Devotees should recognise the unity
of the Atmic principle that exists in all beings. Satsang (good company) is
very essential to understand the oneness of Atmic principle. Satsang does
not mean association with good people, devotees or spiritual aspirants. 'Sath'
is that which is changeless in all the three periods of time. It is the
Atmic principle. When 'Sath' and 'Chit' come together, what results is
Ananda (bliss). Sath-Chit-Ananda is the very form of Atma. This is referred
to as Transcendental Truth. In order to understand this truth, three mantras
are to be practised. They are Bhadram Trunvantu, Bhadram Srunvantu and
Bhadram Kurvantu. When you practise these three principles, you don't
need to search for God.
Bhadram Trunvantu means, "I
am not different from the Atma." There is no entity in this world other than
the Atma. Bhadram Srunvantu means "I do not listen to anything else."
Bhadram Kurvantu means "I don't need to perform any Sadhana." When
one recognises the oneness of the Atmic principle, where is the need for him
to undertake any Sadhana? Every sound that is heard is a resound of the
Atmic principle. One who realises this will not listen to anything other
than the Atma.
Divinity is the essence of all actions.
Bhadram Trunvantu, Bhadram Srunvantu and Bhadram Kurvantu means that
the Divine Darshan, Divine Sambhashan and Divine activities are
embodied only in God. Hence, to live always in the company of God is
true Satsang. God is one. He is referred to as 'Sath'. Ekam Sath
Viprah Bahudha Vadanti (Truth is one, but the wise call it by different
names). That which is changeless in all the three periods of time is 'Sath'.
You should live in the company of the One who is changeless, with unwavering
mind and steady vision. Your thoughts, words and deeds should be steady and
sacred. But due to the impact of Kali Age, modern youth find it difficult to
control their thoughts, words and deeds. They do not have a steady vision.
They do not keep up their word. Their activities belie their thoughts and
words.
Manasyekam Vachasyekam Karmanyekam Mahatmanam
Manasyanyath Vachasyanyath Karmanyanyath Duratmanam
|
(those whose thoughts, words and deeds are in
complete harmony are noble ones; those who lack harmony of these are
wicked.)
|
Your deeds should be in consonance
with your thoughts and words. Harmonising thoughts, words and deeds is true
Satsang. To experience the oneness of Self is true Satsang. The Atma is only
one. It attracts the entire world. What is Prakriti (Nature)? It consists of
objects that delude man. All objects in Nature are transitory. You do not
find anything permanent. They attract man and delude him. The objects which
are temporary in nature, will give only momentary happiness. The Vedas speak
about the principle of Ritam. It symbolises the truth that is changeless.
All worldly objects undergo change. When you develop Ritam, you will be able
to understand the changeless and eternal Divinity.
You may question, "How can I have the vision of God?" Oh simpleton!
You don't need to search for God. Wherever you see, He is there. He is
imbued in every object. You are unable to see Him because you are deluded by
external appearances. Pashyati Iti Pashuhu (that which goes purely by
external vision is an animal). Whatever you see, whatever you experience is
but the manifestation of God. In fact, you are God yourself. Hence, the Veda
exhorts man to develop faith that "I am God and God is none other than
myself." Names and forms are many, but God is one. Sarvam Khalvidam
Brahma (verily all this is Brahman). Such unity in Divinity has to be
realised. There is underlying unity in apparent diversity. Satsang means
experience of unity. Today people think that Satsang means a congregation of
spiritual aspirants. People join such congregations and think that they are
in Satsang. But it is not Satsang in the true sense of the term because
people whom you think to be good may turn wicked. They are bound to change.
How can such temporary association confer everlasting happiness? It is
impossible. Till this day, people have not understood the true meaning of
Satsang and its significance. Tell me your company I shall tell you who
you are. When you associate yourself with ephemeral things, the results
also are bound to be transitory. You should develop friendship with Divinity
which alone is true and eternal. Divinity is very much present in you. You
cannot find it outside. The external world is subject to change. The world
is nothing but a combination of matter. Everything in this world is
transitory. Nothing is permanent. All that is seen in this world is
illusory. The unseen Atmic principle alone is true and eternal.
If you pose a question as to "Where is God?" some people will say, "He
is in me", pointing to their body. Body is not permanent. Hence, this is not
a proper answer. (Swami holding a rose) When I say the flower is in My hand,
the flower is smaller than Me. In the same manner, when you say God is in
you, you are bigger than God! In fact, the whole world is in the hands of
God. Hence, it is not proper to say that God is in you. You are in God. All
are in God. The world itself is a manifestation of God. This is the
Transcendental Truth. This is the changeless truth. The word Sivam
symbolises truth. Here truth does not correspond to your body. It
corresponds to the changeless and eternal Sath. Today people go by the
physical and worldly meanings and, as a result, spoil their mind.
Man's life can be compared to a tree. Asuya (jealousy) and Ahamkara (ego)
are like pests which destroy the tree of life. The day man rids himself of
these pests, he can become a true human being.
What you have to know today is the principle of eternal and changeless
truth. Our Narasimhamurthi (one of the previous speakers) said Divinity is
in the form of the Atmic principle. How can one visualise the Atma? The Atma
has no form. How can one visualise that which is formless? Bliss is the form
of the Atma. It is present in everyone. Man is the embodiment of Ananda. But
he is unable to experience bliss as he is deluded by the material objects.
One should not crave for materialistic possessions. How long can they last?
Here is a flower. Now it looks fresh but by tomorrow it will fade away.
Likewise all objects are bound to change with the passage of time. The Atma
is permanent. Ananda is permanent. Bliss can only be experienced; it cannot
be expressed in words. None can explain the nature of bliss. It can be
understood only by experience. As I told you earlier, your Drishti (vision),
Sravanam (audition) and Karma (action) should be constantly focused on the
Atma. Then you will certainly experience Nijananda, Nityananda and
Advaitananda (true, eternal and non-dual bliss).
People sit in meditation for some time and start shedding tears of joy. They
say they have experienced bliss. It is nothing but their imagination. Bliss
is not that which comes and goes. It is permanent. In whatever state you may
be, waking, dream or deep sleep, you should be able to experience it
continuously.
Embodiments of Love!
You should strive to attain Atmic bliss right from a young age. That should
be your only endeavour. Your thoughts, words and deeds should be aimed at
this. This can be termed as true Satsang. Worldly experiences, however long
one may enjoy, cannot confer the eternal bliss. You can experience the
eternal bliss only in the company of God. All the worldly activities and
experiences are bound to change. The Atma alone is changeless. This is
referred to as Ritam in Sanskrit. In order to experience this eternal
principle, you should give up body attachment and understand the truth that
the Atma in you is the same as the one in others. Just as the same electric
current flows in different bulbs, the same Atma is present in all beings.
Ekatma Sarva Bhutantaratma (the one Atma is present in all beings). But,
today man does not have such broad-mindedness. In order to experience
divinity, which is the very form of love, you have to become the very
personification of love. Divinity and love are not separate. As man is
endowed with such sacred divine principle, it is said, Jantunam Nara
Janma Durlabham (out of all living beings, human birth is the rarest).
Today man does not enquire as to what is gamyamu (goal of life).
Instead of trying to know the goal of life, he is worrying about his
janmamu (worldly life). Even animals and insects are concerned about
their worldly existence. It is not essential to know the secret of life; one
should know the purpose of life. That is very important. The goal of our
life is Truth which is symbolised by the principle of Atma. Instead of
enquiring into the goal of life, man is trying to know the secret of life.
It is a futile exercise. Any number of births will not be sufficient to know
this. Fix your mind on the gamyamu (goal). Do not worry about the
janmamu (life).
The Adi Sankara said,
Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam
Punarapi Janani Jathare Sayanam
Iha Samsare Bahu Dustare
Kripayapare Pahi Murare.
|
(Oh Lord! I am caught up in this cycle of
birth and death; time and again, I am experiencing the agony of
staying in the mother's womb. It is very difficult to cross this ocean
of worldly life. Please take me across this ocean and grant me
liberation.)
|
You are born again and again seeing,
doing and experiencing what you have already seen, done and experienced. You
should realise that you are born not to be born again. You should see and
experience that by which your life will find fulfilment. That is the oneness
of Atmic principle. Once you have experienced the Atma, you do not need to
experience anything else. Thousands have gathered here today. Each of you
has a different form and behaviour. But the Atmic effulgence that shines in
all of you is one and the same. When a bulb is glowing, one may sit and do
his homework. Another person may write accounts with wrong calculations. Yet
another person may write a letter with evil motives. Whatever one may do,
the light is unaffected and untainted. It remains a witness. Likewise, the
Atma also remains an eternal witness to all that man does. External
activities undergo change, but the eternal truth of Atma remains the same at
all times.
God is one; goal is one. The same is conveyed in the following statements:
"I am in the light; the light is in me, I am the light." Here 'I' symbolises
love and devotion and light stands for wisdom. When you say, "I am in the
light," it means devotion is contained in wisdom. The statement "the light
is in me" reflects the truth that wisdom is contained in devotion. Light and
love - you have to understand the unity of these two. Devotion is an
essential prerequisite to know the reality. You should develop love more and
more and ultimately transform it into wisdom. You should not follow the
vagaries of the mind. Come what may, your vision must be firmly implanted on
the Atma. With such one-pointed devotion, sages and seers of yore performed
penance and experienced bliss. Today people chant mantras and perform Japa.
They do so for the sake of their mental satisfaction. They want to attain
peace. In fact, what they get out of such practices is not peace but pieces!
In a rosary there are 108 beads, but the thread that strings them together
is one and same. It symbolises Divinity.
Divinity is like a magnet that
attracts the entire world. In some places this power of attraction is
maximum. It is something very special. Here is an example. So many of you
have gathered here. Who sent you invitations? It is the Divine Magnet that
has drawn you here. This magnet is present not only here, but everywhere.
Here, there and everywhere, Divinity is present in the form of Atma. Here
you can experience the power of divine attraction. Such power cannot be
acquired for the mere asking. It can be acquired only through love. Love is
something that originates from the 'source'. It cannot be obtained by
'force'. Worldly knowledge can be thrust on you but love has to spring forth
from within in a natural way. Love is God. Love alone can confer true
wisdom. Jnanad evatu Kaivalyam (wisdom leads to liberation).
Worldly knowledge is associated with multiplicity. Love enables you to
visualise unity in multiplicity. Hence, you should develop love and
understand the fundamental truth that the same Self is present in all.
Different people partake of different items to satisfy their hunger. Food
items are different but hunger is the same. You should understand such
unity. Each one of you may undertake a different Sadhana (spiritual
practice). Whatever may be the Sadhana, it should be performed with Atmic
feeling. You should make efforts to understand the principle of oneness.
That alone constitutes true Sadhana. The principle of love in you should be
steady. However, the love in modern youth keeps vacillating. One day it is
sacred and the very next day, it is unsacred. Such love cannot be termed as
true devotion. Ekam Sath (Divinity is one). You are in the light and
the light is in you. Bear this in your mind. Ultimately, you will realise
that "I am I". If you want to understand the principle of Atma, you should
not give scope to multiplicity. All that you see and hear in this world are
merely reflections, reactions and resounds. The reality is within you. I see
many students here. Where have they come from? They are My reflections.
Otherwise, they cannot be seen. Likewise, every person and every object is
your own reflection. Life is like an ocean with the waves of Samyoga
(union) and Viyoga (separation). You should treat this duality with
equanimity. The principle of Atma is beyond union and separation. To Me,
there is neither Samyoga nor Viyoga. Viyoga results
only when there is Samyoga. They are but your imagination. In order
to realise the principle of Atma, you have to get rid of such imagination
and develop the faith Ekam Sath. It is only one and not two. It is
changeless and remains the same at all times and in all states of existence.
You should join Satsang to know this truth.
This body is an Angamu (limb) of society. There exists a Sangamu
(association of attributes) in Angamu, a Jangamu (individual soul) in
Sangamu and Lingamu (Paramatma) in Jangamu. Linga is Atma which is our very
life principle. That is why the Atma is considered to be of the form of
Linga. A Linga has neither a beginning nor an end. It has no head or feet.
Hence, when you perform worship, you can keep it anyway you like. The Atma
has a name but not a specific form. Bliss is its true form. It is very much
present in us. When you crave for external happiness, you lose your innate
bliss also.
Today is the auspicious day of Sivarathri. What is Sivam? It means
auspiciousness. God is the embodiment of Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram (Truth,
Auspiciousness and Beauty). All that you see, hear and experience should be
offered to God.
Tridalam Trigunakaram Trinetramcha Triyayudham;
Trijanma Papa Samharam Eka Bilvam Sivarpanam.
|
(Offer a trifoliate Bilva leaf to Lord Siva,
the three-eyed Lord having trident in His hand which destroys the sins
of three births.)
|
People undertake various Sadhanas
and different modes of worship on the basis of their own imagination.
Whatever may be the Sadhana, one should not give up the resolve. One should
have single-pointed attention. One should listen only to the principle of
oneness. One should offer one's actions to God. Karmanyevadhikarasthe Ma
Phaleshu Kadachana (Action is thy duty, fruit is not thy concern)
Whatever you do, let it be pleasing unto God. Sarva Karma Bhagavad
Preethyartham (do all actions to please God). Then no sin will accrue to
you. There is no easier path than this to experience the Atmic principle.
Today as different people follow different paths, troubles are on the rise.
Such delusion is leading to confusion. As a result of this confusion, you
lose the 'fuse' that links you and God. In fact, you are God. I am God. He
is God. Everything is God. In order to understand this truth, you should
rise from the level of the human to the Divine. You should know the
principle of Sath which is the underlying unity in diversity. You should not
give scope to differences based on Akara (form). You should
experience Ananda by being in the company of God. God is your true property.
When you experience Ananda, you become God yourself. Give up differences.
All are in God. Keep this unity in mind. Being students, you may pursue your
studies. All your studies take place at the physical level. Along with your
studies, contemplate on the principle of oneness at the mental level. Allah,
Jesus, Rama, Krishna … names are different, but God is one. Have unflinching
faith in the unity of divinity. Undertake such Sadhana which will enable you
to realise the changeless and eternal principle of Truth. If you attribute
various names and forms to God, you will not be able to realise the Truth.
Names and forms are subject to change. Who was Rama? He was the son of
Dasaratha. Who was Krishna? He was the son of Yashoda. In this manner, you
will remember only their physical relationships. When you worship God
without attributing any particular name and form, the question of His
physical relationship does not arise. There will be no differences
whatsoever. Who is the mother of God? In fact, He is the mother of all.
Today we find differences because we attribute various names and forms and
physical relationships to God. You should get rid of such relationships.
Isavasyam Idam Jagat (the entire world is permeated by God). Easwara
Sarva Bhutanam (God is the Indweller of all beings). When you
contemplate on these twin principles, you can visualise unity in humanity.
There will be intimate relationship between man and man. When you think of
Divinity, you will not have any differences or difficulties. Difficulties
come and go like passing clouds. You don't need to worry about them. Keep
your vision fixed on the sun. Sometimes, clouds cover the sun. Then you
don't need to be worried about it. Have patience. When the clouds move away,
the sun will be visible again. In the same manner, the clouds of worldly
delusions come in the way of Atmic vision. In such situations, you should
not let your mind waver. Have patience. The 'clouds' will recede and the
'sun' will reappear.
Embodiments of Divine Atma!
You may get some thoughts which are like clouds. Do not be carried away by
them. Do not pay heed to all and sundry and ruin yourself. You should rise
to the level of Divine and not degenerate to the level of demon. In order to
rise to the level of divine, Satsang is very essential. "One thought, one
vision and one action." These three must be unified. Sivarathri is
celebrated to recognise the oneness of Divinity. When you do Bhajans
tonight, you will have only one thought. You will experience the bliss of
Bhajan. It is the non-dual bliss. Why is it prescribed that you should do
Bhajans all through the night? Bhajan is done to control the mind and focus
it on Divinity. Some people keep discussing about worldly matters even while
they are doing Bhajan. Do not go anywhere near such people.
Tyaja Durjana
Samsargam; Bhaja Sadhu Samagamam; Kuru Punyam Ahorathram |
(Give up bad
company; join good company and perform meritorious deeds day and night).
|
You should constantly think of the
Atmic principle. Your parents may try to tell you some worldly matters. They
may lack discrimination. Why should you listen to such matters knowing fully
well that they are useless? Let them say anything. Do not waver from your
chosen path. You should convince your mother saying, "Mother, you have your
own likes and dislikes and I have my own. You are my mother and I am your
son, yet our thoughts and feelings are different. Being your son, I will
serve you and express my gratitude to you. But I cannot deviate from the
path of truth."
Tonight Lingodbhavam will take place. I created this Linga in answer
to his (B. N. Narasimhamurthi's) prayer. But another Linga will emerge from
within. In this manner, I can create any number of Lingas. Everything is in
My hand. The Lingas that come from the hand, from the stomach, from the
mouth, all are one. Wherever you see, there is the principle of Atma.
Understand this unity. Along with your education, develop Atmic feeling.
When you develop Atmic feeling, evil qualities like hatred, jealousy, etc.,
will not come near you. You will not be perturbed by pain and suffering. You
will be in a state of non-dualism. That is true bliss.
Focus your mind on God. Follow His command. Then your life will be redeemed.
Now you can commence Bhajans.
Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, "Sathyam Jnanam
Anantham Brahma …" |