Society Shines By The Human Quality Of Individuals

15 April 1993, Sai Shruti, Kodaikanal, TN

Published English.

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(human effort) and (God’s grace) are like positive and negative currents, each of which is necessary for the bulb of life to shine. In the absence of God’s grace, any amount of human effort will not fructify.

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Knowledge Of The Self Illumines Everything A child cannot survive without the help of mother. A branch cannot survive without the support of the tree trunk. This is the kind of relationship that exists between (God) and (individual self). If the tree is (part) of creation, the branch is (minor part) of creation. The propound this truth. They declare , (speak truth, practice righteousness). These sacred edicts are like the two eyes of man to lead a divine life. Our (epics) and (mythologies) contain many such great truths. People today do not pay attention to these sacred texts and thereby invite untold miseries unto themselves. All sacred texts are meant for the uplift of mankind. We should know how to make proper use of them. God created food for the protection of man’s body. Just because plenty of food is available, one should not indulge in too much eating. It may result in indigestion or even disease. Also, one should be careful about the quality of food before eating. You should observe (moderation) in whatever you do. God’s grace depends on your deservedness. Do not aspire for things which you do not deserve.

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People should develop heart-to-heart relationships. Those who seek happiness in life should introspect what is ephemeral and what is permanent. This is real (wisdom). is of three types: , and (worldly knowledge, higher knowledge, and constant integrated awareness). results in (slothful) actions, in (passionate) actions and and in (serene) actions. is also categorised as individual wisdom, societal wisdom, and universal wisdom. Wisdom at the individual or physical level is like a bulb in a room where the light is confined to the room only. Societal wisdom is like the moonlight which spreads all around, both inside and outside, but it is not luminous. Universal wisdom is like sunlight, which is all-pervasive brightness. This is (knowledge of the Supreme Self) which is infinite and wholesome. This is the divine wisdom of (knowledge of the ).

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Man’s (divine wisdom) is only an infinitesimal part of the of Almighty God.

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illumines everything. Just as hands, legs, eyes, ears, etc., are the limbs of the body; individuals are the limbs of society, society is the limb of Nature, and Nature is the limb of God. All limbs of Nature are interlinked and interrelated. Lord says in the : Jeevaloke Jeevabhuta Sanatanah (the eternal in all beings is a part of My Being). You are a limb of society. Society shines by the brilliance of the human quality of individuals. When society shines, Nature will also shine and manifest Divinity.

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Sanctify Time To Sanctify Life The mind is above the senses, the intellect is above the mind, and the (Self) is above the intellect. It is the light of the which illumines the intellect. As the intellect is in the close proximity of the , the intellect controls the mind and the mind controls the senses. Man carries out his sojourn on earth with the help of senses.

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Who is man? Man is none other than the mind, which is the combination of and (thought currents and agitations). Man’s actions and behavior depend on them. Pleasure and pain are the result of and . If one wishes to be really happy, one should endeavor to shape up one’s conduct. When individual quality turns into divinity, society becomes divine.

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Good and bad things happen in accordance with time. Everything is subdued and subsumed by time. Everybody is bound by time. Everybody has to yield to time. Howsoever mighty one may be, one will be swept away by the stream of time. Good accrues when time is utilized well. Bad accrues when time is defiled. All beings are bound by the principle of . (man in the world is bound by action), say the . Human society is bound by action. In the present time, man is not making good use of time.

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Individual wisdom is narrow and limited. This wisdom can be broadened with proper effort. With God’s grace, it can be developed into Divinity. In order to obtain God’s grace, one has to divert the mind towards God. God’s grace is not possible if the mind is turned towards the world. You cannot see things clearly in darkness. You cannot see ups and downs in darkness and encounter dangers. Individual wisdom is of this kind. Through mutual consultation, wisdom can be broadened. Then only can you have a broad vision and clear thinking. A doubting mind is like darkness and shadow. In darkness, the mind mistakes a rope for a snake and a snake for a rope. This is narrow wisdom; at one time, yes, and at another time, no. It is the combination of wisdom and ignorance. Full wisdom gives total clarity. It sees divinity within and without. (That all-pervasive God is present within and without). Narrow vision is destructive while broad vision is constructive. Individual wisdom is on the rise in the present-day world. Its narrow vision leads to ego, ignorance, and delusion. When someone is sleeping really, he can be easily woken up. When he is pretending to sleep, no amount of effort can make him awake. God knows everything; but He pretends that He does not know anything. So, devotees have doubts. This is the effect of illusion.

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Chanting Of Divine Name Destroys Illusion The understood ’s reality well. They yearned and pined for . Their devotion for Him was total. When once pretended to sleep, one said, “One can wake up a person who is in sound sleep. But how is it possible to wake a person who pretends to be sleeping with eyes closed? Can anyone understand ’s ?" ’s are meant to broaden the vision of people. realised that there can be no sleep for God. If God goes to sleep, the entire universe must face calamity. Only true devotees like these could understand God’s ways.

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Only (devotion) can impart understanding about God; devotion alone is capable of granting (liberation). The principle of devotion is the real medicine for the disease of worldliness. The infinite power of must be understood by all. (devotion) gives (power), begets and (yearning and attachment to God), bestows (detachment) and leads to (liberation). Total love is devotion. Mere rituals without true devotion denote only . Intense love has the power to relieve any person from the dualities of and by purifying the heart.

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was once in a dilemma, “If I open the door of the heart, might escape, but if I close the main door, He may not enter the heart.” The next moment, she had second thoughts, “Where is the question of opening or closing the door of the heart when is present everywhere?” Can any door prevent from entering one’s heart? But there is the main door, that is the ecstatic feeling of surrender which is experienced when the strings of are played in deep devotion. It is said in yogic parlance, “Oh man! You endeavour to see by controlling life breath and senses, and by playing on the strings of with tears of joy. That state is verily or , and that is the main door of entry of . There is no other door. When the entire universe is the temple of God, there is no main door. To realise this truth is true divinity.”

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The never had any problem with regard to and because they realised the true nature of Divinity. The one who knows the principle of the is , and the one who is ignorant of this principle is (sinner). Man does not know the difference between and due to the formidable effect of (illusion). is compared to a (dancer). The word has three letters – Nar-ta-ki. If you reverse the letters, it becomes (chanting of Divine Name). So, can be controlled by of the Divine Name of God.