Bliss Is Within You

24 April 1992, Sai Shruti, Kodaikanal, TN

Published English.

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Devotion Is The Easiest Path To Attain God , , Asthiram , .

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In order to know about himself, man must endeavour to know his principle that is everlasting. However, one has to face obstacles and challenges in this process of Self-realisation and knowledge. Here is a small example. There is a mansion belonging to a wealthy person. The mansion is protected by a strong wall, and is guarded by watchmen. When someone wishes to meet the owner of the mansion, he must make friendship with the watchmen and get their permission.

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In the same manner, there are four watchmen who guard the mansion of bliss. It is impossible to get into the mansion without seeking their permission. The first one is known as . denotes the control of senses of perception. When you achieve , you can control the sense of action also, which is called .

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The second watchman is Vicharana (prudence). It means discrimination between what is good and what is bad, what is evanescent and what is permanent, etc. It is by Vicharana that you can understand the difference between these dualities. In the , you will find chapters with titles such as ; , , etc. One must analyse and discern what is and what is , what is good and what is bad, what is desirable and what is not. Then only can one know the truth. It is possible to know the truth by means of dispassionate discernment. Philosophy means realisation of truth or the means to find the truth. It is a great irony that even though truth pervades all over, man is unable to realise it. It is said, (realisation of truth is true knowledge).

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Contentment Bestows Peace Of Mind The third watchman is (contentment). Even after earning a lot of wealth and attaining high position, comforts, name and fame, man is not able to derive happiness. One without contentment stands to lose both ways. Such a one cannot remain happy either in this life or in the next. Undue desires are the cause of dissatisfaction. Due to dissatisfaction, you are unable to enjoy the fruits that are available before you. People crave for more and more, losing sight of what is already available. Thinking of the future, people are getting nightmarish. Why should you worry about future which is uncertain? Also, you should not brood over the past, because past is past! It will never come back. One should endeavour to make good use of the present. Results of the past and the forebodings of the future are both available in the present. Therefore, present is omnipresent. Seeds of the past and the fruits of the future are both contained in the sapling of the present. You will reap in future what you sow in present. You will have the belch of what you have eaten.

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You are the embodiment of love. You are the embodiment of Divinity. There are three facets of your identity. You are not one person but three, the one you think you are – the body, the one others think you are – the mind and the one you really are – the .

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Understand The True Meaning Of Unity The fourth watchman which guards the mansion of bliss is (good company). While travelling in the darkness of night, a lantern can show you the right path. A log of wood also becomes fire when it comes in contact with fire. However, a partial contact may result in the formation of coal; and it remains as coal until it is burnt in fire. If you try to make the coal white by washing it with milk, will it turn white? On the other hand, the milk will become black. Only when coal is completely subsumed in fire, it becomes one with fire. One becomes Divine by totally surrendering to Divinity. Mere proximity will not help unless unity or oneness with Divinity is realised. That is the real purport of .

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It is said, (one dwells in all beings). One must realise oneness in the creation. Then only can one realise Divinity. Jewels are many, gold is one. Beings are many, breath is one. Nations are many, earth is one. Stars are many, sky is one. Bulbs are many, current is one. Sweets are many, sugar is one. One can realise Divinity through proper understanding of the meaning of unity. The effect of can never be overstated. It is said in this context, Tell me your company I shall tell you what you are. Sugar and water have different qualities; but when mixed together, they produce syrup. Sharing of good thoughts with good people brings about your transformation. Therefore, is very essential to attain the goal of life.

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, , , .

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(Sanskrit )

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Through , one progresses to a state of detachment. Through practice of detachment, one overcomes ignorance. One can attain unwavering mind when ignorance is destroyed. Liberation can be attained only by a person whose mind remains unagitated under all circumstances.

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When you wrap an eatable in a paper, the paper acquires the smell of the eatable. If you wrap fish in it, the wrapper also smells like fish. If you put jasmine flowers in it, the wrapper also smells like jasmine. You acquire qualities in accordance with the company you associate with. has a great impact especially on young people. Is the transformation entirely due to ? No. But has greater impact when it combines with your innate goodness. While the company impacts from outside, goodness of heart impacts from within. Both are necessary for a person to get transformed into an ideal being.

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We use an air conditioner in a warm room and a heater in a chilly room on a hill station. But we use the same current to run both of them. Good or bad perceptions depend on the conditioning of the mind. The say, (mind is the cause of bondage and liberation of man). Colour of the world changes in accordance with the colour of the glasses you put on. The world looks sacred when you look at it with sacred feelings.

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At one place, the Upanishad says, Brahma Jagat- ( alone is real, the world is unreal). In another context, the Upanishad says, ( pervades the entire universe). promotes both these concepts. People who go to a cinema hall to see a movie are not bothered about the screen. But, in fact, there can be no picture without a screen. The scenes keep moving in and out, while the screen remains static all the time. That which comes and goes, and is impermanent is called (Illusion) in philosophy; while the fundamental or the basic core of the cosmos is the Truth called . This is the real purport of the dictum, . (universe) is the effect, while (God) is the cause. Our life is the result of these two aspects; the result of their unification. Good and bad are also the result of association of different aspects. To achieve anything, sustained efforts are necessary. Even walking, talking, driving, etc., require proper practice. Mother at home and teacher at school strive to impart proper knowledge to children. The says,

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, , , .

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Faith Is The Basis Of Love One can enter the mansion of bliss only after befriending these four watchmen. Man is unable to enjoy bliss because of this lacuna. When a plane is flying, you cannot see its pilot from the ground. If you want to meet the pilot, you have to buy a ticket and fly with him. If you wish to enter a house that is guarded by a dog, either you should befriend the dog or shout the name of the owner until he listens. Friendship with dog denotes (path of action); calling the name of the friend is (path of devotion). In fact, the path of devotion is the easiest path to attain Divinity. Practices like and (chanting and meditation) are meant for your mental satisfaction.

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