The
festival of Sankranti has arrived in all its beauty and splendour. The
sports and cultural activities of our students - boys and girls have added
grandeur and bliss to the festivity. This day is no ordinary day. It marks
the beginning of the sacred Uttarayana (summer solstice). It confers on us
plenty and prosperity and helps us to develop virtues and undertake sacred
activities. In addition, this day happens to be the auspicious one of
Mukkoti Ekadasi also. That is, the day on which the devas and asuras
obtained the pot of divine ambrosia (Amrita Kalasa) after churning the ocean
of milk.
As man has
filled his heart with worldly thoughts and feelings, he is not able to put
into practice his innate divine qualities. Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakasipu,
Duryodhana and Kamsa were by no means ordinary. Though they were very strong
in their body and mind, they became weak as they were immersed in worldly
feelings. Man can conquer the entire world when his thoughts are noble.
Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu were great scientists. Hiranyakasipu could
reach not only the moon but even the sun. In spite of all his power, he
became weak as he was full of worldly feelings. Every individual is endowed
with mighty power and intelligence. But one should not fill his heart with
worldly feelings. Young men and women of today are the future leaders of the
world. The prosperity of the nation depends on its youth. Hence, youth
should develop virtues, noble thoughts and sterling character. One who has
filled his heart with noble thoughts can accomplish any great task.
Students - Boys and Girls!
You have
participated in the sports and cultural activities with all enthusiasm and
gave joy to one and all. Virtues are of paramount importance to youth.
Today, students are able to excel in various fields. But they are not making
any effort to understand the fundamental principle, by knowing which they
would have known everything. In every man there are noble feelings springing
forth from within. Every man is endowed with a mind which is most powerful.
Such a mighty power is not present in any other kind of being. The mind is
but a bundle of thoughts. One who has conquered the mind can achieve any
mighty task. There is no power greater than the mind. Manah eva
manushyanam karanam bandhamokshayoh (mind is responsible for both
bondage and liberation of man). But, today man is unable to conquer the
mind. Consequently, bliss eludes him.
Students -
Boys and Girls!
You
have to achieve purity of mind in the first instance. The Sports and
Cultural Meet has come to an end. You should not consider sports as mere
worldly and physical activities. They teach you many moral and spiritual
principles. A true student is one who achieves excellence in the moral,
social and spiritual fields. One should not strive for physical strength and
happiness only. One should strive hard for the control of the mind. One who
becomes a slave to his mind is bound to become weak, however powerful one
may be. So, you should make the mind your slave. The power of mind is
matchless. It is from the mind that the most precious virtues originate. If
wealth is lost, it can be earned again. If health is lost, it can be
restored with the help of an efficient doctor. But, if human values are
lost, human life becomes a waste. Human values are the need of the hour.
They cannot be acquired solely from sacred texts nor can they be passed on
by learned preceptors. They originate from within. When we develop noble
thoughts and follow the path of truth in our daily life, human values will
blossom in us and protect us under all circumstances.
Embodiments of Love!
More than the worldly education, you should
strive to uphold human values, for, all powers are latent in them. Truth is
God. Righteousness is the very foundation of life. That is why the culture
of Bharat declared, Sathyaannasti paro dharma (there is no Dharma
greater than adherence to truth). Hence, you should be prepared to sacrifice
your life to uphold these twin principles of truth and righteousness. You
should not crave for worldly bahumathi (prize). Man is facing a lot
of hardship, as he is unable to control the one mathi (mind) he is
endowed with. What will be his plight if he has Bahu Mathi (many
minds)? He will become worse than a monkey. What you should aspire to attain
is Nija Mathi (true mind), not Bahu Mathi. Nija Mathi
is the Pavitra Sukti (sacred message) that originates in your heart.
Mind is the source of all types of powers. Hence, you should make friendship
with the mind. Once the mind becomes your friend, it redeems your life.
The culture of Bharat has prescribed nine paths of devotion. Sravanam
(listening), Kirtanam (singing), Vishnusmaranam (contemplating
on Vishnu), Padasevanam (serving His Lotus Feet), Vandanam
(salutation), Archanam (worship), Dasyam (servitude),
Sneham (friendship) and Atmanivedanam (Self-surrender).
Self-surrender is possible only after developing friendship with God.
Friendship leads to Self-surrender. So long as you do not develop
friendship, all your talk of self-surrender cannot be translated into
action. More than the action, God sees the feeling behind it. Hence, you
should foster noble feelings.
Students! Wherever you are, develop divine feelings and a steady mind.
Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat (Divinity pervades the entire universe),
Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma (verily all this is Brahman). God is not
confined to a particular place. He is with you, in you, around you. Just as
the eyelid protects the eye, He protects you always. How is it that you have
lost faith in such divine power? Having attained human birth, you are
supposed to develop human values. On the contrary, you have lost them.
Consequently, you have become weak in body and mind. You may secure high
marks in your examinations. At the same time, you should also take care that
you do not get any adverse remarks. Today students are going abroad in
pursuit of education and wealth. One can acquire the true wealth of values
only when one searches the recesses of one's heart. True wealth and
prosperity are present in our heart and not outside. Hence, students should
turn their mind inward and develop values. Only then will they have the
strength and capacity to emancipate the nation.
Students! For the past one week, I have been observing the enormous
amount of hard work you have put in to make this Sports Meet a grand
success. You strove hard even forgoing your food and sleep. Here, people
have to understand the difference in the sports activities of our students
and the students elsewhere. The students outside have only one goal in their
mind, i.e., to win a prize or a medal, whereas our students only aim is to
please Swami. How can you please Swami? First of all, you have to develop
virtues. You should have unwavering mind and a steady vision. You should
have firm faith that God is all-pervasive. With faith in God, any mighty
task can be accomplished.
Where there is faith, there is love;
Where there is love, there is truth;
Where there is truth, there is peace;
Where there is peace, there is bliss;
Where there is bliss, there is God. |
Faith is the
seed and bliss is the fruit. When a seed is sown, it gradually grows into a
huge tree and yields flowers and fruits. In the same manner, when man sows
the seed of a sacred thought in the field of his heart, it grows into a
gigantic tree of spiritual power and confers the fruits of peace and bliss.
Everyone aspires for peace. It cannot be acquired from outside. Peace
originates from faith within. But modern man does not have strong faith. He
just pretends as though he has faith. Today, there are very few true
devotees; most others are merely pretending. When you have steady mind, your
faith will also be steady.
Students! If you want to experience eternal bliss, you should have a strong
and unwavering faith. People have no idea as to what faith actually means.
They say, we believe in God, we love God, but in reality they do not
understand the spirit behind the terms love and faith. True love has
righteousness as the undercurrent. It originates from the heart and confers
bliss. Love is related to the heart, not to an object or an individual. Love
is like the air that wafts around in the firmament of human heart. It is
around you and sustains you. This is the nature of true love. The synonym of
love is Dharma. Love is the main goal of our life. That is our way of life.
When you fill your heart with love, you will become all-powerful. Even
mighty personalities like Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu will be no match to
you. All other powers pale in comparison to the power of love.
The culture of Bharat has laid great emphasis on the principle of love. It
demonstrates the underlying unity in diversity. Names and forms may
be different but the inherent divinity is only one. Man is the repository of
all powers. He is one of courage, valour and majesty (Dheera, Veera and
Gambhira). Hanuman is extolled as Santhudu, Gunavantudu and Balavantudu (one
of peace, virtues and strength). The divine name of Rama was the basis for
all his accomplishments. He could cross the mighty ocean because of his love
and faith towards Rama.
Today is also the most auspicious day of Mukkoti Ekadasi. It is also
called as Vaikuntha Ekadasi. The great warrior of Mahabharata war,
Bhishma laid down his arms after fighting a heroic battle and lay on the bed
of arrows for 56 days. His body was pierced all over with arrows. As he lay
on the bed of arrows, his body rested on the arrows, but his head was
sagging down, for want of support. In the meanwhile, the Pandavas along with
Droupadi went there to see Bhishma. They were greatly moved on seeing the
condition of Bhishma. Bhishma said, "I have done my duty in the Kurukshetra
war. The body is given to us to protect truth and righteousness. It is
dedicated for the welfare of the country. Of what use is it, if we do not
perform our duty? I have done my duty and I do not regret for the present
condition of my body. But, Oh! Arjuna! The arrows shot by you during the war
struck my body only. They, however, did not affect my head. Hence, as I lay
on this bed of arrows, my head is without a support and is hanging. You gave
me a bed, but without a pillow. Please provide a pillow also for me, so that
I can comfortably lie down on this bed of arrows." Arjuna was deeply moved
by Bhishma's words. His heart melted. He enquired from Bhishma as to what he
was expected to do to provide comfort to him. Bhishma requested Arjuna to
shoot two arrows into the earth into an X position and then place his head
on them. Arjuna did accordingly. Thereafter, Bhishma further requested
Arjuna, "Oh! Arjuna! I am the son of Ganga. I, therefore, acquired the name
of 'Gangeya'. I am now in the last moment of my life's journey. Please,
therefore, provide the Ganga water and help me to merge in my mother, Ganga."
Arjuna was a great warrior and all-powerful. He earned many titles: Arjuna
(the pure one), Phalguna (the one born under the star Phalguna), Paarthah
(scion of the Prithu clan), Kireeti (the crowned one), Swetavaahanah (rider
of a milk-white horse), Beebhatsu (eliminator of disgust), Vijayah
(embodiment of victory), Krishnah (the swarthy one), Savyasaachi
(ambidextrous), Dhananjayah (the winner of wealth). He shot an arrow into
the earth. Immediately, water gushed forth from the earth like a spring and
fell into the mouth of Bhishma. Bhishma was very happy that Arjuna could
fulfil his last desire. He expressed his gratitude thus: "Oh! Arjuna! There
are several people in this world, who help others in different ways. But,
there is none to help one to return to his mother. Today, you helped me to
reach my mother. You provided great joy to me with the help of your Dhanus
(bow)." So saying, he blessed the Pandavas that they would win the
Mahabharata war. Thus, if you wish to earn the blessings of elders, you must
provide comfort and solace to them and win their hearts.
In the Sports and Cultural Meet held two days ago, our students participated
in several sports and games and displayed their talent to please Swami. But,
this happiness and satisfaction must not be limited to sports. It should
pervade every aspect of your life. Your entire life must run smoothly and
happily.
Nityanandam, Parama Sukhadam, Kevalam Jnanamurtim,
Dwandwateetam, Gagana Sadrisham, Tattwamasyadi Lakshyam, Ekam, Nityam,
Vimalam, Achalam, Sarvadhee Sakshibhutam, Bhavateetam, Trigunarahitam
|
(Telugu Poem) |
(God is the embodiment of eternal bliss, He is wisdom absolute, the One
without a second, beyond the pair of opposites, expansive and pervasive like
the sky, the goal indicated by the Mahavakya Tattwamasi, the eternal,
pure, unchanging, the witness of all functions of the intellect, beyond all
mental conditions and the three Gunas of Sattwa, Rajas and
Thamas).
Every human being must lead a life full of joy. We have the body. We are
performing several chores with the help of this body. But, that is not of
much importance. There is a great Atmic principle in this body. We must
strive to realise that principle. Every human being has a mind. But, today,
that mind is polluted. Wherever you see, pollution and pollution. The food
we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe and finally our behaviour
itself - thus, everything is polluted. Therefore, ensure that your mind is
not polluted by bad thoughts. You must always have a positive mind, not a
negative mind. You may undertake a great task; but, it cannot succeed if it
is undertaken with a negative mind. You must always have a positive mind to
experience happiness. You should also share that happiness with others. That
is the real nature of a human being. A human being is also called "Manava".
What is its underlying meaning? It means, he who conducts himself with peace
and joy, without doing injustice to others. You must cultivate such noble
feelings, free from pollution.
Dear
Students!
You have acquired great academic qualifications.
Some of you have acquired more than two Postgraduate degrees. This is really
a great effort. But, that is not enough. You must also acquire the degree of
"Amruta Puthra", since the Upanishads exhort Srunvanthu Viswe
Amrutasya Puthrah (Oh! The sons of immortality, listen!). The degree of
"Amruta Puthra" is the real degree one has to acquire. We should not
hanker after trivial titles.
Embodiments of
Love!
Fill your hearts with love. Undertake divine activities. This is the type of
education, you have to pursue. No doubt, worldly education is also
necessary. But, true education is that which teaches unity among all human
beings. The main principle of Indian culture is to seek unity in diversity.
It is not to divide unity into diversity. That is true culture. What is
culture? It is not related to any particular religion. It is purely related
to the heart. It is not a caste or a faith. It is fully associated with
divinity.
Embodiments of Love!
You have provided great happiness to one and all with your display of
talents in various events of sports and games. Keep up this happiness
throughout your life. True love lies in realising the Ekatma Bhava.
That is the real love which does not change with the passage of time. It is
eternal. No doubt, you love Swami with all your heart. But, that love should
not be a fleeting love. You must always develop the feeling, "I belong to
Swami and Swami belongs to me." Only then you will achieve oneness with
Swami. That is the real Sadhana. That is the true path.
The
creation emerges from truth and merges into truth,
Is there a place where truth does not exist?Visualise such pure and
unsullied truth. |
(Telugu
Poem) |
It is said,
"Truth is God." You may belong to any country or religion - but truth is the
same for one and all. There is nothing like American truth, Pakistan truth,
etc. Truth is truth.
Embodiments of Love!
Lead a life full of truth. Lead the life of an eternal being. Lead an ideal
life, which is an example to others to emulate. An education that teaches
such a Sadhana is the true education. It is not to transform your brain into
a book shelf. True happiness lies in your own heart. Realise it.
Embodiments of Love!
Wherever you are, in whatever circumstances you are placed in, do not ever
forget God. Sarvada sarva kaleshu sarvatra Hari chintanam
(Everywhere, at all times, under all circumstances contemplate on God).
Devoid of God, you will become devils verily. You must live like embodiments
of Divine Atma, not devils. The Upanishads declare, Srunvanthu Viswe
Amrutasya Puthrah (Oh! The sons of immortality, listen!). You are "Amruta
Puthras". Live up to that name. Only then your life will become fruitful and
sanctified. Whatever activity you undertake, dedicate it to God. All the
powers in your body are the gifts of God. In fact, divinity pervades every
inch, every cell and every atom of your body. If you waste such a divine
power, it amounts to sacrilege. Dedicate your body, mind and intellect, in
fact, everything of yours to God. The games you play should not be limited
to one day. In fact, Life is a game; play it. Unity is divinity.
Whatever you do whatever you speak whatever you think -- in every aspect of
your life, that unity must reflect. That is the true culture of the
Bharatiyas. The essence of Bharatiya culture is Sathyam Vada,
Dharmam Chara (speak truth, practise righteousness). I exhort you to
cultivate these two principles throughout your life. With blessings, I
conclude My discourse.
Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, "Hari Bhajan
Bina Sukha Santhi Nahi…" |