The Pompous Person

The huge Lake Victoria is spread over a vast area. It took us one and half hours to cross that lake by those aeroplanes. There are several crocodiles in that lake of extraordinary size. Unable to find enough space to move about in the lake, they were falling on one another. Later, we had a boat ride in the lake. The crocodiles were looking at us with jaws wide open while we were moving in the lake. We threw apples towards them. Surprisingly they did not eat those apples, till we completed our boat ride. They were holding the apples in their mouth and gazing at us. There were several Hippopotamuses in that lake. Some of them were suckling their babies. It was a charming sight of wild animals in their natural habitat. The beautiful scenery was a feast to our eyes. The animals also have desires like human beings. But, their love towards us was unparalleled. By the time we reached the shore of that lake, we could see big herds of elephants moving about. The African elephants have enormous fan-like ears. The wind caused by a quick swipe of their ears was enough to make people fall down. I went into their midst in a car. On seeing Me sitting in the car, they raised their trunks in veneration and paid obeisance to Me. The noble qualities in those wild animals are not to be found even in human beings. There is no feeling of hatred at all in those animals! All those animals are living together happily. Normally, an elephant fears a lion. But, the lions and elephants are living together happily in those forests. We went to a small hillock, where there was a group of ten lions. The elephants were moving about in their presence without any fear. We went near them and took photographs. There may be fear and anxiety in the human beings now and then. But, not even one wild animal displayed any fear on seeing us. There were some lions relaxing there. Our jeep passed over their tails. But, they were not bothered. On the other hand, they drew their tails near their mouths and kissed them. I was really moved by their love and affection. I could not come out of that place. Such intense feeling of love is not to be found even among the human beings today. The humans hate one another. Even the mother and child hate each other. The husband and wife hate each other. But, we could not find even a trace of hatred in those wild animals. I could witness an unparalleled and intense feeling of love and equality in those wild animals.

The Agony And The Ecstasy

It was time for us to leave that wonderful place and people. The agony of separation suffered by the people, especially the devotees living in those countries at the time of our return journey, is indescribable. In fact, I also felt sad to leave those loving devotees. Our plane reached Bombay very late. Sri K.M. Munshi was waiting there for our arrival. You know who Munshi was? He was the chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He was suffering from a paralytic attack of his right side and his mouth. The moment he had My darshan on alighting from the plane, he could raise his hand. With boundless joy, he shouted, "Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji Ki Jai!" The people around were surprised that Munshi could raise his hand and speak. Munshi took Me to the *Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, straight from the airport. The world conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations was to be held there. A large number of devotees and the public had gathered there. Munshi addressed that gathering without any difficulty. He declared, "The invisible Lord is standing right in front of us and speaking to us today." He made a small request that I should stay in his house for three days. Acceding to his request, I stayed in his house for three days. Those three days passed like three seconds to him. He was very happy.

After My return from the East African tour, I tried to explain the intense love and devotion of the African people and the wild animals residing there, to the people in these parts. If the animals could develop such intense love, why not the human beings? The animals have no pragnya (divine wisdom), vignya (discriminatory intellect), and sugnya (higher level of consciousness). But, human beings who are endowed with all these noble qualities and read a number of texts are bereft of even an iota of love. Hence, oh! human beings! I wish that all of you should lead a life of mutual love. "Love all! Serve all!" - this is My exhortation to you. If only there is love, you can achieve anything. Love is everything. "Love is life; life is love." Life is associated with love, not hatred. Today, wherever you see there is hatred, hatred, hatred! This is not a good sign. Having been born as human beings, it is not proper to possess animal qualities, throwing to wind the human qualities. Sometimes, the animals seem better than human beings in this regard. The animals seem to possess human qualities. Today, the animals are transforming themselves into humans and the humans degenerating into animals. This is not proper. Human beings should lead the life of human beings. They should strengthen their human qualities.

Be Courteous And Loving

The person who spoke a little while ago is an African. He is engaged in propagating the human values. The world is full of such people. But, people imbued with human values are very rare. In fact, some people do not know how to talk courteously. Even if you enquire with love, "Sir! Where did you come from?" They will give a curt reply, "I came from somewhere." Whatever they talk, will be discourteous and harsh. This is not correct. A human being should talk sweetly and softly. The words must be suffused with love. Only then will you experience peace. When your behavior and talk are bad, how can you expect peace to reign in your heart? Peace is not in the outside world. It is very much in your own heart. There are only pieces outside, not peace. You say "I want peace". Let your behavior be good and courteous. Then, peace will flow from you. Wherefrom do you get truth? Can you obtain Truth from the textbooks you read? No! Truth is very much in you. Truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence are the innate qualities of a human being. Love is the very form of God! We can experience God’s love only with love from our side. Love and peace are the most essential qualities for a human being. A millionaire may build several residences, purchase a number of cars, and have several conveniences. But, whomever you come across, they say that they have no peace. Of what use is all this wealth and comfort and conveniences if there is no peace within?

Give Up Attachment

Nowadays, there is a real estate boom all over the country. How much land does a human being require? Only six feet! Nothing more. There was a rich landlord who went in search of some land. He wanted to purchase an additional piece of land. Having come to know of this man’s efforts, a person came to him and advised, "Sir! You may please go to the Himalayan region where plenty of land is available free of cost." This man went to the Himalayas and contacted the king of that region. The king told him: "I promise to give you all that land which you cover by walking from sunrise to sunset." The landlord was very happy. Next morning, he set out on his expedition, enthusiastically. In fact, he began to run greedily with a view to acquiring more land. He was thus running continuously from morning till evening. It was sunset. He was very tired and weak. Yet, he did not give up his greed. Just when he was at a distance of six feet before his final goal, he swooned and fell down. The king came to that spot, saw his condition and commented: "Alas! What this man requires now is only six feet land!" In fact, what every human being requires is only that much land!

King Alexander conquered several countries and finally set his foot in Bharat. As he was crossing a river, he had a heart attack. The doctors who examined him confirmed that he was nearing his end and any medicines will be of no use. King Alexander then lamented, "I am the king of such a vast kingdom. I acquired gold in plenty. I have a great army by my side. Is there no one who can save me from the clutches of death?" Immediately, he called his ministers and told them, "Oh, ministers! After my death, you take my dead body to my native country. Wrap it with a white cloth keeping my hands in a raised position and take it in a procession through every street." As per the king’s wish, his dead body was taken in a procession through the streets. The people were rather surprised at this strange act and enquired, "Why are you taking the dead body of the king in procession, with his hands raised?" The ministers replied, "Alexander the Great, who was rolling in great wealth left this world empty-handed. It is only to make this fact known to the people as per the king’s last wish, his dead body is being taken in procession like this." Not only Alexander, but every human being has to ultimately depart from this world empty-handed. One may acquire a vast kingdom; one may have a great army behind him; one may have a number of friends and relatives; but, none will accompany one during one’s last journey.

Several kings and great souls spread this truth in those days and exhorted people to give up attachment to the body. Unfortunately, you are not reading the stories of such great people. What you are learning now is not ‘history’, but ‘hysteria’. No one reads history. What is history in the real sense? His story is History!" Man today is pursuing high education. He is learning science and technology. But, today’s ‘technology’ is mere ‘trick-nology’. What you read may not remain in your brain. Only what you have actually put into practice lasts long. It is enough if you put into practice at least one aspect of what you have read. That will help you in every way.

Embodiments Of Love! Dear Students!

You may pursue any type of education; but, do not forget the human values. Truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence are the five human values to be cultivated by a human being. You learn these five human values and put them into action. Then your life will go on smoothly. This is what I wish to communicate to you today as an important message. Truth is eternal. It is only when you follow this eternal truth that your name will remain in the annals of history forever. Eternal truth will earn eternal peace for you. If you succumb to bad qualities like anger, jealousy, envy, arrogance, etc., your entire life will become miserable with unrest and agitation.

Christmas, 25-12-2006, Prasanthi Nilayam.