Man Should Think Of God At All Times

Everything In The Universe Is Divine

Everything in this phenomenal world is changing. It is temporary like passing clouds. One cannot know what will happen in the next moment. Man’s life on earth is also subject to change; it undergoes change from childhood to youth and old age. Each of these stages is only an interval, a passing phase. Wealth, jobs, and positions also change. Money, in fact, makes man’s life unsacred since more arrogance and ego develop with the accumulation of money. When a person does not have any wealth, there is not much ego in him.

World Is Temporary, God Is Eternal

All worldly relationships also undergo change. The relationship of husband and wife is also temporary. They were not with each other in the beginning and they will not be together when they depart from the world. It is only time and destiny which bring them together for some time. However, Truth and Love are permanent and divine. Truth is God, Love is God. Live in Love. Love expresses itself in man and proves the existence of God in all. God is permanent and eternal. God was there before creation. He was the source of energy for creation in the form of consciousness. The Vedas provide evidence of this. Bharat should share this divine wisdom with the world.

Forbearance is the real beauty in this sacred land of Bharat. Of all the rituals, adherence to truth is the greatest penance. The nectarine feeling in this country is the feeling of love towards one’s mother. Character is valued far higher than the very life itself. People have forgotten the basic principles of this great culture and are imitating Western culture. Alas! The Bharatiyas are not aware of the greatness of their cultural heritage just as a mighty elephant is not aware of its own strength.

(Telugu Poem)

It is unfortunate that Bharatiyas are imitating foreign countries. Like the elephant which submits to the command of the mahout, they do not recognize their own strength. Bharat is the land of highest spirituality. But all its sacred values are on decline due to modern education and culture.

Think Of God First In Every Matter

In ancient times, the Bharatiyas contemplated on God and thought of God first while performing any auspicious task like building houses, performance of marriages, and other religious ceremonies. But, unfortunately, people of Bharat today have forgotten God who is the primal basis of the entire creation as they are enmeshed in worldly pleasures, considering the ephemeral world as permanent. Man should think of God first in every matter in his life right from the time he gets up from bed in the morning till he goes to sleep at night. Spirituality does not mean sitting in solitude with closed eyes. To experience the unity of the entire human race is true spirituality.

The example of the Kauravas and Pandavas illustrates this truth. The Pandavas considered God as everything, performed Dharmic actions, and adhered to truth. They always considered God first, the world next, and themselves last. Lord Krishna was first for them in all matters and they believed that everything happened by the Will of Krishna. Arjuna had intense faith in Krishna and considered Him as his only refuge. But the thinking of the Kauravas was just opposite to that of the Pandavas. They considered themselves first, the world next, and God last. All their thoughts and actions were based on untruth and unrighteousness. That was the reason why they were defeated by the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war. The story of Mahabharata teaches that only truth and righteousness lead man to success and victory.

True Happiness Lies In The Service Of Society

God has gifted the human body to man for performing righteous actions and serving others. So, man should always follow the path of Dharma and render service to society. Just as an iron machine gets rusted without use, the human body becomes dull without work. Man should use the body to perform noble tasks and redeem his life. You do not always get the work you like; so, love the work you get. Man should always consider that his happiness depends upon the happiness of society. Sai always advocates worship and wisdom for the redemption of human life.

What does the name of Sai indicate? In the word SAI, S stands for service, A, for adoration, and I, for illumination. So, man should develop these virtues and lead his life based on them. He should use his human birth to perform all actions based on these virtues and make his life worthwhile. But today many people think that they are lucky if they eat, drink, and indulge in worldly pleasures doing nothing for society. This is most unfortunate.

Action is the basis of human life. Man is born due to action, grows in action, and takes the next birth on the basis of his actions. Even though man’s pleasure and pain are the results of his actions, he unfortunately does not understand it and goes on performing unrighteous actions and does not discharge his duties properly. It is only through actions that man derives happiness. So, man should perform good actions and serve society. This is how he can derive true happiness. Since ancient times, Bharatiyas have been deriving happiness by serving others. In fact, God has gifted the body to man to perform service to society. Therefore, he should use his body in this sacred way. Whatever actions man performs, their fruits come back to him in the form of reaction, reflection, and resound. As noble acts of service benefit the doer himself, it is for one’s own sake that one does service. Life without service is a living death.

The entire universe is the gift of God. He is the first cause of creation. Everything in the universe is divine; all are the children of God. Man should think of God at all times as He is the Creator. Man should have strong faith in God. But man today has lost faith in God. When his desires are fulfilled, man praises God. But when his desires are not fulfilled, he blames God. God is the witness. He only confers bliss as He is bliss incarnate. Man himself creates his misery, which is the reaction of his own actions. If he sows bitter seeds, how can he reap sweet fruits? It is the sign of man’s weakness that he blames God for his sufferings. It was due to their own weakness that the Kauravas continued to blame Krishna for their misery. God, in fact, undertakes suffering to make His devotees happy. God performs rare acts which man cannot conceive of. Man does not know what God is able to do for him.

A true devotee knows that he will overcome his difficulties by earning the grace of God. Kuchela was a devotee of Lord Krishna. He was very poor and lived in a small house. His family suffered tremendously due to his acute poverty. As his faith in Krishna was firm and his surrender to Him was total, Krishna provided all wealth and a palatial house to him. Kabir was a poor weaver who earned very little money by weaving cloth. As he wove the cloth, he continuously recited Ram Ram Ram. As God was his sole support, he overcame his poverty.

Develop Firm Faith To Realise God

A true devotee will face all troubles, but he will stay attached to God and advance towards Him. Many obstacles do come when we try to reach God, but if we have firm faith, we can overcome them. Do not give up until you reach your goal. To retreat in the face of difficulties is not the sign of a true devotee. Exert yourself to earn the grace of God. Firm faith and determination will enable you to reach your desired destination. Faith is the cause for everything. It is your faith which will determine what you should say – yes or no. Swami says yes to those who say yes; He says no to those who say no. Develop firm faith to realise God. Never give up God who is Love and Truth which are eternal. Although names and forms of God are many, yet He is one. Flowers are many, worship is one. Develop firm faith in the oneness of God.

Sage Narad sang, “Oh Krishna! How can we know You? You are smaller than the smallest and bigger than the biggest. You pervade the entire universe. You steal the hearts of the devotees. “Chitta Chora Yashoda Ke Bal” (the son of Yashoda steals the hearts of devotees). Where is God? The abode of Ishwara is Himachala. What does Himachala convey? ‘Hima’’ means soft, white, bright snow. ‘Achala’ means immovable, stable. Likewise, the heart of a true devotee should be pure and steady. So, purify your heart and make it sacred and steady. Then only can it attain the Divine. If it is agitated with evil qualities like anger, envy, how can it attain Divinity? So, man should get rid of evil qualities. God is always with you and all around you. Only those who are deserving can attain Him. Even though God is so near, many people do not receive what He wants to give. Even now when God has descended on earth in human form, people do not attain Him because they are beset with doubts. He is love incarnate and showers His love on one and all. Though God sometimes assumes human form, He is infinite like the ocean which has unlimited depth and the blue sky which is limitless. What does the blue color signify? It signifies unlimited vastness. That is why Rama and Krishna had blue color.

Divinity Is Supreme Consciousness

Nobody can understand the leelas of Avatars. Once when baby Krishna had eaten mud, Balaram complained to Mother Yashoda. So, Yashoda asked Krishna why He had eaten mud when there was so much butter and curd in the house. Then Krishna denied that He had eaten mud. When Yashoda asked Him to open His mouth, she could see the entire universe in it. Then Yashoda wondered: Is it a dream or some mystery? Am I Yashoda? Is He my child Krishna, or is it an illusion? When such thoughts overwhelmed her, she immediately hugged Krishna. When God incarnates on earth in human form, He covers Himself with the vesture of _M_aya. Just as ash covers the fire, cataract covers the eye and moss covers the water, God covers Himself with Maya. With human body as illusion, God manifests infinite power and Divinity. But man cannot see His Divinity because of this illusion. Rama always said, He is the son of Dasharath even though sages recognised Him as Lord Narayan and worshipped Him. When Rama was alone with Sita, He revealed to her, “These demons must be killed. So, this drama has to be enacted though it is limited to the stage only.” What is behind the stage? This can be understood by Rishis and sages like Vasishth and Vishwamitra.

Sages knew the Divinity of Rama but they could not publicise it. If Sita was not abducted, it was not possible to kill Ravan. Sage Agastya sent Rama and Sita to live in Panchavati because he knew Rama had the intention to kill Ravan and demon hordes. Everything happened when they went to Panchavati. Sages knew the masterplan of Rama as they had pure hearts and firm faith. Similarly, Sage Vishwamitra took Rama to Mithila and arranged His marriage with Sita. This marriage was also a part of the masterplan.

God is beyond the senses. Man cannot understand God because he does not go beyond the senses. Divinity is Supreme Consciousness. It cannot be understood through bodily perspective. Man should develop this understanding that God is everything:

Tvameva mata cha pita tvameva,
Tvameva bandhuschcha sakha tvameva,
Tvameva Vidya dravinam tvameva,
Tvameva Sarvam mama Deva Deva.

(Sanskrit Verse)

(Oh Lord! You alone are my father and mother, friend and relation, wisdom and wealth. You are my everything).

Why does Sai Baba perform actions? I have no need to act. Even then I act because unless I act, no one will be able to follow Me. I have to set an ideal for mankind. When God pervades the entire universe, how can you build a temple for Him? When He is Effulgence Itself, is a lamp necessary? When God moves in all waters, is it possible to give Him a bath? When He is present in all stomachs, is it possible to offer Him food? What more do you want to be conveyed? Even angels cannot know and understand Him.

Follow your conscience and obey the command of God. All your desires will be fulfilled when you perform your duty. The main quality of a devotee is to obey the command of God immediately, without having to be told again. Do not repeat your mistakes. Having been born once, make efforts not to be born again. Develop love for God; never forget God. Think of God constantly. Birth as a human being is very rare. Human life is the highest in the entire creation. Having taken human birth, if you do not redeem yourself, you have lived in vain.

(Bhagawan closed His Discourse with the Bhajan, "Govinda Gopala Prabhu Giridhari".)

– Bhagawan’s Divine Discourse in Sai Sruthi, Kodaikanal on 15th April 1996.