Vision of the Purusha

Discourse of Sathya Sai Baba, Prashanthi Nilayam, 22 October 1961
Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Web posted at Sep 1, 2001

You are, I know, rather bored by these evening gatherings taking place every day, without break, for it is hard listening, this, the discussion of spiritual subjects and the detailing of disciplinary rules. Some of you are saying that you came to Prashanthi Nilayam for peace and quiet; but you are being subjected to the ordeal of speeches and long sittings. Let Me tell you that discourses by these great scholars are very valuable. The speakers here are blessed; the listeners too are blessed. Why, the listeners are even more blessed; for they can very often follow the lessons which these speakers teach, while the teachers themselves might not be able to carry them out.

There was a Pandith who led a disciplined life, sticking to a prearranged timetable; he woke up from sleep in the early hours of the morning, recited the Pranava (OM) and later, after ablutions, drank his cup of milk at 7 a.m. exactly. Some days the milkmaid arrived late, for she lived on the other bank of the river and had to catch a ferry to cross over with the milk. The ferry boat either started a little too soon or at times reached her bank too late, when she brought the milk late, greatly to the annoyance of the Pandith. One day, he lost patience and chided her for upsetting his timetable."Why do you depend on that horrid boat to take you across? Do you not know that if you only repeat the name of Raama that you can walk across without coming to harm? Raama will see that you do not get drowned." Next day, the maid repeated Raama-naama and just walked across. Yes, her faith gave her the strength. She did not tarry for the ferry. The Pandith was flabbergasted, for He did not believe that it could ever be possible for Raama-naama to work this miracle.

The Bhaktha must ignore his identity and separateness and merge with ideal; what individuality has the servant got? He has nothing; no, not even a trace. The master is all.

Dealing with both Sath and Chith is divine Bliss

If you stare at the sun for a second and then turn your eye to other things around, you will find that there is a dark patch over them and you cannot recognise them. Similarly, once you get a vision of the Purusha (God), who is more effulgent than a thousand suns, you can no longer recognise the multiplicity called Prakrithi (nature). The world is black, it is blocked; indeed, you can no longer recognise or deal with variety once you have had a vision of the basic unity.

Take the screen in the cinema theatre. When the film is on, you do not see the screen, you see only the play; when the show is over, you see just a screen, a screen that has no message - neither voice nor name nor form nor colour nor creed. That is Brahman. The entire rope gives the appearance of a snake in the dark; here, the entire screen was lost in the picture. Brahman is Sathyam; Jagath (universe) is Brahman. That is Sath (being), this is Chith (awareness). Knowing this and dealing with both is Aanandham. I was asked once how any one can accept the two seemingly opposite statements: "Brahma Sathyam Jaganmithya" and "Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagath" - Brahman is Truth, world is false" and "World is full of Vishnu."

This was My reply: the powers of man are limited by his experience and his knowledge. He is just a Pinda (part), while the Lord is Anda (whole), the force pervading the entire universe. The Anda-Pinda Lingam symbolises this body-limb relationship, the part-whole aspect of Maadhava and man.

The Sadhaa-Shivalingam represents the ever-auspicious Aathma, which is beyond all dual aspects and concepts, immanent in all beings and everywhere. It is not negated by time; it is Sadhaa (always), Shivam (beneficial and auspicious).

A real Guru must be full of Bliss

The Jnaanalingam is the sign of the attainment of Jnaana (spiritual wisdom), when the last vestige of the delusion of "I" is wiped off; even the feeling 'I know' is gone; then you are the Aathma, pure and whole, entire and enduring - then your condition is best represented by the symbol of the Aathmalinga.

You have, each one, the tremendous Shakthi (power) of the Aathma (infinite consciousness) in you. Some are able to draw upon it; others just know it is there; others are unaware of the methods of tapping it or even of its existence. It all comes in time, through steady Saadhana. The child, in time, grows into the father; the father becomes the grandfather and he in turn ages into a great grandfather. The Saadhaka rises step by step towards the highest bliss by adhering to the instructions of the Guru.

You should tell the Guru, "If you can help me, do so. If you cannot, do not give false hopes and mislead me. Confess your immaturity. I can then seek some other guide. Do not pretend to be a teacher when you are not even a good student." Ply him with questions, examine his daily conduct, clear your doubts; then cultivate faith in the Guru you have won. There are many Gurus who are guided by their students and followers and warned by their disciples not to state certain views in public. These Gurus act according to the dictates of men in power or men with money. A real Guru must be like Sadhaa-Shivalingam, full of Aanandha welling up from the consciousness of the divinity.

Do not harm your inner Nature

So long as you are in Avidhya (ignorance), so long as you are untrained and lacking in knowledge, you cannot taste the bliss; you cannot attain it. You are still bound by the three-corded rope - the black cord of Thamas (inertia), the red cord of Rajas (passion) and the white cord of Sathwa (equanimity). Deny that you are bound; the rope falls away. Hence, regulate your life in such a way that you do not harm your inner nature. That is to say, live in the constant contemplation of your kinship with others and with the universe. Do good to others, treat all nature kindly, speak soft and sweet, become a child devoid of envy, hate and greed; when your ego crosses the threshold of your family or group and takes kindly to those beyond, you have taken the first step to cross the threshold of Maaya.

Whoever has tasted that joy will thenceforward crave for that only. How can the Jeevi (individual being) stoop to something less? How can the truth be grasped when you are stepped in falsehood? How can a fish experience the sky? How can nectar and poison, day and night, God and the devil, be together?

Uddhava, when he came among the Gopees, discovered that Krishna was roaming in their hearts without a moment's respite. They were seen scanning the dust on the roads to discover a footprint of Krishna, so that they could fall down and worship it! Raadha was the greatest devotee of all; she saw all footprints as Krishna's own, including even hers! Really, is there anyone who is not He? Any form that is not His? Any name that does not connote Him? Uddhava exclaimed, "I have no need of Naaraayana; I am content with this vision of the glory of the Bhaktha." For the sorrow and fear of today, the same prescription also holds: See him of the Shiva-Swaruupa (form of Shiva) in all; then all will yield joy and peace. That is the truth. The rest is false. Yama comes with delusion; Shiva is seen; then light dawns.

Prema will destroy the Roots of Ego

Ahamkaara or egotism is the Maaya. How can you get rid of it? The field looks a dry waste, with no sign of green; and you feel proud that you have pulled up all the grass by the roots. When the showers come down, they sprout again. Prema will destroy the roots of the ego. Plant it, protect it, foster it and enjoy its fruits. Remove envy, hate and greed from your heart; they will smother the seedlings of Prema.

Have faith; faith will grant you all that you need. How can you build your faith on a mound of sand? The deeper you dig the sandy soil, the greater the risk of the sides slipping down and burying your faith in doubt and denial. Listen to the call from within; believe that it is the call from Mathura.

The Lord too condescends to grant you the chance to develop faith. Why did Krishna raise the Govardhana hill and keep it aloft? It was to announce His truth and his nature, to instil faith and to implant courage. It is just a sign, as is each one of My acts. There is no task which I cannot accomplish, remember; no weight I cannot lift. You have faith in Raama and Krishna because of the books which describe a part of their achievements and the experience of the Saadhakas who attempted to delve into their mystery. You have not demanded direct proofs of divinity from either Raama or Krishna, have you? Have faith first and then you will get proof enough. Take up the discipline of the recital of the name.

Why drag out your existence as a mere consumer of food, as a moving burden encumbering the earth? Eat, but transform food into good deeds, good thoughts and sweet speech; move, but do not cause pain to others or add to their misery. Do not condemn yourselves as weak, sinful, conceited, wicked, outlawed, mean, etc. When you so condemn yourself, remember you are actually condemning Me, who is your inner self. Live, so that with every breath and step, you come nearer and nearer to Me.