The importance of human life
November 6, 2010
Gopal Baba
Embodiments of Divine Soul,
Today this body is stepping into its 60th year. Humans are the most important of all the creatures. To be born as a human being is exceptional. We should realize the value of humanity. Behaving like an animal whilst inhabiting a human form is of no value for humanity.
A small example:
In a village people are resting under some huge trees. Two old men come and sit down with the others under the trees. The villagers enquire where they have come from, what they do, and how old they are. One of the old men says that he comes from a nearby village. He tells them what his occupation is and that he is 70 years old. Then the other man tells them from where he comes, what he does for work and that he is only 1 year old. The 70 year old man is surprised to hear that the other old man claims to be 1 year old because he looks like he is 90.
The first old man asks the other why he said that he is 1 year. He answered “For one year now, I have been attending a sathsang where the Bhagavatham is recited and the attendees talk about Krishna charitham (Lord Krishna’s life). Since attending the sathsang every day I have developed more devotion towards God. I feel that the life I lived before attending the sathsang was a waste. My real life began a year ago when I began attending the sathsang. This is why I claim to be only one year old.”
What gives value to human life?
First humanity should be developed, and then divinity. In order to realize humanity, what should a human being do?
Sathsang is needed. Sathsang is the first step in the range of sadhanas (spiritual practices) which lead the aspirant towards Moksha –God realization. Without Sathsang, human life becomes polluted. There is a saying in English “Tell me your friends and I will tell you who you are”. Why say that?
There is a proverb in Kannada “Instead of making friendship with cow dung, it is better to fight with sandal wood”. If we interact with cow dung, our body will stink but if we fight with sandal wood, we will absorb some of the beautiful sandalwood fragrance. If we fight with a mahatma (great soul), we will come to know many good things. This is like churning the ocean. (The churning of the ocean of milk is a symbol for separating untruth from truth. The story is narrated in the purana’s)
In 1986, Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba asked me to go to Girinagar to establish a mandir. He asked me not to leave Girinagar. (applause from crowd). Many people here have seen how this mandir has grown big from it’d small beginnings. Many spiritual and service activities are happening here. How are these things possible? It is all due to Bhagawan’s grace. God’s grace is like pouring rain. If dams are not built, the water is of no use. It will simply run into the ocean. Similarly, when God showers His Grace upon us, we should hold on to it through devotion, develop it and utilize it for the provision of service activities. This will make the Lord happy. We should not waste God’s grace. The devotee should utilize the grace God has bestowed upon him by serving society. God’s grace lives in his heart.
God showered his grace on Ravana but Ravana misused it. God showed his grace on Prahallada who utilized the grace for the realization of God. It depends on the individual how God’s grace is utilized.
We should all become like Prahallada. We should not become Hiranyakasibu.
We should become Hanuman and not Ravana. We, like Hanuman, should develop strong devotion, physical strength, will power and atma shakthi.
There are many lessons to be learnt from everyone and everything. When a crow finds food, it calls other crows so that they can all share the food and eat together. We can learn togetherness and unity from the crow. We can learn faithfulness from the dog. For this reason our Indian culture, prescribes that we should keep some food aside for crows and dogs daily. We can learn lessons from them. The crow does not eat alone. It calls all others and they eat together. This teaches us not to hide our food but to share it with all. When we give a piece of bread to the dog, it shows its gratitude by wagging its tail. The dog teaches us the lesson of gratitude. In this creation, even such small things in creation can teach us lessons.
Everyone who is present here, in this sacred place carries the divine power in his or her heart. With this power, you should serve society, develop love, be together, and lead a life full of love. This is Swami’s wish. If you do this Baba will be happy to see that one of the purposes for which He came to this world, is fulfilled. When we develop Divine qualities, Swami will be happy. The demonic qualities should not be allowed to manifest. Baba commences his speeches with words like “Embodiments of divine love”, “Embodiments of divine soul”. In India we don’t address a group of people as “Ladies and gentlemen” the way those in foreign countries do. Men are addressed as gentlemen but they are mental men (mentally challenged). Everyone is mad. People are mad about land, wife, children, money etc.
Someone once told Ramakrishna that he was mad because he always only talked about God. Is that not madness?
Ramakrishna answered: “Yes everyone in this world is mad about something. I am only mad about God.”
Being mad about God is the greatest of all madnesses. Our prayer to Swami should be to always perpetuate our madness for him.
This place is Swami’s place. That is why it is sacred and why many service activities should take place here. Unity is a prerequisite for this to happen.
However all pervading God’s power may be, man power is needed for this task. God’s power is like electricity and man power is like the small wires which carry the electricity. One cannot utilize God’s power directly. We could not bear it. Man power is needed to provide service activities just like the small wires are needed to transport electricity to where it is needed. The wires are insulated with plastic covers. These covers are like the discrimination that everyone needs to practise. When we do Swami’s work with this discrimination, everyone will be happy and Swami’s mission will be fulfilled. For this, your total co-operation is needed. This body has reached 60 years and there is lot of work to do. Don’t give me operation; I need co-operation from you all.
You don’t even do one out of the 100 tasks that I did in my youth. Work like I did. Learn to do this.
November 23rd is Bhagawan’s 85th birthday .Whatever He has taught, Practise his teachings in your life. Missed opportunities will not return. We should utilize opportunities whenever they present themselves.
We will not get our parents back once they are expired. They will not come back. Take care of them well while they are alive. Don’t let tears flow from their eyes. Develop humanity and remove animal behaviours. Let divinity grow within all of you and lead good lives.
Jai Sai Ram
