Amirtha Vaani

Sparks from Discourses of Sathya Sai Baba during Dashara, November 1963
Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Web posted at Jan 13, 2001

They speak of two types of Karma: Dhaihika and Daivika (physical and spiritual). But, this division is absurd and even dangerous. All acts and activities are spiritual, the body is but an instrument for spiritual progress and attainment. Modern education emphasises the physical and neglects the spirit, which is crucial. It teaches that joy derived through the senses alone are worth while; it does not give even a glimpse of the deeper and more lasting joy derivable through the spirit which is your real self and it is, in essence, Aanandha, Shaanthi, Jnaana - Sathyam, Shivam, Sundharam (bliss, peace, spiritual knowledge - truth, goodness and beauty).

You must have noticed that I never address you as 'Bhakthulaara' for how can you be only that? You are Bhagavaan, you become that by just shedding the Avidhya (ignorance) that makes you imagine that you are limited. That is why I address you either as Shaanthi swaruupulaara, or Aanandha swaruupulaara, or Divyaathma swaruupulaara (embodiments of peace or bliss or divine soul). That is your real nature, but, you are not even told who you are. Your misery is traceable to this failure to know yourself.

Educators today do not teach the ways and means of crossing the sea of misery, of facing success and defeat, of remaining calm and collected. The brain is stuffed with information, the hands are trained in skills, but, the senses are not tamed, the intelligence is not curbed, the mind is allowed to run amok. That is the cause of the tragic crisis in the world today.

Do Karma full of Joy and Enthusiasm

You have been born in this Karmakshethra (land of spiritual activity) and your duty is to engage yourself in continuous uninterrupted Karma. Do not get bogged in gloom and sloth; do Karma full of joy and enthusiasm, as if each act is an offering at the Feet of the Lord. Bhaaratha desham (India) is the Guru peetham (seat of spiritual teacher) of Humanity; that is the role it has played and has to play; but, as consequence of undue attachment to the senses and the world, fostered by blind admiration and snobbish imitation, the role has been forgotten, to the great loss of ourselves and of the rest of humanity. The restrictions, regulations and rules of guidance for individual family, community, nation and humanity are either not remembered or brushed aside as obsolete. The joy, peace and contentment that one gets by observing them are themselves witnesses of their worth.

The Pandiths and scholars who have assembled here, for the Prashaanthi Vidhwanmahaasabha being inaugurated now, have therefore a great responsibility for they must hold fast to the Prashaanthi (total peace) that the study and practice of the Vedhas and Shaasthras has conferred upon them; they must also share that Prashaanthi with all humanity. They must be bold, free and happy always, for they know that this is all an unreal dream. They know the goal of life and they are marching steadily towards it with every passing minute.

Grief is the greatest Friend of Man

All that is Padhaartha (matter) must be transformed into Paraartha (spirituality); that is My plan. The Jnaana which the Vedhas and Shaasthras have given to these people must be distributed. At present these scholars have no self-confidence, because they are losing faith in what they themselves have hitherto considered invaluable. They send their children to technical courses and secular studies, for they are heavily pinched for the means of livelihood. What is the good in having an umbrella that allows the sun to burn you and the rain to soak you, they have started asking! But, the Vedhic treasure-house has vast riches, which is urgently needed today. It is to conserve, develop and utilise it more fully that this Sabha is inaugurated now.

The Vedha is the basis of Dharma, which is like the mother in its loving care for man. Bhaaratha bhuumi (India) is Yoga bhuumi, Karma bhuumi, Thyaaga bhuumi, not Bhoga bhuumi (land of spiritual union, spiritual activity, renunciation and spiritual enjoyment). The Kauravas failed because they stuck to empire and greed for power, and fixed their minds on Bhoga (enjoyment). The Paandavas secured divine guidance and won, because they stuck to spiritual joy, ascetic self-control and simplicity and sincerity. To follow the same path is the sign of wisdom. That is the Path of Dharma (virtue) from which mankind has strayed away. Grief is the greatest friend of man, for it opens the eyes and shocks you into the search for the secret of Shaanthi and Santhosha (peace and happiness).

There is no need for Tears or Despair

A monkey put its hand into a pot of nuts and tightened its fist full of the food, but, it could not take its hand out of the narrow neck because the fist was too big for it. Unless the nuts were dropped back into the pot and the fingers released, the hand could not be got out! That is the situation of man today. His greed is giving him great pain but he has not discovered the fact; so he clings to his possessions and tries to pull his hand out; that gives him great pain. There is no use blaming the nuts or the pot. The fault is in the monkey itself. Prakrithi (nature) is the pot and the sensory objects are the nuts.

A bird sits on a tiny twig, in perfect confidence! Where does it get the confidence from? Not from the twig; but, from the wings which can take it aloft at the slightest sign of danger. The twig is Prakrithi (objective world). Sit on it lightly, gaily, confidently; but, rely more on the wings, namely the grace of the Lord who can lift you aloft, away from Prakrithi at the slightest premonition of danger. The twig is not very reliable but, the wings are always there to save you.

The revival of that Dharma is a task which the rulers have not planned for; it is a programme which the people are not keen upon. Then, who has to take it up? It was said that I have taken up this form in answer to the prayers of Saadhus (noble souls) and others. There are some mothers who feed the baby only when it starts crying; the more considerate and loving type of mother knows when the baby is hungry; she need not be called to its side by a loud wail. This mother is that type of mother. I have come, because I felt I had to come. I resolved upon this. There is no need now for tears or despair, either among the repositories of the Vedhic wisdom or among the good, who suffer from the cruel winds of Adharma (vice). This campaign will succeed; it will not fail. The welfare of the world will be ensured through the fostering of the Godly everywhere, and more particularly of these reservoirs of the ancient wisdom of this land.