The Glory of Chanting the Name of the Lord

Today, Bhagawan Baba is delivering a valuable message through His Divine Discourse in the Muddenahalli educational institute. Bhagawan Baba emphatically says that life, youth, wealth, power, wife, and children are all impermanent, and that right conduct and reputation are the only two permanent things. Bhagawan teaches us that the good reputation that the Pandavas had was unwavering faith and devotion to God, and that good character is the only adornment man needs. Bhagawan also reminds us that we should not crave worldly matters, that we should develop brotherly love towards all, that we must be respectful towards our parents, that we must strive for the welfare of the world, and that there is glory in chanting the name of the Lord. These are the divine teachings by Bhagawan Baba in this divya prabhandham (discourse). Now let us enjoy Bhagawan Baba’s Discourse.

Om Sri Sai Ram.

Life in the world is impermanent; 
Impermanent are youth and wealth; 
Wife and children are not permanent; 
Only right conduct and reputation are enduring.

Students! Teachers!

All the objects in this world are impermanent. In this impermanent world, the divinity of the eternal truth and illusion flow together endlessly. When we enquire into what is this eternal truth, it refers to dharma (right conduct) and keerti (reputation). What is dharma? “Dharma moolam idam jagat.” Dharma is the root of this world. Taking this as the fundamental principle, the Upanishads say “Trishthadhi gunha samparka.” ‘_Trishtha_’ refers to rice. When you take rice flour, wheat flour, ragi flour, or any other flour, they do not naturally have any sweetness. ‘_Gunna_’ refers to jaggery. Naturally, jaggery is sweet. Only when jaggery is added to the flour will it become sweet. In the same way, the divine, eternal, atma pervades every object in the material world and makes the world sacred and beautiful. It combines with each object in the world, takes on a different form, and exhibits a different kind of beauty.

Divinity is the Eternal Truth

As the huts are the adornments for a village,
As a water lily is the adornment for a pond,
As the moon is the adornment for the sky,
As the waves are the adornments for the ocean,
Good character is the adornment for man.

Just as houses are the adornments for a village, lotus flowers are the adornments of a pond, the moon is the adornment of a sky full of stars, and waves are the adornments for the ocean, so also, good character is the adornment for the life of a human being. The divine form itself is the adornment. Forgetting our divine form, we are experiencing and living a life of impermanence in this world, not recognizing the divine eternal truth. If we can experience this eternal truth, we will certainly have the realization of the eternal truth. If we enquire into what is the most important thing in the world, we will find that the supreme reality of the eternal truth is the only thing that is permanent. On which jeeva (living being) depends? Jeeva depends on the support of the world, and the world depends on God, the Supreme Being.

The Pandavas who knew this truth always had God firmly established in their hearts. One day, Dhritarashtra called Sanjaya and said, “Sanjaya! What are my sons, the Kauravas, and Pandu’s sons, the Pandavas, doing on the battlefield of Kurukshetra? Who will win?” He responded, “Yatra yogeshwarah krishno yatra partho dhanurdharah tatra shree vijayo bhutih.” “Dhritarashtra! Wherever the Lord of Yoga, Lord Krishna, and Arjuna, the embodied soul filled with devotion and dedication, get together, who would win? Definitely, devotion would win,” answered Sanjaya. “Yatra yogeshwarah krishno yatra partho dhanurdharah tatra shree vijayo bhutih.” Among the Pandavas, what kind of wealth did Arjuna acquire? Arjuna-Dhananjaya. Dhanam means wealth. What kind of wealth did the supreme archer acquire? He acquired the wealth of wisdom. Not the secular, material currency notes, but the wealth of wisdom. ‘Partha means the son of ‘Prithvi.’ Through Prithvi putra Pandavas possessed the kṣhetram, the experience of divine bliss. “Kşhetrajñam chāpi māṁ viddhi.” ‘_Kşhetra_’ refers to the body, ‘_Kşhetrajña_’ refers to the atma. Having the body as its field, the atma is invisible in the world.

The Pandavas tried to obtain nirguna, niranjana, sanatana (such a flawless, quality-less, perennial divinity) by many means. They always had their thoughts on God. Whether they encountered difficulties, happiness, losses, or shame, at all times and in all circumstances, they would pray to Lord Krishna! Krishna! Krishna! They held the Supreme Lord Krishna and the world next.

The World Is the Sole Support for Life

What is jagat, the world? Jagat is ja-gat, the one which comes and goes, comes and goes. “_Anityam asukham lokam imam prāpya…_” The world is one that is impermanent and false, so we must hold such a world secondary. But what is this life dependent on? It depends on this impermanent world. Instead of expecting the world to be our support, we must count it as secondary. That’s what the Pandavas did. First God, next world, last I. They distanced themselves from the ego. By distancing themselves from the ego, they were able to attain the embodiment of the Supreme Atma, God. On the other hand, the Kauravas said, “Because I live in this world, I need the world. If I don’t exist, then I won’t need the world. Because of this world, I need God. If the world doesn’t even exist, why would I even need God? Nobody needs. So first I, next the world, and last God.” The Kauravas reversed it, which is why they lost the battle.

Victory Due to Prayer

Who is victorious? Victory comes to those who are always, and in all circumstances, thinking of God, and establishing God in their hearts. Everyone else receives only defeat. Their life itself is wasted. Only God can save us from the chaos and insecurities in the world today.

Tvameva mata cha pita tvameva 
Tvameva bandhushcha sakha 
Tvameva vidya dravinam tvameva 
Tvameva sarvam mama deva deva.

This is the right prayer for the welfare of the world. We should not pray just for ourselves and our family. “*Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu.*” We are all children of God. We should pray with the attitude of “Brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God.” None except God Himself can save this world. When it comes to moral, or material, worldly or spiritual problems, prayer, prayer, and prayer alone can solve them.

Students!

From morning until evening, you are wasting a lot of time. You must hold your mind firmly on God, not only during examinations, but at all times. Every day, for 5 minutes in the morning, and 5 minutes in the evening, keep your mind calm, selfless, focus it on God, and sanctify your life. In the Sathya Sai Grama, you must start at this early age. Start early, drive slowly, and reach safely. At this young age, you are the ideal candidates to demonstrate an ideal life. When plants grow straight, they grow into upright trees. If you get distracted at this age and go this way and that, your whole life is wasted.

The Four Places of Worship

The problem in education today is that when students go to temples they pray, “Oh God, please help me get rid of my difficulties, losses, grief and sorrow, grant me the truth of the eternal atma, and help me become a good student and pass with a first class.” These are the prayers in a temple. When they go to school, all the teachings are related to textbooks, notebooks, and how to study for examinations. When they go to a hospital, all the requests are related to headaches, stomachaches, and the medicines needed for them. But when they go to a dining hall, they won’t ask for anything other than food. We only ask for masala dosa, idli, and other foods. So we have four places of worship: a school, a hospital, a temple, and a dining hall. What kinds of prayers do you offer at each place of worship?

Gratitude is Important for Students

In today’s schools, there are no prayers related to education, only prayers related to objects. You are not vishayarthi but vidyarthi (You are not a student of objects, you are a student of education.) Would you go to a hospital and ask for idli and sambar? No, you only ask for medicines. You would not go to a dining hall and ask for medicines, you only ask for food. But no one is asking for true education in schools. You’re a student. “Vidya dadati vinayam.” Education confers humility.

Students, Embodiments of Divine Love!

You must only develop interest in education. Don’t worry about the problems, difficulties, losses, and sorrows of home. Study well, get good grades, and show gratitude to your teachers and parents. Why should we show gratitude? Because your food, your money, your head, and your blood are all from your parents. So you must first show gratitude to your parents. It is no use simply growing physically, you must also develop your mind. Your teachers are responsible for developing your intellect so you must show gratitude to your teachers. Your mother is your first teacher, because without your mother, you would not have been born. Your mother granted you life, so you must first show gratitude to your mother. You must listen to your mother’s advice and follow it in your conduct.

Students!

You must become ideal citizens of the country of Bharat. You must be disciplined. You and your discipline must be like mirror and image. Whatever high position and status you may achieve, never forget prayer to God. That is our sole support for life. Always chant the name of the Lord, no matter where you go.

Discourse at Sri Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli on 09-02-1991.