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)