Our Nearest Kith And Kin
Following is a talk given by Dr. Bhagavantham in the Divine presence of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba during the Prasanthi Vidwanmahasabha, the archetype assembly of the learned in Prasanthi Nilayam.
It is a rare privilege for anyone to be invited in whatever capacity it may be, to sit on the same platform as Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It is a rarer privilege to be asked to preside over such a function as this. During the many years of my association with Bhagavan, He did put me often in situations more difficult than this. There is no rose without a thorn; there is no privilege without attendant difficulties. I feel that the Prasanthi Vidwanmahasabha is putting me to trial on this occasion, but I welcome it.
I have never spoken before Bhagavan of the few things that I would have liked to speak about. This is an occasion and to decide on what to speak about is a particular difficulty for a person of my background. You have been told during the past two days that the tribe of scientists is a peculiar one, that they have their vision extended outward only, that they forget the essence of life that is embedded in the spiritual make up of man, that they generally add to the misery of mankind rather than help to alleviate it, and so on.
Moreover, it has been made out that in general, the scientists are either atheists or near-atheists and that they do not find a place in such gatherings. Let me tell you that not all scientists are like that. At least, I am not one of them and I can assure you that in me, you will find a scientist who is not quite an atheist. That I stand before you today in the presence of Bhagavan is a proof thereof.
One need not learn science to turn away from God. Others, too, both learned and unlearned, have turned away from God. Many who have learnt subjects other than science have become atheists. Of course, the scientist asks inconvenient questions and so is charged with conceit. I shall try to remove this impression. The discipline of science does not take any one away from God.
Years ago, in one of my early confrontations with Bhagavan, He spoke of the scientists as belonging to a lost tribe, and made fun of their behavior. “You, in particular, do you have any respect for our ancient texts?” He asked and hurt my pride. I have some family traditions of Sanskrit learning and orthodox Sanathana Dharma [eternal right conduct] behind me; so, I tried to establish my bona fides, as well as that of my tribe. I related an incident in regard to Oppenheimer, who had succeeded in exploding the first atom bomb, some 25 years ago. There was great doubt at that time whether it would really explode and many press representatives surrounded him on that historic occasion. It did explode.
Though that first bomb was a small thing compared to those made possible since then, it was a terrible and awe-inspiring event. The reporters asked Oppenheimer about his reactions and he replied that he was reminded of the shloka [verse] in the Bhagavad-Gita by which Arjuna described the Vishwaswarupa [the universal form] of the Lord as: Divi Surya Sahasrasya Bhaved yugapad uththithaa Yadi bhaah sadrsee saa syaad Bhaasasthasya mahaathmanaa. That is the only way I can describe the magnificent brightness I have seen now, he said. I told Bhagavan that the truly learned are aware of the wisdom of our ancient texts and of the teachings of the Upanishads.
We were then sitting on the sands of the Chitravati River and it was a full moon day. Bhagavan asked me, “Do you like to have a copy of the Bhagavad-Gita?” and took some sand into His hand. The sand instantly turned into a text [book] of the Gita and He put it into my hands! I was curious to know in which press it was printed and later, I turned over the leaves to discover it; but, needless to say, the name of the press was not to be found. I was a fairly lost person at that time, for, all this was in utter denunciation of the laws of physics for which I stood and I still stand.
Subsequently too, He has, to my dismay, been breaking one law of physics after another, laws that I learnt as being inviolable. Having learnt the laws of physics in my youth and having taught others for many years thereafter about the inviolability of such laws—at least so far as any known human situation is concerned—and having put them into practice with such a belief in them, I naturally found myself in a dilemma that needs to be resolved.
On one other such occasion, He performed a surgical operation with instruments created by Him. I was an eyewitness and my young son was standing by my side. “Have you got a good bandage?” He enquired after the operation, though He had created a knife and a needle a few minutes earlier. But, before we could reply, He created the bandage too. I still have it with me. What has science to do with this or to say about this? Prof. Gokak said yesterday that Bhagavan defies the laws of physics and chemistry. I would prefer to say that He transcends the laws of physics and chemistry. He is a phenomenon; He is transcendental; He is divine; He is an incarnation. I accepted that as His role, for this is the right way and the only way to get out of the dilemma I referred to a little while ago and in which I was placed.
Still, I continued asking questions. In a remote village, I was once invited to speak about Him. I quoted the shloka in the Bhagavatam where Yashoda [Krishna’a mother, confronted by facts and events that were unbelievable, wondered whether what she saw was a dream or a fantasy or an illusion. If that great mother, I said, was in such desperate confusion, no wonder that a person like me was troubled and forced to feel completely lost.
Today, I do not ask silly questions, nor do I seek to discover what laws He is breaking and how. I speak only of what happens and can happen under known laws. When Bhagavan transcends a law, that fact becomes a new law. He is a law unto Himself.
Bhagavan related yesterday the story of an individual whose true nature was discovered in a strange manner by a housewife. She fed him to fullness and when he was sleeping, she put a hot pad on his sole. Then he shrieked, O Allah, and so when he was off his guard, free from inhibitions, his being a Muslim was revealed; he spoke the truth. There is no doubt that everyone expresses and reveals his intrinsic character when there are no inhibitions. In moments of distress, when you are in real trouble, when you are off your guard, don’t you unhesitatingly cry, “O God, can’t you save me?” Everyone in this country, in real times of test, prays to God and asks of Him “Why don’t you come to me, abide with me, save me, and rescue me?”
Scientists are no exception to this. In their laboratories, they may swear by reason; but they know that every time they have added a little to what we know, we have known of the existence of many other things, the true nature of that we do not know. In this process, we become aware of further large areas, to understand which, we have to struggle more. Thus, while adding to knowledge, we add more to our ignorance too. What we know is becoming a smaller and smaller fraction of what we do not know. Just now, a quarter of a million miles away, a manmade instrument is digging into the moon, a trench 18 inches long and 9 inches deep. Scientists have done many such wonderful things and added to their knowledge but are they aware that knowledge is not the same as wisdom. Wisdom has to be got from Bhagavan and the like of Him who come amidst us from time to time for this express purpose.
So far as religion is concerned, I often narrate the story of a black marketer who stood before the idol in a temple and said during his prayer, “If during this week, I can make a profit of two lakhs of Rupees [Indian currency] through your grace, I shall certainly give you one lakh as my offering. Perhaps, you do not trust me when I say so. I am afraid you don’t. Then, you can deduct your share and give me only one lakh profit. I am amenable to this arrangement also.”
Bhagavan has come to warn us of such insincerities. Those of us who have lost our moorings in the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Gita have to introspect a little and draw upon Bhagavan’s teachings and learn lessons to correct our path. Due to the half-learning we have acquired, the force of exigencies and of bad company and short-sightedness, there are many defects in us and they can be remedied by observing and following Bhagavan’s regulations.
We can borrow many things from the West; technology, materials, equipment, instruments, books, and even food. But we cannot borrow character, culture, or tradition. The latter are to be derived from our own heritage, our own selves, and our own disciplined effort. I must refer to one point before I close. It was said that it is a heartening sight to see tens of thousands of people gathering to hear these lectures and discourses on spiritual subjects. I do not believe that it is so heartening as all that. I would like to know how many in this audience would have attended and how many of them would have listened as quietly as they did in the past two days if these were just discourses on spiritual subjects and if Bhagavan was not present on the dais. I would like to find out if it is not Baba’s personality that has really touched your hearts and shaken the very roots of your beliefs. That is an experience worth going through and I think that is the reason you are all here in such large numbers. Let us shed tears of joy that we are living contemporaneously with Him.
Science has taught me to be honest. Let me tell you that the bane of modern life is empty talk. Mere talking does not lead to action nor does the talk enable you to become godly. Becoming good and godly is a very difficult process; it needs hard discipline. It will take a very long time. I am not speaking pessimistically, but realistically. Bhagavan is our nearest kith and kin; turn to Him for the eternal message. That alone can save us.
~S. Bhagavantham
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, July 1967
