Divine Discourse 12 July 1996 Namasmarana is the Greatest Sadhana in the Kali Yuga Sri Sathya Sai Baba Prasanthi Nilayam 12 July 1996 Editor’s note. This discourse does not appear in the Sathya Sai Speaks series. It appeared in San- athana Sarathi, October 2011. Oh noble one! is the ornament of hand. Good conduct is the Just as a powerful army is the life of a life-breath of man. fort, But people use their faculty of speech in an honour is the life of a woman, and arbitrary way, utter falsehoods, and thereby signature is the life of a promissory lose respect in society. note, What is the true ornament of man? Truth is truth is the life of speech. the ornament of man. The scriptures say, (Telugu Poem) Sathyam bruyath, priyam bruyath, na bruyath Forgetting this principle amounts to forgetting sathyamapriyam (speak truth, speak pleasant- humanness itself. ly, and do not speak unpalatable truth), Sathy- am vada, dharmam chara (speak truth, prac- Students! tise righteousness). These two principles are When you have to say something, speak ac- the cornerstones of Indian culture. You should cording to the requirement of time and cir- purify your hearts and refine yourselves by cumstances. Speak with humility in such a following these two principles. way that you do not hurt others. Never utter Peace is the ornament of noble souls. Truth is harsh words. Moreover, do not tell something the ornament of humanity. Bliss is the orna- untrue just to please someone. Whether others ment of God. One can attain supreme happi- like it or not, adhere to truth in letter and spir- ness only in the contemplation of God. it. Worldly and physical happiness is momen- Speak with conviction. Only then will you be tary. It is not true happiness. Under the influ- respected in society. Uphold the respect of ence of pride of wealth and power, one takes individual, society, nation, and human race at to several evil ways. But wealth and power large. Speech is the basis for all this. Consider are just like passing clouds. Whether it is speech as your life-breath. physical power or mental power or power of wealth, everything is temporary. Truth is the ornament of speech One may have physical prowess and Do you know what the tongue is given to you the power of intelligence, for? Is it to indulge in vain gossip? No, no, But one will come to grief if one the tongue is given to you to speak truth. lacks divine grace, Truth is the ornament of speech just as charity Karna was a great warrior but what was his fate 1 Divine Discourse 12 July 1996 Never forget this truth. down from the top of the mountain Rishya- (Telugu Poem) muka in the twinkling of an eye.” Karna had physical power, power of intellect, One’s good or bad qualities are revealed in and power of weapons. In fact, he was en- one’s speech. All that one experiences is the dowed with all powers. He was much superior reaction, resound, and reflection of one’s to Arjuna in all these respects. Arjuna also did speech. not possess the quality of generosity that Kar- You all know, there is widespread prevalence na had. Karna would never go back on his of wickedness and injustice in the world to- word. day. All this is due to the influence of Kali Though he was endowed with all virtues and Age (the age we are in). Man today is bogged the spirit of sacrifice, Karna became one of down by desire and greed. He has unlimited the four wicked Kauravas (Duryodhana, Du- desires. ssasana, Sakuni, and Karna) because he could There is nothing wrong in desiring things that not go back on the promise given by him to are necessary for daily life. We need certain wicked Duryodhana. things in order to maintain the dignity and Tell me your company, and I shall tell you honour of our family. It is our duty to safe- what you are. Wicked qualities enter you guard the honour and welfare of society. The when you associate yourself with wicked honour of society is the honour of the country. people. Similarly, when you are in good com- First comes individual, then society, and pany, you imbibe good qualities. Coal shines thereafter nation. Therefore, students should like fire when it comes in contact with it. As first develop individual character. This im- is your company, so you become. As is the parts value and respect to an individual. flour, so is the chapati. As is the food, so is Thereafter, you should uphold the honour of the belch. your family. In ancient times, people used to Desire and greed cause one’s downfall give great importance to the honour of the family in matrimonial alliances. But, today, Students! nobody bothers about the character of the in- The wound caused by a fall may heal with dividual or the honour of the family. It is nat- time, but the wound caused by harsh words ural for man to have noble desires keeping in can never be healed. Consider truth as your mind individual character, honour of the fami- life breath. When you speak to your parents, ly and welfare of society. friends, and elders, make sure that your Second, people today are obsessed with speech is suffused with truth. greed. It is not possible to say how many peo- Hanuman was the minister of Sugriva. He ple have lost their lives because of their greed. came to meet Rama and Lakshmana on the Wherever we look today, virtues and friend- instructions of Sugriva. Rama was very much ship are not being valued; only money has pleased with the soft and sweet manner of become most important. Hanuman’s speech. He said to Lakshmana, So many people accumulate enormous “Dear brother, he is endowed with peace, vir- wealth. But where does all their wealth go? tues, and valour. His peace is reflected in his What are they doing with it? Do they spend it speech. His virtues are evident in the respect- for any good cause or charitable purpose? Do ful manner in which he is conducting himself. they use it to provide education and health His valour is obvious in the way he has come facilities to the poor? Nothing at all. 2 Divine Discourse 12 July 1996 Were there not so many kings who accumu- One may be a simpleton without any intelli- lated wealth and earned great name and fame? gence or intellectual capabilities, but if one Where are they now? They did not take with has fear of sin it is enough. You may have any them even a fistful of sand when they depart- amount of wealth, gold and worldly posses- ed from this world. sions but if you lack fear of sin, you can only However, there is nothing wrong in earning be considered as an ignoramus. money to meet our essential needs in our day- Once Prahlada told his father, “Why do you to-day life. You think the education that you kill innocent people just as you hunt wild an- acquire is meant only to earn money. imals in the forest? You are indulging in acts You may boast of amassing great of violence in order to expand your kingdom. wealth, but you cannot attain even an What do you gain by killing so many people? iota of peace with it. This is not what you are supposed to do. How You may boast of high education, but can one, who has become a slave to inner en- it cannot help you to attain even a lit- emies, conquer his external foes? You have tle peace in this world. many great enemies within you. What are (Telugu Poem) they? They are kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada, and matsarya (desire, anger, greed, de- This is the ‘greatness’ of modern education! It lusion, pride and jealousy). Having surren- only promotes vain argumentation, which dered to these six inner enemies, you are kill- gives rise to enmity but not peace. Therefore, ing innocents outside. It is a great sin.” it is not good to indulge in argumentation. First and foremost, kill your inner enemies One has to develop three P’s to safeguard like desire, anger, greed, etc. Only then can one’s humanness: Purity, Patience, and Perse- you develop fear of sin. What is the reason for verance. These are the three essential human the unrest prevailing in the country today? values. When you have purity, you will attain The reason is lack of fear of sin and love for sathya and dharma and experience bliss by God. There is unrest and agitation wherever practising them. When you have patience, you you look, either in the forest or on the top of will have righteous conduct and observe non- hills, either in the towns or in the villages. violence. When you have perseverance, you will attain all the human values. All of you know, if there is only one bangle in the hand, it does not make any noise. But as When there is love and righteousness in you, soon as you have another bangle, they will you will never resort to violence. One who start making noise. Similarly, wherever two has truth and peace will never feel agitated in people come together, there is unrest and agi- any situation. Even if you have only one of tation. Due to the impact of Kali Age, for- these four human values, namely, sathya, bearance, sympathy, friendship, compassion, dharma, santhi, and prema, you will certainly and kindness have become extinct.