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Yugadhi Discourse


Date: 03 March 1999  Occasion: Yugadhi  Place: Brindavan 


A Heart expansive as the ocean is necessary

If the mind has pure thoughts, victory is certain. On the other hand, if thoughts are polluted, defeat is inevitable.

Thoughts

Embodiments of Love!

Man's thoughts are his permanent property. Thoughts develop from within and arise from inner compulsions. The inner compulsions are based upon the mind. Therefore, mind takes shape on the basis of thoughts. When thoughts are pure, man becomes divine.

The reason for the current state of human activities is that thoughts are not proper. Wrong thoughts and crooked actions have made everything topsy-turvy. They are the reasons for the chaos and decline of this land. Mind (manas) today is fully occupied with physical, worldly, and temporal issues. This is totally negative. When such negative thoughts dominate, nothing will fructify. Positive thoughts are necessary. All thoughts based on Truth are positive.

In the days past, before partaking food, people prayed that "Food is God (Annam Brahma)". The essence of that food mixes with the whole of the body and yields strength and satisfaction. When the body is well, man tends to transmute to the Divine and the words uttered become sacred. It is the food that we eat that nourishes our body. The subtlety of the food becomes responsible for the mind. The strength of the mind is revealed in our speech. Therefore, our sacredness is illustrated by our body, mind, and speech. The cognizable (sthuulam) portion of food is Brahma. The subtle (suukshmam) part of the food is Vishnu. The ultra-subtle (adhisuushmam) part of the food is Shiva. The Trinity is thus present in food.

Help

Nourishing sacred thoughts, speaking good words, and taking care of physical health —these certify humanity. Man today forgets the help given to him by others. To recall with gratitude help given by others is a most essential human characteristic. As long as there is a thread of life left in the body, as long as there is circulation of blood in the body, man must remain in gratitude for all the help he receives. Under no circumstance must man forget the help rendered to him. There are two things we must forget:

(1) The help given to others by us. When we help others expecting a benefit in return, we become selfish people. Do not expect any type of benefit in return. Forget the help you have given to others.

(2) Forget the harm that others have done to you. When you ruminate over the harm that others have done to you, then you get thoughts of revenge. This is not the mark of a superior being. You must keep in mind only the help given to you by others. You must forget the harm that others have done to you. You must also forget the help you have given to others. A man thus sacred disregards waht he sees (is a adarsha maanava).
 

Peace

Man desires to live in peace in this unstable world. Man strives to find assurance, security, and peace in wealth, status, or scholarship. If you are a wealthy person or a man given to every comfort in life, you can't do as you please and act according to all your compulsions. You won't achieve peace that way. Wealth won't give you peace. Neither will status. We think that our comforts and conveniences will give us peace. Such comforts are incapable of giving peace.

Peace takes birth in the heart of man. The heart is saturated with love. A heart full of love gives peace and security. Every man must fill his heart with love. Love is God. Love is nature (prakrithi). Love is human life. Love is the true human trait. Man without love is a corpse. You must live soaking your life in love and growing in love. You must continuously love even your most committed enemy. Even though he may have caused you very great harm, you must continuously love him.

The Principle of Love

On the basis of this love, Indian culture prays that all the people in the world should be happy "Lokaas samasthaa sukhino bhavanthu". From time immemorial, brimming with spiritual wealth, India has been a shining example to other countries. This permanent culture has benefited us and helped us to sustain peaceful life amidst invasions by foreign countries.

Food is God (Annam Brahma)

If India dies, spirituality in the world will be uprooted. There is truth in the breeze that flows in the India (Bharatha Dhesa). Every dust particle in Bharatha Desa is saturated with dharma.  Mother India (Bharatha Maathaa) is full of Love. Every water-pond in Bharatha Desa is full of compassion (karuna). In such sacred surroundings, what have we achieved?

Truth, dharma love, compassion (sathya, dharma, prema, karuna) —these need to be well taken care of , nourished, and protected. How should this be done? Should it be done for the benefit of society? Or for the benefit of the country? No. These need to be protected for the sake of the self and for the benefit of the whole world. When everyone nourishes and protects these, then the whole country will thrive well. Man, immersed in selfishness and self-aggrandizement, is unable to develop these sacred human values and lives despicably. In earlier days, the pious and the wise prayed to God while eating or drinking water by worshipping "Food is God (Annam Brahma)". This helped generate pure and sacred thoughts. They were verily the form of Truth.

We have moved away from the path of dharma. It is very easy to make dissertations on truth and dharma. But it is difficult to understand them. People expatiate on truthand dharmawithout properly understanding them. Speak the truth, conduct yourself correctly (sathyam vadha, dharmam chara) —these two were like the eyes of Bharatha Desa from time immemorial.

We have passed through several new years. Every festival has certain rituals and practices associated with it. We clean the house every year. We don new clothes. We festoon the house with decorations. Keeping only the body clean gives no progress. We must keep our thoughts pure and clean.

The New Year Festival

For the New Year, donning new clothes alone is not enough. They are not that important. New, superior concepts must take shape and reveal themselves. Festooning the house with decorations alone is not enough. The house must be decorated with love. We must share love with everyone who comes to our house. If the New Year is welcomed along these lines, then it becomes a true festival.

Why is this sacred day called Yugadhi? Yuga adhi, the beginning of a new yuga (era). This does not denote the beginning of the Krita yuga, Thretha yuga or Dwapara yuga. It denotes the beginning of the Kali yuga. It also denotes the beginning of every year. The word "Vathsaramu" denotes God. God is worshipped as "Vathsaraswaroopaya namaha". The form of the universe (prapancham) is vathsaram. God is the form of time. Vathsaram is an important attribute for God. Therefore, to purify time, at the beginning of the year we must develop pure tendencies and pure thoughts and earn a good name.

Everywhere, human values are on the decline. Everywhere, fear and weird imaginings are abundant. Courage and strength have disappeared. No one else is the reason for this. Your thought is the only reason for it.

Who are your friends?

Your enemies are not elsewhere. Your bad thoughts are your evil enemies. Thoughts suffused with truth are your best friends. We have lost our good thoughts, who are our friends. Truthful thoughts are divine. From truth (sathya) we must develop friendship with our own compulsions. This truth is permanent. It is Being and Is, always. That is, it is God.

Friends and enemies change with time. But the ever-present Being (sath) does not change. The ever-present sath is always with you, above you, below you, around you and in you.

Embodiments of Love!

There is nothing noteworthy in going around the world. There is no achievement in a lofty status. Thousands of people in Delhi and Mumbai have experienced happiness. It is not temporary. The love in their hearts has expanded and broadened and has become more secure. When Bhagavan returned from Delhi, banners were put up, saying: "Thank you Bhagavan, Come Soon". From one place to another, for a distance of miles, energetic and enthusiastic youth were lined up on both sides of the street.

Youth

The students in Delhi and Mumbai had various bad habits. Now, a complete change could be seen. The youth ranged in age from 25 to 30. How active they were! Swami knows their hard work as seva dals. The service work of the seva dals of Delhi was incomparable. They did not pay heed to their food or drinking water. They were engrossed in their work with single-pointed attention. Each one did the duty allotted to him. (They thought) " Swami says, " Duty Is God. Work is Worship". We are prepared to give up our lives. We must fulfill His Words. That will please Swami."

Seva-dal servants

There was a seva-dal in every nook and corner of Delhi. Everyone had a cellular phone to get updated on Swamiâs movements. News was flashed to and from them constantly. All the ten thousand seva-dals were ever alert for Swami's arrival. There was not a single complaint about any one. The Delhi police and the journalists were full of praise for the seva-dals. They said that such selfless youth are members of the Sathya Sai Organization and that there are no others like them.

Selfishness is prevalent everywhere. But ask any one of the ten thousand youth seva-dals at Delhi and the reply will be "I want only You; I want only Your Love." The change of heart was instantaneous. As a result, their service became even better. Their manner was polite, and their words were sweet. They put into practice the saying "You cannot always oblige, but you can speak obligingly." They did not say any harsh words. They did not speak words that hurt others. Through their sweet words and sweet behavior, they brought good name to the Sai Organization.

Sai Organizations

In the world, you will find harmony, comraderie, unity ,and sacredness only in Sri Sathya Sai Organizations. There are various organizations in the world. But it is rare to see elsewhere the activities, the sweet and pleasant conversations, and the dynamic enthusiasm of the Sai Organizations.

At Mumbai, the health minister approached Swami. He said, We have various doctors with us. But there is not much efficacy. We wish to collaborate with the Sri Sathya Sai Super Specialty hospital. We could undertake an exchange program through which doctors from the super specialty hospital can serve in Mumbai and doctors from here could serve there. Every small service there is undertaken in the spirit of ideal service. There are various organizations active here. But they all operate on the basis of self-interest. We have seen many organizations, but the service done in the spirit of sacrifice that is found in the super specialty hospital is rare to find elsewhere. We spoke with several seva-dals and received the same response. Let us not worry about minor challenges here and there. The exemplary Sathya Sai Organization must spread all over the world.

Bhagavan does not expect anything. Other swamis camp at different places to generate funds. Swamis who have accumulated wealth can be seen. There is no connection between them and the Sathya Sai organizations. We must not have any relationship with those beggars. The Sathya Sai Organization will grow, nourish the spirit of sacrifice, and reflect this spirit. Then only will it be possible to retrieve the ancient culture of the Bharata Dhesa.

The Real Freedom

That day is not far away. Very soon, Bharata Dhesa culture will truly be retrieved. All members of the Sathya Sai Organization must develop sacred impulses and act with such good thoughts. Then only will you be victorious in your undertakings.

For that, we need to understand only one thing. Whatever the reason, we must never go with a cap in hand to anyone. If you need something, ask Bhagavan. He will give. Why do you stretch your hand and seek from others? People who do this are not devotees at all. They are mere beggars. We should not be like that. We should be Biggest.

Who are real devotees?

We must lead an ideal life. We must engage in activities that help others. We must help the poor and those that need help. When we do those service activities, then we can call ourselves devotees. Bhagavn has said this many times. What is the sign of devotion? Good character, good impulses, truth, love for God, discipline, and a sense of duty —the person who possess these six traits is a true devotee. We must engage in service activities.

Home for the elderly

Bhagavan is going to Kadugodi village this morning. Several elderly people, despite having sons, are suffering from want of food. Today, Bhagavan is starting a home for the elderly. Anyone can come and stay here. They can live here comfortably till their last breath. Nobody should die shedding tears. Their last days should be filled with tears of bliss.

This is the foundation for the next life. All members of the Sathya Sai Organization must continuously develop the spirit of sacrifice. There are many people who possess wealth and comforts. They are wealthy in name only and do not possess an iota of the spirit of sacrifice. They do not give even a tumbler of water. This is not human life. Renunciation is human life.

Neither through action, progeny, nor wealth but through sacrifice does one attain liberation.

(Na karmanaa na prajayaa dhanena thyaagenaike amruthathva maanasuhu)

No advertisement

Campaigns are not necessary. Neither is advertisement. We must work silently and peacefully. Bhagavan told Kulwant Roy not to advertise the visit to Delhi. Why an advertisement in the newspapers? This is a mind-to-mind, love-to-ove, and body-to-body relationship. Love can be attained through only love. Love expands through the world. A broadcast from Delhi is heard immediately at Kadugodi.

Truthful thoughts are like the radio waves. These waves expand and spread through love, not through advertisement. The Sathya Sai Organization abhors campaigns and advertisements. It does not function for the sake of advertisement. Love alone should bind us as one. It is our service activity that will broadcast our ideals, not advertisements.

This year has no danger

The name of this year is ominous. Pramaadi naam samvathsaram —meaning "fraught with danger". But there are no dangers this year. The name means that, but there will be prosperity in the universe. We can escape the danger implied in the name of the year. We can achieve what we undertake. We must be prepared to meet challenges. Yes, we must meet adversities with love. We must meet them with an expanded heart. There is no danger of any type for either the universe, society, or family. Just because the name is "pramaadi" it does not mean there will be danger.

{Although} We find a man named Dharmaraju being miserly, you are all the embodiments of dharma.

The Real Dharma

Embodiments of Love!

You can be happy listening to the report of the service (seva) activities done at Delhi and Mumbai. They did service suitable to their circumstances. Bhagavan does not gauge their activities. Whether you do service or not, Bhagavan will always be happy and will always love you. You do not have to act expecting Bhagavan's appreciation. The truth of the matter is that if you want to be brimming in bliss, you should have no desires. Desires must cease. That is real dharma. Bhagavan's happiness is not affected, whether desires get fulfilled or not. It is beyond all that.

Take steps to acquire this happiness. Develop friendship with God. Who is your true friend? You may have a friend in the canteen, or you might have recorded his address. But no one can give the address of your friend who is God. If you ask God, "Where do you live?", he will reply, "In your heart." God lives in your heart. There is no need to search for Him. Turn your mind inward to see Him. You will see Him. You will have happiness.

Love is the basis

Love is the basis of everything. Love should be selfless. Love is God. God is Love. Remove and cast off all polluted thoughts. Kick away all bad impulses. Embrace good habits. Develop good impulses. Spend time in good company  (satsang). You must do all these in the new year. When you travel this path, you will be able to achieve anything.

No difficulties will come your way. No problems will arise for you. Many are disturbed with the thought of what will happen this year. Nothing is going to happen. Our good thoughts will reap good results; bad thoughts will result in bad results. If your thoughts are pure, you will achieve victory supported by truth.

Embodiments of Love!

I bless you, that in this new year you will live happily with a healthy and long life.

The Relationship with Other Countries

I said to Vajpayee that not only India but other countries also will unite and live in peace and security very soon. "Vajpayee, you are a good man. You take good efforts. Be friends with Pakistan and China. When India, China, and Pakistan unite together, that unity will be unequalled. I mentioned this on the evening of the 11th. Vajpayee came on the 13th. He said, "Swami, I am very happy. The leaders of Pakistan and China are going to visit India." Because of his good thoughts, he has obtained such good frienship.

In India, there is no unity. There are four parties inside a single party. There is no unity among these people at all. Political parties might be many, principles might be many. But they must operate in unity. The doctrines and directives may be different. But there must be a focused concern for the welfare of the country and an overriding love for the country. When there is unity in society, the country will be united. When the country is united, the world will be united.

Undertake your activities, keeping in mind always the welfare of society and of the country. There may be differences in principles. But, there should be an underlying unity. This is the ancient teaching of Bharat (India):

Let us grow together.
Let us travel together.
Let us learn together.
Together, without underlying differences, let us live in amity.
Let us live together..
Bharata Desa will prosper then.
A heart as expansive as the ocean

India (Bharata Desa) has a leadership role in the world. India has exemplary spiritual wealth. That acts as an example for other countries. Indians must develop an expansive outlook. Their hearts must be as expansive as the ocean. Many problems occur because of the lack of this expansiveness.

Embodiments of Love!

Every man is a repository of desire, anger, and greed. These result from the body. The Ramayana describes this well. Ravana was accomplished in penance. He had unlimited wealth and unparalleled accomplishments. He had physical prowess, mental acumen, and material wealth. But because he succumbed to desire, he lost everything. His Lanka was burned and destroyed. If desire enters the heart, nothing good will come out of it.

Anger

Hiranyakasipu was a great scientist. He had traveled to the moon and the sun and had gone around them. All five elements were under his control. Because he succumbed to anger, he lost everything. He did not become angry at anyone else, he got angry at God. Because of that, he destroyed himself.

Greed

Dhuryodhana had a large kingdom, but he did not give land even the size of a needle-head to the Pandavas. Because of this greed, he lost his kingdom and his family.

The Ramayana describes the consequence of desire, the Bhagavatam describes the consequence of anger, and the Mahabharata describes the consequence of greed. Three sacred scriptures describe in detail the results of three bad qualities.

The Ramayana

On reading the Ramayana, we must give up our desires. We must develop full faith in the principle of Rama. Then life will be brilliant. It is customary to recite the Ramayana over a few days. Indian Culture is reflected in each and every subtle teaching of the Ramayana. A mere reading of the Ramayana does not carry much benefit. We must imbibe its essence. The essence of the Ramayana is the description of the consequence of the thing called desire. Because of desire, a mighty man fell. After reading the Ramayana, we must keep desires far away.

You recite the Bhagavatam and praise the divine sports (leelas) of Krishna. At that time, why don't you reflect on the story of Prahlada? Hiranyakasipu tortured his son without even considering that he was his son. He tried to kill him by having an elephant walk on him and by poisoning him. With such anger exhibited towards his own son, how can one expect Hiranyakasipu to be loving to his citizens?

Prahlada ceaselessly recited the Narayana manthra. When the elephant went to step on Prahlada, it manifested itself as Narayana. When the snake bit Prahlada, it manifested itself as Narayana. When he was rolled down from atop the mountain, the mountain manifested itself as Narayana. When he was thrown into the sea, the sea manifested itself as Narayana.

As your feeling, so you become (Yath bhavam thath bhavathi)" God manifests in consonance with your feelings. Pray with love. Suffused in love, get close to Bhagavan. Then, you will have superior experiences and benefits.

Greed

Dhuryodhana and Duchadhana, both embodiments of greed, suffered in  incalculable ways. They had unlimited wealth. They were intelligent. But, what was the use? What purpose did their wealth serve? Where was their courage? Everything disappeared and was destroyed. The five Pandava brothers, who embodied truth, dharma, peace, love, and nonviolence (sathya, dharma, shanti, prema, ahimsa), were victorious in the end. Truth alone has the capacity to give victory in the end. Dharma is enough to realize all plans. Where all these five are present, victory will certainly be there. Victory begets victory. Defeat will be nowhere near. Victory will chase you. When you follow truth and dharma, your victory is assured.

Sacred Feelings

Today is the beginning of the New year. Sacred feelings promote thoughts about God and the principle of love. God does not have a form apart. He does not have a place apart. Truth is God (Sathyam bhagavthswaroopam). Love is God. Correct conduct is God. When you practise these, you are worshipping God. At that time, without a doubt, God will be present in immediacy and in a cognizable way. There is no need to doubt it.

Love with suffused devotion. Love with a full heart. There should be no pretense or artificiality in love. Love for the sake of love and become friends with God. You can then love anything. To develop this love in our heart is the only action we must do.
 

Service done in the spirit of sacrifice is an ornament for our hands.
Truth is the ornament, a necklace, for the neck.

Thyagam hasthasya bhooshanam
Sathyam kandasya bhooshanam

When such ornaments are available, why go in search of others?

Divine Love

This is a New Year. You must understand sacred divinity. You must develop sacred love. You must not have narrow feelings like "me", "my family", and "my relatives". You must develop a prayer in this New Year, "Everyone in this world must be happy (lokaas samasthaas sukhino bhavanthu".

Expand your heart. You will experience blissful life. You will have a life filled with love. Your thoughts are responsible for your security, equanimity and peace.

Love God. Let God be your friend. You wil