The Lord Is The Embodiment Of Prema And Can Be Contacted Only Through Prema

May 1974, Summer Course 1974 - Bharath, Brindavan

Published English.

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Acquaintance with the contents of the various or is not going to remove the screen in front of one’s mind. On one side of the screen is the or the individual and on the other side is the . On one side of the screen is the creation and on the other side is the basis for all that we see. The previous birth is not known to us. Also, the present birth is not permanent. Similarly, no one knows his future birth.

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Is there anyone who knows about the future? The human body is impermanent and transient, and the , residing in the body, is indestructible. He is the permanent one and he is the and the one who is the or the basis, of all that we see. It is His greatness that manifests in many different ways.

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To understand and absorb the into our selves, all the three processes - , and - are necessary. Just as the sun gives us the essence or the of the sunshine, so also the or the words that are contained in the give us the or the essence in the Veda to all who are well versed in .

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There is an alternative name of to one who is well versed in the . The who have the strength of the have been making an attempt to understand this aspect of the . When we say that the have the strength of the , the word means the of the Veda; and the , with the help of the , have understood the aspect of . The statement explains how the word is associated with the word . This has undertaken to give us the meaning of the word of the Veda. The essence of the words of the Veda has been given to us in the aspect of by . The same has been described by the name in the early years of its existence and later on when it grew a little older it got the name and when it became older, the same was called . This , in its later aspect of , has been giving out the rays of divine effulgence to the world. Just as the rays of the sun emerge from the sun spontaneously so also the rays of the emerge spontaneously in the form of divine effulgence.

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There is no one who is the originator of either the form or the content of the . They are self-effulgent. Just as the sun’s rays are not created by anyone, so also the rays which come from the and the names and forms which arise from are spontaneous emissions of the . They are not created by anyone. It is only in the context of the fact that the is called by the names , , and in different stages that we should realise that these three names respectively represent , and . In this context, the kind of sound or the word that comes from the is called and this has also been referred to as the consort of . In this context has also been referred to as .

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We have to understand that the kind of relationship existing between the rays of the sun and the sun itself is the same as that existing between and . Similarly, the relationship between the moon and the cool air that emanates from the moon is the same as that existing between and . The relationship between and is again like the relationship that exists between milk and the white colour of the milk. You can convert milk into curd and curd into butter. But, in all these modifications, the milk still retains its colour, namely the whiteness. Just as it is not possible to separate the pure white colour from milk, although you can transform milk into curd or butter, the kind of relationship that exists between and is such that one cannot be separated from the other. Here the names , and are relevant. is also an appropriate name for .

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In this context, the has been telling us the different names of , and . In the very first stage of , grants us grace. It also lays down the commandments. As it teaches us. And finally as it confers the boon of self-realisation. While and give the first two steps, the end result is granted by . The final result of self-realisation is an outcome of the commandment of and the path laid down by .

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Since is the place where the command is originating, it is also associated with the place of the heart by the . When we talk of the heart here, it does not represent the physical heart but it represents a place a little below the physical heart that is the spiritual heart. It is in accordance with the commandment that the heart begins to involve itself in a thinking process. Without accepting the preaching of that is being given to you, you cannot move on to the next stage of realisation. Sometimes the head undertakes to decide about the destination even before lays down the commandment. Whenever any person takes to the path decided by the head before he gets the command from the place of , he will realise that the path he has chosen is not the right one and he will regret for the same at a later date.

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In this context it is necessary for you to examine whether the thought generated in your head is proper and whether the action is in keeping with the command of the . You must take sufficient time and make sure that the command comes from the place of your heart and only then think with your head, and finally get into action. Thus, it is necessary to give sufficient attention to the place of the heart, and the commandments that come from it. Sometimes it is possible that you are guided by your excitement and emotion and undertake to read some books or do something, although the commandment is not coming from your . This is not right. When you want to read a book or involve yourself in a , it is better to take some time and let the decision come from the rather than make the decision in haste.

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There is a small example for this. For several years many people have been reciting the in the or a particular chapter of as a matter of routine without giving any thought to the basis or the place from where they are getting the orders to undertake these activities. Such sometimes go to elders and seek an . Truly, an individual who has been reciting or for fifteen years does not need any message or from another person. If you enquire this individual who is the author of the he will unhesitatingly reply that Lord directly gave it to in the battlefield. If he really had faith in the , which came from the Lord himself, then where is the need for him to go to a third person and ask for an ? If he has no faith in what he knows to be the words of Lord , where is the guarantee that he will have any faith in the words of any other ? If the very words uttered by and which he was reciting for the past several years have not created any faith in him, the words which a gives are sure to be forgotten in less than fifteen seconds.

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Such situations will come for people who are unable to perceive and comprehend the orders that come from . What is coming from the place of is not being taken seriously by such people and they want to go directly to the third step of and experience the aspect of without starting from the orders of . It is absolutely necessary for every individual to search his conscience. It is in this context it is said that one should essentially have faith in one’s own or have self-confidence. Only when one develops self-confidence will he be able to develop peace of mind and experience the satisfaction or of the ; and then he will sacrifice everything else.

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Experiencing and removal of sorrow are simultaneous events. Just as darkness automatically and simultaneously disappears as soon as you put on a light, sorrow disappears when comes, without any further attempt. Light and darkness are like the obverse and reverse of the same coin. These are one and the same and in fact two aspects of the same thing. In the same manner, and are one and the same thing. They are different aspects of the same thing. If we follow the commandments of , we can realise . In realising the aspects of , and the first step is to realise the importance of and then, develop self-confidence. Such an effort will surely produce results.

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In this are involved two steps, viz., the or the removal of something, and the , or the conscious effort of developing something. If a farmer wants to sow some seed in his land and get produce, the first thing he will have to do is to remove all the unwanted bushes and weeds, in the land. Thus, the first step is or destroying the unwanted things. Then he would plough and water the land and make it ready for sowing the seeds. The land here is the which also stands for our heart. This heart is comparable to a land and the first thing that you have to do is to cleanse it and remove the impure thoughts which are already there. You must then plough that land with compassion and kindness and then fill it up with the waters of . Only after filling it with , you can sow the seed of the Lord’s name. If you sow the seed in such a clean place which is well prepared, it will sprout easily. Thus cleaning your heart is the first step and sowing the seed of the Lord’s name is the second step. Then, you can reap a good harvest.

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It is in this context that the prayed that the rain of should come down on the land and out of this rain of rivers of should flow. If our heart is devoid of , then the land is like a desert land. In such a land whatever seed you sow will not sprout at all. Therefore, the first step in your is to fill your heart with . Then, the world will appear as the embodiment of . The result of whatever man does is contained in one single word . This is in the form of . The or the sun of is moving in the sky of your heart. It would be very dark in the sky of your heart if this effulgence of is not there.

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In fact, when we say , we are praying that this effulgent should lead us from darkness to light. The prayer has for its basis, the . We are praying that the thoughts generated in our head should not be allowed to go unchecked and they should be guided by to go in the proper direction. In the prayer , it is that is present as the presiding deity and in the prayer , which means that we should be led from death to immortality, we have as the presiding deity.

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In this context, we have to examine what really death is. Normally, the process of breathing coming to a halt is regarded as death. There is, however, some deeper meaning here. has, for her carrier, the or the breath and the stoppage of breath would mean the absence of and thus is regarded as one who can lead you on from death to immortality. The significance of addressing this prayer to is that you are praying to (who is present in your body in the form of presiding over the process of breathing) that such breath should not enter another human body and again create the same trouble of being reborn. Thus, you are praying to to lead you on from death to immortality.

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You should therefore give an important place in your heart and give it all the prominence in deciding your actions. Your heart contains such a sacred deity. Hence, do not fill your heart with unsacred ideas. You are able to speak because is riding over your breath and such a sacred Goddess is the very basis for your speech. Do not make it unsacred by uttering unclean words. The seat of your thinking or is filled with and therefore this sacred aspect should be kept in mind and the unsacred thoughts kept away from you.

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Many people think that their intellect or is in their head and they point to their head when they think that something has gone wrong. This is not correct. The intellect or is not there. In the head there is only your brain but, your intellect or power to think is not there. or Intellect is associated with the internal instrument by the name . It has a connection with the brain. It is only when we recognise that the should be kept sacred that we will realise and enjoy the bliss of , who is the basis or the seat of intellect. This is why, in , the Lord says that amongst all the human organs He represents, is the most important one.

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After going through all these steps we learn that is synonymous with the most important aspect, namely . Through and we get the aspect of which is the same as , which is only a combined aspect of and . This word has several meanings which have their origin in the words of the Veda. They are not meanings which are given by individuals’ fancies nor are they names given after Kings and warriors. To think that this word has trivial meanings or meanings related to some historical issues is wrong. The word has a Vedic origin and you should identify this with the aspect of where or our intellect resides.

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We undertake several activities to achieve something or other in our daily life. In all these efforts, however, we do not recognise the purpose and hence they will end up in failure. Once, a rich person wanted to do some good act and therefore started to supply drinking water to the people in the city. He spent a lot of money and got a big water tank built in that city. That tank was beautifully designed and from the tank he laid out taps in all the streets in the city. He wanted such a sacred project to be inaugurated by some big political personality such as a Minister or a Governor. This person thought that because water is the basis of life, this inauguration should be done with a lot of publicity and pomp. He decided that this important person should open one tap first on a ceremonial occasion. In order that the particular tap to be inaugurated by the high dignitary should look good, he got it made out of silver. The Vedic scholars were invited to recite on the occasion. He also arranged for some auspicious music on the occasion. He welcomed the Governor and requested him to open the tap amidst the auspicious music and chanting of the Veda . The Governor opened the tap but not a drop of water flowed out of it. Everyone was surprised and began to enquire why water was not flowing even though a big tank was built and the tap was also made of silver and there was sacred music on the occasion. They ultimately found that there was no connection between the tap and the tank.

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In the same manner, we have the big tank of God which is filled with His grace; we also have devotees in the form of taps but the connection between this tap and the tank which is God’s grace is missing. If there is no , how can grace of the Lord flow? The pipe which connects the devotion of the devotee and the grace of God is the . God is always an embodiment of and if the devotee is filled with , then can establish the connection.

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Unless you have all these three - namely the devotion of the devotees, God who is the embodiment of and the link of between the two - a connection cannot be established. God, who is the embodiment of , can be attained only by and not by any other method. Water mixes easily with water and oil mixes with oil, but oil cannot mix with water. Hatred is like the oil whereas is like fresh and clean water. Thus, we can mix pure water like in a devotee with the in the Lord. That is the only thing you can do. is present in everyone. We should make an attempt to experience that .

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In this analogy, our heart is the cup and divinity is like the sugar which is at the bottom of the cup of our heart. Our desires of the world are like the water on the surface of the cup. When we drink the water from the surface we do not find it sweet. Therefore, we have to use the spoon of and mix it by way of . As a result of this stirring, the divinity in the form of sugar which is at the bottom, will come up and get mixed with the worldly desires and then you will find that even the worldly desires will turn sweet. Those people whose cannot stir up the divine sugar will find the superficial water tasteless since all the taste of sugar is at the bottom.

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The process of mixing the divine sugar and the worldly desires is called .

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The path of is to control the desires of the mind. Alternatively we may take the divine sugar which is at the bottom of the cup and make it flow in all the organs and this is also the path of . In this context, you should believe that this act of making divine sweetness flow into all the work you do is . The physical exertion which you put in with your limbs will give you physical health but whatever exertion is there in the heart and mind will result in spiritual health and a combination of the two is .