Do Not Allow Politics to Enter Villages

Due to the absence of fear of sin and love for God, humanness has declined in human beings. This is detrimental to universal peace.
(Telugu Poem)

True education is that which dispels narrow-mindedness and promotes unity. It teaches man to live peacefully with his fellow human beings and establish peace in the world.
(Telugu Poem)

Do not Observe Differences of Caste and Creed

Embodiments of Love!

Wherever you see today, the world is in a state of turmoil, fear, unrest and sorrow. At a time when the demons of unrest, impropriety and unrighteousness are indulging in fearful death dance, it is only students who are capable of restoring peace and security in the country.

Dear Students!

Only when you develop the spirit of oneness can you drive away differences, sorrow and unrest and thus establish peace and security. Ekatma Sarva Bhutantaratma (one Atma dwells in all beings).

Students should Identify themselves with Society

It is the foremost duty of students today to recognise the truth that divinity is present in all, and conduct themselves accordingly. But, unfortunately, students today have their own ways and strive for their own self-interest. There is none who serves society, keeping in view the welfare of all. Just as water becomes one with milk, students should identify themselves with society, join hands with everyone with the spirit of unity, forbearance and empathy, and strive for the progress of society. Only then can there be peace in the country.

Students!

The citizens you see and the men of authority whom you follow today were also once students like you. Today’s students are tomorrow’s citizens and leaders. Therefore, it is your responsibility to set right the deficiencies and disturbances that you find in society.

Embodiments of Love!

As are the roots for a tree, so are the students for a nation. When the roots become weak, the tree falls to the ground. Similarly, when the students become weak-minded, the nation will suffer. Therefore, students should become strong-minded, lead an ideal life and give happiness to society. They should never give room to narrow feelings like I and my family. The happiness of an individual depends on his family and the happiness of the family depends on society. In the same way, the happiness of society depends on the nation. The happiness of a nation, society and family depends on the character and virtues of the individuals.

Students!

People come here from various places and countries, but the same divinity is present in all.

Religions are many but goal is one. 
Clothes are many but yarn is one. 
Jewels are many but gold is one. 
Cows are many but milk is one. 
Beings are many but breath is one. 
Castes are many but humanity is one. 
Beings are many but Atma is one. 
Flowers are many but worship is one. 
Listen, oh, valorous sons of Bharat!
(Telugu Poem)

Since ancient times, the sacred land of Bharat has been bestowing happiness on one and all by propagating the principles of unity and divinity. The Upanishads teach the principle of unity and exhort man to recognise this unity as the goal of life. Due to the defective system of education and the prevalence of selfishness and self-interest in society, this principle of unity has been destroyed. The educated today are causing unrest in society by observing diversity in unity instead of visualising unity in diversity.

Maintain Unity and Purity of Villages

In ancient times, there was great unity and purity in villages. Whenever there was a marriage function in some house, all the people of the village used to join in a spirit of unity and help the concerned family. They believed in the principle of unity. If there is a marriage in their house today, tomorrow there may be a marriage in your house. If you help others now, tomorrow others will also come to your help. Such broad feelings promoted sacredness in villages.

There was a system of joint families in those days. If there were four brothers, all of them with their spouses and children lived together in the same house like one family. But with the passage of time and change in circumstances, human mind has become perverted, with the result that there are differences even in villages. If there are four members in a family, they have four different opinions. What is the reason? Selfishness and greed are mainly responsible for this situation. The desire for money and power has crossed all limits in today’s world. Money comes and goes. How long will it stay with you? What will you do with excess of money? Keep as much as you require; excess of money will spoil your mind. People today do not want to leave their position of authority till their last breath. Politics promotes wicked qualities and evil intentions in villages. It is politics which is responsible for the degeneration of values in villages.

Dear People of Villages!

Never allow politics to enter your villages. Do not hate anyone. Adveshta Sarva Bhutanam, (bear no hatred against anyone). Love all. But if you allow politics in your villages, your Samaj (society) will turn into Samadhi (tomb). People in villages today are allowing such things to happen. Happiness would reign supreme when there is unity between the members of a family. There would be no scope for unrest. All will be free from worries. When differences develop between the members of the family, it will become worse than hell.

Deho Devalaya Proktho Jivo Deva Sanathana (the body is a temple and the indweller is God). There are three persons living in the house of human body, namely, thought, word and deed. Man can enjoy peace and happiness only when there is unity among these three. But the mind of man today goes in one direction and his speech goes in another direction. His actions take a different route altogether. If these three ‘persons’ go in three different directions, how can there be peace in such a ‘house’? There will be neither Santhi (peace) nor Kanthi (light). There will be total darkness and ignorance. In such a situation, what can be the fate of man except misery?

All are the Children of God

Many people appear very calm and quiet outwardly as if they are free from worries. They put up such appearance due to their ego. But the fact is different. A fig may appear to be very nice from outside, but when you open it, it may be full of insects. Similarly, some people appear to be shining outwardly, but when you observe closely, there will be nothing in them except evil qualities and evil thoughts. There will be no scope for divine feelings in them.

Students!

Understanding the present-day situation, you should follow the right path in your life. Do not observe differences of caste and creed. There is human skin. What is the caste of the skin? Blood circulates in the body from top to toe. What is the caste of blood? Similarly, there are muscles and bones in human body. What is their caste? Atma pervades every cell of human body. What is the caste of the Atma? What is the caste of the five elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air and ether? But, unfortunately, man has developed differences based on caste and creed. This is the greatest ignorance and foolishness of man. In fact, this is a demonic quality. It is these differences of caste and creed that have created so much unrest and misery and plunged society in turmoil today.

All are one and all are the children of God. Therefore, develop the spirit of Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God. There is none who is not the child of God. All are the embodiments of Divinity. Mamaivamsho Jivaloke Jivabhuta Sanathana (the eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being). Lord Krishna declared emphatically in the Bhagavadgita, “All of you are an aspect of My being, not of five elements or Nature.”

You have been coming to Prasanthi Nilayam since many years and participating in many functions. You have been noting down all the teachings of Swami and have been saying, “How nicely Swami has taught these truths!” But how many of you are following My teachings? What for do you come here? What is the purpose of your coming? If you do not put even one of Swami’s teachings into practice, your life will be a waste. In fact, animals are better than you. We have our elephant Sai Geeta. Whatever instructions are given to her, she follows earnestly. How intelligent she is! You call yourselves devotees. What a shame it is if you do not practise even one instruction of Swami in your daily life! Is there anyone of you who has peace, who is devoid of ego and hatred? On the contrary, your ego is increasing day by day. As ego increases, your Atmic power decreases. Whatever you touch, it turns into ashes. That is the cause of your suffering. That is why mother Nature complains to the Lord.

Why is there so much hostility among men, oh Lord! 
Love has turned into poison, 
Mind is totally polluted and man has become a victim of vices. What is the use?
(Telugu Poem)

Prakriti (Nature) and Paramatma (God) have an intimate connection and are inseparable. The philosophy based on the Upanishads of the sacred land of Bharat is unparalleled. In 1926, a British philosopher visited India. As India was under British rule at that time, he could move around in the country as per as his will. He was deeply impressed by the unity of the Bharatiyas. When he went back to England, he declared, “What a great spirit of unity the Bharatiyas have! How sacred are the teachings of the Upanishads! All the Bharatiyas are united by the single thread of divinity.” He further said, “If I am born again, I would like to be born in the sacred land of Bharat and would also like to die in India. There is no country which can match the sacredness of Bharat.” The sacredness of Bharat was acknowledged by many British philosophers. But today the people of other countries have better understanding of Indian culture and philosophy. Many of them are coming to India in search of truth, renouncing all their material comforts. All physical pleasures are momentary.

Everybody has to Go from the World Empty-handed

One should not be proud of youthful state of one’s body. What are the physical pleasures and comforts! Truly speaking, there is no happiness in them. That is why Adi Sankara declared in those days itself.

Ma Kuru Dhana Jana Yauvana Garvam, 
Harathi Nimeshath Kalah Sarvam.

(Do not be proud of your wealth, progeny and youth; the tide of time may destroy them in a moment.)

All the physical pleasures are momentary. You cannot enjoy true happiness even for a minute. Just as total darkness follows bright lightning, sorrow follows physical happiness. You see only the bright light of the lightning and feel happy without realising that what follows it is total darkness. You feel elated seeing the light of your momentary youth and don’t realise that the darkness of old age is about to follow. At that stage, your own children will make fun of you.

Oh man, do not take pride in your beauty, youth and physical strength. Very soon, you will become old. Your hair will turn grey, your skin will develop wrinkles and your vision will be blurred. Children will make fun of you, calling you an old monkey. You are no better than a leather puppet. Try to understand the mystery behind this puppet show.
(Telugu Song)

Nothing Belongs to You

What you need to achieve today is unity. But, unfortunately, there is no unity even between the members of the same family. Similarly, unity is lacking between neighbours, between people of one village and another and one nation and another. What a misfortune it is! This is a sign of wickedness.

One who aspires for the progress of the nation will not give room to conflicts. There is no dearth of water in Bharat. Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are big perennial rivers. Why don’t people make proper use of water of these rivers? Instead they are fighting with each other, saying, this is mine and that is yours. Why do you fight with each other when your body itself is not yours? When you depart from this world, who will take your body? Nobody will even touch it. All your relatives will follow you only up to the cremation ground. Nothing belongs to you, not even your body. Then, where is the question of mine and thine? You keep on amassing wealth all your life but at the time of death, you have to leave everything behind and go empty-handed. What did you bring with you at the time of birth? What can you take with you when you leave this world? Once you properly understand this truth, there will be no scope for greed at all. Is there anyone who has brought even a small piece of cloth with him at the time of birth? There is none. All your life, you develop attachment, saying, “My family, my children and my relations.” Who is actually yours? At the time of death, can you give them your address where you are going? If they truly belong to you, why don’t you give your address to them at the time of departing from the world? Nobody belongs to you. Who belongs to whom? However, you have to discharge your duty so long as you are alive. But in matters relating to God, each one has to follow a separate path of his own.

Every mother loves her child very dearly. When the child is sick and suffering, the mother undergoes ten times more suffering. Just because the mother loves her son so dearly, will she be able to take upon herself his suffering? It is totally impossible. In the same manner, will the hunger of the child be satiated when the mother eats? Everyone earns his own merits and sins. It is not possible for a mother to share the merits and sins of her son and vice-versa. You can share your property with others, but you cannot share divine grace with them. What you do is yours and what they do is theirs. But you should always pray for the welfare of all. That is a noble task. That is why at the end of every Bhajan session, we pray: Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu (May all the beings of all the worlds be happy!)

Adorn yourself with the Ornaments of Virtues

Embodiments of Love!

Do not turn your small differences into big fights in villages. Who is the ultimate loser in this? If you enquire deeply, you will realise that the entire village has to suffer because of your momentary anger. Therefore, do not give room to differences and conflicts. Be united. At times, you may be angry, but allow your anger to cool down. You should keep in view the welfare of your family and your village. Strive to earn a good name. You should be prepared to sacrifice even your life to uphold your good name. What is it that provides beauty to your hands? A bracelet or a golden bangle? No, no. The real ornament for the hand is charity. Hastasya Bhushanam Danam (charity is the true ornament of the hand). Sathyam Kanthasya Bhushanam (truth is the true necklace). It is not the necklace that provides beauty to your neck. Truth is your real ornament. Srotrasya Bhushanam Sastram (listening to the sacred texts is the true ornament of the ears). What is the use of ornaments other than these? These are the ornaments that everyone should adorn himself with and earn a good reputation. Speak truth, develop the spirit of sacrifice and listen to sacred teachings. If you possess these three virtues, no god is greater than you. In fact, you are God. God is not separate from you. Constantly remind yourself, Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman). When you imbibe such sacred feelings, you will develop divine thoughts. When you think ‘I am God’, your conscience will guide you to conduct yourself like God. In order to cultivate such sacred feelings, develop the conviction, “I am God.”

God does not exist in a foreign land, 
He is in you. 
Sin is not elsewhere. It is there where a wrong action is committed.
(Telugu Poem)

Neither sin nor merit is present in a foreign land. They are all within you. Likewise, God also is in you. Therefore, put your body to sacred use.

(Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajans, “Hare Rama, Hare Rama…” and “Subrahmanyam Subrahmanyam…”)

– From Bhagawan’s Discourse in Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam on 30th August 1996.