Science And Spirituality

20 May 1995, Summer Course 1995, Brindavan

Published English.

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Svabhode Nanyabodhe Cha, Bodha Roopa Atmanah Sva Deepenya Deepe Cha, Yadasvatma Prakashate

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To search for a flame, another light is not required. To know the omnipresent, effulgent , another type of knowledge is not required.

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You do not need a flame to find another flame. In the same way, it is ignorance and foolishness to search for the selfeffulgent, omnipresent using other forms of knowledge. No one tries to search for himself in the world outside. In the same way, when you are the , is it not plain ignorance to look for the elsewhere? Such pure teachings on the have been propagated by since ancient times, era after era.

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- The Birthplace of Spirituality is the birthplace of spirituality and . Peace and nonviolence also took birth in . The search for Truth done in has not been done anywhere else. This land is the birthplace of the . This is the country in which the first poet, , and the classifier of the , , took birth. This is the supremely sacred land of in which taught the . This is ’s kingdom. This is the soil on which was born. has always been replete with minds inquiring into the Truth, hands engaged in , and hearts immersed in the Lord.

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Devotion has no distinctions of caste, age, and language. It is easy for everyone to contemplate on God. God is as essential for the mind as food is for the body. In the devotion of we sometimes find situations bordering on the absurd. But spiritual feelings and love are the undercurrents even in this seemingly senseless behavior. A student prays to God to do well in exams. A man prays to God to win a court case. Why go that far? People pray even to secure a seat in a bus! In this way, depend on God from the smallest to the biggest things. This may be called divine madness. Some call it foolishness. Whatever anyone may say, each is entitled to their own hunger, their own faith, their own kind of madness. No one has the right to deny another’s faith.

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People asked if he understood Divinity. was silent on the existence of God. He said, "It is a waste of time to argue about an unknowable subject like Divinity, which is beyond the mind." - From where words and thoughts return, unable to grasp anything, That is Divinity. "For me, , , and are equivalent to , , and ," he said.

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Truth and are the highest. Follow them and practice in your life. This is true spiritual effort, said. There is no God higher than Truth. For this reason, say, - speak the truth and uphold righteousness. God is present wherever these are upheld. said, '' - is the very embodiment of - because never spoke a lie and always stuck to the path of . He walked barefoot in forests and sacrificed everything for the sake of righteousness. To uphold a promise given by His father, He took great burdens upon Himself. Without ever faltering, adhered unflinchingly to and . That is why He is the embodiment of Divinity.

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Even in this people went to and asked him if he had seen God. Yes, he replied. In what form, they asked. Ramakrishna said, "Just as I see you, I have seen God." When asked how it was possible, he explained, "With yearning. You strive for wealth and family. You cry for small and big things. Have you ever cried for God?"

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Ya Chinta Bhuvi Putra Mitra Bharanau Vyapara Sambhashane Ya Chinta Dhana Dhanya Bhoga Yashase Labhe Sada Jayate Sa Chinta Bhuvi Nanda Nandana Pada Dvandvaravinde Kshane Ka Chinta Yamaraja Bhima Sadana Dvara Prayani Prabho.

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You cry for wife, children, friends, wealth, business, pleasures, name and fame. But if you yearn for ’s Lotus Feet even for a moment, you can easily cross the terrible doors of Death.

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You say only what is seen is true, nothing else. You have accumulated past , which makes you suffer, but can you see it? It is foolishness to deny what is not visible or tangible. You see a tree with branches. Scientists see the fruits, branches, and leaves, which are readily visible. But spirituality perceives the unseen roots. Without roots how can you have branches? Which are more important, branches or roots? In the same way, an invisible force is the foundation for the visible universe. We see and experience this world only by the power of that force.

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- the Form of God What is this form of God? It is unattainable, beyond comprehension. It can be anything. For example, what is the form of wind or water? You can see water and feel wind but they have no forms. When do they acquire forms? When you fill air in a balloon, it assumes the corresponding form. Water acquires the form of its container.

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In the same way, the formless God assumes the form cherished by the devotee. The devotee’s feeling itself is the form of God. This has been called in our scriptures. To know this form of God, meditation is recommended. God appears as the embodiment of whatever feelings the devotee meditates upon. If we think of God as benevolent, He appears so. If we think of Him as destructive, that is how He appears. So, all forms of God are dependent on your feeling. It is not possible to limit Divinity as being 'this' or "that."

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Sarvatah Pani Padam, Thath Sarvatokshi Siro Mukham Sarvatah Srutimal Loke, Sarvamavritya Tishtati

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God is everywhere as energy. This is what scientists call atomic energy. But even the atom can be subdivided. There is nothing in this world without a form. Even and have forms, seen in a map. That is why ancient worshipped Mother Earth as a manifestation of Divinity. But modern scientists ridicule this practice.

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Atheism simply cannot exist when we inquire in this manner. - Today the world revolves around money. Sometimes when you drop a currency note on the ground by mistake, you touch it to your eyes as a mark of respect. Why? The currency is only bamboo and grass pulp, isn’t it? What awareness or individuality does it have? None. Then why do you honor it? Not just devotees, atheists also worship money! Do atheists say, "No, thank you, I do not want money"? No, atheists also desire it! They honor the seal of the Reserve Bank, which makes the paper valuable. Similarly you display your grandfather’s photo and garland it when he passes away. Does your grandfather still exist in the photo? No, the photo is only paper pulp. So why do you respect it? It is his symbol.

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Yes, this is rock. But the rock is a symbol of the omnipresent God. The of the devotee is concentrated in the rock! Thus, worship not rocks, but God in rocks, in the Earth and in idols. You may ignore some practices if you wish, but no one has the right to condemn or weaken another’s faith. Each one is entitled to his own faith. Just as one person’s breathing () cannot be substituted for another person, one’s faith () is personal also.

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Absolute truth, relative truth, and untruth Such search for the Truth is described in the . What does it mean to search for the Truth? The Truth is everywhere, so it is meaningless to search for it, some argue. An example. You see your mother, daughter, sister, wife, and mother-in-law with your eyes. The eyes that see are the same. Now, the feeling used in each case is the "search." Having eyes is not enough. You must ask yourself, "How do I look at my mother?" The answer: With motherly feeling. This is the "search for the Truth". Just because the eyes are one and the same, can you look upon everyone with the same outlook?

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The vision is the same but the underlying feelings are different. In the same way, all our senses are one but each has its own faculties and limits. The search for the Truth means discriminating between what is (Truth), (relative truth or fact), and (untruth).

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What is the difference between a relative truth and the Truth? There is a vast difference. Students, you know the Earth is a globe. But the ground near your house is flat. The flatness is relative truth. That is how you see it. But when you search for the Truth, it turns out to be a globe. So, a relative truth is really an untruth perceived to be the Truth. You see a man wearing a suit. That is today’s truth. Tomorrow he might wear a . What is present today but absent tomorrow is relative truth. The unchanging Truth is ever true. That is Divinity.

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In this manner, spirituality conceals many subtle secrets. This has been called - Secret of Truth. Why should the Truth be called 'secret' ? Because it is veiled to the unripe intellect and must be churned from effort. Thus, say, - Truth is one, but sages interpret it in many ways. also say, - God is One, not many. The prove these truths in a beautiful manner.

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See God through love Scientists have also come across divine Power in their experiments. They acknowledge the existence of a changeless power without calling it 'God' . Whatever name they may use, they cannot change the substance. There is water in this tumbler. The Telugu man calls it , the Tamil man says , the Hindi man calls it , and the Englishman, water. The names change, not the water. People also worship God in countless names and forms depending on their personal attitudes. But only One God exists.

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To be a scientist, first control your senses and grow in Love. "God is Love, Love is God, Live in Love." Love cannot be bought or sold. No company manufactures and supplies Love. The only machine that generates Love is within us - the heart. Heart is called . That which is full of compassion () alone is a . But modern hearts are stones, with no traces of kindness. Such hearts cannot be called human hearts. No, no. God is the resident of the heart. A heart with compassion is the temple of God. Develop compassion and you will perceive God in your heart. If we look only outside, we are confused. What we see outside must be seen inside as well. The say, - Narayana is present inside, outside ... everywhere.

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Creation speaks of the Creator Divinity is everywhere. In every step, in every breath, there is God. In every syllable you utter, God is present. That is Divinity in the form of speech. Therefore, God is described as - Manifestation of sound, pervading sentient and non-sentient things.

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A small example. Someone is singing in a radio station in . When we power the radio here, we hear that song. So is it present everywhere or not? Radio waves are present everywhere. They are manifestations of divine Power, as are magnetic energy, atomic energy, light, and heat.

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Following such inquiry, we realize that God’s creation has endless secrets. In alone there are 900 million people. The world has 5.8 billion people. It was 5 billion sometime ago but now it has grown by 800 million. With growth in population, there is growth in sin as well. Now, among these millions, are any two persons identical? Who can understand such mysteries? Even among twins there are differences. They are not made from a mold. Only God could create such a wonderful cosmos.

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The says that the stories and deeds of God are beyond comprehension. No one can understand His sports, but listening to them generates Bliss in the heart and grants immortality. Such is the nature of Divinity.

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Consider radio waves transmitted from , , , , Sri Lanka, even America. No two waves mingle. What a mystery! There is no confusion between the millions of waves in the air. When does the confusion arise? Only when we do not tune into the correct station. This 'tuning' is meditation. Tune your mind with concentration to receive the "news," namely, divine Vision. When the mind is divergent, the reception is unclear or meaningless.

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Everyone can see diversity in unity. We must see unity in diversity, the underlying principle, the . How? Here are a plate, a tumbler and a spoon. Names and forms are different.

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The value of each object is also different. But the value of silver is the same, whether in the plate, tumbler or spoon. Divinity has assumed the name and form of every single entity in creation. You may respect and value one person and ridicule another. These are attitudes based on the behavior of those persons. But the Principle is One.

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Adugakuve O Manasa! Adugu Koladi Adi Adugunu Padunani Adugakunna Pani Vadiganagunani Adugani Sabarini Adarinchade!

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Do not ask, O Mind! The more you ask, the lower it is placed. Without asking, the task proceeds quickly. , who never asked, was showered with Grace!

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An example: , the father of , cried for repeatedly and begged Him to stay near. But poor died a broken-hearted man, separated from . On the other hand, did not beg for favors. He did his duty, to the extent that he sacrificed his life trying to save . Even in his last moments, worried only about ’s troubles. As a result, rested on His thigh and performed his funeral rites like a son.

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Many sages begged for favors and waited for Him in their hermitages. Instead of rewarding them, chose to go to . didn’t ask Him anything directly but only through her heart. God knows what to give to whom, when, where, and how. Therefore, do your duty and God’s Grace will overflow, unasked.

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We must pose five questions to everything: who, where, why, when and how. If you simply overwhelm God in your flood of desires without asking yourself these questions, do you think God will fulfill your wishes? You should know when, where, how, and what to ask of God. Cultivate the intellect to recognize the right time and situation for the fulfillment of desires. This discrimination is called Constant Integrated Awareness or .

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You and God are One The consist of great declarations: . . . What is meant by ? Simply, "I am , I am ." Scholars give elaborate interpretations but the meaning is simply, "I am ." You and are not different, but are one and the same.

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Some time ago, asked a college boy, "Who are you?" The boy recollected that teaches . He replied, "I and You are One, ." said, "It seems your intellect has really blossomed today! Are you really the same as ?" He said, "Yes, , You and I are the same.' ' Then go outside and give to the devotees," I said! Who would look at him if he went to give ? [laughter] But if faith is deep, God will definitely appear through you as well. People only talk without practicing. "The proper study of mankind is man." To give credence to your words, put them into action. Practice grants experience. Only then will you realize the Truth.

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The Students!

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Your Vice-chancellor requested today that I explain the to you. It is necessary for students to understand this scripture, its secrets, and the nature of the child . rhymes with , which means, "we will improve." By listening to it, we will become better persons, permeated with devotion and wisdom. The contains the fruits of all spiritual practices.

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The word has five syllables: BHA stands for (Devotion) GA stands for (Wisdom) VA stands for (Detachment) TA stands for (Nature) MU stands for (Liberation) Therefore, the is the gist of all scriptures and texts, the goal of all paths, the essence of all fruits.

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From tomorrow I have decided to dole out to you all, cool helpings of the . Don’t just listen to it. Is your hunger satisfied by listening to the names of foods? No, eating alone fills the stomach.

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Therefore, I do not ask you to listen to , but to eat it. You are future citizens of this country. Your virtue alone will guarantee progress in the nation.

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In these ten days you will listen to the words of elders. It is not possible to remember everything that you hear here. wrote eighteen , which were elaborate texts. They were so voluminous that they could possibly be placed under the head as pillows but not inside the head! pondered the solution to this problem. He finally concluded and propagated that all could be condensed into two teachings: "Help Ever, Hurt Never."

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[ concluded with the "".]