Embodiments of Love!
Every individual has a mother. One who does not please his mother and become
the recipient of her love is not a true son. In today's world, mothers who
bring up their children with proper love and care are very rare. It is said,
Deho Devalaya Proktho Jeevo Devah Sanathanah (the body is a temple
and the indweller in the body is God). In every temple, we find a bell. But,
the bell present in the temple of a human body is not visible outside. This
bell is known as Anahati. It is not a bell that one can ring. However, it
rings continuously on its own day in and day out as long as life remains in
the human body. This is nothing but the human heart. When the bell stops
ringing, the body becomes lifeless. Then, we call the body a Savam (corpse).
When the bell is ringing, the body is considered to be Sivam (auspicious).
The entire universe is the temple of God. In this temple of the universe,
one can continuously hear the sound of the bell 'Om'. That is why God is
described as Sabda Brahmamayi, Characharamayi, Jyotirmayi, Vangmayi,
Nityanandamayi, Paratparamayi, Mayamayi and Sreemayi (the embodiment of
sound, movable and immovable, light, speech, eternal bliss, transcendental,
delusion and wealth). Today, instead of attuning ourselves to that sacred
sound of Om, we are lending our ears to worldly talk and vain gossip. We are
unable to listen to the divine voice of Akhanda Satchidananda Swarupa (God,
the embodiment of existence, consciousness and bliss).
Once upon a time in the temple of Visweswara in Kasi, the Pujari was
offering Arati to the deity. Suddenly, a big gold plate fell from above. The
Pujari was surprised and happily picked it up to have a closer look at it.
There was an inscription on the plate which read as follows: "It should be
given to the greatest devotee. One who does not chant the Divine Name is not
qualified to get it." Then the Pujari thought to himself, "everyday, I am
performing Sahasra Lingarchana and Abhishekam to the Lord. I am sanctifying
my time by chanting the sacred Mantras from the four Vedas. Can there be a
greater devotee than me?" When such ego and pride clouded his mind, the gold
plate in his hand turned into an earthen plate. Feeling ashamed, he
immediately kept it down and the earthen plate turned into gold again. From
that day onwards, whoever visited the temple was asked to touch the plate to
find out if he deserved to receive the gold plate. But it so happened that
the plate would turn into an earthen one whenever somebody touched it. It
continued for a few days. There was a devotee who always chanted the Name of
God, but did not perform any other Sadhana like Japa, Thapa, Dhyana, etc. He
had no desires. He had achieved Dama (sense control). One day he visited the
temple. On being requested by the Pujari to touch the plate, he said, "Sir,
I don't have any desires. Hence, I don't want to touch it." The Pujari
requested him to touch the plate at least for his satisfaction. The devotee
did not want to displease the Pujari and therefore he touched the plate. No
sooner did he touch it than it started shining with added brilliance. People
who were witness to this event surrounded him and started asking, "Oh noble
soul! What is the method of worship you follow, what is the Sadhana you
perform?" Then he replied, "I have not performed any Japa, Thapa, Yajna or
Yaga. I only serve the poor. They are very dear to God."
Neither by penance nor by pilgrimage nor by study of scriptures nor by
Japa can one cross the ocean of life. One can achieve it only by serving
the pious. |
(Sanskrit Verse) |
From then onwards,
many rich people started visiting Kasi to see this devotee. Wherever there
are rich people, it is but natural that the poor also gather begging for
alms from the rich. This devotee was moved on seeing their pathetic
condition and resolved to himself, "God loves the poor very much. That is
why He has drawn so many of them to His abode. God will be pleased only when
they are looked after well. That is what I love to do. I will be happy only
when I am able to alleviate the suffering of these poor people and make them
happy." From then on he continued to serve the poor and the needy with
greater devotion and enthusiasm. This was an eye-opener for the rich who had
gathered there.
Even a
millionaire has to partake of salt and rice. He cannot swallow gold to
satiate his hunger. One may feel proud of his wealth, but he cannot take
even a single pie with him when he leaves the world. Such being the
case, why should one struggle to amass wealth? Instead, it is better one
strives to attain divine grace. When you contemplate on God all the time
continuously with single-minded devotion, He will take care of all your
needs. This was what the devotee taught to all those who had assembled
there. The money we accumulate will not follow us. To whom will it go
ultimately? Nobody knows. It is not possible to take even a paisa with us.
You have to undertake righteous deeds and earn merit so as to deserve divine
grace. When you are born out of your mother's womb, you do not find any
garland round your neck. But there is one garland surely. Brahma strings
together the consequences of all your past deeds, be they good or bad, into
a heavy garland and puts it round your neck. Nobody can come into the world
without that garland of Karma. But man forgets this truth and always craves
for pleasures and comforts. How long can the worldly pleasures last?
Ma Kuru Dhana Jana Yauvana Garvam,
Harathi Nimeshath Kalah Sarvam
(Do not be proud of your wealth, progeny and youth; the tide of time may
destroy them in a moment)
Young people feel proud of their youth and wealth. But they are momentary.
Realising this truth, we have to accumulate the wealth of divine grace.
After imparting such sacred teaching to the people around him, the devotee
started coming out of the temple. As he stepped out, the gold plate too
followed him. Along with the plate, all the coins started rolling behind
him. Then the beggars started going behind him asking for the money. The
devotee said, "My dear ones, what is the use of asking me God is the
guardian of all. He is the richest of all. Hence, pray to Him." As he was
moving away, many coins started falling from the gold plate. The beggars
collected those coins. The devotee went into a state of bliss and closed his
eyes. He had the vision of Lord Visweswara. He prayed, "Oh Lord Visweswara,
You are the master of the whole universe. Can't You take care of these poor
people? Please shower Your grace on them." To pray for the welfare of all
with selfless love is the noblest prayer. The devotee had no trace of
selfishness in him. He prayed for others with selfless love. Hence, God was
pleased with him. You should always pray in a selfless manner. Only such a
prayer will melt God's heart. There is no point in praying to God with
worldly objectives. God, who is the embodiment of love resides in our
Hridaya (heart). Hridaya is known as Anahati. It is the bell that rings
continuously. God residing in our heart keeps it ringing. We should listen
to the sound of that bell.
Our scriptures have 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), Atmanivedanam (Self-surrender).
Self-surrender
is the true offering that you have to make to God. He is not interested in
the worldly offerings you make. What you have to offer to God is the same
heart that He has given you. O God, I offer the heart which You have
given me. What else can I offer at Your Lotus Feet? Please accept my
salutations. (Telugu Poem) God is not interested in the wealth you have
earned or accumulated. He has no dearth of wealth. He is Vishnu Swarupa.
When goddess of wealth Lakshmi herself resides on His chest, what is it that
you can offer Him? The Pakshi Vahana (Lord Vishnu who has Garuda as His
vehicle) has goddess Lakshmi on His chest. Why should He ask for Bhiksha
(alms) from others? Hence, you don't need to give anything to God. The
sacred heart that He has given you should be given back to Him. Due to the
effect of Kali Age, people are not prepared to offer their heart to God
which He has given them. They are offering the wealth they have accumulated.
How can you make such a low and mean offering? You should offer your heart
to God. That is called Anahata Dharma. This is the true treasure that we
have to safeguard always.
Embodiments of Love!
Due to the effect of Kali Age, devotion and detachment have also become
artificial. People are trying to please others, but not God. You have to
undertake activities that are pleasing to God. If you go by your own likes
and dislikes, how can God be pleased with you? What God likes the most is
Anahata Prema. Your Hridaya should overflow with love, sacrifice and bliss.
You may make any number of offerings, but if you do not offer your Hridaya
to God, He will not accept them. He may pretend to have accepted those
offerings, but He will throw them away. You should offer Him that which
pleases Him. That is Hridaya which is called Anahati. It is the centre of
love and bliss. In fact, it is the basis of everything. If you do not offer
such a sacred heart to God, what is the use of other offerings? God is not
interested in such artificial offerings. If you come across poor people,
give them what they require. If they are shivering in the cold, give them a
blanket. You should give them what they need, but not what would you like to
give them.
In those days (Swami's school days), when we returned from the
Bukkapatnam school in the evenings, mother Easwaramma would lovingly enquire
as to what happened in the school that day. She had no formal education at
all. One day the children told her, "Mother, today a teacher by name
Kondappa made our Sathya stand upon the bench." They started criticising
him. Mother Easwaramma intervened and said, "Children, you should not talk
ill of your teacher. No teacher would punish his student without a proper
reason. Our Sathya might have committed some mistake." Then she asked Me, "Sathya,
what is the mistake You committed?" I told her the facts as they happened.
Kondappa ordered, "Whoever has written the notes should place it on his
table. Others should stand upon the bench." I had not written the notes.
That was My mistake. Hence, I stood upon the bench. I also said something
which was more than necessary. I said, "Sir, can all those boys who have
taken down the notes answer your questions? Though I have not written the
notes, I can answer any question that you may ask." Kondappa thought that I
was egoistic and ordered Me to stand upon the bench for three periods. I
obeyed him and stood upon the bench. Meanwhile, the other teacher Mahboob
Khan came to the class. He was a Mohammaden and a noble person. He was
pained to see Me standing on the bench. He asked, "Kondappa, why have you
made this boy stand upon the bench?" "He has not taken down the notes, hence
the punishment", said Kondappa. Mahboob Khan defended Me saying, "So what if
He has not taken down the notes? He can answer all your questions, and that
is enough. Ask Him to sit down." But Kondappa insisted that I should be
punished as I had disobeyed his command. The bell rang and Kondappa had to
go to another class. But he was unable to get up from the chair. Initially
he thought that his dhoti had got entangled to a nail in the chair. But that
was not the case. He was stuck to the chair! When he tried to get up from
the chair, the chair also came along with him. Then Mahboob Khan said, "Kondappa,
He is not an ordinary boy. He is one of great divine powers. You have
punished Him without a proper reason. At least now, ask Him to sit down."
Kondappa realised his mistake and told Me to sit down. Immediately, he could
get up from the chair. When all this was narrated to mother Easwaramma, she
said, "Dear Sathya, you should not punish your own Guru." I said, "I did not
punish him; in fact, he punished himself." She imparted a sacred teaching to
the children, saying, "My dear ones, you are going to school to study.
Whatever you learn, put it to proper use. Only then will you be called truly
educated and earn the appellation Sakshara. If you do not make proper use of
your education, you become a Rakshasa (demon). Make efforts to earn the
title of Sakshara." Then she told Me, "Sathya! At any time and under any
circumstances, do not cultivate hatred towards anybody. Love all and You
will be loved by all." In fact, there is no trace of hatred or enmity in Me
at any time. I love all. That is why everyone loves Me. If we do not love
others, how can we expect others to love us? Give love and receive love. It
is not a one-way traffic. You should give and take. In this manner, mother
Easwaramma taught the children many sacred ideals. One need not have any
formal education in order to impart such sacred teachings. There are many
who are highly educated, but what is the use? They do not put their
knowledge to proper use. Having received many sacred teachings, you should
practise at least one of them. You perform worship and sing Bhajans with
devotion. It is enough if you practise and experience at least one word of
the Bhajans you sing. For example, you extol God as 'Premaswarupa'
(embodiment of love). Accordingly, you should develop love and share it with
others. Only then can you understand and experience divinity.
Mother Easwaramma used to impart many noble teachings to the devotees when
they gathered around her. I had given her a small room in Prasanthi Nilayam.
Many ladies would go there and plead with her, "Mother, we have been here
for a long time. Please tell Swami to grant us an interview." She would tell
them, "My dear, Swami may look small to our eyes, but He does not listen to
anyone. He will not act on recommendations. He will give you what you
deserve. You should try to understand the divine principle of Swami." In
this manner, she would give proper guidance to the devotees. One day she
told Me, "Sathya! Your name and fame have spread far and wide. The whole
world is coming to You. Please bestow peace on the world with Your Sankalpa
(Will)." I told her, "It is not that I have to make a Sankalpa for world
peace. Each one has to attain peace by himself, because man by nature is the
embodiment of peace. He is the embodiment of truth. He is the embodiment of
love." You have to manifest your love. You have to experience peace within.
You have to follow the path of truth. Sathyam Vada, Dharmam Chara
(speak truth and practise righteousness). You can achieve anything when you
follow this principle.
Since ancient times, there have been many noble mothers who have guided
their children on the right path. The future of the nation rests in the
hands of mothers. That is why one calls one's own country as motherland.
Bharat is the birthplace of many noble mothers. Our ancient culture has
accorded first place to the mother. Father comes only next. Even on
invitation cards we write Smt. and Sri. The husband may be highly educated
and occupying a position of authority. He may be the president of the
nation. Yet, we cannot write Sri and Srimati while sending an invitation.
Srimati has to come first. Since ancient times, women are treated with great
reverence and respect in Bharat. This land of Bharat is highly sacred. But
unfortunately, people have lost love for their motherland.
He is a true human being who loves his mother and becomes the recipient of
his mother's love. One who cannot earn his mother's love is verily a demon.
Hence, respect and revere you mother. Experience and enjoy your mother's
love. Dedicate your life for the happiness of the mother. You may acquire
any number of degrees; you may undertake any number of sacred activities;
but all of them will prove futile if you do not please your mother. There is
none superior to the mother in this world. The Veda has accorded the place
of highest prominence to the mother when it declared, Matru Devo Bhava,
Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava (revere your
mother, father, preceptor and guest as God). There may be a son in this
world who does not love his mother, but there cannot be a mother who does
not love her son. There may be differences of opinion between them, but the
motherly love will never diminish.
Embodiments of Love!
It is your foremost duty to love your mother. As soon as you wake up in the
morning, the first thing you should do is to touch your mother's feet and
offer your salutations. Such a noble practice will protect you always and
bestow on you all types of wealth.
Students, Boys and Girls!
You are going to be fathers and mothers
in future. You will be loved and respected by your children only when you
love and respect your parents now. You are bound to face the reaction,
resound and reflection of your actions. When you respect your parents, there
will be rich rewards for you in the future.
Today we are celebrating Easwaramma Day. I want to tell you an incident that
speaks of her immense compassion and love for children. In those days,
students from various States and countries attended Summer Classes. Gokak,
who used to conduct the classes, was a strict disciplinarian. He was a man
of great character and sacrifice. He was a great academician too. He was
conducting the classes in an exemplary manner. One day, the students were
having lunch in the dining hall. One of the boys got up and went outside
before others could finish their meals. Gokak, who watched this through the
window, called him and chided him for his act of indiscipline. "When your
fellow students are having their food, you should not get up in the middle
even though you have completed your meals. It amounts to insulting them."
Saying so, Gokak suspended him from the classes. The boy was in tears, but
Gokak was not moved. The boy came to mother Easwaramma's room, fell at her
feet and started crying. He told her about the harsh punishment meted out to
him by Gokak. He pleaded with her to come to his rescue. Easwaramma consoled
him and sent him away. She was sitting on the steps where Gokak would pass
by. After a while Gokak came there. She offered her Namaskar to him and he
reciprocated the same most reverentially. Then she said, "When I did
Namaskar to you, you reciprocated the same. In the same manner, if you
punish others, you will be punished in return. The boy out of his innocence
has done a mistake. Please forgive him and allow him to attend the classes."
Then Gokak replied, "Mother, if I forgive him, it would set a bad precedent
for others. Anyway, I will forgive him only for your sake." In this manner,
she would go out of her way to help and provide comfort and solace to
others.
You are bound
to face the consequences of your actions. If you talk to others in a harsh
manner, it will come back to you as resound. If you hit others, it will come
back to you as reflection. Hence, do not hurt others. Do good, be good, see
good and speak good. Then, you will be blessed with rich rewards. Though
mother Easwaramma had no formal education, she conducted herself in an
exemplary manner. She was one of profound wisdom. The teaching that mother
Easwaramma imparted remained etched in the heart of Gokak. Later on when he
came as Vice Chancellor to Puttaparthi, he used to recollect her words of
wisdom. He would remember her everyday. He would say, "I see Easwaramma in
my dream quite often. I follow her advice implicitly."
We should not criticise others. We should not hurt others or make fun of
them. We should love all. This is what mother Easwaramma taught everybody.
Do your duty sincerely. Then, you will certainly progress in life. Whoever
he may be, follow the sacred teachings of our elders. People attribute
certain teachings to Rama, Krishna, and so on and so forth. It does not
matter whether it is Rama or Krishna, enquire what, why, when, where and
under what circumstances they had given those teachings. You should remember
the context in which those teachings were imparted and act accordingly. When
you obey the command of elders and divine personalities, you will certainly
attain exalted position in life.
Many students do not pay heed to the words of their mother. It is a grave
mistake. Mothers speak from their heart wishing the welfare of their
children. You should understand their feelings and give due respect to their
words.
Embodiments of Love! Boys and Girls
Obey the commands of your parents. You will certainly be blessed with all
types of education and strength. You do not need to make any special efforts
to acquire them. Discharge your duty sincerely. Never disregard the words of
your parents. Follow them with love and sanctify your life. Wishing that you
give happiness to your parents and thereby set an ideal to your children, I
bless you all and bring My discourse to a close.
(Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan "Sathyam Jnanam
Anantham Brahma…") |