No Society Can Exist Without Morality

Jantunaam Narajanma Durlabham (of all living beings, human birth is the rarest). Why is it said so? Everybody wants progress, prosperity, and welfare of society. There are three main principles through which this can be achieved. They are: Daiva Preeti, Paapa Bheeti, and Sangha Neeti (love for God, fear of sin, and morality in society).

Safeguard Morality

For morality to prevail in society, the individual should have fear of sin. He will have fear of sin only when he develops a love for God. Therefore, it is necessary that man should develop a love for God. When a man develops love for God, he will have fear of sin and will adopt the right path in life. That will bring about morality in society. A man without morality cannot be called a human being in the real sense of the term. But modern man is immersed overhead and ears in sin. Then, how can he have love for God? One can have love for God only when one fears sin. A man should, in fact, consider Daiva Preeti, Paapa Bheeti, and Sangha Neeti as his three main limbs like feet, stomach, and head.

Due to the absence of 
fear of sin and love for God, 
humanness has declined in human beings. 
This is detrimental to universal peace.
(Telugu Poem)

Daiva Preeti, Paapa Bheeti, and Sangha Neeti are interdependent. Man will have fear of sin when he develops a love for God. He will develop morality when he has fear of sin. Conversely, a man devoid of morality will have no fear of sin and a man who has no fear of sin can have no love for God. Man desires to have many things in life; he performs many types of yoga, meditation, and penance. But all these are useless if he lacks fear of sin. Therefore, for morality in society, the individual should have fear of sin. He can earn respect and attain a place of honor in society only when he has morality. No society can exist without morality. Therefore, we should spread morality in society. The society which is based on morality will promote love for God. On the other hand, if society is without any moral base, there will be neither fear of sin in its members nor love for God. Therefore, it is the foremost duty of man to safeguard his morality.

Selflessness Is The Noblest Virtue

A true human being is one who is endowed with humanness. First of all, he should have love for God. If you engage yourself in Seva (service activities) without love for God, it amounts to only selfishness. So long as there is selfishness in man, he cannot realize the Self. In fact, a fish is better than a selfish person in the sense that the fish cleans the water in which it moves. Selflessness is the noblest virtue. You consider yourselves as human beings. But, do you have humanness and human qualities? If you lack these, then where is the difference between a man and an animal or a beast? The animals at least help man to grow crops but man today has become so selfish that he does not help anybody.

Therefore, we should ask ourselves this question, “Are we human beings, animals, or beasts?” Of course, we are not animals or beasts; we are human beings. When we know this, we should develop befitting human qualities. Everybody should think and ask himself, “Do I have human qualities or not?” The human values of Satya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema, and Ahimsa are like the five life-breaths of man. You can call yourself a human being only when you possess these five human values. If you lack these five values, then whatever other qualities you may have, they cannot make you a real human being.

An animal has hunger, lust, and anger. It leads its life without any restraint. It lacks kindness and compassion which are the main qualities of a human being. Lust, anger, delusion, greed, pride, and jealousy are common to a man and an animal. One who has no control over these animal qualities is verily an animal. Man should keep them under check and develop Satya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema, and Ahimsa (truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence) instead. He should have kindness and compassion for all.

First of all, he should have love. We can have peace only when we have love. We can have fulfillment in life only when we combine peace and love. When we have both peace and love, then we will have no hatred and we will not hurt anybody. If we hurt others, it shows that there is anger in us. Sorrow is the reaction of anger. Therefore, a man should develop love. If at any time, the feelings of anger and hatred arise in us, we should check them. That is the quality of a human being. That is why we should have fear of sin, love for God, and morality in society. When we develop love for God, all our sins will be totally burnt to ashes. Therefore, if we want all our sins to be destroyed, we should develop love for God.

Anger And Jealousy Are Worst Enemies Of Man

Manushyaanaam Daiva Swaroopam (Man is Divine). That is why Avatars take human form. When you have a human form, you should not give room for animal qualities. Even if they arise in you, you should drive them away. When you have animal qualities, you will have no fear of sin. Therefore, you should always have love, love, and love alone!

Anger and jealousy are the worst enemies of man. One who has these two cannot be called a human being. Such a person can never attain divinity. One who flies into a rage from moment to moment shows lack of humanness. It shows only his animal quality. Therefore, first of all, control anger and jealousy. This is what all our sacred texts like the Geeta and the Upanishads teach. These two are more powerful and fierce than even a lion and are always waiting to overpower you. The anger of a lion is short-lived; the lion can kill anyone in a few minutes. But, the man harbors anger and jealousy for months and years and he does not give them up easily. Therefore, anger and jealousy are the most fearful enemies of man. They destroy the feelings of unity and forbearance.

Forbearance is the real beauty in this sacred land of Bharat. 
Of all the rituals, adherence to truth is the greatest penance. 
The nectareous feeling in this country is the feeling of love towards one’s mother.
(Telugu Poem)

Real sweetness lies in the love for the mother. We should consider love and forbearance as our mother and father. But, unfortunately, these two are nowhere to be seen in man today. When you acquire these two virtues, you are nothing but God. Therefore, it is essential for man to have Daiva Preeti, Paapa Bheeti, and Sangha Neeti. What does Paapa Bheeti mean? It is the fear of hurting and insulting others. Sin does not necessarily mean killing somebody. Hurting the feelings of others also amounts to killing. Therefore, see to it that you do not cause any mental hurt to anybody. To refrain from all this is Paapa Bheeti. Rama went to the forest and killed those who indulged in sinful deeds in order to wipe out sin. Vibhishana also came to Rama and helped Him to annihilate sin.

Always Speak Sweet Words

Vibhishana was the younger brother of Ravana. They were three brothers – Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana. Vibhishana was always calm and composed and was free from hatred, jealousy, and anger unlike his elder brother Ravana. The third brother Kumbhakarna was eating and sleeping all the time. The very name Ravana signified anger, jealousy, and hatred whereas the name Vibhishana indicated peace and quietude. A man’s name influences his nature.

There are certain names which create pleasing feelings when you hear them. But, there are some names which create the feeling of fear and repulsion. For example, when we hear the name cuckoo, it creates sublime and sweet feelings in us. We hear with great pleasure when the cuckoo sings. There is a pleasing feeling in its very name. But, on the other hand, people throw stones at the crow when it opens its mouth. We should give names to our children with proper consideration. That is why people name their children after taking into account the star of their birth. We should have names which are good. We should never have a name which is not proper. The name should be such that it gives rise to feelings of peace and sweetness.

Sathyanarayana is the name of this body. How sweet it is! This name was given by Kondama Raju, the grandfather of this body. He also changed the name of the mother of this body from Namagiriamma to Eashwaramma, which means the mother of Eashwara (God). That is how the name Eashwaramma has become famous in the world.

Words like snake and scorpion create in us a feeling of fear because of their poison. A snake has poison in its fangs and a scorpion has it in its tail. Their poison is localized in certain parts of their body. But man today is filled with poison from top to toe. Not only his speech, but all his actions are also poisonous. Some people have so much poison in their speech that whatever words come out of their mouth, they are full of poison. They hurt the feelings of others by such words. We should keep our speech free from such poisonous words and should always talk sweetly.

Always Have A Smiling Face

There are some people who have poison even in their smile. But there is no poison in love. We should have a smile which is full of love. Swami always smiles lovingly. His smile radiates bliss. You should always have a smiling face. Never put on a ‘castor oil face’; it reflects anger, hatred, and jealousy. Always have a smiling face. You should keep smiling even if somebody abuses you. Then the other person will also stop abusing and start smiling. When you ask someone, “How are you, brother?”; he will also say, “How are you, brother?”, even if he is your enemy. As is your action, so will be the reaction. As is the sound, so is the resound. When you lovingly ask someone, “How are you?”, he will also ask, “How are you?” Everything has a reaction, reflection, and resound. Therefore, our speech, our actions, and our conduct should be good. This is the main quality of a true human being.

We should be humble and courteous in our speech. Do not cause fear in others. In this lies true humanness; otherwise, people will brand you as a person without human quality. Our speech and actions should be pleasing to others. When someone gives a speech, he cites his experiences as an example. We should narrate only good experiences. When you call yourself a student of Sri Sathya Sai University, your conduct should be in accordance with the reputation of the institution in which you have studied. You should respect and honor your elders. See no evil. When you conduct yourself in this manner, everybody will call you, “Good boy, good boy.” You should earn such a good reputation. Only then will the saying ‘Jantunaam Nara Janma Durlabham’ become meaningful.

(Bhagawan sang the Bhajan, “Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Shanti Nahin…” and continued His Discourse).

When I went to Chennai some time ago, some people asked Me, “Swami! People aspire for peace and happiness. Where do peace and happiness lie?” Then, I answered them through this song, “Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Shanti Nahin_” (There can be no happiness and peace without chanting the name of God). Bhajan means contemplation on God. That alone gives us peace and happiness. Peace and happiness are not separate from each other. They can be attained only through Hari bhajan. Someone may ask you, “Sai Baba speaks of peace and happiness. Where do they exist? What have you understood?” When you give them the reply, “_Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Shanti Nahin,” there will be no further questions. Humanness will blossom only when there is Daiva Preeti, Paapa Bheeti, and Sangha Neeti. You will be victorious in the entire world when you have these three. These three are enough; you do not need anything else. Sing the glory of God. Then, you will set a great example for all.

Chala Santosham (Very happy).

Discourse in Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam, 25-2-2009.