Love for God is the Only Real Wealth

Sweeter than sugar, tastier than curd, sweeter indeed than honey are the Names of Rama and Krishna. Constant repetition of these sweet Names gives one the taste of divine nectar itself. Therefore, one should contemplate on the Names of Rama and Krishna incessantly.
(Telugu Poem)

Krishna is not Different from Teachings

Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma (verily all this is Brahman). Everything is the manifestation of Divinity. It is easy to criticize the Leelas (divine play) and the supreme powers of Avatars, but it is difficult to understand the principle of their Divinity.

God who is all-pervasive is present both in truth and untruth, righteousness and unrighteousness, good and bad. Such being the case, how can you decide something as good and some other thing as bad, something as divine and something as not? Since ancient times, man has been investigating the principle of Divinity and propagating it to the entire world. Based on his own experiences, he has been demonstrating that the Divine has a particular form with some attributes.

Divinity Shines in Everyone

The entire world is governed by the three principles of creation, sustenance, and dissolution. One may belong to any country or faith, but one cannot deny this truth, be he a scientist or a philosopher. However, these three principles can only teach you the principle of Divinity; they cannot grant you the vision of Divinity. They are only pointers to the existence of Divinity. When you see from a distance, you say the polestar is on the top of a particular tree. But in reality, the polestar is not located on the top of the tree. The tree is just an indicator to the position of the polestar which is millions of miles away. Likewise, the Vedas, Sastras, Itihasas, and Puranas (scriptures, epics, and mythological texts) are only pointers to the existence of Divinity but they cannot give the direct experience of the divine principle.

When you see a dense forest, a mighty mountain, a flowing river, your heart is filled with bliss. All these demonstrate the mighty power of God. The stars shine in the sky, the planets revolve in their respective orbits, the sun gives light, and the wind blows – all these are indicators of Divinity. When you recognize the nature of the spark of fire, you will know the nature of fire. When you know the nature of a drop of water, you will know the nature of the entire Ganga. Likewise, when you understand even a fraction of the principle of Nature, you will understand the infinite Divinity. That is why the Upanishads have declared in this context, Anoraneeyan Mahato Maheeyan (Brahman is subtler than the subtlest and vaster than the vastest). Man essentially is the embodiment of all-powerful divinity. It is divinity that shines brilliantly in everyone. But man is not able to understand his innate divinity because of his body attachment. You should consider everything as divine in this world and conduct Sathyanveshana (search for truth). What is meant by Sathyanveshana? Where does truth exist? Where is the need to search for truth which is everywhere? However, there is something called Nijamu (fact) which is different from truth. For example, we say, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west every day. Here you have to conduct Sathyanveshana, whether it is a fact or the truth.

When you go by your daily experience, it is a fact the sun rises in the east and sets in the west every day. But when you investigate deeply, you will know that it is not the truth. The sun is stationary and does not move. It is because the earth rotates on its axis that you see the sunrise and sunset every day. This is termed Sathyanveshana. The sun does not move; it is we on earth who move, and as a result of which we experience the phenomenon of sunrise and sunset. In the same manner, you should make efforts to search for divinity in man. In what way can we know the divinity innate in man? It is in this context that the Upanishads exhort, “Know thyself”.

Pure Human Heart is the Abode of God

When someone asks you, who are you, what answer can you give? If you say, you belong to such and such country, such and such community and you are the son of so and so, does it amount to knowing yourself? This is not the correct answer. Knowing yourself amounts to realizing your true Self which is beyond the body, the mind, the intellect, the Chitta (mind-stuff) and the Ahamkara (ego). It is in this reference that the Vedanta teaches the principle of Neti, Neti (not this, not this). The body, the mind, the intellect, the mind-stuff, and the senses, all these are mere instruments. You are the divinity which is beyond all these. It is divinity which is responsible for their functioning. However, when you start conducting such enquiry into truth, you may have to face many difficulties, troubles, and ordeals.

When the demons and gods churned the ocean of milk, the first thing to emerge from the process of churning was deadly poison. It was only after this that the precious treasures like Kamadhenu (wish-fulfilling cow), Airavat (celestial elephant) and the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi manifested one after the other. The divine ambrosia also emerged only after the emergence of poison. Likewise, when you churn your heart which is like Ksheer Sagar (ocean of milk) using Jnana (wisdom) as a churning rod, initially you may have to face difficulties, but when you continue the process with determination, precious qualities like compassion, forbearance, empathy, and love will manifest from it.

Human heart is pure like Ksheer Sagar. But today it has become impure because of the presence of sea monsters like Kama, Krodha, Moha, Lobha, Mada, Matsarya (desire, anger, delusion, greed, pride, and jealousy) in it. Human heart is the repository of sacred qualities and hence is compared to the ocean of milk. That is why Saint Thyagaraja sang, “Ksheera Sagara Sayana Nannelu” (Oh the One reclining on the ocean of milk, please look after me). God is described as the one reclining on the ocean of milk. It means that He dwells in the pure heart of man. That is His true abode.

Atma is the Source of Bliss

On receiving complaints from Gopikas that Krishna was stealing butter from their houses, mother Yashoda chided Him, saying, “Don’t we have food at home? Don’t we have butter and milk at home? Why do You steal butter from Gopikas’ houses”? On some other day, a Gopika came and complained to her that Krishna was eating mud. Then Mother Yashoda caught little Krishna by His ear and said, “Does the butter made by me not taste good to You? Why do You eat mud outside”? Then Krishna smilingly replied, “Mother, am I a child, am I hungry or am I mad? Why will I eat mud”? The words of God are full of mystery and have deep inner meaning. By His reply, child Krishna conveyed to His mother in an indirect manner that He was not a child but God Himself. God always teaches in an indirect manner. As man is always immersed in worldly life, worldly Vasanas (tendencies) and worries, it is not possible for him to understand the teachings relating to the transcendental principle when they are conveyed directly to him. Man’s life is centred around Pravritti (worldliness) whereas God’s acts are related to Nivritti (spirituality). To understand the principle of Nivritti, man should transform himself and take to the path which leads him to Nivritti. He should know how to conduct himself in accordance with the time, place, and circumstances. Adi Sankara said:

Yoga Ratova, Bhoga Ratova,
Sanga Ratova, Sanga Viheena.
Yasya Brahmani Ramate Chittam, Nandati, Nandati, Nandati Yeva.
(Sanskrit Verse)

(He whose mind is fixed in Brahman is always in bliss, whether he is engaged in yoga (spirituality) or Bhoga (worldly pleasures) or he is in solitude or company.)

Can the yogis attain divinity just because they lead a very simple and austere life? Can the Bhogis attain divinity just because they enjoy all pleasures and comforts? One can attain divine bliss only when one offers everything to God and develops firm faith that God dwells in his heart. One cannot derive bliss either from people or from material possessions or from worldly endeavours. Atma is the only source of bliss. Man by very nature is a seeker of bliss, a repository of bliss and the very embodiment of bliss. Then what is the reason for his misery? His body attachment is the main cause for this.

You cannot leave your body and go somewhere else. You need not give up your worldly duties and responsibilities. You may continue to perform all your duties living in society but never leave God. There is no point in having any amount of wealth if you lack love for God in your heart. Your true wealth and property is God’s love and God’s love alone. What is the use of man’s existence in this world if he does not become the recipient of God’s love? Worldly love is temporary like passing clouds. It comes in a moment and goes in the next moment. God’s love alone is permanent and it confers permanent bliss. You should make yourself deserving of such divine love. The Gopikas, the Gopalas, and all the people of Repalle became recipients of such divine love. But many people criticised the divine Leelas of Krishna due to their perverted thinking.

Krishna lived in Repalle only up to the age of seven years. It is meaningless to say that such a small child of seven years indulged in acts which were against the norms of society. After going to Mathura at the age of seven, He never returned to Repalle. Unable to understand the sacredness of divine acts, people attribute their own feelings to God and become distant from Him due to their misunderstanding. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati (as are the feelings, so is the result). First of all, you should recognize what is true divinity. The Chaitanya (consciousness) present in everyone is true divinity. You should understand the nature of this consciousness. There are so many people sitting in this hall. There are people here, this denotes ‘being’. It is the light that makes us aware of their presence. Existence is denoted by Sat, awareness is denoted by Chit. When Sat and Chit come together, what results is Ananda (bliss). Therefore, Sat, Chit, Ananda denote our true nature. They are all within us. Antarbahischa Tatsarvam Vyapya Narayana Sthita (That all-pervasive God is present within and without). The same divinity is present inside and outside. When you understand this truth, you will experience bliss. People think they know the nature of divinity, but actually they do not know anything. What is the reason? The reason is that they have no experience of divinity.

The World is an Illusion

Once upon a time a person not able to support his family, left his house without informing anybody. After earning money by doing some odd jobs for some time, he decided to return home. At the time of leaving his house, he had a son who was very much attached to him. After his father left the house, the child died as he was unable to bear the pangs of separation from his father. As the father was returning home, all of a sudden, there was a heavy downpour with lightning and thunder and it also became dark. He thought it was not safe to travel in such a situation. He took shelter in a choultry in a nearby village for the night. As soon as he fell asleep, he had a dream. He saw that he had become a king served by many servants, and he was seated on a golden throne. He also dreamt that he had six sons dressed in princely costumes. He saw that he had a royal bed on which he could recline without any worries whatsoever. Meanwhile, his dream was broken by a loud thunder. He at once got up and looked around. He thought, alas, what happened to the royal bed? Till now I was a king; where has my throne gone now? What happened to all my servants who were attending on me? And where have my six children gone?

Now he was in a state of despair as he realised that it was all a mere dream. Next morning, he got up and returned home. Seeing her husband, his wife started crying bitterly. On the one hand, she was happy to see her husband return home, but on the other hand, she was grief-stricken at the loss of their only son. When he asked his wife where their son was, she told him that he had died. On hearing this, he was shocked and stood there like a rock without showing any emotion. Then his wife asked him the reason why he was not showing any signs of sorrow on the death of their son whom he was so much attached to. Then he replied, “Oh foolish woman! Last night while sleeping in the choultry I had a dream in which I was a king served by a number of servants and I was reclining on a royal bed. I had six sons dressed as princes. But now I have lost those six sons. Whom should I cry for now? Should I cry at the loss of those six sons or should I cry at the loss of our one son? They were my sons in the dream and he was my son in the waking state. There is no dream in the waking state and there is no waking state in the dream, but I am present in both. Therefore, I am the only reality, and everything else is mere illusion. I am omnipresent, all other things are passing clouds”. He realised that this world was just an illusion.

How to Experience True Happiness?

In order to experience true happiness, three things are necessary for man. First and foremost, he should know what he is supposed to know. Secondly, he should give up what he is supposed to give up and finally he should reach where he has to reach. Only then can he experience true happiness.

Develop Firm Faith in God

What is it that man is supposed to know? He should enquire: What is the nature of this world? How long is my stay here? What is it that I am experiencing here? You see many people taking birth and many others leaving this world in front of your eyes. As the name Ja-gat (to come and go) indicates, everything comes and goes in this Jagat (world). Once you recognize the transient nature of this world, you will experience happiness. This is what you are supposed to know. This is the way of the world.

Then what are you supposed to give up? Bhranti (illusion) is what you are supposed to give up. In your illusion, you consider unreal things to be real and experience sorrow in trying to cling on to them. On the top of it, you think Maya and sorrow have taken you in their grip and are not leaving you. Does sorrow have hands, feet, eyes, nose, etc? Only you have these limbs. Therefore, it is you who have caught hold of sorrow and not the other way round. Sorrow has no hands to catch you. But you imagine that you are in the grip of sorrow which is the cause of your suffering. This is ignorance, and this is what you are supposed to give up. Only then can you experience true happiness.

Lastly, where are you supposed to reach? You should reach where you have come from. It is but natural for all living beings to go back to their source of origin. You have come from the Atma; you have to go back to the Atma. There lies real happiness. The same is stated in the Vedic prayer: Asatoma Sadgamaya, Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya, Mrityorma Amritamgamaya (lead me from unreality to reality, from darkness to light, from death to immortality). It is a prayer to God to lead the seeker from untruth to truth. Untruth follows truth like its shadow. Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya. What is light and what is darkness? There is only one thing and that is light. When you don’t see light, you experience darkness. Light and darkness do not exist separately. The absence of light is darkness. You can attain happiness when you realize this. Mrityorma Amritamgamaya. What is it that has birth and death? It is only the body, and not you. You have no birth and no death. That which is born is bound to die. Therefore, birth and death are related to the body and not to the Atma. The Atma alone is true, eternal, and immortal. When you realize this truth, you can experience real happiness.

Everyday you recite this Vedic prayer, but you do not try to know what you are supposed to know. Hence, you should know what you are supposed to know, give up what you are supposed to give up and reach where you have to reach. Only then can you experience real happiness. Until then the happiness that you experience is only temporary and not permanent. The state of permanent happiness is termed as immortality. This state of happiness is described by the Vedas as Nirgunam, Niranjanam, Sanathana Niketanam, Nitya, Suddha, Buddha, Mukta, Nirmala Swarupinam (It is attributeless, unsullied, final abode, eternal, pure, enlightened, free, and embodiment of sacredness). You should develop firm faith in God to experience true and eternal happiness.

Avatars Come to Demonstrate Great Ideals

Where was Krishna born and what was His property? He was born in a prison, brought up in the house of Nanda and lived in Mathura. But He attained great name and fame in the world as He never considered the worldly wealth as real. Worldly wealth is temporary and, in fact, it is no wealth at all. Bliss was His real wealth and Krishna was always blissful.

Here you should understand the difference between the two Avatars, Rama and Krishna. Krishna performed everything always in a state of happiness, whereas Rama derived happiness from the work He performed. Rama fought a battle with the enemy after being provoked, whereas Krishna Himself would provoke the enemy and fight battle with him. Both the Avatars acted according to the need of the times. Krishna signified bliss, whereas Rama symbolized responsibility. Rama incarnated to demonstrate the matchless power of truth and righteousness to the entire world. Rama + Ayana is Ramayana, meaning Ramayana is the story of Rama’s earthly sojourn. The principle of Krishna was different from this in the sense that He was a world teacher. He never desired anything for Himself nor was He attached to anything. He offered all that He had to His people. He killed His maternal uncle Kamsa, but did not take his kingdom. He gave it to Kamsa’s father Ugrasena. Likewise, He took the side of the Pandavas, defeated the Kauravas, and anointed Dharmaraja as the king. He never aspired to become the king. He was the king without a crown. He was the King of kings and Lord of lords without any kingdom. In fact, He was the emperor of the hearts of everyone. This is the truth demonstrated by the Krishna principle. When you enquire deeply, you will understand that every Avatar comes to demonstrate an ideal.

Krishna Stole the Pure Heart of Gopikas

Krishna always uttered truth even when He spoke something in fun. He never uttered a lie even in a lighter vein. But those who do not understand the import of Krishna’s words think that He indulged in untruth. In every Yuga (aeon) and during the time of every Avatar, there are people who are afflicted with this type of malady.

Once Gopikas came to Mother Yashoda and complained:

Mother, your Krishna came to the top of our terrace in the middle of the night and tied the plaits of our hair when we were fast asleep. Ask Him, oh mother, ask Him.
(Telugu Song)

Then Yashoda asked Krishna:

What work do You have in others’ houses at midnight? It seems You tied the plaits of their hair and came back running. I am not going to leave You now.
(Telugu Song)

Krishna replied with a smile:

Mother, was I not lying by your side without moving anywhere at night? When did I go and when did I come back? You yourself tell Me.
(Telugu Song)

What Krishna meant to convey was: “I am here, there, and everywhere, wherever you see.” He demonstrated such supreme truths by His divine sports.

Another group of Gopikas once came and complained to Mother Yashoda:

Oh mother, when we were carrying pots of buttermilk for sale, Krishna accosted us and asked us to pay tax. Then He hit the pots making holes in them. Oh mother! Ask Him.
(Telugu Song)

Then Krishna said to Mother Yashoda:

They wanted to offer those pots of buttermilk to God, and God Himself came and made holes in them. But unknowingly, they are pushing the blame on Me. I don’t know anything about it; I am innocent.
(Telugu Song)

Here Krishna conveyed to Yashoda indirectly that He is God Himself. He was trying to explain to His mother in a way she could understand His Divine nature.

Many a time, Krishna would steal milk and butter from the houses of Gopikas and would run away when they tried to catch Him. What do the milk and butter symbolise? Butter and milk are white in color which symbolises purity. Therefore, Krishna accepted the pure and Sattwic (sublime) feelings of the Gopikas.

Once Mother Yashoda chided little Krishna:
Oh Krishna! You do not eat what I serve You at home. But You go to the houses of the Gopikas and steal their butter.
Oh dear Krishna! It spoils our good name.
(Telugu Poem)

She complained, “Oh Krishna! You are such a small child, but You are creating such a great commotion in the entire village by Your mischievous acts. Does not the butter prepared at home taste good to You? Is the butter in the houses of Gopikas so tasty to You”? When Yashoda chided Him in this manner, Krishna said to her, “The hearts of Gopikas are pure, sacred, and without any trace of selfishness. But there is an element of selfishness in your motherly love towards Me. Therefore, I am not interested in the butter you prepare at home. What I am stealing from the houses of the Gopikas is not butter, but their pure and selfless hearts. I steal the hearts of those who are pure and totally devoid of selfishness”. That is why devotees praise Krishna singing the song, Chitta Chora Yashoda Ke Bal Navaneeta Chora Gopal (Oh Krishna, the son of mother Yashoda, You are the stealer of butter and the hearts of devotees). People think Krishna stole butter but, in fact, He stole the pure hearts of the Gopikas.

What is the point in offering worship to the Lord if the heart is not pure? Without inner purity, what is the point in following ritualistic practices? What is the point in cooking delicious items in a vessel which is not clean? The word of Sai is verily the truth.
(Telugu Poem)

Krishna’s Leelas Reveal His Divinity

If you chant the Name of Rama even once with purity of heart, He will at once respond. He alone can bestow on you real happiness. Purandaradasa said, “Rama and Yama are not different from each other. Both are one and the same”. The same Rama appeared as Yama (god of death) to the wicked Ravana and as God to the pious Vibhishana who totally surrendered to Him. He appeared as Rama or Yama based on the feelings of the respective individuals. The same Krishna appeared as God to Ugrasena who had faith in Him, and as Yama to wicked Kamsa who considered Him to be his enemy. Similarly, He became Yama to Hiranyakasipu who hated God and appeared as Narayana to Prahlada who all the time contemplated on Him.

Once Gopikas became tired of Krishna’s mischievous pranks. In spite of their best efforts, they could not catch Him. Therefore, one day Krishna thought: “Poor Gopikas are pure-hearted; they are innocent and totally devoid of selfishness. It is not proper on My part to escape from them whenever they try to catch Me. I am Bhakta Paradhina (servant of devotees), and I should not put My devotees to hardship. This time, I will allow them to catch Me”. Then He devised a plan by which Gopikas could know His whereabouts and catch Him. Sensing that Krishna was in the house of a particular Gopika, all others stood like soldiers around the compound wall so that He could not escape from them. What did Krishna do? He poured down all the milk from a pot hung to the ceiling, dipped His tiny feet in it and ran away when Gopikas came to catch Him. Gopikas followed His footprints and could catch Him. There was a message for the Gopikas in this episode. Krishna conveyed to the Gopikas, “Follow in My footsteps, and you will be able to attain Me”.

There are many such incidents in the Bhagavata which convey a profound message to devotees. But they appear to be mere pranks to those who consider them so. Munde Munde Mathir Bhinnah (opinions vary from person to person). When heads are different, thoughts also vary. The Bhagavata is nothing but the story of the Lord. The divine pranks of Krishna are the basis of understanding His Divinity. All these stories of Lord Krishna demonstrate great ideals. They cannot be made a subject of ridicule as some people have a tendency to do.

Radha pined for Krishna endlessly. Krishna churned her heart with the churning rod of Jnana and granted her the precious jewel of devotion. She considered Krishna as her only refuge and never relied on her kith and kin.

I have no refuge other than You. Oh Krishna, I am carrying on this burden of life only for Your sake. My mind becomes restless if I don’t see Your smiling face. At least appear to me in my dreams. I cannot live without You even for a moment.
(Telugu Song)

God is ready to grant anything the devotee asks for. In fact, He is ready to give Himself. You cannot find such supreme spirit of sacrifice in your friends, relatives, or anyone for that matter in this world. Radha had become completely weak and was about to breathe her last. At that moment, Krishna appeared before her and asked, “What is your last wish”? Radha replied, “Krishna, I don’t want anything. My only wish is to listen to the melody of Your flute for one last time”.

Oh Krishna! Sing a sweet song, and fill my heart with nectarine words and bliss. Distil the essence of the Vedas, transform it into divine music, play it on Your enchanting flute, and captivate me with Your melody. Sing, oh Krishna! Sing for me!
(Telugu Song)

Human body is the flute that has nine holes. Radha prayed to Krishna to make the essence of the Vedas flow through this ‘flute’. Accordingly, Krishna played a sweet song on His flute, listening to which Radha gave up her mortal coil. Then and there, Krishna left His flute for good. From that day, He never touched it again as a gesture of Radha’s great devotion towards Him.

The Devotion of Gopikas is Worth Emulating

Once Rukmini invited Radha to her house. On receiving an invitation from Rukmini, Radha at once came to her house. Those days Idli, Dosa, cakes, etc., were not known as they are today. People would offer milk or curd to guests. In her exuberance of happiness, Rukmini offered her hot boiling milk in a glass. Radha used to offer everything to Krishna before partaking of it. She said, Krishnarpanam (I offer it to Krishna) and gulped the boiling hot milk. In the evening, when Krishna came to Rukmini, she performed His Padaseva (pressing His feet). At that time, she was shocked to notice blisters on His feet. She asked, “Oh Lord! What has happened? Who has caused blisters on Your feet”? Then Krishna replied, “It is your own doing. When Radha came to you in the morning, you offered her hot boiling milk without bothering to check whether it was fit for drinking. She offered that milk to Me before drinking. Therefore, these blisters have come on My feet”.

Some people think that these are mere Kathas (stories). They are not Kathas, but divine sports which are meant to remove the Vyathas (sufferings) of man. All the Leelas of Krishna are meant to remove the sufferings of man. He utilized all His divine powers only for the sake of devotees. When you try to understand the significance of the sacred Bhagavata, you will realise the supreme power of Divinity.

Gopikas led their lives in the constant contemplation of Krishna while discharging their worldly duties. They had no formal education nor any degrees. They neither went to any university nor did they study any Upanishads. The Name of Krishna was the only Upanishad and Sastra (scripture) they knew. The Name of Gopala was the only Veda they studied. In this manner, they sanctified their lives in the constant contemplation of Krishna. They enjoyed all types of worldly happiness also. The Gopikas were united in their love and devotion for Krishna. All the devotees should emulate them in this regard and give up all differences based on caste, race, and religion. What is the caste of the five elements which are present in us? What is the caste of fire, wind, ether, water, and earth? There was a great spirit of unity among the Gopikas. Where there is unity, there is purity. When unity and purity come together, divinity manifests.

Suguna had the Vision of Krishna

People in the village Gokul lighted their oil lamps from the lamp in Nanda’s house. They believed that they would attain plenty and prosperity if they lighted their lamps from the lamps lit in the houses of prosperous people. One day, a newly-married Gopika by name Suguna arrived in that village. She desperately wanted to see Krishna having heard so much about His Leelas. But she could not express her feelings to either her husband or her in-laws. Her mother-in-law commanded her not to go to the house of Yashoda lest she should see Krishna and become His devotee. But, in fact, no one has the right to prevent anyone from having the vision of God. Every day, the mother-in-law herself would go to the house of Yashoda to light the lamp. One day as she developed high fever, she was left with no choice but to send Suguna to Yashoda’s house for lighting the lamp. Suguna was overjoyed, thinking that she had a chance to see Krishna at last. In that feeling of extreme happiness, she forgot herself as she entered Yashoda’s house. As she lighted her lamp from the lamp kept in Yashoda’s house, she could see Krishna in the flame. She was so much lost in the vision of Krishna that she did not realise that her hand was getting burnt.

In the meantime, other women from the neighbouring houses also came there to light their lamps. They were wonderstruck on witnessing this scene. They noticed that Suguna was not moving away from the flame even though her fingers were in contact with the flame. Mother Yashoda also came running and asked her, “What is this? Don’t you realize that your hand is getting burnt”? But Suguna was not able to hear the words of Yashoda as her mind was totally focused on Krishna. Krishna was smiling at her and she too was smiling at Him. Therefore, she did not feel any pain. Later on, when Gopikas asked her about this incident, she told them, “I had the vision of Krishna in the flame. He smiled and made me also smile”. When they know something like this, will the women keep quiet? In a moment, this news spread in the entire village. Then Gopikas joined together and sang a song describing the incident.

It seems Suguna had a vision
Of Gopala in the house of Nanda.
She saw Krishna in the flame!
(Telugu Song)

The mother-in-law of Suguna also came to know about this incident. But Suguna was not worried. She was happy that she could have the vision of Krishna. It is not possible to describe the glory and grandeur of the Leelas of Krishna. He was a woman among women, a man among men, a child among children, and an elder among elderly persons. That is why the Bhagavadgita says, Sarvatah Panipadam Tat Sarvathokshi Siromukham, Sarvatah Srutimalloke Sarvamavruthya Tishthati (with hands, feet, eyes, head, mouth, and ears pervading everything, He permeates the entire universe). He resides in the hearts of everyone.

Therefore, never observe differences with regard to Divinity based on name and form. Ekameva Adviteeyam Brahma (God is one without a second). You may call Him by any name, Allah, Jesus, Zoroastra, Buddha, Rama, or Krishna. Don’t observe any differences whatsoever. There is only one religion, the religion of humanness. There may be something wrong with Mathi (mind) and not with Matham (religion). Therefore, set right your minds. Do not give scope to conflicts and hatred based on religious differences.

Students! You should propagate the principle of oneness to the entire world. Never give scope to differences. This is the real education you have to acquire. Only students have the capacity to revive the ancient culture of Bharat by adhering to the path of devotion and surrender.

Swami’s Word is Swami

There is another important subject I want to tell you. Devotees coming to Prasanthi Nilayam are increasing in number day by day. As they are happy having My Darshan, I am also very happy spending My time with them. Since I am busy with My devotees, I have no free time. Therefore, it will not be possible for Me to perform marriages in Prasanthi Nilayam. Those who want to get married can happily do so wherever it is convenient for them and come here. I will happily bless them. However, I will continue to perform mass marriages and mass Upanayanams (thread ceremonies). Swami’s love is always with you wherever you are. But from now onwards, I will not perform marriages either in the interview room or anywhere else. If anyone wants to get married, he can do so in the Kalyana Mandapam. I have no objection to that. Get married and come to Me; I will bless you with all love. Lead an ideal married life by serving the country and propagating the principle of oneness.

Today is Gokulashtami (Birthday of Lord Krishna). But what is birthday for God? This is only the birthday of the physical form. Do not give importance to birthdays; instead, give importance to the teachings and ideals of Krishna. Krishna is not different from His teachings. Krishna is Gita, Gita is Krishna. Likewise, Swami is not different from His teachings. Swami’s word is Swami.

(Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan, “Govinda Krishna Jai…”)

– Bhagawan’s Discourse in Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam on 4th September 1996.