Discover and decide

October 1965, Dasara, Prasanthi Nilayam

Professor Kasturi's English.

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Derive divine bliss by diving into the depths Ice and water are but one in two names and forms; hard and liquid are one and the same; so too, the (Formless) and the (with Form) aspects are both the same Godhead. But, yet, man uses this simple problem for perpetual argumentation and dispute. He talks of the omnipresence of God, but disputes the value of image worship. Even about Me, there are some who have had a glimpse of the Truth; there are others who have not been able to achieve even that. But, My is showered equally on all; I do not reveal or refuse; it is for you to discover and decide, derive divine bliss by diving into the depths. How can an ant calculate the depth of the sea? How can a man on the ground describe the features of the pilot of a plane in the sky? Unless you rise to the heights, by following certain disciplines, you cannot experience Godhead. Once you do that, all judgements, all disputations and even sense of victory, disappear.

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I know many are puzzled by my practice of listening to your '', (wants, wishes, desires), calling you individually and spending long hours with you to satisfy you and to speak to you on these 'earthly' demands. They say, no has done this before; it is like catering to worldly things; people come with all kinds of worldly desires and every one is welcomed with sympathy and love. But, I alone know the basic thirst which expresses itself in these desires and wants, the fundamental discontent. It is always preferable to approach God for the fulfilment of wants, rather than cringe before men, who' themselves are but tools in the hands of God. In his own silent way, God will transform the mind and turn it towards and successful spiritual pilgrimage. He cannot allow his children to lose their way and suffer in the jungle. When you approach God and seek his help and guidance, you have taken the first step to save yourself. You are then led to accept His will as your own. Thus, you achieve .

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Come with hands that supplicate, not supply You know there is a rule here that you should come with empty hands, without even the traditional offerings of , , , (leaf, flower, fruit and water). Come with clean hands, hands that supplicate, not supply; hands that proclaim that they have renounced attachment to riches; then, I fill them with Grace. I must say that I accept certain things before giving you that Grace: I demand and take , , and . I seek the gifts of truth, virtue, peace and love. I draw you to me and then re-form and re-shape you. I am a kind of smith who repairs broken, leaky damaged hardware. I repair broken hearts and fragile minds, warped intellects, feeble resolutions and fading faith Do not be under the impression that all these people come to me seeking worldly favours or blessings for worldly advancement or fortunes. At least ninety among a hundred of them ask from me spiritual guidance only. They do not ask for worldly boons at all. They are eager to be directed along the path of , , or some such . They are full of for the Divine Principle and the Divine is full of towards them. It is a question of responding to ; which is saturated with , as was saturated with .

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Do not become a puppet in others' hands No one has the authority to hate another or condemn him. You have the chance to love him and serve him; or, to keep yourself free from him; that is all. If you are attracted when people praise you or repelled when they defame you, you become a puppet in their hands. I have been steadily fixed on this line since twenty-six years and no amount of calumny or praise will swerve me from the path. I do not agree that torn clothes or shaven head or vows of diet or silence mark out superior claims for spiritual leadership. People may carp at silken gowns or a crown of hair, but I know why I have come and I will not yield. Approach me with and I shall reciprocate with . That has been my nature even in the past ages. In the age there was a vainglorious individual who set up as a 'double', with the same appurtenances and appearance as and challenged him with calumnies and scandals. But, can a film-star who plays the role ever become the original itself? and (sameness of form and absorption into the diety) are won by love, devotion, faith, humility, wisdom. is described as tenderer than the petal of a rose, but, at the same time, harder than diamond. He pined for with extreme tenderness; he sent her to the forest as an exile, with a hardness of heart that shocked even . The nature of every is such. and others who were in great sorrow at the fate of thought of a stratagem to get her back to ; they persuaded to agree to the performance of an sacrifice; the main performer of this must have a legally wedded wife as an active participant and sharer; otherwise, he cannot claim the right to perform the rite! So since will never take another wife, they hoped will recall so that he may perform the sacrifice, as agreed upon. But, was too clever for them; he observed the Shastraic rule correctly, by making a golden image of and allowing it to take the place of the living wife, during the ceremony.

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Win Lord's Grace through faith and devotion Through a desire to judge or estimate or evaluate, you cannot discover the mystery of God; through devotion and faith, you have to win His Grace, which will reveal Him to your understanding and experience. Steady faith alone can earn victory. You cannot be changing your allegiance as and when you please. Hold fast until the realisation is awarded; when a man is suffering from the effects of cobra-bite, they give him chillies to chew; the idea is they will not taste "hot" if the poison is still in his system. So too, when the poison of worldly sensualism is there, worship, , all will taste drab and dismal. People may laugh at you for going on pilgrimages or coming to , especially if you are young and have no problems of illness or no crisis in fortune. They cannot appreciate the urge for liberation or for everlasting joy; they cannot sympathise with those who long to answer the call of the vast magnificence that surrounds them. They try to scotch the beginnings of spiritual yearning in children, not knowing that they will grow into a strong armour for them in future years. They are afraid their children may become monks in later life and leave their homes. So they try to plunge them deeper into pleasures, so that by developing their own type of madness they may be cured of divine madness! Above all, insist on the senses obeying you, when you command them to desist from dragging you. Or else, you are like a horse without a bit in the mouth, a car without a brake. With the senses under control, your intelligence will become clear to reflect the Glory of God that pervades the Universe. That is the teaching of the and of .