New Year’s Day Prashanti Nilayam

Being present in Prashanti Nilayam for the Divine Discourse of the New Year, 1994, was a blessing. In a constant effort to lead a life more in tune with Swami’s teachings, I cherish the opportunity to hear the essence of His teachings. The following is a humble presentation on the Divine Discourse based on the notes taken on that day.

Embodiments of Love! For our hands the most precious ornament is charity. Truth is the ornament for our neck. And the sacred texts are the ornaments for our ears. Then why does man need any other jewelry?

Brahman (self) is a form of love. Brahman is love. Love should be connected to love. Therefore, if love is deep-rooted in man, he deserves the non-jewel state. The aim of love is sacrifice. Love does not hate anyone. Love is intimate. Love is dear. Love leads to union and divinity. Love is life. Hence, life without love is a dead corpse. Life lives so long as there is love. We love the living. Love and life are inter-dependent, inter-related and intimate. Love assumes many forms in this transient world: the love between a mother and child, a husband and wife, and between relatives. But this is a worldly love and, therefore, based on selfishness. Divine love is love for love’s sake and hence called “devotion” by the ancient sages. This love (or devotion) is triangular. The three angles of this are:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Gives and never receives
            2. Is fearless
            3. Loves for love’s sake

The combination of the above three is surrender.

When one has surrender, one reaches divinity. To achieve surrender, forbearance is required. Forbearance is not learnt from books or teachers. It is learnt only through love. Forbearance or patience is especially important during difficult situations. To get agitated during difficult times is a sign of weakness as agitation leads to anger. But we are not weak—we are strong and hence should foster forbearance.

Forbearance is everything: Truth, Righteousness, Compassion, and Love. The moment it is lost, man develops anger and jealousy thereby becoming a demonic animal. But we are human beings, not animals. Yet today we find jealousy and hatred dancing like devils all over. Because of this hatred and jealousy, man resorts to a wrong path. In the Mahabharata hatred and jealousy existed as brothers viz. Duryodhana and Dushasana respectively. Ego also plays a role as seen in the form of Shakuni. Because of jealousy and hatred, a family is put through various kinds of suffering. Duryodhana and Dushasana are born to ruin the good family. Kama or ego (Shakuni) acts as fuel when added to fire and exacerbates the whole situation created by jealousy and hatred.

How can we conquer these two? When all the limbs and senses of our body work in unity then we can he rid of jealousy and hatred and be blessed with forbearance. Unity is human life. Without unity there is jealousy and hatred. To achieve unity, we must develop human values. Most important, we must recognize that we are human beings and not animals or demons.

To develop forbearance, unity of the senses is necessary. The senses once came to an agreement that it is unfair that only the tongue should have the ability to taste. So, they went on strike. In their jealousy they did not realize that the tongue stands for eternal truth. The senses are of equal value as they pass on everything to the heart. When the senses went on strike, they became weak and the body died. This proves the need for the unity of the senses.

Because of the sunrise and sunset there are days and months. The mind is responsible for pleasure and pain. If the mind is good, we will have good thoughts. Time is a witness. Time is God. God is awareness like a mirror. Just as the senses went on strike that resulted in total ruin, one may feel offering everything to God is not enough to achieve a more spiritually evolved state. But God listens to everything and answers all prayers. It is just that we never remember what we receive, we only remember what we have given. Everything is God’s gift—even the difficulties.

If we have 100 paisa coins or 10,000 paisa coins, it is burdensome to carry. Hence, we carry a 1 rupee or 100 rupees note respectively which is of equal value but much easier to carry. A fool does not realize that the paper note is equal to the numerous coins. God shows us the easy path of security. Pleasure is sandwiched between pain—like an orange where the sweet inner fruit is protected by a bitter outer skin. We must have equal mindedness with respect to pleasure and pain. God makes us happy and sad. Only out of difficulty does happiness arise. Without difficulty in delivery, a mother cannot be happy and see her child. Therefore, we should desire or expect difficulties.

With forbearance we can bear all challenges and difficulties. Man is the very form of forbearance, living life, a challenge to be met. ln this world everything can be accomplished with forbearance.

We bid farewell to 1993 and welcome 1994. There is a close relationship between the two, as we send one away, we welcome the other. We should also welcome God. We may offer our bad qualities to God as He is the only one who can bear them. Just as the bank exchanges an old Rs.100 note for a new one, God accepts our bad habits, behavior and thoughts and gives us good ones in exchange.

‘Upaasana’ means sitting close to God as ‘Upa’ means proximity and ‘asana’ means sitting. Hence, just as by sitting close to a heater one is warmed; by sitting close to God one is rid of all bad things.

1993 was fear-stricken in many ways. Many are worried about what will happen in 1994. This year is bound to be good. Except for numerous fire accidents, it will blossom. Develop good thinking and let everyone be happy so that there is no suffering. Develop brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God—with this there will be no room for hatred.

God is only one but has many names and forms.

Therefore, develop divine friendship which is true friendship and then the country will prosper. This is the love that is spilling out of the heart and, therefore, should be given to everyone. Have full faith in God and Love. This is true spiritual practice.

Start the day with love
Fill the day with love
End the day with love
This is the way to god

‘Loka Samastha’—let everyone be happy. With Love the country will prosper.

Swami ended the evening by leading two bhajans: “Prema Muditha…” and “Subramaniuam ….” Om Sai Ram

~Pia Awal
Manhattan, New York, USA