The Two Mothers
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba spoke to the students at the Youth Camp and asked them to let go of all desires for sense-objects, concentrate on God alone, and surrender all desires to Him.
You are the greatest treasure that this country has; its future rests on you. This is the land where the sacred Vedas were first uttered; it is the land where sages and saints who followed the Vedic discipline realized the Divinity that they were; and it is the land where generation after generation of pious people lived simple and contented lives filled with love towards all beings. It is a great pity that you are growing up utter strangers to this glorious heritage.
The truth that the Vedas [scriptures] teach man is Soham—That is I. The principle that is immanent in the universe is the same principle that is immanent in Me, too. Meditation on this all-inclusive thought gradually leads man to know that there is no distinction between That and I, that both are one, and that sah [you] and aham [I] are not separate; and in reality, there is only Om.
The Vedas teach three other basic beliefs: first, karmaphala, that emphasizes that every act has an inevitable consequence. Every cause has an effect. If you act with an eye on the consequence, you have to suffer the consequence. Attachment results in bondage while detachment leads to liberation. It is the ego, the “I” consciousness that tells you that you are the body, with its pack of senses that drives you into attachment. Be vigilant that it does not lead you into desires that are harmful.
You are now free; you can go where you like, hiking on your two legs; when you marry, you become a quadruped, and when you get a child, you develop two more legs. Thus you grow into a centipede and start crawling. Attachment makes you burdened and bound. The mind is the source of all desire. Go and try to acquire, not diamond, but ‘die-mind.’ Let all desires for sense-objects die, and, concentrate all desires on God. Surrender all desires to Him. Surrender all instincts, impulses, attachments to Him. In the Gita, Krishna has assured, “When you surrender everything to Me, your welfare and happiness become My responsibility.”
The other two doctrines are punarjanma or rebirth, according to karmaphala, and the unique birth of the Lord as avatar, to save humanity from its fall. You must start with faith; only then can knowledge grow. Have faith in the book, and start studying it; then only do you get knowledge out of it. Without getting into water, you cannot learn the art of swimming. You will get the proof you need only when you approach with humility and faith.
Be always cheerful and sprightly. Ups and downs will always be there on the road of life. Pleasant or unpleasant, take all vicissitudes alike with fortitude. In the sky of your heart, dark thick clouds of desire and doubt mar the brilliance of the sun of intellect. They are only clouds; they will pass away. Develop a strong character; reason will blow the wind, driving off the clouds. Meditate on God and pray that they pass away, and the Lord will come to your help.
Develop unshakeable faith in yourself; your capacity to live well and long; and to be of service to your parents and the country. That is atma-vishwasa [self-confidence]. That is the root of the tree of life. The sweetness in the fruit that a tree yields is the sweetness of character. Pursue your studies, not merely for the sake of a job, but for living a good and happy life. That is to say, you must, from this moment, cultivate faith in God, keep virtuous company, nourish discipline and cherish ideals of service.
Control the senses; avoid seeing evil, hearing evil, and relishing evil sights, words, and news. Bad thoughts breed bad character, and drag you down into the beast. Those whom we now adore for their exemplary lives have been boys and young men like you; they did not neglect during their youth the development of their moral fiber, and qualities of sympathy and service. You, too, should not neglect these.
Vidyarthi (student) means one who aspires to acquire vidya, (education) but vidyarthis have now become vishayarthis (those who aspire to acquire pleasures of the senses and related objects)! Vidya is becoming shunya, (zero) since students are kept busy with things other than study. Not all are bad; but the entire student community has to bear the blame when a few among them are drawn into wrong ways.
Nowadays, students do not enjoy the confidence and trust of the people. In the olden days, when ladies, elderly, or sick persons had to travel in train without any escort or help, they felt happy and relieved when they found even a single student in the compartment; for, they said, “O, we have a student travelling with us: he will take good care of us; he will tell us where to get down; and he will get for us what we need.” But today, the presence of a student is not welcomed!
What a fall this is! How sad and unfortunate! Bad guidance from parents, teachers, and the so-called leaders of the land; bad company at school and college; reading bad books; and the craving to see films, all are responsible for the damage done to the pure-hearted, blemishless youth of this great country [India]. Students have a natural reverence for the parent, the teacher, and the leader; but when these [people] do not set a good example, when the teacher stoops to borrow a cigarette from the student, how can reverence persist?
Do not worry at the faults of others. Try to look into your own [faults] and correct them. Only you must take the drug for the disease from which you suffer. If you are not at fault, never bother about what others may say. But first, examine your behavior and see that it is above criticism. Grow straight; do not grow crooked. Do not read trash and see bad films, they warp character and extol violence and wickedness. Spend the money you have on good food, instead. Develop good habits: doing bhajan [devotional singing], practicing [yoga] asanas, meditation, and silence, these will give you peace, and a clear brain and concentration. They will discipline the wayward mind.
Curb your craving for being `fashionable’. You do not know how much your parents have to sacrifice to cater to your tastes. They often borrow money so that you can adopt the latest in dress or equipment. And, later, the moneylenders harass them. Be content; learn contentment. There is no wealth like contentment. Use your time as if it is something very precious. It is really the most precious gift of God. It is fast running out; every moment lost is lost forever. Try to serve the sick and the suffering; learn how to serve them efficiently and quickly. Move about always with .a smile on your face; do not make the smile into a cynical grin or a merry laugh. No one should feel hurt by that smile; every one should feel happy, and should catch the infection of joy.
Try to have restraint and moderation in everything: food, recreation, and talk, etc. Have neither too much freedom nor too much restraint or regimentation. Revere your parents; they have gifted this body to you. They are your immediate and visible Gods. Be grateful to your mother who nourished you with her own blood and bore pangs for your sake, and poured out her heart in love on you.
Serving and worshipping the parents is really service and worship of God. For Sri Rama, the command of the father was as potent as divine command. At 7 o’clock in the morning, Rama was to be crowned the emperor. He walked toward the throne to receive the crown and the homage. At 6:55 a.m. He was asked to walk into the forest and was exiled for 14 years! He walked away as joyfully as He walked toward the throne; His equanimity remained the same. Its reward was the joy that He derived as a result of obeying His father’s command. That equanimity is the real state of samadhi; sama-dhi that means equal awareness, and undisturbed reaction to both pain and pleasure.
You are growing older every moment; you will not be young always. The friendship and contacts you develop now at school or college are temporary. After your term is over, each goes in his own path, away from the rest. These attachments will then break off and new ones will fill their place. So, choose good companions and do not develop too strong an attachment to anyone. Be friendly with all, but do not allow that friendship to grow into excess. Try to get into the company of devoted and God-fearing persons. When dust joins the company of air, it rises up into the sky; when it joins the company of water, it sinks into the depths of the earth. Your future is shaped by the company you fall into now. So, be very careful; I always like youngsters, and I yearn to shower upon them My grace.
Look upon all girls as your sisters. If you look at them with evil and impure thoughts, you will slide down the path of ruin. If anyone looks upon your sister with impure motives, how much will you be pained, how hurt will you be! Remember that and avoid hurting others likewise. Try to develop brotherly and sisterly attitudes toward all you meet. Do not take delight in taunting or decrying girl students. Respect them and pay heed to their sense of self-respect. That is the means of winning My grace.
Remember that you have two mothers: the desha-mata (the motherland) and the deha-mata (mother of the body). If you do not have a sterling character, the motherland is thrown into grief. If you do not exhibit love and gratitude, your mother is thrown into grief. When both are happy through you, I am pleased, and I will shower grace on you. Your life is then indeed blessed.
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, 1968
