THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FAITH

Faith is the substratum of every individual's life on earth! It is impossible to live without faith or trust in the other person or God! It is trust that brings calmness and peace of mind.The child has absolute trust in its mother. There is no fear in its eyes.There is joy on its lips. It is full of peace because of its implicit faith in the love and affection of its mother. It is undisturbed by the happenings in its surroundings. As it grows up it is affected by fear, anxiety and hatred because of the effect of desires that dominate.The lap of the mother is the paradise for the child. It believes with unquestionable faith whatever the mother says! When she points to one as its father, grand parent, brother, or sister, the child accepts it with faith and without any question. Faith is the basis of every act. Many of our actions would be impossible if we have no faith or belief in various persons or individuals. 


We go to the saloon for a haircut placing our faith or trust in the barber. We allow him to trim our hair according to our taste. If we are afraid of the knife and the razor that he wields we would surely run away from him! The dhobi is another example.It is because of our faith that we give our clothes for a wash. If he were to run away with our costly clothes, we will never give him a chance! We place our total trust in the driver of our car and his experience. Our life is in his hands at the steering wheel! What will happen if there is a faux pas and there is a fatal accident? Such thought will disturb our peace of mind and we can never travel in comfort and peace of mind! We trust the engineer that builds our home. If we think that the building will collapse we would never reside in that house! Hence faith is absolutely essential for our existence. “Learn!Experience! Be Happy! It does not matter a bit if you have no faith in ME or in God. Have faith in yourself. That is enough. For who are you really? Each of you is Divinity, whether you know it or not.” asserts Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba in one of his discourses.


Blind Faith has its own rewards. it is not bound by reason or season.Faith and spirituality transcend all reason. Man is a rational animal. He does not believe in God because he cannot see Him directly. But he believes in newspaper reports though he does not see them! He believes in what he hears more than what he sees! It is wrong to think that you should see everything that you believe in. There are many things that we realize and feel without seeing them. Glorious Nature is the manifestation of God! Through Nature we realize the the existence of God! Our sages and seers have realized God through their tapas and intense meditation. we should have faith in their words and experience. Belief and trust in God is essential for a happy and peaceful life.One should have faith in himself first and foremost for without that all his efforts will fail. What is the cause for that faith in yourself? “You believe in yourself because your self is God and you have unshakable faith in God, deep down in you. Faith in yourself and faith in God are identical; you tap the strength of the God within when you face an enemy without.” counsels Swami In one of his discourses.


 Faith cannot come suddenly. It is a plant of slow growth. But when the roots go deep into the heart it becomes unshakable. Faith should be steady and unwavering! One should not change his faith according to his whims and fancies. We have faith in tomorrow. It is because of that we work beyond this day. No planning is possible without faith. It is faith that leads to effort. Faith makes the person an optimistFaith can work wonders in the life of individuals. When it is intense it forces God to manifest himself before his devotee! 

Instances galore are there in our scriptures where God was compelled to appear before his bhaktha. The story of child Dhruva is an example. Faith is capable of confronting Death and score a victory over it! Young Markandeya was destined to die in sixteen years! To make his parents happy he performed tapas with great faith that God would help him! When the God of Death, Yama came to take him, Lord Siva saved young Markandeya and punished the God Of of Death! The lives of Azhwars and Nayanmars in the South are full of faith and resignation to the will of God! They saw Providence in person, conversed with Him directly and enjoyed the bliss of Divine presence! There is nothing that with cannot achieve with faith. “Faith in God is the secure foundation on which hope has to be built. The faith has to be stable and strong.The feeling that God will come to our rescue has to be vivid and vital, motivating and activating all that we do or speak or think.”remarks Swami in his discourse to his devees

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DIVINE SANKALPA

Man plans many things and boasts to himself that he has achieved according to his plan. But that is not correct. Besides the intention of man, God’s grace or Sankalpa is absolutely essential  for the success of any attempt. We know the adage “Man proposes but God disposes.”  What if God proposes? Can man stop what God has decreed? It is impossible. When God’s grace and will operate wonderful things are achieved very easily and smoothly even without human effort! Avatars or incarnations take place when Dharma or righteousness declines and unrighteousness predominates. Krishna reiterates to doubting Arjuna that he takes avatar in every Yuga as and when adharma increases and dharma declines.  Incarnations are only for destroying Evil and restore Dharma on earth From the Kruttha yuga  onwards  that has been the purpose of the Lord.  Hiranyaksha, his brother Hiranyakasipu were killed and later in  Treta Yuga Ravana, Kumbhakarna and other tormentors were destroyed!  The lord had resolved to root out the evil minded Kauravas and save the Pandavas  who followed the path of Dharma That is his Divine Sankalpa and nothing can stand against it!

The Mahabharatha  war on the field of Kuru kshetra was chosen by Lord Krishna to implement his divine Sankalpa! Bhisma pitamaha is invincible! Dronacharya has no equal for his archery among the pandavas! He was also the Guru for both the Kauravas and the Pandavas! But having  sided the evil minded Kauravas they have weakened themselves and are eligible to be killed! How to kill Dronacharya? He has to be killed if the Pandavas should win the battle. The Lord had his own plan. He got down from Arjuna’s chariot, went straight to Dronacharya and questioned how he could be killed. Drona nonchalantly replied that as long as he has his bow and arrows, none can kill him. He was very truthful. Krishna , a little later again wanted to know when he would lay down his bow and arrows  Drona, sincerely, without any suspicion, answered that he would do so if some terrible unbearable news affects him! That was what the Lord expected.  Incidentally The Lord has proclaimed  greatness and truthfulness of Dronacharya to the entire world!

Krishna did not go back to Arjuna. He went to Dharmaraja. He asked Dharmaraja to tell a lie! But , noted for truth and Dharma, he refused. He replied, “ You may tell lies bit how can I speak falsehood?  Krishna immediately ordered for an elephant to be brought and named it “ Aswatthama” even in the presence of Dharmaraja! Krishna said,” Presume that this elephant Aswattama, dies hit by an arrow. Will you say that it has died?” “If it dies, I will say surely” replied Arjuna’s brother. Krishna said that he has to declare the the death of the death of the elephant Aswattama very loudly.  Dharmaraja loudly shouted that there was an elephant Aswattama and it died on the battlefield hit by an arrow. Krishna was shocked at the truthful narration of Dharmaraja. He disapproved of it and said that the most important news has to be mentioned. He asked Dharmaraja to say,” Aswattama hataha, kunjaraha” As wha has happened was true, Dharmaraja said thewords loudly with more stress on the first two words!

That was the undoing of Dronacharya! Having heard from Dharmaraja that Aswattama, his son has died, Drona laid down his bow and arrows and was killed in the battle. He had mistaken the word Aswattama for his son where as it was only the name of the elephant! The word ‘Kunjaraha’ was deliberately said in a low voice which was drowned in the commotion of the battle. Krishna himself could have announced the death of the elephant! Why did he not do so?  None would have believed in the words of Krisna, particularly Dronacharya as Krishna was noted for his lies! Therefore Krishna chose Dharmaraja, the truthful ,for uttering this lie which was taken for truth!

Krishna could have chosen Arjuna to make the announcement. Why did he choose Dharma raja? Dharmaraja is the embodiment of Truth and Dharma! He is the son of Yamadharmaraja who stands for Truth and righteousness! The world believes the words of such an individual. The Lord chooses the great man. the moment, place, time and whose words would be effective! When Dharmaraja shouted loudly the battle field was abnormally silent! Not satisfied, Krishna blew his conch so loudly that the word ‘Kunjaraha’  was drowned completely! Believing in the words of Dharmaraja, Drona collapsed laying down his bow and arrows!  It is Divine sankapa that Dronacharya should die like that! Otherwise Truith and Dharma would not survive.  In many other instances in the Mahabharatha Krishna saves the Pandavas from the evil intentions of the Kauravas!

"ON DUTY"

Duty arises when you have another person to deal with. The other person should deserve the duty that he receives. What is the purpose for which man has taken birth/Is it merely for eating, living and dyiing? In such case, there is no distinction between man, bird and beast! Man is born to do his dutyor Karma. Man is blessed with reasoning power or intellect. He has to realize the unity of Self with God. “ Your duty is to yearn for the attainment of the consciousness of the ONE, behind all this apparent multiplicity”says Bhagawan Sri Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba.  All Karma or duty has to be done according to Dharma or Righteousness. It requires diligence, discrimination and detachment. As the Bhagavadgita ordains, one should perform Karma or duty without expectation of any reward.  Performing duty well is, in itself, a reward. Well performed duty or Karma earns reward automatically.

The Vedas have prescribed many principles for performing one’s duties. Every act has to be performed with love, with no yearning  for acquiring personal profit, fame or benefit.  

The Taittiriya Upanishad , in the eleventh Anuvaka of SIKSHAVALLI, details the duties of the young student going out of gurukulavasa into the world for the first time. The Karmas or duties lead to the birth of Jnana. They have to be practiced necessarily. As these are ordained well before the realization of Brahmavidya,  it shows that after the dawn of Jnana there is no effect for the Karmas at all. So, all Karmas or duties are useful in destroying the accrued sins earlier leading to the rise of Jnana. The Vedic Anusasanas or Mandates are many and guide the student in leading a worthy life. 1 The first duty is: Speak the Truth 2 Practice Dharma—act in a ri8ghteous manner 3 Do not forget the Veda that you have practiced 4 Get yourself married and bring forth children 5 Even by mistake do not speak untruth or lies There is no greater sin than speaking untruth 6 Get riches or prosperous through just ways of Vedic practices and receiving alms from righteous persons

7 Continue your own studies and teach your students dutifully 8 Perform Deva karyas like yagnas and Pitru karyas like ‘Sraddhas’ dutifully 9 Consider Mother as God and worship her 10 Consider Father as God and worship him 11 Consider the Acharya---one who has given you education as God and worship him 12 Consider the ‘ Atithi’ (one who visits you unexpectedly at anytime) as God and worship him. 13 Perform acts that are not tainted and considered deplorable 14 Offer hospitality and serve other respectable Brahmins and offer gifts as per your capacity. 15 Offer dana or alms with Sraddha or faith. Give only to those who are qualified. 16 Be humble in offering alms Though you offer much feel that it is after all nothing and that you can give more 17 Offer with a fear for the other world. These mandates are the duties to be performed by each and every individual. The word Upadesa means any piece of advice offered by the teacher or father to the student or son for his progress! This is the secret of the Veda and the word of Iswara! One has to follow these mandates assiduously with the firm belief that these are the words of Iswara!

What a list of dos and don’ts!  I doubt how many of us follow at least one of the mandates of the Vedas. They are  breached more than in the observance. Vedic times and ambience has changed totally as well as priorities. All Vedic rules are violated        as society has changed! But the rules are eternal and help man to progress materially and spiritually. Duty has to be done with discrimination, and detachment.  All duty or activity or Karma has to be done selflessly. As the Bhagavadgita ordains, man has the authority to do his duty alone, not expect any reward! Performing the duty well is, in itself, the reward! The fruits of well performed duty shall come automatically. Every act should be done with sincerity, with love, without any desire for personal gain, fame, or benefit.

Bhagawan asks: What exactly is your duty? And summarizes it for us! “First, tend to your parents with love, reverence and gratitude.

Second , Speak the truth and act virtuously.

Third, whenever you have time repeat the Name of the Lord with the form in your mind.

Fourth, Never indulge in talking ill of others or try to discover faults in others and

Finally, do not cause pain to others in any form. (SSS Vol 4)

Let us realize what our duty for ourselves and for others is and make our lives fruitful and happy!

DESTINY OR FATE

DESTINY OR FATE

  You are the architect of your own destiny. Either you make or mar yourself. It is all in your hands and the actions you involve yourself in. Destiny is sometimes called Fate! It is felt that our fate or destiny is predetermined and everything happens according to it. There are many who believe in this and many more who disbelieve. But there is no doubt that man’s destiny is determined by the nature of his actions, thoughts, and desires. According to our Sastras, it is our actions that are responsible for our high or low status, luxury or poverty, liberty or bondage. It is also believed that whatever man aspires for during his existence on earth, he attains it after his death! Action, physical or mental is called Karma and this decides the birth, status, luxury or poverty. In other words, man’s conduct and character, attitude, intelligence, happiness and misery are earned by the individual during his past life. Man’s next life, status, his rise and fall is entirely dependent on his activities or Karma in the present life.

“You are born for your own sake, not for the sake of anyone else. You have to cure yourself of the disease of ignorance, just as you have to cure yourself of the disease of hunger.  No one else can save you from both” counsels Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. Man is born to work out his own destiny! He has to serve out the sentence that he has decreed for himself. When the sentence is served totally he becomes free. There is a mistaken belief that God is responsible for the misery and happiness of man. Man blames Providence for his failures and difficulties. God is the silent witness to all our Karma, good and bad. He is “Sakshibhuta” a neutral, silent spectator of man’s actions. He dispenses results according to man’s Karma dispassionately and impartially.“As you sow so you reap” Good karma leads to good returns: bad deeds result in bad results. God has no part to play in the joys and sufferings of individuals! It is human ignorance that propels man to think like that!

Even man’s mind is bound by the Karma one has accrued in his previous birth! That is why we say ”Buddhih  karmanusarini”—mind follows the type of Karma that one has to his credit. Otherwise how can we explain the inequalities that we find in creation? Why are people born deaf and dumb, rich and poor, clever and dull, soft and gentle, arrogant and proud? The doubt arises whether God is partial to some and cruel to others! It cannot be. Those with disabilities make themselves eligible for it by their own karma in their previous existence. In other religions there is no explanation for the misery and suffering. They say it is God’s will! It is only in Hinduism, we have a logical explanation for everything that man enjoys or suffers

Can we escape from Karma to avoid its effects? It is absolutely impossible. Man cannot exist even for a single second without Karma! Every action of yours, eating, drinking, thinking, respiration are all Karmas! Man’s life is an example of cause and effect. There is nothing that happens without proper reason however accidental or mysterious it may be. The roots are very deep and invisible. Newton’s Law is an expression of the law of Karma! “Every action has an equivalent and opposite reaction” Karma is a double edged weapon! It can save a person or kill him.” It is like the cat that bites; it bites the kitten in order to carry it in its mouth to a place of safety; it bites the rat in order to kill. Become the kitten and Karma will rescue you like a loving mother. Become a rat and you are lost” exhorts Swami in his Divine discourse.(SSS Vol 1)

As the Lord says in the Bhagavadgita we have the authority to do our duty or Karma without expectation of any reward. “ Karmanyevadhkarasthu ma phaleshu kadachana” All Karma or action should be offered to God! “Offer the Karma at the feet of God. Let it glorify Him; let it further His splendor. Be unconcerned with the success or failure of the endeavor; then death can have no noose to bind you with.  Then Death will come as a liberator not a jailor” says Swami on Karma (SSS Vol 5) Swami suggests that all actions have to be performed as actors in a play. Individual identity should be kept separate. Too much attachment for the role should be avoided. Act your part well and do your duty. Leave the rest to God! Let us understand the significance of Karma and release ourselves by offering it to God!

WHAT IS PREMA?

Love is otherwise called PREMA. Liking for any object and a positive response to it is also called Love. It is immaterial if the object is trivial or transitory. The word Love is greatly misused and abused. We can distinguish different forms of Love. The love of the parents for their children is called filial bond or affection. In the same way the relationship between the husband and wife, brothers and sisters, and other kith and kin makes one dear to the other. The sense of material objects provides satisfaction. Attraction to sex can be described as fascination or delusion or ‘Moha’. Today the word Love is degraded in its original meaning and stands for lust—physical satisfaction of the senses. The word has lost its essential  noble meaning! 

‘The yearning to reach for the sublimity that lies inherent in Truth..this alone is entitled to be called by that holy word PREMA. For that is the sweetest, the most charming, the most satisfying possession of man”. declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. Prema or Love is strong enough to overcome all impediments, face with equanimity all changes of fortune. We call some body  as heartless. Why? It is because he has no love, the heart  being the repository  of pure love!  The heart, according to Swami, is the film and the mind the lens. If the lens turns to the world, the heart receives a worldly picture. If it turns to God,  the Divine picture is transmitted

  From time immemorial, our ancient culture has taught and encouragedthe youth with this concept of love. People have been taught to love the poor, the helpless, the handicapped and the disabled. Service to man is service to God. As sage Vyasa puts it, helping others is punya and hurting others is sin.  “Paropakara punyaya papaya para peedanam.”  The bhaktha or a devotee is mad after God His love for God is steadyThat is the nature of his PREMA. “ Love is like the Mariner’s compass which points always to to the North. The thoughts of the devotee filled with love are always directed towards God whatever he may be doing. Such love is described as “Parama Prema”—Supreme Love. God responds only to such love!” says Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. ( SSS Vol 4)

 How does Prema differ from  ordinary commonplace love? Prema is fearless.  It is shorn of egoism or ahankara. It isselfless. Wherever there is Prema there is sacrifice. A classical example is the love of the mother for her children! It is life and death for her in bearing and delivering the child She is ready to die so that her child may live! Her Prema is Godly and can never be compensated by the child. Ideal love or Prema is that in which  the lover, despite his disappointments wishes his lady well! Such love is called Platonic Love!

We can call the love between the husband and wife as infatuation or moha. Maternal and paternal love is termed ‘ Vatsalya’ while that betweenthe kith and kin is ‘anuraga’ or affection. Love towars God is called Bhakthi or devotion. There are two kinds of love, one related to the physical and the other to the Divine. Physica bondage leads to fears and delusions that torment the world whil Divine love treats individuals and nations as equal. Man thinks that he is perfect. He is selfish. He is a Narcissist and prtnds to love God! A true lover of God forgets himself When you  love others for your sake it is called ‘anuraga’ while loving God for  God’s sake is called PREMA!  Is love far removed from man? Not at all. Man is the embodiment of love. He has insatiable thirst for it His real joy is to receiving and giving selfless love. He is miserable and hateful because he haqs forgotten this

Love starts as selfish love as in the case of the husbandand wife.

 It enlarges itself when children are born. Parents think of their children more than themselves, Selflessness  becomes prominent. Love is the n extended to the society and the nation and becomes totally selfless ready to sacrifice for the country! “Love which moves, flows from one heart to another, from one place to another, from one person to another ultimately reaches the destination which is called the Grace of God; such Prema is i pure” says Swami in his Divine discourse! (SSS Vol 7B) Sri Krishna’s life is an example of pure love or Prema urging us to cultivate it. Prema’s sterlinf qualities are that it has no hatred or selfishness. It does not expect any reward, gives away but never takes!

What is the present situation? The old order has changed but not for the better! Those days of unselfish love are gone! These are days of bargaining. How can it be otherwise inthis dark age, Kali Yuga? The days when the saints, Azwars,and Nayanmars who lived, talked  loved and merged with God are over never to return! Our age is full of jelousy,  conceit, hatred, fear,  falsehood and greed. “ It is an age of faction, marked by fights between parents and children, teachers and pupils, brother and brother! Let me conclude with another gem of a quote from Bhagawan: “Cultivate love, pure, unsullied by selfish desires.  Share that lovewith all your brothers and sisters of all creeds,colors, climes. Let your Love flow into the hearts ofothers. Stagnant waters become foul; flowing waters are cool and clear. Love is Ananda,love is power; love is light; love is GOD” (SSS Vol 7B)

THE PURUSHARTHAS

• What is the purpose of man on earth? Why is he born? Is it simply because he should eat, sleep, reproduce and disappear from the surface of the earth? If it were so what is the difference between human beings and animals? Every creature has a specific purpose for which it is created.You may say that it is one's karma in the previous birth that is responsible for human birth. Even here, birth is necessary to enjoy or suffer the consequences of one's actions in the previous birth! In short there is a purpose or aim in the birth of every creature on earth. The Vedas and our ancient scriptures have earmarked specific goals for human beings. They have pointed out what are important for human existence and how men can live ideally and happily. These goals are otherwise called the “Purusharthas”-- the need for every human being in the world. They are Dharma or Righteousness, Artha or money, Kama or Desire and Moksha or Mukthi or Salvation. It is now clear that these goals have to be pursued relentlessly if man wants to be really happy. Is it possible to live without any of these goals? No. All these Purusharthas are absolutely essential for an ideal life on earth!

• First and foremost is Dharma or Righteousness-- living according to the principles laid down by the Vedas and the shastras. But mere Dharma is not enough. Artha or money is essential to practice Dharma. Without money nothing can be done. In the Ramayana sage Vasishta tells Rama that money is absolutely essential in this world and that he sees no difference between the man without money and the dead! “ Dhanamarjaya Kakutsa dhanamula midamjagat antaram nabhijanami nirdhanasya mrutasyacha.” Money earned should be according to Righteousness-or Dharma, not through crooked or devious ways! The Taittiriya Upanishad ordains, “ Satyam vada, Dharmam Chara” Don't stray away from the the path of Dharma and Satya! The third goal of man is Kama or Desire. It should also be according to Dharma. No desire can be fulfilled without ‘Artha’ or money. So after living a life according to the principles of Dharma and earning money one should satisfy his desires sanctioned by Dharma! The next stage after this Dharmic life, is to prepare for Mukti or Salvation! These are the four Purusharthas to be achieved by every human being on earth!

“Earn wealth through righteousness and use wealth for promotion of righteousness. And let liberation to your only desires. Man should actually have only one desire in this lifetime, that of liberation- getting rid of bondage ie bond of ignorance (ajnana) and realize that living is only another name given to the acquirement of alternate misery and happiness; hunger and contentment; desire and fulfilment; illness and health” (SSS Vol X page 69) counsels Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. Too much of money is dangerous! Too little makes one poor and struggle for life! “Arthanamarjitham dukham arjiithanancha rakshanam nase dukham vyaye dukham ki marthm dukha bajanam?”-there is sorrow in earning money, sorrow in protecting it, sorrow in its destruction and sorrow in spending! Why this money that brings sorrow in everything? Money just essential for a simple happy living is enough! “Artha manartham bhavaya nityam” declares Adi Sankara in his Bhajagovinda Stotra and says there's practically no happiness with it!

Kama or Desire is the root cause of all sorrows! Desire is insatiable! Fulfillment of one rakes up another. It is similar to adding fuel to fire. Non fulfilment results in frustration that engenders anger! Extreme anger results in imbalance of mind leading to actions irrespective of consequences! It thus leads to the doom of the individual! Desire for trivial and transitory things should be avoided. Man should discriminate between what is eternal and what is evanescent or temporary. Desire for God is always good as this leads man to devotion and spirituality! The word Kama has another meaning and denotes lust, physical satisfaction of the senses! Many a great sage and devotee and scholar has fallen victim to this evil! Kama is the worst of the six inner enemies in human beings called “Arishadvargas” It works havoc in their lives! Sage Viswamitra had a bitter experience with the heavenly damsel Menaka! Ravana, king of Lanka suffered the worst and had to pay the heavy price of his life by going after every woman he saw including Sita, Rama's wife

What is the present trend in society? Dharma or Righteousness and Moksha or Salvation are almost extinct and forgotten! It is said that in Kaliyuga Dharma stands on one leg ie only one fourth. Even that is doubtful! All principles of Dharma are being flouted with impunity! Man thinks that he is God himself! Where is the question of salvation or mukthi? He has become the worshipper of Mammon! He goes to any extent to earn money breaking all principles of propriety! Fraud, forgery cheating, smuggling and other devious ways are being practiced assiduously! On the other side abuse of women, abduction, and rape have become the order of the day! The old order has changed totally but not for the better! The world is drowned in materialism and there seems to be no hope for the future since the priorities are completely different! The Purusharthas have almost no relevance in the present set up of society!

BEWARE OF THE SENSES

What is the use of the body without the Senses gifted by God? The very purpose of creation will be defeated if it were so! Man will then be equal to a corpse incapable of activities physical or mental! Life cannot exist without the Senses which are responsible for all activities in life. This God given gift is not properly understood and utilized by man for his happiness.These Senses have to be used for a good purpose and not misused. We have the Jnanendriyas that offer knowledge of everything-- “ Sabda, Sparsa, Rupa, Rasa' and Gandha.” The Karmendriyas carry out what the Jnanendriyas recognize. Ears, skin, eyes, tongue, and nose help us in realizing whatever we wish. Who's the enjoyer? Though the sense organs are engaged in action, it is the mind that enjoys the result. The power of discrimination or ‘Buddhi’ sifts the good from the bad for the body! It is only when the mind is led by the intellect there is experience of genuine joy!

The Katha Upanishad gives the timely warning to all humanity about the senses. “ The senses, they say, are the horses, the objects of the senses their roads.When the Self is in union with the body, the senses and the mind the Wise call him the enjoyer.”Indriyani hayanyahur virshayastheshu gocharan atmendriya manoyuktam bhokthethyahur manishinaha.” The Upanishad continues and declares the real truth. “ Know that the Self is like the Lord of the chariot, and the body is his chariot. Know that the intellect is the charioteer and the mind the reins.” “ Atmanam rathinam viddhi sareeram rathamevatu Buddhimtu sarathim viddhi manah pragrahamevacha.” The chariot of the body is driven by the horses called the senses! The galloping senses have to be checked and controlled by the mind which acts like the reins. The intellect or buddhi plays a large part in deciding what is right or wrong, desirable or undesirable. If the senses are allowed a free sway, their gallop will end in serious fatal accident! Hence the importance of controlling our senses.

Sense control is an absolute necessity as it guards against a number of evils. “ Man should avoid errors and evils that the ear, the tongue, the eye, the mind and the hand are liable to commit. These are known as five vices--panchadoshas. The eye has a tendency to seek the vile and vulgar. The ear is ever eager for scandals and gossip. The tongue is extremely dangerous. It is indeed difficult to lead the tongue to the path of bhajans and japa- chanting the Lord's Name!” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. (SSS Vol X) According to Swami soft speech is the expression of genuine love. “Hate screeches, fear squeals, conceit trumpets but love soothes and applies balm”. Swami says that man has more poison than the snake! His poison is in his eyes, tongue, hands, mind, heart, and his thoughts! The study of the movement of the tongue is an eye opener to all of us. It moves very cleverly up and down, side to side when a person speaks or eats. But it does not let the thirty two teeth  hurt it!

The very purpose of man’s existence is to realize himself, to know that he is not the body but the eternal Soul enshrined in his body! The senses have been granted by God purposely to enable man to

reach that goal in life. There is no point in misusing or abusing the senses by directing them to evil and illegal ends. Every sense organ has its specific function. The eyes should see good, the ears hear good, the tongue speak good, hands do good, legs move to good and sacred places! Thoughts should be pure and Noble not crooked and impure! Sri Kulasekhara Azwar in his classic “Mukunda Mala” lays down what each organ of the body has to do to get salvation! He addresses the tongue and other organs and says, “ O Tongue! sing the glory of Kesava, the enemy of asura Mura; O Manas! worship Sridhara; O Ears! hear the stories of the Divine sports of Achyuta! O Eyes! look at Krishna's glorious form! O Feet! walk towards the temple of Hari; O Nose! smell the fragrant water of Tulasi from the feet of the Lord; O Head! bow down in devotion to Adokshaja!”

The modern trend is to enjoy life with a gay abandon! Epicureanism has overtaken the people who want to give maximum freedom to the senses, eat, drink and make merry all the time! They forget death is lying in wait for them. Days already spent can never return and future is very uncertain! By realizing the significance of arresting the freedom of the sensory organs and by placing a ceiling on desires man can make his life a paradise on earth! Otherwise he will have to regret his stay on earth!

SANKARA'S SURRENDER (SOUNDARYA LAHARI 100)

     Vagdevatas describe the glorious attributes of Lalithambika in no uncertain terms in Sri Lalita Sahasra Nama Stotra! She is 'Pancha pretasanasina’ and 'Pancha Brahmaswarupin!i’ She is the Creator as Brahma, mysterious as Vishnu, and takes the form of a Rudra while desroying everything.” Srushti kartri Brahmarupa Goptri Govinda rupini Samharini Rudrarupa Tirodhana kariswari!” She can, in a trice, create the worlds and destroy them by batting Her eye lids! She has thousand heads and faces, eyes and feet! She is 'Katyayini’ the destroyer of Time, and worshipped by Lord Vishnu! “Katyayani kalahantri Kamalaksha nishevita” She is “Sri Mata pSri Maharajni Srimath Simhasneswari” She has taken the avatar of Sri Mata the Supreme Empress who occupies the holy Lion throne! She residesin Kailas and has shoulders as soft as the lotus stalks! “ Mahakailasa Nilaya mrunala mrududorlata!”

In the concluing part of Soundarya Lahari Sri Sankara exposes his ardent desire for attaining “Brahmajnana! He is anxious to drink deep the water from Her lotus feet reddened by the color of the Laksharasa applied to them! That is equal to the ‘thamboola' rasa of Goddess Saraswath that can transform anyone into a poet and scholar! One who worships Devi as “Chandrakala” is the most fortunate since he is blessed with scholarship and extreme riches! In that way he becomes the rival of both the creator Brahma and the protector Visnu! He will cut himself away from ‘Avidya’ or Ignorance and live long enjoying the bliss of the other world!

In this final sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Sri Sankara wonders how it was possible for him to describe Devi's ethereal Beauty! Is it because of his scholarship and poetic and philosophic fervor? Who is he, after all a frail mortal, to describe Devi's majesty, beauty and grandeur? Can any one attempt such a Herculean job without the ‘Sankalpa’ of Lalithambika Herself? Says Sankara, “ O Mother! To describe and praise Your Beauty and Glory with the language granted by you is similar to offering harati to the Sun with the light of a burning torch! It is equal to offering water (arghya) to the Moon from the water oozing out of “Chandrakanta stone!” In short, both are meaningless! Where is the blinding Sun and where is the torch light? Where is the soft, cool Moon and where is the water of Chandrakanta stone?

What Sankara points out is that he is not at all responsible for the magnum opus “Soundarya Lahari!” It is purely Devi's “Sankalpa” or Wish that has egged him on to embark on this colossal task! There is nothing in this work that he can call his own! The Stotra is Devi! The subject or object of Soundarya Lahari is Devi Herself! She is the Deity eligible for glorification! Sankara thus submits himself to the will of Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari and states clearly that it is Her

Divine Sankalpa that has resulted in this great work! It is Devi who writes through the pen of Sankara the poet and philosopher!

Without the will of Devi nothing can move in the world! Even a blade of grass or leaf can stir only when Devi wills! We have seen in Kenopanihad how Indra, Agni and Vayu are humiliated by Devi when they could not exercise their power over an ordinary blade of grass! The sun, the moon, the stars, lightning, and fire can never shine by themselves! It is Her power and light that illuminates and energizes them for the benefit of all! “ Na tatra suryo bhati na chandra tarakam ne mo vidyuto bhanti ku thoya magnihi Tameva bhanti manubhati sarvam tasya bhasa sarvamidamvibhati” Illustrious poet and philosopher that he is, Sankara is not puffed up with pride and arrogance. On the other hand he is simple and humble before his Divine Mother! She knows him intimately as a true UPASAKA and Her child! She has showered on him Her benediction and Grace such that he could bring out Her amazing Beauty for the benefit and understanding of all mankind! It is a lesson to all writers that they should never blow their own trumpet and glorify themselves whatever be their accomplishment! May Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari shower Her benign Grace on all my viewers who have read these blogs on Soundarya Lahari! Om Tat Sat!

REFLECTIONS ON DEATH

There are two things that are certain in this world! They are Birth and Death! The interregnum between birth and death is called Life which is uncertain and full of vicissitudes! Man knows that death is certain but doesn't want to die! He wants to be immortal with his mortal body made up of the five elements.” Jatasya maranam dhruvam” says the Sanskrit adage! We see our years draining away every second of the day, and our youth slowly leaving us.The days spent can never return and Time swallows up the entire universe! “ Ayur nasyati pasyatam pratidinam yati kshayam yaunanm pratyayanti gatah punar na divasa Kalo jagad bakshakaha!” Life is so sweet for mortal man that he desires to live forever! Yudhishtara, in the Mahabharata,... was asked a ticklish question by the Yaksha.”What is the most astonishing thing in the world?” The pandava warrior thought for a while and remarked, “ Man sees everyday people dying and being carried away to the burial ground. He knows that one day or other death shall overtake him.

But still he wants to live for ever and hates death over which he has no power or control! That is the most astonishing thing in the world!” The Yaksha was pleased at this truth and brought back to life the other pandava warriors who had fainted!

Death is relentless and takes away everything that is born and disintegrates all constructed by man! Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Baba says, “Death is neither good nor bad. Man has no choice in the matter. Man cannot have it sooner if he wishes it to be so, nor can he avoid it. It is a consummation which is inevitable and commences from the very moment of birth. Some reach the cremation ground earlier than others, who go by a roundabout way and arrive late” “Like trailing clouds of glory do we come from God who is our home” says Wordsworth the Nature poet! Should we not return to our original Home? We should remember that our sleep is a temporary death for we don't know whether we wake-up in the morning. In other words we die every night and live in the morning! We sleep permanently when we die! We think of Yama as the God of Death. But Time is the God of death! “ Kalakshepo na karthavyaha kshina mayur kshane kshane Yamasya karuna nasthi karthavyam Hari kirtanam” “ Time and tide waits for no man” is a well known maxim. Swami says, “ The dying man spins the rope by every act of his during his life now or in the past. All acts done with egoism, self interest, an eye on the beneficial consequences, the fruits give a little more length, a stronger twist to that rope.”

How to live and die purposefully? Swami answers, “Men are born with a helpless cry; they should die with a smile of happy joy. That is the purpose of the years between”--(SSS March,1965) Man should realize that he is not the body composed of the five elements. He is the eternal Atma or the Soul enshrined in the body! It is indestructible, cannot be made wet or dried or cut by any instrument! The Lord has reminded Arjuna, the Pandava warrior, “Nainam chindanti sasthrani Nainam dahati pavakaha……”when he became despondent and put down his bow Gandiva and the quiver of arrows on the chariot! Knowing full well he has to depart one day or other williy nilly, Man has to prepare himself for a gleeful exit, not a moment of anguish. Swami suggests practice of ‘humility, obedience and compassion. Sankara warns in his Bhajagovinda Stotra, “ Ma kuru dhana Jana yauvana garvam harathi nimeshath Kalam sarvam” Money, materials, relations, wife and property can never go with the dead! Life is considered to be a bubble that can be pricked at any time!

How can mortal man become immortal? He cannot achieve this with the frail body destined to die! The thirst for immortality in man can be achieved by realizing the principle of the Self or the Atma! “ Mrutyorma Amrutam gamaya” Our great sages and seers had harnessed their energies in conquering death by severe penance and contemplation on God. While other nations utilize their knowledge for mass destruction, “In India, people are taught to dive deep and win the Pearl.”

Life is a journey where individuals have their own destinations. The sooner they reach their stations, the quicker they get down! Similarly when man reaches his goal of life, he has to shed his mortal coil, the body! Man should not waste his time in pursuit of wealth, wine and women and other transitory things. He has to reduce his wants and keep a ceiling on desires! These desires are the root cause of all sorrows! They are insatiable and one fulfillment leads to another! Swami says, “When death deprives you of resistance, your kith an kin even will cut off your nose to remove the nose-stud!”

WHAT IS "MIND?"

Mind is the most important God given gift to Man for without it he becomes worthless! Mind is one of the the “Antahkaranas” the others being buddhi or intellect, Ahankara or ego, chitta or will. It is accepted by science that the more subtle part of the food we take feeds our intelligence and the most subtle part becomes the mind. We cannot see the mind physically not can we identify it in any other way. It is recognized by the way an individual reacts to situations that he faces. Let us take the example of a piece of cloth. It is made of cotton and woven through the yarn made out of cotton.Three stages, cotton, yarn and finally the cloth complete the process. Without basic materials no cloth can be produced. Similarly without food mind cannot exist and perform its function of discrimination, preferences, and judge do's and don'ts. When can the cloth disappear? It is when every yarn is pulled out! Likewise when there are no do's and don'ts mind cannot exist! So we can define Mind as a bundle of desires! It cannot have real entity. It has no power of its own! How does it get its name? “Mananam manah”-that which remembers, recollects as well as ruminates.

Mentàl activity results in resolutions or in their dissolution. In other words the quality of the Mind is “ Sankalpa and Vikalpa”. Mind does not exist in the absence of the two.

“ The body is the garment worn by the mind. Thoughts automatically give rise to actions, which then form into habits, and habits then form the character of man. It is character that decides our destiny, as per the law of cause and effect. (karma)”- says Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. (SSS Vol X) Mind is the boiling pot of resolves and indecisions. Excitement upsets the mind and leads to grief. Good thoughts purify the mind. Nobody knows what the mind is but they suffer because of it and its illusory existence! It is our desires that form the warp and woof of the mind. If desires are under check or removed Mind disappears! Swami says, “If a car is moving, there must be a road which is stationary. Likewise, Atma is the basis for the functioning of the Mind, senses and the body.” According to astrology moon is the karaka for the mind. The position of the moon in the horoscope of the Individual decides the mentality of the person.The word “Lunatic” comes from the word “ Luna” which means the moon! Its bad position makes one a mad person or one with instability of mind. While fire has a tendency to move up, Mind tends to move downwards and get involved in petty things!

It is the Mind that is responsible for any attachment or detachment!” Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoh” The senses tempt the mind to like something and attachment is developed. But it is very difficult to get detachment since one cannot extricate himself from his desires and family life. It is only when one is disgusted with Samsara there is an attempt to get detached! What is the nature of Mind? “ Man's mind makes him the crown of all animals.The mind plays tricks with man, who believes that some things are good and some bad, some eternal and some transitory. There is no pleasure that is unmixed with pain, there is hardly any act that is not tainted with egoism. So be warned and develop detachment which will indeed save you from grief” counsels Swami-(SSS VolX)

Original state of the Mind is purity. It is ‘ Nirmala'. But it is spoiled by sensory impressions that bring in likes and dislikes. Animal mind is not affected by attachments and attractions. Mind has fourfold functions, the mental, the intelligence, the chitta or the will, and ahankara or the ego. In discrimination our intellect comes into action. It is intellect that decides what is right or wrong.This is also an aspect of the mind. It is extremely difficult to control or set right the mind. Swami says “You can reset a tree to make it grow straight. You can straighten even a granite stone. But, you cannot easily set right the mind.”

How can man live happily? This is a question that demands a proper answer. Man needs peace of mind to lead a happy life. But in this complex day today world of materialism, desires, and disappointments, it has become a mirage! However much he tries to attain peace of mind, it eludes him. Man's mind is compared to the turbulent waters of the Ganga! It has to be restrained by applying some brakes. Meditation or Dhyana is the suitable brake that can arrest the vacillating mind. Single minded concentration is otherwise called as Dhyana. “ Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax! The mind is like water. When it is turbulent it is difficult to see. When it is calm everything becomes clear. A calm mind always brings a better outcome. To a mind that is still the whole universe surrenders! Train your mind to keep calm and stay positive in every negative situation”