Selfishness Is The Cause Of Man’s Restlessness

Peace Results Only When You Think Of God

Embodiments of Love!

Bhagawan wishes that you should all be happy. He desires that you should all live long in peace and safety. Man today has progressed very much in worldly matters but he has not progressed in ethical and moral values. What is the reason for this? Selfishness accumulated in the mind of man through several births is the fundamental reason. Selfish motive is predominant in all his endeavours.

Get Rid Of Selfishness And Narrow-Mindedness

Man today has become a puppet in the hands of selfishness. His love for material objects emanates from his selfishness. His love for others is also purely for selfish ends. Whatever he desires, it is for his selfish benefit only. He does not take even one step without selfishness.

While such peculiarities are increasing in this ultramodern world, the human values are declining. Do not think that selfishness has cast its sway on man’s worldly life only. The demon of selfishness has caught hold of him in all aspects of his life, including worship. Man does not bother about what God likes, what He wants him to do.

Narrow-mindedness has entered every field of life. Man should give up selfishness and try to attain divinity by diverting the mind to spirituality.

There are three changes which are necessary today. The word SAI indicates these changes, in which S stands for spiritual change, A for association (societal) change and I for individual change. When these changes take place, the country will also change. Change in society will not take place if there is no change in the individual. Spiritual thoughts will not arise in us if there is no change in society. Society is on the wrong path because the individual is on the wrong path. We should keep society in view even in small matters. Each individual is a member of society. How can man live without society? But man today is conducting his life with the narrow idea of himself and his family. He should get rid of his narrow-mindedness and selfishness, have constant thoughts of God and lead a divine life.

But man is so entangled in worldly affairs that he has forgotten God. This country has become weak because people have excessive desires. Man today is engulfed in ignorance because he has forgotten God. He is deluded that the comforts of the world are superior to divinity. As a result, man’s life has become a total waste. Human beings today are without any human quality. They are human in form only, not in behaviour. They appear like devotees and talk like devotees, but their devotion is part time and temporary. All their devotion is to suit the moment. Heartfelt faith is not seen. Selfishness and thoughts of selfishness make man forget his true nature.

Man Should Rise To Divine Level

Man should not forget his inherent divinity, howsoever exalted he may be in worldly life. God is the basis of man. God is also the goal of man. Man should not only attain human state after getting rid of his animal qualities, he should attempt to reach divine state. Instead of ascending to divine level, man is going in the reverse direction. He is degenerating to animal state from human state. That is why anxiety and lack of peace have increased at national, societal and individual levels.

This has become the characteristic of the modern world. Though science has made great progress, yet man has no control over his senses. What is the use of science without sense control? The scientists have forgotten the cause and basis of the universe. It is necessary for man to develop devotion and self-sacrifice to attain Divinity.

There have been many eminent and erudite persons in Tamil Nadu. At one time, the Pandya kingdom in Tamil Nadu reigned supreme. A Pandya king was very fond of horses. Once he sent his minister to buy horses. He gave him all the money and manpower required to procure the horses. The minister reached a village named Tirupperunturai. There he came across a holy man, Balayogiswara. He did not want to waste that pleasant evening; so, he joined the congregation and listened to the discourse of the holy man with rapt attention. He forgot himself as he listened to the discourse. He developed strong faith in that holy man. He forgot even the task assigned to him by the king, spent his time listening to the discourses and got immersed in the contemplation of God. One day, he found a Shiva temple in a dilapidated condition. He used the money given to him by the king for renovating the Shiva temple.

The king came to know that the minister had used all the money, given to him to buy horses, to renovate the Shiva temple. The king was also a devoted man. But since the minister disobeyed his command, he sent his soldiers to bring him back. The king summoned the minister to his presence and asked him what he had done with the money given to him for procuring horses. The minister said, “O king, I used the money for God. Everything is God’s gift. What God had given, I gave it back to Him. Not only that, I have offered myself to Him”. But the king asked, whether he was justified in spending the money for a different purpose other than for which it was intended. The minister replied that he did not use the money for worldly purposes but used it for a sacred purpose. The king became furious at the minister’s audacious reply, had him arrested and put in prison.

The minister was unruffled. While in prison, he continued to recall the teachings of the holy man, Balayogiswara, and started writing them down in the form of Slokas (verses). He composed many Slokas everyday. He was immersed in bliss while composing hymns in praise of God and thus lost track of time. Later, the king realised his mistake and summoned him. He was surprised to see the aura of radiance and brilliance around his face. How did he acquire such an aura? It was due to the constant contemplation of God. That minister was none other than Manikkavachakar. Each Sloka composed by him reflected the essence of the Vedas and the sacred texts. This work is known as Tiruvachakam, meaning sacred utterances. Each one of his poems shines like a gem. Man should get transformed in this way. Then Bharat will shine as a beacon of light to other nations.

Modern Man Has Become A Slave Of Money

Man today has no love for God. He has love only for wealth and his family. From birth to death, he remains involved in family affairs. What will he carry with him? At the end, what is his achievement? Nothing. It may be Bharat or any other country, when a man leaves the world, he does not carry even a handful of dust? All his life he thinks only of money, money and money. He has become a slave to the demon of money. Money is required, but there should be some limit. Man earns and accumulates a lot of money and finally dies without any peace. Should he not think of God at least for a moment? How can anyone have peace and happiness without God? Since man does not think of God, he forgets human qualities.

You spend time on talking about your progeny, friends, relatives, business, wealth, food and fame. Do you spend at least a fraction of it thinking about God and contemplate on Him? That is just absent. Do you call it life if out of the 24 hours, even if you spend 23 hours and 55 minutes for your selfish ends, you cannot spend five minutes to think of God? How can you be called a human being? How can you earn Ananda (bliss)? If you say Shanti, S_hanti_, from where will you get Shanti? Peace results only when you think of God!

Man Should Control His Desire

If you have good thoughts in your heart, if you speak sacred words, if your body is engaged in serving others, then only you add beauty, value and greatness to your human birth. This is Trikarana Shuddhi (unity of thought, word and deed). Good thoughts, good words, good actions constitute Trikarana Shuddhi. Such unison will take you towards God.

What can the evil effects of Kali Age do to a man whose heart is full of compassion, whose speech is suffused with truth and whose body is dedicated to the service of others?

Chittibabu (the speaker who spoke earlier) said that Seva and Prema (selfless service and love) are important in man’s life. They are like the two wings of a bird or the two wheels of a bicycle. We cannot travel on one wheel. Birds can fly in the limitless sky only if they have two wings. Likewise, man can rise from earth to heaven when he has Seva and Prema.

We will slide as much distance down as we have the burden of desires. This is a cloth. It falls down if we let it slip off our hand. This was cotton earlier. That would have floated in the air high above. The same cotton becomes cloth when made into threads and woven into cloth. Then it falls down because it becomes heavy. Similarly, the mind which is light like cotton becomes heavy when desires increase. As a result, the mind which should ascend towards God is pulled down by worldly attachments. As a result, man goes down to self-destruction. Less luggage more comfort makes travel a pleasure. So, we should reduce our desires. How many desires should you have? Is it not enough if you have an air conditioner in one room? You desire having AC in all rooms. You want to have an air conditioner in the bathroom also (laughter)! So much comfort for the useless, worthless body! Is the body such that it will remain permanent? No.

You spend just a rupee for buying a packet of incense sticks. But you do not hesitate to spend hundreds of rupees for playing cards in a club. You are angry with your wife for offering banana in worship to God. But you roam about in a car. How much do you spend? How much petrol is consumed? Do you not have the mind to offer food in worship to God? Having been born as a human being, should you not make effort to ascend to divine level? There is so much agitation in the world because man does not have such sacred feelings.

Narrow feelings are on the rise in people from all walks of life. All of them are running after worldly pleasures. These are not important to man. Understand that real happiness lies in divine proximity. Several new years have come and gone. But there is no transformation in man. Years are changing, and there are many changes in the world. But there is no change in the mind of man. In fact, man’s mind is leading him towards destruction. You cannot be called a true human being if your mind does not get transformed.

Do All Work As Offering To God

It is not the New Year that brings profit and loss, happiness and sorrow to man. His Karma (past deeds) is the main cause. If he does evil deeds, he will get bad results. He suffers because of his bad deeds and reaps good results by his good deeds. But man today wastes his time in evil pursuits. Adi Shankara, while referring to God, says Samvatsaraya Namah (salutations to the one who is the embodiment of time). Time is Atma, Time is life, Time is God. So, we should not waste time. We should use the five senses given to us by God to do the work ordained by Him. We should have sacred thoughts in the mind while doing our work. Dedicate all work to God whether it is daily work, office work or business work. Sarva Karma Bhagavat Prityartham (do all actions to please God). If we do like this, then only will Bharat shine as the ideal country in the world.

Since time immemorial, Bharat has been the spiritual leader of the world. The goal of the people of Bharat has been Samasta Loka Sukhino Bhavantu (May all the worlds be happy!). Thus, the aim of the people of Bharat has never been narrow like only their family, their country, their people. All countries must be happy. All people belonging to all the nations should be happy and prosperous has been their ideal. What else is Bhakti (devotion) than developing such broad attitude? Bhakti is not merely plucking flowers from plants, tying them into a garland and offering it to God. Lord Krishna says in the GIta that man can please God by offering Patram, Pushpam, Phalam, Toyam (leaf, flower, fruit and water). There is an esoteric meaning of this. Leaf is the body, flower is the heart, fruit is the mind and water is the blissful tears when you contemplate on God. A true devotee will offer all these to God. Man gets caught in various illusions and suffers because of his body attachment. Why has body been given to man? Body has been given to pray to God. The body is the container. Fill it with the water of Prema (love of the Divine) fully. Then your heart will become broad. Offer that flower of heart to God. Man’s life should have such high ideals.

Understand The Value Of Human Birth

We use the word Manava for man which contains three letters Ma Na Va. Ma means man, Na means not, Va means new. So, Manava means not new. You are not new, you are old only! You had many births.

Punarapi Jananam Punarapi Maranam, 
Punarapi Janani Jathare Shayanam.

(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.)

You had many births and many deaths. Why are you born? Then, why do you die? Understand the meaning of human birth. What is the goal of life? What have you to achieve? What is the purpose of human birth? Is the purpose of your life to study well, go abroad, earn a lot of money and send it home? What are you going to achieve with it? Human life is meaningless without sacrifice. Na karmana na prajaya dhanena tyagena ekena amritatvamanasuh (immortality is not attained through action, progeny or wealth; it is attained only by sacrifice).

There is no use of high position or wealth if you do not practise sacrifice. Sacrifice is the true way of life for man. It is true Yoga. Anything without sacrifice is Roga (disease). The world is suffering because of lack of peace. Man has no peace even for a moment. Where is this peace? Peace is within you. But you are unable to enjoy it because you search for it outside in the world.

Dedicate Your Life To God

There is no need to wait for the New Year to begin spiritual practice. Every moment is new. Therefore, the heart should bloom every moment with divine feelings. Then mind also will start blooming step by step. This is the true meaning of the new year. It is not eating a grand feast, wearing new clothes and making merriment. Do you wait till the new year to fill your belly? What is the meaning of Ugadi? It means the origin of the Yuga (aeon). What is the origin of man and what is his reality? Man is not new; he is ancient. He should understand his reality by asking the question, “Who am I”? Introducing himself as so and so and belonging to such and such place indicate the body only and not his true identity, that is the Atma. Understand that your true identity is the Atma. Realise that the same Atma is present in all and develop the spirit of oneness and sacrifice.

Embodiments of Love!

Everybody should develop love. There is no God other than love. There is nothing superior to and more powerful than love. There is nothing more perfect than love. By saying Poornamadah Poornamidam (That is full, this is full) we understand that the Jiva (individual soul) and God are both perfect only. We should understand this oneness. Then only can we call ourselves true human beings.

But, day by day, man is taking to wrong path. If this is so, how can the nation grow? How will the transformation of the mind happen in a good way? How long can we hold on like this? Man today is becoming worse than animals. Animals at least have some reason and season, but the present-day man has no reason and no reason.

Your life is the gift of God. It is the property of God. It is not the property inherited by you from your father or grandfather. Man should offer this God-given property only to God. He should use his life in the service of God. The life which is not dedicated in the service of God is useless. Man today is wasting his life in accumulating more and more wealth. As his wealth is increasing, his behaviour is becoming worse.

Embodiments of the Divine!

This world is subjected to many troubles because man has forgotten love. Therefore, develop love and broaden your heart. The whole of your heart is filled with love only. Enjoy it. Share it with your neighbours. Fill everybody with love. This is true worship! Worship is not offering flowers to God which fade and wither. Offer the flowers of love to God. Sai’s property is love. Let anybody think anything. My entire life is filled with love only! All that Swami shares with you is love. Swami spends all His time in giving only. Always giving, giving. Give at least a fraction of this God-given love to others. You call yourself a devotee of Swami. Do you have the right to say so? No! To what extent are you practising Swami’s teachings in your daily life? Nothing. In practice you are zero, but in talking you are a big hero. You should be heroes not only in talking, but in practice also. Develop unity of thought, word and action. Thought, word and action must be one always. Practise silence for at least ten minutes everyday and think of Swami’s teachings.

All matter in this vast world is a collection of atoms. There is no matter without atoms. Magnetic waves fill the entire world. But the biggest magnet is God. Develop purity so that God attracts you. Then only can you call yourselves a spiritual aspirant and devotee.

Love Is The Source Of Great Power

The world changes constantly. It is only God who never changes in this changing world. Hold on to God and practise His teachings. Then you will become dear and near to Him. You will get as much peace and bliss as much near you reach Him. You will get as much Ananda (bliss) as much you think of God. You will not feel difficulties when you have love. Where there is love, there is no pain.

There was an officer who worked in office. Everyday, he appeared to be very tired when he returned home after his office work. His wife performed household work, cooked food and served him. One day, his wife fell ill and was admitted to hospital. The officer returned home, cooked food and took it to his wife in the hospital even though he was tired. After this, he attended to her the whole night. From where did he get the energy for all this work? All this energy was generated because of the love he had for his wife!

When love for a human being can give so much energy, how much power will love for God give? So, having love for God and doing His service can give you immense power. Those who realise this are Parama Bhaktas (great devotees) and true Sadhakas (spiritual seekers). Ancient Rishis and sages knew the power of love. Even though there were wild animals in the forest, they did not do any harm to them. They could live amidst them because of their intense love! The vibrations of their love could change even the animals into loving ones. This has been the practice in vogue from ancient times. But man today is devoid of love. Naturally, the feelings of his hatred evoke anger even in peaceful animals.

Nearness To God Gives Bliss

Therefore, give love and receive love. If you give anger, you will get back only anger! Therefore, Prema is necessary always. Love is your soul, your life, your God. Live in love! Share love with others. Swami’s New Year gift to you is love.

Accept everything with equanimity. In Tamil Nadu, people prepare a dish containing a mixture of all tastes – sweet, sour and bitter on New Year Day. What is the inner meaning of this? It means that you should observe equanimity in both, happiness and sorrow! From this New Year, undertake to develop the virtue of equanimity. You should not exult when you get happiness nor grieve when you get troubles. Accept both as God’s Prasadam. Do not think that everything should happen as you wish. Accept all that God wishes and act accordingly. Then only can you reach God. Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati (the knower of Brahman becomes verily Brahman).

A magnet attracts iron pieces. If the magnet and the iron remain together for two days, the iron also gets the magnetic power. So, when you remain close to God constantly, you will also become one with God! The aim of human life is to recognise the unity of the individual with God. So, whenever you get time, think only of God. The Ananda (bliss) you get becomes limitless as you go nearer and nearer to God. Therefore, always engage yourself in the thoughts of God.

(Bhagawan concluded His Divine Discourse with the Bhajan “Prema Mudita Manase Kaho...”)

– Bhagawan’s Discourse in Sai Sruthi, Kodaikanal on 13th April 1996.