Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

Students! Embodiments of Divine Love! The ancient renown of Bharathiya culture is tainted today by the proliferation of three evil tendencies: indulgence in self-praise, scandalising others and hypocrisy. What is the reason for this? It is the pursuit of mundane pleasure by man, forgetting the glory of pure love.

There is no one in Bharath who does not know the word prema (love). The entire cosmos is steeped in it. Prema is incomparable and indescribable. The sage Narada declared "Anirvachanīyam Prema" (Love transcends speech).

The difference between Prema and Anurāga

At the human level, this love assumes many forms. The word love is used in common parlance in the context of the relations between mother and child, husband and wife, master and servant, the preceptor and the pupil. But this is not true love. It cannot be termed prema (love). It is only anurāga (attachment). Prema can be applied only to the total love towards the Divine. It is utterly selfless. It has not come from the world nor has it fallen from the sky. It is sahaja swarūpaṃ (sui generis or, the essence of one’s nature that expresses itself spontaneously without external promptings)

Today man has forgotten this sacred and enduring love. There is nothing equal to love in this world. Even nectar is insipid in comparison with the sweetness of love. This love makes even the Divine dance in ecstasy, as well as the devotee. It expresses itself in dance. Such a love can find no place in the heart of self-seeking persons. It will dwell only in the hearts of the pure, the unselfish and the godly.

The scriptures have compared this love to a precious diamond. Where is this gem to be found? When even ordinary diamonds are preserved with great care in a strong safe, how much more safely should the precious diamond of love be preserved? Who is entitled to offer this diamond to others? Only the person who is filled with love and who sustains himself by love always. Only the Divine is qualified to offer such love. Only the Divine, who is the embodiment of love, knows the value of love.

Hence, the greater your love for the Divine, the greater is the bliss you experience. Your bliss declines in the measure of the diminution in your love. The extent of your love determines the magnitude of your bliss.

The love which men today show towards God is filled with selfishness. The love is for the purpose of securing some desires. But love is not a commercial commodity to be got in exchange. It is offered spontaneously.

Pure Love is the royal road to reach God

There are many ways of realising God. Among them are: the shanti mārga (path of peace); the sākhya mārga (path of friendship); anurāga mārga (path of attachment); vātsalya mārga (path of maternal love); madhura mārga (path of sweetness). In all these five paths, there is some element of serf-interest. But in the prema mārga (path of pure love), there is no trace of self-interest. Hence, all other paths merge in the path of Love. Pure Love is therefore the royal road.

We should consider that this love is present in all. It is the form of the Divine. Because the Divine is present in all, whomever you love, you are loving the Divine. Forgetting this sublime and all-encompassing conception of Love, men today have lost themselves in narrow alleys.

To promote among men love between humanity and God, the Divine descends on earth from time to time. For what purpose is the advent? To promote the Love Principle is His primary purpose.

Failing to understand the true meaning of this Love principle, man is undermining his life. Everyone should realise that love is present equally in all beings. But this love assumes many different forms when it is exhibited in different relationships in worldly life. The love between husband and wife is termed moha (infatuation). The love between a mother and child is called vātsalya (maternal love). The love between kith and kin is called anurāga. The love towards God is termed bhakti (devotion).

Thus, love is one, but is expressed in many ways. Experiences are varied, but the goal is one. To carry on this life in this phenomenal world, love has assumed these manifold forms. The forms of love keep changing according to one's relationships. But Pure Love is unchanging. Such Pure Love is limited today by man's self-interest.

How man's love changes from time to time

Immediately after birth as an infant he clings to the mother's bosom and considers it as paradise. As he grows, he gets interested in education and forgets the mother. In his boyhood, one experiences this love in sport and games, in studies and recreation. After completing his education, he enters on family life and immerses himself in sensual pleasures. Later, he gets interested in earning wealth and loses interest in wife and children. Later on he loses interest even in wealth and turns his thoughts towards God. Thus, man exhibits his love for different objects at different stages in his life. (Swami sang a song describing how man's love changes from time to time and how he wastes his life at the end without developing love for God).

Students! Love is not something which enters your lives midway. It is the Atmic Principle which is always with you at all times. You should not allow this love to change from moment to moment. You must transmute all your thoughts into expressions of love. To regard whatever actions you perform as an offering to God is the best form of sādhanā (spiritual practice). Whatever good deeds or spiritual acts you may perform, if they are not suffused with love they are worthless.

Love is like a mariner's compass

Love is like a mariner's compass, which always points to the north. Love should direct you Godward in every action that you do. There is no greater path or goal than this. Scholarship or ritual worship will not serve to transform your spirituality. Fill your hearts with love of God. Then the nation will enjoy peace. Your view of the world depends on the colour of the glasses you wear. When your vision is filled with love, the whole creation will appear as Brahma-mayaṃ (filled with Divinity). This is what the youth of today needs most.

This love is not related to the body. It is based on the heart. It is present equally in all. There may be varied bodily relationships but the kinship based on the Atma is one and the same. "ekovasī sarvabhūta-antarātmā" (the One who dwells in all beings). It is like the current that is common to all bulbs of varying power.

There should be no trace of selfishness in love. Unfortunately today men's hearts have become barren without love. Hence, there is no compassion in them. Men today behave in a more creel manner than wild animals in the jungle. There is hatred between man and man. Maternal love has become rare and fraternal feelings between brothers are absent. The love among the Pandava brothers and that among Rama and his brothers are supreme examples of fraternal love.

Dharmaraja's one-pointed devotion to Krishna

The Pandavas overcame all their trials and tribulations by their faith in God. The eldest of the Pandavas, Dharmaraja, had his mind always centred on Krishna. He was known for his one- pointed, simple-minded devotion to Krishna. He always thought of Krishna even while experiencing all kinds of difficulties in exile. Even when his children, the Upapandavas were killed by Aswathama, he did not give way to grief because of his faith in Krishna. When he reigned as a mighty emperor, he did not feel elated and he was not overwhelmed by grievous ordeals. For the Pandavas, the Lord came first, the world next and their own interests last. First God, then the world, last "I."

The Kauravas had a different order of priorities. First "I," then the world and God last, with the result that they lost everything. Because the Pandavas kept God in the forefront, they were ultimately successful in their endeavours. If you want to succeed in life, you have to develop love of God as the most potent weapon. It was love which enabled the ancient sages to live in harmony with wild animals in the forest. Such is the power of love. But students today are not recognising the power of this pure love. Instead, they are immersed in impure desires and mining their precious lives.

The Gopikas exemplified the highest and purest form of love for God. (Swami sang a song which the Gopikas addressed to Krishna, praying to Him to fill their parched hearts with nectarine showers of His love).

Love of God is greater than nectar. It is called parā bhakti, Devotion to the Lord. It transcends the four purushārthas (goals of fife).

Man may love the body, the mind, the buddhi or the antaḥ-karaña (the inner instruments). Love for the body ends with the death of the body. Love for the mind results in bondage because of the aberrations of the mind. Love for the intellect results in endless speculation and enquiry. Love for the antaḥ-karaña promotes the ego feeling. It encourages dualism (separating man from God). Only the one who realises his oneness with the Atma can experience infinite bliss----the bliss that is eternal.

Investigate the nature of the "I"

Everyone should undertake an enquiry into the ultimate goal of life. For instance, we find that ghee is the ultimate product derived from milk after it goes through the processes of conversion to curds and butter. This process of enquiry is known as mimāṃsā. You have to investigate the nature of the "I," which claims ownership of the body, the mind, the senses and other things ("My body," "my mind" and so on). If you are not the body, the mind, etc., who are you? Does anyone pursue this line of enquiry?

Man is called Mānava. This Sanskrit term has two meanings. One is, man is a being who. lives free from ignorance. The other meaning is that he is not a new being, but has had a long past, in many previous lives. When such meanings are recognised in terms of Vedantic parlance, the greatness of human birth becomes evident. It fills one with joy.

Students! The world today is simmering with discord and violence. Peace and security are absent. Fear stalks the land everywhere. To get rid of fear, you have to acquire abhayatwaṃ (fearlessness). How is it to be got? When you reduce desires and attachments.

Students! Develop morality and good conduct. Lead exemplary lives and serve the nation. The sole purpose of education is to develop humility and discipline. Respect your parents and have love for God. This is true education.

Brindavan, May 30, 1992

Your work as Seva Dal members and as volunteer helpers must correct your vision, clarify your eyes, enable them to see God in everyone. Then, that awareness will transmute every word, thought and deed of yours into a benediction.

Sathya Sai Baba