The “I” Principle
On November 23, 1997, Sai Baba gave the message of non-dualism to a large number of devotees gathered together on the occasion of His 72nd birthday. An edited version of His discourse is presented here.
You are not virtue or vice, not happiness or misery,
Not sacred word or pilgrimage, not Veda or sacrifice,
You are neither the object of enjoyment nor the enjoyer;
You are the embodiment of eternal Bliss (Ananadam),
Awareness (Chit) and Auspiciousness (Shivam).
Due to ignorance, you are carried away by the form and see a multiplicity of names and forms. Everyone—from a pauper to a prince, from the ignorant to the paramahamsa (all-knowing), whether man or woman, child or adult—invariably uses the word “I.” This I is nothing but the atma tatwa [soul principle]. No one can introduce himself without using “I.” If they had at all the faculty of speech birds and beasts would also say, “I am a cow,” ” I am a goat,” “I am a dog,” “I am a crow,” and so on. This “I” is the cosmic principle, and the whole world rests on it. The existence of all things in creation is indicated by “I.”
“I” Is the Atma, Not the Body
Man thinks he is the body and associates himself with the body, which results in egoism. The whole world is replete with duality—one is “I” and the other is “this.” You say, “This is a cloth,” “This is a table,” “This is a hall,” and so on. The word “this” demonstrates the existence of an object. Every name and form is represented by “this.” The seer is drishta and the object seen is drishya. The seen is visualized by the seer. When you see the bulb burning brightly, you think it is the bulb that gives light. In reality, it is the electricity that gives light. The bulb is like the body; the life force [electricity] is Chaitanya [consciousness]. If I ask a boy, “When did you come?” He says he came on the 21st and the reason for his visit is to attend the convocation on the 22nd. Here when he says “I” he refers to his body. But when he hurts his leg, he says, “My leg is hurt.” On one occasion, you consider your body as “I,” and on another occasion, you say it is “my body.” All that is separate from you is the seen. The underlying principle in all that you see is “I.” This I is changeless and remains the same through time-past, present and future. In truth, “I” represents the atma. Rama and Krishna are names given to a body. The first name of God at the earliest times is “I.” That is why the Vedas say Aham Brahmasmi [I am Brahman]. “I” or “atma” comes first, then only comes the word “Brahman.” The primal basis of everything is “I.” We are not making an effort to understand this principle of “I-ness.”
To Know “I”, Remove Illusion
People undertake several spiritual practices to search for God. When God is in you, where is the need for such a search? If you say you are searching for yourself, people will call you a fool! If you ask someone, “Who am I?” you will be deemed to be mad. You are God, but you are not able to recognize this truth. That has to be changed now. There is a saying that you can straighten a bent tree or mold a boulder but you cannot set right a perverted mind.
The mind is the cause for happiness, misery, sin, merit, pleasure and pain. What is the meaning of the search for God? Only to experience the atma. Why do you undertake spiritual practices? They are not the means to Search for God or to attain Divinity. They only satisfy the mad mind. To proceed on the spiritual path, you have to do only one thing–forget what is not the atma. All Sadhana (spiritual practice) is only to quiet the mind. The only sadhana needed for the realization of self is to remove anatma (illusion).
In fact, anatma is also a reflection of the atma. When you switch off the light, darkness sets in. Darkness is the absence of light. So also, absence of awareness is anatma; It is an illusion. People do meditation, bhajan (devotional singing) etc. It is only for mental satisfaction. What is meditation? Who is the meditator? What is the object meditated upon? Actually, the one who meditates, the act of meditation, and the object are all one. One who knows this truth need not do anything at all. Before you say, “I am Brahman,” you should know “l.”
All Are Divine
You are not able to know Divinity in the true sense. You hear talks and read books; instead you have to search within and subdue the mind. The mind is a thief. You must get hold of the thief and drive him out. Because of the mind, man loses peace. God is no other than “I,” which is known as aham in Sanskrit. Aham is master of body, intellect, senses and mind. We are not able to understand this cosmic principle, which is Divinity. We try to confine that limitless cosmic principle within the four walls of a temple and limit the infinite to the small frame of a picture. This is putting God to disrepute. There is a song by a saint that goes,
“Is it possible to limit the cosmic principle to a small room?
Can you hold the flame of light to the One who gives light even to the sun?
Can you feed the One whose stomach is the whole world?
Is it sane to attempt to bathe One who is the vast ocean?
Can you name One who is the indweller of all creatures?”
We are deluded by our obsession with name and form. God is everywhere as I. If you realize this, the agitations in the world can be brought down. The principle of unity rests on the existence of “I” in everyone. When the same is in all, where is the question of hating the other? The same oneness is in everyone. Where are the differences then? In the body. Where do you get the body from? The body comes from the mind. For example, before marriage, where is the wife? It is only after marriage that the thought comes—she is my wife. These attachments are of our own creation arising out of interrelationships.
Truth is the one called by many names. Names and forms are many, but God is one. He has no birth or death. That is the atma or I or Brahman. It is the body that dies and is born again, not the atma. The Gita explains the same—the atma resides in every being (sarvabhoota antaratma).
When you go to temple to have darshan (sight) of the Lord, you close your eyes as you stand before the idol. Why? Because you want to meditate on the same Lord within you. You want to use the eye of wisdom. There are so many subtleties in understanding Divinity. Pundits do not explain these to people. Everyone must know that all are Divine.
Offer Everything to God
Suffering is brought about by one’s own actions. God will never harm anyone. He is only the witness. When a man is born, there is no necklace of gems or precious stones around his neck; only the results of past actions come with him. When God is in you only, how can you blame God for your suffering? The mind is a thief and tries to separate you from God. The mind is far away from God. It has to be controlled to realize God in you. He who controls the mind is a man of valor and courage. In the Ramayana [an Indian epic], Hanuman shone as a great warrior, but before Rama he was all humility. In front of Divinity, you must be humble. Aham [when identified] with body is ahamkara [ego]; aham [when identified] with atma is Divine. Understand the meaning of this and lead your life accordingly. God is present as aham in all creatures at all times. Worshipping the infinite Divine in a small picture is silly. You should turn your vision inward to reach the goal. You need not give up all activities. Do everything with the feeling it is an offering to the Divine. Do not harp on the name and the form given to the body. When asked who you are, you should say, “I am I,” not your name. Students taking degrees—B.A., M.A., M.B.A.—should understand that degrees pertain to the body. God has no degrees at all! This is the core of all philosophies. He is pure and unsullied, and always blissful. When I was coming to the mandir [temple], some people wished me a happy birthday. This is meaningless. I am ever happy. You must say happy birthday to people who are not happy. God is eternal bliss.
Like streaks of lightning in a dark cloud, God is shining. Education should bring you the light of wisdom that dispels the dark clouds of ignorance. You have love on one side and hatred on the other. Both are reflections of your feelings. Embodiments of the Divine—to the extent possible, understand that this “I” is the same as atma. When you have this conviction, you will never suffer. Whatever the suffering, know that it is a passing cloud. The dark clouds come out of sunlight, which heats the water in the ocean, making it evaporate to form clouds that hide the sun itself. Similarly, ignorance is within and you have to dispel this.
Sun is hailed as the atma, and the moon, as the mind. In the brilliant effulgence of the sun, moonlight is insignificant. In the same way, when you have the knowledge of the self you will never be carried away by the mind. So, you should control the mind by turning it inwards to the atma, which is “l.” Forget the body-mind principle and surrender to this I principle. You may ask, “If I am in family life, how can I discard my wife and children?” I never ask you to discard your duty to your family. Do anything; take it as Divine.
Practice is Real Sadhana
The restlessness in the world is only due to people forgetting the atma and turning to the body. The atma principle is [based on oneness of] the “seer” and the “seen/’ Here is sugar and water. If you mix both, you get syrup. Because you consider the world as separate, you are in trouble. The whole world is a temple of God. Your body is a moving temple. How can you forget the One that is part of you and your very basis? Even the physical mother may forget you, but the Divine will never forsake you. It is the principle of atma that is nearest to everybody. You should not misunderstand Me when I say that all the sadhana done now is really external.
When people come to Prashanti Nilayam, they go about visiting many houses like cats and rats. Avoid such a search for friends and company. Concentrate on spiritual sadhana. Why do you talk to others unnecessarily? Make your time sacred. Experience the Divine vibrations here; reflect and ruminate when you go back home. The cow grazes whenever it finds green grass and goes back to its shelter to leisurely masticate it. Man is wasting lots of time in talking and gossiping. For whom did you come here? Have relationship with God only. Do work for the welfare of others to the best of your capacity. Many people read many books and speak a lot. What is the use? It is like spelling the names of sweets like gulab-jamun etc. You will know the taste only when you eat them. Only when you practice what you learn do you do real sadhana. You don’t have to learn 700 slokas (verses), practice only one sloka, that is enough.
Don’t focus on external forms and practices. Know your innate nature. There is no use in chanting the Lord’s names with your lips. You should install the Lord in your heart. It is just a stunt if you only repeat the names of Rama and Krishna without putting into practice their ideals. Do not ask others, “Who are you?” Instead, ask yourself, “Who am I?” Run away from bad company. Keep company with the good and godly ones. Do meritorious acts day and night. Always think of God. You become good by following these precepts and the principle of the Vedas, “Help ever, hurt never.” Bhagavan does not like such pompous celebration of birthday—it is only to please you that I accept it. I have no desire. Whatever I do is for you. Everyone belongs I to me, and I belong to you. Swami wants that everybody should be happy, good and experience Divinity. Unless the oneness is attained you have to do japa, bhajan and meditation. Exercise discrimination and know the nature of “I.”
Practice Five Principles
I want to give you five cardinal principles to be followed by you, by way of control of desires:
- Don’t waste money. Misuse of money is evil. You need not waste money by buying many photos. You can get only one to worship and not more.
- Don’t waste food. Food is God. Your body has come out of food taken by your parents. It is precious.
- Don’t waste time. God is Time. Time wasted is life wasted.
- Don’t waste energy. Energy is also God. Seeing, hearing, thinking, speaking, are all energy-consuming activities. You should restrict everything to the absolute minimum.
- Do not forget God. You may go anywhere, God follows you. At any place and at any time, think of God. He is in you, around you and with you. The heart is your temple. Turn within, then you can understand the principle of atma. When you understand the principle of atma, you need not even visit here frequently.
Don’t waste even love. Love is life. Without love, you are a lifeless corpse. Don’t aspire to form new friendships when you are here. Say, “Hello, how are you, goodbye,” and depart. That is all.
Talk less, think more. Don’t think you know everything. Enquire within. For self-enquiry, self-confidence is needed. For self-confidence, self-protection is needed. For self-protection, self-realization is necessary. You should lead your life in peace, keeping within limits.
As devotees of Sai, you should serve as ideal examples to others. People say—these are the students and devotees of Sathya Sai. There are no devotees of Sathya Sai. Bhagavan Himself is a devotee because He fulfils your desires. Swami belongs to you and you belong to Him. Understand this concept of unity and develop it. Develop good thoughts on this day and share them with others, not only in Prashanti Nilayam but all over the world.
