Union With God Is The Aim Of Human Life

God Is The Abode Of Bliss

Every person aspires for happiness in life. Young and old, rich and poor, all are in pursuit of happiness. But, where is this happiness located? What is the pivotal point or abode of happiness? For fish, water is the natural abode. A fish cannot survive in the absence of water. You may try to keep a fish in a dish of gold. It does not care for the value of gold or diamond. It seeks nothing but water. Similarly, even though man is surrounded by various types of comforts, he is not able to derive happiness, because real happiness cannot be derived from external sources.

Happiness does not lie in power, wealth, position or tasty food. So then, where is real happiness found? Why is it not available easily? The source of happiness is within our own being. It is not perceivable because it is covered by passion, hatred and attachment, just as fire is covered by ash. Take butter, for example. Butter is present in every speck and drop of milk, though it is not visible.

In order to realise real happiness, one has to go through certain standard methods and procedures. To get butter, you have to churn the curd well. Persistent and pertinent efforts have to be made so as to realise the hidden happiness which is present in everyone in the form of Sat-chit-ananda (Existence, Knowledge, Bliss).

What is meant by ‘Sat’? That which is eternal and not affected or changed in all periods of time – past, present and future is Sat or Truth. Trikalabhadhyam Satyam (truth remains unchanged in the three periods of time – past, present and future). Where is the need to search for Truth when it is present all over and at all times? Chit connotes Paripoorna Jnana (wholesome knowledge). Ananda (bliss) is the result when Sat and Chit combine. Satchidananda is the attribute of God. God is the embodiment of bliss. God can be found only in bliss.

The Narayana Suktam describes that Lord Narayana is present in the most minute space within the region of man’s Hridaya (spiritual heart). It says, Jvalamalakulam Bhati Vishvasyayatanam Mahat... (the supreme principle shines like the lightning in the narrow space of man’s spiritual heart). Antarbahishcha Tatsarvam Vyapya Narayana Sthitah (that all-pervasive God is present within and without). Lord Narayana can be realised as a flash of brilliance in the minute tip of the flame of the spiritual heart. He is also described as Anoraniyan Mahato Mahiyan (subtler than the subtlest and vaster than the vastest). In order to realise this most subtle aspect of God, we have to expand our vision.

We often consider certain things or aspects to be blocking our path to happiness. You put on glasses for ease of reading. Sometimes, you feel it burdensome. Nevertheless, they are necessary, as they help in getting good vision. All the Sadhanas (spiritual practices) we undertake are like these glasses, helpful to the pursuit of happiness and bliss.

The Power Of Divine Name

One day, sage Narada approached Lord Vishnu and prayed, “O Lord Narayana! You are the ocean of bliss. You are the cause of all causes. You are the abode of all gods, humans and all other beings. Other than You, there is no refuge for any being. It is said that Your name carries great power. That is why I always keep chanting Your Name. You being the object of my worship, I wish to know the power of Your Name directly from You”. Narayana then said, “Narada! You are a great scholar and a highly accomplished Rishi; your question looks naive”.

Now, look at the bird perched on that tree. I suggest that you go to the bird and seek the answer to your question. Narada felt a bit humiliated; for he thought it strange that a bird should teach him a lesson. However, it being a command from the Lord, Narada went and asked the bird, “Bird, can you tell me about the power of the name Narayana”! The moment it heard the name Narayana, the bird fell dead. Narada was shocked at the unexpected happening, and he became very sad that Narayana’s name should cause a death.

However, Narada was determined to get his doubt cleared. He went back to Vishnu and reported the incident. Instead of sympathising, Narayana gave another command, “Just now, a male calf is born to a cow in the house that is right opposite. Go and seek the answer from the calf”. Narada could not understand how an animal, a calf could be more knowledgeable than himself. With a renewed determination, he went and put the question to the calf. The calf too fell dead upon hearing the name Narayana. Narada rushed to Narayana and complained, “Lord, why did You make me a sinner? You know that I am a Sadhu (pious man).

How can I be a cause to so many deaths”? Narayana laughed and said, “It is unbecoming of you to wean yourself away from your determination to know the truth. Listen to Me. A male child is just now born to the king of the land. Go and seek the answer from the child”. Narada shuddered at the prospect of causing one more death. But he could not ignore his Lord’s command! Bracing himself for the worst, Narada went to the king’s palace. The king was very much pleased that the great Sage Narada had come to see the newborn child. He placed the child in Narada’s hand and urged him to bless. Narada was in a great fix. He took the child to a corner and asked him in a whisper, “Child! Can you tell about the power of Narayana’s name”?

The child narrated to Narada, “While sitting on a branch of a tree as a bird, I heard you uttering the name Narayana, and so I was relieved of that body and got birth in the sacred species of cows. Again, when I heard from you the name of Narayana, I ceased to be an animal and took birth as a human being. Now that I have heard the sacred name again, I am totally relieved of body consciousness, and I am attaining liberation”. Narada then understood the value and power of chanting Narayana’s name.

One should not evaluate any being basing on the external form. The value of devotion should not be underestimated. Vishnu Purana clearly says that a sincere devotee is most venerable of all beings. Once Narada sought to know from Lord Narayana who among all creation is the greatest. Narayana said, “Narada, you are not an ordinary being. You possess abundant knowledge. I wish to hear your opinion on this aspect”.

Narada replied, “Earth is the greatest”. Then Vishnu remarked, “Three-fourth of the earth is enveloped with water. In such a case, which among the two is greater”? Narada agreed that water was greater. Vishnu said, “But Sage Agastya drank up the ocean in a single gulp. So, is Agastya greater or water”? Narada replied, “You are right, my Lord, Agastya is greater than water”. Vishnu asked again, “But, this Agastya is a tiny star in the sky (akasha). Now, is this star greater or the sky”? Narada replied, “It is the sky that is greater”. The Lord agreed and said, “Your understanding is correct. The sky indeed is greater. In His incarnation as Vamana, the Lord asked for three steps from King Bali. And in the course of taking the gift of three steps, Vamana assumed the form of Trivikrama, covered the entire earth in one step, sky in the second, and there was no room for the third step. King Bali had to offer his head for the third step. So, now, is God greater or the sky”? Narada replied, “Swami, when the mere foot of the Lord covers the entire sky, how much greater His full form would be? God indeed is greater”. “God, who envelops the entire cosmos dwells in the heart of His Bhakta (devotee). So, now, is the heart of the devotee greater or God?” asked Vishnu. Narada replied, “Indeed, the devotee is greater than God”.

Heart is like Ksheera sagara (ocean of milk) on which Lord Narayana is said to recline. But in this age of Kali, the ocean of milk is changed into a salty ocean, making way for sharks and crocodiles. These beasts can be driven away by means of Namasmarana (chanting of God’s name). God is described as Nityanandam, Parama Sukhadam (ever blissful). Where can the bliss be found? In fact, all beings are residing in the ocean of bliss. Nevertheless, people are unable to experience bliss. Outward vision of people is the reason behind this irony. Pashyannapicha Na Pashyati Mudho (he is a fool who sees, yet does not recognise the reality). When your vision is changed, you will know that everything is filled with bliss. Your own heart is the abode of bliss.

Ignorance Is The Cause Of Man’s Unhappiness

One day Dakshinamurthi was looking at the ocean, when he noticed that the waves were throwing on the shore all scum and dirt. He then asked the ocean, “Ocean! You have such a vast body of water. But you seem to have no tolerance at all. Why are you throwing out this small amount of scum and dirt”? The ocean replied, “If I start accepting trash and muck, one day I will have to lose my own identity”.

Bliss is hidden in the body. The Vedas describe that the Kosha (sheath) of Ananda (bliss) is covered by four concentric Koshas within the body of a being. The outermost sheath is the grossest of them and is known as Annamaya Kosha, the symbolic sheath which entirely depends on food. The next sheath is called Pranamaya Kosha (life sheath), the sheath of life force. Under this is the sheath known as Manomaya Kosha (mental sheath), under which is the Vijnanamaya Kosha (wisdom sheath) by which the Anandamaya Kosha (bliss sheath) is surrounded. You get white rice only when you remove husk from the paddy. You get clean water only after removing the moss that covers it. Removal of cataract from the eyes restores good vision. Sunshine is enjoyed in full when clouds disappear. Similarly, happiness is experienced in full only when outer sheaths are discarded. As the weather at this place, Kodaikanal, is chilly, you have to wear a vest, a shirt and a sweater over it. To see your own chest, you will have to remove the sweater first, then the shirt and lastly the vest. Man is not able to realise bliss as it is covered by three Gunas (attributes), namely Sattva (serenity), Rajas (passion) and Tamas (sloth). Take the example of a Kasturi Mriga (musk deer). This animal perceives a fragrant waft, becomes curious and searches all over the forest to find its source. After a long trek of search, the deer gets tired and lies down on the ground with its snout touching the belly. Only then it realises that the sweet smell comes from its own belly, and from nowhere else. Similarly, man is searching all around the world for the source of happiness which is within him.

A person was walking through a thick forest. It became dark at night. This man was carrying only a small torch light with him. He became worried that this tiny torch could at best lead him to a distance of 10 feet, and how to trek 10 miles with it. Then his inner voice told him, “Oh the foolish one! You must realise that this small torch will suffice to cross over the entire dark forest”. Wherever you go, you must remember that you are carrying this light with you. Similarly, when happiness is available within your own self, where is the need to search elsewhere? The light of bliss is available right in your heart.

You recite this prayer often: Asato ma Sadgamaya Tamaso ma Jyotirgamaya (lead me from unreality to reality, from darkness to light). There is no darkness where light is. There is no sorrow where there is joy. Bliss is present all over. Vishva (world) is the effect, and Vishnu (God) is the cause. In fact, human life is filled with bliss. Just as water is for fish, a tree for a bird, the mother for a child, bliss is for man. All the pursuits of man such as education, job, business, etc., are for the sake of happiness only. At each and every moment of life, man craves for happiness. Even when the doctor is giving you an injection, you feel that it should be done painlessly. It is due to his ignorance that man does not recognise the source of happiness in his life.

A poor man was living in a hut, and he lived on begging all through his life, without knowing that a big treasure was lying under the floor of his own hut. Such is the plight of worldly man. Man’s ego clouds his vision and he cannot see this treasure. He has to kill his ego in order to obtain the treasure of Ananda (bliss).

God’s Permanent Address

Lord Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita, Paritranaya Sadhunam Vinashaya Cha Dushkritam (I incarnate for the protection of the good and the annihilation of the evil-doers). God comes on the mission of protecting good and destroying evil. Man has to leave ego, anger, jealousy and other bad qualities to experience happiness and peace. During the autumn season, you find trees shedding their leaves. The Upanishad says, Anandadhyeva Khalvimani Bhutani Jayante. Anandena Jatani Jivanti. Anandam Prayantyabhisamvishantiti (all beings here are, indeed, born from bliss; having been born, they remain alive by bliss; and on departing, they enter into bliss.) All beings are born out of bliss, they live in bliss and merge in bliss.

One day, Sage Narada approached Lord Narayana and urged, “Lord! Tell me Your permanent address”. The Lord replied, Mad Bhakta Yatra Gayanti Tatra Tishthami Narada (I reside where My devotees sing My glory, Narada). That is God’s permanent abode.

Happiness is fame, happiness is glory and happiness is ornament. For the sake of happiness, you should be prepared to sacrifice something. When you go to a shop to get a new handkerchief, you should be prepared to pay some money. If this is the case with worldly objects, imagine what an amount of sacrifice is needed to obtain the most precious treasure of divine bliss. Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena Tyagenaike Amritattva manashu (immortality is not attained through action, progeny or wealth; it is attained only by sacrifice), says the uUpanishad. Dhritarashtra had 100 sons and he ruled over a vast kingdom. But what was his fate in the end? Real glory is obtained only through sacrifice. Removal of immorality is the only way to attain immortality. The moment you leave ego and anger, you derive bliss. It is in this sense that bliss is said to be Divine. You cannot understand Divinity with an outlook of diversity. Union with Divinity should be the goal of your life.

Turn Your Vision Inward To Realise Your Divinity

Every person and every being is but a spark of the same Divinity. When an iron ball is put in fire, heat of fire spreads all through the iron ball. You may touch anywhere and feel the same heat. Similarly, there is bliss wherever you go. You have a slab of jaggery in your hand. You may lick any of its sides, you will get the same sweet taste. If there is no happiness in the world, how can anybody live even for a moment?

You should not waver at each and every happening. When there is a storm of calamity, remain steady like an iron ball; do not fly away like a leaf. It is rightly said, slow and steady wins the race.

After long penance and pious pursuits, the ancient rishis proclaimed: 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). They said, they had realised the Almighty God who is most brilliant and is beyond the darkness of ignorance and sorrow. They exhorted one and all to follow their path and realise the Embodiment of Bliss. But people do not care to realise bliss.

A person entered a big mall. He was looking at the razzle and dazzle of the mall, forgetting about the real effulgence that was present within his own self. Body is like a worthless iron safe, in which the precious jewel of bliss is treasured. Bliss can be experienced when vision is diverted inward. The story about a bird’s evolution to a cow, a prince and its final liberation is but your own story. Our story lies in this story. His story is History.

– Bhagawan’s Divine Discourse in Sai Sruthi, at Kodaikanal on
27th April 1992.