Mithi and Gathi

Discourse of Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Hospital, Prashanthi Nilayam, 10 October 1961
Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Web posted at Sep 1, 2001

Jonnalagadda Sathyanaaraayanamurthy thrilled you so much, since he spoke soft and sweet in his charming style. He has returned from Russia where there is too much rush, to this quiet place, this Nilayam of Prashaanthi. This is a function connected with physical ills and their cure and prevention and so I must also confine My remarks to them.

Man has two varieties of troubles: the physical, due to the imbalance between the three humours, Vaatha, Pittha and Sleshma (wind, bile and phlegm), and the spiritual, due to the imbalance of the three Gunas, Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas (qualities of purity, passion and inertia). Sathyanaaraayanamurthy gave some pathetic instances of the sufferings caused by resorting to indifferent and ignorant doctors. I also agree that it is wise to adjust one's living so intelligently that there is no need to approach any doctor. Illness is due to the neglect of some simple rules of healthy eating and drinking and due to the damage caused to the system by evil habits and stupid cravings. Man ruins himself by greed and lust, worry and fear; he falls an easy prey to his insatiable thirst for a happy life. He does not know the source and spring of happiness which lies within himself; he believes he can get it in plenty and in quick time by running after the mirage of fashion or fancy, excitement or entertainment. He thinks that floating on the roaring, raging torrent of the world will help; but that only gives him unbearable tossing and nausea.

Joy is a subjective feeling; it is not inherent in the objective world. You are the witness, separate from the scene; you are the seer, not the seen - Dhrashta not the Dhrik or the Dhrishya.

Purified inner Vision gives unfailing Health

The screen is the Sathya (truth) and the images that flit across it are Mithya (false); when you see the film you do not see the screen as screen; you forget its existence and you think that there is just the picture and nothing else as its base. But the screen is there all the time and it is only the screen that makes you experience the picture. Naaraayana is the screen and Prakrithi (objective world) is the film; when the play is on, the screen is the Aadhaara (base) and Prakrithi (objective world) becomes Naaraayanamayam (God all-pervading). The screen is Sathyam; the story is Samsaaram (worldly life), for it has only some Saaram (essence).

Suurdas, the blind singer, had as his ardent listener when he sang, Krishna Himself sitting in front of him as a cowherd boy humming in appreciation; Suurdas took Him to be a cowherd from the villages around, though he sang that all beings are His forms. One day, Krishna revealed to him that He was the hero of his heart. He touched his eyes with His divine fingers and He could be seen! From His lips, he could hear the selfsame strains of the flute which he was hearing all along, whenever he started meditating on the Lord; as a matter of fact, he was only trying all along to put that music into verse. He then declared that he did not care to see other things with the sight vouchsafed to him; he said the inner eyes were enough. The purified inner vision gives lasting joy and therefore, unfailing health.

To purify the Anthahkarana (inner psychosomatic equipment), Vedhas and Shaasthras prescribe the proper processes; some people dismiss the Vedhas and Shaasthras as so many shackles on thought and action, but they are "bunds" which regulate the flow of feelings, emotions and instincts along safe channels.

Saadhaka should be careful about Food

Coming to the more direct topic of physical ills, I must tell you that you must practise moderation in food, drink, sleep and exercise. Good food taken in moderate quantities, at regular intervals; that is the prescription. Saathwik (pure, wholesome) food promotes self-control and intelligence more than Raajasik (passion-producing) and Thaamasik (impure food). So for spiritual aspirants, Saathwik food is very necessary.

In one of the jails of this state, there was once a very pure soul devoted to spiritual ideals, carefully practising Saadhana (spiritual discipline); he had advanced very far in Dhyaana (meditation) and Dharana (holding on to it). One day, however, when he sat for Dhyaana, he felt very savage emotions surging up in him and was shocked to find that he could not, in spite of tremendous struggle, suppress the hateful and murderous thoughts that took hold of him. He was rocked in agony and his Guru too was upset at the turn of events. The Guru probed into the history of the disciple rather deeply but could not find any valid reason for the tragedy. At last, he found that a certain fanatic murderer had acted as the cook in the jail kitchen the day previous to the calamity and his hateful homicidal thoughts had pervaded the food cooked by him which the Saadhaka had consumed. There are subtle invisible thought-forms that can pass from one person to another by such means. Here, one has to be very careful about food, especially where one is proceeding God-ward, through the steep path of Yoga.

Sleep too should be regulated and moderate; it is as important as work and food. Remember also that dress is primarily for protection against heat and cold, not for vain display even at the cost of health. Virtuous conduct also ensures mental peace and that in turn saves you from many a physical and mental illness. If you overstep Mithi (bounds), you miss your Gathi (progress).

The Habit that rehabilitates the Fallen

Above all, do every act as an offering to the Lord, without being elated by success or dejected by defeat; this gives the poise and equanimity needed for sailing through the waters of the ocean of life.

It is the mind that builds up the body, strong and shiny or wastes it to skin and bone. For Manushya (human) to be strong, the Manas (mind) has to be strong. Live always as the servant of the Lord within you, then you will not be tempted into sin or fall into evil. Get into the habit of living in the light of God. It is the habit that rehabilitates the fallen. Have the attitude of Sharanaagathi (seeking refuge at the feet of the Lord), or else your destiny will be Shara-gathi (movement of an arrow). That is why Krishna said, "Manmanaabhaava!" - "Let your mind be absorbed in Me."

You may ride in a smart car of your own; but you are entrusting daily, without a second thought, the car and yourself and your family to the skill and presence of mind of your chauffeur. However, when advised to entrust your affairs to the Lord, Maayaashakthi (power of world-illusion) hesitates and declines! It refuses to surrender to Mahaashakthi (divine power). What are we to say about such absurd conceit! If you have Sharanaagathi, you will be ever content and ever so happy and healthy. Then this hospital can be closed for want of patients; it can well be used for accommodating devotees and giving them lodging!

You are all certain to win

All that you eat, all that you see, all that you hear, all that you take in through the senses, make a dent on your health. There are three types of reactions you usually have from the outer world and three types of men in whom one or the other predominates: the cotton, which gets soaked in whatever it gets immersed; the stone which escapes from getting affected; and the butter, which is changed by whatever it comes across, even a little warmth. The "butter" men are moved by instant sympathy, either at another's joy or at his grief.

Do not, like some mental patients, be always worrying about some little ailment or another. Have courage, that is the best tonic; do not give up, before you have to. It is not long life that counts; if you live on and on, a time may come when you have to pray to the Lord to take you away, to release you from travail. You may even start blaming Him for ignoring you and blessing other luckier people with death! By all means, worry about success or failure in achieving the real purpose of life. And then you will get as many years as are needed to fulfil that desire. Yearn, yearn, yearn hard; and success is yours. Remember, you are all certain to win; that is why you have been called and you have responded to the call to come to Me.

What other task have I than the showering of grace? By Darshana, Sparshana and Sambhaashana (seeing, touching and conversing), you share in that grace. When that melts and this melts, the two can merge. Treat Me not as one afar, but as very close to you. Insist, demand, claim grace from Me; do not praise, extol and cringe. Bring your hearts to Me and win My heart. Not one of you is a stranger to Me. Bring your promises to me and I shall give you My promise. But first see that your promise is genuine, sincere; see that your heart is pure; that is enough.