Rise From Human To Divine Level

Man Should Remain Cautious In Youth

In this illuminating Discourse, Bhagawan cautions the youth to limit their desires and control their senses by using their power of discrimination. He advises them to be aware that unchecked gratification of senses can ruin their life.

Human life is as unstable as a drop of water on a lotus leaf. This body is a den of diseases and attachment. The entire world is riddled with sorrow and misery. Therefore, oh foolish man, chant the name of Govinda.

(Telugu Poem)

There are many stages in the life of man. At every stage, he embraces only untruth and unrighteousness. He never makes any effort to seek truth and righteousness. He thus turns his sacred heart into hard stone. Today human being himself is not able to understand the meaning of humanness. Humanness implies harmony of thought, word and deed. What is the use if you say one thing, think another thing and do something else? Man passes through divine experiences at every stage of his life. But, does he make any attempt to know their import?

Unlimited Desires Ruin Man’s Life

The first stage of life is childhood. This period is totally spent in playing, singing, fun and frolic. Gradually, man grows up and attains the stage of youth. At this stage, he behaves in an arbitrary manner, loses discrimination between good and bad, and gets entangled in many desires. What are these desires? Do they befit a human being? He does not question himself: Am I a human being or an animal? Along with education, he acquires ego and other perversions. Before he completes his education, he is filled with ego and attachment from top to toe. Due to the effect of the present education system, man loses his sense of discrimination. He considers selfishness and self-interest as the main objectives of his life. He wants to possess all that he sees, and wants to fulfil all his desires. To desire all that you see is the quality of an animal, not that of a human being. Unchecked fulfilment of desires makes a man demonic.

Man should use his sense of discrimination to know what he should see and what he should desire. But at this stage of youth, he is not able to understand that fulfilment of all sorts of desires can put him to danger. He thinks that he can derive pleasure and happiness by the gratification of his senses without knowing that these senses are verily the emissaries of Yama (the god of death). Senses lead man to the path of ignorance and burn his humanness to ashes. So, man should remain absolutely cautious in youth and should exercise control over his senses. Otherwise, senses will gradually destroy his humanness. What does humanness actually mean? Humanness implies treading the path of discrimination, quietude and self-enquiry without haste and anxiety.

Spend The Period Of Youth In A Sacred Way

Young people do not realise how everything changes with the passage of time. A water drop shines like a pearl on the lotus leaf. How long does its beauty last? The moment a gust of wind comes, the shining pearl-like water drop will merge in water. Similarly, a youth today shines like a pearl on the leaf of desire in the lake of Samsara (worldliness). He does not enquire where the water drop has emerged from. It came out of water. It is born in water, grows in water and ultimately merges in water. A human being is a water bubble. Lord Narayana is water. Man has no other choice except to merge in Narayana. But man does not realise this truth. Thereby, he destroys his humanness and turns it into animality. Born as Manava (human being), man should rise to the level of Madhava (God). He should not degenerate to the level of an animal. This truth has to be realised by everyone. The stages of man may change, money may come and go, and man may acquire any amount of worldly knowledge and wealth, but man’s lifespan must end one day. He cannot bring back even one moment of the time that is gone. Therefore, man should not waste time; he should sanctify it by using it in a sacred manner. Having been born as a human being, he leads the life of an animal. Even an animal has a reason and a season. But man today has no reason and no season.

In spite of his high education, scientific knowledge, name and fame and high position, he follows the path of selfishness and becomes worse than even an animal. What for is education? Why accumulate wealth? Of what use is the sharp intellect? He uses all of them only to deceive people. He thinks that he is deceiving others. No! He is deceiving himself. Man today is not using his capacities in the right way. The stage of youth is not meant to while away in careless abandon. The youth stage comes in between. It does not come with us and does not go with us. It is transitory like passing clouds. Even intelligent people are not able to recognise this truth. The so-called intellectuals have a high name but low thoughts. Such persons cannot be called human beings at all. One who is unable to improve himself is, in fact, a fool. Therefore, it is necessary for youth to follow the right path, utilise their authority in a proper manner and earn a good reputation. Then only will their humanness shine brilliantly.

The third stage of human life is old age. In old age, man keeps brooding over past events and past deeds. As the old age of man starts, even his wife and son do not respect him. What is the reason? One will be respected in old age only when one’s conduct in young age has been good. Nobody will respect him when his conduct has not been proper in younger days. Ultimately, brooding over his past misdeeds, he will spend his time in repentance. He will not be able to derive any happiness from the money earned by him through unrighteous and devious means. All the money amassed by him will ultimately reach either a wicked son or a wicked relative after his death. Therefore, man should take to the right path before it is too late. Prahlada said:

If one does not worship the Lord wholeheartedly,
If one does not sing His glory till his mouth aches,
If one lacks truth and compassion in his heart,
He is a curse on the womb of his mother.

(Telugu Poem)

Education Should Develop Divine Feelings In Man

Eyes are one of the main organs of the body. That is why Netra (eye) is called Shastra (scripture). Ninety-five percent of man’s actions in his daily life are done through the eyes. All that we read, all that we watch, all that we perceive is based on the eyes. Without the eyes, man cannot recognise even a small object nor can he walk even an inch forward. Though the eye is so small, it can see stars that are millions of miles away. Apart from such powerful physical eyes, man should develop his inner eyes. He travels lakhs and lakhs of miles in space. But does he go even an inch within himself? Do you know why eyes are given to man? Are the eyes meant to see anything and everything? No! no! Eyes are given to man to see the Lord of Kailasa, Shiva. Do you know why has God given hands to man? Hands are not given to man to do whatever he likes to do. The hands are given to worship God.

What is human birth for? Is it to give pain to mother’s womb? Even dogs and foxes have birth. What is the use of man’s birth when he does not render any help even to his parents. Is that education? No! This is no education at all. What is meant by education? Real education is that which develops divine feelings in man for his elevation. That is true humanness.

One may acquire a high academic qualification such as M.A. or B.A. and attain exalted position,

One may amass wealth, perform acts of charity and attain name and fame,

One may have physical strength and enjoy a long and healthy life,

One may be a great scholar studying and preaching the Vedas,

But none can equal a true devotee of the Lord.

(Telugu Poem)

Devotion, devotion, devotion! What is this devotion? Does it mean deceiving others? To deceive others in the name of devotion amounts to deceiving God. Devotion means obeying God’s command implicitly. Under any circumstances, you should not harm anyone. Help Ever! Hurt Never! That is the essence of the eighteen Puranas (mythological texts). But, unfortunately, some people go on harming others all their lives. All this is selfishness, selfishness, selfishness.

We are born in society, we grow up and progress in society. But what help are we rendering to society? We don’t have that social awareness. All that we know is I and mine. Is that the entirety of life? No! We should travel from ‘I’ to ‘we’. From ‘we’ we should progress to the principle of ‘all’ and merge in it. This kind of broad feeling is not found in the present system of education. What should I study so that I can prosper? What type of education should I acquire to attain high position? How can I deceive others and earn money? This is how the minds of people are working today. Rather they should ask themselves – how can I do good to society, in what way will my education help society? But people in general are lacking such broad ideas. Those who lack this broad-mindedness cannot be called human beings in the true sense of the term. All that they study is no education at all. Even a monkey can learn to ride a bicycle by training as we see in a circus. This is also a kind of education. Real education is not what you learn by reading books. It is only bookish knowledge or superficial knowledge. It is the practical knowledge which is important. You have been listening so much. How much of it have you put into practice? Nothing whatsoever!

Put Your Knowledge Into Practice

Years are rolling by. You are aging. But you have not developed your intellect and discrimination; no practice whatsoever. It is not the way you can progress from human to divine level. Put at least one or two teachings into practice.

In spite of his education and intelligence, a foolish man will not know his true Self and a mean-minded person will not give up his evil qualities.

(Telugu Poem)

Modern education leads only to argumentation, not to total wisdom. What is the use of acquiring education which cannot lead you to immortality? Acquire the knowledge that will make you immortal.

(Telugu Poem)

Why should we study? Just to die one day! Then better die without education rather than die with education. Man should acquire the education which will make him immortal. There are so many educated people in the country. What service are they rendering to the country? They should enquire why their country is degenerating. The fact is that people are immersed in utter selfishness and are behaving like a frog in a well. They lack broad feelings of welfare of others. They have only two considerations, ‘I’ and ‘mine’, ‘I’ and ‘mine’, nothing else. This is not the quality of a true devotee. It is a bad quality. Swami sees many people. There are some true devotees also. But if they waste all their time in worldly pursuits, then when will they have the experience of divinity? When you spend all your life in studying books, then when will you put your knowledge into practice? It is only practice that gives you bliss, not learning. All that you do should make others happy and should spread happiness in society. This is the essence of Bhaja Govindam of Adi Shankaracharya.

An old man was sitting under a tree on the bank of the Ganga and repeating, “Dukru Karane, Dukru Karane”. At that time, Shankaracharya along with his disciples was going to the Ganga for bath. When he heard this, he went to the old man and asked, “Oh scholar! What is it that you are memorising”? The old man said, “I am memorising the rules of grammar written by Panini”. Shankaracharya asked him, “What is the benefit of this”? He replied, “I will become a scholar in grammar”. “What is the gain when you become a scholar in grammar?” Shankaracharya asked. He said, “Being a scholar in grammar, I can go to the court of the king and receive hefty rewards from him”. Shankaracharya then asked him, “Out of the rewards you get from the king, what happiness will you have”? “What happiness? My family and I can eat well and lead a happy life.” “How long you think you can enjoy all this?” Shankaracharya questioned him. “I will enjoy until death.” Shankaracharya then asked, “Do you know what happens after you die?” The old man said, “I do not know”. Then Adi Shankaracharya chanted this Sanskrit verse:

Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam,
Govindam Bhaja Mudha Mate,
Samprapte Sannihite Kale,
Nahi Nahi Rakshati Dukrn Karane.

(Oh foolish man, chant the name of Govinda; the rules of grammar will not come to your rescue when the end approaches.)

Neither your knowledge of grammar nor your near and dear ones will protect you. Oh foolish man, think who will protect you. It is only Lord Govinda. Bhaja Govindam. Do Namaskarana and sing the glory of the Lord. This chanting is a boat that will take you across the ocean of Samsara (worldliness). To cross this ocean, you don’t need a very big boat. Even a vast ocean can be crossed with a small boat. Similarly, this small Name of Hari will mitigate all your sins. But man today worships Siri (wealth), not Hari (the Lord). He craves only for wealth. How long will wealth remain with you? Nobody will follow you after your death. All your relatives will follow you up to the cremation ground. No one will follow you thereafter. All the wealth you earned, you have to leave it here. Even the clothes you are wearing have to be left behind.

Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam,
Punarapi Janani Jatare Shayanam,
Iha Samsare Bahu Dustare,
Krupayapare Pahi Murare.

(Oh Lord! I am caught up in this cycle of birth and death; time and again, I am experiencing the agony of staying in the mother’s womb. It is very difficult to cross this ocean of worldly life. Please take me across this ocean and grant me liberation.)

Time and again, you are born from your mother’s womb. You take birth and die again and again. Is that the essence of human life? No! Not at all.

Once there was a thief whose routine had been to commit thefts and spend jail terms again and again. At one time, he committed a very big theft and was imprisoned for six months. At the end of the period of jail, the Jail Superintendent came and said to him, “Your period of imprisonment is over. You can leave with your bag and baggage tomorrow”. The thief said, “Sir! Why should I take my bag and baggage? I am going to return to the prison soon; let it be here”. In spite of suffering punishment, he is not prepared to leave the bad habit of thieving. He does not have the awareness that he should not commit the same mistake after suffering so much punishment. Human beings are also like that. They are born and they die again and again.

Man is eternal with no birth and death,
He is the primordial principle without a beginning 
or an end,
He is neither born, nor does he die nor is he 
slain by anyone.
He is the Atma which is the eternal witness.

(Telugu Poem)

Man Has To Go Back To His Source

Strive to attain this exalted state. You should see to it that after coming to this world once, you do not come again. As I told you the other day, “Birth is like a newspaper. You read it once and throw it away as waste paper. How foolish it is to read it again and again! We have come, we have seen the world, and we have seen good and bad in the world. We have experienced some good moments also. It is enough. This life is now a waste paper which we do not need again. So, we should search the path that will help us not to come again”. That is what Prahlada also said. He sought good intellect to find this path. What is this path? Devotees say, “Swami! Show us the path to liberation. What path is it that we should go”? I tell them, “You go the same way you have come. Where have you come from? You have not come from Madras (Chennai), Bombay (Mumbai), Delhi. You have come from the Atma. So, go back to the Atma”.

For all the living beings, the destination is their source. We put a clay pot to many uses. When it falls down, it breaks and becomes ultimately clay again. It came from clay and became clay again. An inert earthen pot goes back to its original state. Man’s real nature is Chinmaya (consciousness) and he should strive to go back to his original state. But, unfortunately, he follows the wrong path which takes him to the state of Mrinmaya (inert matter). So, even a clay pot is superior to him. What is the education you have acquired? What college have you attended? How many degrees have you earned? What is the high position you have attained? All this is utterly useless if you do not have this awareness. Birds and animals follow rules and regulations in their life. But with all his education man does not have even that much Viveka (discrimination). Does he observe any rules and regulations? Is there any limit to his desires? No! Even foxes and dogs exercise some limit to their desires. But man is madly pursuing his limitless desires. Therefore, correct your thinking and uphold humanness. Contemplate on your divinity and merge in God.

– Bhagawan’s Discourse in Sai Sruthi, at Kodaikanal on 20th April 1993.