Obtain the Degree of Grace

“Multitude of studies resemble culinary pursuit
But devotion is like an array of tasty dishes
What is the use of culinary pursuit when
Dishes cannot be tasted?
Why pursue other interests, forsaking devotion?”

Girl students, Teachers! 
Your real identity is not the mind-sense-body-intellect combination. The real form is Truth, Conscience and Bliss–that is the witness to the above. You are wasting your precious time by ignoring this sacred divine form and you are believing this elemental body as real. This world is a university. Every individual is a student in it, learning lessons pertaining to ethical, physical, _dharma_ic, spiritual, secular, political and economic aspects. But, man is unable to enjoy peace. He is unable to understand relative importance among the innumerable aspects. He is unable to grasp the importance of spiritual pursuit. Students are mainly confining themselves to their field of specialisation and are dedicating their whole life to that particular pursuit. But the University of Life covers all fields. Man’s life encompasses all fields of knowledge. From the vastness of knowledge, we are distancing and limiting ourselves to narrow confines of pettiness.

The degree that can be obtained out of divine studies is the Grace! Everybody is entitled to acquire this Grace, provided proper attempts are made to achieve fulfillment in life. Each branch like B.A., B.Sc, B.Com. has its own group of subjects of study. You get the particular degree only after passing all the relevant subjects.

Real Meaning of Devotion

In the same way, there are some subjects that are to be mastered in order to obtain the degree called Grace of God. First among them is Devotion (Bhakti). This word Bhakti is derived from the syllable Bha. Service pertaining to the universal form of God must be regarded as service to man, and service to man should be regarded as service to the Almighty Lord. Whatever is done in this belief amounts to Devotion. “Hrishikesha sevanam Bhakti ruchyate–service to Vishnu is called Bhakti,” it is said.

All that is done with sense control comes under the notation of Bhakti. Bhakti is associated with love. It cannot be divided. After understanding the principle of God’s love, I must make sincere efforts to extend love to all. Therefore, real Bhakti is associated with a broad vision of love and its experience. Normally people ascribe nine types to Bhakti – Shravanam (listening), Kirtanam (singing), Vishnusmaranam (contemplation of Vishnu), Padasevanam (worship of feet), Vandanam (prostration), Archanam (ritualistic worship), Dasyam (dedicated service), Sakhyam (friendship), and Atmanivedanam (self-surrender). But these are only the paths! Their goal and fulfillment is but one! In order to experience this ever fresh, noble and blessed divinity, we must understand the principle of love; this should be totally selfless. When such a love is ensured, devotion finds its true meaning.

The second thing is Dedication or Prapatti, meaning total surrender. There is a formidable force that stands between man and God like a limiting wall. This power that is separating devotee from God is ‘ego’. Only when we succeed in destroying the ego, we can merge into divinity. First we must be able to surrender this ego to God. Prapatti, means surrendering of body, mind, intellect, awareness, and senses, they being dependent on ego.

Money, might, caste, education, beauty, kingdom, penance, and arrogance are all related to ego. Together or individually they are comprised of ego. Among them, pride upon wealth and education are much worse. There are medicines for all kinds of diseases. But the disease of ego cannot be cured by any kind of medicine. There is only one medicine that is capable of subduing this disease of ego; that is divinity. No other medicine except divinity is capable of curing this formidable disease.

Next Comes Discipline. What exactly is discipline? Teachers, as well as students, must know the intricacies of behavior depending upon time and place. This must start with recognition of our own strengths and weaknesses, our own abilities and intellectual capabilities. You should not display callousness like the wayward man. The intellect should separate itself from the pulls of the mind and use its discriminative abilities inline with the educational level. The mind tries to pull you towards enjoyments. Its nature is limited to such thoughts. But, the intellect must use its discriminative abilities and wean the mind away from bad thoughts. Otherwise, we are bound to grope in the darkness of ignorance. Discipline is required for the intellect to acquire the power of conviction before the application of discrimination.

“Jantunam Narajanma durlabham–Human birth is rare among all living beings.” Man should be first convinced of this statement in order to develop conviction pertaining to humanism and human behavior. Man is breathing selfishness like his life breath. This is leading to all kinds of disasters. Humanism demands that man’s breath should be filled with divinity as a precursor to his becoming divine; and to act as a deterrent to his descent into animal life.

The next aspect is Determination. Having taken a resolve, you should stick to it under any circumstances. If it is a matter concerning God and divinity, one must not spare even his life in fulfilling the task. 

Life is valuable. Honor is more valuable than life. Divinity is more valuable than honor. Any amount of sacrifice is worth in obtaining divinity. This is the purpose of human life. Students must realize this value of human life. Only when you pass the above 5 Ds, will you be eligible to obtain the degree of God’s Grace. Therefore, devotion, dedication, discipline, discrimination, and determination–these 5Ds must be considered as our 5 life breaths. Only then is it possible to acquire the degree of Grace. All the aspirations and hopes you have towards petty things will not stand you in good stead for long. They only lead you to more and more delusion. The reason behind the bondage is not these worldly things. It is your mind that is causing bondage. Either for liberation or bondage, mind is responsible. Therefore the state of mind has to be understood in a proper perspective.

“Yat jnatva matto bhavati; stabdho bhavati; Atma-ramo bhavati”. God takes us gradually into nearness and then to closeness and then to oneness.

One Pointed Mind Is Real Winner

God fills us with intoxication, in transcendental knowledge. On this path, it is necessary to know about righteousness, morality, and integrity. Man has mistaken the right of enjoyment as righteousness and the thought that comes out from him as morality. It may be true only when the heart and the mind are disciplined.

Your play and pastime are for your health. Healthy body is a suitable house for a healthy mind. Healthy behavior comes out of a healthy mind. These sports and games will foster these three aspects leading to happiness of mind and heart. All are aware of the fact that one comes to singing mood only in a happy condition of mind, no matter whether one is in bathroom or some other place. Really speaking the sports and games should be confined to providing simple and pure happiness. But unfortunately these days they are highly commercialised, with the result they are causing ill health, instead of providing good health. Health is a great wealth. Therefore everybody, without any exception, must participate in games. But I do not consider Bahumatis (Prizes) as a healthy practice. We do not require Bahumatis (multiple minds). What we require is one healthy mind in a healthy body. Even though these sports and games have been prevalent over several ages, man is not realizing their real significance and value. Sportsmanship is more important than sports.

Sportsmanship calls for selflessness and also the quality of appreciation at others’ abilities. There is more happiness in giving than taking. This has been our Bharatiya culture since long. This culture declares, “Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu–may all the worlds live in peace and happiness”. This is a cardinal prayer of the Hindus over countless ages. Because of this kind of good heartedness, this country is sustained well till today. But we find these days, a craze for material comforts leading to selfishness and devious paths. This is not a healthy trend. Youngsters like you must have competitive spirit in games and in the game of life as well. You must strive to reach great heights in all that you pursue. Prajna is associated with pratibha (fame). Happiness is life. Happiness unites one with God. It has to begin at home. For anybody, home is the first school. Parents are the first teachers. A happy atmosphere should prevail in home at all times for children to grow healthy and intelligently. Long drawn faces are not conducive to healthy growth. Why should you have a sorrowful demeanor? Difficulties do come often, be it anybody. But, you should know that they are like passing clouds. Why should you lose cheer at each and every incident? It is only a state of mind. There is nothing that remains permanent in this life. Let us think only joyful moments of the past. Never brood over sorrowful events. Be cheerful in the present, filling the mind always with noble thoughts. Start the day with love, spend the day with love, fill the day with love, and end the day with love.

Greatest Trait of a Devotee

You should never forget this most important aspect of love. Right from dawn to dusk, you must maintain cheerful disposition. Take your fill of happiness and make others happy with a virtuous demeanor. Consider the present as omnipresent. It is the truth. Today you get a belch with the odor of mango that you ate yesterday. And from the fruit you eat today, you get belch tomorrow. Therefore, the past and the future are contained in the present. This is the principle of omnipresence. Past is past, do not brood over the past. Be cheerful always. This college gives importance to this aspect. Teachers must teach this to students.

You must take any failure as a stepping stone for a greater success. To get this attitude, first you are required to develop the qualities of perseverance and courage. You should not meekly submit to failure. A weak-minded person can achieve nothing in life. “Na ayam Atma balahénena labdhate”, says the Upanishat. Courage and enterprise are the cardinal qualities of all successful people.

Secular education and spiritual education are the two legs of the individual who is treading the path of success. Real success is when you realise your true goal of life. You must know that spiritual education alone can give you total knowledge contained in all secular branches of education. “Adhyatma Vidya Vidyänäm”, say the scriptures. When you take a dip at the confluence of rivers, it is equal to taking separate dips in all these rivers. Humanism has to fructify into divinity in order to obtain lasting joy or bliss.

Elders are akin to the past. You are a symbol of the present and your progeny becomes the future. In order to keep up the chain of happiness in your family, your role is a key factor indeed.

Having taken a resolve
Cling to it until you achieve!
Having desired something
Do not return until it is fulfilled!
Having asked for something
Do not leave until it is given!
Having prayed for something
Do not return until granted!
Either He should oblige
Or you should faint!
But to return empty handed
Is not the trait of a devotee!

That is how your demeanor should be. You must be capable of turning God’s attention towards you. Your resolve and the requisite perseverance should be so strong that you emerge victorious. Always aim at the highest goal in whatever field you may choose so that you will not score below the mark even if you slip a little. You must strive to emulate great personalities like Vivekananda, Chaitanya Prabhu, King Janaka, and other epitomes of renunciation. Your behavior and demeanor should be worthy of emulation. I conclude my discourse with the blessing that all of you will evolve into ideal citizens.