Dharma Sustains The Universe

Noble People Are Real Protectors Of The World

The moon illumines the world at night,
And the sun during the day.
Righteousness illumines the three worlds,
And a noble son illumines his entire clan.
(Sanskrit Verse)

Just as night acquires glory by the presence of the moon, a day by the presence of the sun, all the three worlds are glorified and fostered by Dharma. Similarly, a whole clan gets glorified due to a noble son. Such a noble family acquires brilliance of name and fame. Due to one good and noble person, the entire nation is reckoned with reverence.

The Sun And The Moon Sustain And Illumine The Universe

No one seeks darkness. Noble people in particular despise darkness. On the other hand, bad and wicked people welcome darkness; they carry on their nefarious activities in the darkness of night. Darkness is akin to bad feelings. Darkness is said to be Rakshasa Preeti (demon’s haven). The Rakshasas acquire full powers during the darkness of night. Those who indulge in bad activities and avocations, the night is opportune time for their nefarious deeds. Sumanaskas or good-hearted people rejoice on a full moon day. The Vedas say, Chandrama Manaso Jatah Chaksho Suryo Ajayata (the moon was born out of the mind and the sun out of the eyes of the Supreme Being). On a full moon day, the human mind blossoms and shines. It also helps to heal many ailments. The minds of poets get great inspiration on a full moon day. Looking at the full moon, children rejoice and play with fun and frolic. Night becomes joyous on a full moon day. Sacred and pleasant feelings develop on a full moon night.

The sun sustains the entire world. Our existence on earth is possible only because of the sun. All crops, all rivers, all vegetation and all life on earth is because of the sun, and is sustained by it. That is the reason people of this country have been worshipping the sun as god.

It is not possible to describe the power of God; it is beyond comprehension. Yato Vaacho Nivartante Apraapya Manasa Sah (whence the words along with the mind rebound in futility without comprehending Him), say the Vedas. Divinity is incomprehensible, and it cannot be described. The sun god is ever changing bad into good, sacrilege into sacredness. The sun vaporises salt water of the sea and downpours potable water on the earth. Therefore, the sun is rightly described as the Jivan-jyoti (flame of life) and Jagat Jyoti (light of the world). The sun and the moon are like their eyes to humans. Bharatiyas have been worshipping the sun and the moon as gods since time immemorial. Some other people view it from a different angle. They consider the sun as a mass of hydrogen, helium, oxygen, and nitrogen. These and all other elements are present in the human body as well. They originated from the symbolic gods, the sun, and the moon. The human body is also wholesome. The Vedas say,

Poornamadah Poornamidam, Poornat Poornamudachyate,
Poornasya Poornamadaya, Poornamevavashishyate.

(That is full, this is full. When the full is taken out of the full, what remains is again the full.)

When this Truth is understood well, there is no scope for darkness of ignorance in the heart.

Purity Of Thoughts, Words And Deeds Is Man’s Inherent Quality

Next comes Dharma. Dharma connotes a wide range of ethical principles, righteousness, and duties, etc. Trailokye Deepako Dharma (Dharma illumines all the three worlds). The Vedas define Dharma as Dharayati iti Dharma (that which sustains is Dharma). Dharma is the vesture of Satya (Truth). It is the basic identity of the Self. All the elements, all the relationships between different people, different species, and different worlds are sustained by means of Dharma. In the human context, Dharma is that which shows the right path. It involves rights and duties and their coordination. Rights and duties are like the two wings of a bird or two legs of man. This duo is inseparable. Our ancestors attached utmost importance to the Dharmic way of life. Sweetness is the inherent principle or quality of sugar. When a thing does not taste sweet, it cannot be sugar. To burn is the natural quality of fire. You cease to call it fire when it does not burn a thing. Similarly, man’s inherent quality is Trikarana shuddhi (purity of thought, word, and deed). Purity is fostered by the harmony of thoughts, words, and deeds. In Indian culture, man is called Manava. The word Manava is a combination of two words, Ma and Nava. Nava means new; Ma means not, implying that man is not new. It is an indication of the fact that the individual self passes through a cycle of births and deaths.

What is the main factor which controls human life? It is the mind which rules human behavior. The word Manava is derived from the root Manas (mind). The originator of the human race is called Manu (a derivative of mind). The Vedas say Mano Moolam Idam Jagat (mind is the basis of the entire world).

Mind can move with an unimaginable speed, whereas the physical body moves very slowly. Mind is present inside as well as outside the body. It is not visible because it is most subtle. Air cannot be seen, but it is perceptible by touch. Its touch pleases the mind. Mind is capable of associating with the body and air as well. Mind can travel beyond air and can surpass all obstacles. As soon as a city comes into the mind, the mind reaches the city instantly. You say, ‘my mind is not present here.’ In this case, the body becomes a mere scene; the mind is the seer. Having understood the importance of the role of the mind in life’s trail here and hereafter, one should make a thorough study of its structure, capabilities, limitations as well as its machinations. It is said, Manah Eva Manushyanam Karanam Bandha Mokshayoh (mind is the cause of bondage and liberation of man). Mind can delude as well as enlighten man. The mind, which is pure in its pristine form, is being polluted by man due to his association with trivia.

That is how man today is losing peace. Look at a goldsmith. He wears a clean white dress. But while trying to augment the fire of the gold smelter, he makes his dress dirty. Man’s mind becomes murky due to its association with mundane thoughts and malicious desires. How to bring the polluted mind back to its pure state? In order to clean a shirt, you first soak it in water, rub soap on it and finally beat it on a stone. Similarly, you have to soak the mind in the water of love, rub the soap of Shraddha (steadfast faith) on it, and then beat it on the stone of Vairagya (renunciation). But you always feed bad thoughts to the mind. The mind can be sustained in a pure state by constantly feeding it good thoughts. This world is shining because of some people who are strictly adhering to Dharmic ways of life. These great people are the real protectors of the world. Where the people of a country adopt ways that are against Dharma, that country will not progress at all. Dharma Rakshati Rakshitah (if you protect Dharma, you will be protected by Dharma). Dharma protects all the three worlds. Hanuman set ablaze the whole city of Lanka. While the city was blazing all over, Ravana’s mind was beset with darkness.

True Education Shows The Path Of Dharma

Suputro Kuladeepakah (a good son illumines his lineage). Who is a good son? He who follows the commands of parents is a good son. A son should mould himself in accordance with the wishes of his parents. All parents may not be educated or intellectuals. But no parent is devoid of love towards children. Some students develop arrogance, priding themselves as more intelligent than their parents. They forget the sacrifices made by their parents and the amount of ordeals undergone by them for the sake of their education. Through education, the student must develop the quality of humility and reverence for good people. Real education shows the path of Dharma. ‘Suputra’ is one who strives for the welfare of his parents, clan, and society while strictly adhering to Dharma. Ethics and morality are related to Satguna (quality of goodness). When morality is forsaken by people, the country gets ruined. Moral development is not the same as economic development. Morality is the most important component in the integrated development of society. The parents and the society at large feel proud of a noble son. Mere birth of a son is not a cause of pride for a father. The father feels proud only when his son earns a good name. Birthday celebration for a son is meaningless unless it reminds one of sacred feelings and good deeds associated with him. A father is happy when his son develops discrimination and fosters values.

There was a very rich and famous man in a city. He fostered his son very affectionately. The son had an obsession to study abroad. All entreaties and dissuasions of his father proved futile. It is often the parents who yield to the children’s wishes. The son went and acquired all vices in a foreign country; and when he returned, he was a totally spoilt person. He started showing off as a foreign-returned brat. He was, in fact, gloating on his father’s money and fame. Soon his marriage was fixed. Just before tying the knot of the Mangalasutra (sacred thread worn by married women) around the neck of the bride, the young man fell dead instantly. This is not a concocted story. It is a true life story. There were many distinguished dignitaries and doctors among those who attended the marriage. The doctors declared him dead.

After a lapse of 20 minutes, all were surprised to find the young man come back to life. The young man narrated his after-death experience: “It was like a dream. I left this body and this world and went to a different world where I came across a Master. He told me that he was pleased with my father’s good deeds. And so, he would give back my life on one condition, that some relative or friend of mine should offer himself as my replacement. Can anyone of you please come forward to fulfil this condition and save my life?” After hearing his words, the bride, her mother, the father, and everyone slowly sneaked out of the place on one pretext or the other. The young man then realised that people respect him only as long as he is alive. And so he went back to Yama Dharmaraja as a wiser soul.

Earnest Devotion Earns Divine Grace

Shastra (scripture) is that which provides authentic directions. Shastra means a standard text or a book of injunctions. There were many disciples studying under Sage Gautama in his A_shram_ (hermitage). Once there was a severe famine all over the place. One day the revered sage called all the disciples and spoke to them: “My dear students! This place is beset with famine. All trees and pastures have withered. There is no fodder for the cows. We, being humans, can somehow manage to get along. But these cows are dumb animals. They cannot survive long at this place. Therefore, I wish that some of you would take these cows to a green pasture and take care of them.” None of the disciples came forward to accept the onerous task. One disciple came forward to fulfil his master’s wish. All other disciples vehemently dissuaded him, saying that it would be impossible for a single person to man so many cows. But this disciple said that he would abide by the word of the Guru at any cost. He said, “Truth is life for a word, just as an army is life for a royal palace and signature for a promissory note. I shall not take back my promise. I am prepared to die rather than disobey the Guru.”

The great sage was very much pleased with his stance and assured him of God’s protection. The disciple said that he aspired for nothing other than his master’s grace. He then drove all the hundred cows to a distant place. No green field was found anywhere. He then recalled the Vedic declaration, Vedahametam Purusham Mahantam Adityavarnam Tamasah Parastat (I have visualised the Supreme Being who shines with the effulgence of a billion suns and who is beyond Tamas – the darkness of ignorance). He gathered self-confidence and said to himself, I am the embodiment of knowledge; I have no delusion or darkness in me. How can there be failure of my endeavour? Instantly, the entire area was turned into a verdant green field. The cows started grazing heartily. A few years passed in this way. The number of cows increased to thousands. As he was driving them back to Gautama’s Ashram, many gopalas (cowherds) came there miraculously to help him. Antarbahischa Tatsarvam Vyapya Narayana Sthitah (That all-pervasive God is present within and without). He is the gopala (protector of cows and all beings). Lord Narayana appeared before him and said, “Dear one! You were prepared to sacrifice everything for the sake of Truth. Henceforth, your name shall be established as Sathyakama (truthful aspirant).”

Sathyakama was the repository of three qualities, namely, purity, patience, and perseverance. A true devotee should develop triple purity of thought, word, and deed.

Sathyakama’s life is an ideal for all students, as he could maintain triple purity. He who is able to surpass Tamas (sloth) is a commander of all commanders. Such a one shines as Kuladeepaka – glorifier of his clan. Parents do not derive happiness upon the birth of a son. They get real happiness only when people start praising their son.

A father may distribute sweets when a son is born to him. But he is immersed in grief when the same son turns into a dacoit. Students must realise that the mother is even greater than God. You should not forget the dictum, Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo Bhava (revere your mother, father, preceptor, and guest as God). If you cannot understand the aspirations of your mother, who is God in human form before you, how can you understand God who is imperceptible? He who is incapable of loving his mother, father, and children, how can he love God? Students must realise that their head, blood, food, and Duddu (money) are all derived from parents. Only the one who reveres his parents is eligible to be called the light of his clan. A single creeper of jasmine spreads fragrance all over the forest; and a tree of bad odor spoils the charm of the garden.

Students should be careful in choosing their company. Tell me your company, I shall tell you what you are. You should seek friendship with good people even if it involves hardship. Get rid of bad company even at a heavy cost. Dharma is the light for all the three worlds. A good son is a light for the entire nation.

Cultivate the habit of talking less and doing more (talk less, work more). Engage yourself in the work that Swami appreciates. Study well, earn a good name, get a good job, earn money; and spend it for the good of society. The air that is breathed in must be exhaled; the food eaten has to be discarded after digestion for the sake of good health. The qualities of renunciation and sacrifice are essential part of noble life.

– Bhagawan’s Divine Discourse in Sai Sruthi, at Kodaikanal on
28th April 1992.