Discard body delusion and develop attachment to God
Editor’s note. This discourse does not appear in the Sathya Sai Speaks series.
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Divine Discourse
Athi Rudra Maha Yajna, Prasanthi Nilayam, 18 August 2006
What is the use of all your learning when it does not help you to change your destiny?
When bad thoughts enter your mind, all your education and intelligence become futile and meaningless.
(Telugu poem)
You may study a number of subjects and learn many skills, but the value of all that learning is zero if you do not develop devotion to God. Unable to realise this truth, people become proud of their learning. Of what use is all that learning? What should I say in this august assembly about the end result of all such education?
The Vedic dharmas have all declined;
Speaking one’s mother tongue has become a sin; People are diffident to observe morality in society.
Oh devotees!
It is your duty to protect dharma in Bharat.
(Telugu poem)
Embodiments of Love!
Today, everything is moving very fast, unmindful of the fleeting time. Seconds, minutes, and hours are rolling by within no time. Sixty seconds make one minute, and sixty minutes make one hour. Thus, even the hours are rolling fast within no time.
What could be the reason for this fast life? It is only one’s nature. One’s mind is changing by the seconds. It is said, The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation (Manah eva manushyanam karanam bandhamokshayo). What is mind? It is a bundle of desires. We have to control these desires to some extent. People today are able to control everything except themselves. Of what use it is to control everything, when one oneself is moving about without any control?
Embodiments of Love!
First and foremost, our mind has to be dedicated to God. The mind is a gift of God. What has been given by God has to be offered to Him again. It is only when you follow this principle, you will experience total bliss.
When a person emerges from the womb, there is no garland around the neck.
There are no jewels made of pearls, nor are there glittering gold ornaments.
There are no chains studded with precious stones like emeralds and diamonds.
But there is one garland around the neck.
Brahma strings together the consequences of one’s past deeds into a heavy garland and
Puts it around his neck at the time of his birth.
(Telugu poem)
Lord Krishna declared, “The eternal Atma in all beings is a part of My Being (Mamaivamsho jivaloke jivabhuta sanathana). All this creation is a gift of God. Therefore, we have to preserve this gift carefully.”
Embodiments of Love!
People have three qualities: purity, passion, and inertia (sathwa, rajas, and thamas). We have to preserve the quality of purity. A person of evil thoughts will see evil everywhere. A person of good thoughts will see good everywhere. However, a person with no thoughts at all, will become a full person, eternal and peaceful.
A cloth is made of threads woven into warp and woof. From where did the thread called the fruit of one’s actions (karmaphala) come? It came from the cotton of the tendencies acquired from several previous births (the janmanthara samskaras). A thread is made out of cotton and woven into a cloth, and that cloth is worn by us. The cloth called the human body that we are wearing is a gift of God.
Ubhayabharathi was the wife of Mandana Misra, a great scholar in Vedanta. She was a realised soul. She always used to obey the commands of her husband and perform the duties ordained on her, as a truthful wife.
One day, Ubhayabharathi was going along with her disciples to the river Ganga to take a bath. On the way, she observed a renunciant (sanyasi), who was relaxing with a dried bottle gourd under his head. He was using this as a container for storing drinking water, so he was mindful of it. Ubhayabharathi saw this renunciant’s attachment to the bottle gourd and said to her disciples, “Look! This man calls himself a renunciant, but he’s attached to a bottle gourd, which he keeps under his head as a pillow.”
The renunciant heard this comment but said nothing. When Ubhayabharathi and her disciples were returning from the river, he threw away the bottle gourd in front of them in order to demonstrate that he was not attached to it. Observing his action, Ubhayabharathi remarked, “I thought there was only one defect in him, namely, attachment (abhimana). Now I realise that he has another defect also, i.e. ego (ahamkara). How can one with attachment and ego become a wise person and renunciant?”
Her comment was an eye opener to the renunciant. He expressed gratitude to Ubhayabharati for imparting true knowledge of renunciation to him.
Ubhayabharathi then explained to him further, “The whole world is illusory. There are several objects in this world that are attracting people, but they are not outside. They are all the reflection of one’s inner thoughts. They are created by the person themself. You develop attachment to the physical body. Later on, you yourself will discard the body. You are the one who develops attachment to the body, and you are again the one who will discard the body. Developing attachment to the body or discarding it —both are the result of your delusion. You are developing body delusion. Hence, discard body delusion and develop attachment to Divinity (Daivabhimana). The body is a temple of God. Consider the Indweller in the body as the supreme Lord (Devadeva).”
The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner or later but the indweller has neither birth nor death.
The indweller has no attachment whatsoever and is the eternal witness.
Truly speaking, the indweller, who is in the form of Atma, is verily God Himself.
(Telugu poem)
All worldly feelings are born out of ignorance (ajnana). They are not true and permanent. As long as there is life, one loves the other. As long as there is life in him, the husband loves his wife and vice versa. This love relates to the physical body. The two bodies did not come at the same time, nor do they leave at the same time.
Oh Lord! I am caught up in this cycle of birth and death; Time and again, I experience the agony of staying in the mother’s womb. It is very difficult to cross this ocean of worldly life. Please take me across this ocean and grant me liberation.
Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam,
Punarapi janani jathare sayanam,
Iha samsare bahu dustare,
Kripayapare pahi Murare.Oh foolish man, chant the name of Govinda; The rules of grammar will not come to your rescue when the end approaches.
Bhaja Govindam, bhaja Govindam,
Govindam bhaja moodha mathe,
Samprapthe sannihithe kale,
Nahi nahi rakshati dukrun karane.
One may be hale and healthy and happy today, but no one knows what will happen tomorrow. The body is like a car, and the mind is its steering. When the mind itself is not in one’s control, how can the physical body be under his control?
Embodiments of Love!
Each one of the priests (ritwiks) who gathered here and are conducting this ritual (yajna) for the last ten days is great. Irrespective of their mental make up, their minds are steadily fixed on this divine assignment.
There are several youths in this group. The country needs such youths. I feel very happy in the midst of youths, and I will give whatever they want. I will talk to them after the valedictory oblation (purnahuthi) and fulfill their desires. I will spend some time with them happily.
Several people tried to develop a sense of detachment (vairagya bhava), but they are unable to give up their attachments. I will teach them a method by which they can easily give up this attachment. Our chief priest can guide you all in this regard. He can lead you by his own example. He is a person who puts into practice all that he teaches to others. When you follow such a teacher (acharya), you can overcome any hurdle and reach your destination.
It is very easy for a human being to attain Divinity. In fact, God belongs to you, and you belong to Him. The relationship between you and Me is that of a father and son. Hence, lead a life of happiness, courage, and bliss.
I am also feeling bad that you are leaving tomorrow. I will come along with you —we cannot live without one another. Consider this sacred relationship between us as true and eternal and strive to maintain it. I will come tomorrow early in the morning and see you all again. I will give you a lot of happiness and bliss.