B. BASIC CONCEPTS - The Golden Treasure is within - Reach for it... Read on !
From 80th Birthday Discourse of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, 23.11.2005
‘Once sage Narada asked Lord Vishnu as to what was the royal path to immortality. Then Lord Vishnu replied, “One should realise that I am present in all beings.” The Spark of Divinity is present in all beings. Man is not a mere mortal, but he is essentially Divine.....
Divinity: The sun is one but appears in different countries at different times, but it is one and the same. We do not call it Indian sun, American sun and so on. Similarly, God is One, no matter what Name we call HIM by, GOD is One... Divinity is one.
Love is one. When you adhere to the twin principles of truth and love, you will experience the manifestation of divinity in everything.....When you develop the firm conviction, “I am God”, there will be no room for ego and hatred. You are God, your fellow human beings are also God. When you harm, criticize or blame others, you are actually harming yourself.....When you do not identify yourself with others, differences are bound to crop up.....Give up body consciousness and live in the constant awareness that you are God.....Develop unwavering faith in the Oneness of Divinity. Only then can you experience peace. So long as you do not contemplate on the Oneness of God, your mind will continue to play its tricks....Do not attach undue importance to names and forms. Understand the inherent Principle of Divinty...Let your life be filled with love, don’t confine your love to your family and friends. Share it with one and all...with all fellow human beings and become the recipient of His Love.’ Read on...!
CONCEPT-1.
THE ONE DIVINE PRINCIPLE PRESENT IN ALL IS OUR TRUE SELF
It is the inherent Principle of Divinty within that endows the physical body with life. When this Divine Principle withdraws itself from the physical body, death occurs. Hence it is the Divine Principle that we really are. Everyone in our physical world is in a sleeping, dreamlike condition, conjuring various forms (as we do in dreams, and when the alarm rings we wake up and realise we were dreaming), on waking in the spiritual realm, we return to our Normal (Real) Consciousness.
We have to wake up to our Real Self. The mind and intelligence derive their life from the Real Self, the Atma, the Divine Life Principle. Thus it is very clear, we are not the ‘body-mind-intellect equipment’, but the Divine Power within. This is easy to understand with the example of a computer. The hardware, software etc by themselves do not work. What else is needed to make them work ? The current, and a man to operate the computer. The Atma or Soul is the Man who switches on the current and operates the ‘human computer’. [ Pl. see HVSS Book 10, Unit 1]
CONCEPT-2.
THOUGHTS ARE IMPORTANT, HAVE SELF CONFIDENCE
Have Self-confidence, confidence / faith in the Real Divine Self that is within the body-mind-intellect equipment. Follow Its guidance. As the thoughts so is the life. Thoughts are the foundation, good thoughts give rise to good life.
Click to see link to Divine Directions - Thoughts
The Founders of all Religions have stressed on the All-pervasiveness of the Supreme Power or Supreme Creator, which is within all creation. Call HIM by any Name, “Lord, God, Jehova, Allah, Ahura, Vishnu, Narayana, Brahman, That, I am That I am,” the Supreme Power is One. “I am who I am” the Lord told Moses on Mt. Sinai. [See HVSS Book 6 Annexure-Judaism]. I am in Sanskrit:- Ayam. The words are also same but human beings fail to understand, because they think they are the body with two legs, hands, mouth, ears etc. This is only the outer equipment, the instrument with which the Soul, Spirit or the Atma, the ‘I am’, carries out various works in this physical world. Transcending the Physical visible world that we perceive with our 5 senses, is the Spiritual World. All Creation is but a manifestation of the One and the Same Invisible Divinity, the One Supreme, Spiritual Principle, the Divine Power, that exists, that IS everywhere, always. Three words denote Him:- Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent.
Questions arise: Why don’t we realise our divine origin ? How can we bring out our Divinity ?
The Atma is the Sun, mind-intelligence etc are its rays [ Please see HVSS Book 10, Unit 1]
CONCEPT-3.
GOD’S NAMES PURIFY MIND & LEAD TO GOOD THOUGHTS
To evoke the Divine in you, there is no better method than Naamsmaran.
–Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, 24.5.1962 [ Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 2].
The following are from various Discourses: Harer Naama, Harer Naama, Harer 
Naamaiva Kevalam Kalau Naasti Eva, Naasti Eva, Naasti Eva, Gatir Anyathaa. In Kali Age, there is no other alternative other than the chanting of the Holy Name of Hari, merely chanting the Holy Name of the Lord, only the chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord is the only path, other than this there is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way ! “Naaham Vasaami Vaikunthe, Yoginaam Hrudaye na cha… Madbhaktah Yatra Gaayanti Tatra Tishthaami Narada.” - Lord Narayana. (From Divine Discourse 5.7.1996 and others).
“Once Narada asked Lord Vishnu, as to what His permanent address was. The Lord replied, “O Narada, note down My permanent address. I reside neither in Vaikuntha, nor in the heart of a Yogi - these are only My branch offices. Wherever My devotees sing together My glory, there you will find Me installed. That is My permanent address (Head Office)!”
[Clarifications: 1. Hari - Name of the Lord, Kaliyuga- The present age in which we are living, the age of machines, hypocrisy, insincerity, quarrels. 2. Naamasmaran - Repeating The Lord’s Name, any Name of God, any language any religion, with faith, love & devotion. All Religions stress on repeating/chanting the Lord’s Name. Divine Names purify the mind & draw Divine Grace. 3. Vaikunthaa - higher heavenly Abode of Peace and Bliss. Vai - without, Kuntha - knots. 4. Narayana - Indweller, one who 
dwells in man, Nara-man, Ayan-dwells in. 5. Allah Attributeless, Formless, (Nirguna, Nirakaar), All-Pervasive One in Whom all merge. Al- the + laah-merge, laya 6. God: G-Generator, O-Organizer, D-Destroyer. 7. Sachidananda: Sath-Changeless Truth + Chitha-Consciousness + Ananda-Bliss. 8.Vishnu-Which spreads everywhere, Sustainer of the Universe. Vishwa-Universe + Anu-Atoms. Vishwa+Anu = Vishnu, All-pervasive Ocean of Atoms or Pure Consciousness. All atoms/cells have consciousness. They are aware of their functions, rules and limits. 9. Sheshashaiyya: mighty Serpent-bed floating on the Primordial Waters, the Ocean of Pure Consciousness. Similes, Metaphors, Imagery, Personifications make abstract Concepts, Ideas intelligible to human perception. Who reclines on it ? The Unmanifest, Infinite, Eternal Pure Vishnu Principle the Source and Support, the Aadhaar of life, Param Atma. [Plans are conceived first as abstract Ideas in Visions. The Vision is the prototype - the Reality, the Support, the Sustainer-‘Vishnu’ on whose basis the physical, material creations are developed]
CONCEPT-4.
SUPREME UNMAMIFEST PRINCIPLE
OR BEING – MANIFESTS -
To teach humans Supreme Transcendental Truth which is beyond sense perceptions, beyond words. Photo : Bhagawan on Jhoola, Deepavali 1987, Prayer Hall, Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Nandanavanam, Ootacamund, first Residential School of Bhagawan, Feb.1979 to Jan. 1991. It was merged with Sri Sathya Sai Primary School [a wing of S.S.S. Higher Secondary School] Prasanthi Nilayam, in Jan.1991. [Mrs. Amar Kumari Verma was the first Principal,1979-1986.]
HUMAN VALUES IN SAI SCHOOLS: through Silent Sitting, Story Telling, Prayers, Group Singing & Group Activities Supreme Truths and Divine Laws are imparted to tiny tots: “I am Pure Consciousness, Sath-Chit-Ananda: Being-Awareness-Bliss-Atma.” Following are from various Divine Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba:-When the Name dances on the tongue, it will speak only soft, sweet words giving pleasure to all. The Omnipresent Lord is Sheshasayee, reclining on the coils of the Cobra with the 5 hoods, symbolic of our 5 senses. The 5 senses directed outwards have sinister, poisonous potentialities. But the Name chanted with love and devotion confers pure thoughts and feelings, and keeps you in higher regions of Divine Energy, keeping you cool and calm. When the 5 senses are directed towards the Lord, you have Bliss. DO WORDS HAVE POWER ? Words have tremendous power. Words like “Fire ! Snake !” cause strong reactions in our minds. Peace, Love and Joy are the innate nature of the Atma. Man ever seeks happiness in this or that, but what he gets is only momentary satisfaction, in time it turns out to be only a handful of dust ! Instead, concentrate on the Name of the Lord, enjoy Its Sweetness, Beauty and Love. Man feels proud of youth and material things, but with age the physical body undergoes change. Senses are referred to as maatraas [sanskrit: limited]. Use them within limits. Excessive Sense indulgence, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy leads to End of joy - sufferings. Instead, live in such a way that the End is JOY.” Sheshanaag: Shesha-remains. Physical body perishes, but the Atma or Soul remains. Thoughts too remain in the consciousness as seeds. [See Bhajans with notations HVSS Books 1 to 12]
Click to See Divine Directions - Music
CONCEPT-5.
WHAT WE DO TO OTHERS WE DO TO OURSELVES
Human beings have the three : Head, heart and hand - 3Hs. In the Bhagawad Geeta, Sri Krishna [The Divine Master] has explained three Paths for Spiritual Progress to Arjuna [Representative of qualified & deserving students]: of Knowledge, Gnyana Yoga, Head, (Concept 1-2), of Devotion Bhakti Yoga, Heart, (Concept 3-4) and of Action Karma Yoga, Hand, (Concept 5) depending on the natural inclination or innate tendencies and inborn traits of a person. The harmonious blend of the above 3, their synthesis is Raja Yoga, the Royal Path. [ Pl. see HVSS Books 6 to 12 ]
The Great Teachers of mankind have all taught this True Education to people at different times, in different Languages and at different places, against the background of ‘the then existing Sociocultural settings’. These time, place, language and sociocultural differences mislead people by their outward apparent disparities. But in fact all Teachers of Mankind have taught and stressed upon the same Divine Injunctions and Principles that govern human life: Seek ye the Kingdom of God and all else will be added unto thee; Have Faith, Love and Gratitude to the Supreme Creator; Love all Serve all; Help ever, hurt never; Hurting another is a sin; Helping another is merit. All are Children of the One God etc. [Pl. See HVSS Books 1 to 12]
God has made this beautiful world and placed Human Beings, who are endowed with all sorts of powers, talents and capabilities, above other species. The Creator has also endowed human beings with free will to do what they like.....BUT....to safeguard His Creation, God has placed only one stipulation, only one condition on human beings, and that is he/she has to face the consequences of his/her actions. To help human beings make correct choices The Creator has given human beings discrimination power to distinguish between the right and wrong. Throw a ball to the wall it bounces back to you. Similarly every thought, word and deed bounces back, bringing its reflection, resound and reaction back to us. [Pl.see HVSS Book 9 Unit 1 and Book 2 Unit 4, Bhadrachalam Ramadasa]
Education Systems must equip children with the essential Knowledge of Divine Laws and Truths, so that human beings take wise decisions and thus:- i) safeguard themselves against future pain, suffering and annihilation which are results of wrong thoughts, words and actions committed knowingly or unknowingly in ignorance, and ii) build and ensure their future peace, prosperity, happiness, and Global Welfare, which are results of right thoughts, words and actions, and of Divine Vibrations and Divine Love. [ Above 2 Pictures are from HVSS Book 1]
CONCEPT-6.
ALL HUMANS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOWLEDGE
All people must Know Spiritual Truth and Laws. United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, states “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory.....” [- first part of Article 26 ] After the suffering and destruction of World War II, to prevent future destruction, in 1948 UNO first formally proclaimed the concept of free and compulsory Universal Primary Education [UPE] as a basic right of every individual, atleast in the elementary and the fundamental stages. Clearly elders, specially the Policy-Makers, Educationists, Principals, Teachers, Parents and Mothers must ensure that the task of Educating for World Peace, the task which is of paramount importance for all, is fulfilled. All human beings must be taught Supreme and basic Truths and Divine Laws which govern all mankind. Basic and Elementary Knowledge of the existence of Divine Love and Laws (as understood to the best of contemporary human understanding), must be taught universally to all humans.
Click here to read The First Slip
The world has recorded enormous progress in the Scientific and Technological fields. Yet, unfortunately all these developments have also brought in violence, ‘terrorism’, unhappiness and suffering in a progressively increasing measure. This shows the degradation of the human mind, the frustrations, disappointments and imbalance. For Global Peace, Harmony and Safety - Education must REVERSE THIS DOWNWARD TREND. [ Pl. See HVSS Books 1 to 5 specially Units 1 and 2 ] YOUNGSTERS - Wake-up !
“Education is not merely for a living, but for life”- Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Education is not merely to teach you how to earn your livelihood, that is only one part. Even more important - to teach individuals: 1. How to live in accordance with Divine Laws, ordinance and stipulations, 2. Their duties towards others or society, Global Society, of which each individual is a member. Due to differences in religious practises, the outward features, i.e. elements of daily religious practises, which are flexible, change but The Divine Truth and Laws are One and the same for all. The Supreme Knowledge, the Eternal TRUTH is applicable to all human beings, everywhere at all times, it is Sanathan. Some ask IS IT SCIENTIFIC ? Read on...
CONCEPT-7.
REMOVE THE SHADES THAT OBSTRUCT THE DIVINE LIGHT - SCIENCE & SPIRITUALITY
HOW SCIENTISTS VIEW SPIRITUALITY ?
THE TRUTH BEHIND MATTER: [Pl. see HVSS Book 12, Unit 1 - Based on Quantum Theory and Einstein's Theory of Relativity, and Unit 4].
It is common knowledge that all matter, living and non-living, is made of atoms. Briefly, inside the Atom, there is mostly space with a nucleus at the centre consisting of protons, positively charged particles, and neutrons chargeless particles. Also there are electrons, negatively charged particles, which whirl around the nucleus. - Ernest Rutherford, 1911.
All particles emerge from energy. In 1924, Louis de Broglie explained further that electrons are not particles but systems of waves and wave-particles or 'energy-packets'. Quantum Mechanics, which studies the motion of these 'energy-packets', has found that inside the vibrating atom are electric forces that - whirl the electrons at incredible speeds. The combination of Space and Energy, both inside and outside the atoms, is called the 'Quantum Field '. The Quantum Field is an energy field of Infinite creative potentialities....It exists everywhere.
In Gary Zukov's words, "The world of sub-atomic physics is a world of sparkling energy ever dancing with itself in the form of particles as they twinkle in and out of existence, collide and disappear again," at tremendous speeds within the atom. Thus Science has shown that the ultimate constituent of the Physical Universe is - Energy. Matter is made of Energy. It is only 'Energy in action' which is at the base of all creation. The material world that we perceive with our 5 senses is basically Energy.
According to Heisenberg, "The world appears as a complicated tissue of events in which connections of different kinds alternate or overlap and thereby determine the texture of the whole."
David Bohm's Theory tells us that "One wave function at the sub-atomic level is not a local phenomenon but shows global inter-connections."
Consciousness and Energy are the ‘basic stuff’ of all creation. All are inter-linked and there are inter-connections. [Note: Full Scientific details are simplified and cut short, for easy understanding,]. We know, if we THROW A STONE IN A POND.........
......ITS RIPPLES SPREAD OUT. Similarly THOUGHTS IN THE OCEAN OF CONSCIOUSNESS spread out bringing their consequences. Man is a Rational being, he is able to reason and act sensibly according to convictions. Check human Reasoning & logic.
Is there a well-tested and what we call ‘Scientific Method’ of ensuring that human beings bring out or manifest the best of the Power which is latent within ? Certainly ! And Scientific !
The very word Scientific points out the method: The word Science [Saience] starts with Sai (Psyche mind and its deeper layers, at source-the Pure Consciousness) without Sai there is no Science, that is, without Consciousness there is no Perception or Awareness. Body is the outer Equipment or Hardware. Mind-Intellect are the Software. But without the current and the person to switch on and work, the computer does nothing. The Consciousness lends life to the body, mind and intellect [ the B.M.I. Equipment ]. Clean the Psyche, the Consciousness. Purify the mind so that mankind has good, helpful and constructive thoughts. To prevent Virus, [bad thoughts] install the Anti-Virus of Spiritual Knowledge and Divine Name in the Consciousness...... This in a nutshell is the answer and the method. Remove the colours that DULL the Radiance of The Pure Consciousness, the Divine Effulgence of the Pure Gold, the Power of the Sai Within. The Divinity within, [ Sai ] is covered over by the colours staining the mind, each with his and her own colours, and mixtures of colours. Bulbs are of different colours and different Watts, electric appliances are of many types - BUT THE CURRENT that works them IS ONE. If a light is covered by a coloured shade, naturally its Effulgence is coloured and shaded. Clean the accumulated dirt. Remove the Virus. Only Pure, Clean Transparent shade [Mind] will allow the Pure Effulgence or Radiance of the Divine Life-Giving Light, to shine forth fully. [For purifying Step by Step, Class-wise guidance Pl. see HVSS Books 1 to 12] Also Read Scientific Foundations.
(Click for Link - Innovations)
To illustrate the responsibility of elders [specially of parents, mothers, teachers and educationists] in this important task of inculcating right knowledge, habit and attitude in children here is a small story, told briefly:
A small child, who was being carried on the back by a poor mother walking through a busy bazaar, picked a banana from the basket on the head of a fruit seller passing by. When the mother realised this, she did not scold the child and tell him that it was wrong to do so. Instead she kept quiet. As he had already something to eat she need not worry, for the time being, about what to feed him. As time passed the boy continued this ‘smart mischief ’. The mother too, for one reason or the other in her poverty and worries, did not correct the child. The son understood her silence as ‘approval’ and it became his means of pleasing her.
With the passing years, his daring ‘smartness’ also increased, from ‘petty lifting’ to stealing and later even robberies as he had no concept of right and wrong. Finally on one occasion he even committed murder. It is said: ‘In Divine Dispension there may be delays, but not injustice.’ He was caught and sentenced to death. As his last wish, he wanted to see his mother. When the weeping and wailing mother was brought, he pounced on her to strangle her. The guards had to separate them.
Yes, the son wanted to punish her as it was she who had brought him to this fate. Had she scolded and reprimanded him when he had committed the first slip, had she taken the trouble to reform and put him on the right path in childhood itself when the clay was soft, his destiny would have been different. [Educationists, Teachers and Parents to please take note]
Human Values Spiritual Science Book 12 : Unit 1
The above Unit 1 is based on the Report of a Study Group on Spirituality and Science, published by Sri Sathya Sai Trust, Dharmakshetra, Bombay and released by Bhagawan in 1985 in Dharmakshetra. The Study Group had as its members eminent Scientists like Padmashree Dr. A.K. Ganguly Retd. Director, Chemical Group of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Dr. P.V.S. Rao of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and President of the Computer Society of India, Dr.S.Mahapatra of the Advanced Centre of Research in Electronics, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai etc. The Report identifies: ‘Spirituality...the Science of Consciousness'.
‘Efforts in this direction [ bringing about co-operation between Science and Spirituality] will gradually pave the way for Spirituality and Science to develop a unified field of knowledge....the awareness of the Supreme Cosmic intelligence or Consciousness....will itself provide the necessary inspiration and light to Science to carry its search for truth to its ultimate goal.’
At times people question: ‘How scientific is Spirituality ?’ To be scientific one has to - Study, observe, experiment etc to find the Truth. Without the correct methodical study, observation, experimentation, is it scientific to infer and draw conclusions ? Another doubt raised is: “Education should be Secular.” When there is Only One Supreme Power, only One Divinity, only One God, to think religions are preaching about different Gods, then fighting over it, is a Mistake. This must be corrected by disseminating fundamental knowledge of all the major religions so that misunderstandings can be overcome by right understanding. Knowledge alone removes ignorance. It is best to understand what exists and is fundamental to life. Studying and following experimental methods Scientists have understood much about air, oxygen, internal organs and systems of the human body etc. Similarly the Spiritual Reality must be understood so that we do not make mistakes and then suffer for the mistakes committed in ignorance. Science aims to search for the Truth. Let’s be Scientific and try to understand and experience the very Basis of Life.
It is because of superior intellectual endowments and skills that human beings are above the animal ‘herd mentality’ and in the present-day socio-cultural milieu. Evolution continues, all, all humans have to unfold more and more of their intellectual powers and awaken, emerge, and merge in the Divine ambience. Animal to man, man to Divine man.
From danava to manava; from manava to Madhava.
