Swami's Divine Discourse on the Auspicious
Occassion of the 73rd Year of the Advent :
(23rd November, 1998)
This motherland of Bharat is the birthplace of numerous noble Personalities of international fame. This is the land that attained freedom from foreign rule by non-violent means. This is a country which gave birth to many scholars of repute; to many experts in the fields of music and fine arts, and, above all, this Bharat is a land of manifestation of Divinity in various forms. It is the responsibility of all devotees to maintain the privilege of this unique land of Divinity.
The brilliant effulgence of Divinity is there within everyone. You are embodiments of the Divine. Divinity dwells in all beings. There is no difference between you and Brahman (God). What greater truth can be communicated to you all on this auspicious occasion?
Bharat is the birthplace of spirituality, righteousness and charity. It has shone as a center of happiness and peace. The Realization of Eternal Truth has been the main goal of the people of this holy country.
This is the land where the world's first poet Valmiki took birth and composed the immortal epic -- Ramayana. This is where the noblest of beings Rama was born and set an example to humanity. This is the land where the gospel of the Gita was taught. This is where the relationship between the individual and supreme was realized. This land is noted for sacrifice. We cannot find any other country which is equal to Bharat in sacrifice and sanctity. Compassion and forbearance have been predominant in the people of Bharat since ages. Such moral quality has marked the people of Bharat as the noblest. They have strong faith and belief in the truth that God is all pervasive and most powerful (Sarvam kalavidham Brahma). In fact, there is no difference between spirituality and science in the recognition of this truth. Scientists say the world is full of electricity, laser, radio, heat and magnetism. Spirituality also tells that these are the powers of Divine pervasive all over. There is Divinity in the water we drink and the food we eat. There is no place which is not having the power of magnetism. We are deluded into thinking that this is a principle of attraction in a physical sense. It is also present in the subtle form. The forces of attraction between husband and wife, mother and child, cow and grass are all governed by the magnetic principle. When we inquire deeply, we realize that this magnetic principle is everywhere. It operates in different ways at different levels. Vedantins - Philosophers knowledgeable in Vedic texts - said "Ramatheithi Ramah", meaning, "that which attracts is Rama". This is the power which also acts between one that is seen and the one that is not seen. Scientists call it "psychotomy." This is the Divine power which is present everywhere. Vedantins call it Supreme power. In the human body there are several powers. This is transcendental power which is divine. Many do not realize they have this power. But it is latent in everyone. This is the magnetic power of Divinity.
That is why I address you all as "Embodiments of Divine Atma" (Divyatma Swaroopalara). In the human body, there are billions of cells. Each one of the cells is replete with the Divine power. The tongue has 40,000 taste buds, over 25,000 vibrant tissues. Is it not wonderful? The whole thing is manifestation of Transcendental Divinity. Every object has divinity. It is foolish to deny this. Is it not folly to deny the existence of one that you are but don't know? If you go through the pages of history you will come across many personalities who have experienced the Divine. Every one of the billions of cells in the body has form. The total form of all the cells is the human form. How can you deny this? Divinity is in the heart and no amount of investigation will show it. Study of the scriptures can reveal the existence of God. It has to be experienced. You have radio waves in the atmosphere. Only when you switch on the radio and tune to a particular wavelength you will hear the music or talk. Without tuning to the particular wavelength if you deny its existence it is folly. Your mind itself is like a TV. It registers all that it comes across. Whenever you want to recall any scene it gives you that picture with different names and forms. In fact, every human being is a generator. Einstein established the relativity theory giving the relationship between matter and energy.
Matter and energy are same: one can be converted to the other. You can change magnetic power to electricity, but you cannot remove the magnetic power. God is one who has no beginning, middle, or end. He has neither birth nor death. Scientists have seen only an infinitesimal part. (Swami held a corner of the kerchief. in His hand and said that much only is known to scientists). To know the whole thing, the kerchief should be fully opened and seen.
People struggle for liberation or Moksha. What is Moksha? "Moha kshayaithi Moksha", meaning, Desirelessness is liberation. The air within a balloon is contained to the limit of balloon. If you let the air escape it becomes one with the air outside. This is Ekathmabhavam, ie, there is only one and that is the Atma in every being.
You can realize that you are the Atma when you get rid of body consciousness. There is only ONE, that is the truth. You call God by many names. That is the ONE and all the other (creation) like sun, moon, planets, earth, etc. are all zeros. If zeros are added to the one, they get value. This teaches you that if you ignore God, you are only zero - without value. Hero becomes zero if he forgets God! Divinity is within you and not outside. When you realize this, you are liberated from the bondage of this world.
You spend billions of rupees (Indian currency) on carrying out research on many things of no use to anyone, wasting time and energy, too. You have to inquire within to realize the Atma, which is the goal of life. There is water in this tumbler which is called by different names in different languages, but it is one. Similarly, the one God is called by different names.
Atma thatwa (Principle of Atma) is conscience. It comes from consciousness, which is universal. The individual conscience is like air limited within a balloon. When you blow air into it, it continues to expand until it bursts. Then the air within merges with the air outside. This is similar to the expansion of individual conscience into Universal consciousness. The attachment to body should be transformed to the attachment to the Universal principle. When the River Ganges flows into the ocean its individual form is lost. It becomes one with the ocean. If you taste the water in a small tumbler, it gives taste of ocean water.
Divinity is the magnetic power in all people. For example, what is the cause for so many thousands of you to assemble here today? Did we give any invitation? In fact, we discourage people coming on such highly crowded occasions. The cause is the magnetic attraction between my body and other bodies. It is the Divine Power of Prema (Love). As a matter of fact, you know that for political meetings people are brought by trucks for having a large gathering. But, here you have come from far off lands and far off places in India to be here for the occasion. It is the Divine magnetic power. In Ramayana, Sita, the manifestation of Mother Earth could easily lift the Shiva Dhanush (Bow of Shiva) because of the magnetic power and on seeing this, Janaka arranged for her Swayamvara (An occasion where the Bride chooses her life partner) with the condition that only one who could lift and handle the Divine Bow will be a suitor for her. Because earth has magnetic power, she was able to do it. Rama was himself the Divine magnet and He was able to break it. The magnetic power is in all but it is more in me as Divine Power. You can meet my Power only by Prema (Pure Love). I and you are one. There is no "we." We should enjoy happiness in this feeling of unity. The Divine in you and in me should become one. This happens when you understand fully the Prema thatwa (Principle of Love).
When you follow this principle, you will not hate anybody nor will you find fault with others. When you wear glasses of love, you will love all. If you abuse others and they don't respond, it comes back to you. If you see Atma in others, there is no cause for abuse or criticism as it is a reflection, reaction, and resound of your own Atma. If you see another as bad, it reflects on your own bad vision. You must purify your mind, as everyone is essentially divine. The magnetic power is in everyone. When Swami went to East Africa, Patel gave a hair brush with iron bristles as he wanted me to brush with it since he thought my hair was as thick as theirs. But, Swami's body is of Divine Cosmic Energy from head to foot. This power is in the form of Prema in me. This is my property. "Love is my form, Truth is my breath, Bliss is my food." There is no death for Atma. That is why I say, "no reason, no season." Develop Divine love. This is what I want from you and nothing else. I am always giving, giving and giving. It is expansion of love. God is "Anoraneeyan Mahto Mahiyan", ie, God is the smallest in the small and bigger than the biggest in creation. For example, you plant a seed. It grows into a plant and tree and is filled with branches, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds. All these came from a tiny seed.
Love is God. Live in love. Love all. It should come from the heart. Then it will manifest divinity. To realize this, you must first cultivate self-confidence, then self-satisfaction, and self-sacrifice come which culminate in self-realization. This is the Atma principle. The Prema Shakti (Power of Love) is all-powerful. Develop such Love, you will have peace. Chavan spoke about restlessness in the world and of violence all over. If you develop love, there will be no violence or unrest. I always tell the students "Start the day with Love, Spend the day with Love, End the day with love, this is the way of God."
The Divine is one. He works through several forms. The chief minister has different departments. But he is in overall charge of them all. Similarly, God is one who has three aspects: creation, sustenance and annihilation. Even in the word "GOD," you have generation (G), organization (O) and dissolution (D). They are termed respectively Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The composite form is the Absolute Power. Everyone follows nature (Prakrithi). People say, "God is no where". If you just join the 'w' to 'no' it will become "God is now here". If any one asks you how do you say that God is there, you can say, "I believe in it. Who are you to question it?" Expand your love and develop broad-mindedness. Every one should have faith. Bharatiyas said, "Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu", ie, "Let all people in all places be happy." Vajpayee (Prime Minister of India) said all should be happy. This should be the prayer of everyone. Prahalada earned the grace of God and was hailed by all. It is only when a son earns a good name the father can be happy.
Another way of addressing a human is "Manava". The syallable 'Ma' stands for "Prajnana" (Knowledge of the Divine). If he is not aware of this he is in "Ajnana" ( ignorance). Thyagaraja was embodiment of Tyaga or sacrifice. Thus he was true to his name. One should be true to his name. So man should be aware of Prajnana.
Food has divine power. People drink tomato juice, lemon juice, apple juice, etc. You should also eat vegetables. Though they contain all the vitamins, you must take minerals and metals also (like iron). The energy is generated by combination of chemicals, vitamins and metallic constituents like iron, etc. Iron gives energy to body. Before eating vegetables, you should investigate their constituents. Everything has energy. For example, when Hanuman was given a pearl necklace, he was biting the pearls and throwing them away. When questioned, he said they did not have Rama's name. He exhibited by pulling out a hair from his body and demonstrated how it resonated with Rama's name. In every cell of the body, you have divinity.
India is believed to be a sacred country and people
want to be born and die in this country. For example, Max Mueller
(a German scholar) wanted to spend his last days in Bharat and die here.
It is a land of Punya (Merit), Yoga, and Tyaga (Sacrifice). You should
be proud of this country
and set an example to others. This is what
I want you to do. When all of you are happy, that makes me strong.
I want you to be happy, Yogic, and follow the Tyaga principle and live
in security, peace, and happiness. On this sacred day, you should have
the name of God in your heart.
Swami concluded His Divine Discourse with the Bhajan "Prema Muditha."
Excerpts from Divine Discourse on
73rd Birthday of our Beloved Lord.
23 Nov 1998.
Contributed by:
Mr. Srinivas Raghavan
Sanathana Sarathi,
Prashanthi Nilayam.
Sairam.