September 23^rd, 2007

“STOP”

OM…OM…OM…

Sai Ram

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

STOP

We often come across the word “STOP” at traffic signals or crossroads where traffic is managed. Therefore let that word “Stop” be the topic for this morning. When we go at a high speed along the national highway and there is a board saying “STOP” and we don’t stop, what will happen? An accident! We will land up in a hospital instead of our destination. So we have to stop where we have to, when we have to. If we do not, we are taking a risk.

we must observe traffic rules on the spiritual highway

Similarly, spirituality is an eternal journey. It is a journey that has neither an end nor a beginning. In this endless, beginning--less eternal journey, we should stop certain things in order to be safe and secure along the spiritual highway. The spiritual highway will be comfortable if we observe the traffic rules. We have to stop certain notions, certain habits and some of our thinking processes, so that we can have a better and safer journey.

Stop using high-SOUNDING vocabulary words

The first thing that we have to stop is using difficult vocabulary. This does not exclude me. Rather I am the first and foremost because, in a satsang, no one stands on a pedestal; we are all the same.

Being a teacher, I have some more time to collect matter and articulate so as to convince you. We are all pilgrims along the same path. We have to put a stop to difficult vocabulary or words. We use words to describe God; we use words to describe Divinity. We have to put a full-stop to that!

Why? Words can never reach God. No, impossible! Words can never convey Divinity. Impossible! Yet all of our attempts are only to put God and Divinity into words. Put a full-stop to that verbal expression or oral communication, particularly regarding Divinity.

There is also a second danger. We are tempted to use very high-sounding words or vocabulary. Vocabulary, high-sounding words and bombastic style are useless. They are a sign of ego. Vocabulary will satisfy your ego but not your conscience; it will never satisfy your spirit. Therefore, let us try to put a stop to this habit of using bombastic words in describing God.

words are inadequate to express the truth

We should also know another important point. Many people, including men of wisdom, met Jesus Christ. All of them were convinced that Jesus Christ was far above them. These men were experts in scriptures and verses, in memory and capacity to repeat like a computer or a tape--recorder. Yet they had to bend their heads before Jesus Christ because Christ was the very embodiment of practical peace in life. Christ was the very personification of communicating things in the best way ever possible.

We also know about Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Most of the great scholars of those times like Keshav Chandrasen, Pandit Sitanathan, Padma Bhushan, had to bend their heads in front of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Why? That was because Paramahamsa’s wisdom was beyond vocabulary. Paramahamsa’s wisdom was beyond the word, which is a mere vehicle for communication.

When Swami Vivekananda met Paramahamsa for the first time, Paramahamsa did not give any discourse or speech. Paramahamsa did not make use of any powerful sounding words, though Vivekananda had a dictionary with him. Even if Paramahamsa had used high-sounding words, Vivekananda could have verified its meaning with the support of his Oxford dictionary. But Paramahamsa never used those words because Paramahamsa knew that words are futile.

Words are useless; words are empty. They do not convey the depth and reality of Divinity. Paramahamsa’s communication to Vivekananda was his Divine touch. The very touch of the master was enough to bring about enlightenment in the life of Vivekananda. Naren could become Vivekananda by just the Divine touch, not by a discourse or a talk.

My friends, vocabulary is confusing, and bombastic style is about pomp and publicity. It is an expression of ego. Therefore, as we start this morning with the topic “Stop”, we should stop making use of high-sounding words and verses, knowing full well that they are inadequate to express the Truth. That is the first full-stop.

Facts change with time

Let’s move on to the second. We often hear people using two particular words -- facts and figures.

If you ask anybody, “Why do you talk like that?”

“I can because I have facts and figures to back me.”

All scientists speak on the basis of facts and figures. Put a full-stop to that! God cannot be limited by your facts. God cannot be put within the parameters of your figures. Facts and figures relate to the world, not to God.

First, let us understand what a fact is. “Temperature is such-and-such a degree” is a fact. But by afternoon, the temperature will go up, and that is equally a fact. Night temperature falls down and that too is a fact. Early hours of the morning, when it will be severely cooler, the temperature falls further; it is also a fact. So which is true now?

Morning temperature, afternoon temperature, night temperature, early morning temperature are all facts. As temperature fluctuates, so do the facts. Do facts express Divinity? No! Do facts convey anything about God? No, because your facts are go on changing.

Facts change. Temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, light intensity all change constantly. The five elements are always changing. Sometimes the changes in the five elements lead to catastrophes. A change in earth plates leads to earthquakes; changes in water in the sea and oceans bring about cyclone and floods. Changes in the wind lead to storms. Changes in the heat lead to global warming, temperature increases, the greenhouse effect. They are all facts, but they have nothing to do with God.

Facts have nothing to do with god

The facts that we know have nothing to do with God because all these facts change from time to time. Here is a basic fact. All of us know how we were 25 years ago. I think all of us have our albums and we can look at how we were 30 years ago. We were very handsome then, and now we look awful. It’s better not to speak about it! (Laughter) Future will be still worse! (Laughter) It’s no suspense. I am sure no one will say, “I am more handsome now than I was 25 years ago.” If you say that, either it implies something questionable about your personality, or you have to redefine handsomeness!

Therefore my friends, no doubt these are facts, but they go on changing. Population changes, species and their numbers change. Therefore, facts and figures do not convey anything relating to God. Put a full-stop to them.

So what should I do now? We already put a full-stop to our oral expression or words. Now we put a full-stop to facts and figures. So what is it that we want? We want Truth. Be after Truth, not after a fact. Fact and Truth are different.

Facts change, WHILE truth is changeless

Baba visited Hyderabad in the year 1972. He asked me a question, “What is a fact, and what is Truth?”

To me, both were synonymous. To me both were the same. So I said, “Swami, both are same.”

He said, “Certainly not!”

It was first time I heard from Swami the difference between fact and Truth in such a lucid, beautiful style, which is unique to Him. He explained as follows: “Today you are wearing a suit -- a fact. Yesterday you were wearing a shirt -- a fact. Tomorrow you may have another dress -- a fact. So your dress goes on changing day after day. That is a fact. But YOU remain the same. That is the Truth.”

So that which does not change is Truth, and that which changes is a fact. That is what Baba said. It is still ringing in my ears. So let us put a full-stop to facts and figures. Let us think of Truth only. Then what is the Truth? How to know the Truth? Where is the Truth?

You are the Truth

My friends, Truth cannot be sought after; Truth cannot be found. Nobody can be in search of Truth. Truth is not available in any shop. Truth is not manufactured in any industry nor is it sold in the stores. No!

What is the Truth? You are the Truth! You are the embodiment of Truth, you are the personification of Truth; but we are searching for Truth outside. That is the tragedy. Being the Truth ourselves, we want to find the Truth outside. Very funny!

Suppose I ask everybody, “Where is Anil Kumar?”

What would you say? “An hour ago he was alright, so what happened to him now? We never expected that people would turn mental in less than an hour!” So I don’t search for myself, do I? No.

Similarly, as you are the embodiment of Truth, for you to be in search of Truth is strange. Why? We have gone astray, we have gone away from the path of Truth; therefore we are searching. We have forgotten that we are the Truth and think of Truth as outside of us. That is the tragedy.

It is like searching for a black cat in the dark. In the dark, you are searching for a black cat, which is not even there. Do you find it? Impossible! Similarly, the Truth that we search for outside is like a nonexistent black cat sought after in the dark. Therefore, what is to be done now?

Truth happens

We have to reflect upon ourselves in the process of meditation. Meditation is turning inward. What happens when we turn inward? Truth happens.

Please, let me be very clear. Truth is not done. Things like cookies and canteen preparations are done. But Truth is not done; Truth is not an act. Spoken truth is different from the Truth of Truths -- the essential, fundamental, basic Truth. Truth spoken is factual, but the Truth of Truths is fundamental. The Truth in reality is unspoken because, whether you speak or not, you continue to be Truth.  In sleep, you are the Truth. Even in dream, you are the Truth. Whether you speak or not, you are the Truth.

Therefore, what happens in the process of meditation? In the process of reflecting upon ourselves, in the process of thoughtlessness, in the process of no--mind or total withdrawal of the mind state, Truth happens.

Truth is not done, Truth is not revealed, Truth is not spoken. Truth happens -- meaning you will experience the Truth. Therefore, let us put a full-stop to all facts and figures. Let us try to know and let us try to find in our lives Truth happening by the withdrawal of the mind or getting into that state of thoughtlessness.

Then, what else is the Truth?

Ekam Sat – Truth is One

Truth is never understood. It is never drawn as a conclusion in any discussion or argument. I cannot argue Truth. Supposing there is light here, can I argue it is dark? If I do, what will you say? “This is not a place for you!”

Truth is non-arguable. It is not given to your logic. It is not subjected to your rationale or reasoning because Truth is Truth.

Truth is one: “Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti.” Truth is one. It is broad daylight now; can you argue it is dark? You cannot. In the night, it is very dark. Can you argue that it is broad daylight? No! So Truth is non-arguable.

Let us all put a full-stop to arguments, counter-arguments, logic, rationale and reasoning because Truth is beyond. Truth is beyond logic; Truth is beyond rationality; Truth is beyond materiality. Truth is beyond all that you know because you are the Truth. That is the point! It cannot be arrived at by any philosophy.

Philosophy is ‘Full Loss’

Some people say, “This school of philosophy conveys Truth.” How do you know? You cannot say that only one particular school of philosophy conveys Truth. I cannot say, “There is light only in that part.” There is light here also. I cannot say, “These are the only two parts where there is light. There is no light at the centre.”

How can I say that when light is uniform all over? Similarly, any particular school of philosophy cannot claim itself to be exclusively true. “Truth viewed from one dimension looks like this, while Truth viewed from another angle looks like that.” It cannot be.

We have to understand that it is all the same Truth. Truth can never be understood or experienced in a philosophical state. Philosophy is argument. Philosophy is theory. As Baba puts it, “‘Full loss’ is philosophy.” (Laughter) ‘Full loss’ is philosophy because, by reading and by thinking, we think we know but we get confused.

Philosophy will not help us understand the truth

We find people crying literally, “I do not know what is to be done.”  Lord Buddha was in penance for so long, as he was unable to decide what is what. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa had been exposed to several gurus like Bharavi Brahmani, and Totapuri, so he practiced all schools of philosophy and all the nine paths of devotion.

Therefore my friends, we may explore, excavate, and experiment with Truth, but the Truth continues to be the same. A film actor may play the role of a hero, or a side hero, or a villain, but that actor is the same. Similarly, Truth continues to be same though our perception or our way of looking at it may be different.

In other words, let us not make an attempt to know the Truth through a philosophical state. A philosophical state will never help us to know the Truth because it is full of theory. It is full of imagination. It is full of the creativity of the human mind. The mind can create, the mind can imagine, the mind can win over by its powerful intellect. Mind can do anything, but it is not the Truth.

God is Unknowable

I can also tell you that the Truth can happen while we continue our journey. Let us not stop at one place. We have to pity those who have stopped their journey. We come across people who say that they are enlightened. Poor fellows! They are totally in darkness.

Some people say they’ve known Baba since 40 years. They do not yet know that He cannot be known! Baba cannot be known. “How do you say that you know Him? You speak like a fool! You do not know that you do not know.”

He cannot be known. God is unknowable. If He can be known, He becomes material, an object. He becomes a part of the five elements. As He is unknown, He transcends the five elements. He transcends the entire creation. Therefore, in the process of knowing, we will help create the situation for Truth to happen in our lives.

In Knowing, Truth Happens

Truth will happen in the process of knowing, not in the process of knowledge. Knowledge means that you have come to a dead end. When traveling by car, you come across signs that say, “Dead End” meaning there is no further road. That is where knowledge leads you.

“Sir, I read all the books.”

“Very good!”

Keep quiet and continue to read! One should continue knowing. In the process of knowing, Truth can happen; it will not happen by arriving at a state of knowledge. That’s because in trying to know, you will be innocent; in trying to know, you will be humble; in trying to know, you will be egoless; in trying to know, you will be pure.

Being in that process of knowing, you will be pure, clean, mirror--like. When I look in the mirror, I see my face very clearly. If I don’t see my face, it means the mirror is covered with dust. Similarly, knowing is a mirror. In knowing you are clean, you are open, and you are positive. In knowing, Truth happens.

Truth is an Agreement

Truth is always an agreement. Let us understand this. The light outside and the light inside can easily agree with each other. The wind here can easily agree with the wind outside. Truth is an agreement.

Here is a simple example. What Christ says, what Nanak says, what Buddha says, what Krishna says in Gita are all one and the same. Truth is synthesis, unity, conglomeration, and agreement.

All religions agree because Truth is an agreement. Truth is acceptance; it is not rejection. Truth is not denial or negation; Truth is acceptance. If you are prepared to accept, you will be able to know. That is why you have all the religions in the Prashanti flag. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa practiced all religions because Truth is an agreement.

Also, people talk in such a way that we don’t understand anything. Often the speaker himself does not know what he is talking about, because we believe in making simple things complex.

Baba gave one example. When you stand in knee-deep water, you can speak. If you stand in neck-deep water, you can still speak. If you are drowned in water, you cannot speak. That is when you are in Truth.

Truth is Silence

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa gave another example. Many people had gone to a watch a play and the curtain was still down. People were talking about how the play would be, what time it would start, whether it would be interesting or not. They were talking about the nice theatre, the actors, the theme, and about their family because, wherever people gather, it is an exhibition of one’s own vanity. It is an exhibition of publicity. So people were talking aloud.

 At that moment, the curtain went up and people stopped talking. That is Truth. That is Truth, as Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa puts it. When you are in a state of silence, Truth happens. That is also what Baba has said: “It is only in the depth of silence that the voice of God can be heard.”

Truth happens in our life only in a state of silence – meaning silence in the strictest sense, because one may be physically silent, but with all manipulations still going on in the mind. A mind with all its dirty, polluted, stinking thoughts is not silent; it is a dust bin. A mind which is empty, a mind which is thoughtless or thought-free is Truth. That is true silence. So in the state of silence, Truth happens in our lives.

Truth is simple

Then, Truth is simple. Vivekananda asked Paramahamsa, “Have you seen God?”

Paramahamsa said, “I see God as I see you.”

He did not say that Vivekananda should practice 10 years of penance, 15 years of fasting, or not sleep for 20 years before seeing Him (if he is still alive after all that)! It is not so. Truth is simple.

Baba says that Truth is as simple as a rose petal. It is as simple as dropping a kerchief on the ground. It is as simple as your breathing. To Paramahamsa, to Baba, to Jesus, to Ramana Maharshi, things are so simple. Why? They speak Truth. Our statements are not Truth. Why? We are ample. Truth is simple, while we are ample in our expressions. How can we ever expect the Truth to happen in our lives, my friends? That is one point related to Truth.

Truth is beyond time

Another point is this. We cannot say, “Yes, I agree with you for some time.” You cannot say that. They give a guarantee of 2 years on this watch. If you buy a refrigerator, you get a 2-year guarantee card. If you buy electronic gadgets, you get a half-year or one-year guarantee cards for durability.

Truth has no durability. Truth has no durability because it has the ability to sustain. It has the ability to withstand the test of time. Time is not a limitation for Truth because it is beyond time; it is the time.

Therefore my friends, let us put a full-stop to all wrong notions relating to Truth. The first point for the benefit of those who joined us late is that we have to put a full-stop to our high-sounding words in relation to God. Second, let us put a full-stop to facts and figures; and third, let us just be such that Truth happens in our life.

Miracles are to give us a glimpse of Divinity

Let us put a full-stop to our ideas regarding miracles. We have very funny ideas about miracles. I am not dismissing them. I am not denying them. We think that the materialisation of vibhuti is a miracle of Baba. Yes, it is; but it is not only that. We think materialisation of a ring is a miracle of Baba. Yes it is, but it is more than that. We think materialising a chain is a miracle; yes, but it is beyond that.

So why does Baba give you these things? He does so in order to give you a glimpse of Divinity, a glimpse of a miracle, to give you the taste of a miracle. But that is not all. If you think that materialisation of a ring is a miracle, Baba should give you a ring every day. If you think making a chain is a miracle, Baba should give one chain in the morning, one chain in the evening to every one of us. It is not that. All the materialisations are miracles to give you a taste, a glimpse, to give you an initial experience. But a miracle is really beyond that. So what is a miracle?

THE World is full of miracles

Let us put a full-stop to our limited ideas, to our limited knowledge of a miracle. A miracle is something more. I sow a seed here. It germinates, sprouts, and grows into a sapling. Eventually it grows into a flowery bush or into a gigantic tree.

A seed, a small, tiny little seed of a banyan tree, grows into a gigantic tree. Its huge branches spread all over, giving shade to many people. All that from a small seed! Isn’t that a miracle? Can there be a greater miracle than this? It is a miracle if you have the eye to see it.

We often hear in newspapers about airplane crashes, hijacked planes, engine trouble preventing proper take-off, engine trouble while on the flight, so the flight is finished--no need of customs or immigration on the other planet! (Laughter) Well, we see birds flying, but we don’t hear of a bird hijacking another bird. (Laughter) Birds fly high, but we have never heard of any bird developing wing or tail problems. They land neatly and they take off nicely. Isn’t that a miracle?

A man with all his knowledge of aeronautical engineering and manufacturing airplanes still has trouble somewhere; but a bird, a parrot or a crow flies and lands without a problem. Isn’t that a miracle? Yes it is. Isn’t it a miracle that all the birds move along in a group, fly as a flock? If several planes started simultaneously, well, some might not reach. But when birds fly in a group, there is a nice simultaneous landing. Is it not a miracle? It is a miracle, my friends!

Miracles happen around us every day

Every day we complain that we have no time. We have time for office, we have time for children, we have time for marketing, and we have all the time for TV. But we have no time to watch miracles happening around us every day!

Just go out during the night, sit on a chair and watch the sky filled with glittering stars. Oh stars, how beautiful you are! No star falls to the ground; no star falls on my head. Film stars will fall, but not real stars! They are the ‘super stars’. Is that not a miracle? The stars that shine brilliantly in the night hide in the day. Yet they don’t have any curtain. They don’t change their makeup. They are not seen in the daytime. Like a bride, they hide. Yet how they shine at night! Is it not a miracle? It is a miracle, if we just care to watch it.

A child’s smile is a miracle

When we meet regularly, sometimes some people greet with the words, “Good morning! How are you?” Some people smile, “Hi, how are you?” while other people put on a face – lifeless and smile-less -- everything is less! (Laughter)

But look at a baby! A child smiles beautifully. Nobody can imitate a child’s smile. If I imitate a child’s smile, I will be 100% failure because a child’s smile is so original, a child’s smile is natural, and a child’s smile is innocent. A child’s smile is the smile of God Himself.

A child’s smile is the smile of God, whereas others’ smiles are commercial, political, financial, social, influential or mental. (Laughter) If one sits and smiles within himself, something is wrong with him. (Laughter)

A child will never think of country, status, or degree. It is just a smile – an unconditional, beautiful, original, nascent, and fresh smile. It is as beautiful as a sunrise, as beautiful as the sunset you watch in Kanyakumari. (At Kanyakumari, people watch the sunrise and sunset near the Vivekananda Rock.) A baby’s smile is so beautiful! Isn’t that a miracle? Yes, it is.

let us not limit miracles

So my sincere appeal to you is to put a full-stop to our funny notions regarding miracles. A miracle can be anything in our lives. Our being here is a miracle. How many of you expected that you would be here in Prashanti Nilayam? Many people make travel arrangements at the last minute. Isn’t that a miracle? Some people, with all their tickets ready, have to cancel. It is equally a miracle, although a negative one.

A miracle is the totality of life or existence. A miracle is the attire of the Divine. A miracle is the dress of God -- the fantastic, fabulous attire of God Himself. Let us not limit miracles to certain things only. They are much more than that.

THINKING is not a spiritual man’s qualification

My friends, let us look at other things in the field of religion. Many people think someone is a very religious man.

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, he thinks deeply.”

“Oh, I see.”

Thinking deeply is not the only qualification of a spiritual man. Why? I am very hungry and I want to eat now. If I go on thinking about eating, I will never eat. The train has arrived at the platform. I am thinking about getting on to it. But the train will leave by that time. Sir Isaac Newton was in the laboratory on his wedding day. It was the day when he was to marry, but the poor fellow was in the laboratory.

The girl came and said, “Honey, it is time for our wedding. Let us go to the church.” Until then, the fellow had forgotten because he was thinking.

So, my friends, thinking is not the qualification of a spiritual man. So, how does thinking help? Thinking helps to develop theories. I can develop so many theories, interpretations, explanations, ideologies, and thoughts with my thinking. The area of thinking is theology. I repeat: the area of thinking is ideology. That is not the only quality of a spiritual man.

Feeling is not a spiritual man’s qualification

Then somebody says, “He has deep feelings.”

Oh, I see! What feeling? Feeling is little higher than thinking. Thinking has to do with the head, while feeling has to do with the heart. Heart feels, but head never feels. On the other hand, it is ready to hurt the feelings of others! So head hurts, while heart feels. Head is full of ego, while heart is full of love. Head is possessive, while heart is ready to share. Head narrows down, while heart is expansive. Head divides, while heart unites. Head is worldly, while heart is spiritual. So heart is certainly superior to head, as it is part of devotion.

Some people start crying in bhajans.  Nothing is wrong with them. It is just that the bhajan has touched their heart.

Deva Devothama  -- Oh God of Gods!

Deena Samrakshaka -- You are the Refuge of the forlorn.

Devadi Deva Daya Maya --  Oh Compassionate Lord!

You are the Heart of hearts, You are the Lord of my heart,

 You are so dear to me!

Sri Sai Deva Kripa Maya -- Shower Your mercy on me, my Lord,

Deva Devothama -- Oh God of Gods!

What soothing ideas they are! What comforting ideas they are! What beautiful expressions of feelings from the bottom of one’s own heart! When we hear that song (bhajan), we recall those days when Baba saved our lives, when Baba got us out of troubles, when Baba extended His helping hand to all of us to come out of the riddle -- the muddle of problems and troubles.

When we sing other songs, we are thrilled and full of joy, our faces effulgent and smiling. For example, when we sing the Govardhana Giridhari we are moved:

Govardhana Dhara Gopal

Chita Chora Yashodha Ke Bal

Navaneetha Chora Gopal

“Govardhanadhara Gopal” – “Oh Swami, You lifted the Govardhana Mountain, so can’t you lift me?” After all, I am not that heavy. I am not as heavy as Govardhana; can’t You lift my life? Can’t You elevate my life? Can’t You give me a lift in my profession? Can’t You give me a lift in my business? Can’t You give me a lift on my spiritual path, God?

You smile because you feel God’s presence. Some people smile during bhajans. Don’t mistake them to be mad. You are mad; you have not yet understood their madness!

It was Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa who said, “People call me mad. Yes, I am happy that I am mad; but you don’t know that you are also mad. I am mad after God, while you are mad after the world. Both of us are colleagues in this madhouse!” (Laughter)

Yes. I think I told you long back, Baba opened all specialties -- neurology, nephrology, cardiology, ophthalmology . . . but He has not opened psychiatry (Laughter) for mental diseases. Why? It is there in Sai Kulwant Hall. All of us are affected in our own humble way, only the dosage is different. (Laughter) For some, the tablet may be of the size of a gooseberry, for others the size of a pumpkin. (Laughter)

being is the true quality of a spiritual man

So, the heart expresses by the way of smiles or tears, but that is not the only feature of a spiritual man. Thinking and feeling are not the only features. If you go deeper, beyond thinking and feeling, what do you find?

Residing in the state of being is the topmost quality of a spiritual man. You are sat, you are existence; sat means existence. Satchitananda: you are sat -- existence, chit -- awareness, ananda – bliss. That being-ness is sat -- existential.

“I am happy.”

“Why do you say you are happy?”

“I exist.” Happiness is the existential experience.

“I am joyful.” ‘I’ is existence, while ‘joyful’ is the experience. “I am crying.” ‘I’ is existence, while ‘crying’ is the experience. Therefore, being is existential. Happiness, unhappiness, joy, pleasure, pain, success failure – all these things happen, but the being remains the same.

Being is non-dual. Existence is non-dual, while experiences are dual. Existence is one, while experiences are many. Existence is uniform, while experiences are changing. Therefore, that being is the ultimate.

Let us stop thinking that it is a religious quality. Let us stop feeling that thinking is the only feature of a devotee, no. Let us try to experience the reality of being; that I am being. That is the next point I would like to draw your attention.

Being absorbs experiences without getting affected by them

Why? That is because this being can receive any experience without getting identified. My friends, I seek your serious involvement in this point. Being is ready to absorb, is ready to take, without getting affected. Why?

On a film screen in a cinema hall, many films are projected. When the tango (an Argentinean dance) is projected on the screen, the screen does not dance. Similarly, when there is a fight sequence between the hero and villain leading to bloodshed, the screen does not shed any blood. A screen is a screen on which films are projected. That screen is your being.

“Without the screen, I can watch the film, sir.”

“Where? On the sky or what?” (Laughter)

Without the screen, you cannot see the film. But the film is not the screen. The screen projects, but it does not participate. Projection is different from participation. That non--participating projection is your being. Therefore, being-ness is the true quality of a devotee, a religious or a spiritual man.

A thinking man is very good at speeches and writing. A feeling man is very good in his expressions and emotions. But a man in being is non-emotional. My friends, some people think that religion is emotion. No, religion is balance, not emotion.

So let us put a full-stop to all these notions that are not accurate. I would like to draw your attention to another point. Many people are tempted to say, “Baba told me this, Baba told me that” for two reasons: first, to impress upon on you how close they are to Swami, and second, to impress upon you how much they know. Both are useless; both are ridiculous. Both are irreligious.

Baba responds to questions

My friends, people say that they put this question to Swami, and Swami gave them this answer. Please be very clear on this. Baba’s answer to a question put to Him by somebody may not apply to you.

Here is a simple example. I have a friend who is a miser number one (Laughter). He has lot of property. I doubt whether he eats money. He believes in a bank account. Ok, let him swallow the passbook!

He told me once, “You know what Baba said?”

Oh I see, “What did He say?”

“He said it to my friend.”

“Oh I see, not to you.” (Thank God, because if He says something to you, let me also become a miser so that He will talk to me.)

This man told me, “He told my friend.”

“Oh, what did he say?”

“Money and God don’t go together. God is above money. Therefore, don’t think of money. That is what Baba said.”

I see. This fellow is a miser; he does not want to spend a single pie (a very small coin). So he says, ‘Money and God’. Correct!

Then I told him, “Baba told my friend another point. Please hear me.”

“What did He say?”

“To my friend he said -- Nakarmana Naprajaya Anena,

      Tyage Amritatva Panena.

Na Karmana – Neither by action nor position

                            Naprajaya -- nor association, but it is only sacrifice that confers upon you that state of Immortality

Amritatva Manusham -- You will have Immortality by sacrifice alone.

“What do you say now?”

That fellow said, “Thank you” and left me!

So Baba told to a miser ‘tyagena’ – to sacrifice. To another fellow, who goes on giving money away, expecting his name to be publicised, expecting his name to be on the headlines of the daily newspaper (preferably with his photograph), He tells him that money is not the criterion. So that spender should know that God is above money, while the miser should know that he should sacrifice.

Where is the uniformity? How do you say that there should be a common answer? No my friends, please be very clear. The questions may be put by different people, but Baba’s answers differ depending on the position, the mental level, the situation, the culture, and the habits and standards of the questioner.

If a great scholar asks Swami a question, His answer will match the scholar’s scholarship. If a fool asks him a question, it will be to the fool’s standard. So Baba’s answers are not answers. They are responses. Please follow this word -- responses. Let us not say Baba answers. No. Baba responds. They are not Baba’s answers; they are Baba’s responses, appropriate to each situation.

Baba’s responses are specific to the questioner and context

Why? A response is in relation to the questioner. The questioner puts the question in the context of his own life. A doctor he puts a question related to medical science. A Vedic scholar asks a question as per his knowledge. So the questioner has different contexts, different moods. The questioner is in different situations. Therefore, He answers with appropriate responses. There cannot be standard answers like the ones in textbooks and guides, which can be copied in an examination.

Therefore, let us put an end, a full-stop, to this funny idea that His answers are all uniform. They are not uniform. They are different, depending upon the questioner and the context in which the question is asked.

I have got few more things to cover which we can take up next week. Thank you for your gracious presence and thank you for your time. The whole Prashanti Nilayam campus has been very busy for the last 6 to 7 months. It has been flooded with thousands of people from different districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Right now, we have got people from Mehboobnagar District, numbering about 5000 or even more. There are several teachers among them who are here for their refresher course. The whole campus has a festive look. The whole campus is jumping with joy. Every day is a day of celebration. Thank you.

May God bless you! Thank you very much.

      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 Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Babaji ki Jai!

Jai Bolo Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Babaji ki Jai!

Jai Bolo Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Babaji ki Jai!

Thank you.

Sai Ram!