! Please, please…” (Laughter) “Arey, I don’t have that will. I don’t feel like giving him, so what can I do?” He said.
Likewise, in Matthew 7:21 it is said:
“Not everyone that said unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord, Lord’’, but he that doeth the Will of my Father...”
Those who act according to His teachings, those who live up to His teachings will be successful in drawing His attention, not simply those who shout, “Baba, Bhagavan, Swami, Swami…”
Therefore, may this Christmas help us to act according to His Will, act according to His teachings, and may this Christmas also help us to silently pray to Him. Most of us naturally feel like being recognised.
Some people say, “You know I fast every Thursday.” When you fast, why should I know? (Laughter) “If you don’t mind, I will eat in front of you – more than what I usually eat, to tempt you to eat.” (Laughter) There are some people who say, “I meditate.” When you meditate, why should I know? Please continue to meditate. So, people want these things to be known to everybody because spirituality, most unfortunately, has become a status symbol today--a status symbol, a matter of dignity, a matter of prestige, a thing of position to boast and brag about. But it is not so, my dear friends.
A gentleman once came to Swami and said, “Swami, I brought ice-cream for distribution to students.” He said, “You eat.” (Laughter) And then, He turned to me and said, “Having brought ice cream, he should have distributed. Why should he tell Me?” (Laughter) Why should he tell Me? He should distribute the ice cream. This is advertisement.
There was another man from London who brought some 20-25 gold pens to be distributed to students, and he wanted me to tell Swami. I said, “Swami, gold pens.” Swami said, “You take them all.” (Laughter) “No, no, Swami…” He said, “He asked you to represent to Me. He wants to bargain, do business with his gold pens, so that he may get some interview. I am not for that, I am not for that.”
So, my friends, merely by shouting we can never convince Him. We can never draw His attention that way. Therefore, unless we live His teachings, it is not possible to draw His attention. And we cannot have any kind of publicity like, “I have done this, I have done that…”
Once, two people came here. One was a music director, the other a singer. The music director was giving a number of opportunities to this singer, so the singer was very grateful to the director. Swami came and said to the singer, “You sang well.” This fellow should have kept quiet. He said, “Swami, it is all his gift,” pointing to the director. (Laughter) Then, Swami said, “Who gifted him? Find out from him.” (Laughter) “Find out. Vaadiki yevadu icchadayya?” Who gifted him? (Laughter)
Therefore, my friends, it is not a question of publicity. Let us understand that everything is God’s gift. It is said in Matthew 6:16:
“When you fast, do not look sober, as the hypocrites do… “
Some people, in the name of spirituality, disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. That which is done secretly — done with the left hand, while not known to the right hand – that alone will reach Him. That’s why we should shun publicity.
The most important thing I would like to draw your attention to, my friends, is a fantastic similarity between Biblical teachings and Sanathana Dharma. (Let us say Sanathana Dharma, not Hinduism. When you say Hinduism, it is a religion. When you say Sanathana Dharma, it is a way of life, which is totally ancient.)
In the Holy Bible, you come across four important words. Father, Son, Holy Ghost, Satan. Who are they? Let us understand Satan because we are very close to him. (Laughter) So it is quite simple to understand our dear friend, (Laughter) in whose company we find ourselves comfortable – and he enjoys at our cost!
Satan is the evil spirit, a murderer, a liar, according to Jesus Christ. What does that mean? Does Satan represent a human being or a historical human personality? No. Satan is maya, the illusion of this world, the part that is always changing. So illusion, delusion, maya is Satan. To think that your position is great, that is Satan. To think that your property will save you, that is the satanic effect, not titanic effect. (Laughter) So Satan is illusion or maya.
Then there are Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. Who is Father? What does ‘Father in Heaven’, mean? It means the attributeless (nirguna), formless (nirakar), ever-effulgent (niranjana), eternal (sanathana), ever fresh (nuthana), without blemish (anindya), immortal, eternal, God. ‘Father in Heaven’ is beyond name and form. He has neither a beginning nor an end, He has no attributes, and He is eternal. He is only that ‘is-ness’, that ‘am-ness’. You may call Him Paramatma, God Himself.
So that God – attributeless, nameless, formless, eternal, immortal, unpolluted God – is in me also. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. That God is within me. That is what we call, the Son: Son is the individual spirit or soul or the jivatma. That is Atma, or the spirit or consciousness at the individual level. Father in Heaven is super-consciousness, while the individual consciousness is the Son. Or to be better understood, I can say, ‘Christ consciousness’. Christ consciousness is God within me.
What is the Holy Ghost, then? There is current behind this mike to amplify my sound. There is current behind this light to illumine. So, that spirit which makes all this world manifest in front of you is the Holy Ghost or Omkara: Omkara is the Holy Ghost.
Therefore, my friends, Father is super-consciousness; Son is Christ-consciousness, or individual soul or spirit; while the Holy Ghost is Omkara or the manifest universe with this vibrating spirit behind it. Father, Son and Holy Ghost are not only important for Christians; they are important for people of all religions, at all times, everywhere.
Therefore, it is also said in the Holy Bible:
“Unless you pray in My name, you shall not approach God, My Father.”
People pray in the name of Christ; all prayers are offered in the name of Christ. What does it mean? Unless I know the Self, Atma, I cannot understand the Cosmic Self. Life is a journey from the individual self to the universal Self--from jivatma, individual self, to Paramatma, the Cosmic Self.
Therefore, this Omkara, which is resonant and vibrant throughout the entire universe, is what we call the Holy Ghost. So, Father, Son and Holy Ghost represent Super-consciousness, individual consciousness or Christ-consciousness, and the Omkara all around.
We can also put it this way: Sat means changeless Existence; that Sat is the Father. Tat is the Son, and Omkara is the Holy Ghost. So, Tat Sat Om is Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. My friends let us understand the spirit behind it.
“Unless man be born again, he shall not reach the kingdom of heaven.”
What does it mean? Unless you know and understand your individual soul, the Son or Christ-consciousness (it means, let Christ be born in you; let there be understanding of individual consciousness), you cannot know your Father in Heaven, the Super-consciousness.
May this Christmas help us to make a thorough enquiry or investigation of the Self, so as to understand the identity with the Super-Self. The Super-Self and the individual self are one and the same, something like air all over and the air in a car tire or in a football. Air within a football is what you call individual Self; air all around is the Cosmic Self. Cosmic Self is the Father, individual self is the Son and the manifest creation is Omkara.
May Jesus Christ bless all of us. May this Christmas celebration bring joy, peace, prosperity, love, and service to every one of you and your families! May Baba’s teachings help us to live this holy day and may we put them all into practice for our liberation!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you very much! (Applause)
Anil Kumar finished his satsang by chanting “Sai Narayan Narayan”.
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