Anil Kumar is a Prof. in Bioscience at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He has authored many books on Sathya SaiBaba, he writes articles in Sanathana Sarathi. Anil Kumar gives a spiritual talk every Sunday in Prasanthi Nilayam. Groups from all over India and around the world often request him for extra talks.  Well known as the translator of Sathya SaiBaba’s discourses. Read more www.saiwisdom.com  

I met Sathya SaiBaba for the first time 1970. Having seen him I was very much imprested by the org. around him. I was surprised to find many of the devotees who worked voluntarily helping and working for his mission. I was also very much impressed by the service activities going on all over the world in his name. Particularly I am very much pleased with his message which is universal and in a sense it includes all religions. There after I have had a taste of his divine love that made me hold on to him and cling on to him once for all.

Om Sai Ram

        Part 1

    To be around a Master can sometimes strongly bring up hidden feelings and reactions like jealousy, anger, greed and sorrow, to name some. Please, say something about this.

There are two dimensions of a spiritual Master, one is the physical dimension and the other is the spiritual dimension. The trouble with a disciple is that he/she takes in to consideration the physical dimension. Once you take the physical dimensions as real you get in to all kind of problems if others get “attention and support”. It can be negative thoughts, some sort of judgment, unbalanced feelings and other reactions related to physical nearness. The frustration will be directed to the other man or towards yourself. This is a common situation around every physical Master all over the world. The spiritual dimension of the Master is; your own self. The spiritual Master is within you, you are in him, who is to feel jealous of whom?              

 One should be spiritual connected and not physical. The physical connection is bondage, spiritual connection is freedom. You can be spiritually connected only when you get out of your ego. The Master is already egoless, so without your ego, there is a spiritual connection. 

Ego means your identity to your body, identity to your intellect (profession and knowledge) and the mind (reactions, emotions, your feelings about the past and future). 

The true “I Am” beyond these three is Divine. When the “I” becomes indentified with these three levels, body mind and intellect the connection with the Master will also be at that level. If we give way to one bad feeling for instance, anger, natural other bad emotions will follow.                                                   

 So be aware of the first reaction, reflect upon it and don’t create a chain reaction in the mind, an advice I can give.

   From whom and when do we start to pick up bad emotions, feelings and habits?

As a child we are innocent, innocence is Divine but this innocence, will, as the child grows, start to develop ego and become ignorant. The child will learn to be ignorant firsthand from parents and the close surroundings, later from school, friends and the society.                                                                  

Later he has through personal experiences realized that he is ignorant, usually, through a tragedy of some sort, death in the family, sickness or a deep frustration in his life situations. 

Then he understands that what he loves is not true, that what he has been enjoying is not permanent, and what he wanted is not worth possessing at all. Then he starts discriminating, what is good, what is bad.                           

At that time a Master shows up in many people’s life or the connection with an already existing Master will reappear. The Master will bring you back to him when you have experienced that your desires, your mind is not what you very deep down want to experience. We all want to experience Grace, love, bliss, union and peace of mind. If we are open and receptive to a true Master he will show us the way.                                                                            

 Indian tradition also teaches that each person is born with tendencies and habits, good and bad, from actions in past lives that can influence us in the existing lifetime.

    It looks like the Master creates situations for us to provoke or expose our weaknesses, is it so?

Yes, if you are aware, your ego will be felt and recognized in the presence of the Master. It is also an opportunity to transform the ego and become egoless. The Master will aggravate and blow up your ego like a balloon and when it is full enough it is easy for the Master to give a slight puncture and the ego will be gone.                                                                                            

This will happen to people who are prepared for advancement, prepared for progress. It will not happen if you are satisfied with the physical things like positions, property, influences. Then you are limited to that.                         

 The seeker who wants to go further and further on the spiritual path will face his/her ego and will also be thankful for that.

                 There is a time when we have to follow certain roles and discipline and there is a time when we have to follow inner guidance. Masters since the beginning of time tell us to have goals, also not to hang on to the goals too hard. When and how to know the balance between holding on to plans and to let go of plans and let life unfold as we walk?

In spirituality there is nothing like a goal. A goal involves two points; a goal is at a distant from where you are.  It has a time and space frame and limitation. God is beyond time and space so God can not be a goal. Spirituality is goal less. The way we think life is going to unfold is not the way it usually is going to unfold.

Endless journey, pathless journey eternal journey is a quest, an eternal quest.

Second, even if you take spirituality as a goal you will understand, you are already in the goal, you are God. You can go out of your center and go round and round but when you come back to your center you will realize, you are what you are looking for.        

If you think God is somewhere, and God is the goal and you have to reach him, then, when you are the goal, when you are divine how much space is there, how much time is there? Spirituality has no goal only realization that you are the goal. If you stay aware in the present moment you will know through the voice of God what to do. A goal is a tool to use before we have a taste of the unlimited awareness. When we know, when there is awareness, we let go of all tools.

Simple example: The Master tells you to walk out from the dark room through the door. As long as you do not see he tells you the way. When the light is on, you just simply walk out through the door. You do not question or try to walk out through the walls. Only if we are unaware we will try and question.

When action comes from love, compassion and true understanding that God is your companion then he will carry you every step in life.

     Without a life philosophy, we may live according to other people’s wishes and usually follow the crowd.  Is there a way to recognize our own soul purpose before it is too late?

We have to realize that we are not a crowd; we have to realize that we are individuals, everyone is an individual and everyone is unique and very special. For safety and for ego fulfilling you go to that crowd. The reality is that your own center is very much the same center as anyone´s, the same center as the whole universe. You and I are different in the peripheries, but the center is the same. We are the universal centre, we are the cosmic center. To follow specific groups or crowd can lead to narrow mindedness and sometimes fanatic behavior.

To recognize our soul purpose is to know that we are all brothers and sisters coming from the same source and we are invisibly linked together through the Supreme Being which is the same in everyone.

 Expression of the self is individual. Wherever you find true enthusiasm and happiness there is your soul purpose. By self discovery you will know how unique you are, how talented you are, how wonderfully you can contribute with the specific talent that God has given to you. After all we are all God’s children, whatever skill God has given to you be humble and use it with respect love and enthusiasm. No one is above or below us we are all needed in the play of God.

In the Bible it is said; a talent which is not used will be withdrawn by God. If only one talent is properly used, God is prepared to give more and more talents. Do not compare yourself with others or try to imitate, copy others, it will be a failure. Our soul will as a witness react and we will sooner or later become tense, depressed or physical ill. Be yourself .Use your own skills and God will give you more and more.

Once we are aware that we are connected with some higher consciousness, there will be a corresponding release of energy and enthusiasm.    

  When we have a life problem or a life challenge in front of us, it usually reflects something in us we are not aware of. What is the best way to recognize a challenge, live through it and find the freedom behind the challenge?

I look at it from two angles.  One; a task which we want to achieve or fulfill against all obstacles troubles and problems, is a challenge.

Two; a challenge has got a target or a goal ultimately. Challenge involves pain effort trial and risk. Challenge is futuristic; it takes you to a situation later in the future. That is what a challenge is. The challenge is a positive sign, because when one faces the challenge, when he emerges successfully out of it he is a victor or a winner of life.

Challenges are many, if you choose a selfless task, which is pure, universal, for the common well being, the pain and the suffering will be even more. Jesus faced such a challenge to save the humanity from sin; he faced the challenge so bravely so he allowed himself to be put on the cross. He managed and succeeded to make people aware of what they had been doing, and showed the right way of living, thinking and behaving according to the creator, the Divine will. He made people aware and he paid for it that is a challenge.

Abraham Lincoln or Mahatma Gandhi faced political challenges. They faced all sorts of odd difficulties, humiliating situations but ultimately they merged and become great leaders. Gandhi became the father of India.

Mother Teresa faced the challenge from the physical point of view.  She noticed many lepers and orphans, she took care of them and she died for them, that is a challenge. In that challenging situation Mother Teresa faced all kinds of problems from the public who did not support her she also faced financial problems, she did not have a plot of land but she faced the challenge successfully.

Baba tells us to have positive courage it will take us to a firm decision which we call conviction. If the courage is negative it may lead to acts of violence. We have to be aware of the motive for our courage.

For instance; we can raise our voice but first we have to check our motivation. It is out of love or anger? If it is out of negative emotions the result will only be worse.

    In the spiritual field, what is the real challenge in front of us?

It is to recognize the Divinity within. We are carried away by the external form and name. The physical and individual level will not allow us to discover the Divinity within. Mentally we may think we are superior to others for different reasons. These are the physical and psychological challenges on the spiritual path. Intellectually we may feel we know what is right and wrong. If we correct others in their decisions, and behavior, that is again an intellectual barrier.

The challenge in front of us is to cross the physical, mental and intellectual barriers, jump over them, so we can experience the power of Divine Love and Grace from within that is the spiritual challenge. The spiritual challenge also calls for us not to be attached to the material world, for the sake of a higher goal. Your living standard should be more or less according to your basic needs. Travel light in the material world and your burdens will be less.

Money and positions attracts you, society deludes you, in the goal of a spiritual life. If you have money and skills and you share your welfare and skills with others it is positive. If you are looking for what you can get – the world will be a trap, and only drag you down. If you are looking for what you can give, your soul and all beings are uplifted and filled with light, harmony and love will be reaped.

Be aware not to be selfish or self centered when you walk on the way of life, for then you are cut off from the spiritual goal or target. You have lost the game of life which is in itself is a challenge. You cannot run away from life, that sort of escape is the nature of a coward. We get courage and confidence out of convictions and then you are fully equipped mentally and physically to face life as a challenge. Courage to have full faith in one’s own goal gives victory.

                 To trust that where we are at any given moment is precisely where we are destined to be, is sometimes not easy. How to maintain our equanimity and trust in situations we do not understand?

We have three steps here. The Americans and the Europeans are very sensitive about the number 13. Muslim’s are sensitive about chameleons and Hindus are sensitive about black cats. These are all sorts of beliefs based on social conditions which will change from time to time.

We do have beliefs that come and go. They may not be scientific or technological or stand logical observations and investigations, it is blind belief. But when these beliefs become stronger and stronger, going deeper and deeper into your heart it settles as faith. Believe takes you to a higher level of faith. This faith calls for one pointedness, loyalty, courage and sacrifice. This faith also calls for faithfulness which is firm and established.

Because of certain shocks in life one may become faithless. Like the disciple Judas who became faithless in the company of Jesus Christ. Faith and Faithlessness is there in extreme cases, in unbearable situations. It happens because every person will have some potential, some optimum; I can bear this pain, humiliation and insults up to this extent, but not anymore. This is the point where we have a choice, to lose faith or gain faith. When faith goes in to every cell and every nerve in your body it settles as trust. Trust cannot be shaken; trust cannot be lost or waver. That trust is like a rock, very steady and firm.

 Communion with God, Constant Integrated Awareness with God is the way to strengthen the trust and ability to hear and understand when God speaks to you. When we experience the power of Divine Love in our life we naturally trust more and more.

Self effort through inquiry, knowledge, and wisdom will also make trust stronger in our heart. Because, God’s Grace will shine on us, you take one step toward God He will run towards you.

Mansur a Muslim said “I am God” and his fellow people started to cut him in pieces. He went on saying “I am God” until he died. Later when his ashes floated in the wind it repeated “I am God” What kind of conviction is this? When we have an inner knowing of any sort there will be no possibility to believe someone else’s opinion.

 When we have an experience of the Divine we know total knowing. This knowing is not removable. The same with Prahlad, Mira and Martin Luther King, they were all ready to die any moment for their inner truth and belief.

When we have the Grace of Baba we know it from the bottom of our heart. There is no place or space for any arguing it is a true experience.

    Truth is one of the essences in all self development and spiritual life. Everybody has a deeper wish to live a true life. What is it that we have to be true to?

We have to be true to our self, your inner self. If you are true to your body you will soon realize it is not worth it. The body goes on changing from time to time. The lovely handsome personality you had when you where young becomes affected by life history.

I cannot be true to my mind either, whenever someone praises me I am on the top of heaven, if anyone says negative things about me I am depressed and frustrated. I look forward to everything to be for my gain and profit, therefore I cannot be true to my mind. I cannot be true to my intellect it goes on supporting my views; it will never condemn you or say or that you are wrong. I should be true to my true self, which is permanent, immortal and eternal.

 If our eyes are full of desires and expectations they cannot see the truth. The Truth of Truth, the Eternal Truth. In the Holy Bible we can read “know the truth and the truth will set you free”. Freedom from bondage of the body, freedom from slavery of the mind and freedom from the intellect is the Eternal Truth. Except for human beings, nothing is out of tune, everything is in harmony.

Self enquiry is the best method to come closer to your own truth. “Who am I” Try to understand the body, mind and intellect. Meditation is a process to go inward to a thought less state, bliss, peace and union with God within. Enquiry will take you to meditation and will make you balanced.

Peace, bliss, truth is the Self; Sat Chit Ananda. Existence, Awareness, Bliss is the three qualities of the Self. Meditation will take you to that state. Knowledge is Veda, experience is Vedanta; Vedanta is the end of knowledge.

    Happiness is our birthright. Why do you think people are living a non satisfying life?  What do you think is missing in life?

Happiness is not a birthright, happiness is your nature.

Simple example; when I am not well I notice it. When I am very well my life goes on as normal, I don’t say I don’t have fever, I am well. Most of the time life is joyful and full of happiness but we remember these moments when we are suffering or in pain. Anger usually arises as a protection against pain

.

Q; why are we deprived of that happiness?

The reason is we think the happiness is obtained by worldly objects, no, true happiness is not available in the material world.

The true happiness lies within you. The experiences I have when I watch a beautiful, picture give me happiness not the picture. The experience I have when I see Baba and listen to Bhajan gives me happiness. With the vibration of the music and the presence of the Master we open to receive happiness.

When you know by experiences that the material world is not important for your happiness you will go inward to find happiness within you. Then you will know that the core of your very being is happiness.

We have to learn to fill up from within. If not we will be in need from without. And we will use anything to fill up that need.

Q; where does fear come from?

 Fear is because of suspicion, distrust, and guilty conscience. I am afraid I will not get what I want or I am afraid to lose what I have. If I accept life as it is, if I accept myself as I am, there will be no fear. Fear comes when you want to be something different from what you are. I want to be a saint and I am not. Worry and guilty conscience is a primary reason for a sense of fear. Fear and guilt is a shadow of the ego.

Baba says; nothing is in your hand, you yourself are not in your hand, God is the doer. To be fearless you have to have acceptance, unconditioned acceptance within one’s own self and with others. And you have to have trust in God. Even fear can be positive, if you have faith in God.

If you start to enquire where the fear comes from, you might be aware of that God is talking to you, through your fear.

    To know yourself, what does it mean?

To know the self, meaning the self in me, is the same in everyone. The center is there in everyone. Around the center can be many different layers. But the center is the same. To know the center means to know that which is unified in everybody. That is why The Holy Bible says love you neighbor as you love yourself. Not only that, it also said we should pray for our enemies, because the same self is in your enemy and your neighbor as in you.

 Let us be universal, the Self is not individual, the Self is universal. When the Self is viewed at the individual level, it is conscience and the Self at the universal level is consciousness.

    Why don’t we trust our own intuition and instead seek approval and advice from others? How do we develop that confidence in ourselves?

The first reason is doubt, I doubt whether it is my inner voice or not, I doubt whether it is intuitive or not. Doubt is the first reason why we do not have confidence in our own intuition. The second reason is confusion, what is confusion? We think that all that is coming from the mind and intellect is intuition. We get confused between the inner Self; the clear connection with the Divine and the mind.

Mind is psychology, physical and the self is parapsychology, metaphysical. Para means beyond, beyond the body.

The third reason is lack of trust in God and surrender is absent.

Fourth; our involvement and attachment with the people around and in the world can takes us away from trusting our own intuition.

If we exercise our discrimination we will strengthen our own Self, meaning enquiry what is permanent and what is momentary and transitory in every thought and every life situation. Too many voices inner and outer will pull us this way and that way, the very confusion in these situations is a reminder to seek silence and centering within.

 God speaks to us through silence. When our mind is silent God speaks through us with a flash of intuition and/or an instant knowing. He will speak to us when we need it, not always when we want it.

“Love is of permanent importance among the human values. It is in us right from the times of birth”. Baba