Offer Yourself to God

In order to deserve God’s grace 
your faith should grow. 
When you do not have faith, 
you cannot offer yourself.

Embodiments of love! 

For the human progress, mental strength and purity of heart are essential. It is only the mental strength and purity of heart that make the human, Divine. Mind is the basis for the existence of mankind. Thoughts are responsible for the existence of mind. Human behaviour, whether good or bad, is based on thoughts. Human life is the result of thought process.

When a small pebble is thrown into a lake, the ripples spread all over the lake. Likewise, the ‘ripples’ that arise in the lake of the mind when a pebble of thought is thrown into it spread to all the senses. When the ‘ripple’ that arises out of good thought spreads to your mouth, you speak only good words. If it is a bad thought, you utter only bad words. Similarly, whatever you see, hear or do depends on the thoughts you entertain. So, the good or bad in a human being is based on thoughts.

God Is Not Pleased by Contemplation Alone

Today, man aspires for God and contemplates on Him, but mere aspiration and contemplation are not enough to experience God. God is not pleased by contemplation alone; one has to totally surrender himself to experience Him. Once you surrender yourself completely to God, you and He become one. What are the spiritual pursuits to be followed to become one with God?

When fire and coal are placed apart, they remain as they are. Only when they are brought together and fanned, can coal get transformed into fire. Likewise, go closer to God and love Him wholeheartedly. Such nearness and dearness to God will ultimately make you one with God. This is what Vedanta declared, “Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati” (the knower of Brahman becomes Brahman). The food eaten gets digested and its essence is supplied to all parts of the body. This means that the food partaken becomes one with the body. Similarly, you have to offer yourself completely to God. Only then can you become one with Him. All your thoughts should become Divine.

Jiva is Nara and God is Narayana. Both should become one. Nara means Atmic Principle. So, you are human only in form, but your nature is Divine. It is only the Atma that moves about from top to toe. Whatever is thought, said or done is only due to the presence of the Atma. That is why Krishna said, “Mamaivamsho Jiva-loke Jiva-bhutah Sanatanah” (you are the eternal sparks of Myself). You are the reflection of God. The purpose of the spiritual pursuits lies in the unification of man with God. Mere worshiping of Padukas, chanting the name of God or contemplating on His form are not sufficient to bring about this unification. These correspond to Pravritti-marga (the outward path). You should take to Nivritti-marga (inward path). Only then can you understand the principle of unity.

Significance of Five Faces of Gayatri

This morning, Shastriji, while explaining the significance of Gayatri mantra, described Gayatri as Pancha Mukhi (deity with five faces). What are the five faces? The first face is the primal sound Om. Bhuur Bhuvah Svah is the second face. Tat Savitur Varenyam is the third face. Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi is the fourth face. Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat is the fifth face.

Who is Gayatri? “Gayatri Chandasam Mata” (Gayatri is the mother of the Vedas). Gayatri has three names–Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati. “Gayantam Trayate Iti Gayatri” (Gayatri redeems the chanter of the Mantra). Gayatri is the master of the senses. Savitri is the master of Prana (Life Force). Saraswati is the presiding deity of speech–Vak Devata Swaroopini. You have to unify your senses, life principle and speech and offer yourself to God.

You should also understand the meaning of Bhuur Bhuvah Svah. You are under the impression that they refer to the three worlds. All these three worlds are present in you and in every living creature. Bhuur refers to the body, made up of five elements (materialisation). The same five elements constitute the entire world. Bhuvah refers to the Prana-shakti (vibration), which makes the body move. However, it is the presence of Prajnanam–Svaah (radiation) that enables the Prana-shakti to animate the body. It is on this account that the Vedas have declared “Prajnanam Brahma” (Constant Integrated Awareness is Brahman). This Constant Integrated Awareness is present in man.

Man has these five elements in him. These five elements also constitute the world. What is the primordial basis for these elements? It is the primordial sound Omkaara. On this basis, the gopikas prayed thus: “Kleem Krishnaaya Govindaaya, Gopijana-vallabhaya Svaahaa!” “Kleem” means the earth, “Krishnaaya” means water. “Govindaaya” refers to fire, “Gopijana-vallabhaya” refers to air. “Svaahaa” refers to Aakaasha (ether). Krishna’s name encompasses the five elements. These five elements permeate the whole universe. In fact these five elements form the basis of life for the entire universe. These are essentially Divine. That is why the earth is referred to as Bhuudevi, water as Gangadevi, fire as Agnideva and air as Vaayudeva.

Surrender with Pure Heart

There is no need to search for God elsewhere. He dwells in your heart. That is why He is called Hridayavaasi (indweller of the heart). If someone were to ask you, “Where do you come from?”, you may say that you are coming from a hotel or from your house. But actually you come from none of these places. You come from Hridaya. It is this Hridaya that is your dwelling place. Then where is the question of coming and going? Similarly, God neither comes nor goes. He is present all over, all the time. But in order to confer grace on a devotee He may manifest Himself. Just because God has appeared to a devotee in America, it does not mean that God has travelled all the way to America. He is present in America too. It is the devotion that makes God manifest Himself. Divinity neither comes nor goes. It is present everywhere. “Vishwam Vishnu-swaroopam”, “Sarvam khalvidam Brahma”. There is no place where there is no God. All names and forms are His.

You should not have the feeling that God is the master and you are His servant. The Nara (individual) and Narayana (Divine) are one. You should take to spiritual path in order to understand this principle of unity. Right from birth to death if you are immersed in duality, when will you experience the bliss of non-duality? A man with dual mind is half blind. So, you should make every effort to experience oneness.

In the morning, Panditji, while doing Abhishekam of the Padukas with milk, curd and honey, explained the significance of these offerings. All these spiritual pursuits are meant for the purification of heart. “Chittasya Shuddhaye Karmnah” (all the actions are aimed at the purification of heart). Purity alone is not enough to experience Divinity. With purity of heart you should offer yourself to God. You will not offer a faded flower to God. Likewise, the heart, which may be compared to a flower, should be fresh and devoid of impurities before it is offered to God. There is an ocean of difference between Archanam and Arpitam. It is not Archanam (worship), but it is Arpitam (total surrender) that is most essential.

True Meaning of Satsangam

What is the meaning of Satsangam (good company)? Sat is the name of Divinity. It is changeless in all the periods of time. It is eternal and is present in you. You have to understand this eternal principle. In order to do so, you have to be in communion with Sat.

As Panditji has said in the morning, milk is very happy in the company of water. The combination of water and milk can be termed as Satsangam. That is ideal friendship. When the milk is boiled on a stove, the water gets evaporated. Unable to bear the separation from water, the milk tries to jump into the fire. The moment you sprinkle some water on the boiling milk, it gets pacified. The milk is happy to be united with its friend. The same relationship exists between Nara (individual) and Narayana (God). God is very happy when the individual joins His company. But God feels very sad when the individual diverts his attention from Him, and gets immersed in worldly pleasures. Once the individual surrenders completely to God, He is happy again. Due to the effect of Kali Age, the individual separates himself from God. The individual may not feel sad, but God feels sad because His friend, the individual, is parting ways with Him.

Whatever God Says or Does Is For Your Own Good

God is the only permanent friend in this world. All the worldly friends can only say, “Hello”, “How are you?” and “Goodbye”, nothing more. God does not say, “Hello, How are you?” and “Goodbye”. As long as you are in His company, you will be happy and He is also happy. But when there is separation from His devotee, though God may not express it, He feels sad. Why is the individual going along the wrong path? Why is he forgetting the truth? Why is he distancing himself from Divinity? Why is he losing his purity? Thinking so, God feels sad. Even this is for the devotee’s sake, not for His sake. Whatever God says or does is for your own good.

Lakshmana is a superb example of the attitude of surrender. When Rama, Sita and Lakshmana went to the forest and reached Chitrakuta mountain, Rama told Lakshmana to put up a hut in a place of his choice. Hearing these words, Lakshmana felt hurt and bent down his head with grief. Noting this, Sita asked Lakshmana, “Why are you perturbed, Lakshmana? Your brother did not speak anything harsh. Why do you feel so sad?” Lakshmana said, “O, Mother! have I ever had any choice of my own? The likes of Rama are mine. I have surrendered myself to Rama. The command of Rama is what I want to carry out. While it is so, how can I withstand the impact of Rama asking me to put up the hut at a place of my choice? Does it not amount to separation from Rama?” That is the intensity of the feelings of a true devotee towards the Lord. Your thoughts should always be centered on God. The world is like a passing cloud. But the relationship between you and God is permanent and eternal.

Understand Your Relationship with God

Gayatri mantra consists of three parts. One is praise, second is meditation and third is prayer. The first nine words of Gayatri mantra–“Om, Bhuur, Bhuvah, Svah, Tat, Savitur, Varenyam, Bhargo, Devasya” correspond to the description (praise) of Gayatri. Dheemahi pertains to meditation. Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat is the prayer to God for steady and pure intellect.

The Divine is first praised and meditated upon and then an appeal is made to the Divine to awaken and strengthen the Buddhi (intellect). So, first and foremost you should extol God. But, in what way? You should extol Him with a feeling of intimacy. The son will never shower lavish praise on his father when he asks for a new dress. Instead he demands rightfully. A devotee too has a similar right to demand from God.

Hridaya is the son of the Atma. From Hridaya the mind is born. So, the mind is the grandson of the Atma. And from the mind speech originates. So, speech is the great grandson of the Atma. In short, your hHridaya, mind and speech belong to the Divine family and have got a share in the Divine property. Therefore, your Hridaya, mind and speech should be in constant communion with God.

On this basis, Jesus said, “I am the messenger of God” from the physical point of view. From the psychological point of view he said, “I am the Son of God”. And with the feeling of oneness of the Atma, he said, “I and My Father are one”. From the physical point of view, you may consider yourself different from God. In the mental realm, you should feel that you are the spark of the Divine. But from the Atmic point of view, you should realise that you are not different from God. You have to make every effort to realise this unity. You should not distance yourself from Divinity on the basis of body attachment. Without understanding your relationship with God, all your spiritual practices will be of no use. But once you understand this principle of unity, wherever you are, you are one with God.

Develop an Attachment with the Atma

The body relationship is only physical and worldly. It has nothing to do with spirituality. The master of the house is addressed in different ways by the members of his family. The son calls him father, the daughter-in-law calls him uncle, and the grandson calls him grandfather, on the basis of body relationships. You should never go by the body attachment. The body is full of dirt and diseases. It cannot cross the ocean of Samsara. O mind, never think that body is permanent; surrender to the feet of God. Do not get yourself bound by the body attachment. Develop attachment with the Atma.

In order to do so, engage yourself in sacred actions such as Shravanam (listening to the Lord’s stories), Keertanam (singing His glories), Vishnu-smaranam (remembrance), Pada-sevanam (service to the Lotus Feet), Archanam (worship), Vandanam (salutation), Daasyam (servitude), Sakhyam (friendship) and Atma-nivedanam (offering oneself to the Lord–self-surrender). Friendship is the stepping stone to self–surrender. So, you should develop friendship with God and be a recipient of His love. You undertake many spiritual pursuits to obtain this love. In fact, you need not undertake any spiritual practices. It is enough if you remember the relationship between you and God.

The Divinity is one but it is responsible for the three–fold cosmic process. These three aspects of God can be seen in the English word God. ‘G’ represents Srishti (Generation), ‘O’ represents Sthiti (Organisation) and ‘D’ represents Layam (Destruction). God has all the three aspects in Him. Seeing the same God in all the beings is the true spirit of non–dualism.

The Greatest and the Noblest Path is that of Devotion

You know that it was Adi Shankaracharya who propagated the principle of non–dualism. All the compositions of Shankaracharya speak of non–dualism. But, ultimately Shankaracharya also entered the path of devotion. He sang the following verses:

Bhaja Govindam Bhaja Govindam
Govindam Bhaja Moodhamate,
Sampraapte Sannihite Kale
Nahi, Nahi Rakshati Dukurun Karane.
(O, foolish man! chant the name of the Lord. When the hour of death approaches, it is only the Lord, who can save you and not your grammar).

Even the man of wisdom becomes a devotee at one point of time. The greatest and the noblest path is the path of devotion. The word Bhakti (devotion) is derived from the root ‘Bhaj’, which means total surrender. Offering of total love is Bhakti. The worship and other rituals are only physical and worldly activities. You have to enter Nivritti (inward path) from this Pravritti (outward path).

When you learn English language, you start with alphabet. Then you join letters to make words. Then you join the words in the form of sentences. The atheists say, “God is no where”. When the letter ‘w’ is joined to the word ‘no’, it becomes “God is now here”. The aim of learning the language is to make sentences out of it. Similarly, the aim of worship and rituals is to understand the principle of unity. You start with one name and one form and ultimately realise that everything is one. It is the goal of spiritual Sadhana. It is the essence of spiritual Sadhana.

Surrender Brings Limitless Bliss

Worship of Padukas and observance of rituals, celebration of festivals are all different paths leading to the principle of oneness. All these rituals are essential till you realise that God is one. But you should not spend your whole life time in these rituals. At birth, you cry ‘Koham?’ ‘Koham?’, which means ‘Who am I?', ‘Who am I?’ You should not die with the same question on your lips. Before you die you should be able to say ‘So’ham’, ‘I am God’. From dualism you should enter into qualified non–dualism and from there you should proceed to non–dualism. Just as cotton and thread are present in the cloth, dualism and qualified non–dualism are present in non–dualism.

Devotees read many sacred books and listen to discourses, but there is no transformation in the mind. All these sacred texts and teachings are like jewels. Merely adorning these jewels do not give you bliss. The bliss is within; you should experience it. Just as precious jewels are kept in an iron chest, Atmic principle is present in this human body. God has kept many valuable jewels in your body. But you are not making any effort to realise this. God says, “O mad cap, why do you entertain mean and low desires? If you give up desires and offer yourself, I will give you the most valuable gifts”. When God is ready to give you the limitless non–dual bliss, why do you crave for limited happiness? Do not ask for mean things. Offer yourself to God; then God will grant you jewels of limitless eternal bliss.

But in order to deserve God’s grace, your faith should grow. When you do not have faith, you cannot offer yourself. One who does not know himself in spite of all his education is foolish. With his limited knowledge he will enter into arguments, and will never be able to acquire total wisdom. If ultimately one has to die, what is the use of studying? One has to study to be immortal. The Vedas declared, “Shravantu Vishve Amritasya Putrah” (Listen O, Sons of immortality!). Understand this and experience bliss.

God Wants Only Selfless Love

You pay water tax to the municipality for providing water to you. When the current is supplied to your house, you pay the electricity bill. But God has given the sunlight, the wind, and the rains. What tax are you paying to God? Self–surrender is the tax you are expected to pay. All your troubles are of your own making. God always gives you everything good. But you are not receiving it.

Some people do not listen to good words, 
And instead pay heed to all bad words. 
Such people can never understand Me.
(Telugu poem)

What is it that you need to do to make God happy? You should go close to God and worship Him with a sense of surrender. This is for your own sake. God does not ask for anything. A child sits in the lap of its mother for its own satisfaction. When the child goes near its mother, she showers her love. When you want to be close to God, you do not need to go through sacred texts or undertake great spiritual practices. Rituals and reading of holy texts are only worldly actions. They are meant to give only external satisfaction, but one has to make efforts to experience inner satisfaction.

Embodiments of Love!

The letters that the postman brings give joy to some and plunge some in deep sorrow. It is the contents of the letters that are responsible for the joy or sorrow and not the postman. God is also like a postman. He gives you the fruits of your actions. “Karmanu-bandheeni Manushya-Loke” (Human society is bound by actions). When you follow Truth, you will be happy and prosperous. Jealousy will make you miserable.

You Should Strive for Divine Love

Buddhi is governed by fate. Fate is governed by actions. Actions are governed by thoughts. If you do all the activities with sacred thoughts, you will be successful. Wicked thoughts and wicked feelings confer only misery. If you do not have the grace of God, all the worldly powers will be of no use. You know what happened to the great warrior Karna, who had all powers, but not God’s grace. You should strive for Divine Love. To acquire Divine Love, you should develop good thoughts.

Embodiments of Love!

You are happy that the number of Padukas is increasing year after year. It is quite natural to have such a feeling in the external world. But, I do not desire increase in numbers. It is the feeling that is important, not the number or Padukas. What God wants is pure love and steady mind, but those who have come for this Paduka Puja have not understood this truth. They have brought many eatables such as dry fruits, apples, bananas and sweets and kept them in the Purnachandra Hall thinking that I would eat them. Do they think I am Kumbhakarna? I do not even take meals, then what are these fruits for? The boys will have to work for 15 days just to separate them and in the meanwhile the fruits will become rotten. What I want is only your love. Some people have brought towels and bed sheets. I do not need them. If you want, you can give them to the hospital. Even that need not be done.

“Your Heart Is My Chariot”

I do not desire anything. I want only one thing i.e. pure, steady and selfless love. There is no selfishness from top to toe in Me. When I do not have any desires, why do you bring all these? Chetty Garu is an ardent devotee. Yesterday he prayed that I should ascend the chariot. I do not have any liking for these things. Your heart is My chariot. Then where is the need for a golden chariot? Today, they have brought a Simhasanam (throne) too. They do not inform Me about these things till they are brought to Prasanthi Nilayam. Do not bring any such things. I do not like them. I have already told you what I like i.e. Love alone. Do not bring any material objects hereafter. I want you to acquire wisdom. That wisdom leads you to liberation. To reach this state of liberation, offer yourself completely. It means, just as the essence of food you partake gets mixed in your blood and becomes one with your body, let your love also be unified with My Love. Then you will become one with Me.

In the morning during the Paduka worship, Panditji spoke on the importance of unity giving the example of bees collecting honey. Honeybee collects honey from different flowers and stores it at one place. That honey becomes the panacea for all diseases. Where there is Unity, there is Purity; and where there is Purity, there is Divinity. Understand the relationship between Unity, Purity and Divinity.

Pandits have been telling you these things, but you do not seem to practise even one or two. By announcing the presence of light, would the darkness ever be dispelled? By listening to the efficacy and grandeur of the medicine, will the disease be cured? To dispel darkness, you should light at least a small lamp.

Let Every Activity Be Pleasing Unto God

You all know that Deepavali is approaching. With one candle, you can light all other lamps. That candle is Divinity and the lamps are individuals. It is only one Divinity that protects and sustains all. Light the lamp of Love in you. Even the worldly activities will become spiritual if you have Love. You can do your office work or business; you can also take care of your family; but whatever you do, do it as an offering to God. Let every activity be pleasing unto God. That is true devotion. Wherever you go, do not offer any material objects to God. You all know that people go to Tirupati and offer crowns and jewellery to God in the name of devotion. All the jewellery hides the pristine beauty of the idol. Do you consider God poorer than you?

Offering jewels to God is a narrow–minded idea. Charity is the true ornament for the hand. Truth is the true ornament for the throat. Listening to sacred texts is the true ornament for the ears. Why do you need any other ornaments? Offering jewellery to God is nothing but pomp and show. Devotees should not make such offerings. You should offer only your pure love and sacrifice. The relation between a devotee and God is only heart to Heart and love to Love. By offering jewellery, you are making God also a beggar. You should always keep in mind that God is bigger, never a beggar.

Today we find many Swamijis going abroad whenever they are in need of money. It is a matter of shame; it is no spirituality at all. There is so much of restlessness in our country. First they should spread the message of peace in Bhārat. Charity begins at home. Yesterday I told Srinivas to take back all that they have brought. Whatever they eat, they have brought for Me. I do not eat anything. I eat your love. I hear only good words. Offer only these two to Me. Do not bring anything else. Let love be the underlying principle in whatever you do. With love and devotion even a little Sadhana will yield great results.

Many people wonder that I look so young even at the age of 73. The reason is that I have three Ps in Me. One is Purity, the second is Patience and the third is Perseverance. It is because of these three that I will remain like this for any number of years to come. So, everyone should cultivate these three.

To Pray for the Well–being of Everyone is a Noble Quality

Give up all your mean and low desires and cultivate love for God. Dr. Gadia has prayed for good health and long life of Chettiar. To pray for the well–being of everyone is a noble quality. But, well–being cannot be obtained by recommendations. The noble feelings of Chetty Garu have made him the recipient of God’s grace. His heart and My heart should unify.

Last week all the Allopathy, Homeopathy and Ayurvedic doctors sent letters to Me. “Swami, we hear that there is going to be a very big function on 10th. Send Chettiar back to Madurai immediately. He may not live till 10th”. I am making it public today; even Chiranjivi Rao and others know this. I said, “As a result of his Bhakti (devotion) and My Shakti (power), he will certainly live”. Though he is pretty aged and very weak, he continues to come here with so much love. His devotion protects him.

Tyagaraja also had undergone many travails and tribulations. His wife died and his elder brother subjected him to many ordeals. His elder brother cast the idols of Sita, Rama and Lakshmana into the Kaveri River. Tyagaraja could not bear the separation from Rama and feeling frustrated said, “O, Rama! Why am I subjected to these ordeals? Is it because my devotion has weakened? Or has your power declined?” He felt that his devotion had not diminished. So, Rama’s power must have got weakened. But pondering over it further, he realised how foolish he was to criticise Rama. He began to sing a song in praise of Rama’s prowess: “Without Rama’s power, could a monkey have crossed the ocean? Or would the Goddess of Wealth have chosen to be His consort? Or would Lakshmana serve Him or the supremely intelligent Bharata revel in revering Him and worshipping Him?” Tyagaraja ecstatically extolled the infinite prowess of Rama and blamed his own ignorance for having doubted Rama’s prowess. Nothing is greater than the Divine power. Once you have the Anugraha (Divine grace), what harm can the Navagrahas (nine planets) do to you? So, work for God’s grace and surrender to Him completely. There lies the true bliss.

Discourse at Prasanthi Nilayam, on the occasion of sixth Anniversary of Päduka Pratishta Mahostav on 11-10-1998.