From Narrow to the Broad Vision
Man is like a seed. The seed sprouts, becomes a sapling, grows into a tree, and fulfils its destiny, offering flowers and fruits to the world. So too, man rises from childhood through adolescence into youth and middle age. When fully grown up he has to justify himself by offering to the world the flowers and fruits of good thoughts and deeds, himself acquiring the fullness of wisdom. A bird has need of two wings; a cart must have two wheels, without these, they are mortally handicapped. Man too, must have two types of knowledge; to live on and to live for. The one helps him to eke out his livelihood and the otherårewards him for having lived at all. The one is called jeevanopadhi (the means of living), and the other, jeevanaparamavaadhi (the goal of living). The one enables us to garner the material riches that make our lives comfortable and safe, the other answers the questions that haunt us and pressurize us while we live; whence have we come?, to where are we proceeding?, how did the universe originate?, etc…
From the narrow vision of ‘individual need’ man must voyage out into the broad vision of the ‘Universal.’ When a drop of water falls into the ocean, it loses its narrow individualities, its name and form, and assumes the form, name, and taste of the ocean itself. If it seeks to live separately as a ‘drop,’ it will soon evaporate and be reduced to non-existence. Each one must become aware that he is part of the one Truth that encompasses everything in the universe. It is reprehensible to stick for one’s whole lifetime to the low narrow paths of selfishness, envy, and greed. Make the heart big and the mind pure. Then only can peace and prosperity be established on the earth…
He, who announced Himself as the messenger of God, developed through the blossoming of Divinity and the expansion of compassion and service in Him, to a stage when He declared Himself as the Son of God. And then, finally, He rose to the status of ‘I and My Father are one’
Even a child would be eager to pass from one class to the next higher one. He would hate being in the same class, vegetating for years. Then what can we say of persons with intelligence and discrimination, satisfied with the attainment of the lower steps? Jesus passed through the entire process and inspired all mankind by His example and teachings, to be generous and kind, detached and discriminating, and to bring light and love to all…
Jesus sacrificed His life and poured out his blood to instill love and compassion in the heart of man, so that he may be happy when others are happy and sad when others are sad…
You must realize that the Divine current, that flows and functions in every living being, is the One universal entity. When you desire to enter the mansion of God, two closed doors confront you; the desire to praise yourself and the desire to defame others. The doors are bolted by envy, and there is also the huge lock of egoism preventing entry. So if you are earnest, you have to resort to the key of prema (love) and open the lock, then remove the bolt and throw the doors wide open. Education must train you in this difficult operation.
Source: Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 27, ‘Jesus’
