Sanathana Dharma - For A Happy, Peaceful Life For An Individual and For Society
Sanathana Dharma - For A Happy, Peaceful Life For An Individual and For Society
Sanathana Dharma - For A Happy, Peaceful Life For An Individual and For Society
education is zero;
Bereft of truth, righteousness, love and peace the sanctity of all
your acts of charity is zero;
Bereft of truth, righteousness, love and peace the utility of the
positions of power occupied is zero;
Bereft of truth, righteousness, love and peace the result of all your
good deeds is zero;
These four qualities are the four pillars that support the mansion
of Sanatana Dharma.
What more can I explain,
Oh! Men of noble qualities!
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Table of Contents
Foreword ................................................................................13
Introduction ...........................................................................15
The True Nature of Dharma ................................................17
What is Dharma ? ................................................................................... 17
Intentions of actions should be pure
19
Principles on which Dharma is based
20
Do not have a double standard
21
Do unto others as others do unto you
22
Dharma is the primary maxim of life
24
Dharma of man is a life of sacrifice
25
God is the embodiment of dharma
27
What is the essence of dharma?
28
On the path of dharma
29
Three principles to guide you
31
Dharma and human values .................................................................... 32
Practising what you preach is Dharma
33
Symbolic meanings of Spiritual terms and acts ...................................... 34
Divine Versus Worldly Dharma
37
See the stone as God
37
Follow divine dharma and be free
38
Egotism based on the body is hell
41
True dharma is the fundamental basis
42
51
Hinduism ................................................................................69
Why Hinduism stands out as a religion ...................................................73
Three schools of philosophy ...................................................................78
Shankaracharyas adwaitha philosophy
79
Merging in the Source is the ultimate destiny ................................... 79
Ramanujacharyas Visishtadwaitha Philosophy
81
Madhvacharyas dwaitha philosophy
82
Upasanas ................................................................................................83
Zoroastrianism ......................................................................85
Jainism....................................................................................89
Buddhism ...............................................................................95
Buddha's search for Truth ....................................................................100
Nirvana
102
Good life leads to nirvana ................................................................103
Buddhas Teachings ..............................................................................105
Divinity transcends space and time
105
Samyag darsanam
106
Samyag vachanam
108
Christianity ..........................................................................119
Jesus .................................................................................................... 121
The three stages of Jesus' life
121
Jesus' original name was Isa
123
Do not confine Jesus to one community
124
Man forgets or ignores the goal of life
125
Jesus bore no ill-will towards any one
127
Be ever ready to cast the body away
128
Bible Clarifications ............................................................................. 129
Christian ............................................................................................... 130
Christmas ............................................................................................. 131
He whom Christ announced ................................................................. 132
Islam .....................................................................................145
Allah
Islam
The Atma can never be hurt by insult
During Ramzan month rivalry is avoided
Unity is the basic teaching of every religion
Demonstrate love and tolerance in daily activity
147
147
148
149
150
151
Sikhism .................................................................................152
Sai Religion the Unity of Religions .................................156
The 'Sai religion' is the essence of all faiths .......................................... 158
10
Index .....................................................................................218
Bibliography ........................................................................219
11
Foreword
Ekam Sat Vipra bahudavadanthi Truth is one but wise have
said in many ways.
Ekameva adwitiyam brahma God is One without a second.
There is only one God and Atma is one. The Atma is the same in
All. All religious people pray to the same God, but their names
and forms may be different.
All religions teach only good,
And one has to follow the teachings
Using ones discrimination.
If the mind is pure,
No religion would appear bad.
Bhagavan says: Religions are many, but God is one; Jewels are
many, but Gold is one; Appearances are many, but Reality is
One.
Cows may be of different breeds or colours or sizes, but milk
they yield is the same, the world over. So too, all religions,
whatever their origin or extent of influence, are means to teach
man this process.
Do not give room for differences based on language, religion,
caste or nationality. Develop the feeling that all are children of
God. You may worship God in any form of your choice, but
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
always bear in mind that God is one. Cultivate love and promote
unity and harmony among all.
Religions are many, but the road is the same. Flowers are many,
but worship is the same, professions are many but living is the
same.
Saharaseersha Purusha Sahasraska
sahasrapath-Isavasya midam Jagat
Eswara Sarvabhuthanam
Ekovasi sarvabhoothamanratma
Understand, the tenets experience and follow. Religion means
Realisation, What is that realisation? That is oneness, That
realisation is Love. Therefore we must with unity live
harmoniously. As a good Muslim, as a good Hindu, as a good
Christian as man seeing God in another and live together -Brother-hood of man and Father- hood of God
Keeping these precepts in mind practice Bhagawans Upadesh
(teachings), let us all live in religious harmony and peace and
follow Sai Religion of Universal Love.
That is a flower at the Lotus Feet of God.
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan
Samastha Lokas Sukhinobhavanthu
Tumuluru Krishna Murty
14
Introduction
Sanatani is a term often used by most Indians to describe
denominations that adhere to what is sometimes misunderstood
to be Orthodox Hinduism. The term was popularized by Gandhi
in 1921.
The term Sanatani is used in contrast to reformist denominations
of Hinduism, which often reject previously long-established
socio-religious systems based on fundamentalist interpretations
of specific scriptures or were led by reformist sants (saints).
Hinduism has been called the "oldest religion" in the world and
many practitioners refer to Hinduism as Sanatana Dharma, "the
eternal law" or the "eternal way" beyond human origins. It
prescribes the "eternal" duties all Hindus have to follow,
regardless of class, caste, or sect, refraining from injuring living
beings, purity, goodwill, mercy, patience, forbearance, selfrestraint, generosity, and asceticism.
This is contrasted with Swadharma, ones "own duty", the duties
to be followed by members of a specific caste and stage of life.
According to Knott, this also refers to the idea that its origins lie
beyond human history, and its truths have been divinely revealed
(shruti) and passed down through the ages to the present day in
the most ancient of the worlds scriptures, the Veda.
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
16
What is Dharma ?
Today all kinds of worldly Dharmas are proliferating. When we try
to find out what is Vaidik Dharma (Dharma according to Vedas),
there are confusing and conflicting opinions. (SSS Vol.21), 26-31988.
Veda is declared to be the root of Dharma. The Veda is
Apourusheya---"Not ascribable to human skill or authorship;" the
Veda Purusha (Soul of Veda) is not ascribable to any one country.
Veda emanates from wherever you yearn for it. All religions and
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
18
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Or, there is another principle. Dharma trains you to be calm, levelheaded, secure in equanimity. You know the transitory nature of
success or failure, riches or poverty, joy or grief, appointment or
disappointment. You are not elated or deflated. You are serene,
unmoved. Anything that helps you to maintain this unruffled
stability is dharma.
To cut it short: sensual life is adharma; the spiritual life is dharma.
Dharma is that which sustains, saves and sanctifies. Man is born
and is given a lease of life so that he may earn the knowledge of His
identity with the Infinite.
There are differences between the limbs of the body but they all
belong to the body; it is foolish for them to imagine that they are
unconnected with the body. The Sun sends out a million rays but
they all belong to the Sun. The Sun is reflected in a million pots of
water but though they all are tiny images of the Sun, the Sun is the
Truth and the reflections are all relatively unreal.
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
The Vedas and the Upanishads, which form the Jnaana kanda and
the Upaasana sections of Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Religion), are
the best guides to the path of dharma for mankind, for all classes,
for the family, for society, for the professional group and for the
individual. Just as Delhi is the capital of India, India is the spiritual
capital for all mankind. It is the responsibility of Indians to
demonstrate in their lives that Dharma confers on them shanti and
soukhya (peace and happiness), so that the rest of mankind may get
the inspiration to follow the same path. (SSS Vol.2), 5-10-1962
22
Therefore, while taking food, you should offer it to the Divine first by
reciting the sloka:
Brahmaarpanam Brahma Havih,
Brahmaagnau Brahmanaahutham
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
24
light. Only when heat and light are present, can you regard it as
Agni (fire). If heat and light are not present, it will be a piece of
charcoal and not fire What, then, is the Dharma (the vital principle)
of fire? To manifest heat and light. Here is a lump of ice. What is
its form? It is white. It is cold. If it is not cold, it will cease to be ice.
Likewise, the vital principle of sugar is sweetness. If it has no
sweetness, it will turn into salt or mud.
"Man is sustained by three factors: the body, the mind, and the
tongue. The hands represent the body, thoughts represent the mind
and speech represents the tongue. The acting in unison of the body,
the mind and the tongue is Dharma. Thoughts, words and actions
should be in harmony. That is the mark of a true human being. This
basic truth is valid without regard to place, nationality, language or
religion. It is applicable to people everywhere, at all times. Those
who observe this triple purity are the redeemed. They are the salt of
the earth. They are the upholders of righteousness. To such
adherents of Dharma, God is a constant companion, keeping close
to them at all times and places. (SSS Vol.28), 18-8-1995. Today
man must strive for this triple unity. Dharma cannot be destroyed.
But what is happening is the decline in the practice of Dharma.
Today, the practice of Dharma is itself true sadhana. (SSS Vol.23),
14-8-1990
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
peace. One cannot acquire real peace, nor can one win the grace of
the Lord, through any means other than the dharmic life.
Dharma is the foundation for the welfare of humanity; it is the truth
that is stable for all time. When dharma fails to transmute human
life, the world is afflicted by agony and fear, tormented by stormy
revolutions. When the effulgence of dharma fails to illumine human
relationships, humanity is shrouded in the night of sorrow.
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
the ancient sages (rishis), the example of their shining deeds, and
the bright untarnished urges behind their actions are all turned into
ugly caricatures of their original grandeur by uncultured interpreters
and scholars. Books written for children contain illustrations to
clarify the text; but the children spend their time with the pictures,
forgetting what they are intended to clarify. In the same way, the
unwary and the uneducated mistake the rituals, which are designed
to illustrate the grand truths, as profoundly real in themselves and
ignore the truth that they were meant to elucidate. Travellers
moving along the road rest for a while in wayside shelters, but
during their stay, they damage by neglect or misuse the very
structure that gives them rest. So too, the dull and perverse alter the
very face of Vedic morality and deceive the world into believing
that their handiwork is what the Vedas teach!
When such mauling of dharma took place, when the face of dharma
suffered disfigurement at the hands of the enemies of God, the Lord
responded to the call of the gods and the godly and saved the world
from ruin, by restoring right and truth in the field of dharma and
karma, i.e. in both ideal and practice.
Now, who can cure the present blindness? Man has to slay the sixfold beast of inner enemies (arishadvarga) that lead him on to
disaster: lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride, and hate. Thus only can
dharma be restored.
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
person knows that the goal of dharma is the merging of the wave in
the sea, the merging of the self in the Over-self.
In all worldly activities, you should be careful not to offend
propriety or the canons of good nature; you should not play false to
the promptings of the inner voice; you should be prepared at all
times to respect the appropriate dictates of conscience; you should
watch your steps to see whether you are in someone elses way; you
must be ever vigilant to discover the truth behind all this
scintillating variety. This is your entire duty, your dharma. The
blazing fire of wisdom (jnana), which convinces you that all this is
Brahman (sarvam khalvidam Brahmam), will consume into ashes
all traces of your egotism and worldly attachment. You must
become intoxicated with the nectar of union with Brahman; that is
the ultimate goal of dharma and of action (karma) inspired by
dharma.
Sacrifice ignorance (a-jnana) and ego (ahamkara) at the altar of
wisdom (jnana) and install dharma therein; this is the message of
the Vedas. Every single unselfish act that prepares the ground for
the merging of the soul with the Over-Soul, that broadens the vision
toward the basic Brahman immanent everywhere, is a dharmic act.
Each such act is a tiny stream that swells the river of holiness
rushing towards the sea of knowledge of Brahman. Your acts and
activities are all rituals in the worship of the highest Atma, which
pervades the universe. Whatever is done in an attitude of dedication
and surrender is a component of the dharma that leads to
realization. The strategy of the Indian (Bharathiya) way of life is
directed toward the sanctification of every movement and every
thought, word, and deed into a step towards that realization. (DV)
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
its reality or rather, unrealize what it has now taken as real so that it
may stand revealed in its genuine identity.
These meanings must be learned by young and old. Take, for
instance, the Siva Temple. Right in front of the idol of Siva is the
image of Nandi, the bull. You are told that the sacred bull is the
vehicle (vahana) of Siva, and that is the reason for its being there.
But, really speaking, the bull (pasu) represents the individual (jiva)
while the lingam is the symbol of Siva. No one should pass
between the bull and the lingam, the individual, and the Siva, it is
said; for they are to merge in one. Siva has to be seen through the
two horns of Nandi, they say. When asked the reason for this
procedure, people reply, Well, it is holier than other methods of
viewing the lingam.
But the inner meaning is, You must see the Siva in the individual
the bull Pasu and Siva (Pasupathi) are one. Nandi and God
(Iswara) become the Lord of individuals (Nandiswara). Both are
only two ways of referring to the same entity. When in bondage, it
is Nandi; when the bound becomes free and union with God is
achieved, it is God. It is worshipped and is entitled to be so
honoured. The true sacrifice (yajna) occurs when the bull (pasu) is
offered to the Lord of animals, Pasupathi, and its separate identity is
cast away. The significance has now been forgotten. Today, these
symbolic acts have changed beyond recognition. The practices of
today and the principles of yesterday are far apart. Even the smallest
detail of secular life has to be inspired by the higher ideal of
spiritual fulfilment.
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Then, even simple folk can be led step by step toward the goal.
When you do not discriminate the process and purpose of every act,
but still go on doing it, it becomes a funny fossilized version. Once,
even Prahlada said, Since it is difficult to destroy egotism, man
finds it easy to destroy this dumb animal as a substitute. Animal
sacrifice is the manifestation of the quality of inertia (thamoguna);
it is the path of bondage. The sacrifice of the animal of egotism is
the pure sacrifice (sathwic yajna) on the Godward path of
liberation.
Thus, the highest goal (paramaartha) of those ancient days is
turned into the fools goal (paaramaartha) of these days! Every one
of the ancient practices, which were once full of meaning, has
grown wild beyond recognition. Branches have shot out in various
directions. It is now impossible to pluck the tree by the roots and
plant a new one. So, the existing tree has to be trimmed and trained
to grow straight. The highest goal has to be constantly remembered
and not diluted into the lowest.
Dharma cannot be restricted to any particular society or nation, for
it is closely bound with the fortunes of the entire living world. It is a
flame of light that can never be extinguished. It is untrammelled in
its beneficent action. Krishna taught the Gita to Arjuna, but He
intended it for the whole of humanity. Arjuna was just an excuse.
That very Gita is today correcting all mankind. It is not for any
particular caste, religion or nation; it is the very breath for humans
everywhere.
Dharma expresses itself in a variety of forms. Sometimes, it is
known by the people who codified it, like Manu-dharma,
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
God? First, the form of the Godhead has to be meditated upon and
imprinted on the consciousness; then, that form has to be conceived
within the stone and the stone forgotten in the process, until the
stone is transformed into God. In the same way, you have to imprint
on your consciousness the basic dharma, the fundamental fact of
Atma as the only entity; then, filled with that faith and vision, you
have to deal with the manifold world of objects, its attractions and
impingements. The ideal can be realized only thus. If this is done,
there is no danger of the authentic meaning getting diluted or of
Atma-dharma losing its lustre.
What happens when a stone is worshiped as God? The unlimited,
the ever-present, the all-pervading-immanent entity, the Absolute, is
visualized in the particular, in the concrete. Similarly, dharma that
is universal, equal, and free can be spotted and tested in a single
concrete act. Do not be misled by the idea that this is not possible.
Dont you accomplish many difficult things, things that only
increase your anxiety and fear? If one is wise, cant one take up
instead things that are more worthwhile, things that give peace of
mind?
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Those who hold the physical objective world as the all of life and
the body as the Self lead wasted lives, live as meaningless as
making God into stone. Making the stone into God is the holier,
more wholesome task. So too, seeing divine duty (Atma-dharma) in
an act transforms it into an act of worship, elevates it, and removes
its binding characteristic. Performing the duties of worldly life with
no regard to genuine practice of the law of truth (sathyadharma) is
as unholy as treating God as stone. Good behaviour (aacharadharma) pursued apart from the law of truth (sathya-dharma) and
the law of truth divorced from good behaviour are both barren of
results.
Good behaviour and the law of truth are inextricably intertwined
and should be treated as such. The senior officer needs the work of
the junior official as much as the junior official needs the help of
the senior officer. Who, then, is the bound one and who the free?
Both are bound to their desire to be happy and comfortable. Until
the fundamental secret of the Atma is recognized, the outer state of
bondage will persist. When that is done, the burden of slavery to the
senses and the objective world will be diminished. Then, the code
of behaviour toward the objective world will be merged with the
code toward the inner divinity, and the urges will all be cooperating
harmoniously.
The Vedanta, the scriptures relating to the Supreme Spirit (adiAtmic Shastras), and dharma all invite man to live and act as God
(Bhagavaan), and not as bondsman. Then, all acts become virtuous
acts (dharma-karma) and not acts done with intent to gain the fruits
thereof (kamyakarma). The shackles of bondage cannot be avoided
by a mere change of type of activity. They can be avoided only by
40
changing the point of view from the created to the Creator (deha to
the Deva). Thereby, the moral qualities will also be rendered
stronger.
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
unity. It is the highest discipline and the most profitable. All this
unfoldment began with dharma; all this is stabilized by truth
(sathya); truth is inseparable from dharma. Truth is the law of the
universe, which makes the sun and moon revolve in their orbits.
Dharma is the Vedas and the mantras, the spiritual wisdom (jnana)
they convey. Dharma is the course, the path, the law. Wherever
there is adherence to morality, there one can see the law of truth
(sathyadharma) in action. In the Bhagavatha too, it is said, where
there is dharma, there is Krishna; where there are both dharma and
Krishna together, there is victory. Dharma is the very embodiment
of the Lord; since the world itself is the body of the Lord, the world
is but another name for the moral order; no one can deny it, now or
ever. (DV, pp. 27-28)
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Karma - Action; deed; work; religious rite; the totality of innate tendencies
formed as a consequence of acts done in previous lives. Every karma
roduces a lasting impression on the mind of the doer, apart from affecting
others. Repetition of apar-ticular karma produces a tendency (vaasana) in
the mind. Karma is of three kinds: (i) Praarabdha: which isbeing exhausted
in the present life: (ii)Aagami : which is being accumulated in the present
life, and (iii) Samchitha, which is stored to be experienced in future lives.
Akarma is action that is done without any intention to gain the
consequences; Vikar-ma is action that is intentionally done. (SSS Vol.1)
For the process of such discrimination and for the visualisation of ones
innate reality, one has to study the Upanishads. They are collectively called
Vedanta. They form the Jnana Kanda of the Vedas, the section that deals
with the Higher Wisdom. Liberation from the consequences of Ignorance
can be secured only by Knowledge, or Jnana. The Upanishads themselves
declare, Jnaanaad eve thu kaivalyam; By Knowledge alone can freedom
be won.
The Vedas are reputed to be three sectioned. Kandathrayathmakam; the
three sections being Jnaana, Upasana and Karma. These three are found in
the Upanishads too. They provided the basis for the Adwaitha,
Visishtadwaitha and the Dwaitha systems of Philosophy too. The name
Upanishad denotes the study and practice of the innate truth: the name,
Brahma Vidya, denotes the supremacy of spiritual contemplation. The name,
Yogasastra, denotes the mental churning that brings success. What is the
fundamental activity which is required of man? What is the basic thing to be
known? It is only ones basic reality. The Upanishads describe the various
stages and the various modes of this search for realising this.
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Yoga (the Yoga of action and reaction). The Upanishads came into
existence to indicate the path of Jnaana (Higher Knowledge). The
Upanishads also have three divisions one of which deals with
Karma-Yoga.
It is necessary to find out why the doctrine of Karma (action) has
been given primary place both in the Vedas and the Upanishads.
The entire gamut of human life--birth, growth and death---is
governed by Karma. All the joys and sorrows man experiences, all
his sins and merits, all the praise and blame he gets, flow from his
actions. Man is thus bound by the operation of Karma.
Not realising the relationship between cause and effect, man
indulges in actions which give pleasure for the moment. When he
reaps the consequences of his bad actions, he is immersed in
misery.
The name is full of significance. Upa means the process of studying with
Nishta or steadfastness. Shad means the attainment of the Ultimate Reality.
The name Upa-ni-shad arose for these reasons. The Upanishads teach not
only the principles of Atma Vidya. They instruct the practical means of
realisation also. They point out not only the duties and obligations one has
to bear, but also the actions to be done and those to be avoided. (UV, pp. 23)
49
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
51
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
The truth of the Law of Action and Reaction can be verified from a
simple experience. If you stand before a mirror and offer a
Namaskar, the image returns the Namaskar. If you assume a
threatening posture before the mirror, the image reflects it back in
the same manner. Reflection, reaction and resound are three aspects
of how Karma operates. (SSS Vol.25)
This land of Bharat is very sacred and meritorious. Since time
immemorial, Bharat has been imparting spiritual education to all
nations of the world and thus bestowing peace and happiness on all.
This is the eternal glory of Bharat. The motto of the Bharatiyas
(Indians) has been Loka samasta sukhino bhavantu (May all the
people of the world be happy!) Sarvam khalvidam Brahma (verily
all this is Brahman).
As Brahma pervades the entire world, dharma should permeate all
actions of man. Karma (action) will be sanctified only when it is
based on dharma and Brahma. It is said, Karmanubandheeni
manushya loke (human society is bound by action). Nobody should
waste time. Right from the time he wakes up in the morning, man
should utilise his time and energy for the welfare of society. This is
his main duty. He should realise that his welfare lies in the welfare
of society. (SSS Vol.36)
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What is Religion?
What Religion means:
The word religion contains the prefix re. Re means doing
something again. The other part of the word connotes unifying.
Religion may thus be interpreted as reunion, the reunification of
two entities separated by time, or the restoration of their original
organic unity. Jivatma and Paramatma have lost their
fundamental Oneness. Karmic factors have created a duality
between the Atma and Brahman. The restoration of the primal
unity of Atma and Paramatma through self- realisation is the
primary function of religion. (SSB 1979, p. 55)
For the Bharatiyas, religion means experience and nothing less.
(Vidya Vahini, p. 77)
The word generally used for religion is matha; the word to indicate
the mind is mathi. Putting the two together it can be said that matha
is primarily engaged or ought to be engaged in straightening and
strengthening the mathi. The goal, the purpose, the key, the essence
of all creeds, faiths and religions is just this. the sublimation of the
mind of man to guarantee liberation for the individual concerned
and happiness for the society of which he is a unit. Principles and
practices have grouped around this prime need, and various creeds
are the result.
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Religions attempt to implant holy ideals in the heart of man but man
does not allow them to sprout and grow. His egoistic craving for
power and competitive success has, in most cases, persuaded him to
use religion as an instrument of torture and persecution. Instead of
uniting mankind in a common endeavour, it has become a system of
walled enclosures, guarded by hate and fanaticism. So each religion
is an armed camp sunk in self-aggrandizement, trying to wean
others into itself and preventing defections from itself. Religion,
therefore, is being condemned as the root of chaos and conflict. In
spite of great progress in many other areas of life, religious
animosity is aflame even today in many parts of the world.
It has to be emphasised that religion is not the root cause of this
state of affairs. The factional fights and fanatic hatred are due to the
unruly ego that is given free play. Religion strives to destroy just
this vicious tendency. So it has to be supported, not condemned.
What has to be condemned is the narrow, perverted attitude of
hating those who do not agree with you or who hold different
opinions of the mysterious force that animates the universe.
Religious wars and conflicts breed in the slime of ignorance and
avarice. When people are blind to the truth that the human family is
one indivisible Unity, they grope in the dark and are afraid of
strange touch. The cultivation of love, alone, can convince man of
this truth that there is only one caste---the caste of Humanity, and
only one religion---the religion of Love. Since no religion upholds
violence or despises love, it is wrong to ascribe the chaos to
religion. (SSS Vol. 10, pp. 61-62)
Religion has as its aim the removal of hatred and enmity between
the children of God; but, we find religions engaged in conflict! (SSS
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What is Religion?
Vol.7, p. 181). The followers of one and the same religion may
torture each other and slaughter innocent lives with bestial glee! So,
religion is not responsible at all. The unrest is due to want of
religion, rather than the plethora of religions. It is blind fanaticism
that is to be condemned; not, religion that is against it. Love of
country can also be tainted by fanaticism; it has led man to destroy
by the atom bomb innocent millions living in another country,
hoping thereby to secure the safety of the country one loves! The
mind in which hatred and egotism grow can never appreciate
religion. Is religion the cause of the calculated cruelty of the atom
bomb? No.
The plan and purpose of the ancient religions of India are to plant
the seeds of Love in the human heart so that they may sprout into
saplings of endurance, and blossom into tolerance, yielding
ultimately the fruits of Peace. (SSS Vol.7, p. 90)
For the consummation of human evolution, and the realisation by
man of his highest goal, religion and spiritual discipline are very
essential. Religion is the link between the individual and the
Universe, between Jiva and Deva. If that does not exist life becomes
chaos. A cow caught on a hill wanting to go to the hill opposite, but
confronted with a flooded river in between, needs a bridge between
the two. That is what religion is. (SSS Vol.24)
All religions have emphasised the same truths in their basic
teachings, But few people try to understand the inner import of
religions. Out of a narrow feeling that ones own religion is superior
and other faiths are inferior, members of different religions are
developing hatred towards members of other faiths and acting like
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What is Religion?
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
What is Religion?
infinite Divine and learn to worship and adore Him. (SSS Vol.16),
30-10- 1983.
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Man today imagines that he knows everything about Nature and the
Universe. But of what use is all this knowledge if man does not
know himself? It is only when he understands himself that he will
be able to know the Truth about the external world. Man's Inner
Reality cannot be known by exploring the world outside. When he
turns his vision inward and realises his essential Divinity, he will
acquire an equal-mindedness towards all beings. Out of that feeling
of oneness he will experience the Bliss that passeth understanding.
(SSS Vol.16), Message to International Symposium in Rome on the
theme"Unity is Divinity," held on 30 and 31-10-1983
Unity, fellow-feeling and devotion are essential for every human
being. To promote these sacred qualities in mankind, some great
souls sought to establish different religions. Religion is not a
restrictive concept. Religion is intended to develop the human
personality and indicate the basic guide-lines for right living.
Religion brings out the humanness in man and enables him to live
in harmony with his fellow-men. It provides the link between the
individual and the Divine. It demonstrates the unity that underlies
the diversity in the world.
Love, Sacrifice, Service and Righteousness are the four limbs of
Religion. Religion brings out the divine and sublime feelings in
man and makes him serve society It evokes all that is great, blissful
and good in men and demonstrates the unity of mankind.
It is supremely unfortunate that Religion, which has such high and
sacred objectives, is construed and practised in a narrow way and
propagated as a narrow creed.
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What is Religion?
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
What is Religion?
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Hinduism
OM
The syllable "om" is first described as all-encompassing mystical
entity in the Upanishads. Hindus believe that as creation began, the
divine, all-encompassing consciousness took the form of the first
and original vibration manifesting as sound "OM". Before creation
began it was "Shunyksha", the emptiness or the void. The
vibration of "OM" symbolises the manifestation of God in form
("sguna brahman"). "OM" is the reflection of the absolute reality,
it is said to be "Adi Anadi", without beginning or the end and
embracing all that exists. The mantra "OM" is the name of God, the
vibration of the Supreme. When taken letter by letter, A-U-M
represents the divine energy (Shakti) united in its three elementary
aspects: Bhrahma Shakti (creation), Vishnu Shakti (preservation)
and Shiva Shakti (liberation, and/or destruction).
Om is a mantra and mystical Sanskrit sound of Hindu origin
(geographically India), sacred and important in various Dharmic
religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sanatana Dharma and
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Hinduism
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Hinduism
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
H for Humanity
I for Individuality
N for Nationality
D for Divinity
U for Unity
It is when all the five qualities are present, we have a real Hindu5.
Of these humanity is most important. (SSS Vol.28), 20-5-1995.
Bharatiya culture has always upheld the supremacy of faith in God.
Bharatiya culture was based on the view that there is nothing in the
world which is not permeated by the Divine. From a stone to a
diamond, from a blade of grass to a blooming lotus, from an ant to
an elephant, everything was regarded as a manifestation of the
Divine. Bharatiya culture upheld the view that love should not be
confined to human beings, but should be extended to all beings and
objects in creation. Ignoramuses who have not understood this great
truth speak disparagingly of Bharatiyas as people who worship
stones, trees, serpents and the like. In the eyes of Bharatiyas, every
object is a creation of God. "Sarvam khalu idam Brahma" (All this
is Brahma), "Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat" (The cosmos is
permeated by Vishnu)--these Vedantic declarations proclaim the
same truth. You cannot find in any other country a universal, allembracing sacred declaration of this kind. This contains the broad
concept of social justice. You cannot see in any other country such
Hindu Person who adheres to Hinduism the religion based on the Vedas.
Name originally applied by foreign invaders to inhabitants of Indus (Sindhu)
river valley.
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Hinduism
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Hinduism
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All conclusions drawn from the Prasthana Thraya are genuine and
deserve the name Vedanta. Visishtadwaitha as well as Dwaitha have
as much claim to be known as Vedanta as Adwaitha. This unity in
diversity, this harmony in difference, this is the core of the current
of Bharatiya thought.
Hinduism and Hindu culture have been flowing as one continuous
stream. In the Hindu religion rituals and ceremonies have been laid
intermission. Many of them are elaborate yajnas (inward-directed
sacrifice), yagas (outward-directed sacrifice), and sacrificial
offering to Divine Powers. Not being content with rituals and
dedicatory ceremonies appropriate to the baby growing in the womb
until death and the subsequent attainment by the person of higher
worlds, elaborate disciplines have been laid down. No other religion
has so many and so elaborate rules of living. Therefore, it will not
be correct to declare that all religions are the same. They might
have adopted a few or many of these from Hinduism since
Hinduism has, from the beginning, laid emphasis on them.
According to Hinduism a Jivi is timeless, the present life is but the
latest of the series brought about by its own thoughts and acts. The
Jivi has not come now, as a result of either the anger or the grace of
God. They are not the cause of this present existence. This is the
declaration made by the Sanathana Dharma. (SSVahini)
Hinduism
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Hinduism
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Hinduism
Upasanas
Of the various other Upasanas or sadhanas which are mentioned in
the sacred texts and practised by seekers, Pratheekopasana (Idol
Adoration) or Prathiroopopasana (Image Adoration) is included
under Angavathi Upasana Sarvathah paani paadam thath,
sarvathokshi Siro mukham(Everywhere His Hands and Feet,
everywhere Head and Face). The Lord (Madhava) has His Hands
everywhere, for He is in all. He sees through all the eyes. He thinks,
plans and resolves in all heads. He eats through all mouths, hears
through every ear. Through one Form, you can adore Him as all
Forms.
This is the highest idealHe is latent in all beings. He operates
unseen in and through all. This is the Prathiroopaupasana,
worshipping Him as present in each. There are sundry other
Upasanas9 (steady worship) too mentioned in the texts.
For details of the Upasanas, please see the chapter, Modes of Worship from
the book, Bhagavan, Bhakti, Bhakta and Bhagavatha: God, devotion, the
devotee, and the scripture by the same author.
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Zoroastrianism
founder
of
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Zoroastrianism
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It was filled with water, not oil. So, the Guru asked him to pour the
water out squeeze the water from the wick, dry the wick, wipe the
lamp clean, fill it with oil and then light it. The water is desire, the
Sun that can dry the wick is renunciation and the flame of the
lamp is Wisdom. The Guru said, "This teaching is enough for you.
You can go; may God bless you." Fill your mind with the desire to
see God, be with Him, praise Him, glorify Him, and taste the Glow
of His Majesty. There is no bliss higher than that. (SSS Vol.7), 1510-1967
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Jainism
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
In the top portion, four arms of the Swastika symbolize the four Gati
(destiny): Narak (demon), Triyanch (animal), Manushya (human)
and Dev (angel). It represents the perpetual nature of the universe
in the Madhya Lok (material world), where a creature is destined to
one of those states based on their Karma (deeds). It also represents
the four columns of the Jain Sangh: Sadhus, Sadhvis, Shravaks and
Shravikas - monks, nuns, female and male laymen. It also
represents the four characteristics of the soul: infinite knowledge
(Anant Jnan), infinite perception (Anant Darshan), infinite
happiness (Anant Sukh), and infinite energy (Anant Virya).
The symbol of hand in the lower portion shows fearlessness and
symbolizes the feeling of Ahimsa (non-violence) towards all the
creatures in this world. The circle in the middle of the hand
symbolizes Samasara (reincarnation cycle) and the 24 spokes
represent the preachings from the 24 Tirthankars, which can be
used to liberate a soul from the cycle of reincarnation.
The meaning of the mantra at the bottom Parasparopagraho
Jivanam is "Live and Let Live", in short, all creatures should help
one another.
In short, the Jain emblem represents many important concepts to
show the path to enlightenment by following the basic principles of
Ahimsa (non-violence), Triratna (right belief, right knowledge, and
right conduct) and Parasparopagraho Jivanam (helping others).
Jainism traditionally known as Jain dharma is an Indian religion
that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings and
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Jainism
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Jainism
Adinath, the first tirthankara. There was a twelve year famine two
centuries after the death of Mahavira, the last Jain tirthankara. At
that time, Chandragupta Maurya was the ruler of Magadha and
Bhadrabahu was the head of Jain community. Bhadrabahu went
south to Karnataka with his adherents and Sthulabhadra, another
Jain leader remained behind. During this time the knowledge of the
doctrine was getting lost. A council was formed at patliputra where
eleven scriptures called Angas were compiled and the remnant of
fourteen purvas were written down in 12th Anga, Ditthivaya by the
adherents of Sthulbhadra. When followers of Bhadrabahu returned,
there was a dispute between them regarding the authenticity of the
Angas. Also, those who stayed at Magadha started wearing white
clothes which was unacceptable to the other who remain naked.
This is how the Digambara and Svetambara sect came about. The
Digambara being the naked ones where as Svetambara being the
white clothed. (From Wikipedia)
In Jainism also, the recognition of the One Divine in all beings
(spiritual oneness of all creation) was taught by Mahavira. When
the senses are allowed to have their way, all kinds of reactions
occur. It is only when the senses are brought under unified control
that the nature of Divinity can be comprehended. The eyes have the
power of sight. The ears can hear. The powers of all the sense
organs--seeing, hearing, speaking, etc., are derived from the Divine.
It is the Divine that enables the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the
mind to think and to have various experiences. It is when all these
sensory processes are brought under unified control (by the
conquest of the senses) that man becomes a conqueror a "Jina"---as
termed by the Jains. Because he had conquered his senses the title
of victor was conferred on Mahavira. (SSS Vol.24), 25-12-1991.
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94
Buddhism
Wheel of Dharma
The Wheel has been used as a symbol for the concept of Dharma
since at least the 3rd century BC. The dharmacakra ("Wheel of
Dharma" or "Wheel of Law"), is one of the Ashtamangala symbols
that has represented dharma, the Buddha's teaching of the path to
Nirvana, since the early period of Indian Buddhism
Buddhism is a nontheistic religion that encompasses a variety of
traditions, beliefs and practices largely based on teachings
attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly known as the
Buddha, meaning "the awakened one". According to Buddhist
tradition, the Buddha lived and taught in the eastern part of the
Indian subcontinent sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries
BCE. He is recognized by Buddhists as an awakened or enlightened
teacher who shared his insights to help sentient beings end their
suffering through the elimination of ignorance and craving by way
of understanding and the seeing of dependent origination, with the
ultimate goal of attainment of the sublime state of nirvana
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Buddhism
10
The reason is he felt that it was more important to ensure that the five sense
organs were pure to begin with. Buddha sought to find out why the mind
gets disturbed. He could not bear to see anyone suffering. He was deeply
grieved at the sight of persons afflicted with old age. He was intrigued at the
sight of a dead body. None of the natural happenings gave him peace of
mind. Buddha considered the movements of the planets and the Sun and the
stars as Natural phenomena. He undertook many spiritual exercises to find
out what transcended these natural phenomena. Failing to find the answers
by the exercises, he approached many great elders to find answers. None
could give him satisfactory answers. Ultimately he reached Gaya and sat
under Peepal Tree to meditate on the problems that worried him.
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Buddhism
11
12
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13
100
Buddhism
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Nirvana
Buddha asked himself: What is this life? Birth is misery. Old age,
misery. Life is a cause of sorrow. There is misery at the end of life.
Therefore, be alert and awake.
Happiness is not to be found in any of the things of the world.
Everything is fleeting. Man is wasting his life in the pursuit of petty
ephemeral pleasures. Nirvana is the only truth. It is the sense of
oneness with all life. To turn the mind towards that which is
permanent is Nirvana. (NNSG Vol.8, pp. 31-32)
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plight and enquired why he was wandering here and there. Then,
suddenly Buddha realised that he was all the while following his
manasika thathwa (mental impulses), which is impermanent and
momentary. He, therefore, decided not to follow the mind. He,
immediately started contemplating on divinity with full heart and
attained Nirvana (liberation from bondage). It is clear from this
example that one should never rely on the mind which weaves
fantasies. Forget the mind, establish divinity firmly in your heart
and finally merge in that divinity. That is the real nirvana.
You must forget the deha bhranthi (the illusion of body). Merge in
divinity with atma-bhimana (attachment to the atma). That is the
real dhyana. That is the true thyaga (renunciation or detachment).
That is your real yoga. That is your real bhoga. That bhoga is
ananda (bliss).
Always follow the principle, Sathyam bhruyaath, Priyam
bhruyaath, Na bhruyaath Sathyam apriyam which means always
speak the truth; speak the truth pleasingly; never speak truth which
is unpalatable. Only then will you be able to attain Nirvana. Several
people aspire for liberation. Liberation cannot be attained by
temporary sadhanas. It can be obtained by constant contemplation
on divinity, forgetting the mind totally. That is real nirvana.
Wherever you see, if the mind only is visible, how can you attain
nirvana? It is only the one who forgets the mind can attain nirvana.
(SSS Vol.35, pp. 186-187)
Morality and integrity alone can lead to Nirvana (liberation).
(NNSG Vol.8, p. 35)
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Buddhism
Buddhas Teachings
Man today is acquiring various types of knowledge. Among these
he is learning how to live and act like lions and other animals. What
is the meaning of knowledge (jnaana)? It is not mere acquaintance
with numerous books. Even the acquisition of information about all
the objects in the animate and inanimate is not knowledge. True
knowledge is awareness of the relationship between the individual
and collective (samashti) and their oneness.
Men today do not recognize the nature their humanness. How can
they recognize their inherent divinity? It is only when man is aware
of his humanness that he will be competent to recognize his
divinity. How then, is man to reach humanness? What is the means?
Buddha undertook various inquiries to discover the Divine and
came to the conclusion that it is only through mastery over his
senses he can achieve this. Man has to make the right use of his
senses for sacred purposes to realize his divinity.
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Samyag darsanam
Hence, Buddha declared that the first requisite is samyag darsanam
(Having the right vision). The implication of this statement is that,
having been bestowed with the great gift of eyes, man should use
them for seeing sacred objects and holy beings. But, on the
contrary, by using his eyes to look at unsacred objects and evil
persons, man fills himself with bad thoughts and becomes a prey to
evil tendencies. What one sees influences the feelings in the heart.
The state of the heart determines the nature of ones thoughts. The
thoughts influence one's life.
Hence to lead a good life the first requisite is a pure vision. Man has
to cultivate sacred outlook. As a result of looking at cruel, ugly, and
wicked scenes man leads an animal existence.
The very first inquiry one should make is to ascertain what is pure,
edifying, and godly that he should see. Whatever he sees leaves its
imprint on man. Few realize the effects of this. Human life today is
racked by anxiety, misery, unrest and troubles of various kinds. The
root cause of all this is that man is witnessing what is repulsive,
wicked and demeaning. For transforming one's life, the first
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Buddhism
14
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Samyag vachanam
From developing sacred vision, man should proceed to samyag
vachanam (sacred speech). Buddha declared that only sacred
thoughts could lead to sacred speech. Buddha declared that the
tongue should not be used recklessly to utter whatever one thinks.
The tongue has been given to speak the truth, to expatiate on what is
sacred and pure. The tongue has not been given to man to pamper
the palate with delicious sweets. It is not given for talking as one
likes. It is not to be used for causing displeasure to others. Nor is it
to be used for indulging in falsehood. The tongue has been given to
man to speak the truth, to be sweet to others, to praise the Divine
and enjoy the bliss derived from such sacred speech.
There are people who devote their entire time to reading all kinds of
books, without trying to put into practice what they learn from such
reading. What is the use of such reading? Buddha spoke out against
scholarship unrelated to the good life. He carried out a great deal of
study and met many great men. He listened to many discourses. He
realized that true knowledge could not be got by these means. He
realized that a pure, unsullied consciousness confers the highest
knowledge. True knowledge is derived from a pure inner
consciousness (antahkarana).
Buddhism
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Buddhism
On the way, an old woman greeted the Maharaja and pleaded: "I am
hungry. Will you give me some food?" The Maharaja took out a
pomegranate fruit from his palanquin and gave it to the old woman.
The old woman came to Buddha with the fruit. By then, the
Maharaja had also come to Buddha and was eagerly waiting to see
when Buddha would sound the rattle-drum. For a long time Buddha
did not use it. The Maharaja stayed on.
The old woman approached Buddha staggering on her legs, and
offered him the pomegranate fruit. Buddha took it immediately and
sounded the little drum. The Maharaja asked Buddha: "I offered so
much wealth to you. You did not sound the drum. But you rattled it
after receiving a small fruit. Is this a great sacrifice.
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Buddhism
Buddha then said, "Now, instead of food, you gave me all your
abuse. I refused to receive it. What happens to it? It goes back to
you. I have no connection with it." The headman learnt a good
lesson. (SSS Vol.25), 15 Mar 1992
Once, Buddha entered a village along with his disciples. A lady
approached him and requested him to have food in her house.
Buddha blessed her and accepted her invitation. Seeing this, many
villagers, including the village headman, warned Buddha, saying,
O Buddha, you are one of wisdom and have renounced everything.
She is not a woman of good character. It is not proper for you to
have food in her house. Buddha smiled and asked the village
headman to come forward. Buddha, holding the right hand of the
headman, asked him to clap. The headman said, it was not possible
for him to clap since one of his hands was in Buddhas hold.
Buddha said, True, it is possible to clap only when two hands
come together. Likewise, this lady cannot turn bad by herself unless
there are men of bad character in the village. The men of this village
are the root cause of her bad character. The villagers realized their
folly, fell at Buddhas feet and sought his forgiveness. Through his
teachings, Buddha instilled sacredness and wisdom in people.
Buddhas teachings are highly sacred, with profound inner meaning.
(SSS Vol.32 Part I, p. 214)
Buddhists Prayer
No one can live for himself. He is involved with parents, kinsmen,
friends, foes, society, countrymen, etc., in ever widening circles.
Buddhists declare, Buddham Sharanam Gacchami, Sangham
Sharanam Gacchami "I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in
the Sangha. I take refuge in Dharma (virtue)." The first is the
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involvement with the reality in one's own individual self. One must
examine oneself whether he lives according to a mind, free from
polluting thoughts and feelings. Buddha is the symbol of the
awakened intellect. Is the intellect sharp enough for clear
discrimination? This must be one's question to oneself. For, even an
insane person asks for food when hungry. His intellect is alert for
limited purposes. But, it has to serve far higher purposes for man.
The second stage is refuge in the Sangha. Just as one yearns for and
works towards securing property, welfare and 'happiness for
oneself, one must also yearn for and work towards securing these
very things for the sangha (society) to which one belongs. Without
society to guard and guide, the individual is lost, like a drop of oil
on an expanse of water. One's welfare is based on the welfare of
society. The welfare of a particular society is based on the welfare
of the country.
The third stage is refuge in the Dharma. Dharma means the vesture
of the Cosmos, that which is its very nature, namely, Prema or
Divine Love. When one seeks refuge in Love that sustains and
promotes progress, the individual, the society and world become a
sublime Trinity. (SSS Vol.11, p. 142)
Krishna commanded Arjuna, "Develop a broad mind and expand
your vision. You can start with the concept of the individual
personality, but do not get stuck there. Do not waste your entire life
thinking only of individuals. "From the individual you must move
on to the concept of the society, which transcends the individual,
Individuality and personality are associated with a limited name and
form, but let your mind soar beyond name and form. Reach and
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Buddhism
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Buddha Purnima
Embodiments of love! We are celebrating today Buddha Poornima
or Buddha Jayanti. What does Poornima (full-moon) signify? It
signifies wholesomeness. When the mind is filled with love, it
achieves fullness. As long as the mind is filled with darkness and
evil thoughts, there is no meaning in celebrating Buddha Poornima.
Get rid of this darkness. Without the light of love in the heart, what
use is there in having illuminations outside? Light the lamp of the
Divine in your minds. Banish hatred and envy from your hearts.
Man is the victim of two evil planets: attachment and hatred. To
escape from their grip, the only way is to cultivate love. (NNSG
Vol.8, p. 35)
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Christianity
Christian cross
The Christian cross was in use from the time of early
Christianity, but it remained less prominent than competing
symbols. The Christian Cross, seen as a representation of the
instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known
religious symbol of Christianity. It is related to the crucifix (a
cross that includes a usually three-dimensional representation of
Jesus' body) and to the more general family of cross symbols.
Christianity (from the Ancient Greek word , Christos, a
translation of the Hebrew, meaning "the anointed one", together
with the Latin suffixes -ian and -itas) is a monotheistic religion
based on the life and oral teachings of Jesus as presented in the
New Testament. Christianity is the world's largest religion, with
approximately 2.2 billion adherents, known as Christians. Most
Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and
fully human, and the saviour of humanity whose coming was
prophesied in the Old Testament. Consequently, Christians refer
to Jesus as "Christ" or the Messiah.
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Christianity
Jesus
Two thousand years ago, when narrow pride and thick ignorance
defiled mankind, Jesus came as the embodiment of Love and
compassion and lived among men, holding forth the highest
ideals of life. You must pay attention to the lessons he
elaborated in the various stages of his life. 'I am the Messenger
of God,' he declared, first. Yes. Each individual has to accept
that role and live as examples of Divine Love and Charity. The
guru must; act as the alarm-clock; he should awaken the sleeper
to his duty to himself. Uththishtha! jaagratha," as the
Upanishads proclaim---"Arise! Awake." And bear witness to the
God within, in every thought, word and deed. (SSS Vol.14), 2412-1980
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Christianity
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Christianity
heard the Voice of the Father saying, "All life is one, My dear
Son. Be alike to everyone," and he pleaded that those who were
crucifying him may be pardoned for they knew not what they
did. Jesus sacrificed himself for the sake of mankind.
Carols and candles, readings from the Bible and acting out the
incidents that surrounded His Birth, are not enough to celebrate
the Birth of Jesus. Jesus said that the bread taken in the 'last
supper' was His Flesh, and the wine, His Blood. He meant that
all beings alive with flesh and blood are to be treated as He
Himself and that no distinction should be made. of friend or foe,
we or they. Everybody is His Body, sustained by the bread;
every drop of blood flowing in the veins of every living being is
His, animated by the activity that the wine imparted to it. That is
to say, every man is Divine and has to be revered as such.
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truth. In the Vedic Faith also, one can find today this conflict
between the upholders of ancient tradition and the promoters of
deeper understanding. These later also base their teachings on
the Vedas. (SSS Vol.14), 24-12-1980
Bible Clarifications
What is the root cause of doubt? It is the absence of total faith.
Jesus had a disciple, Thomas, who doubted everything he came
across and was appropriately called doubting Thomas. In the
path of spirituality, doubts do arise at times, even though one
may have faith in God. One of the doubts is this:
Did Jesus really declare that He was the Truth, the Path, and
that none was superior to Him?
Enquire into the truth yourself. Jesus was never egotistic at any
point of time and never made any such declarations. There was a
tax collector who recorded the conversation between Jesus and
the fishermen. It was during one of those conversations that
Jesus assured them that He would take care of them, but at no
point of time did he mention with a sense of ego that He was the
only One and the ultimate One to protect them. He did this only
with a view to increase their confidence and enthuse them into
action.
At the time of divine birth, three wise men visited Jesus in the
manger. One of them, looking at child Jesus, remarked; He looks
as though he was a Messenger of God. The second wise man
exclaimed that the child looked as though he was the Son of
God. The third wise man disagreed with both and concluded
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that He and God were one and the same. These three statements
have been interpreted in varied ways.
Jesus had no trace of ego in Him. He was filled with compassion
at the sight of the meek and the afflicted. Paul opposed Jesus in
all matters from the very outset. Once Jesus appeared in the
dream of Paul and questioned him, What harm have I done to
you? Why do you criticise Me so? This caused Paul to ponder
and realise that his ignorance and ego blinded him to reality.
Thereafter he became an ardent disciple of Jesus. In every age,
every noble soul had to put up with criticism. People always
have mistaken notions about good and bad. If only we
understand the truth in the Bible, we will come to the conclusion
that there was no fault in Jesus at all. Jesus always aspired to put
people in God consciousness.
At the time of crucifixion, Jesus prayed: O Father! What sin
have I committed? Why am I put to suffering thus? When
Mother Mary stood crying at the foot of the Cross, an ethereal
voice was heard. All are one, My dear Son; be alike to
everyone. (SSS Vol.31, pp. 445-446)
Christian
There is an age-old practice among Christians to pray to God for
forgiving their sins. In the churches, it is the practice for
devotees to confess their sins, make cash offerings and obtain a
solution from the pontiff or the priest. The belief in redemption
through repentance and offerings to the Divine is prevalent in
India also. These practices are based on misconceptions about
the Divine. There should be an earnest enquiry into the nature of
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Christmas
It is not by festivity and fun that you can celebrate Christmas,
Celebrate it rather by resolving to put into practice at least one
of the ideals he enunciated, or by endeavouring to reach at least
one of the goals he placed before man.
Let me call upon you to give up, in memory of this holy day,
two evils from your mind: self-praise and scandalising of others.
Adopt one habit as yours: the habit of loving service to the
distressed. If you spend all time and energy merely to pile up
worldly comfort and sensual delight, you are disgracing this
human existence.
You consider this habitation of yours as your body; no, it is the
Temple of God. God resides therein. Keep it clean, fresh and
fragrant through developing compassion and love. Christs
birthday is when he is born in each persons heart. It is only on
that day that one is entitled to celebrate Christmas.
(EL, p. 69)
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And, the story says, there was a Star in the sky, which fell with a
New Light, and this led a few Tibetans and others to the place
where the Saviour was born. This story is read and taken on trust by
many, though stars do not fall or even slide down so suddenly.
What the story signifies is this: There was a huge halo of splendour
illuminating the sky over the village when Christ was born. This
meant that He, who was to overcome the darkness of evil and
ignorance had taken birth, that He will spread the Light of Love in
the heart of man and councils of humanity. (SSS Vol.11), 24-121972
Use and misuse of wealth and wisdom
Appearances of splendour, and other signs to herald the era that has
dawned are natural when incarnations happen on earth. Jesus was to
shatter the darkness that had enveloped the world and the aura of
light was a sign that announced the event. The Masters arrive in
answer to man's prayer. "Thamaso maa jyothir gamaya" (Lead us
from darkness unto Light!) If each one does his duty, in the spirit of
dedication, the Light can illumine all, but, if the doors of the heart
are shut against the Light, how can darkness disappear? You cannot
sit back, and expect the Incarnation to bring peace and joy into you.
The incarnation comes to warn, to guide, to awaken, to lay down
the path, and shed the light of Love on it. But, man has to listen,
learn and obey with hope and faith.
There is a tale told of old that Wisdom and Wealth once quarrelled
loud and long, about their relative importance. Wealth argued that
without it, the body will be weak, the brain hazy and wisdom a willo-the-wisp. Wisdom retorted that, without it man cannot even
distinguish wealth from non-wealth or know how to earn it or use it.
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The Soul intervened and told them that they were both equally
important, but, only when properly used. Wealth without wisdom
becomes an instrument of exploitation and tyranny: wisdom without
wealth becomes mere fantasy and a bundle of blueprint. Use makes
them worthwhile; misuse makes them disastrous.
It is like the knife in the hands of a maniac, which becomes an
instrument for murder; in the hands of a surgeon, it becomes an
instrument which saves a life! Are you doing good with wealth?
Are you benefitting others by means of wisdom?---that is the test.
This day, Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of Christ, resolve
to lead the lives of loving service to the weak, the helpless, the
distressed, the disconsolate. Cultivate tolerance and forbearance,
charity and magnanimity. Hold dear the ideals He laid down and
practise them, in your daily lives. (SSS Vol.11), 24-12-1972
The best way of celebrating the Birth of Christ
The ways in which Christmas is being celebrated now show how far
men have moved away from those ideals, how much ignominy they
are heaping on his name! The midnight hour is revered; illumination
is arranged; the Christmas Tree is set up; and then, the night is spent
in drinking and dance. It is a day of Holy Ananda, but, the Ananda
is reduced to the level of the poisoning excitement of intoxication!
Drink is so pernicious an evil habit, that when man puts the bottle
in, he himself gets into the bottle and cannot escape! First man
drinks wine, then the wine drinks more wine; and finally, the wine
drinks man himself! He is sunk and drowned in drink. Liquor
destroys the humanity in man! How then can it develop the Divinity
in him? One must dance in Divine Bliss; instead, sensual dance is
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human condition today. Man loves himself first, others next and
Jesus last! (SSS Vol.19),
Sins and repentance
There is an age-old practice among Christians to pray to God for
forgiving their sins. In the churches, it is the practice for devotees to
confess their sins, make cash offerings and obtain absolution from
the pontiff or the priest. The belief in redemption through
repentance and offerings to the Divine is prevalent in India also.
These practices are based on misconceptions about the Divine.
There should be an earnest enquiry into the nature of the Divine and
people should try to get rid of superstitious beliefs which have no
basis in Truth.
It should be noted that the spirit of enquiry was prevalent among the
ancient Greeks centuries before Christ. Socrates was a great teacher
who promoted the spirit of enquiry among the youth of Athens.
Socrates was so much wedded to the pursuit of truth that he
preferred death in his home city to making good his escape with the
help of his disciples. He set no value on life, property or
possessions.
Jesus and the rich man
Jesus also set no value on wealth or position. Once a rich man came
to Jesus when he was in the house of Martha and Mary. The rich
man told Jesus that despite all his wealth and possessions he was
not having peace of mind. He was harassed by many worries and
appealed to Jesus to show him a way out. Jesus told him: There is
a simple way but will you follow it? You have been accumulating
riches and your worries have grown with them. What are you going
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to do with all this wealth, which some day you will have to leave
behind? Distribute it among the poor and the needy and all your
worries will go. Accumulate instead the wealth of God's grace
through love of your fellowmen." This is the message that has to be
understood today. What people should seek is the earning of God's
love. All other forms of wealth, including the wealth of scholarship,
are valueless.
By chastising the rich and ministering to the poor and the diseased,
Jesus taught his disciples a new way of life based on faith in God.
Starting his ministry as a Messenger of God, Jesus finally declared:
My Father and I are one." St. Paul, who was in the beginning an
inveterate critic of Jesus, became the first propagator of the
Christian faith after having a vision of Christ in a dream in which
Jesus told him: Every man is a spark of the Divine. When you hate
me, you are hating yourself and hating God." Paul had to face many
ordeals in propagating Christ's message. The early Christians were
subject to persecution by the Roman rulers. In course of time the
Christian faith established itself in Rome, which became the seat of
the Catholic church.
"Kingdom of Heaven is within you"
Christ declared that God can be realised only through love. Once a
high priest in Jerusalem called Jesus and asked him: "Are you King
of the Jews?" Jesus replied: "I do not say so." The priest told Jesus:
"You are leading the people astray by your wrong teachings. You
are telling them that everyone can enter Heaven only through you."
Jesus said that he had been telling the people to seek the Kingdom
of Heaven. The priest asked: "Where is that Kingdom?" Jesus
replied: "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you, within everybody.
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Islam
driven to such straits that he had to sell as slaves his wife and son.
So, when you stick to the path of Truth and Righteousness, pain and
poverty haunt you. But they are only clouds passing through thy
sky, hiding for a little time, the splendour of the Sun. (SSVahini, p.
97)
Allah
The foremost need today is for everyone to realise that God is One.
This is what Jesus and Mahomed proclaimed. The word Allah"
really means the One Supreme which contains everything in the
universe. This is the primary message of the Vedas: "Om
Ithekaaksharam Brahma" the single letter Om is Brahmam. (S.S.
Jan 85, p. 4)
Islam
All founders of religions have heard this impersonal Voice of God
revealing the Atma that activates the entire Creation. Just as the
Vedas (revealed sacred scriptures) were heard and propagated as
heard (Shruti), the Quran too was heard by Hazrath Muhammad.
The Quran has Salat and Zakat as the two eyes. Salat means prayer;
Zakat means charity. Those who consider charity as a high duty and
elevate their consciousness through prayers and continuous
meditation on God are Muslims. Islam is a word which denotes not
a particular religion but a state of mind, the state of total surrender
to the Will of God. Islam means dedication, surrender, peace,
tranquillity.
Islam denotes the social community whose members have achieved
supreme peace through surrender to the All-Merciful, All-Powerful
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God and who have vowed to live in peace with their fellowmen.
Later, it came to be applied to communities that considered
themselves separate and different and so hostile to the rest. Islam
taught something higher. It directed attention to the One in the
Many, the Unity in Diversity and led people to the Reality named
God.
Islam
mind. With the darshan of the New Moon, the Ramzan fast begins
and when the New Moon is seen again, the fast ends. 'Fast' does not
consist in merely desisting from food and drink. The fast starts at
sunrise and is broken' only after sunset and is observed most
rigorously.
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Islam
rationalise their defects and justify their failings. They have become
habituated to this practice of self-deceit.
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Sikhism
Khanda
A graphical representation of the Sikh slogan Deg Tegh Fateh
(1765), adopted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak
Committee in 1920. It is also part of the design of the Nishan Sahib.
A double edged khanda (sword) is placed at the top of a Nishan
Sahib flag as an ornament or finial. The Khanda emblem is an
amalgam of three symbols, represented by three different items.
A double-edged khanda (sword) in the centre
A chakkar (chakram)
Two single-edged swords, or kirpan, crossed at the bottom and sit
on either side of the khanda and chakkar. They represent the dual
characteristics of Miri-Piri, indicating the integration of both
spiritual and temporal sovereignty together and not treating them
as two separate and distinct entities.
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Sikhism
While an exact date of when the Khanda was created is not known,
it was created by Guru Nanak and therefore created while he was
alive (15 April 1469 22 September 1539).
The Khanda is often confused with the emblem shown on Iran's flag
which the Khanda predates.
Sikhism, known in Punjabi as Sikhi, is a monotheistic religion
founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian
subcontinent, by Guru Nanak[3] and continued to progress through
the ten successive Sikh gurus (the eleventh and last guru being the
holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib is a
collection of the Sikh Gurus' writings that was compiled by the 5th
Sikh Guru). It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world,
with approximately 30 million adherents. Punjab, India is the only
state in the world with a majority Sikh population.
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equality between all people. Sikhs also believe that "all religious
traditions are equally valid and capable of enlightening their
followers". In addition to sharing with others Guru Nanak inspired
people to earn an honest living without exploitation and also the
need for remembrance of the divine name (God). Guru Nanak
described living an "active, creative, and practical life" of
"truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" as being higher than
a purely contemplative life] Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru,
established the political/temporal (Miri) and spiritual (Piri) realms
to be mutually coexistent.
According to the ninth Sikh Guru, Tegh Bahadhur, the ideal Sikh
should have both Shakti (power that resides in the temporal), and
Bhakti (spiritual meditative qualities). Finally the concept of the
baptized Saint Soldier of the Khalsa was formed by the tenth Sikh
Guru, Gobind Singh in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. Sikhs are expected
to embody the qualities of a "Sant-Siph"a saint-soldier] Sikhs
are expected to have control over the so-called "Five Thieves",
dispelling these by means of the so-called "Five Virtues". (From
Wikipedia)
GURU NANAK
In the year 1459 A.D., Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru, started the
practice of bhajans (community singing15). (SSS Vol.19), 8-10-986.
He started this and it spread throughout the nation. Such holy
persons took birth in India and taught many such good things. How
delightful is the sound when so many sing together in unison. That
15
When many voices join together and pray as a single voice, it is called
community bhajan.
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Also pictured in the logo is a tall pillar, called the sarva dharma
(world religions) stupa, with a lotus flower on it. (Literally, sarva
means entire, whole, every kind of; and dharma means
righteousness, morality, virtue, duty, the dictates of God, code of
conduct.)
This pillar is near the temple in Prasanthi Nilayam (Sathya Sai
Baba's main ashram in India). At its base are symbols of five of the
world's major religions, along with the associated sayings shown
below. The pillar, with its concentric rings, represents yoga, or
Union with God. The rings indicate the stages of yogic discipline
required for unfolding the "lotus of the heart", whose petals are at
the top of the pillar. The flame of inner illumination is in the centre
of the lotus. Just as the lotus plant lives in water but does not get
contaminated by it, so we should live in the world but be untouched
by it.
Hindu Om: Listen to the primeval Pranava (Om) resounding
in your heart as well as in the heart of the Universe.
Buddhist wheel: Remember the wheel of cause and
consequence, of deed and destiny, and the wheel of dharma
that rights them all.
Zoroastrian fire symbol: Offer all bitterness in the sacred
fire and emerge grand, great, and godly.
Islamic crescent and star: Be like the star, which never
wavers from the crescent but is fixed in steady faith.
Christian cross: Cut the "I" feeling clean across and let your
ego die on the cross, to endow on you Eternity.
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Let the different faiths exist, let them flourish, and let the glory of
God be sung in all the languages and in a variety of tunes. That
should be the Ideal. Respect the differences between the faiths and
recognize them as valid as long as they do not extinguish the flame
of unity - Sathya Sai Baba (from www.sathyasai.org)
Study the emblem of the organization; it declares that all faiths feed
the heart with Ananda (Bliss), all faiths cleanse the mind of
littleness, and all faiths confer courage on the weak and vacillating.
Christ, Rama, and Krishna they are for all men everywhere.
(TSF, p. 159)
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160
Unity of Religions
Whom the Muslims adore as Allah, the Christians as Jehovah, the
Vaishnavas as Phullabjaaksha and the Shaivites as Shambhu, who
grants, in answer to their several prayers, health, prosperity and
happiness to all, wherever they may be, He, the One God, is the
God of all mankind.
India has been teaching since ages the message of the spirit and the
means to gain and ensure equanimity and joy. She has stood forth as
the preceptor of the world for centuries. The prayer that she has
taught her people Is: Lokah samasthah sukhino bhavanthu (May all
people everywhere be happy). This is the consummation of Vedic
thought since time Immemorial.
Such wholesome ideals were propagated and fostered by the rulers
of this land, the seers and yogis (God-centred persons) who guided
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the populace, and the chaste mothers who reared generations in the
atmosphere of spiritual effort.
But due to vicissitudes in the country's history, when the people
were subjected to pressures and counter-pressures, these ideals
suffered a set-back. The abstractions of faith received concrete form
and got crystallised into specific identifiable names and forms. Each
new attitude or aptitude, each new concretisation, became a special
sect and every theory enveloped itself in its own shell. (SSS
Vol.13), 1-10-1976
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Love is my Religion
Baba said, In the school I used to lead the prayers every day.
There was a platform with a few steps. In the prayer there was a
song which ran as follow.
Aharaha thava aahvaana prachaarita
shuni thava Udaara Vaani
Hindu Bauddha Sikha Jaina Paarasika
Mussalmaano Christaani.
Even in those days there was the recognition of the oneness of all
religions. Some of the teachers used to wonder how this boy was
propagating the unity of all religions. (SSS Vol.23), 20-10-1990
The English translation of the song is:
Moment to moment, Thy clarion call resounds
Hearing Thy magnanimous words,
The Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Muslims
and Christians come to Thy throne From east
and west, making a garland of love
Hail to Thee,
Who unites all humanity!
Hail to Thee,
Who controls the destiny of Bharat!
Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee! (SSS Vol.42, July 2010, pp. 190191)
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consciousness, and have their impact all over the world, the people
of Bhaarath have long practised and experienced them and
discovered their value and validity. They have earned invaluable
Bliss therefrom. Just as atomic science developed in one country
and later spread to other countries, the Sanatana faith, developed in
India and spread to other countries. Even a material process like
atomic science cannot be held down in one place; in the same
manner, this spiritual science too has spread all over the wide
world. (SSS Vol.14), 19-11-1980
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this path have failed. This is the reason why they have given up the
search in despair, characterising the path as akartha or
undesigned. They assured themselves that the Vedas or in other
words the Lord himself has been the designer.
All religions and spiritual paths laid through the ages are indeed
sacred; for, they have all been designed by Messengers of the Lord,
chosen because they are the foremost of men. Buddha, Jesus Christ,
Zoroaster, Mohammednames such as these are known worldwide. Their doctrines, ideals, and thoughts, have all become so valid
for their followers that their names have been identified with their
religions.
Since the ideal religion at that time was believed to be the Message
from God and since that Message was communicated and spread by
Jesus Christ his name was given to it. So also the Buddhist religion
was named after Buddha, since it was intuited and spread through
him as the Divine instrument. Mohammed who heard the Message
of God laid down doctrines and disciplines and those who follow
them are said to belong to Mohammedanism.
Therefore it is not wrong to say that all these religions are products
of the foremost among men and the most ideal Messengers of the
Lord.
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often appear in those other faiths. Hinduism and Hindu culture have
been flowing as one continuous stream.
In the Hindu religion rituals and ceremonies have been laid down to
be observed from sunrise to nightfall without any intermission.
Many of them are elaborate yajnas (inward-directed sacrifice),
yagas (outward-directed sacrifice), and sacrificial offering to Divine
Powers. Not being content with rituals and dedicatory ceremonies
appropriate to the baby growing in the womb until death and the
subsequent attainment by the person of higher worlds, elaborate
disciplines have been laid down. No other religion has so many and
so elaborate rules of living. Therefore, it will not be correct to
declare that all religions are the same. They might have adopted a
few or many of these from Hinduism since Hinduism has, from the
beginning, laid emphasis on them.
In order to carry out this heavy schedule of Karma or ritual, man
must have Bhakti, Jnaana and YogaFaith, Understanding and
Self-Control. Dharma is the tap root of the great tree, religion. It is
the eternal source of its strength. It is fed by waters of Bhakti. The
leaves and flowers are renunciation and other virtues, and the fruit
is Jnaana.
In these stages of growth, if there is any interruption or deficiency,
that is to say even if any regulation is missed the fruit of wisdom or
Jnaana which the tree yields will be affected adversely. Such strict
plans for spiritual progress can be found only in Hinduism and not
in any other faith. For Hinduism is the nectar churned and prepared
by the ancient Rishis out of their own genuine experience. It is not
put together from things available in books.
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sciences. These do, of course progress from day to day but the
theories honoured one day are condemned the next day and new
theories are brought up to explain the same phenomenon. How then
can the eternal and ever-valid truths of the spirit honour the material
sciences? The scientists of today call this attitude blind faith.
They want it to be discarded. They want every subjective and
objective fact to be examined and put to rigorous tests. They
confuse themselves when they consider this as an independent path
to the discovery of reality. But it is not correct. There is no need to
dig up and lay bare new doctrines. Every principle and path is
readily available.
Understanding is the only thing we need aspire to. Western
philosophers from Kant to Spencer have, in fact, only dwelt upon
some facets of the Dwaitha, Adwaitha and Visishtadwaitha schools
of thought. Hindus have long ago delved into these matters and
reduced their understandings into doctrines and principles.
(SSVahini, pp. 138-144)
The various processes and attempts for realising this oneness can be
regarded as important aspects of dharma. This dharma is called by
three names, the inner dharma, the gross dharma and the subtle
dharma. Dharma also takes the three attributes satwa, rajas and
thamas and moves in the three parts of Bhakti, Jnaana and Karma
or worship, wisdom and work. This fact of dharma taking these
three aspects is implied in the full and complete meaning of the
word Sanatana Dharma.
For us, to be able to recognise the divine principle in all the three
gunas, namely satwa, rajas and tamas, and also to recognise the
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178
after touching the tail of the elephant. The elephant is actually the
totality of all these parts, each part felt and described by a different
individual.
In the same manner, many blind people are touching this vast
Sanatana Dharma, and describing it as consisting of only that
which they are able to comprehend. Those who follow Vaidika
Dharma, those who follow Jainism, those who follow Christianity,
those who follow Islam, and so on, all of them describe that part of
Sanatana Dharma which is appropriate to their respective religions.
Sanatana Dharma in its totality is not being seen and described by
any one of them. Each one of them is describing only a fragment.
We need not discuss whether what each one of them is saying is
true or untrue. There is no doubt that they are describing accurately
what they have experienced and what they have chosen to describe.
But each one is describing only a part of dharma. No one is
describing the totality of it. Therefore, if you want to understand
and establish the total picture of dharma, what you have to do is to
make a synthesis of the essence of all religions. When we are able
to bring and put together the ideas of everyone, the moral laws
supported by all religions, and the truth that is in all religions, we
will have a picture of Sanatana Dharma.
No one has the right to hate or criticise anothers religion. You have
the right to describe your dharma or the particular aspect which you
have chosen to understand. But you have no right to discuss and
criticise other aspects. You have direct experience of only one
aspect which you have chosen, but you have no expertise in other
aspects. When someone comes and tells you his views, you will feel
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it. It is the vital air on which humanity has to live. (SSS Vol.14), 1911-1980
Sanatana Dharma (the Eternal Religion) is the essence of the
lessons enunciated in all the Vedic texts. This Dharma
(righteousness) is the source and spring of various systems of
philosophy, codes of morality and even of the different forms and
streams of literature. Through these means the Dharma has taught
that man cannot live in peace, until he knows what ought to be
known, he casts away what has to be cast away, and reaches the
goal he has to reach. Veda means awareness, knowledge and
discrimination. The four Vedas (scriptures of eternal value) teach us
who and what we really are and how we are related to the world
around us. This is the greatest gift that the Vedas offer. This is the
end of all enquiry, the aim of all scientific search.
Knowledge has its consummation in the discovery of Truth. Truth h
survives Past, Present and Future unaffected. Sathyam, Jnaanam,
Anantham. Both Sathyam (Truth) and Jnaanam (spiritual wisdom)
are Anantham (without end). They are eternal and limitless. The
Vedas are vocal expressions of both these. To consider Vedas as
literature or poetry is to devalue them. Vedic hymns are not
intended for empty worship by rituals. They have been recorded by
sages to help, practise and to experience. The sages had recognised
this factor and therefore, the Vedas have survived untarnished until
today. Their practice became Yajnas (sacrificial rituals). Their
prayers became songs.
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
deeds must originate spontaneously and should not leave any trace
of pride in the mind. Nor should any attachment to the result of the
deed lead to a craving for claiming it for one self. Renunciation
must be the only source of joy. Thyaga (selfsacrifice) is the truest
Bhoga (enjoyment) for the Sanyasi (ascetic). The Gita recommends
inaction in action and asserts that inaction is the most rewarding
action for those who strive for supreme peace. This attitude is
named Karma Sanyasa (non-attachment to action). Action or
activity is generally associated with the body only, but the mind is
also busy with the world. The Atma alone is the unaffected witness.
So, the secret of inaction in action lies in taking refuge in the Atma
and in recognising all living beings as fundamentally Atma.
The wise act solely for the promotion of peace and goodwill in the
human community with no consideration of I and Mine. The ego is
deep rooted in man during countless previous lives. It grows fast in
this life also, seeking sensual pleasure, possessions in plenty,
applause and appreciation, authority over others, fame and fortune.
It can be removed only by relentless enquiry into our Reality.
184
single seed. All creation has emanated similarly from God. This is
the Reality inherent in all. That Thou Art. Be firm in that faith.
Ponder on a river merging in the ocean. The waters of the ocean rise
up as vapour when warmed by the Sun and form clouds, which drop
down as drops of rain. Each drop has inside it the yearning to return
to the ocean from which it has been exiled. But, the feeling of
individuality overcomes the yearning. The raindrops accumulate
and flow as brooks and streams which swell into tributaries of
rivers, flooding the plains. At last, the river merges into the ocean
and loses its name, form and attributes. In spite of all modifications
undergone in the journey from ocean to ocean, water remains as
water in vapour, cloud, rain and river. Names and forms and
qualities do change but the core remains unchanged. Man too
emerges from the ocean of Divinity and his destiny is to merge in it.
This is the Truth. This is the Reality. That Thou Art. Be firm in that
faith.
Take a lump of salt and drop in a cup of water. The salt dissolves
soon and disappears though we know it exists in every drop. The
lump cannot be picked up but we can assure ourselves of its
presence by tasting the water. God is present everywhere, though
invisible. But, He can be known by the taste. You are the taste, the
Divine droplet. This is the Truth. That thou Art. (SSS Vol.20), 2-11987.
Sanatana Dharma is the mother of all religions, all ethical codes
and all Dharmas of this world; and Bharat Desa (India) is the home
where the Mother was born. The world in its entirety is the Body of
the Lord of the world, and this Bharatha Desa is that Bodys unique
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organ, the Eye. Without the eye the body is not master of itself, is it
not? Again, it can be said that Bharat Desa has been beautified by
the two eyes, the Vedas and the Shastras. On account of this it can
be declared without doubt that the Samskara attained by the
Bharatiyas has not been acquired by the people of any other
country. Sanatana Dharma which teaches the truth of all religions
and tolerance of all religions is the Dharma of all mankind. Born in
various areas, flowing through various paths, the rivers at last reach
the ocean. So too, born in different lands, practising different ways
of Dharma, people reach the Ocean of the presence of the Lord,
through different modes of worship. Sanatana Dharma is the central
location in which all these various paths, moving in different
directions, converge. Followers of the different religions can
practise this Sanatana Dharma, by being truthful in speech, by
avoiding jealousy and anger, and by acting always with a loving
heart. All those who so practise Sanatana Dharma and, without
faltering, achieve it, are entitled to be called Bharatiyas.
The Hindu religion is the only religion that has achieved and
maintained the foremost position among all religions from earliest
times and established itself permanently. The only people who have
survived without being destroyed, throughout the historic age, are
the Hindus. In this religion, more than in any other, people have
practised lives of love, equality and gratitude. The Hindus have
earned their Dharma through the discovery of philosophic principles
and through the Vedas. They have drunk deep the essence of the
Vedas which are without beginning and without end. A land so holy
is a veritable spiritual mine to the world. Just as the bowels of the
earth reveal, in each area, mines of different metals, in Bharatha
186
Desa is found the mine of Sanatana Dharma, the essence of all the
principles of all the Shastras, all the Vedas, and all the Upanishads.
As if by the good luck of the Bharatiyas, along with the emergence
of the mine of Sanatana Dharma which is as a home to them, from
that moment and for that very purpose, leaders, thinkers,
commentators, apostles and teachers have been originating in this
land itself. Also from this very Bharatha Desa arose seers, selfless
Karma Yogis, wise men, realised souls, and Divine personages
connected with this religion. It is through these persons that
spiritual wisdom guaranteed by experience flowed all over the
country. In this way loaded with essence, Sanatana Dharma
progressed throughout the world. But to whatever land it spread, the
original home is Bharat itself. Look at the world today: machines,
cars, engines of some new type or other come to light in one
country and are exported to others.
But their original home cannot be forgotten. Such cars and engines
are manufactured only on the basis of its experience. Nothing can
be done without that basis. So too Sanatana Dharma arose. Bharat
Desa and people of other countries benefited from its waters
through the great personages and the books they composed. Hence,
the basis of the original home cannot be ignored. That is impossible.
But it is a matter of some concern to see today, in this Bharat Desa
the birthplace of those holy persons who nursed and fostered this
sacred Dharma, new modes being accepted as ones Dharma, and
the Sanatana Dharma itself being assigned and kept aside for people
of other countries, by the persons who have not even tested the
sweetness of the Dharma, who have not grasped its meaning, and
who have smothered it in empty disputation. The reason for this is,
of course, the absence of proper guides who could show the way.
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But even when there are such guides, people yield to these modern
modes and get attached to them. These are really like bazaar
pakodas. They attract by their smell, and are bought by persons who
do not discriminate. Though their Swadharma is the pure Sanatana
Dharma, the fascination exercised by outward show is absent and so
it gets neglected. Truth has no need for such decorations. Taste is
the important thing. The basic reason for this is the fact that men
today are motivated by mere whim and fancy. It has become the
habit to reject the reality and accept the Dharma of another. This is
a great mistake. It is against Dharma for Bharatiyas to be attracted
by external forms and by outward show. No other Dharma has, or
will have, Truth and Highest Love, above and beyond that
contained in Sanatana Dharma. Sanatana Dharma is the veritable
embodiment of truth. It is the heritage of all. There can be no
boundary for Holiness. Holiness is one, without a second; is it not?
Those who have attained Liberation in this life by adherence to this
Sanatana Dharma, who have earned the grace of God, who have
understood the nature of Truth, who have achieved Realisation are
all Bharatiyas.
Bharatiyas have adored those who have reached that holy stage,
without distinction of caste, creed, or sex. The holiness of that stage
burns to ashes all such limitations. It is only until that stage is
reached that it becomes impossible to consider everything as equal.
So, it is necessary to embark boldly on the realisation of Sanatana
Dharma. This is the birth right of Bharatiyas.
If we examine history since its very beginnings, we can know in
detail what great personages were born, in which sections of the
Hindus. Incarnations, Divine personalities and Jivanmuktas (one
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However broad and deep the ocean, when the earth quakes
underneath, the waters part of themselves, and when the commotion
subsides, they resume their original position. So too these good men
keep away without being caught up in it during the earthquake of
injustice, unrighteousness, selfishness and ostentation. As soon as
the hullabaloo subsides, they re-enter the world. Evanescent
authority and self-glorification cannot be permanent. To grow is
only to decay, it is said. The present peacelessness is decay not
growth. For, see how the Bharatiyas who from the beginning, grew
up in righteous ways with pure feelings, with self-control and
reverence for the good name, who were fed on the breast milk of the
Vedas, Shastras and Upanishads, who welcomed and honoured even
races driven out of their own country and vouchsafed to them Love
in equal measure, today, for love of power and self, accuse their
own brethren, one person impatiently envying the prosperity of
another, deceive their own brothers maddened by selfish greed,
keep at arms length their real well wishers, pursue only each ones
selfish end, multiply bad qualities hitherto unheard of in the Hindu
fold, follow wrong paths and ways of life and become the target of
conflict and restlessness, on account of the absence of fear of sin,
fear of God, discipline, reverence and faith. The fall is indeed
incredible. (Prema Vahini, pp. 50-58)
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India has always been a land of plenty. That is why Muslim hoards,
European nationals and Mughal Emperors raided the land so often.
Like the elephant, which surrenders to the mahout without realizing
its own strength, the Bharatiyas are yielding to pressures from
without, not realizing their own prowess within. Why is it that we
are not able to secure all that we possess: the reason is simple - lack
of unity among ourselves. Freedom has been won, but unity has
not been achieved. You see around rampant selfishness and selfaggrandizement. Let us keep off selfishness and let us hold on to
unity. (Y P - 87)
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
fundamental Unity in the one Divine Will, and his acting contrary to
that Unity. (SSS Vol.11), 24-12-1972
Spiritual Transformation
single-mindedly united in love for Sai and in love from Sai, in spite
of differences in nationality, race, creed, colour and dress. This is
my real task. This is the consummation of the yearnings of the
ancient seers and sages of this land. Develop this Oneness, this
Unity in love, hold it ever before you as the ideal. Religions arise
from the minds of men; they are not external to man. When minds
are polluted, religion too suffers pollution. Those who deny religion
can be denoted as having distorted or polluted minds. Of course,
religion is not related to practices and prohibitions like "Dont touch
me! Dont touch this." (SSS Vol.14), 19-11-1980
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
of his motherland and its reputation is worse than a corpse. All must
protect the honour of the nation. They should be united. This is the
message of the Vedas, "Let us all live and strive together in
harmony." If only this spirit prevails among Bharatiyas, the nation
will shine in all its glory. It is because people have forgotten the
greatness of Bharat that our country is suffering from many troubles
and difficulties. If people act together in concert, there is nothing
they cannot achieve in Bharat. Determination and unity are
essential.
196
Spiritual Transformation
The qualities which every human being should have are peace,
compassion, forbearance, love and sacrifice. These are the qualities
that should be developed in all people, not vices like hatred, greed,
envy, pride and others. Cultivate the feeling of love. Get rid of old
prejudices and differences. Foster divine feelings. Only then the
nation can make all-around progress.
You must regard the construction of this magnificent mansion as a
symbol of universal good--Vishva kalyaanam. Vishva kalyaanam
means the well-being of all.
There should be unity of hearts so that anything that is desirable can
be accomplished. People should co-operate with each other. From
today resolve to give up selfishness and achieve unity among
yourselves to serve the nation. Forget all your differences and come
together to uphold the reputation of the nation. (SSS Vol.25)
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Spiritual Transformation
form the basis of Bharatiya culture. The essence of all religions and
faiths then, is this: the merging in this Unity. The goal of all
spiritual endeavours is this: the merging in this Unity. The object of
all enquiries is this: to cognise this Unity. But, this patent fact is
ignored, and persons create strife, anxiety and unrest for themselves
and perpetrate horrors to hold forth the support, the disunity so dear
to their fractioned minds. (SSS Vol.11), 24-12-1972
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
200
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204
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
important than the eye. There are many who possess eyes but who
cannot see. There are persons with ears but who cannot hear
because they lack the power of hearing. We are trying to control the
sense organs without trying to regulate the power that is responsible
for their functioning.
For example, there is in the body a digestive organ. When one takes
a balanced diet, the food is properly digested and the body is kept
healthy. Similarly the bodys temperature has to be kept at a certain
norm. If the temperature goes above or below that norm it is a sign
of illness. Similarly if the Five Elements that constitute the natural
environment are kept in balance, the world is in a healthy state. If
this balance is upset or if the elements are polluted, then the country
suffers in various ways. If the products of science and technology
result in upsetting the balance of Nature and pollute the atmosphere
or the rivers and the seas, many harmful consequences follow.
Pollution gives rise to many new diseases. Today even pure air has
become a rare commodity. Three-fourths of the earth is covered by
water. There are many minerals in the ocean bed. But in extracting
them, some limits should be observed. Otherwise, even the ocean,
which has been adhering to its bounds, will exceed its limits. Even
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are caused by the unsettling of
the ecological balance in nature.
Spiritual Transformation
lungs; Apaana Vaayuis the life-wind that goes downwards and out
at the anus; Samaana Vaayu is the vital air whichhas its seat in the
cavity of the navel; Vyaana Vaagu is the life-wind which is diffused
throughthe whole body; Udhaana Vaayu is the life-wind which
rises up the throat and enters the head).
The Praana 0fie-breath) comes from the Sun. The Vyaana comes
from Vaagu (air). The Apaana comes from the each. Udhaana
comes from Agni (fire). The Samaana comes from Aakaasha
(space). Because of these five breaths functioning in us, we are able
to live healthily. There are 72,000 blood-vessels in a human being.
The Vyaana Vaagu blows through the entire circulatory system. The
Vyaana Vaagu is derived from Vaagu (air). When the air is
polluted, the 72,000 blood-vessels get polluted and the effect of this
on the Apaana Vaagu leads to cancer and heart attacks.
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
vision. That is the way to divinise the world. (SSS Vol.30), 16-71997.
You might have heard the story of Rani Jhansi Lakshmibhai. She
had a small child. When she was left with no other choice but to go
to the battlefield, she tied the child to her back, took a sword, and
waged a fierce battle with her enemies, riding on horseback. But all
the while, what was uppermost in her mind was the well being of
her child. Similarly, you must necessarily discharge your worldly
duties, but at the same time your mind should always be focused on
God. This is the meaning of the maxim, Hands in the society, head
in the forest. You do not need to undertake any specific spiritual
sadhana. Whatever you do, do it as an offering to God. (SSS Vol.32
Part II, p. 159)
Spiritual Transformation
Men today are either indifferent to Dharma or seek to use even the
scriptures for their selfish purposes. The scriptures are to be used as
guides for right action. They are signposts showing the way to the
realisation of the Divine. We must be ever conscious of what we
owe to God. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the light that
enables us to see the world, all these are the gifts of Providence.
What gratitude are we showing to the Great Giver of all these
benefits? We are thankful to many for small favours. But to the
Lord who is the source of all the innumerable things we enjoy, we
show no regard at all. The man without gratitude is worse than a
cruel animal.
Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
Teachers should not consider that they are teaching for the sake of
emoluments and students should not consider their studies as
primarily for the purpose of getting a job. Education must develop
in you self-reliance and prepare you for all the challenges of life.
With faith in God and leading a righteous life, you must become
true citizens of Bharat. The discipline and regulations you observe
now will stand you in good stead all your life. Prepare yourselves to
serve society and thereby propitiate God, whose Grace is a greater
benediction than all the gains from the world. (SSS Vol.16),
16.6.1983
Spiritual Transformation
Bharat throughout the ages has fostered these qualities among the
people.
People today have forgotten these sublime qualities because they
have lost the fear of sin, ceased to love God and do not observe
social ethics. What greater misfortune can there be for the nation?
Love of God and fear of sin
Love of God should be a natural feeling in everyone. It is our
immemorial heritage. When there is love of God, fear of sin follows
naturally. Today fear of sin has gone and everywhere the most
heinous crimes are being committed. In such a situation, how can
there be morality in society?
How are we to transform this state of things? Who is responsible for
all the troubles, disorder and violence? Maname (We alone) are
responsible. The truth has to be recognized. People are blaming
others for their own faults. If there is unity among the people, there
will be no problems. Unity is strength.
Today righteousness has declined among the people. As the level of
righteousness goes down, the water level also goes down! If good
qualities arise in men, the water level will also rise. What is the
reason for the failure of timely rains and the shortage of food crops?
It is the decline of morals among the people which is the cause of
natural calamities. The people must cherish sacred thoughts. Then
the peoples aspirations will be fulfilled.
I have to utter a warning in the presence of the Prime Minister.
Bharat achieved its freedom through the sacrifice of innumerable
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
patriots, who gave up their lives. Freedom has been achieved, but
not unity. Without unit)~ the nation is weak like the hand of a man
who cannot use all his fingers. We must achieve unity in every
field.
Spiritual Transformation
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Sanatana Dharma: For a happy, peaceful life of an individual and for society
With regard to the water project, it should be noted that much was
accomplished in a short period. In the execution of the project
changes had to be made in response to the appeals of people in
different villages. Because of this, the entire project has not yet
been completed. Some villages are yet to get water. This should not
cause any disappointment. Whatever may happen, all villages will
get water and the project will be fully carried out. The inauguration
of the project by the Prime Minister does not mean that further work
will be held up. We are prepared for any sacrifice to honour the
plighted word. Work will be resumed from tomorrow and we shall
see that by January the entire district is supplied with water. We
will give no room for anyone to complain that he has not got water.
Embodiments of Love! It is a matter for gratification that today the
Prime Minister, who belongs to Andhra Pradesh, has inaugurated
the water supply scheme for Anantapur District. All of you should
live in amity, without differences of any kind and offer your
cooperation to the Government. Not only will the nation benefit
from your unity, but you will also be setting an example to the
world. Give up hatred and jealousy, participate with love in
measures taken by the government for the well-being, of the people.
Love can achieve anything. (SSS Vol.28), 18-11-1995.
Spiritual Transformation
in selfishness. In every effort of man, in every aspiration, selfinterest is the driving force. Man has become a plaything in the
hands of selfishness. Whatever object he seeks, whomever he loves,
it is out of selfishness and not for its own sake. No step is taken
without regard for self-interest. This intense selfishness has resulted
in the total decay of human values. This monster of selfishness has
pervaded every field of human activity the physical, the social,
the economic, political and moral fields.
Shed selfishness
Hence, the primary endeavour of man today should be to shed
selfishness, develop spirituality and realise the Divine. Three basic
changes should take place in man. That is the truth contained in the
Sai principle. S" stands for Spiritual change. "A" stands for
"Associational" (or National) change. "I" stands for Individual
change. By this triple change the nation will prosper. Without a
change in the individual, society will not change. Without a social
transformation, spiritual transformation cannot take place in the
heart.
Promote love in your hearts and share it with others. That is the best
form of worship. Make love your life-breath. With love of God in
their hearts the ancient sages could transform - even the wild
animals in the forests. (SSS Vol.29), 13-4-1996.
217
Index
aachara-dharma, 40
adharma, 19, 21, 172
Bhakthi, 31
Brahmaarpanam, 23
dharma, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26,
27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38,
39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 52, 69, 74, 88, 93,
95, 103, 107, 108, 123, 126, 160,
161, 181, 182, 183, 184
Dharma, 17
Gautama, 33, 93, 94, 95
Gita, 23, 36, 50, 70, 75, 164, 172, 188,
224
jnaana, 17, 31, 32, 103
Karma, 24, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 88,
121, 178, 181, 187, 191
, 3, 4
lingam, 35
manas, 20
Namaskar, 52, 168
Nandi, 35
Parasara, 33
Pasupathi, 34, 35
Puranas, 27, 28, 70, 180
218
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