Follow this Regimen



 

Sairam,                                                                                                                            

 

Prashaanthi Nilayam, 1963

 

Once two people were talking about the importance of Go-puuja (cow worship) and began discussing what exactly is meant by the word 'GO' which means a cow. There ensued a debate about its characteristics: a tail, two horns, four legs, an udder, etc. They rose up and wandered long to discover an animal with those items and at last espied a buffalo which they worshipped to their heart's content. So, the conception of Brahman also will depend on each one's equipment and experience.

 

Samaapthi (conclusion) marks the end of rituals. "Sama" means "Brahmam" and "Aapthi" means praapthi, attainment or reaching. You can put an end to all the Swaadhyaaya Jnaana Yagnas (ritual sacrifices for Self enlightenment) like Shravana, manana and nidhidhyaasana i.e., listening, contemplation and deep meditation when Brahmam is attained. You will attain Brahmam when you determine to discover, decide to learn and dive deep.

 

Everyone spend their lifetime in knowing about others but nobody struggles to know about himself i.e., "I". 

 

Inquire calmly into your own personality --- "Am I the body, the senses, the mind or the budhi".  Teach yourself, improve yourself, reconstruct yourself and then proceed to solve the problems of others. Your "self" is subtler than water or air or even aakaasha (space). It goes into the eye, hand and feet to make you see, hold and walk. The 'I' must operate to make the inert senses to function. Take the Jnaanakhadga and the Subodhakhadga (the sword of spiritual knowledge and spiritual instruction) that will destroy the forces of Ajnaana and be happy. Curb the senses like a bull is curbed by the nose-ring as they instill the delusion that you are the upaadhi (body).

 

Take the life in this world as a compulsory duty imposed on you. Think that you are in the jail under a sentence for crimes committed in previous birth. You should behave well, cause no trouble and do your assigned work to the best of your ability without any expectation of reward which will result in released sooner. This attitude will give you practice in nishkaamakarma (selfless action) which is useful for curbing the senses. Man can liberate himself from the chain of karma not by giving up activity but by accepting the karma and performing it without any attachment that causes joy or grief. This can be done by plucking out "I" and "mine".

 

You must live in the constant thought of God and Death. Remember that time is running out every moment and do not waste time in idle talk or vain pursuits or wanton mischief or vulgar entertainment.

 

Have a time-table for spiritual sustenance:

i.   A breakfast of pious repetition of Lord's name (japa) and meditation (dhyaana)

ii.  A lunch hour ritual worship of the Lord (puuja) in the afternoon

iii. 'tea and snacks' of reading scriptures or sacred books (pravachana) in the evening

iv.  Light dinner of devotional music (bhajana) in the early hours of the night

 

If you follow this regimen, you can sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.

 

--SATHY SAI

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Omsai Srisai Jaijaisai