The Ganga and the sea

19 July 1970, Prasanthi Nilayam

Professor Kasturi's English.

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ALL around is to be seen living beings who drag out their existence in misery, in spite of agelong effort to earn (bliss), through many a life. lived in the past. They have not so far succeeded in winning , because it is only the knowledge of the as their inner core that can confer lasting Bliss. When sensual desire tarnishes the mind, it cannot have untarnished Bliss. Through virtuous and truthful life, the mind has to be purified, so that the knowledge of the immanence of in all, is evident for it. It is only when you see yourself in all and all selves in you that Bliss is possible. The Grace of God cannot be earned by mere recitation of the glories of God. The Name has to be uttered with its halo of meaning clear in the mind's eye. There must be , and (feeling, melody and correct timing) while singing the Name of God. These Americans who sang now, paid attention to melody and time, and their came from the heart. So, they are true children, for , and signalise , maga and ! The culture of emphasises the (attachment) towards (God).

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God is the seed of this manifested Universe Adore the God that is resident in all beings, motivating them and prompting their every activity. , the saint, had that vision. He was going on pilgrimage to , in the extreme south of India, from , in the North, carrying the sacred in a pot, to be poured ceremonially on the idol at that place. His disciples were with him. On the way, he saw a donkey dying of thirst, in great agony. felt that the in the donkey was calling out for the holy that he was carrying on his shoulder; in spite of the protests of his followers, he poured the precious down the throat of the dying animal and saved it. His joy knew no bounds. God is the seed of all this manifested Universe. , says in the : "I am the seed of all elements and all beings." The root, the trunk, the branch, the leaf, the flower, the bark, the fruit, have each a different texture, taste, smell, colour, use and function; but, they have all arisen out of one single tiny seed! So too all this Universe has but One Primal Cause, God. Man must seek to know the Cause, not the Effect, which is but a facet of the Cause.

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People answer the question, "Where is God to be found?" in different ways. They say, in , , , , . But, that is not the answer you should accept or give. Tell them that God dwells where His devotees gather and sing His Glory. That is the reason why I am advising you so insistently to do and (public chanting and singing Lord's glory). The very moment you step on to the path, Grace will be upon you. The rises in the ranges, and reaches the sea after a long journey of more than a thousand miles. True, but, do not imagine, that it is only at the point where the waters merge into the sea that the sea is in touch with it! When there is contact in one place, there is contact all along the flow, all along the line, throughout the thousand miles, from the sea to the summit. The tingle and the thrill will be felt from the pool where it originates to the estuary where it meets the sea.