Five Elements - The Form Of Divinity
It can be said one’s heart symbolizes the Vedic dictum, Raso Vai Sah (God is in the form of essence), if one is able to forget all worries and remain cheerful even when one’s ambitions and aspirations are not fulfilled.
(Telugu Poem)
Embodiments of Love!
Everyone says that God is responsible for creation, sustenance, and dissolution of the world. In what forms does God function while performing these three activities? The five elements are the forms of God. Nothing exists without the five elements. God has no single name or form. The five elements constitute divinity. Take, for instance, the earth. All powers that are immanent in the creation are latent in the earth. The earth cannot be depicted in a simple sketch or drawing, for various entities like the mountains, hills, rivers, oceans, villages, etc., are present on it. Consequently, the earth is very heavy. Scientists say that the earth rotates. In that case, it is natural for one to think that all the entities on earth must feel this rotation. However, this does not happen. The earth has the power to keep them steady and firm. What would be the plight of passengers if the railway track moved along with the train? The earth contains all powers and materials that are needed for the survival of men and all other beings. It is the Mother Earth that is the embodiment of all powers that protect and sustain all beings. For all human endeavors, nature is the fundamental basis. If the earth becomes immobile, the whole creation will cease. For the last crores of years, the earth has undergone various changes, which caused ups and downs at various places.
Initially, the surface of the earth was even. Then there were continuous rains for crores of years, which made the surface of earth uneven and caused the formation of oceans. Prior to that, no distinguishing features existed on the surface of the earth.
Water is present everywhere on the earth. However, it is manifest in rivers, oceans, and the human body. Sweat shows the presence of water in the human body. Without water in the body, man cannot live even for a moment. It is the sustainer of life.
The third element is fire. This is also meant to support and sustain life. It maintains the body temperature at 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is essential for sound health. Moreover, fire is also present in the form of Jatharagni (digestive fire) in the human body. Fire is immanent even in stones as we can see when two stones are struck against each other. One can notice the presence of fire even in trees. When two branches rub against each other, fire emanates. There is fire even in the ocean, which is referred to as Badabagni.
The fourth one is air. It is the life of all beings. It is not limited to a particular place. It is all-pervasive.
Akasha (ether) is the fifth element. It is referred to as Sabda Brahman out of which originated the earth, the air, the water, and the fire. These five elements are spread all over the world and they protect and sustain life. They are verily divine. Unable to perceive this truth, man thinks that he is being protected and sustained by God, who according to him has a specific form and dwells in a distant place. Some people say that God is all-pervasive but cannot be seen. It is only their imagination, not the reality.
To recognize and experience divinity, Buddha undertook various spiritual practices. He studied sacred texts, met learned scholars, and listened to their sermons, but he was not satisfied. Ultimately, he came to the conclusion that the five elements are the very forms of God. They are present in a subtle form in all beings. Our ancients called the Akasha as Atma. Akasham Gaganam Sunyam (Akasha is infinite and formless). The Atma has no specific form. Buddha made concerted efforts to experience the Atma. He turned his vision inward and enquired into the nature of the Atma. Ultimately, he had the vision of the Atmic effulgence. Effulgence is an aspect of fire. That is why the Atma is referred to as Jyoti Svarupa (embodiment of light). One should contemplate on the divine in the form of light.
Buddha noticed a great deal of diversity and worldliness in the lives of people. People criticize, extol or honor each other. Buddha noticed this and questioned himself. Who criticizes and who is criticized? Who worships and who is worshipped? When he enquired on these lines, he could visualize the unity in diversity. The reason for man to develop evil tendencies like anger, jealousy, hatred, etc., is that he is ignorant of the unity and perceives only the diversity. In fact, there is no diversity. Ekatma Sarvabhutantaratma (one Atma is present in all beings). Only one mighty power exists in this world. The same was perceived by Einstein.
The divine power has no specific form like that of an object or a being, but it pervades the entire creation. Out of the divine power originated all other powers with various names and forms. There is only one power and that is the Atma. The same Atma exists in the accuser and the accused, the worshipper, and the worshipped. One who realizes this principle of oneness will never give room to anger or jealousy. Buddha preached that one could get rid of evil qualities only when one realizes the principle of unity. There is diversity in the body and the mind, but the Atma is the same in all. The evil qualities like ego, anger, jealousy, aggrandizement arise out of body attachment. Therefore, one has to give up body attachment.
Buddha was a prince. He had no dearth of money, comforts, and conveniences, yet he was prepared to lead the life of a renunciant as he had given up body attachment. Bhiksannam Deharakshartham Vastram Sheeta Nivaranam (food is needed for the sustenance of the body and clothes to protect the body from cold). The principle of Atma is the same in rich and poor alike. Once you recognize this principle of unity, you will become divine. That is why the Upanishads exhort man to cultivate the spirit of oneness. Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti (Truth is one, but scholars refer to it by many names).
God is the embodiment of Sat-Chit-Ananda. Sat is that which is changeless, Chit is awareness, that which helps man to know the truth. When Sat and Chit come together, Ananda (bliss) results. Bliss is present not only in human beings but also in birds, beasts, and insects. All qualities that are present in man exist in other beings also. However, they are unable to express their feelings, as they do not know our language. Though Atma is the same, languages and forms are different. Man is carried away by these differences and forgets the oneness. So long as man is immersed in this Bhrama (delusion), he cannot attain Brahma (Divinity). In order to overcome Bhrama, man has to understand the principle of the five elements. One who understands this principle will recognize the underlying unity.
God is the very personification of the five elements. He has no specific name or form. But the scholars, on the basis of the sacred texts and their experience, proclaim, Daivam Manusha Rupena (God takes the form of man). The Vedas declare, Sahasra Shirsha Purusha Sahasraksha Sahasra Pad. It does not mean that God is someone who has thousands of heads, eyes, and feet. It only means that all heads, eyes, and feet are His. Whatever names and forms people attribute to God are only based on their imagination and Ravi Varma’s paintings. They do not represent reality. One who has portrayed God in various forms is Ravi Varma and the one who has described Him in various ways is Kavi Varma (poet). It is because of Ravi and Kavi (Artist and poet) that all differences have arisen. One should not go by what Ravi and Kavi had imagined. One should give up body attachment and develop attachment to the Spirit. Only then can one realize the truth.
Embodiments of Love!
All five elements are necessary for human existence. Life cannot exist even if one of them is absent. Man should revere the five elements to know divinity. Revering the five elements is equivalent to revering God. One should make use of the five elements only to the extent necessary. If you waste or misuse them, it amounts to misusing divine power. One should not leave the fan or light switched on unnecessarily as it would amount to misusing divine power. Whoever puts the five elements to misuse is committing a sin. The main reason for man’s suffering and misery is due to his misuse of the five elements. Once you realize that they are the forms of the Divine, you will put them to proper use.
There are crores of cells in a human body. Each cell is suffused with divinity. The tongue has three crores of taste buds and there are lakhs of light rays in our eyes. All these reveal the greatness and grandeur of divinity. It is said, Divinity shines with the effulgence of a crore of suns. This can be understood in a simple way. Here you find many lights glowing. But you should not look at the light with your eyes wide open. You should close your eyes partially. When you do so, you will see rays of light emanating. These light rays are nothing but the reflections of fire. Reflection, reaction, and resound of divinity can be recognized in the five elements.
I have explained all these scientific terms for the benefit of students assembled here. You don’t find any reference to God in modern science. The scientists deem it below their dignity to talk about God. They talk highly of the power of light, heat, laser, etc. In fact, all these have originated from the divine magnetic power. This was recognized by Newton. He was a great scientist and was the first to discover the gravitational power of the earth. This power is not confined to a particular place, but it is present all over. This is the divine power, the power of the Atma. It is referred to as consciousness out of which emerged conscience. Consciousness is all-pervasive. Just as current is present in each bulb, consciousness is present in each body in the form of conscience. Air is all-pervasive, but you cannot see it or catch hold of it. It has no form, but assumes the form of a balloon when the air is filled in it. The all-pervasive air can be compared to consciousness and the air inside the balloon to conscience. When you inflate the balloon beyond its capacity, it bursts and the air inside becomes one with the air outside. Likewise, when one overcomes body attachment, conscience merges with consciousness. Due to his attachment to the body, man has limited will-power. God alone has a free will.
Newton declared that the nature of gravitational power is changeless. It can neither be created nor destroyed. Einstein was also a great scientist but was not egoistic like many other scientists. He used to think of God always. Once some Bharatiyas visited Einstein. He took them to his reading room where they found to their surprise many sacred texts like the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita in his bookshelves. Such a great scientist like Einstein had great faith and reverence towards the Bhagavad Gita and the other sacred texts. What the modern scientists have understood is only a fraction of the reality, yet they boast as if they know everything. The moment they receive their Ph.D. degree, they think very highly of themselves. A true scientist is one who does not have ego. Modern scientists know very little and their inquiries and investigations are based on the question, “What is this?” However, the great scientists of olden days inquired and investigated, “What is that?” ‘This’ refers to whatever is close to the senses and ‘that’ refers to divinity, which is beyond the senses. Science is below the senses, whereas spirituality is beyond the senses. People think that a scientist knows everything. Truly speaking, a scientist who lacks humility and faith has less knowledge than an elementary schoolboy. One who lacks faith is not a scientist at all. In a sense, he is inferior to an animal.
Embodiments of Love!
Divinity is the undercurrent of science and spirituality. All energies are latent in man. They originate from the food he partakes of. Tamarind and Lemon contain a lot of Acid. When they are taken in a limited quantity, they contribute to the strength of the body. But if they are taken in excess, health will be affected.
The Upanishads impart many sacred teachings to man. They take man closer to God. ‘Upa’ means near, ‘Ni’ means down, and ‘Shad’ means to sit. Being a disciple, one should not sit down near his teacher. One should not be too far away from the teacher because he speaks softly. So, sit down close to him with obedience and receive his teachings. This is what the term Upanishads means. Every letter, word, and sentence of the Upanishads has profound meaning which cannot be found in a dictionary.
Once in the court of Krishnadevaraya, there was a debate in which the eight scholars of the royal court popularly known as Ashtadiggajas participated. Allasani Peddanna, Nandi Timmanna, Ramaraja Bhushanudu, Tenali Ramakrishna were among them. Peddanna was asking the questions and Ramaraja Bhushanudu was answering them with meanings and interpretations. Ramarakrishna was watching the proceedings quietly. Krishnadevaraya wanted to know who among them was the best. He wanted them to frame a meaningful sentence consisting of five letters, each letter having the same meaning in five different languages. “Whoever comes out with an answer to this question by seven tomorrow morning will be suitably rewarded,” he added. As his house was far away, Ramakrishna decided to spend the night in his brother-in-law’s house. He was provided with a comfortable bed for the night, but Ramakrishna refused to sleep on it. He said, “I have to think of an answer to a question put by the king by tomorrow morning. A bed like this is certain to put me to sleep in no time. So, provide me a cot in the cow shed.” As he was lying on the cot, at one o’clock in the night, one of the cows in the shed gave birth to a calf. Ramakrishna called out to inform his brother-in-law about this. His brother-in-law wanted to know which cow had given birth to a calf as he had given different names to his cows like Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati, etc. He asked Ramakrishna, “Ye Av Ra Ba Va” (which cow is that, Oh brother-in-law). When Ramakrishna heard this, his joy knew no bounds as he had found an answer to the king’s question. So, he too repeated the phrase again and again. His brother-in-law thought that Ramakrishna was behaving in this strange manner due to lack of sleep. The next morning, Ramakrishna went to the royal court and found that no one had an answer to the question. All others were so confident that it was not possible to frame such a sentence. Ramakrishna was a great devotee of the Divine Mother. He told the king that with the blessings of the Divine Mother, he had found an answer to the question. “Ye Av Ra Ba Va” is the answer, he said. Everyone was intrigued. Then he explained, “‘Ye’ in Marathi, ‘Av’ in Hindi, ‘Ra’ in Telugu, ‘Ba’ in Kannada, and ‘Va’ in Tamil convey the same meaning, i.e., ‘come’.” Five languages are represented in this sentence. The previous night, Ramakrishna was constantly contemplating on the Divine Mother. It was due to his native wit and divine grace he could find an answer.
The five elements correspond to the five life principles, namely Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and Samana, which are present in everyone. These principles permeate the entire creation right from a Cheema (ant) to Brahma. The process of invoking the life principles is termed Pranopasana. Before the installation of the idol in a temple, Pranoprastha (Prana Pratishta) is performed. The life-force is the basis of all living things. So long as there is life in the body, the body is Shivam (one of auspiciousness). Once life departs from the body, the body becomes Shavam (corpse). Life is sustained by the five elements. So man should worship the five elements. Different reeds in the harmonium produce different sounds - Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni. The air is the basis for all of them. Likewise, there is one fundamental power out of which emerged the entire creation. Shankaracharya enquired into the nature of this fundamental power and described it as Sabda Brahmamayi, Characharamayi, Jyotirmayi, Vangmayi, Nityanandamayi, Paratparamayi, Mayamayi, and Sreemayi (God is the embodiment of sound, mobility and immobility, light, speech, eternal bliss, supreme majesty, delusion, and wealth). Sound is the main principle of divinity. Sound pervades the entire universe. That is why divinity is extolled as Characharamayi. It exists in our hearts and is expressed in the form of speech. Hence, it is called Vangmayi.
People talk of the Divine Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, but, nobody has seen them. The forms attributed to them are based on Ravi Varma’s paintings and do not represent reality. In fact, the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara stand for mother, father, and preceptor, respectively. Just as Brahma creates everything, the mother gives birth to children. Father takes care of the children, educates them, and is responsible for their sustenance. So, he symbolizes the Vishnu aspect. Guru symbolizes Maheshwara as he destroys ignorance and grants wisdom. That is why the Vedas declare Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava (revere your mother, father, and preceptor as God as the tangible forms of divinity). In this manner, our ancients taught and propagated various aspects of divinity.
One should go by one’s own experience and not be carried away by the opinions of others. Opinions are based on one’s own feelings and differ from person to person. Sai says ‘yes’ to those who say ‘yes’ to Him and ‘no’ to those who say ‘no’. Yes and no pertain to one’s feelings, but for Sai everything is yes, yes, yes.
(Telugu Poem)
God always says yes to Sanghika (social), Samskritika (cultural) and Sanatana (eternal) values. All that is related to the world is bound to change. What is the point in reposing faith in such fleeting worldly matters? One should have faith in divinity and contemplate on it, as it is changeless and eternal. But the foolish, without understanding the ways of divine, misinterpret them and talk as they please. Do not pay heed to what such fools say. One is bound to be ruined if one joins the company of such wicked people. Hence, it is said, Tyaja Durjana Samsargam; Bhaja Sadhu Samagamam; Kuru Punyam Ahoratram (keep away from bad company; be in good company and perform meritorious deeds day and night). It is not enough if one keeps oneself away from bad company. One should join good company. In the word Satsanga (good company), Sat refers to that which is changeless, divinity. Sugar gives sweetness to whatever it is added. It is changeless. Hence, Sat can be compared to sugar. Chit is Chaitanya, which can be compared to water. When sugar and water are mixed, we get syrup. Likewise, when Sat and Chit come together what results is Ananda (bliss). Let the eternal principles of truth be the undercurrent in all your worldly endeavors. Only then can you attain divinity.
Embodiments of Love!
There is no person or place without divinity. Never delude yourself that God is here and He is not there. Wherever you search, you can find Him there. Sarvata Panipadam, Tat Sarvato’kshi Siromukham Sarvata Shrutimalloke Sarvamavrutya Tishthati (with hands, feet, eyes, heads, mouth and ears pervading everything, He permeates the entire universe). Be it Quran or Bible or Granth Sahib or the Bhagavad Gita, all sacred texts proclaim the same truth. All religions accept that the five elements are divine.
The modern man fragments unity and perceives only diversity, which is a grave mistake. He should make efforts to see the underlying unity in diversity. Only then can he realize the truth. Because of the absence of unity, enmity has found a place in the human heart. Such a heart is no heart at all. It can be called a stone.
God takes care of all beings. Some frogs get trapped in rocks and remain in them for a long time. They come out only when the rocks are broken. Who gives food to them while they are trapped in the rocks? Even if a plant is watered and manured regularly one cannot be sure that it will grow into a tree. However, we find huge trees growing on the top of bare hills. Who waters and manures them? Who is responsible for their growth? It is God and God alone. He takes care of the needs of all beings all over the world. God has no differences whatsoever, but man has! This is the worst disease that has afflicted man today. He is plagued by doubts. Even a disease like cancer has a cure, but not the disease of doubt. He kills himself with doubts.
Humanness is highly sacred, divine, and full of bliss. Having attained such a human birth, why should man give room to worries? Some people always put on a sad face. What a misfortune! One should always be cheerful. A smiling face is an expression of divinity. Happiness is union with God. Man is subjected to misery because he is distancing himself from divinity. Let anything happen. Man should always be happy. He should give up all worries and welcome bliss. It is most essential that students understand this truth and act accordingly.
Students!
Your age is the most critical period in your life. Start early, drive slowly and reach safely. You should take to the spiritual path right from this age. You may do your jobs and earn money. But, you should have a firm resolve to follow the spiritual path. He is truly fortunate who has such strong will. Buddha was a prince having comforts and conveniences at his disposal. But, did he not give up everything and become a renunciant? Rama also did not lack anything. But He was not interested in pleasures and comforts. Whenever mother Kausalya served Him various delicacies, He would not eat alone. He would eat only in the company of His brothers Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna. Most of the time He would remain in His own world, totally preoccupied. Often He would seem to be writing something in the air. One day Dasharatha summoned Sage Vashishta and asked him if he could explain the reason for Rama’s strange behavior. He sat in meditation for some time and said, “These are the signs of Divinity. He may be conversing with other beings at times. He has no attachment to the body. He has attachment towards the Self.” This is the true meaning of Divinity.
When Vishwamitra asked Dasharatha to send Rama and Lakshmana with him to protect his Yajna, Dasharatha was very reluctant to do so. However, Rama was prepared to go with him at once. Dasharatha felt that Rama and Lakshmana, being very young, might be afraid of the demons, but Rama said that He had no fear whatsoever. Even Vashishta and Vishwamitra told Dasharatha, “Do not get deluded by the feeling that Rama is an ordinary boy. He is God incarnate.” Though Vishwamitra extolled Rama’s Divinity in Dasharatha’s presence, later his vision was clouded with the veil of Maya. When they reached the banks of Sarayu river, he told Rama, “You have never seen demons in your life. So, I will teach you two Mantras, Bala and Atibala which will keep you free from sleep and hunger so that You can fight the demons fearlessly.” This is the power of Maya. One who had earlier considered Rama as Divine, later considered Him an ordinary boy and taught Him the Mantras.
Whatever God does has a reason. He acts according to the time and situation. Jayamma in her speech mentioned that Swami visits far-off places but not coming to Anantapur, which is just 40 miles away. I have no likes or dislikes for any place. For Me time is important. At the appropriate time, I will certainly come. Earlier I used to visit Anantapur every week. Now the situation has changed. Wherever I go, devotees gather in large numbers. My car will be followed by a hundred cars. Who will provide food and shelter for all of them? Swami will feel sad if devotees are put to inconvenience because they are Swami’s own reflection. That hostel is meant for girls. How can I stay there? I am an ideal human being and ideal in all aspects. I have to demonstrate an ideal to the rest of the world. Considering many such aspects, I am not going there. However, when they come here, I speak to them with all love. They feel sad that I am not going there. They pray, “Swami, come at least for a day.” I tell them that I will certainly come. I will never tell anyone that I will not come. That is My nature. For everything I say Santosham, Santosham (happy, happy). If you say, “Swami, I am having stomach ache,” I say, “Santosham.” If someone says, “Swami, my child has passed away,” I tell them, “Santosham.” This word comes to Me naturally. Whatever may happen, I am always happy. But not all can understand this. Once a lady devotee came and told Me that her husband had passed away, I told her, “Chala Santosham” (very happy). She became angry and said, “Swami what makes You so happy when I am crying over the death of my husband?” I told her, “Mother, I am always happy. That is why I told you so.” You always find Me smiling because happiness is My very nature, I am never sad.
Love is My form;
Truth is My breath;
Bliss is My food;
My life is My message;
Expansion is My life;
No reason for love;
No season for love;
No birth, no death.
This is My true nature. Under any circumstances, My nature will not change. I am always blissful. Seeing My blissful state, many people feel jealous. They wonder, "How is it that Sai Baba is always happy? He is running many hospitals and educational institutions. He has so many responsibilities, but He doesn’t seem to be worried at all." Where is the need for worry? Whatever has to happen will happen. Everything happens as per My Will. So, I have no worry at all. Worry never touched Me before nor would it ever touch Me in the future. I am always happy. I try to put on a sad face while talking to a person who is suffering, but I am not able to do it since happiness is My nature. I need a lot of money as I have to spend crores of rupees for the social welfare projects that I have undertaken.
However, I have neither worry nor anxiety. Where is the need to worry when everything happens according to My plan? I mentioned in My Krishnaashtami message that to run the hospitals and educational institutions, a few crores of rupees were required every month. As long as I am in this body, there is no problem. Afterwards, who will take care? So, I wanted to set up a corpus fund, so that the interest accrued thereon will take care of the running expenses of the hospitals and educational institutions. These days we find many Swamijis and Matajis going abroad and begging for money. They go abroad whenever they require money. One can call such people as beggars not ‘biggers’. However, I have never resorted to such a degrading practice. So many people come here, but I never ask anybody for anything. One who asks is not God at all. My work will be done without My asking. As per My Will, the required funds have come. From where have they come? Go and ask in the bank. Why do you ask Me? I do not involve Myself in such matters. I have only one desire, Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhavantu (let everyone be happy). Miseries and worries haunt those who have desires. However, I have no desires whatsoever. Hence, I am always blissful. Whatever I Will happens instantly. So, I don’t need to worry about anything.
Bhagawan concluded His discourse with the Bhajan,
Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Shanti Nahi …
25-10-2001, Prasanthi Nilayam