Swami on Love, Truth, and Service

This is the first in a series of two articles carrying the Divine message given by Sri Sathya Sai Baba in His discourses during the 70th birthday celebrations at Prashanti Nilayam.

Embodiments of love, a pure selfless heart, speech full of truth, and a body that’s prepared to render service to your fellow men are noble, Divine qualities. This is the true meaning of human life. The proper study of mankind is man. Human society has been investigating truth over the ages. Sacred Bharath (India) is the birthplace of many sages and saints who, in the past, made many investigations in the spiritual field. At the same time, investigation of truth has been proceeding along the direction of scientific research and inquiry. All that has been revealed by spiritual investigation and scientific truth is the energy present in the atom. All that is seen and listened to in the physical world is present within an atom. It is only the combination of atoms that has taken the shape of the world now. The five elements represent the combination of atoms. Without atoms, there is no world. The whole world is nothing but the expansion of an atom. What is the inner significance of this? The significance is that the Divine principle is everywhere, from the microcosmic atom to the macroscopic universe. This energy is present everywhere. All that is heard and seen is full of energy. Whatever you do, whomever you look at, whatever service you undertake, is just God’s work.

The Search for Truth

Mankind has two wings: love and service. Just as a bird can fly with the help of its two wings, man, with his two wings of love and service, can understand the innate quality of human nature and can go anyplace freely. You don’t need to investigate truth. Truth is present everywhere. Therefore, the search for truth only means to bring out the latent truth within. This eternal truth and energy exist in all. All are forms of God. God is in all beings. Everything is Brahman (the formless absolute). To recognize this, you have to develop sacred qualities.

The organization was started for you to know your own self. What is the main aim of the organization? To know that you are sparks of the Divine. You are not the spark of the body; you are the very atma (divine soul). The organization was started with the sole purpose of knowing this truth and sharing this truth with everybody.

The speakers (earlier) said that Swami is bringing about the transformation of the mind. Transformation is possible only after receiving information. Therefore, to know the self you should gain information. The organization was ‘started with the purpose of gaining this information.

We have to understand the first truth, that the body is gifted to us to render selfless service. The body is here to serve others; the body is not meant for selfishness and self-interest. Selfless service kills the ego. It originates bliss. It also teaches the principle of the brotherhood of man. We can understand this principle if we add another: the fatherhood of God. But we should not end with that alone. We should also teach the principle of oneness and reach the position where we know that all are forms of God.

Whatever you speak should come from the heart. You should speak with love. Whatever you speak with love is bound to be the truth. When there’s no love, there’s falsehood. You have to take the truth as the basis of all pursuits. It is not that easy. You have to practice. Everything—walking, talking, reading, writing, eating—is the result of practice. You need to practice the search for truth. It is not possible without practice. What is this practice? Sadhana—the practice of nearness, identity, and merger (with God). These are the feelings that come out of the heart. But you go by the senses. What you get from the senses is not truth. Truth comes from the heart. The heart is full of compassion. Share this with others. That is the sadhana you have to do. Self lives by getting and forgetting. Love lives by giving and forgiving. Therefore, make every effort to develop love.

Self-confidence to Self-realization

What we need today is self-confidence. You cannot achieve anything without self-confidence. Have faith in the knowledge of your Divine nature. At times, you don’t have faith in yourself. If you don’t have this faith, then what will you believe?

First, you should develop self-confidence. Then you will get self-satisfaction. From this happiness comes self-sacrifice. When you pass on the self-sacrifice, you will have self-realization. So, self-confidence is the foundation of our life; self-satisfaction is the wall; self-sacrifice is the roof; self-realization is life. Therefore, self-realization depends on self-confidence. Develop faith first.

The Meaning of Being Human

What is a human being? One with faith is a human being. You believe in everything, but you don’t believe in yourself. How can you call yourself a human being? At one time Hanuman said, “A monkey is not a human being, but a monkey is better than a human being in one way; he serves Rama, whereas human beings serve desire. I have Rama—I live with Rama. But you lead your life in desire. Here lies the difference between us.” Where there is Rama—God—there cannot be your desire. Therefore, you should have control over your desires.

We also have human values. What is a human value? The value within you. You’re born with these values. You are far away from them because you do not make use of them. You are the embodiment of truth. You are the embodiment of peace. You are the embodiment of love. You are the embodiment of God.

God is not separate; God is in human form. Human life is the result of the merits of several previous lives. It is very rare. Nara (man) means atma (soul). The atma is imperishable. It’s only the body that changes, not the spirit. You don’t understand the changeless, imperishable spirit, the soul behind it; instead, you’re carried away by worldly sense and you go the wrong direction. Reduce your desires to a certain extent. As desires become less and less, spirituality will rise. Less luggage, more comfort, makes travel a pleasure. The desires are our luggage. Every desire must have a limit.

Develop Sacred Qualities

Members of the organization should develop good habits. As is the food, so is the thought. It is only because of eating habits that we have all kinds of thoughts. Therefore, give up smoking and drinking. Alcoholism and smoking will ruin your health. Meat-eating is also very bad. If you partake of animal food, you’ll have animal thoughts. A fourth bad habit is gambling. Those in the spiritual field should immediately give up smoking, drinking, meat eating, and gambling. Because of your meat-eating habit, many people have to kill animals. You’re responsible for the death of those animals, since you eat what the people kill. What a sin to kill innocent animals and eat them!

You should know two important things: help ever, hurt never. We should not hurt anyone. A human value is not just a simple declaration of truth, non-violence, peace, or love. A true human value is not hurting anybody. We should not harm anyone either by thought, word, or deed.

You have to develop sacred qualities. There’s no more spiritual path than this. God is not present in a foreign land. God is present in your own body. Sin is not present in a foreign land. It is attached to your actions. Everything reacts, resonates, and reflects. If you do good, you’ll get good results. It is only to do good that human life is given to us. The one who helps others pleases God. Whom does God love? God loves those who help others. This is because God is present in others. However, you should not have the feeling that you’re serving others. You’re serving God Himself. God has come in this form. God is in all beings. You may serve anyone, but it is service offered to God. All actions are serving God. Then, work will be transformed into worship. Never divide what you do, saying this is my work and that is God’s work. Business is God’s work. Teaching is God’s work. Everything is God’s work. Develop that faith today. For that reason, the Vedas (holy scriptures of India) declare, whomever you respect, it goes to God. Whomever you accuse or criticize, it reaches God.

The Sai Organization is not for publicity. We don’t need publicity. It is all a relationship of love—the continuous flow of your love towards Bhagavan. It is only the connection of love to love, of heart to heart. You love Bhagavan and Bhagavan loves you. That is the constant connection of love to love.

All Are Servants, God Is the Master

In our organization, all are workers. You think you’re a master. No. You think you’re a president. You’re not a president because, in this world, everyone is a worker. A person was a classmate of a king at a tender age. The old friend came to see the king, who asked him, “What are you doing now?” He said, “King, I’m a poor man. Since I cannot carry on my living, I’m suffering. In this world, all are workers. You have to submit to one thing or another in this world.” At this, the king became angry. The king said, “I’ve got so many servants, and I am their master.” To teach the king a lesson, the friend dropped the stick he was holding. He could not bend down and get it. “The walking stick that helps me is not in my hand” he said. “How can I walk now?” The king bent down, picked up the stick, and gave it to him. The friend said, “Oh king, now you are my servant. Why? Because you have picked up the stick and given it to me.”

Service is not merely done with the body. A child serves his mother; the mother serves the child. A husband serves his wife; the wife serves the husband. So, all are servants. God is the only master. What is the meaning of the word master? Some say, “divine master;” some say, “stationmaster,” “postmaster,”.… The word master has no value. Everybody feels he is a master. There is no human master at all.

If you think that you’re serving because of the pressure of the organization, that is no service at all. You should do it for the satisfaction of your own conscience. You start serving when others watch you, and you discontinue immediately thereafter. Whether others are watching or not, God is watching. What ‘do we mean by watch? W-A-T-C-H means: W, watch your words; A, watch your actions; T, watch your thoughts; C, watch your character; H, watch your heart. You have to change yourself. No one in a position of authority needs to watch you. The Sai Center President need not watch the worker. The President has to watch himself. Each of you has to watch yourself.

All Are One

You have to satisfy your conscience. That is the path to self-realization. You experience so many troubles because your conscience is not clear. Swami is fully aware of the good work done by the organization. You should also recognize the patience demonstrated by foreigners. They live in palatial mansions. They sleep on dunlop mattresses. Here these foreigners spend their time in sheds. They don’t have beds. They don’t have coffee and cheese. But they adjust. This adjustment is true devotion. Adjustment is sadhana, spiritual practice. When do you get this quality of adjustment? When there is understanding-the understanding that He is my Swami, He is my God. This is true spiritual practice. So, you have understanding in the first instance. Having understood, practice. When you practice, you will be blissful. Practice is very important. In daily life, proceed along the path of truth and stick to certain ideals.

All want to go along the right path. You are all following the path of truth. The whole world is one. We should not hate any religion because all religions are following the right path. The whole country is a vina (Indian musical instrument). Each religion is a string on that vina. The country will be good if all the strings are in perfect order. All religions should take us to perfection. We should not hate each other. All should be like brothers and sisters because the world is one.

In Prashanti Nilayam we live as one family. Your language, your religion, and your habits mean nothing whatsoever. We are one family. No one is going to be converted here. You have to change for your own self. How? Because of your love for Swami, you change yourself. That love brings about the whole transformation.

Devotion Is Love

We have to develop devotion. What is devotion? Devotion is love, love, love. It is unconditional, total love. We have to understand love clearly. Foreigners say, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” That sort of love has no meaning. There is no one in this world who will love you. A husband says to his wife, “I love you.” A mother says to her child, “I love you.” Brothers say, “I love you.” These are just examples of physical, worldly love, that’s all. Prior to marriage, who’s the husband? Who’s the wife? Where was the love earlier? There was no love. Prior to birth, who’s the mother? Who’s the child? The mother starts loving after birth. What happened to motherly love prior to that? Love is not a passing cloud. Love is permanent, occurring in the past, present, and future. If you say God is love, that is the truth. The rest of what’s called love is merely attachment, not love. But we use this word love without knowing its meaning. So, God is love; love is God. Live in love. Start the day with love. Spend the day with love. Fill the day with love. End the day with love. This is the way to God. You have to develop love this way. God is the embodiment of love. Others may love or not, but you have to share your love. You have to develop this spirit of love.

Swami Wants Quality

Bhagavan is not concerned about quantity. How many units of the organization, how many devotees are there? Bhagavan is not concerned about statistics. I (Bhagavan) want quality. Quality is enough. One teaspoon of cow’s milk is enough. Why get barrels of donkey milk? Many people are after quantity. Desire quality. The happiness, bliss, that you experience here—share with everybody. That is true service. Because of love, you are not mindful of the money involved, the time spent, and the inconveniences experienced here. Sacrifice confers immortality. Develop the spirit of sacrifice.

This body has to go one day or the other. The body is like a water bubble. The mind is like a mad monkey. Don’t follow the body, don’t follow the mind. Follow the conscience. That is the way to God. Follow the conscience and achieve true bliss. What is this happiness? You do not see it anywhere. You cannot get it anywhere. Happiness is union with God. You will not find this happiness in material or worldly things; you can get this happiness only from God.

Many people wish Swami “Happy Birthday.” Swami is always happy. I don’t want happiness. You need happiness. When you receive Swami’s bliss, you will be happy. Swami’s bliss is the tank. Open the tap. You’ll have the bliss of Bhagavan. God is the tank. Devotees are the taps. No bad water can ever be there in the tank. It’s sweet water, pure water. Drink the sweet water of God, Bhagavan. Quench your thirst, be blissful, and set an ideal for the world. You’re all thirsty; that’s why you’re here. What thirst? Your thirst for God. Because of the thirst, you’re here. Drink well. Don’t be bothered by the outer world. In Prashanti Nilayam, lead a peaceful life. Fill it up well. Fill up all the vessels. Back home, share the bliss you experience here with everybody in the neighborhood and with your friends. Develop love. ‘What Swami gives is only love. Bhagavan has no trace of selfishness. By receiving Bhagavan’s selfless love, you develop self-less love.

Source: Excerpted from Swami’s Divine Discourse, Nov. 21, 1995