Divine Proximity Is The Source Of True Happiness

Experience Bliss Through The Oneness Of The Atma

All names and forms are of the Divine. Every person is the embodiment of the Divine. Human body has been gifted to man in order to know the Divine.

Embodiments of Love!

Everyone wants peace and happiness in this world; nobody wants miseries, problems and worries. But man should try to know what is real happiness. Real happiness is not in sensual pleasures though many people think so. In fact, sensual pleasures make a man equal to a beast. Moreover, sensual pleasures give only momentary happiness. Ancient sages of India prayed to God to reveal whether there was happiness in worldly pleasures or proximity to the Lord. They discovered that the source of true happiness was in Divine proximity.

Union with God is True Happiness

True happiness comes from firm faith in God and full blossoming of the body, mind and intellect. It is incumbent on man to see that his body, mind, intellect do not take him to the wrong path. Man should understand that the mind is above and more subtle than the body. Similarly, intellect is above the mind and subtler than it. The intellect controls the mind. But the Master of the body, mind, intellect is the Atma. You say, “This is my body, this is my mind and this is my intellect”. But who are you? You are the Atma. Man should realise this truth and see to it that the body, mind and intellect are put to proper use, so that he can experience true happiness which is in union with God. Union with senses is the cause of man’s misery.

Nature is the creation of God and God is the Creator. So, Nature is divine. It is the Will of God. Man should develop devotion to God so that the individual will is in harmony with the Divine Will. Sita is the daughter of the earth and represents divine qualities such as sacrifice, compassion, mercy and peace. Sita always willed to be with Rama. Her will was in harmony with the Will of Rama. Man will have peace when he lives in harmony with Nature. Peace is not outside; peace is within; outside there are only pieces.

Purified Intellect Shines in the Light of Atma

The mind is the master of the body, the intellect is the master of the mind and the Atma is the master of the intellect. So, the Master of life is the Atma. If one merges the intellect in God, all the senses will be subjugated. Mahatma Gandhi always prayed, “Sabko Sanmati Do Bhagawan” (Oh God! Give good intellect to all). A purified intellect reflects the light of the Atma. Man will have true wisdom when he purifies his intellect. When man’s intellect becomes divine, he will follow the correct path and experience peace and bliss. If his mind follows the senses, he will invite disaster.

Follow the Master,
Face the Devil,
Fight to the End,
Finish the Game.

Who is the Master? The conscience is the Master. So, follow the conscience. To face the devil means to avoid bad company, thoughts and actions. To fight to the end means to work to subdue the unruly senses. Say to the senses, “Don’t go here and there; go only towards God”. The eyes should see only God, the ears should listen to the glories of God.

See no evil, see what is good; 
Hear no evil, hear what is good; 
Talk no evil, talk what is good; 
Think no evil, think what is good; 
Do no evil, do what is good; 
This is the way to God.

The word ‘good’ contains two zeros. One zero stands for the world. If you remove this one zero (the world), there will remain only ‘god’. So, see good, do good and be good to merge with God. Direct all your actions towards God. Jesus said, “All are one, be alike to everyone”.

The Same Atma Indwells all Bodies

Buddhi (intuitive intellect) has the power of discrimination. Discrimination is of two types – Individual Discrimination and Fundamental Discrimination. Fundamental Discrimination is of universal nature like the prayer Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu (May all the worlds be happy!). Individual Discrimination relates only to the individual. It is limited, narrow and selfish. One thinks only of my body, my friend, my relative, etc. This represents untruth. The Fundamental Discrimination is based on Truth. Man should develop Fundamental Discrimination to have goodwill and good feelings towards all to experience oneness with God.

The Atma is the same in all. There are many tube lights in this room, but the current flowing through all of them is one. All the bodies can be compared to many tube lights. The capacities of the tube lights may be different, but there is one current in all. Similarly, the same Atma indwells all the bodies, though they have different forms. Ek Prabhu Ke Anek Nam (one God has many names). There is only one Divinity that is present in all. When you experience unity, you will have bliss. The bliss that comes through the experience of the oneness of the Atma will redeem your life. So, spiritual aspirants should not move about here and there; they should meditate in solitude. Then only will they experience bliss. Here is a handkerchief. It has numerous threads. The unity of the woven threads provides strength to it. Similarly, unity of body, mind and intellect provides strength to the individual.

Man is the embodiment of Sat, Chit, Ananda (Being, Awareness, Bliss). When Sat and Chit combine, the result is Ananda (bliss). Sat is like sugar, Chit is like water which keeps moving or flowing. If you mix sugar and water, it becomes syrup which may be compared to Ananda (bliss). This bliss is not found in the material world. Material world can give only temporary happiness, not eternal bliss.

Worldly happiness is termed Santosham which means temporary happiness. For example, when you are hungry, you eat two Chapatis and satisfy your hunger. But after two hours, you are hungry again. So, the happiness you derived from eating was only temporary. This was not permanent happiness.

Consider Tests In Life As Opportunities For Transformation

Permanent happiness comes from the heart, not head. The highest goal of life lies in deriving happiness from the heart. The word ‘Hridaya’ consists of two syllables, Hri and Daya (compassion or kindness). That which is full of compassion and kindness is Hridaya (spiritual heart). Kindness should grow and blossom in human heart. That is why it is said, the proper study of mankind is man.

The heart which is pure and full of kindness is the altar of God. God is the Divine magnet which attracts pure hearts. Just as the magnet has the power of attracting iron, God is the powerful magnet which attracts those who have a pure heart. However, the magnet does not attract those pieces of iron which are covered with dust and rust that get accumulated on it. Similarly, bad company, bad talk, bad deeds are like dust and rust on the heart which does not attract God’s grace.

God gives tests to man to reform and promote him. We, therefore, should welcome tests because they are the means of our promotion. In order to go to the next class, a student has to pass the examination. Even if one applies for the job of a clerk, one has to pass the test. So, tests of life are the opportunities for our transformation and progress. Therefore, man should face all tests and challenges with fortitude.

Life is a challenge, meet it. 
Life is a game, play it. 
Life is a dream, realise it. 
Life is joy, share it.

Birth as a human being is a rare opportunity. We are lucky to have this life as a human being. So, it is very necessary that we make use of our life in a sacred way by purifying our heart and eradicating anger. Man commits many wrongs due to lack of control over anger. Anger is an animal quality, not a human quality. When anger overwhelms you, go to a quiet place and repeat ten times, “I am not a dog, I am a man”. When confusion overtakes you, repeat, “I am a man, not a monkey”. If you indulge in cheating, repeat, “I am a man, not a jackal”. The foreigners who have come here are good devotees. But they have some weaknesses. They waste their money on unnecessary things. They have too many associations and keep on going from house to house.

Follow God And Treasure Divine Qualities

Human body is like a house in which the senses are the windows and mouth, the main door. Keep this house clean. Do not allow animal qualities to enter this house through the windows or the main door. Do not follow those who indulge in sensual pleasures and harbour bad qualities. Follow God and treasure divine qualities. But, unfortunately, man today welcomes bad qualities and ignores God’s command. Chant the sacred Name of Rama. When you chant Rama, you open your mouth while saying ‘Ra’. Then all bad qualities should go out. When you say ‘Ma’ and shut your mouth, God should enter and stay in your heart permanently. Install God in the altar of your heart and develop love for God. Worldly love is not true love; it is attachment. For example, love between husband and wife is attachment. Worldly love comes and goes but spiritual love comes and grows. Follow the command of God up to your last breath.

True Devotion Earns God’s Grace

Once there was a cowherd named Madhukar. One day, when he was grazing his cows near a river, he saw a Brahmin repeating the Mantra “Om Namo Narayanaya”. The cowherd watched the Brahmin but could not understand what he was doing. After some time, the boy went near the Brahmin and asked what he was doing. The Brahmin told him that he was worshipping Lord Narayana because he wanted to please Him and have His Darshan. The boy wondered, “How does God look like? In paintings, I have seen Lord Shiva on a bull and Lord Vishnu on Garuda (eagle)”.

The innocent boy believed the words of the Brahmin and wanted to see God. So, he started repeating that Mantra with full faith in order to see God. Where there is steady faith, there is success. Seeing the firm faith of the innocent boy, Lord Narayana appeared before him. The boy asked Him, “Who are You”? The Lord replied, “I am Narayana”. The boy said, “I am not sure as I have never seen You before. I will call the Brahmin to identify you”. He tied Lord Narayana to a tree so that He may not run away and went to call the Brahmin. The Lord was very much pleased with the innocence and devotion of the boy. However, when the boy told the Brahmin, he did not believe the boy’s story. The Brahmin’s faith was artificial and the faith of the boy was heartful. As the boy was adamant, the Brahmin went with him to the place where the boy had tied the Lord. Pointing towards the Lord, the boy told the Brahmin, “See, there He is”. But the Brahmin could not see the Lord. When the Brahmin did not believe the boy, the boy asked the Lord, “Why can’t the Brahmin see You”? The Lord replied that the faith of the Brahmin was not firm. The boy then requested the Lord, “At least for my sake appear to the Brahmin”. As Lord Narayana was pleased with the devotion of the boy, He manifested before the Brahmin also. This story illustrates that God is pleased with purity of devotion and firmness of faith.

Develop Love And Compassion In Your Heart

Please God by performing all actions for Him. Dedicate your body, mind, senses and intellect to Him. If your faith is true, God will manifest in front of you.

Pray to God wherever you are by chanting His Name. God is present in all beings as Sat, Chit, Ananda (Being, Awareness, Bliss). You sit alone and say, Sai Ram, Sai Ram. But your mind goes to Dhobi (washerman) as you are not sure whether he will bring your clothes today. Japa and Dhyana with uncontrolled mind is sheer waste of time. Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram (Truth, Auspiciousness, Beauty) are the three attributes of God which are present in your heart. Pray wholeheartedly from the depth of your heart. Develop love and compassion in your heart. If you pray with love but do not have compassion, it is useless. Have both love and compassion in your heart. Think of God constantly, speak softly and avoid bad company and all other disturbances.

Bhagawan brought His Discourse to a close with the Bhajan, “Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Shanti Nahin...”

– From Bhagawan’s Divine Discourse in Sai Sruthi, Kodaikanal
on 5th April 1996.