Faults and failures

21 November 1970, All-India Conference of Workers of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations, Prasanthi Nilayam

Professor Kasturi's English.

1

PEOPLE may say that the are only a collection of sounds, of series of letters, but they are much more. Veda is Wisdom; Wisdom is God. The culture of built on the Veda elaborates this Truth and enjoins its practice. This Truth has now to be lived in daily life so that the dire problems affecting the individual and society can be solved. Many practices and patterns of behaviour have been added to this Culture in the course of history. It is necessary to discard these and purify the outlook. This is one of the main tasks of this Organisation. Economic development and five-year plans may raise the standard of living, but unless, along with these, the fundamental Wisdom enshrined in the Veda is assimilated by the people, such progress will end in disaster. Morality, a virtuous character, is the very foundation of progress, the very basic need. It grows in the realm of the Spirit. But, today, the Spirit is neglected. Physical and animal needs are catered for, they are accepted as the ends of living; all efforts are directed to these. In the , (righteousness) was accepted and sought after as the very base of life. In the , the next Age, God who was installed in the heart was accepted and sought. In the , developing contacts and attachment with kinsmen and friends was considered enough to keep one safe and happy. In the , the modem age, food and sustenance are taken as the very essentials of Life.

2

Developing Love is the way to deserve leadership People have now more faith in medicine (which has taken the place of good food) than in (God). Life is built on capsules and tablets. Pills () supply the power for this pilgrimage (), to God knows where! Examine the contents of the pocket of any one going to office; you will not find there the picture of God or a copy of the ; but you are certain to find some Aspirin or Saridon tablets! It is the same in the case of boys going to school or fathers going to the cinema! Even the vanity bags of ladies contain tablets and capsules. Though you may dine on the best of foods, pills are certain to ruin health. You shouldnot make these temporary make-shifts a permanent habit. Even great personages who claim to be Masters of Spiritual Learning and Teachers of Spiritual Discipline are upset when the habits that have mastered them are disturbed. Their or cannot proceed unimpaired when the morning cup of coffee is delayed for a few minutes! See how weak they are! What can such men achieve? How can they realise the (all-pervading Self) as their Reality? They care more for the body they live in, than for themselves! They have no faith in the which they yearn to visualise. They have no genuine yearning for Wisdom. They are only imitating the ways and words of others who have gone before. Develop Love, demonstrate Love, draw Love from your surrounding - that is the way to deserve leadership.

3

Spiritual attainments shun publicity There are many who go about the country, preaching about and , pretending to be highly advanced experts. They claim to be masters, so that they can collect huge audiences and show off their skills. But, such exhibition of talent is not a sign of spiritual attainment. Spiritual attainments shun publicity. Spiritual practice is to be done in silence, away from public gaze. The name and form of God are extolled by as Precious Gems;" precious gems are not brought out as wares to the market place; only vegetables .are so exhibited for all to see. The Units of our Organisation should not encourage pomp or show - for they are alien to the Spiritual Path. The Organisation is set up to develop and foster Love; it is not set up through compulsion; it arose from the heart and it expands the heart. The inner desire to achieve Love and expand Love has taken outer shape as this Organisation. Our thoughts are the cotton, the desires which they mould are the threads, and the intermingling and the interaction of these desires is the cloth, made out of warp and woof. When the threads (desires) are removed one by one, the cloth (mind) disappears. It is best to have as few desires as possible. "Less luggage, more comfort, make travel a pleasure," as the Railways remind you. If you have to lessen your luggage for a short railway journey, how urgent it is to lessen the luggage when you are on the much longer journey of Life! This process of lessening luggage is called, in spiritual language, (detachment). The , the Formless Absolute, when it is reflected through the Sathwik (pure, unagitated) medium, reveals itself as or God. When it is revealed in a Rajasik (active, passionate) medium it is or the individual person. When it is revealed in a Thamasik (dull, inert) medium, it is matter. All is , only cognised through different media. The is the only Reality, the , the One without a Second.

4

5

Elevate the human into the Divine Office-bearers of all Units are here; you are about to consider and approve various Rules and Regulations. But, you must first consider and make certain the answer to a basic question: Why are we in this Organisation? What is the purpose? You must have the firm belief that the aim of this Organisation is to remove the obstacles that keep man away from God, that separate (humanity) from (Divinity). There can be no human; it is all Divine. This Organisation must elevate the human into the Divine.

6

There are certain persons in our Organisation who revel in factions and who dwell on differences; there are others who have no faith in it and its task, others have no enthusiasm for work, they are full of envy or malice. When you water a margosa tree, you cannot get the sweet mango from it. Pour the water of Devotion to the tree of ; you will get the sweet fruit of Bliss.

7

8

9

Base all your activities on There is also another point. We are deciding it tomorrow but I shall give you some indication of it, even today. We have for every Unit a President, a Secretary, a Joint Secretary and a Treasurer. But I wonder why we should have a Treasurer, when we are not concerned with money! The name indicates that we have a treasure, which we have collected, which we guard, and on which we rely! We deal with something much more valuable than money, Love. Where money is collected and kept, misunderstanding grows, factions are rampant and love departs. Money and the ways in which men run after it, have caused chaos in the world. Base your activities on , fill your hearts with - then I will shower Grace and be ever with you. Where is the need for money for , for and for ? For , you require only legs to move, tongues to sing and hearts to receive the Name of God. For special purposes and on special occasions, funds are collected only from Members of the . This has been the rule from the very beginning; it is the very basis of this Organisation. For all other activities, you need no funds. You need only a loving heart, a pure heart, a wide heart.

10

11

12

In some places, there are Units which do not carry on any activity. Or, if they do, the activities are quite contrary to the principles and practice of the or to the Rules laid down for the Organisation. Wherever there are such Units, the State President or the District President must take steps immediately to remove them from the Organisation. In some , members do not attend meetings, even 50 per cent of them. They are absent for 100 per cent of the meetings. Some do not hold meetings at all, so that no one can calculate the percentage of attendance. It is for such Units that Rules and Regulations are imperative. If rules are not observed as laid down, the Organisation will come down in confusion.

13

14

Everyone in distress deserves help It is also laid down strictly that those who are in our Organisation should not have any connection with other Organisations of spiritual or religious character. Of course, so far as service is concerned, members should help and serve all, without distinction. Every one in distress deserves help. But no member of the should have any connection with other such institutions or societies. For example, there may be a ( society) in your locality. " is ; is ." I have declared often and you know it and have realised its truth. Why then, you may ask, is the distinct from the ? Well, this body with the name , has full authority over all institutions established under this Name. For the , there is no Body with that Name to hold and exercise authority and so, if funds are collected, used or misused, this Body has no control over the in a tangible manner. So, it is best to keep the two distinct and allow those Societies to go their own way. There are a number of other institutions also started and run by of various types. If we have any who associates with these, I ask the District and State President to remove them immediately. Though people can revere and worship whomsoever they like, we should not have in the Organisation men with dual loyalties. Only those with faith and devotion to this Name and Form can carry out its objectives with zest and enthusiasm.

15

16

Do not give room for personal misunderstanding There will be State-wise Meetings in the Prayer Hall. Wen I come there, you can suggest to Me without any emotion or factional spirit, the names of District Presidents and State Presidents whom you would like to have, in Districts and States where there is no President so far. Even in places where we .have them already, you can suggest changes, if you feel like having changes. But do it after mutual consultation and agreement. Avoid personal animosity and do not give room for personal misunderstandings. Remember that the essential qualifications for members are faith and devotion. Remember also that the development of this Organisation will bring Peace and Tranquillity to the World torn by chaos. The World can be bettered and saved only through spiritual progress, by the efforts of spiritual organisations. People may claim that they are engaged in social service, that they are directing or sharing in Government activities which promote the welfare of the Community. But, whatever is done as a job, without inspiration or renunciation and heart-felt Love, cannot be "Service." I have come for (promotion of the welfare and happiness of the world) and so, when you spread Concord and Love, throughout the world by means of this Organisation, your activity will certainly please Me. We can have Peace and Prosperity in the land if all Units work in Love and tolerance and mutually co-operate in service.

17

Give ear to things that give tranquillity Some State Presidents and District Presidents have written to Me that they are being misunderstood and maligned and that they receive letters-attacking their bonafides. To be agitated by these letters is a sign of weakness in a . Beware of losing peace by giving ear to such maligning. Give ear to truth, things that give tranquillity. Then, your will succeed. Even I am not free from calumny. You can see how my hair covers my ears. Reports come to Me from devotees, also from those who want to malign others or talk ill of others and spread false fears. The hair "filters" these reports and only the reports that are true or that give joy, can enter my ears!

18