sign in sign up
<<
Home , Hamsa (bird), Mantra, Soham (Sanskrit)

- The Right (Discourse delivered on the occasion of Dasara Celebrations – October 12, 2002) Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

“ is the Creator of the whole Universe is the Sustainer, and is the Destroyer of all sins This is the I am revealing to you.”

Embodiments of Love! understood as the Divine, auspicious What is man, immersed in an ocean of breath of soham that emanates from a sorrow, seeking in this vast and human being. Soham means “I am that” limitless universe? What for is he doing (Divinity). The sound of the breath in sadhana? Some are seeking fulfillment human being, i.e., soham establishes the in worldly things; some others are nature of Divinity. If one tries to wasting their valuable time in trying to contemplate on the form without seek satisfaction of their unfulfilled recognizing the sound, he will not be desires. Yet, others are entering the able to understand the nature of spiritual path with a desire to have Divinity. Soham is sathwic in nature. darshan, sparshan and sambhashan of This sathwa guna is Easwarathwa (the Divinity. Human beings contemplate Shiva Principle). There is another on God as Brahma, Vishnu and principle that emanates from this Maheswara. But these are not Gods Divine breath, namely, Vishnuthwa (the with a human form. They have neither Vishnu Principle). What is the form of a form nor a place. If one enquires into this Vishnu Principle ? The feelings in the nature of their form, it will become the . In other words, mind is the clear that they have only some Vishnu Principle. There is yet another attributes, with no specific upadhi form which emerges from the navel of (vesture). Vishnu, namely, Brahma. Thus, the principles of Brahma, Vishnu and It is said “Easwarah Sarva Bhoothanaam” Maheswara are emanating from the (God is the indweller of every living Soham Tathwa in a human being itself. being). But, with what form? How can In this trinity, Shiva is the Soham one contemplate on God with an Tathwa, Vishnu is the Mind and invisible form? What is the use of such Brahma is the Vak Swarupa (in the contemplation? Divinity is the very life form of words). It means, every word breath that can be perceived and heard. that emerges from the human being is How can one recognize and experience Brahma; every resolve (sankalpa) the sound of this Divine breath? The emerging from the mind is Vishnu and have given the names of every breath coming out of the body is “” and “Atma” for this invisible Easwara. Thus, Divinity is permeating Divine breath in human beings. But, the entire human body. The body is one cannot understand these abstract living, as long as the life breath concepts, with any amount of emanates from the body. Mind is made explanation. What is the meaning of up of sankalpa (resolution) and vikalpa Easwarathwa (Divinity)? It can be (negation or dissolution). This is the

1

Vishnu Principle. The Principle that names and forms belong to God. There emerges from the navel of Vishnu is is no place in which He does not exist. Brahma. What is the root cause for this Nor is there an object in this world, Brahma Principle? That which attracts which does not belong to Him. the sound (sabda). Embodiments of Love! The essential It is said Sabda Brahmamayi (sound is nature of Divinity is Love. However, Brahman) Characharamayi (that which few make the effort to recognize this is permeating the whole universe, principle of love. There are several movable and immovable is Brahman) systems in the human body like the and Vangmayi (word is Brahman). digestive system, nervous system, etc. , and Saraswathi are the But, there is one main switch, which embodiments of these three, namely, controls all the systems in the body. sound, pervasiveness and word. In The eyes see several colors. The tongue every breath of the human being there tastes several delicacies. The ears hear is this soham chanting. Without this several types of sounds. But, what is soham sound, the breath cannot exist. the basis for all these experiences? That Similarly, devoid of mind sankalpa basis is called the fundamental cannot arise. And, without sankalpa, principle, because of which man is able the word cannot emerge. Thus, there is to experience all these things. That inseparable and interdependent rela - fundamental principle is given the tionship between the soham sound, the name of Atma. Because of this Atma sankalpa in the mind and the word. Tathwa, several sankalpas and Several efforts are being made by arise in our heart. Hridaya (heart) is several people to recognize this the Veda. The sankalpas are the sruthis. relationship. However, this principle The essence of these sruthis is . cannot be understood by sadhana. It Hence, it should not be presumed that can be realized only through enquiry. the are somewhere in a distant corner. The all-pervading sound of the Man today is engaged in the study of sruthis is constantly in us, with us and several Upanishads. What is the is part of us. Therefore, we have to essence of these Upanishads? The recognize the sounds that emerge from essence of Upanishads is the principle the Veda of our heart. During the past of unity in diversity. We are nourishing three days, in the morning you must and nurturing the body. For what have observed the Pundits chanting the purpose? What is the benefit accruing Vedic manthras with several intona - out of this nourishment? In fact, tions, in the Poornachandra Audito- nothing. As long as the body exists, we rium. When you hear the sound of the have to feed it. As long as we take food, manthras, you feel very happy, even we sleep as well. During sleep, we though you are not able to understand experience happiness. But, once we their meanings. There may be several wake up, are we able to experience the meanings for the words in these same happiness? No. Therefore, in manthras. But, the very sound emerging order to experience everlasting bliss, we from the chanting of these manthras have to realize the essence of the will make you happy. Upanishads. Divinity has no names. All

2

In order to know the true meanings of mind there cannot be the swaasa the words in these manthras, one must (breath). It is only on account of the enter into the process of spiritual life breath the mind functions. In order enquiry in an environment of deep to understand such subtle meanings, silence. For, it is only in the depth of one has to depend upon the method of silence, the voice of God can be heard. enquiry. When you sit for Yesterday, I was mentioning to you in on the soham principle, you will observe My discourse about the inherent that the “so” comes in and “ham” goes nature ( ) of an object. How did out while inhaling and exhaling. This sweetness come into the sugarcane? process has to be watched carefully. How did hot taste come into the Here “so” relates to the Divine chillies? How did bitterness come into Principle and “ham” to (ego). the neem leaves? How did fragrance Thus, while Divinity enters into our come into the jasmine flower? We call body, ego leaves us. And that Divine it nature. No, no. The Divine Nature is Principle which has entered into our expressing itself through these forms. body must be held firmly in our system by the process of Kumbhakam (holding In order to understand the nature of on). People doing pranaayama sadhana Divinity (Paramatma ), we must engage call these processes puraka (inhaling), our mind in the contemplation of the (holding) and rechaka Transcendental Principle (Parathath- (exhaling) of the breath. Soham, the wa). Where does the mind come from? Gayathri consists of inhaling the It comes from the sankalpa (resolve). breath through one nostril while and vikalpa (negation or dissolution). chanting “so” and exhaling the breath They in turn come from the nature of through the other nostril while sabda (sound). Sound is the real chanting “ham” and in between holding Brahma Thathwa (the Principle of the breath for sometime. The most Brahma ). The soham principle in the effective method lies in observing strict Brahmathathwa is Atmathathwa, in timings for all the three processes essence. Therefore, in order to under- involved in the soham. Disregarding stand Atmathathwa one has to recognize timings, if one does pranaayama , it will the nature of the swaasa (Divine endanger one’s life itself. The time breath). Soham is also called as Hamsa spent for the three processes of Puraka, Gayathri. “So”(sah) means that, and Kumbhaka and rechaka must be exactly “ham”‘(aham), means I. Thus, soham the same. Time is the essence of this means “I am that”. What is this pranaayama sadhana, since God is “that”? What is it that proclaims “I am Kalaswarupa (the embodiment of time). that”? Is it mind? If so, the mind, Our sankalpa (resolutions) must always becomes an obstacle to realize the be sathwic in nature. In order that we soham principle, since it is like a mad have sathwic sankalpas, our swaasa monkey. How can you march forward (breath) must be pure in nature. Thus, in your spiritual journey by relying on the principle of Brahma, Vishnu and such an unsteady mind? This kind of Maheswara are inseparable and approach is not correct. (mind) interdependent. They are one and the is verily the embodiment of Vishnu, same. We must try to understand the who is all-pervading. Without such a essential nature of their unity.

3

Today, no one is able to realize the Thus, each and each country true meaning of the Upanishads. It will have some beautiful ways of portraying take at least a month to describe, a given situation, which are specific to analyze and understand the inner them. meaning of each one of the slokas in the Upanishads. There are several Dear students! If you want to know the meanings for each word and we must meanings of the Upanishads, you have take that meaning that is appropriate to approach the great who are to a given situation. A small example. well-versed in them. The essence of all There is a young boy who is still in the the Upanishads is derived from the process of learning to talk. Considering Brahmathathwa. And this Brahmathath- his age, if you say orally the word wa expresses itself through the vaak “”, he will pronounce it as (word). Vishnuthathwa is based on the “”. That is the correct pronun- mind. It consists of good thoughts. ciation at his age, so far as he is When there are good thoughts in the concerned. But, in our , it may be mind, they will find expression through wrong. It is only when we take into good words. The good words in turn, consideration all factors like the age, give good meanings. The Trinity of time and the particular word used, it is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara are possible to decide whether it is right or not three separate entities. Brahma is wrong. There are many educated boys. swaasa (breath), Vishnu is manas If you ask them to spell chaapa (mat), (mind) and Maheswara is vaak (word). they will pronounce it as chepa (fish). It The unity of these three is the is only when one knows what chaapa is, Atmathathwa. he will be able to distinguish it from chepa. Otherwise both chaapa and chepa Embodiments of Divine Love! You will not would mean the same for him. In the be able to understand these concepts, if Gajendra episode in I go on repeating them like this. It is Bhagawatha, Lord Vishnu was rushing also possible that those who do not to the rescue of the elephant from the know the real meaning of the jaws of the crocodile. His consort, Upanishads may have some misconcep- Lakshmi was on his side at that time. tions. Therefore, the Upanishads have She wanted to ask Him where He was to be taught in a peaceful, sacred and rushing to, but there was no time. T he calm environment. The manthras have famous poet Pothana was describing to be chanted with a clean breath. A that scene beautifully thus: particular manthra has been prescribed in the Upanishads for cleansing the “Running fast behind Lord Vishnu breath, while explaining the To enquire as to what has happened; Swaasathathwa. If you this But, she was not sure, manthra, several diseases will be cured. Whether He would reply; First and foremost our breath will Anxious and confused, become clean. The blockages in the Her locks of hair loosening while running vascular system will be removed and Unable to catch up with Him blood will flow freely; the cataract in She sat down dumbfounded”. the eye will get dissolved; the sound coming out of our throat will be

4 purified. However, we must chant syllables, namely, AUM emerges from these manthras with correct intonations. the navel. Several people when asked Only then the proper meaning of these to chant AUM they give us the manthras will be revealed to us. The spelling. This is not what is required. entire na ture of the body will be All the three syllables must be chanted revealed by the essence of the simultaneously in unison. The chanting Upanishads. How does the tongue of Omkara can be compared to the know the taste? The tongue is able to taking off, soaring in the sky and reveal different tastes of different food finally landing of the airplane. It is materials. How is it possible? There are only when a manthra is chanted in the lakhs of taste buds on the tongue, with proper manner that you get good the help of which the tongue reveals feelings. Several people tell Me, the different tastes. Similarly, there are “, I am doing Omkara for several crores of light rays in the eyes. Thus, the years. But, I am unable to have a Upanishadic manthras will be able to steady faith.” Yes, I know. How is it cure several diseases of the body, when possible when you are not chanting chanted properly. Also, when you with correct intonation and not realize their correct meanings, your understanding its true meaning? behavior itself will undergo a tremendous change. Along with the The Upanishads appear to be very change of behavior, sacred feelings arise difficult to understand. But, if you in your heart. Ultimately, these sacred know the meanings of the various feelings find their expression as sacred concepts nothing is more easy. Those words. who have lost their teeth will have difficulty in chanting various manthras. Embodiments of Divine Love! There are Even the sounds while chanting the several words in several in manthras will be different. While the world. They have several meanings practicing, you need not chant the as well. But, there must an intimate manthras loudly. You do it within relationship between the words and yourself. In music, some people their meanings. There is no use concentrate on the swara (note). They spending all your time in dilating on will change their tone to be in tune the meanings. It will become an with the swara. While doing so, they exercise in futility, especially in the change their physical posture also. spiritual field. The proper swara Very often this posture appears (sound) in chanting the various awkward. People know that when the manthras is very important. I often swara is not in tune with the sruthi it quote the example of people chanting becomes apaswara (discordant note). In the Aum manthra. Several people do not order to avoid this, one has to control chant Omkara with correct intonation his body also. You must have observed as they do it in a most mechanical way. several people, while singing . The chanting of this manthra is done When they sing loudly there will be a with three syllables, namely, ‘A”, ‘U’ change in their tone (swara). This and “M’. ‘A’ comes from the throat, ‘U’ should not happen. This must be from the tongue and ‘M’ from the lips. controlled. Some people while singing The combined form of these three devotional songs close their eyes. Some

5 people raise one eye while the other the digestive system is spoiled, several eye is kept at a low level. All these diseases will confront you. Pray to God contortions present an awkward silently keeping your eyes closed and picture. That is why some people while then partake of your food. Most of the playing on the harmonium keep a small children do not know this rule. Take mirror over it in order to observe their your food in silence in a calm lips, eyes, etc. If the song is not sung in atmosphere. Do not howl, talk and a proper swara he can see that his own chitchat. Do not laugh or cry while face looked awkward. He will himself taking food. Do not entertain any feel disgusted with this. It is important worry before or while taking food. that one’s posture is also good while These are some of the precautions one singing a keertan or a song. He has to take to lead a happy daily life. should not make others unhappy by the contortions of his face. Absolute Embodiments of Divine Love! You speak concentration is necessary while of sadhana. But, sadhana is not that performing such things. We often do easy. It is easier to repeat names of the certain acts inadvertently. For example, nine forms of Bh akti, like sravanam, while drinking or coffee we keertanam, etc. When do you get into indulge in conversation. Then the milk the ultimate step of atmanivedanam will spill and spatter on our dress and (self-surrender)? It is only after you may even get our throat choked. We establish sneham (friendship) with God. should never talk while drinking Many people do not know what is real something or eating. In the olden days friendship. In their opinion, friendship the great used to maintain means wishing each other ‘hello, hello’. silence while eating or drinking. Not What is this ‘hello, hello’? Nothing. It only that; they invariably used to chant simply does not mean anything. It is the following before partaking only a casual accosting. This is not of the food. friendship. Friendship presupposes an inseparable relationship between two Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir individuals. Their bodies may be Brahmagnou Brahmanahutam different. But their life principle is one Brahmaiva Thena Ganthavyam and the same. When the two Brahma Samadhina. individuals have different thoughts and feelings, it is not friendship. It is said: You affirm that the food is an “A man with a dual mind is half-blind.” to Brahman. Then where is Brahman? Where there are two kinds of thoughts, He is within. So, immediately God it becomes a dual mind. How then can replies from within: you contemplate on divinity with a dual mind? Children are serious of Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva doing sadhana. Considering their Praninam Dehamasritah sraddha (earnest spirit of enquiry) I Pranapana Samayuktah wish to elaborate on this aspect. Do Pachamyannam Chaturvidham. not ever leave the sacred path. Then only will you have a sacred life. You If you talk while taking food, the can definitely achieve this. Do not digestive system will be spoiled. Once waste time. At present you are wasting

6 a lot of time in vain pursuits. Time is our life. It is said Kaalaya Namaha, Once came to Kunti to enquire Kaala Kaalaya Namaha. Time is about her welfare. Kunti asked everything. If you spend such a Krishna, “When did You come? How is valuable time indulging in vain and the war going on?” Krishna replied, unsacred things, how can you get it “, birth and death, good and back? It is only to sanctify the time bad - these are common to everybody. that God has given you your span of You forget about these things. You tell time. If you channelize your thoughts Me what do you want”. Then Kunti in the right path, your actions will be requested Krishna, “My son, until I right. The kaala (time) karma (action) leave my body and merge in your Lotus kaarana (cause) and ka rthavya (duty) Feet, please continue to give me must be harmonized to become one. difficulties”. Krishna enquired, “Oh What is this human body after all? It is Mother! You have been undergoing just a water bubble. Any moment it difficulties right from the time you may burst. It is bound to perish any married King Pandu. Will that not day either today, tomorrow or day suffice? Why are you asking for further after. We should not grieve over such a difficulties”? Then Kunti replied, “Oh perishable body for that which has Krishna, You do not know the come is bound to go; that which has happiness in undergoing difficulties. I gone is bound to return. Therefore, we only know about it. Because I had need not attach much importance to undergone several difficulties, I am this coming and going. We must make enjoying your divine presence constant- effort to realize that which has no birth ly. All my sons earned your grace. The and death; which is sacred and which is sons born out of my womb became the unsacred; which is happiness and recipients of your Divine Grace. That which is sorrow. What are difficulties? itself gives me great pleasure. What is In My view, difficulties are better than the use of having several children pleasure and comforts. It is not without earning your Divine Grace? prudent to pray for happiness and What happiness do I derive from comfort. The wisdom you gain in times that?” of difficulty is not available in happy times. You ask any realized or a “King Dhritarashtra had a number of sons saintly person as to how he acquired but ultimately what was his fate? Sage this great wisdom? He will tell you that Suka was not married and had no son, but he underwent several sorrows and did he suffer on account of this?” difficulties and then only he could get that wisdom. Today, people desire to “There is no happiness by having sons have kaivalya (liberation) without nor is there any loss by not having undergoing any difficulty or spending a sons. The children that are born must pie. How is it possible? You must work bring credit to the family. They must hard. Just by sitting somewhere and lead a life of good behavior. They must happily enjoying things you will find join good company. My sons are under difficulties painful. It is only after your Divine umbrella. From morning undergoing difficulties you must enjoy till evening they constantly chant your happiness. Divine Name. What more happiness

7 do I desire? I pray that I continue to That is not possible. Therefore, you enjoy the bliss. Oh Krishna”. Will the must desire only one, that is divinity. If of present times pray like this? you develop yearning for God, He will Do they court difficulties of their own Himself look after all your needs. accord. No, no. They want sons. But Divine presence will give you real they do not desire that they live in the happiness. It is the only permanent Divine presence of God. They are happiness in this world. There is no afraid of such a prospect. What is the sorrow, no unhappiness and no worry use, if they sit somewhere, without in the Divine presence. Someone came reaching the Divine presence. The to Me and enquired. “Swami, I am a purpose of a human birth is to reach devotee of God. How is that I am the Lotus Feet of the Lord. always deep in sorrow?” I replied, “If you are really a devotee, how did this “Having grasped sorrow come to you?” What you derive what ought to be grasped, from God is happiness and not sorrow. Do not let go of the grip If you say that you are experiencing till you succeed. sorrow, it is not correct. God always Having desired gives happiness and bliss. There is what ought to be desired, nothing like sorrow with God. What Hold on till your desire is fulfilled. you experience is not God’s sorrow. Having asked what ought to be asked, You must have borrowed it from Hold on till you obtain somebody and attributed it to God. what you had asked for. That is not correct. God is the Having thought what ought to be embodiment of bliss. He always gives Hold on till you succeed. happiness only. Mamaivamsho Jeevaloke Either God should yield to your Jeevabhuta Sanathanah (The eternal Or you should ask Atma in all beings is a part of My wholeheartedly with intensity, Being) is the declaration of Lord This is the path Krishna. You, who are the amsa (part) a true devotee should pursue.” of the divine will get only divine feelings. Will God’s prasada be ever There will be several sorrows, losses bitter? No, never. But people out of and difficulties confronting us in life. their ignorance think that way. You should not mind them. We should Madhwacharya, the great exponent of always consider the Divine presence as dualism used to live in the Kannada the greatest treasure that we can seek. region. He was a great devotee of Lord You must develop an unwavering and Krishna. Once he told his disciples that abiding faith and devotion in the they should observe the Ekadashi . eternal truth that is Divinity. That is Commencing from that day, for three the only thing you should pray for. days, they observed fasting constantly Your devotion should be steady, pure contemplating on God without even and selfless. People want devotion as taking any food or even water. On the well as everything else in the objective third day, in the night, Madhwacharya world. How is it possible? You have appeared in their dream and advised only one mouth and you want to drink them “My dear disciples, this is not both milk and water simultaneously. sadhana. You hold on to the principles,

8 to the Divine Feet of Lord Krishna; not that Rama and Lakshmana were Divine to the formalities. Otherwise when will personalities. But, they had taken up you sanctify your life? This is what I human frames, which needed food and have practiced throughout my life”. sleep. Therefore, in order that they did People observe Ekadashi vrata and fast not suffer from hunger and lack of for three days. On the fourth day they sleep Viswamithra initiated them into make preparations, for making forty Bala and Athibala manthras. If one is dosas (savory pan cakes). Is this not troubled by hunger and lack of Ekadashi vrata? This is not correct. sleep, any amount of sadhana can be What you have to do on the fourth day undertaken. Anything can be achieved. is to add love to your sadhana. Once Even the most dreadful demons can be you cultivate love for God, you will defeated in a battle. That is why Sage forget hunger and thirst. Sage Viswamithra initiated them into these Viswamithra was taking Rama and manthras. After walking some distance, Lakshmana to the forest to protect the Lakshmana enquired as to why they being performed by him. Rama were initiated into these manthras. and Lakshmana, sons of King Viswamithra replied, “My dear sons, Dasaratha were of tender age at that you are of tender age. You cannot bear time. They never experienced any the hunger and lack of sleep. While difficulties till then. Dasaratha was you are taking food or sleeping if the much worried about their welfare in demons confront you, you will be in the forest. When they reached the trouble. Therefore you must always be banks of river Sarayu, Viswamithra alert and on your guard. These Bala wanted to teach them the manthras of and Athibala manthras now relieve you Bala and Athibala so that they would of hunger and lack of sleep”. Mahatmas not be bothered by hunger and lack of (great souls) teach manthras to establish sleep. They happily followed Sage peace in the world. Therefore one Viswamithra who initiated them into should not put silly questions like, the manthras. Did Sage Viswamithra “Did Viswamithra not know that Rama not know that Rama was an ? In was an Avatar?” The manthras were spite of knowing this fact, why did he taught to them keeping in view the initiate Rama into these manthras? requirement at that time. Several people argue like this. It is true

9