Respect and honour your mother and make her happy

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Divine Discourse
Easwaramma Day, Prasanthi Nilayam, 6 May 2008

Students! Boys and girls!

Venkataraman spoke to you regarding today’s function in a befitting manner. He is a very learned man, who has worked in the Baba Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. He has also worked in some specific areas of science, earlier pursued by Sir C.V. Raman. He is the winner of many awards.

Now, what can I say about the mother of this body? Man has actually three bodies: physical, mental, and spiritual. Therefore, you are not one person but three: (1) The one you think you are, i.e. body, (2) The one others think you are, i.e. mind, and (3) The one you really are, i.e. Atma (spirit, God). Your true form is the Atma, not the body or the mind.

The life principle is the mother, not the body

In the circumstances that prevail today, very few honour their mother. Your mother carried you in her womb for nine months and gave you birth after undergoing many difficulties and hardships. Forgetting such a mother is like forgetting God. This amounts to forgetting yourself. Mother is your first teacher. It is the mother who feeds and nourishes you. It is on the lap of your mother that you grow up and experience all types of happiness. None should forget the love that he receives from his mother. First and foremost, our mother deserves our highest respect.

After the death of his mother, many people told Sankaracharya to take the body out. But Sankaracharya told them, “Neither my mother is going to leave me nor am I going to leave my mother. My mother and I are one forever. Bodies are different but the principle of the Atma is the same in both of us. You may go away from me but none has any right to separate my mother from me. Her body will be cremated in the compound of the house.” Accordingly, Sankaracharya cremated the body of his mother in the compound of his house.

None can estimate the feelings of the mother. Even today, people of Palakkad either cremate or bury the body of their mother in the compound because they feel that such a great person like Sankaracharya had done it and that they should also follow the same. In the beginning, many people criticised Sankaracharya, saying in spite of being a learned scholar, he had committed such an act of impropriety. Knowledge of the scriptures is not that important; it is cultural refinement that has great value. Culture is that which brings about refinement.

Physically, your mother may not be with you, but your love for her should remain the same. The mother of this body sent a letter to me when I was in Kodaikanal. After that I came to Brindavan (Bangalore). Once she prayed that My name be on her lips at the time of her death. When she passed away in May 1972, Summer Course was in progress at Brindavan. She was hale and hearty. All of a sudden she called out, “Swami, Swami, Swami …” I replied, “I am coming, I am coming …” When I came down the stairs, she breathed her last.

As long as there is life in the body, we should take care of it. Once the life goes away the body has no value. Truly speaking, who is the mother? It is the life principle that is the mother, not the body. Body is like a water bubble, mind is like a mad monkey. For what should we keep the body?

Immediately, I asked for the car to be brought and sent her body in the car to Puttaparthi. I remained in Brindavan. For the summer course, students had not come just from one college but from various colleges all over India. They all thought that Swami would not come to the class that day. Then what? Exactly at 9 o’clock, I entered the classroom smilingly. Students were surprised to see Me there. They were all thinking, “What is this? Swami’s mother has passed away and He has come to the classroom.”

Mother does not go anywhere. The body that was being addressed as ‘mother’ has left. But the mother is with Me only. Hence, there was no need to be sad. As long as I am there, mother is always with Me. Therefore, I told the students to be happy and not to feel sorry that the mother of this body had left her mortal coil. At that time, V.K. Gokak was the Vice Chancellor. He was also surprised, thinking, “What, Swami is talking like this!”

I have not taken birth from the physical body. After all what is this body! It exists when five elements are there in it. The body is like a bag containing five elements. When the five elements leave the body, it becomes an empty bag. Hence, one should not have undue attachment to the body.

All mothers and children should develop these feelings of detachment. As long as the mother is alive, we should respect her, honour her, and make her happy in every possible way. There is no need to be sad when she leaves the body.

Even here in Puttaparthi, people said, “What is this? Swami sent the body of Easwaramma, but He Himself has not come?” Why should I go with the body? The body is only a vesture. It is like a leather bag. When the five elements leave the body, the five senses also go with it. Then why should we grieve over the lifeless body? I arranged for whatever was supposed to be done at the worldly level. I remained in Brindavan and conducted the summer classes happily.

In this world, all the physical relationships are of our own making. Otherwise, who is related to whom? This relationship of mother and son is only at the physical level. The mother came, performed the acts that she was destined to perform, and then left. I have to perform My duty. Therefore, I engaged Myself in the performance of the task for which I have come. When we see from the worldly point of view, the body is physical and ephemeral.

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. (Telugu poem)

We should keep the indweller (Dehi) in our view and not the physical body (deha). Everyone forgets the body when they go to sleep. When you can forget it in your sleep, why can’t you forget it forever? However, as long as your parents are there, you should make them happy. Do not ignore their well being. We should look after our parents and treat them with love and respect. However, we should not have undue attachment to the body. The relationship between husband and wife is there only after marriage. Wife comes in the middle of your life, but mother is there with you right from the birth. It is sheer foolishness to forget your mother, who is with you since your birth and get entirely immersed in the love of your wife, who comes in the middle of your life.

Other relations like sons, daughters, grandsons, and sons-in-law are also formed in the middle of life. In fact, all worldly relations are temporary; they come and go like passing clouds. You have connections with these relations as long as you exist. Where is the connection when you yourself are not there? Hence, do not form any relationships on the basis of the body. However, perform all duties that you are required to perform at the physical and worldly level with earnestness. Your conduct should be good, and your deeds should also be good.

Never forget your mother; treasure her form in your heart. We come from the heart of our mother, and mother should always be in our heart. Therefore, your mother never leaves you; nor should you leave her. Mother and children are united with each other for ever.

Twameva matacha pita Twameva, Twameva bandhuscha sakha Twameva, Twameva vidya dravinam Twameva.

You alone are the father and mother, friend and relation, wisdom and wealth. (Sanskrit verse)

Wherever you may be, keep your heart suffused with feelings of love for your mother.

Once Narasimha Murthy came to Me and said, “My mother has passed away.”

I asked him, “Who has passed away — your mother or her body?” I told him, “Your mother is here. I am your mother (loud applause). It is the body that dies. The body is like a water bubble. Bodies come and go. Therefore, have no worry about the death of the body of your mother. I am here with you. Ask Me whatever you wanted from your mother, I will give (loud applause). Hence, do not feel sad at all.”

From then onward, Narasimha Murthy is with Me. I give him whatever he wants. Mother, father, and other relations are temporary — coming and going, coming and going. But God is not coming and going. He is always present. Therefore, it is only God who is present at all times. The entire world is ephemeral and transitory. How many people have taken birth in this world? Are they all here now? Death can occur in any manner; it has no sign or symptom. Death is death. Even if some symptoms of death are visible, we should not worry at all.

Never ever show disrespect to your mother. Never make her shed a tear by your conduct. Keep her always happy. Her happiness will bring you all good things in life. But we should not worry at the death of our parents.

Recently, I also said in My discourse in Bangalore that both My mother and father appeared before Me. They smiled on seeing Me; I also smiled on seeing them. We should be happy when our parents smile. Small children smile at everyone. We also start smiling when they smile. Parents are also like small children. Mother always loves her children. Therefore, whatever high position we may attain in our life, we should never disrespect or look down upon our parents. Always consider them as God. Mother is God, father is God. That is why it is said, “Revere your mother, father, preceptor, and guest as God (Matru devo bhava, pitru devo bhava, acharya devo bhava, atithi devo bhava).

Parents are to be made happy at all cost

Mother gives you your body. Father provides the means of nourishment and growth of the body. Teacher gives you education. And God gives you everything. Therefore, never forget these four, and treasure them in your heart.

Mother and father have their place in the heart of a person. One should not forget them even if one is in great difficulty or upset over something. One who forgets their parents cannot be a human being. How can you exist without your parents? They are the seeds of your life; the very source of your life on earth. Therefore, parents should have prime importance in your life.

Even if you are old or in great difficulty, make efforts to make your parents happy as far as it is possible for you. Feed them even if you have to resort to begging. Bear all hardships to look after them. Fulfil all their desires.

This will result in the fulfilment of your own desires.

Everything in this world is reaction, reflection, and resound. None can escape from these. If you cause difficulties to your parents today, your children will cause difficulties for you tomorrow. You will get back the result of your actions without much delay. You may love anyone you like, but do not forget your parents. When your parents have not forgotten you, do not forget your parents.

Mata nasti, pita nasti, nasti bandu sahodaraha, artham nasti, griham nasti, tasmat jagrata jagratah.

Relationships like mother, father, brother, sister, and friend are not real.

House and wealth are also illusory.

Beware of this truth.

(Sanskrit verse)

Remember your parents at all times. Never forget them. It is for this reason that I have come here straight from Brindavan. Earlier, people thought that Easwaramma Day might be celebrated at Kodaikanal. But I decided that I should be here at Puttaparthi on 6 May and that a grand function should be held here and poor people should be made happy by distributing clothes and serving them sumptuous food. Wherever I am, I perform this function in the same grand manner. Never ignore poor people. Always remember them and help them.

But some people out of their distress and anger abuse and ridicule them. This is a great mistake. If you ridicule them now, it will come back to you in future. You may be thinking that you are ridiculing them, but, truly speaking, you are ridiculing yourself. Never ridicule or insult them. Always love them. If you insult them before others, you will also be insulted by others. You cannot escape from the reaction, reflection and resound.

Shun gambling, lust, and anger

Difficulties come and go. Even the mighty Rama had to cry like an ordinary man on account of his separation from His wife, Sita. Even the valorous Pandavas had to live in the forest, eating leaves and tubers. How much power and valour they had! Yet they had to live in the forest and bear all difficulties. Why? They were defeated in gambling. Similar will be the fate of all those who take to this bad path. Gambling is not good at all.

Similarly, drinking of liquor is also not good. Addiction to drinking leads to loss of control over oneself. Under the influence of liquor, a drunken man may say anything. Later on, he will repent after coming back to his normal senses.

Lust and anger are the two demonic qualities. Never allow them to come near you. In a fit of anger, we may say anything without considering its consequences. But after a few minutes, when we come to our normal mood, we will feel sorry, “Alas! Why did I abuse like this?” Therefore, first and foremost, kill the anger. Rama killed many demons and demonesses in the forest because of their evil qualities of lust and anger. Whoever one may be, whether male or female, if they have the evil qualities of lust and anger, they should be punished. Anger and lust are very bad for humans.

Love God. Adore Him and worship Him. He is your father, mother, and everything. Have relationship only with God. God will never leave you. He is omnipresent. All the worldly people whom you love are like passing clouds. They come and go. But God comes and grows. Therefore, love God and have faith in Him. One who has love for God only is a true human being.

(Swami called a boy from Iran, who is a student of the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, and asked him to chant vedic mantras.) See how beautifully this boy from Iran has chanted the vedic mantras! He is a Mohammedan boy. In their country, people are not allowed even to utter the name of Rama in public. When you ask him his name, he will tell, “My name is Sathya.”

(Swami asked this boy – “What is your name?” What is your parents name? Chant the vedic mantras nicely and learn all vedic mantras. Do you know Rig Veda?” The boy then recited Rudram and Sri Suktam with perfect intonation and pronunciation to the applause of the entire gathering.)

Everything is there in the Vedas. The essence of all the religions like Hindu, Islam, and Christianity is there in the Vedas. Even Christians sing the glory of God in the same manner. Even the Mohammedans extol the five elements and worship the god for wealth. Hence, God is one for all religions. God is one. There is difference only in names. Mohammedans offer prayers to God five times a day. Hindus also pray to God in the morning and evening. We should never say that the Veda is only for Hindus. Veda is for all.

That which is one and universal is the Veda. Veda can alleviate all types of suffering of man. Hence, it is good for everyone to learn the Veda. Many people from America also come here and learn the Vedas. Many people in Russia and Germany also recite vedic mantras both in the morning and evening. Since Hindus do not recite vedic mantras, they are forgetting them. Nobody should forget the Vedas. Veda and Vedanta are like your parents. We should always remember them and never forget them.

Students, whatever you may study, never forget God. Only then can you attain peace. People say, “I want peace.” There can be no peace without bhajan. (Here Bhagawan sang the bhajan, “Hari Bhajana Bina …” and continued His discourse.)

Many people perform rituals and sacrifices for the sake of peace. Where can you get peace from? It is within you only. It does not come from outside. What comes from outside are only pieces, pieces, pieces! Peace comes from our heart only. Do devotional singing (bhajans) to attain peace. Only bhajans can give you peace.