No Shrama in Ashrama

I have been moving about in this region for fifteen years, but, this is the first occasion on which I have appeared in this charming ashram. I need not say that this is a great chance for you, a sumuhurtam, as they say, an event of auspiciousness.

A State will have a constitution and a set of great laws; S_anatana dharma_ is the law and the Vedas are the constitution of the State of Man. These were laid down by sages who “saw” them in their moments of ecstatic intuition; that is why they are called seers. Hence, the Vedas are called A_pauruseya_ (not ascribable to any particular author). They are named S_ruti_, that which is heard, remembered, and held as a treasure in the memories of men. The Vedas are their own authority; just as the eye is the judge of what the eye reveals. You cannot smell a thing and judge its color. So, the Vedas have to be judged by the Vedas only; the experience of the sages has to be tested by sages who seek that experience through the processes laid down in the Vedas; and, in every case the process is followed, the experience is won, correctly and dearly as described.

The Vedas have to be practiced; that is the purpose of these revelations. Merely learning them by rote is of no use. The uttara mimamsa section provides the knowledge necessary to liberate oneself from bondage and blindness.

That is called B_rahma-jnanam_, for, when one reaches a certain stage in sadhana, he realises that all this is identical with Brahman, which is cause and effect, being and becoming, both.

The Bharata-bhumi (the land of Bharat) which is inherently Yoga-bhumi and tyaga-bhumi (land of godliness and sacrifice) is being dragged along the tracks of other bhoga-bhumis (lands of enjoyment), and putting on the paraphernalia of worldly happiness. This is the path of ignorance, of hatred, of greed, of wickedness, and competition. What the R_ishis_ laid down is the best, for, they trained themselves to be impartial and detached. The teachings of the Vedas were explained and elaborated in the Ramayana, Mahabharatam, and Bhagavatam, and in the commentaries by Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacharya. Even those who were the custodians of Vedic learning have now neglected it and taken to lesser studies.

Dedicate Your Work as Offering to the Lord

Vimalananda, the Head of this ashram, was in the previous status of life, at Prasanthi Nilayam for about a year. He had asked for My Blessings when he took up this responsibility and this sanyasi’s status, on the passing away of his Guru, the Malayala Swami. Like the ocean calling to the river, the role of a monk was associated. It is the devotion and sadhana of aspirants that has taken such grand shape here. Do not ascribe it to one person; he inspired, but, hundreds caught the inspiration, and dedicated themselves to the task. Rama did not live in the forest, away from the cities, for the sake of its charm; he took it as an opportunity to be of service to the M_aharshis_ doing penance there, eager to come face to face with God. He moved about so that He could give ananda to them. Malayala Swami came here to help the sadhakas and the efforts of devotees are clear in the development of this ashram.

Dedicate whatever you do as offering to the Lord. Above all, in the ashram, there must be rigorous search for truth, for that, which when known, everything is known. Then, there is no more struggle, no more effort, no more bother or shrama. The ashram should be a place where man has no shrama; where shrama has secured its release.

Have a Pure Sense of Vision and Hearing

People have read much; but, how much of their reading have they applied in life? They repeat that the senses are enemies of the higher life; but, they continue to be their slaves. Have a pure vision; then, you will not find faults in others. Have a pure sense of healing; then, you will not relish the scandals regarding others scattered by foolish men, who do not know that they are but scandalizing themselves. Care more for Sarveshvara chinta - thought of the Lord of All; not sharira chinta - thought of the care and upkeep of the perishable body.

Every farmer knows that good seeds must be sown for getting a rich harvest. If the seeds are bad, his efforts are fruitless. Sow the seeds called the Name of God in the well-prepared field of the heart; feed it with the manure of faith; have discipline as the fence to keep out stray cattle. Without a fence guarding the crop, farming will be like shooting without a bullet: all sound and no game! Prayer must come from the depths of feeling; the Lord looks for bhavam (sincerity of feeling), not bahyam (outward pomp). With feeling, you can make the Divine Heart bloom in joy.

The karma-kanda and the upasana-kanda (sections of the Vedas dealing with rituals and worship) insist on the worship of God and devotion to Him. They sing His Glory and instruct man how to meditate on His splendor. They say that He is known by many Names and appears under many Forms. Ekam sat, they say: only One exists; but, viprah bahudha vadanti - the same One is known and described in many different ways by the wise. To know that you are that One, and, therefore, Immortal, is your right, your heritage, That is why the Vedas acclaim man as A_mritasya putrah_: Children of Immortality. Act in conformity with that ancestry, that status.

The Guru Dispels Darkness Like the Sun

The generality of people are unaware of the glory and grace of God; the Malayala Swami made everyone who came to him understand the real behind the unreal. He had known it by study and sadhana. The Guru is the teacher of A_tma-vidya_ (science of the Self); he dispels darkness, like the Sun. His sankalpa (resolve) is that this ashram must progress in the task of spiritual enlightenment. Vimalananda wrote to Me, when he was selected to succeed him (Malayala Swami) as head of this ashram asking for My blessings. I wrote back, “Since he has selected you, his blessings will guard and guide you and you will surely achieve digvijayam (conquest in all directions).” He was a little nervous, not because he had no faith in the efficacy of the Guru’s blessings, but because he had little experience in bearing such burdens.

I am glad all those attached to the Malayala Swami and this ashram have strung together their loyalties and prepared a garland for honoring Vimalananda. You have a committee of elders, who will also look after the affairs and come to his help. Everyone should be prompted by reverence to the Guru which means not worshipping his photograph, but, acting according to his orders, his commands, his ajna. If you are right on the path laid down by him, then, you can march boldly on, regardless of praise or blame. Do not doubt this.

Lord’s Resolve Cannot Be Hindered

Here, I must tell you something about Myself, like leaving a Visiting Card, here. My task is not merely to cure and console, remove individual misery. It is something far more important. The important task of the mango tree is to produce mango fruits. The leaves, the branches, and the trim of the tree are useful, in their own way, no doubt; but, the main aim is the fruit. So also, from the plantain tree, the fruit is the main gain. The leaves, the edible core of the stem, these are all incidental. So too, the removal of misery and distress is incidental to My Mission.

My main task is the re-establishment of Vedas and S_hastras_ in the heart of Bharata-varsha and the revival of knowledge about them in the people. This task will succeed; it will not be impeded by any obstacle. It will not be limited or slowed. When the Lord decides and wills, His sankalpa (resolve) cannot be hindered; it will not be hindered.

You must have heard people say that Mine is all magic, black or white. Well, these people may also say that Krishna lifted Govardhanagiri by means of black magic, or that Rama built a bridge over the sea, by black magic! Of course, there is magic in the world both white and black; but, the manifestation of Divine Power must not be interpreted as magic. Can the crow’s egg and the cuckoo’s egg be identified as belonging to one class? Magicians play their tricks for earning a livelihood. They use it for worldly fame and wealth. They are based on falsehood and they thrive on deceit and ignorance. This Body can never stoop to that level. No; never. This Body has come through Divine sankalpa (the Lord’s resolve), to come. That resolve is intended to uphold Satya. Bhagavat Sankalpam (God’s Resolve) is always Satya sankalpam (resolve that comes true).

Everyone knows the strict discipline of Prasanthi Nilayam; the order is “Not even a flower is to be brought!” Due to ignorance and vicious motives they do not grasp correctly the nature of Sai Shakti. They interpret it as something else. That shakti (power) is unlimited; the fault lies in their vision, if they cannot see it as it is. There is nothing that Divine Power cannot accomplish. It can transmute earth into sky and sky into earth. To doubt this is to prove that you are too weak to grasp the grandeur of the Universal.

Honour the Dharma of Your Profession

I have come to instruct all in the essence of the Vedas, to shower on all this precious gift, to protect and preserve S_anatana dharma_. Each profession has a dharma, a set of moral restrictions and regulations guiding its exercise; if these are honored, then, the joy of the participant will go on adding itself, plus, plus, plus. There are differences of innate characteristics, impulses, attitudes, prejudices, excellences, and character, tendencies which mark out man from man. You do not treat all mangoes alike and buy them in a lot; some may be sour, some small, some big, some tastier, some tasteless, some juicy, some fibrous, etc. You appreciate them by their taste, is it not? You select them according to the species, the jati.

Of course, all are equal before the Lord; no one has any special claim for preference, except probably the miserable and the distraught. But, in human societies there must be distinction based on qualification and merit, whether it be intellectual, moral, or spiritual. If all felt that the goal is the same, there will not be faction and fights on the way.

The work that each does is important for the whole community; there is no high or low. It is not for this, that one has to compete with others; these earthly statuses and superiorities and inferiorities are tawdry tinsel, temporary pinpricks. Compete with others in the quickness with which you march on to God. Years ago, this place was deserted waste; today, it has become so full of promise, so rich in spiritual potentiality. How did this happen? How did the plan of Malayala Swami bear fruit? Because he stuck to his ideal; his spiritual authority was respected.

Insist on Discipline During Student Life

You must observe strictly the karmas (duties) laid down in the Veda, for you are teaching the Vedas here. Men must observe the dharma laid down for them and must be allotted the status they have to be given; women must be allotted the status allowed for them. Both are the children of God, no doubt; but, discipline demands that men and women must be allotted the spheres that are conducive to dharmic life.

Insist on discipline during student life; only good can come out of this strictness. Let boys and girls grow as disciplined, self-restrained citizens; that is a greater contribution to the country than a number of well-read, but, ill-disciplined persons, who will plunge society into confusion. Those who are engaged in the game will be so immersed in its hurly-burly that they may not see it whole. The spectator will be able to give better directions for playing the game. So, respect the advice of those who come and see.

The samadhi (memorial structure) that you have built for your Guru, Malayala Swami, is proclaiming the devotion you have towards Him. That devotion must be evident in every act and thought of yours; see that you follow his teachings and demonstrate that you deserve to be known as his disciples, by even the smallest act of yours being filled with the Love that a true advaitin will have.

The Malayala Swami had saturated his mind in the Gita. He had dedicated himself to the Gita ideal. He placed this ashram on the shoulders of Vimalananda and passed away. Now, all those who revere him must give full support to Vimalananda Swami and see that the Guru’s command is fulfilled. The ajna (command) should not be neglected or ignored. I have much to speak exclusively to Vimalananda Swami. So, I shall stop now. I am happy that I came to this place and shared My ananda with you all. I changed the program for today and came here in order to meet you and Vimalananda Swami.

Vyasashram, Yerpedu, 17-12-1964