December 23rd, 2007
“Christmas 2007”
Part 3
OM…OM…OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
The message of Christmas for Sai devotees
We have come to the third and final part in this series of thoughts on Christmas, and so I am ready to share with you a few thoughts on this subject. We have about 48 hours before the celebration. The decoration of the Sai Kulwant Hall has already started. It’s quite interesting, very good—at this initial stage, it has a bridal look! It’s very beautiful even now, and we will see it all on the day of celebration!
At the time of the birth of Jesus Christ, a star guided the wise men towards His birthplace. What does this star signify? There are many ways of interpreting this, depending upon one’s own vision and one’s own understanding.
Today, let us take the message of this star as saying that we should be stars. Not a film star, no, no, no! (Laughter) We should be a star to guide our friends and our relatives, and to direct all those we have met to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai. Just as the star guided the wise men towards the birthplace of Jesus Christ, let every devotee be a star to direct people towards the Divine. That is the meaning of the star.
There is a small anecdote connected with this star. In England, during the time of the Second World War, some of the houses had stars on their roofs. Why? A father and a son were walking around the streets and noticed the stars on the tops of the houses. The son asked the father innocently, “Why is the star here? Why is the star there? Why not everywhere?” A good question.
The father answered, “Look here, my son, wherever there is a star, it indicates that one of their family is serving in the army. The family has sacrificed one person to save this country. Each star represents a saviour.”
Similarly, my friends, the star in the East speaks of a hope--the hope that everyone will be a star, and thus a hope and direction to every one of those who have not yet come to this place, or who have not yet known of the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Christmas brings Peace AT THE individual level
The second point of Christmas is this: Christmas brings peace at three levels. A long time ago, Bhagavan said, “When there is peace at the individual level, there will be peace in the family; when there is peace in the family, there will be peace in the community; and when there is peace in the community, there will be peace in the world and in the universe.” Therefore, peace in the universe begins with peace at the level of the individual. Individual peace is the basis for universal peace. Christmas is an occasion when we can notice peace at these three different levels.
At the time of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary was very confused and in a state of panic because she, a virgin, was to give birth. She was very worried about what was going to happen. Who would accept her? How she was going to cope with the situation? Mary was afraid.
But, at that moment, peace was established in her heart. She heard an inner voice: “Do not worry. You have conceived by the will of God. Mary, do not worry, you will give birth because it is the will of God.” Then she had peace.
So, my friends, those of us who are very much confused, whose minds are chaotic, or full of fear and anxiety, let us be assured that peace will be established in our own hearts at the individual level. That is the message of peace at Christmas at the individual level.
Christmas brings Peace AT THE family level
Secondly, peace has to spread in the family. Your peace may be disturbed by family members for any number of reasons, as does happen in every family all over the world. If anyone says, “We are always at peace”, well, that’s questionable. Yes, we lose peace many times. Christmas is the season that brings peace back at the family level. How is this possible?
After Mary had conceived, and after the child Christ was born, Joseph was reluctant to accept her. He was like any other normal man: how could Mary—a virgin—give birth? Then he heard an interior voice, “Don’t be afraid of this situation; it’s the will of God that the child is born. Don’t doubt her—accept her.”
It was the interior voice that made Joseph accept her and brought about the reunion of husband and wife. For some time before, the husband and wife had been at a distance, each one living in their own world. They might have split apart. But at that moment, peace was established - Christ was born! Peace was established in the family, the second level of peace. Mary had peace on the individual level, and that spread into the family.
So, my friends, Christmas establishes peace in the family by reuniting people. The children may be away from the parents, the parents may be away from the children, there may be differences between husband and wife, but by establishing peace they will be reunited.
The king of peace, Jesus Christ, is a wonderful being whom we adore and worship. We look up to Him because He established peace on earth. Christmas gives us the message of peace.
Christmas brings Peace AT THE universal level
The third level to establish is universal peace. We feel very proud of our achievements, my friends, but we should also be ashamed of the many things that are happening around us. While we are proud of our achievement that we landed on the moon, we should be ashamed that we could not step into our neighbour’s room. You go thousands of miles away, but you cannot go and visit your neighbour and say “hello”. This is a matter of shame.
While we may be very happy about bombs that could destroy the whole world, we should be ashamed knowing that we cannot bring life back to those killed. My friends, peace is required now more than ever before. People may call this the scientific age, the space age, the computer age—but this age has no peace of mind. There is a great need for more peace of mind, and Christmas is an occasion to think of universal peace.
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Let the whole world be happy.
Om Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi
Let there be peace everywhere.
That should be our prayer! Let not our prayer be for the successful landing and launching of a spaceship! No, let our prayers be for peace, universal peace. It is clearly stated in the Gospel according to Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom grace is favoured.”
The Bible is poetic in its expression. All scriptures are poetic. The Bhagavad Gita is poetry … it is music … it is melody. Gita means hymn or song. If we take the Bhagavad Gita as prose, its beauty is gone. Life is poetry; life is definitely not prose. Life is poetic and not prosaic. Life is love, not logic. Some people want to think of life as logical and ask “Why?” and “Why not?” They end up in the lunatic asylum. (Laughter)
Life is not logic. There is no logic at all, there is no rationality. Why has Swami not come this morning? You can’t explain why. Why has Swami come this evening? You can’t explain why. Why 4:30 pm today? Why 5:30 pm tomorrow? There’s no logic to it. (Laughter)
I can explain why you are able to hear my voice; I can explain why you are able to see the light; I can explain how you are able to get the fan’s breeze. But you can’t explain why Baba acts—that is Divine. That which is not predictable, logical or rational, that which is not within the limits of your mental framework is Divinity.
Therefore, our business is to look to the Divine, because if He favours, meaning if He showers His blessings on us, then we are able to recognise the peace within ourselves. He is not going to send you peace in parcels, or in drums like export material! Instead, God asks you to realise peace within yourself by giving up desire and attachment. When you ask, “Swami, I want peace,” Bhagavan says, “When you drop ‘I’, when you drop ‘want’, peace is already there.”
Therefore, when you look to God, or an Avatar (God in human form) or a sadguru (the true spiritual teacher), He will help you to realise peace within yourself. He will give you the technique or method to know peace within yourself. We are always in search of peace outside. We cannot have peace by having a cup of coffee; it’s impossible to get peace by going to a restaurant or a casino. It’s impossible because peace is within you and has to be experienced by turning within.
Turning within is the process called meditation. When we turn within, we discover peace is already there. People are searching for peace outside, and it is already there inside. So you can understand how ignorant we are; you can understand that we are just groping in darkness. This is what I want to say. This peace is shalom, Muslims say salaam. Therefore, we must pray for peace of mind. Peace is most important.
So, Christmas is a celebration that can grant us the peace of mind for which we are praying. Christmas brings peace at the universal level.
HUMILITY IS DIVINITY
Some people say, “Will God see me? Will God help me? Would He talk to me? Does He care for me?” “Will He would grant me an interview? Would He take my letter?” These are the questions that we get asked. Boys are boys, after all. Swami was in the car. Yesterday they were just joking—singing the bhajan (devotional song) “Bolo Jai Jai Kaar, Bolo Jai Jai Kaar,” “Swami goes in His car.” The salutations are to the car in which He is seated! (Laughter) Do you see that!?
So my friends, these are the common questions that we get asked—whether He will accept me or not. It says clearly in the Gospel according to Luke 1:50 “His mercy extends to those who fear Him from generation to generation.”
“Who fear Him”? Here we can substitute another word: “Who love Him.” His mercy extends to those who love Him. The Bible says, “…who fear Him”; let us say, “…who love Him” because, when we don’t love Him, we develop fear. What is fear? Baba defined it in one sentence, “Where there is a mistake, there is fear.” So, we don’t have to fear God. We need to love Him. When we love Him, naturally His mercy extends from generation to generation.
Christmas is an occasion to be very, very humble. Very, very humble, because it is only humility that is rewarded. It’s humility that opens the gates of heaven. It’s humility that gives us a place in the kingdom of God. When God is so humble, why should we be so arrogant? What is the reason for egoism? It is clearly written in the Gospel of Luke 1:52, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones.”
The rulers who think they are great have lost power because they were full of arrogance and ego. Our dear God, Bhagavan Baba, may excuse anything, but not ego. Please take it from me. Of course we learn the hard way out of bitter experience. Some say that we don’t pay heed even then because we are “flying high”!
God has come down and He is so humble; so there is no reason to be egoistic at all. Often we find that egoistic people are brought down, and that the humble are lifted up. God has lifted up the humble because humility is a quality that God loves.
Humility is Divinity. You must have seen photographs of Mother Teresa, how she walked with folded hands. Mother Teresa was humility incarnate as was Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is because they knew that they were “not.” What do I mean “they knew they were not”? I mean that while you and I exist as ego, when there is no ego, you and I are not there. When one has humility and simplicity, nothing can enter into the mind. That was the case with these people.
When ego exists, then pride is immediately there, waiting. Ego and pride go together, followed by prejudice. All these evil things are waiting at the door. When humility is lacking, they will find a place inside. But nothing will disturb you if you are egoless. That’s how it is.
In the Gospel of Luke 1:53, it is said “He has filled the hungry with good things.” What is meant by “the hungry” and “good things?” It is the hunger for God, for peace and bliss. “He has sent the rich away empty.” What are the riches? They are the riches of scholarship and knowledge, of community and nationality. They are enough to spoil us and He has sent them away. He has given the good things to those who are hungry for God, not to those very rich people, rich in arrogance and scholarship, and worldly possessions. That is the meaning of the Holy Bible given here.
Humility, REPENTANCE, SURRENDER
As we go through the Bible, particularly now as we are getting close to the time of Holy Christmas, we will understand that three qualities are most important. Firstly, what we have already discussed--humility. The second is repentance. Often times we may go wrong. Our actions may not be acceptable in the sight of God through a slip of the tongue, but we have to repent. That repentance will melt God within.
Many people come to Swami and say, “Bhagavan, I did this and I did that. I don’t deserve You, Bhagavan,” and they go on crying like that. Swami says, “No, no, no! Past is past, forget about it.” So, repentance is a second step.
The third step is that one should be prepared to offer one’s own self to God. That is surrender. Surrender, I surrender. But we have not surrendered yet. We have conditional surrender. I surrender to You, provided that You do this. If it is conditional, then it cannot be surrender at all. So, my friends, the third requirement to be in the Divine, to experience the Divine, is surrender. The highest form of realisation in Nava Vidha Bhakthi Marga (the Nine Paths of Devotion) is surrender.
ONE: HEAVEN’S CELEBRATION
My friends, Christmas is also a beautiful occasion which we can think of in three different ways. There are heavenly, earthly, and human celebrations—celebrations everywhere. Celebration by heaven is the first level of celebration.
What is ‘heavenly celebration’? All the angels are rejoicing about the birth of Jesus Christ. All the angels are singing in praise of Jesus Christ. And in the Ramayana (the story of Rama), there was a shower of flowers at the time of Ramachandra’s birth. Sri Rama Navami celebrated in April, speaks of a heavenly celebration because of the flowers that came raining down below. So, heaven rejoices over the birth of an Avatar and the birth of Christ. Thus we can understand that Christmas (the celebration of the birth of Christ), Sri Rama Navami (the celebration of the birth of Rama), and Krishnastami (celebration of the birth of Krishna) are heavenly celebrations. And Baba’s birthday on the 23rd of November, is also a heavenly celebration! (Applause)
I remember reading in one book that while Sai Kulwant Hall may be packed with devotees that we can see, there are also thousands of unseen ethereal bodies and spirits, waiting for darshan (public appearance) of the Lord. When angels wait for God, then why can’t you and I wait for God? Just question yourself! (Applause)
Angels do not tire of waiting, spirits do not tire of waiting, but we get tired. It is a tragedy. Darshan is something that our merciful Lord grants. Let us know the value of darshan. Yes, let us know that darshan is a very precious opportunity that we can’t afford to miss.
Spirits, angels and deities celebrate the birth of the Avatar, a heavenly celebration. A University Professor said he saw all ten Avatars (the previous ten incarnations of Swami.) It is also written by V. K. Gokak, the first Vice Chancellor of the University, that he could see all Avatars in Swami.
TWO: CREATION’S CELEBRATION
The second celebration is that of creation. Creation rejoices. What a beautiful season Christmas is! Quite cold, quite chilly, yet we are jubilant and there are flowers everywhere. You find rivers full, and yet no rain. It is not hot, there are clouds everywhere. We feel that rather than walking on the earth, we are floating because of the beautiful Christmas season. Nature celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
It is said that at the time of the birth of Bhagavan Buddha, plants started flowering and trees started bearing fruits out of season. Why? Nature was rejoicing. Creation was celebrating.
November 23rd, the birthday of Baba, falls in a very good season of the year. Karthika (November) month is a most precious month, a month where people are more spiritual. They fast and contemplate on Swami. They light candles and lamps because of the birth of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the light and delight of the world.
What was the particular year? Akshaya Nama Samvastara, Akshaya means infinite, boundless, limitless. So, Akshaya Nama Samvastara means boundless, limitless. What do we mean by “limitless”? That He has limitless joy, bliss, peace. And at what moment was He born? Brahma Murtha, in the early hours of the morning, which is the most precious time for contemplation, concentration and meditation.
Jesus Christ was born at night at an hour when people were at rest beyond the state of the body and the mind. The whole of nature celebrated. Stars are nature, and it was a star that guided the wise men to His birthplace.
The angel Gabriel conveyed the news of the birth to shepherds. These illiterate, ignorant people simply accepted the Lord, the babe of Bethlehem. Thus, angels communicated the news to the shepherds; the star guided the wise men.
THREE: OUR CELEBRATION
How about you and how about me? The third celebration is at the individual level. We all celebrate Christmas by sharing our joy, and our experiences, and the message that we receive from Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. So our celebration of Christmas is celestial, terrestrial and individual. This is what I wanted to bring to your notice.
PEOPLE WANT THE DIRECT EXPERIENCE OF BHAGAVAN’S MESSAGE
I would like to tell you another very important point. My friends, we may speak with importance, or in a scholarly way, but to a seeker, to a new devotee, however convincing we are, it is second-hand information. Unless one himself faces God, unless one personally experiences the Divine nectar, he is not going to be convinced. When something is communicated through a third person, it is sure to become modified or changed because that person will add his own condiments, from his own stock. Thus we lose the original flavour. Therefore, the person himself should be directly exposed to Bhagavan’s message because the speeches of others are not convincing (although they may provide some entertainment for the time being).
Talks are not meant for entertainment. It is clearly written in the Gospel of John 4:42, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Saviour of the world." That’s why people rush to Prashanti Nilayam. People come here to see, listen, and experience Him directly, ignoring second-hand information. That is why this place attracts so many people from all over the world. People visit repeatedly. Why? Because they want to hear Him, they want to see Him, and they want to have direct experience of Him, just as it says in the Holy Bible.
But something comes in between us and our visits here. Some people say, “I was here eight years ago,” or “I was here ten years ago.” I met a person who told me, “I was here fifteen years before.” I said, “Why haven’t you come since then?” He said “I’ve been busy.”
My friends, who is not busy? The fellows who have no work are the busiest because they have to spread gossip and rumours, and tell tales! (Laughter) So if anyone says, “I am so busy,” it means he has no work. A man of work will always find the time to do something precious, to do something valuable. He can accommodate any precious, valuable work in his schedule, whereas a lazy fellow cannot do that, because he is so busy with his laziness.
ONLY GOD CAN SAVE YOU, NOT MONEY
My friends, we are so busy earning money, we go on earning and earning. I tell you, craving for money is also a vice. A fellow’s greatest happiness might be to see a large amount of money deposited in his bank pass-book. The body may be disposed tomorrow. Money deposited here—body disposed there. (Laughter) What for? The person who has not had any happiness, beyond that had by money, will be limited by considerations of money.
So if money makes you happy, it means that you have not tasted anything more precious than that in your life. If you are like that, we can’t help you. The Bible clearly says in Timothy 6:10, “The love of money is the root for all kinds of evil.”
Because you have money, you feel special—so what? There are many people who are rulers and kings. You are not greater than them, after all. But even so, you become stiff with pride because you are a rich man. (Laughter) And that money will also keep your mouth shut, because rich people should not speak! (Laughter) And you become suspicious because someone may ask you for a loan or another person may pickpocket you! (Laughter) Anybody can mix poison in your food or anybody can dupe you. Money makes you suspicious, fearful and severe; money will bury you finally. Thus the Bible says “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”
We think that money will save us—no! Only God can save you, not money. On the other hand, money may shave you! (Laughter) A great man said that the love of money indicates a fear of death; one thinks that money ensures immortality. No, no, no, that’s impossible.
Those eager for money have wandered from faith and pierced themselves with many grieves. I am giving you this quotation only to let you know that these ideas are not mine. They are given in the Holy Bible. In Proverbs 14:13, see this beautiful sentence, “Even in laughter, the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.” What a sentence it is! Because of all the money, his heart is aching. In those days, the heart ached; in these days, the heart attack! (Laughter) Those people then had strong hearts, so they only ached; these days, because of the weak heart, there is heart attack. That’s why some people choose to be heartless! (Laughter)
So, in laughter the heart of a rich man aches because he cannot bear to see people richer than him. He is always uncertain whether he will be able to keep his riches with him, avoiding taxation, and all the robbers around. “Even in laughter, the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.”
Sometime back, there was an earthquake in the state of Gujarat. All the TV sets showed the picture of the same man who said, “Until a moment ago I was a millionaire, and now I’m a pauper.” Yes, “joy may end in grief.” What prophetic words the Holy Bible speaks! That is why they are called the Holy Scriptures. We can go through them every day because they apply to every one of us and to every situation.
Therefore, let us not be carried away by apparent laughter. A person may laugh but no one knows his heart may be aching. People may think that they are enjoying life. Who knows…their joy may end in grief. Who knows? Christmas calls for the realisation of this.
TRUE HAPPINESS LIES IN UNION WITH GOD, NOT WITH THE WORLD
True happiness or true joy lies in union with God--not with the world. Once you start to think of God and contemplate upon Him, you will be really joyful. You may find enjoyment in the world, but that joy will end in grief.
Someone said, “Swami, let me enjoy life.”
“’Enjoy’ means what? ‘End joy’. (Laughter) Put an end to it.”
The second meaning is, “The joy that you get at the end is ‘end joy’” (Baba said it.) Therefore, my friends, let us be careful about these distractions that take us away from Truth and Divinity.
Let us be very careful not to be greedy; let us not “lay up for tomorrow”. An abundance of possessions, as it says in Luke 12:15, is not a guarantee for a long life. One says, “I have so much jewellery.” So what? “I have many plots of land, and flats.” So what? An abundance of possessions is not a guarantee for any kind of happiness or bliss. Let us know this.
THE SPIRIT OF GOD
Somebody said, “We may be able to manufacture spaceships and flying saucers.” Yes, we can do anything, but can we manufacture life? No, we are not able to do that. Let us understand, my friends, that we are not the Creator. In Job 33:4 it is written, “The spirit of God has made me; the breath of Almighty gives me life.” So I’m made of God. What a wonderful sentiment, “The spirit of God has made me.”
“The spirit of God made me,” says Job. Those of you who have gone through Sai literature, who have heard His talks repeatedly, certainly will agree with me when I say that “The spirit of God” refers to what Swami has also said.
When you are made of the spirit of God, you should be godly. What is this “spirit of God?” The spirit of God is eternity; it is truth and bliss. Well, I am in agony, worried and self-centred—how can I then claim to be the spirit of God? Because of selfishness, sensual desire, identification with the body and the mind, we have forgotten our innate, inborn, latent quality—that we are made of the spirit of God. How happy we will be, how proud we will be, when we remember that we are made of the spirit of God!
oneness is sai
Mamaivaamso Jeeva Loke Jeeva Bhoothah Sanaathanah.
You are the spark of the Divine.
Mamaivaamso Jeeva Loke, in the Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 15, verse 7, clearly says “You are the spark of the Divine.” The Holy Bible says the same thing (Job 33:4.) What a parallel! What a similarity! How beautiful to think of oneness.
Sai devotees have to understand that all religions are one. Please be clear, my friends, be very clear about it. I celebrate Christmas with as much gaiety as I celebrate Sri Rama Navami. I celebrate Christmas with as much joy as I celebrate Sankranthi. That should be the feeling of every Sai devotee because Christmas is a celebration for all Sai devotees. (Applause) It’s not for Christians alone. Jesus Christ never said that he was a Christian. Christians may claim Christ, but Christ never said that he belonged to them. I am sorry. He belongs to mankind.
Oneness is Sai, oneness is Sai philosophy, and oneness is the Truth of truths. Truth is one—Ekam Sath. That’s all, understand it and let us be very clear about it. There is no question of duality. Baba goes one step further, “The one with a dual mind is half blind,” He says. I don’t think that anybody would like to be blind by choice. So if we don’t want to be blind, then let us be aware, awake and alert to the oneness.
DON’T ADD TO OR SUBTRACT FROM A HOLY SCRIPTURE
My friends, it is also most important that we take care to quote Baba’s quotations in full. Most of us devotees have a tendency to censor part of it, putting it in a way to suit our convenience. Sometimes we are aware of this, and sometimes we’re not. This is what is called “convenient philosophy.” (Laughter)
Philosophy is not convenience; philosophy is conviction. Please be very clear about this. You cannot take part of Swami’s quotation and make it convenient because it suits you. No! It is clearly said in the Holy Bible, Deuteronomy 4:2, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it. But keep the commands of the Lord, your God that I give you.” Don’t censor and don’t add. No, no, no!
Swami said:
Ananyaa chintayantomaam, yehjanaah paryupaasathatey.
Teshaam nityaabhiyuktaanaam, yogakshemam vahaamyaham
That is the whole text of the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, Verse 22, as given by Krishna.
Ananyaa Chintayantomaam,
Without any other thought,
Yehjanaah Paryupaasathatey,
those people that worship me this way,
(In what way?)
Teshaam Nityaabhiyuktaanaam,
without any thought of the past, present or future
Yogakshemam Vahaamyaham.
I take care of their welfare.
Supposing because of my intelligence, I say, “Krishna said that He will take care of your welfare: Yogakshemam Vahaamyaham.”
Correct…but some intelligent man will say, “Provided? What is provided? Is there a stipulation or condition?”
“Yes, Annanyaa Chintayantomaam: if you don’t have any worries about it—that is a condition.”
Therefore, don’t add to or subtract from a Holy Scripture like the Bible or the Bhagavad Gita.
Take the command as it is given in full. Sarvadharma parichajya, maamekam charanamvraja, says the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 66. So, I take the first part, sarvadharma parichajya, give up everything—don’t do anything—so lie down! (Laughter) You have subtracted from the whole to suit yourself. Nothing doing! The other part says, maamaekam charanamvraja, you surrender to Me only.
Don’t take only the first part. No sir! Or don’t think, “I like the second part only.” Always take the whole thing! All of us need to be careful about this, even while talking about Swami.
our DAILY BREAD
Another point is this: in the Lord’s Prayer it is often said, “Give us our daily bread.” What does it mean? Why should God supply bread? There is a bakery here. (Laughter) Should we wait for that bread? The bread of the days of the Holy Bible must be very old now! What is meant by “daily bread”?
Here bread represents God Himself because in the Gospel according to John, 6:51 and 6:52, “I am the living bread; I am the living bread that came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” By eating bread, can anyone live forever? (Laughter) No, you cannot take things at face value.
Please understand, my friends, what this bread means, this heavenly bread. “This bread is My flesh which I will give you for the life of the world,” John, 6:52. All that you hear is bread for the ear. All that you taste is bread for the mouth, your food. All thoughts are bread for your mind. All that you see is bread for your vision.
All the five senses draw food. Bread is the food for thought, the food for hearing. Am I clear? You are able to hear because of the hearer behind. That hearer is the actual bread. If that hearer is withdrawn, what do you hear? Nothing. That person is called “Mr Deaf”! He is deaf, because the hearer—the bread, that Divinity, that Divine power of audition—is withdrawn.
I see because the see-er is the bread. If that see-er is withdrawn, then I am blind. In the Upanishads (Kena Upanishad Chapter 1), it says, “The life of lives, the eye of the eye, the ear of the ear.” What does this mean? The see-er is God, the hearer is God. That which hears and sees is Divinity: “The bread that is my flesh.” That’s what the Gospel says.
So, my friends, let us be open to these things, let us be open to the teachings of the Holy Bible. Let us celebrate Christmas in a fitting way. May the joy of Christmas, the thrill of Christmas, the taste of Christmas and the blessing of Christmas be on you forever and evermore. Thank you very much for being here. (Applause) I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for being here with us.
Anil Kumar finished his satsang by chanting “Sai Narayana Narayana.”
OM…OM…OM…
Asato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya
Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji Ki Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji Ki Jai!