December 31st, 2006
“Questions and Answers”
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of our most beloved Bhagavan,
Our friends are assembling here slowly because Swami has left the Mandir to go back to His residence only just now. Due to the distance factor, they may take couple of minutes more to arrive.
If you have any questions, let me answer them before the others join us. Any questions, please? Yes sir.
One gentleman asks, “How do you feel standing next to Swami?”
HOW DO YOU FEEL STANDING NEXT TO SWAMI?
Standing next to Swami is really in one way ‘outstanding’ in my career. (Laughter) Standing by the side of Swami is a challenge; because, when standing beside Him, we cannot stand firmly. Our legs start trembling and shaking. Standing by the side of Swami is a kind of test because we may not always be standing correctly; we may lose our balance at any moment in time! Therefore, I’ve got to be extremely careful when standing by His side.
Another point is that there is always tension when standing by His side -- tension because we feel we may not come up to His expectations.
Perhaps you mean standing by His side in the capacity of a translator? You can imagine how many times I get a word wrong and stand happily corrected by Him. I also feel that state of repeatedly being corrected by Bhagavan on the dais is fun for all of you who enjoy His correcting me! (Laughter) I am very delighted that I am an object to be corrected and a subject of entertainment for all of you. (Laughter)
I also think this is a great chance given to me, and a very rare chance. But I am fully conscious that I am one of many who preceded me. There were many translators in the past.
The first translator happened to be Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, the Governor of Punjab and a top man. He was Bhagavan’s devotee and an expert in fourteen, fifteen or twenty plus languages. He was as tall (or as short) as Bhagavan himself. He was a great devotee.
The second translator happened to be Professor. N. Kasturi, Baba's biographer. Professor Kasturi, as you all know, is Valmiki to the world of Sai devotees. He made Sai literature available all over the world. He was the second man.
The third translator happened to be Dr. S. Bhagavantham, the former Vice Chancellor of Andhra University, Osmania University, the Chief Secretary of the Defense Council, and a physicist of international reputation.
The fourth translator happened to be Dr. Sudarshan of the Physics Department. Dr. Sudarshan was the principal of the Sathya Sai Junior College for some time. He was also a lecturer in physics for many years, as well as a warden.
The fifth one was Prof. Nanjundiah, Controller of Examinations of Sri Sathya Sai University.
Later, Swami had Mr. Ram Mohan Rao, lecturer of Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School to translate His talks now and then. He also had Mr. Narasimhamoorthy, the warden of Bangalore campus, as His translator, whenever He visited Bangalore.
But right from 1989, ever since I joined Bhagavan's university, I have been used as an instrument to translate His talks. So I think I may be ninth or eighth in the list. We don’t know how many more there are to come in the future. I am highly conscious of that.
The day I was asked to translate His talks, I met some of the translators, including Mr. Ram Mohan Rao and Mr. Nanjundiah. I told them, “Look, we have amplifiers, a public address system, and microphones made by different companies such as Philips, Ahuja, National, and Panasonic. There are many brands and you may choose which one you would like to use. You may choose Philips, you may choose National, and I may choose another company. But the speaker is Baba, so really, there is no competition.” That is what I told them. They understood the words came from my heart and we have continued to be friends.
WHO TRANSLATES BETTER?
Another benefit of standing at the side of Baba is that I greatly love Sai literature and the Sai message. I have been sharing Baba’s message for over twenty-five years all over the state of Andhra Pradesh. I have visited every village over a quarter of a century. Translating His talks is a kind of additional source of information for me. It is also a chance of transformation along with all of you. So far as transformation is concerned, we all sail in the same boat. I also feel that I am not extraordinary. I am very sure about it. I am not extraordinary. I am not abnormal and I am not exceptional. I am not ‘the man’ for it. No!
I will give you one example. There was a lady by the name of Jayamma, warden of the Ananthapur Campus. She also translates Swami’s talks into English. When she was in Kodaikanal, Swami asked, “Anil Kumar, who translates better than the other?” (Laughter) Swami likes it when you think, “What to do? How to best answer Him?” I smiled and kept quiet, but the Lord doesn’t keep quiet. He has some plan.
“Who translates better?” (Laughter)
Well, I understood and said, “Swami, I am no match for Jayamma Gopinath, the warden of Ananthapur campus. I am no match for her. For one reason, she hails from Madras (Chennai), the seat of English language in the South. I hail from Andhra Pradesh, from a small town. Secondly, she had her education in English medium throughout her career, whereas I had my schooling in Telugu medium only. Third, she is a professor of English, while I am a professor of bioscience (nothing to do with English). Fourth, she got her PhD in Sri Aurobindo’s literature, while I have my degree in botany -- plants that do not speak. (Laughter) So there is ocean of difference between that grand old lady and my humble self here. “
You know how Baba reacted? “No, no. You too do it very well, don’t worry.”(Laughter)
I said, “Swami, I am 100% sure that, among those who attend every one of Your discourses (the devotees who assemble in Sai Kulwant Hall are thousands and sometimes lakhs in number), many are men of eminence, men of letters, and experts in communication skills and the Telugu language. I consider translating simply as an opportunity. I am nobody in front of those people who are really great. I know some of them personally.”
Then Baba immediately said, “I don’t want experts. If they are men of letters and scholars, devotees will have to listen to two talks – the translator’s talk and My talk, which are parallel. So you are enough for Me.”(Laughter) That is what He said.
Is that answer OK, sir? Sai Ram.
Any more questions? Anybody please. Yes sir.
One gentleman asks, “What made you take up a comparative study of Jesus and Baba?”
why do a comparative study of jesus and baba?
The main reason is Christmas. Christmas falls in the month of December and we have a few Sundays preceding the event. Second, we have a large number of devotees from the west and a majority of them are Christians. Three, people would love to hear the parallels between the message, the mission and the biography of Jesus and Baba – a comparative study. Fourth, personally, I belong to Brahmo Samaj, a religion. Brahmo Samaj was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Rai. Brahmo Samaj believes in the fellowship of faiths, congregation of worship, and unity of all religions. Therefore, wherever there is a point relating to unity of religions, it naturally gets into my system because I belong to the third generation of Bramho Samaj. This is the other reason.
Fifth, I served in a Christian college for twenty-six years and studied in the same college for four years. So, for thirty years, I was in Andhra Christian College which is sponsored by the Lutheran Church in America. The college has a band of missionaries from America.
Therefore, when December starts, I transport my thoughts to that Christian college where they celebrate Christmas throughout the month. Every hostel will have a Christmas function and we’ll have college Christmas, hostel Christmas, community Christmas, and special dinners every day. Hence, that is one of the reasons my mind goes to that area.
Personally, as I read every teaching, I recall what Swami has said. Finally, it is our main duty to believe in the unity of all religions. Through our speech and in our actions, we should be able to clearly explain how religions are similar – the way Baba explains it. Above all, just as many films are able to be projected upon a single screen, I see the screen as Baba, and the other projections as the different religions. I like to talk with this in mind. Also, the miracles of Jesus Christ are very much in full agreement with the miracles relating to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Am I clear, sir? Thank you very much. Anyone else please? Yes.
One gentleman asks, “Please summarise the Christmas message.”
what is the christmas message?
The summary of any sacred event is only Love. Love, Love, only Love. Whether Christmas or Krishnajanmastami, (Krishna's birthday), any event speaks only on Love. That’s all – a four letter word. (Laughter) Yes, yes.
People may ask, “Why should Love be the subject for every message?” The reason is…we don’t have it. (Laughter) We don’t have it! We are yet to cultivate it. Until we cultivate and develop Love, Swami should go on repeating the same message.”
One gentleman says, “Baba says we all have Love but, because we give too much attention to the world, our Love is divided.”
“Therefore?”
“We should purify ourselves.”
Correct. Therefore, the aim of hearing the message of Love repeatedly is to remove all the obstacles, interferences, pollutants or other contaminants that have been added to the pristine pure Love with which we are born.
WHEN I AM CORRECTED, HOW SHOULD I TAKE IT?
Yes, anyone please? Yes sir?
One gentleman asks, “Professor Anil Kumar, in the course of Baba’s translation, Baba sometimes corrects you when you make a mistake. How do you maintain your balance of mind? Normally, 80% of people find their mental equilibrium and poise disturbed when they are corrected.”
Yes. I really thank you. At least, there is one soul who understands my sentiment and my feelings at that moment. (Laughter) Thank you very much.
Initially, one might feel hurt for being corrected. When Baba corrects you, you naturally feel hurt. But …please believe me, sir, I appeal to you because I mean every word that I am sharing with you now. When I feel that I -- this “I“, this Anil Kumar -- is translating, I feel hurt. When I think that I am only an instrument in His hands, then, it is my duty to keep the instrument perfect and well-sterilised. (Laughter) So if the instrument turns bad, it is because I have not sterilised it properly, and I have not trimmed it properly. It is my duty to maintain it properly. (Laughter) Therefore, I simply laugh.
Moreover, why can’t we enjoy our own lapses and mistakes? Why not?
“Yes, I committed a blunder. Yes. I enjoy my own blunders.” Why not? When I commit a mistake, why should I too not enjoy it?
Therefore, when I stand corrected, I don’t take it personally. I don’t take it as a matter of ego; I enjoy it. Yes, how nicely I committed that mistake! Let me laugh along with the others!
Sir, believe me or not, the main point is this: The Sanskrit words are such that they can be translated in different ways on different occasions. Here is a simple example: Look at the word chaitanya. Swami wants you to use the word ‘awareness’ on one occasion; He wants you to say ‘consciousness’ at another time; and He may also use ‘constant integrated awareness’.
So when you translate chaitanya as awareness, He’ll say, “No, no, no. Consciousness.” (Laughter)
Then when you say consciousness, He’ll say, “No, no, no, no. Constant integrated awareness.” (Laughter)
He wants the exact word He intends to be used in that context at that moment, whereas I go by the translation. Each word has so many synonyms. So many other terms can serve the purpose, but He wants the exact word to be used. I gave you just one example, chaitanya. Therefore, I was wrong, but not totally wrong. The mistake is in not being able to use the exact word He meant on the occasion, which was the one perfectly suitable in that context.
DOES BABA SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MADAME BLAVATSKY?
Anyone please? Yes, yes, yes.
One gentleman asks, “I think that lots of people who have come to Prashanti Nilayam came as a result of Madame Blavatsky's influence. (Madam Blavatsky was the 19th century Russian founder of the Theosophical Society.) Does Baba say anything about this?”
Baba may not mention specifically about Madame Blavatsky, Annie Besant, Leadbeater and the band of people from the Theosophical Society. He may not specifically mention anything about them; but, as we go through His literature and teachings, and, as we go through theology or theosophy, we find parallels. He may not specifically say a particular thing is from that religion, but it is up to us to do a comparative study. That is what I am trying to do. That is my job - to make the comparative study of religions. I feel thrilled and excited by this study…when I make a connection, ““Ah, Baba says this. Oh, I feel Baba says the same thing. Oh, I see! In the scripture it says that, but Swami puts it in this simple way so that it is understood by everybody.”
So the simple style of Baba’s communication will enable every one of us to understand profound statements in our scriptures. Am I clear? Therefore, if we make a study, we will certainly find parallels between philosophies. There is no doubt about it. There is no subject under the sun that Baba has not covered. He has covered all subjects.
Yes sir?
One gentleman asks, “Can you kindly give us some advice on how we can seriously put Swami’s teachings into practice?”
HOW MAY WE SERIOUSLY PRACTISE SWAMI’S TEACHINGS?
The first point: I am also trying to put His teachings into practice. (Laughter) All of us try to put things into practice together. So, if I am 100% pure and aware that I am putting 100% of Swami’s teachings into practice, then only I can say that for sure. But I cannot say that, as I’m not sure of it. If anyone says that, don’t believe him. (Laughter) Don’t believe him. So, we are all going together; we are all marching together; we are all pilgrims along the spiritual path.
Second, our intense love for His teachings will naturally help us to slowly and gradually put them into practice day-by-day.
Third, when we pay less attention to all those material things that we care for and give more concentration to His message, we can then try to implement and practice His teachings. Also with prayerful submission and a respectful request to Swami, He will give additional strength to put His teachings into practice. Teachings cannot be practiced by human effort alone. No.
Somebody asked the consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sarada Devi, a very noble soul, “Mother, how to put into practice all your teachings?”
She replied, “Only by the grace of God.”
Only by the grace of God! Teachings can be put into practice by His grace alone. If someone just goes with the ego and says, “Yes, I can do myself,” it’s better we keep him at a respectable distance. If anyone says, “Oh yes, I am practicing His teachings 100%”, it’s better we avoid him because he doesn’t know what he is saying or doing.
So, it is not a question of practicing now or in the future; we are bathed in glory as we march towards the goal. Even an ant, when it starts moving, will be able to go around the world. A bird is confident, not because of the trees or branches, but, because of the wings it has. With the natural innate and inborn confidence in the self that “I can do it”, combined with the thought, “I’ll be able to do it, with Your grace, My Lord and with all my love for You”, still I fail at times and I cry for that. “I really repent for not having been able to practice all that You have taught me. I am very sorry about it.” With such thoughts and prayers, God will certainly melt.
It was Kasturi who said, “Swami, though You say many times how we should act, we are not able to do as You say. What shall we do, Bhagavan?”
Our Baba is a forgiving God. He immediately said, “You go on making mistakes. I am behind you to correct you every time. You go and I’ll follow you.” That’s what He said.
Another point He made was that all that we have been doing -- all our bad habits -- will not come to a total halt all of a sudden. A drunkard or a smoker or a non-vegetarian . . . they are declared vices, but there are many more undeclared vices. Thinking ill of others is much worse than drinking. Feeling jealous of others is much worse than gambling. The spiritual ego is the worst of all because you can see, find out and correct the material ego. But, with a spiritual ego, the fellow does not know that he is egoistic; he thinks that he knows everything. We can only pray for him, that’s all. He cannot help himself.
Therefore, when we commit a mistake, naturally He is there. Yet, we feel so bad about it. In fact, only with Swami’s help, slowly and slowly things stand corrected.
WHY HURRY AND WORRY?
Baba gave the following example: “Here is a fan. When you switch off the fan, the fan will not stop immediately. The wings rotate, revolve, and slowly and slowly come to a halt.” So we have to correct ourselves slowly and slowly with His grace, which is the power supply behind us.
If the fan stops immediately, it will rotate very fast next. We know some people who, for forty days, only eat vegetarian. For forty days, they observe such a strict discipline. But from the forty-first day onward . . . (Laughter) . . . wow! With double the vigor and double the dose, people indulge.
This is not the Olympic Games or anything like that! Let’s take our own time. Life is one endless cycle of continuity to eternity. We had any number of lives in the past and we may yet have a number of lives like that, who knows. So there is no hurry here. Hurry and worry are the features of the world and features of the mind.
“Oh God, I turn to You. Yes, you will certainly help me.” That’s what I can say.
YES, BUT WHAT ABOUT SPIRITUAL PROGRESS?
A gentleman says, “Yes, but what about spiritual progress in this situation of no hurry, no worry? If I say it is normal for me to misbehave, that it is the natural human condition to make mistakes, (and everyone else in this world seems to think they are also normal) -- that it is natural to make mistakes, and if I even say that God is too far away, that none of this really matters because we have so much time and won’t worry, what happens to our spiritual progress? Baba always says that we have to get out of kindergarten. By now, we should be at university level, spiritually-speaking. So, we should take this message to people. Of course, we should adopt the Sanathana Sarathi, the Divine way of living life.”
Yes, yes. I fully agree with what you have said. You are not wrong. You are completely correct, but we have to speak from the point of everybody -- all of us. You seem to be on a higher pedestal. (Laughter) We are not like that. We have got our own shortcomings.
The gentleman continues, “No, no. Baba says the problem is that He knows who He is and we do not know who we are.”
I know what Baba says. The problem is what I do. That is the problem. (Laughter) Everyone knows what Baba says.
The gentleman continues, “If you then say, ‘What I do is the problem’, how can He help if I do not listen?”
No, no, no. Think of it like this. Yes, I do not know everything, but yet, it should not make me feel egoistic to declare openly that I am trying to do better. How can I be like that? I know where I stand. For example, if out of 100% on an exam paper, I get only 40-50%, but say I got a perfect score, what will people say?
“Array, 100 marks maximum. You got 50%. Then how can you say you got 100 %?”
On the next exam, I read well and get 60%. Then I prepare more and get 70%. I will continue on my journey.
But . . . I cannot say I got all 100 % now. Baba says get 100%; but if I get 40-50%, what can I do? Let us not be too worried about it because this kind of worry and complex thinking is also discouraging and frustrating for us. This is not a real problem because God is always there to give us His grace marks. We look forward to His grace. He is there to encourage everybody, not to admonish everybody.
I know many people who are, from the normal point of view, not knowledgeable in sadhana chatushtaya or the Ten Commandments. They are not knowledgeable. You can say, “Swami, I don’t know anything. I don’t know any scriptures, Swami. I am nobody. What am I to do?”
Baba says, “No, no. Love Me. That is enough. All the scriptures and all the books . . . no, no . . . it is not necessary. Love Me. That is enough.”
Therefore, when God is simplifying things, we try to amplify, magnify and complicate things. It is not necessary for us to do this. Our love for Him naturally will melt His heart. He will confer grace on us so that we develop self-confidence, as you said. Self-confidence is possible when we look to the Self – God Himself. Therefore we should develop it. You are right. Thank you very much, sir.
HOW DO WE DEVELOP HUNGER FOR GOD?
One gentleman asks, “Have you come across anybody who does not get hungry or who does not get angry?”
Have you come across anybody who does not get hungry and who does not get angry? (Laughter) I have not come across anybody like that! And, I don’t want to come across anyone like that either! (Laughter) You see, I am always hungry but, of course, not angry as of yet. God help me not to develop such traits. It is too late now. (Laughter)
Yes, you are right, sir. It is a common feature of every human being to feel hungry and to get angry. However, our spiritual job here is to develop hunger for God. May this hunger for God be the quintessence of the message for the New Year 2007.
We are hungering for worldly pleasures; we are hungering for sensual pleasures; we are hungering for worldly positions; we are hungering for worldly possessions. Let us hunger for Him.
One example of hungering for God is when the President of India himself declared, “Oh God, I would like to serve you here in Sathya Sai University. I want to teach physics here.” (Applause) This is called ‘hungering for God’.
Everyone has got the feature of being hungry. This hunger for food just needs to be diverted into hunger for Him. This does not mean that we should stop eating. We should eat. Hunger can be viewed from a spiritual dimension -- hungering for God. That is what you call yearning for God, pining for God -- dying every minute to absorb Him and to live in Him.
That was a very good point to bring up. Thank you very much.
HOW DOES FEELING angry with myself POINT TO GOD?
Point two: Anger. We are angry with everyone who does not agree with us. We are angry with everybody who does not compliment or praise us. We are angry with everything that does not fit into our system. Anger is a reaction to a situation, a reaction to a conversation, a reaction towards a person. This anger is a reaction, that’s all. Everyone expresses anger.
Suppose I don’t talk to you; it could be equally an expression of anger. One may shout -- he is expressing his anger. Or, his anger may be silent. But, the common point is that the anger is still there. I may not shout at you or not talk to you, but, can I say that I am not angry? I am terribly angry. It is better you shout, releasing the gas out of the cylinder. At least, that way you won’t have high blood pressure. (Laughter) So, I may or may not express my anger, but anger is there.
Now, how to change it? I turn anger this way -- to quote Baba Himself: “Let me be angry with myself. Let me not be angry with others. I am terribly angry with myself.” Why?
“Oh God, You tell me, You remind me repeatedly, but I am not falling into line. Oh God! You tell me, ‘Do that, do that, and do that’, but I have not yet started my journey. Oh God! Swami, You said not to criticise anybody but, till now, my job has been to criticise everybody! I am angry and upset with myself. I am not able to practice even one lesson. I am angry with myself. You said that I should be simple, but I am arrogant, Baba. I am angry with myself for not being able to be simple and humble in front of You. You said that I should forgive everybody. I am not able to forgive everybody, because I am vengeful and retaliatory. So, I am not able to forgive. I am angry with myself for not being able to forgive everybody. You said that the essence of the book is more important than the book itself, but I am particular about the book and bookish knowledge. I am angry with myself.” Therefore, when the anger is turned towards oneself, there is a possibility of improvement.
So, anger and hunger go together. From the spiritual point of view, they are positive. From the worldly point of view, if they go beyond certain limits, they are totally negative.
Thank you very much because you raised a common human point. Let us live on earth. We are earthly and practical people. It is good that you raised this point. Thank you very much.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ADMONISHING AND CORRECTING?
Anymore please? Yes sir.
One gentleman asks this question: “When people are chanting slokas loudly and rapidly, and I ask them to chant quietly, am I admonishing them or correcting them?”
One reason people do that is because you should know that they know that you know how well-versed they are in the slokas!
“I am chanting a sloka and I chant loudly, so that you all know that I know that sloka very well.” (Laughter)
So, it is a question of vanity. When you understand that man is acting out of vanity and publicity, you can excuse him. But, if you think that he is an interference or obstacle to your privacy, aloneness, or solitude, and a hindrance to your silence, where you cannot control yourself, you may say, “Please be quiet. You can slow down.”
If he is a gentleman, he will slow down. If he is spiritually a reactionary, a spiritual Marxist or Naxalite, he may say, “Oh, indeed! What business is it of yours?” (We find violence in spirituality also.)
We find violently-spiritual people or spiritually-violent people. When we say, “Please speak softly,” they’ll say, “No, no, no!”
That is a bookish fellow. (Because we mingle with so many people, we can understand them.) If anyone reacts violently, then we should think, “Oh poor fellow, he is still making his journey. With all his learning and with all these slokas in his head, he could not control himself. Oh God, let him repeat some more until he becomes calm.” (Laughter)
When you are already calm, you don’t need to learn slokas at all. That’s it. You don’t need to learn at all. This man, in spite of all his slokas, reputation and chanting, is simply disturbed. He is so angered by just one comment. What purpose does all his reading serve? It is much worse than a cassette or a tape recorder. Just understand where they are. Say, “Father, they know not what they do, forgive them.”
You can pray for them. You do come across such people. Last night I was traveling by train and one gentleman was relating his experiences. There was a lady sitting in front. (I was just watching because, by watching people, we can correct ourselves. Many people demonstrate how not to be.) The lady asked this man to stop talking and she started speaking about her miracles. (Laughter) This man had actually started and was halfway through his story, but she successfully silenced him and started her own verbal cassette. I was just watching all this. In the meantime, a third man joined in and asked a question relating to the first man’s talk, so she had to stop. The first man had to answer, so he immediately went back to the place where he had stopped his earlier talk.
I saw that all and enjoyed it myself. After letting them ramble on for a long time, I said, “Both of you are really very interesting and I am thankful to you. I have learned a lot of information from both of you; but my humble request is one after the other – that you speak one after the other, in turn. No interrupting.” I really appreciated that lesson.
The heart is so small. It cannot contain that amritha or ambrosia. When amritha or ambrosia is full to the brim of the cup of our heart, it starts spilling out. So some people start speaking enthusiastically because the heart contains too much; it is full and starts spilling out. That is why they speak like that. Zealousness – z-e-a-l. Not jealousy. Zeal and enthusiasm might make them speak like that. Slowly, Baba will see to it that things slow down. He is the greatest Master.
what is the meaning of Chatterjee – Bannerjee – Mukerjee?
Baba uses three words.
One, people go on speaking about their experiences; they don’t allow anybody to speak. That is the state of Chatterjee - chattering and chattering with everybody. (Laughter)
That Chatterjee, the one who goes on chattering, will evolve to the next state: “You know, I am working in such-and-such an organisation for the last twenty years.”
Why should I have to know how long you have been working? (Laughter)
“You know, I am the Convenor.”
Leave me in peace, at least!
So, some people are very proud of their positions.
“I am in the ashram. I am in charge of the carpet. I am in charge of the veranda.”
You be in charge of yourself first! (Laughter)
So, people are very proud of their institutions, their organisations, or their positions. This is the second state – Bannerjee state – carry a banner. (Laughter)
So, from the Chatterjee state to the Bannerjee state. Banner -- Bannerjee. Chatter -- Chatterjee. (Laughter)
Then comes the third state: The person in this state dare not say anything because Swami shows him side B of the cassette. That fellow has been seeing only side A of the cassette. He will see side B of the cassette later. Whatever he thinks, will happen in the earlier period. Later, whatever he wants reverses from thereafter.
Swami gives him a hundred interviews. Later, He forgets him and totally ignores him. Then he will understand,”Oh, this is the reality.” Initially, he cannot reconcile the two. Then, what is there to chatter about? Where is the banner to wave? Initially, he thought that he was very important person – a VIP. Later, he will understand that VIP actually stands for ‘very insignificant person’. (Laughter)
turning inward
Then he stops speaking. The one who started speaking now stops speaking; he’ll be silent. This is a very interesting fellow, who was earlier disturbing the whole assembly, speaking only of his experiences. Why is he now so silent?
You will understand that he has started turning inward. He has started turning inward – Godward. Inward means Godward. He starts speaking to God within himself. He starts looking at Baba within himself. He is in a blissful state. It is certainly an advancement, progress, and evolution.
So, from outer to inner. From Chatterjee to Bannerjee to the next, the inner state. This is the state of silence – Mukerjee. Muka means silent. (Laughter)
So, Chatterjee, Bannerjee, and muka – Mukerjee. Mukerjee means a meditative man, not a dumb fellow. (Laughter) He is in a meditative or contemplative state. Naturally, we have to reach that Mukerjee state someday or other.
Language of Silence
Moreover, many things are conveyed through the language of silence. We don’t have to speak. Watch two romantic people. They may not speak, but they convey their feelings in such a way that even their parents would not be able to know the meaning. (Laughter) Impossible! Romance uses the language of silence.
When your father is angry with you, he may not shout at you; but his looks will convey that he is angry. When the wife is angry with you, her silence communicates more than any eloquent speech. (Laughter) Eloquent speech is better, because that releases the gas bottle; only then she will calm down. But when she is silent, not speaking to you, it may go on for one week or one month -- we do not know! (Laughter)
silence should turn inward
So, wordless speech, speechlessness, or what you call ‘silence’, is more eloquent. For spiritual discipline, silence turns one inward.
Some people are silent because of helplessness. That is not spirituality. Some fellows are helpless, so they are silent because there is nothing to share and nothing to speak about. There is nothing to share, so he is silent. That doesn’t mean he is a yogi. He is a zero. Better he remains like that, rather than speaking any nonsense. Nothing is better than nonsense. People always say something is better than nothing; but, more importantly, nothing is better than nonsense. Silence does not mean merely keeping quiet out of helplessness.
Silence does not mean constant thought of an enemy or constant thought of money or the family. This is also not spiritual. The silence that arises out of turning within, the silence that is born out of mediation, the silence that finds its origin in the state of contemplation is spiritual.
How do you know if a person’s silence is spiritual or physical? How do you know? His face itself will convey all.
Look at the face -- castor oil face, as Baba puts it -- a long, serious face.
“Ah! How silent he is, we can see. How peaceful he is; watch him.” Therefore, the calmness, serenity, peace, and bliss on the face will certainly convey the mental state. That is the reason why people say that the face is the index of the mind.
Take Baba for example. You will never find any kind of disturbance on His face because He is not disturbed within. Or, look at some pictures of great people – Christ or Buddha. The sign of a spiritual man is a calm, peaceful face. The peaceful face itself is an expression and manifestation of his love and inner calmness. We can easily make out how cool he is within and how loving he is.
Any more questions? Yes sir.
WHEN IS IT THE Will of God AND NOT HUMAN WILL?
“The Vedas state that everything happens according to the will of God.”
“Yes.”
“Some people do wrong things, for example, drinking alcohol. They say, ‘We drink because it is the will of God.’ Is this right, sir?”
Some people say everything happens according to the will of God. A person starts drinking and he says, “It is also the will of God.” What do you say about it?
We can tell him, “Suppose I beat you as per the will of God and you keep quiet. (Laughter) I whip you with a belt, but you keep quiet because it is the will of God.”
No, no, no. Words like, “Will of God, so I drink,” and “Will of God, so I eat meat” is only a convenient philosophy. If it is really the will of God, the man will be able to accept positive and negative with equanimity, regardless of what happens.
For example, a prisoner on charges of murder was brought to the court.
The judge asked, “Have you committed the murder?”
“Yes, my lord."
“Have you murdered so-and-so?”
“Yes, my lord."
“Why did you kill him?”
“Your majesty, my lord, I killed him, but it is the will of God. (Laughter) It is the will of God. What can I do?” (Laughter)
The judge finally said, “It is the will of God that makes me sentence you to hanging or life imprisonment or execution.”
This fellow started crying then. As per the will of God, he killed somebody. But, as per will of God, when he was imprisoned for life, he was feeling sad. The will of God should make you equally happy.
For example, Jesus was very happy. He never cried or never blamed anyone, even when on the cross.
Take, for example, Baba. When people praise Him, He is just like that -- undisturbed. When people criticise Him, He is still the same -- unaffected. He is not disturbed. Further, Baba also said, “All those who criticise Me are the height of a mountain. All those who appreciate Me are also the height of a mountain. I’ll be a blessing to both of you.”
ACCEPTING The will of god is surrender
Take the life of Sri Ramachandra, Lord Rama. That night, when it was declared that He was to be crowned king the next morning, He had a facial expression of equanimity. The very next morning, it was said, “No, you are not going to be the king. You are going to the forest, as per the command of your father.” Still, He had the same expression on His face.
That is the will of God -- to take everything with serenity, be it positive or negative. In other words, the will of God is surrender. Surrender to the will of God. Surrender means unconditional acceptance without any growling, without any complaints, and with an attitude that “everything is good for me”. That is the will of God. Am I clear, sir? Good.
Let faith be your breath
Anymore questions please? Yes, sir.
“Could you speak on faith?”
I’ll tell you what Baba has said. I don’t quote from any other book or anybody else. All these things of which I speak are from Sai literature and Swami’s speeches only. I love that. When Swami has spoken on all these things, we don’t have to borrow from anywhere else.
Swami said very clearly, “Without any confusion, if you want to get confused, how can I help you?”
So this gentleman has asked me to say a few words on faith. What did Baba say?
In Telugu, He said, “Visvasa swasa.” Visvasa – faith. Swasa – breath. Let faith be your breath. If you are faithless, you are breathless. That is point one.
first, have faith in yourself
Second, Baba said, “Firstly, you have to have faith in yourself, and then you can have faith in God.” You can say, “I don’t have faith in God.” But you do not know that you have no faith in yourself either. Those who don’t have faith in themselves will not have faith in God. I have faith in myself, and that Self is God. Therefore, first have faith in yourself because that faith is God. This is the second point.
faith is inborn
Third, this faith is natural and inborn. You are born with faith. You are not going to cultivate faith, you are not going to manufacture faith, and you are not going to import faith. You are born with faith. How do you know? The child in the company of the father has absolute faith; the child in the company of the mother has total faith in the parent.
I give my clothes for washing. I’ve got faith in the washer man. I have total faith in the tailor when I give costly clothes for stitching. I have faith in the barber when I go for a haircut and offer my head to him. The razor may be here or there. (Laughter) I have faith in the doctor. I lie down on the table for treatment when I go to the doctor. The doctor may send me to the other planet, but I have faith that he’ll keep me alive on this planet and on earth for some more time because I’d love to live for some more time. So we have faith in a doctor, a tailor, a barber, a washer man, and our parents; but, when it comes to God, we lose faith!
HAVING faith is natural
Faith is an innate, natural, inborn gift of God. Losing faith is artificial, whereas having faith is natural. To lose faith is unnatural. You may lose faith, which implies that you had faith. For example, “I have property; but I lost my property. I had my purse; but I lost my purse.” So we have faith -- we started with faith -- but we lose it.
Why do we lose our faith? Why does it happen? Because of selfishness, because of ego, because of our attachment to the body -- dehavasana; because of attachment to worldly objects; because of vishaya – attachment to sensual pleasure. Because of these things, we lose faith. However, faith is actually inborn. It is within us.
To reinforce our faith or to gain back that lost faith is sadhana. Sadhana means spiritual practice. People think sadhana, spiritual practice, is worshipping, doing nagarsankirtan, not eating Thursday night, and yet continuing with the same temperament. This is useless! You can fast every day. Please do it every day. Do it so that this world will be free from such people! (Laughter)
Jesus clearly said, even if you fast, don’t put on a long face.
“I am on a fast!” (Laughter)
“So? That doesn’t mean that I should not have my feast. You have your fast and I’ll have my feast!” (Laughter)
Last night, while I was traveling by train, they served a first-class masala dosa. I said to the gentleman who was sitting in front of me, “Would you like to have some?”
He could have said politely, “No thanks.” Instead he said, “You know, today is Ekadasi. I am on a fast.”
I said, “Why don’t you fast Dwadashi also -- on the second day? Why don’t you fast on Thriodashi, the third day also? Please, please. If you think by fasting, you will grow more in spirituality, please continue. Thank you very much.”
I had my masala dosa. This man’s kind of thinking is quite different. Am I clear, sir? Am I clear?
faith has to be regained
So this kind of visvasa has to be regained and reinforced. That is true sadhana. Sadhana is not writing the Name of God or simply going to the temple. To gain back, to recall, or to reclaim lost faith is true sadhana. To know the Self which you are already is true sadhana.
Am I clear, please? That’s what it is.
Baba does not need any intermediaries
One gentleman asks a question: “Is there any exception to Baba’s statement that He does not use intermediaries?”
“Oh yes! Good question. Intermediaries. You are from?”
“Venezuela.”
“Venezuela? Aha. You are Spanish-speaking?”
“Yes.”
“Gracias, (Laughter) Como estas? Gracias. (Laughter). Muy bien!”
The question is on intermediaries. He wants me to say a few things now on this subject.
Someone comes and says, “This is what Baba wanted me to tell you.”
Oh. Oh!
Another person will come and say, “Baba appeared in my dream and wanted me to tell you...”
There’ll be another person who will come and tell you, “Swami suddenly speaks through me.”
A fourth says, “Swami wanted you to come to me.”
These are all intermediaries. They are people who say that we should do this and do that. “Swami wanted me to convey this. . .” These are all intermediaries. My friends, thousands of times Baba has said, “Never believe that. There are no intermediaries.” Please understand this.
Those who are intermediaries will keep our lives also intermediate – in-between – intermediate. Baba does not need any intermediaries, because we are all Him in another physical form. Then how can another fellow come in the way? It is not necessary.
Next, my experience also is this. When He wants to communicate anything to you, He will see that you come to understand all by yourself, without anybody else taking part. When you read His books, you might find some answer to your questions. Or, He Himself may appear in your dream. Or a visitor or a Baba devotee may come to you and, as you talk, during the conversation, that visitor or fellow devotee may say something that contains a solution to your problem.
Please refer to Howard Murphet's writings on Baba. Howard Murphet needs no introduction. If there is any important great writer in Sai literature, the first and foremost credit goes to Howard Murphet from Australia. Western devotees should remain eternally grateful to Howard Murphet for his contribution.
In one of his books, Howard has clearly mentioned that Baba’s photograph or vibhuthi, a visitor, his book, or His literature may help you to find a solution to your problem. That object or article is the actual intermediary, not anyone who claims to be an intermediary. Am I clear? The one who claims to be an intermediary is really an exploiter.
“Beware of these intermediaries,” Baba has said thousands of times.
You are my instrument
One lady speaks: “First of all, I would like to dedicate to Baba all the experiences I will explain today in front of you. I did not quite understand all the things that happened at the time. First, He spoke to me through His writing. Personally, I cannot believe anything easily unless I have experienced it with my own eyes. (Applause)
After that, Swami told me that I had to be His instrument. In my meditation, He told me that I would have to deliver a baby. “Oh Bhagavan, my Lord, how can I do that? I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse.”
He said, “That is in My will. When the time comes, you don’t have to do anything. Just surrender to Me.” (Applause)
From within, I said to Him, “I will do the work. But Bhagavan, living in Australia, how can I do that? You know, if I make any mistake, they will sue me. I don’t have money to pay them!”
Bhagavan said, “Trust, trust, trust. You are My instrument; you don’t have to worry about anything. When the time comes, I’ll go into that room. Whatever pain the mother has, I’ll stop it.”
When people heard of this experience, they say, “Oh, maybe, it is not Swami; maybe it is your mind. Perhaps you should not do this.”
I suffered from doubt. “Forgive me, Bhagavan. But now, when I feel I hear You within me, I say, “Swami, I’ll take Your advice!”
Sometimes, I am not aware that He uses me as His instrument. I don’t even know the people. Sometimes, people say, “Thank you.”
But I say, “No, not at all.” It is because Swami has just used me to be His instrument. He gives me answers. He comes into my thoughts. That is what I feel. He is just in my body. He just gives energy.
Swami has said, “If you surrender to Me, you don’t have to worry. All you have to do is just be happy, moment to moment. When you feel happy, then you will be one with Me.” Thank you very much.” (Applause)
.
Oh, that’s great! So, just as she explained, Swami will see to it that you get the answer. Swami will see to it that His message reaches you in His own miraculous Divine way. We don’t have to depend on any intermediaries. In most cases, exploitation is happening all over the world. Beware of such imposters; beware of such exploiters. When He is ready to talk to you in your heart, at any time, why do you want to listen to others? Read His books. When His books are available, why listen to others?
Timelessness is Divinity
Now my friends, the year 2006 has almost come to an end. Tonight, we will find all over the west and all over India, in capital cities, youngsters boozing. (Laughter) At midnight, people, motorcycle riders, and drivers of cars rush around highly intoxicated. They go at great speeds along the highway. At midnight, you see dancers, gala celebrations -- all bars, restaurants, and casinos full of people.
My friends, my only question is this: The New Year, 1st of January, is not your achievement. So, why do you celebrate? Where is the need? If you achieved the 1st of January all by yourself, then there is a need. If you got first class or a gold medal, then celebrate it. But 1st of January is not your achievement (Laughter). The basic fact that 1st of January is not my achievement will therefore not make me crazy or drink booze or spend the whole night sleeplessly reveling.
celebrate every moment
Second, time is a calendar - 2006, 2007, or 2005, 2004. Time. Seconds make minutes; minutes constitute hours; hours constitute a day; days, a week; weeks, a month; and months, a year. Therefore, the basic unit of time is a second. A second is a unit of time. Without seconds, there is no year. Similarly, the New Year celebration should be the celebration of every moment and the celebration of every second. We don’t have to wait for any new year to come along.
Third, time is the mind. 2005 and 2006 is all in the mind. If you go beyond the mind, you find timelessness. So timelessness is Divinity. Let us go beyond time. Let us go beyond the mind. That is the spiritual goal of our life.
My friends, before I wind up this morning's talk, let me express my deep sense of appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all of you. You have been showering love upon me and you have all been encouraging me to speak every week. I benefit more than all of you put together because I read and come prepared. I cannot express my gratitude in words. I thank you and thank you. Thank you very much! (Applause)
IN THE COMPANY OF GOD
I should also tell you this, my friends. I know that there are many people amongst you who are more conversant with Baba’s message, and who are more familiar with the scriptures than my humble self. But even though you know these things, you are tolerant enough to listen to me. For that also, I thank you very much. In spite of knowing these things, you still listen to me. That is something great. Unlike the example I gave of that gentleman in the train who stopped speaking when the neighbouring lady passenger said, “Stop” -- and started her cassette -- you know all this, yet still you bear with me. I thank you for that reason too.
Third, I thank Baba for making this holy time possible, because, for every talk, I prepare a lot and read so many books. Satsang means ‘in the company of God’. So, as I prepare, I am in the company of God. As I talk, I am in the company of God. As I see you, you are God yourself, so I am in the company of God. This is all satsang.
I thank Baba for making my life worth living, because life is useless if we don’t have this satsang. This satsang is the very breath of my life, because it has been my practice right from the beginning of my life. Whatever I know, I cannot keep it within myself. I want to share. I happily call myself ABC – Anilkumar Broadcast Corporation. (Laughter) I am not BBC – British Broadcast Corporation.
One gentleman said, “I also feel like sharing my experiences. I would appreciate if you would allow in every talk to have this kind of audience rapport.”
Thank you very much. I am not a dictator. No, I am not a dictator. I realise your enthusiasm. The only thing is that when I come prepared on a topic, I want its continuity. That sometimes makes me concentrate more on the talk, the essence and the matter to be covered on that subject.
I thank you very much for all this. We happily, prayerfully, respectfully, and spiritually invite in the New Year 2007. May Bhagavan shower His choicest blessings on you and your families. May you find this New Year 2007 more meaningful and more spiritual. May you take more measures toward spiritual practice or sadhana. May 2007 help us to be more meditative. May 2007 help us to be more experiential, existential and experimental. We need to be experimental; we need to be existential; we need to be more experiential. May 2007 help us to gain more of experience and less expression, including me, or rather, me the-first-in-the-list! May 2007 help me to realise more than to analyse, to experience more than to express, to go more deeply, deeper and deeper, rather than limiting myself to superficial levels. As our friend said, let us go higher and higher, from kindergarten to the university level. What is the higher level? It is not that I can have a higher speaking platform! ‘Higher level’ is not a higher platform; it is not measured in terms of feet or inches. Coming closer and closer to your real Self -- that is growing higher and higher in spirituality. May Bhagavan help us and guide us. I take this occasion to thank each and every one of you. Sai Ram. (Applause)
(Everyone sang bhajans along with Prof. Anil Kumar)
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