The Sandalwood Tree
In His inimitable style, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba teaches us about Sanathana dharma, the eternal way of life, and the goals of human existence. He asks us to regulate our life and do dedicated service.
The pundit [an earlier speaker] explained the importance of Sanathana [unchanging] culture to dharma [righteousness] and also outlined some of the main principles of that subtle ideal. Dharma is the feet and moksha (realization) is the head of the human community, while the other two purusharthas [goals of human existence]—artha (wealth) and kama (desire)—form the trunk and limbs. Today, feet and head are ignored while the other two are reckoned as vital. That is the tragedy of modern times. Enough warning against this tragedy has been given in the ancient texts of this country. The Kauravas [from the epic, Mahabharata] are useful examples of the calamity that awaits those who pursue the ideals of artha and kama, without the regulating influence of dharma and moksha. They were drunk with power, overcome by greed and pride, they had insatiable desires, and they suffered untold misery and were destroyed.
Ravana [from the epic, Ramayana] fell because he strove to accumulate artha and was carried away by covetousness. His “ten heads” indicate his mastery over the four Vedas and the six Shastras [all the scriptures], but of what avail was all that learning? Anjaneya [another name for Hanuman] reported that Lanka was echoing with the recitation of the Vedas and the air was thick with sacrificial smoke. But the rakshasas (demons) were wicked in spite of all that ritual exactitude. Ritual must result in righteousness otherwise it is only rigmarole. Ravana sought to gain prakriti not Purusha (the manifestation not the manifestor)—Sita not Rama! So his life became futile.
Kama is the threeheaded demon. When you win your desire, you develop lobha (miserly greed) to retain the gain and see that it multiplies. When you are defeated in desire, you develop krodha (resentment, anger). Even tapas (penance) might not transmute such a character, as seen in the case of Bhasmasura, who sought to destroy the very Lord who granted him the boon he was after! Desire or lust, greed, and anger are all forms of rajoguna (quality of passion and activity)—the feverish activity that ignores the “means” while concentrating on the “end.” Rajoguna pursues the goal but is not particular about the correctness of the path.
Qualify yourself and then desire
There is a story of some monkeys who planted a mango garden. They planted the saplings, watered them a few days, and plucked them from off the ground to see how deep the roots had gone! They wanted them to grow fast and yield fruits, but they were unaware of the process by which alone they could get the fruits they craved for. Act right and then claim the fruit. Cultivate with care and collect the harvest.
What is the good of burdening yourself with desire when you do not have the qualification to fulfill it? Madhuranath [a devotee] once asked Ramakrishna Paramahamsa for a chance to enjoy what was known as nirvikalpa samadhi (super-conscious state of bliss), about which he had heard. Though Ramakrishna demurred because he had no qualification and preparatory training for it, he insisted. So when at last the Master acceded and made him lose consciousness for three days, the poor man protested and appealed for an end to that experience. It was a burden too heavy for his weak shoulders.
The three gunas (qualities of the mind) have to be transcended one after the other: tamas (lethargy) being transmuted into rajas (passionate activity), rajas into satwa (serenity and poise), and satwa, at last, into “characteristiclessness”. The gunas bind man and leave impressions. Tamas is like the worms that creep and crawl in offal; rajas is like the fly that sits on foul things as well as on fair; satwa is like the bee that visits only fragrant flowers. But all three are drawn toward objects, whereas one should be free from all traces of attachment. When hearts are infested with flies and worms, the Flit [bug spray] of namasmarana (constant remembrance of God’s name) needs to be used for disinfecting the place. You must recognize the high purpose of this human body and the unique chance man has. Then only will you strive to benefit by this hardwon piece of luck.
The magnanimous king
A king was out hunting in the forest, and while pursuing the deer he went too far and discovered that his retinue was left behind. He lost his way and was overcome by hunger and thirst. At last he saw a tiny hut where lived a poor woodcutter and his wife. They sold fuel in distant villages. Their larder was almost empty, but the wife managed to bring out a roti (bread), which the king ate avidly. He had never known such taste, for he was never so hungry as then. He slept soundly that noon, for he was never so tired as then. By that time, the courtiers and soldiers came up to where he was and the astounded woodcutter learnt that his guest was no less a person than the monarch of the realm. He apologized for the poor fare he offered, though the king never uttered a harsh word.
Next day, a man came from the capital to take him to the court and the poor fellow was certain that he was going to be punished for insulting the ruler. His wife accompanied him, for she offered to share the misery with her lord. The king gave him a seat and insisted upon his sitting, an honor that the woodcutter knew was usually given to animals that were about to be sacrificed. Along with his wife he was fed nicely, another honor that such animals usually get.
Then the king asked him what boon the woodcutter would ask from him, and the terrified man could ask for only this: “Please allow me to go home alive, with my wife! Please do not cut off my head,” he cried. The king said, “I am not an ungrateful wretch to treat you so cruelly. If I give you an estate you will ruin it, for you are unaware of agriculture. If I give riches, thieves will carry it away, for you live alone in the jungle. Well, I shall give you a sandalwood plantation in that forest, thirty acres in extent. Make good use of it and prosper.” The woodcutter felt relieved, and he went away into the woods.
After about six months, the king went to the forest again for a hunt and remembering the bread, he went in search of the woodcutter. He found him quite happy for he said that he had started selling charcoal instead of fuel. That man, not knowing the value of the gift he had received, was reducing the sandalwood trees to charcoal. Man, too, does not realize the value of the precious gift of “the number of days” of life he has received from the Lord. He fritters them away for temporary earnings. That is the tragedy of man everywhere.
Sanathana Dharma has laid down the rules and regulations for the best possible utilization of life, but for want of teaching, exposition, and example they have been sadly neglected. This is like inflicting injuries on oneself, this neglect of the rules, which give real happiness and peace. This is like the foolishness of living upon your neighbor’s leavings, while your own home has a relishing, nourishing banquet ready!
Regulate the way of living
Reform the body, reconstruct the mind; regulate the way of living, then the country will become automatically strong and prosperous. Do not wail that it is a mud pot if it contains nectar; it is far better than having a gold pot with poison in it. The land may be rich, but if life is mean, it is deplorable. It does not matter if the standard of life is poor, provided the way of life is pure, full of love, humility, fearofsin, and reverence toward elders.
It is easy to restore this way of life, provided the Vedas are once again studied and followed. The Vedamata (mother of Vedas) will foster in you love and kindness. Have faith; do not discard a diamond, dismissing it as a piece of glass. The dharma laid down in the Vedas is the best armor to guard you against sorrow.
Women should observe stridharma and men purushadharma, the householder, grihastadharma, and the monk sanyasadharma (the path of righteousness prescribed for each category of persons). The outward symbols like shaved head, the ochre cloth, kamandalu [water pot]—these are like the barbed wire erected to protect the crop from depredation. But what we now find is that there is plenty of fence without, but no crop within!
You may have a grand feast on the plate, but unless you have hunger you will not be tempted to eat. There are qualifications for every task, be it eating or fasting, be it leading a householder’s life or monk’s life. Only a stone that was once Ahalya [a sage’s wife in Ramayana] and was saturated by meditation and remorse could be transmuted into human form and only the feet of a Divine incarnation could so transmute it. All stones trodden by Rama did not get transformed into women; nor did any of the feet that trod upon that stone have the power of giving life. The guru must have the awakening touch and the disciple must have the eagerness to awake. The relationship should not be like the snake with a frog in the mouth: the frog is too weak to escape, the snake is too full to swallow it. The guru must be able to save and the disciple must be ready to be saved.
Hanuman’s dedicated service
Dedicate all tasks of offerings to the Lord. Never deviate from that attitude. Hanuman was such a devotee—Rama was the very lifebreath for him. After the coronation, one day Sita and the three brothers of Rama met and planned to exclude Hanuman from Rama’s service. They wanted that all the various tasks to be done for Rama should be divided only among themselves. They felt that Hanuman had enough chances already.
So they drew up a list as exhaustive as they could remember down to the smallest detail, of the service from dawn till dusk, and assigned each item to one among themselves. They presented the list of items and assignees to the Lord while Hanuman was present. Rama heard about the new procedure, read the list, and gave His approval with a smile. He told Hanuman that all the tasks had been assigned to others and that he could now take rest. Hanuman prayed that the list might be read aloud, and when it was done he noticed an omission—the task of snapping fingers when one yawns. Of course, being an emperor, Rama should not be allowed to do it himself. It has to be done by a servant, he pleaded. Rama agreed to allot that task to Hanuman!
It was a great piece of good luck for Hanuman, for it entitled him to constant attendance on his Master, for how could anyone predict when the yawn would come? Hanuman had to be looking on that heartcharming face all the time to be ready with a snap as soon as the yawn was on! Neither could he be away for a minute nor could he relax for a moment. You must be happy that the service of the Lord keeps you always in His presence and be ever vigilant to carry out His behest.
Select a name and a form
The Lord cares for concentration and purity of mind. You need not feel that you are physically away from Him. He has no ‘near’ and ‘far.’ Provided the address is clear and correct, your letter will be delivered either at the next street or at Calcutta or Bombay for the same stamp. Smarana (remembering) is the stamp; manana (recapitulation) is the address. Have the name for smarana; the form for manana that is enough.
Select one name and one form for smarana and manana but do not talk ill of other names and forms. Behave like the woman in a joint family; she respects and serves the elders of the family such as the fatherinlaw, his brothers, and her own brotherinlaw, but her heart is dedicated to her husband, whom she loves and reveres in a special manner. If you carp at the faith of others, your devotion is fake. If you are sincere, you will appreciate the sincerity of others. You see faults in others because you yourself have those faults, not otherwise.
While in Dandakaranya forest, Rama was once reclining with His head on the lap of Sugriva [the great monkey king] and the monkey leaders were around Him. The moon was shining overhead in full glory, but there was the telltale spot that marred the fullness of the effulgence. Rama asked each one of them what the spot indicated. Each one gave a different explanation: the reflection of the sea, one said; a deep pit, said another; a mountain range, said a third. But Anjaneya said, “It is your reflection I see on the moon, your color, nothing else.” That was the measure of his devotion. He saw everywhere, every time only Rama.
Have faith in your culture, which emphasizes the path of selfcontrol and discipline. Do not be led away by the tinsel attractions of foreign cultures. Western women now adopt Indian customs like the wearing of the sari, while Indian women are wearing gowns! Indian women bob their hair and discard the kumkum (vermilion dot on the forehead) in order to look fashionable. Every Indian custom has deep significance that ignored in this imitative rush. A drop of kerosene can spoil a vessel of sweetness. Accept good things from other cultures, the things that help you to control the vagaries of the senses and the mind and to investigate and discriminate more clearly.
Of the many million of people who dwell in this city, you alone had the great chance to come and hear the advice given today. So make the best use of this treasure and decide on leading more useful lives from this very moment. Listen to all who speak of the glory of the Lord, who is in you, as in everybody else. Learn from all the methods by which you can discover Him and reach Him. That is My advice to you.
Source: Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 4
