The following discourse has been translated into English from Bhagavan's Telugu speech as heard on this festival's ashram audiocassette. It is a complete, literal translation made with the objective of preserving Bhagavan's precious original poetic style as much as possible. The words spoken by Bhagavan in English are highlighted in bold black.

Many people are saying that it is only God who creates, sustains, protects and annihilates (everything) in this mobile and immobile world. However, in what form is God creating this? In what form is He protecting this? In what form is He annihilating this?

This entire world is made up only of the five elements, which are the embodiment of God. Without the form of these five elements, even an atom-sized work cannot be done in the world. There are no specific names of God, that He has a ‘name like this’ or a ‘name like that’. The form of Divinity is hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell.

Among them, the first one is earth. All the powers that are in this earth are powers that are innate in this Creation. It is not enough just to consider this earth only as a physical form. There are huge, great mountains on this earth. There are forests. There are hills. There is the ocean. There are rivers. There are villages. Then, this earth is very heavy with so many more conditions. All of these mountains, all rivers and all trees take refuge in the earth.

However, scientists have proven that the earth is revolving. So, this earth revolves, doesn’t it? When this earth revolves, even the mountains that live on this earth should also revolve, shouldn’t they? The rivers should also revolve, shouldn’t they? The ocean should also move, shouldn’t it? The forests should also move, shouldn’t they? But they don’t revolve at all. This earth has the power that makes them stable. There are immobile tracks below the moving train. If those tracks also move, the passengers will be thinking, ‘The rail is moving, isn’t it,’ and the passengers’ work will stand still (the passengers won’t get anywhere).

Therefore, all powers are contained within this Earth goddess. All the powers that are needed for man’s life and for all living creatures are received from this Earth goddess. All the things that are needed for man are obtained from the earth. Hence, the earth only is the embodiment of the power to protect all living beings.

Man is unable to recognize this truth and is going about under the delusion that there is some other power protecting human beings. No, no! It is these five elements only that are protecting every life form. This Nature also has the basic power for all the activities that human beings do. If this earth stands still, all living creatures would stand still. So the earth is not only the ground that we see.

Since many billions of years, there were also changing states of water levels, lows and highs, which were gradually fully defined and became stable. In the past, this whole earth was of equal level. The nature of the earth was level, but gradually it rained without stopping for tens of millions of years. Then due to this water, lows and highs came about. The oceans also came about. Before that there was nothing at all on this earth.

Then the second element is water. This water is pervading here, there, and wherever one looks. However, we are able to see the ocean, which is filled with such water, the rivers filled with water, and even the body, which is also full of water. This type of water arises as sweat in the body of every human being. Man cannot live even a moment without that water. So, water also is a very important life-breath.

Then the third element is heat (fire). All of you know about this heat. All of this is made for the protection of life. If this heat were not in man, there would not be this temperature of 98.4. Not only that. The digestive power of every human being is also flames of fire.

Likewise, when one rock is struck against another, there is fire in the rock. Fire also ignites when two branches rub against each other in the wind. Fire arises in the ocean also. They call it badabaagni. Man is giving numerous kinds of names to this fire and thus experiences it.

Then the fourth element is wind. This wind is the life breath for all living beings. In order for every human being to live, he is able to live due to this wind. This wind is present everywhere. It has no special place of only ‘here’ or ‘there’. This power of the wind is present wherever one looks. Numerous living beings are able to live due to it.

Then the fifth element is space. It means this is Shabda Brahma (God in the form of sound). All of the other elements are born out of this sound. Earth, water, fire and wind, all arose out of space; therefore they are the children of space. All of these five elements come together, pervade everywhere, and are protecting all living beings.

Hence, man is unable to recognize these sacred five elements, which protect everything. Man thinks that the God who protects him is somewhere else and that He has a special form. Man thinks that even though God is everywhere, He cannot be seen. Numerous people are thus describing God in numerous ways. This is only their imagination, but these are not truths.

Buddha did numerous spiritual practices to recognize this. He also read all books (scriptures). He had darshan of all elders. He heard all conversations. Finally his mind had no satisfaction. Buddha discovered that these five elements are important embodiments of power, so we should recognize these embodiments of power. When this inquiry was done, Buddha saw all in himself.

Earth, water, fire, wind and space are all within him only. It is only the physical form of these five elements that put on a subtle form and are going about inside every living being.

They gave the name of ‘Atma’ to this space. It is said:

There is no one form to this nature of Atma. So Buddha made numerous attempts to have darshan of it. However, where is that Atma? He made a close examination with his inner vision. That Atma only was seen as a type of radiant form. That radiance is also fire.

Therefore, we always have to contemplate on this Divinity, which is the form of fire. People also called this ‘Jyothi Swarupa’ (the Embodiment of Light). They also explained that it was ‘Prajnana Brahma’ (God as Supreme Wisdom).

When Buddha was going about like this, he noticed that due to some living beings in the world having various physical, worldly and secular qualities, a few differences were seen in them. He noticed one criticizing the other, one extolling the other, one respecting the other, and one humiliating the other in this way.

When all of this was happening, he thought along these lines. He questioned himself, "Who is scolding? Who receives the scolding? Who conducts worship? Who is it that receives the worship? Who humiliates? Who experiences the humiliation?"

When inquiry was continued like this, he recognized in all only one thing. Due to thinking in a divided (dualistic) way, human beings developed numerous types of feelings of differences and obtained bad qualities like hatred, jealousy and violence. Therefore, there is no difference in this (Creation) at all.

So, only one power exists. That is the power of the Atma. There is only one Atma that exists in the person scolding and in the one being scolded, in the one worshipping and in the one being worshipped. Anger will not come to the one who recognizes the truth of the one Atma. He won't have hatred. Hence, Buddha searched and taught these types of paths to make bad qualities distant.

Who is related to whom? This body is only changing. Differences can only be seen in the mind and body, but Atma is One. These differences, these angers, these sorrows, these jealousies, these ostentations, all of these come to those who have the feeling of (being) the body. So Buddha said that the feeling of being the body should be given up.

Buddha was born in a family of great kings. He was a great king (prince). Yet, what was the reason he begged? He had no dearth of anything. No, no, no, no! Nothing was lacking at all. Similarly:

Clothes have to be worn for protection from the cold. Food has to be eaten to appease hunger. Only that, but there is no difference here of the rich and poor. The nature of Atma in all is only One. Hence, the one who scolds and the one who is scolded, the one who worships and the one being worshipped, are all only One.

If we are made to understand this Oneness, there will be a Divine feeling that will arise, and we won't have feelings of difference. So the Upanishads all taught the feeling of One Atma.

Truth is only One, not two. How would it be Truth if it were two? Ekam Sath (Truth is One). What does ‘Sath’ mean? All of you have heard to a great extent about ‘Sath, Chith, Ananda’. ‘Sath’ means ‘that which never changes’. (That) is ‘Sath’. ‘Chith’ means ‘awareness’, the power that makes one to recognize It (Sath or Truth). When these two come together, Ananda (bliss) arises in man.

Not only in man! There is also bliss in animals. There is also bliss in birds. There is also bliss in insects and worms. Then, there is also bliss in ants and there is also bliss in mosquitoes. Whatever qualities are in man, all of them are also in all living beings. But they don’t know (can't speak) these words. Because they don’t know these languages, they are unable to say, "I am also a human being!" Or else, even a dog would come and it would be able to say, "Sir, I am a human being!"

Even though Atma is One, the languages that arise are different due to the body. However, we are forgetting feelings of Oneness due to being influenced by these languages. Succumbing to these bhramas (delusions), we are forgetting Brahma (God). So we should experience everything with God (Divine feeling). But what is experienced with delusion is not steady. So we should make delusion distant.

If we want to make delusion distant, we should recognize the nature of the five elements. Everything will become (be seen as) One to the one who recognizes the nature of the five elements. So God is the form of the five elements. He has no special name of ‘this name’ or ‘that name’.

All the different types of shastras (scriptures) and all the Upanishads also declare:

Scriptures teach this Truth by contemplating Divinity in the form of human beings, just like it is said in the Vedas about Vishnu (God) having thousands of heads:

It is said that He has many thousands of eyes. It said that He has many heads. It doesn’t mean that one entity has numerous heads. It is not that one entity has numerous hands. All the people who are here have so many heads, so many hands, and so many eyes. So all of these people are descriptions of the form of Divinity. Thus, the descriptions of God having thousands of heads, etc. are not that of one form only.

Based on the pictures Ravi Varma painted, we are feeling that God has all of these numerous eyes. The one who painted pictures is Ravi Varma and the one who describes God is Kavi Varma. (NOTE: Ravi Varma was a famous painter, living two or three hundred years ago. Most of the pictures we see of the gods and goddesses in India today are ones he painted. ‘Kavi Varma’ is not an actual person. It is Swami’s play on words: ‘Kavi’ means ‘poet’.) He is ‘Kavi’ and the other is ‘Ravi’. Due to the combination of Kavi and Ravi (this painter and poet), all these (feelings of) differences are coming about. Hence, put Ravi’s and Kavi’s distant, put body attachment distant, and when attachment to Atma is developed, then Truth will be seen by us.

Our life contains the five elements. If any element is lacking among these five elements, the world could not exist. There should be all of the elements. They give oxygen when there is less air (breathlessness). In this way, even if any one element is absent from our body, special artificial arrangements are made.

In order to recognize Divinity, we should respect the five elements. To respect the five elements is to respect God.

You have put on a fan. That fan is revolving. You have turned on a light there. The light gives you light. But you should use this light only to a certain extent. If you use it too much, you will be ones who are wasting God's power. If this fan is also used without limitation, you will also be one who wastes God's power.

Likewise, we must consider that we become evil if we misuse these five elements. The main cause of all sorrows, all difficulties and all worries is misusing the five elements. Therefore, it has to be seen that they are not put to misuse.

Everything is the form of God. Even every second and every cell is also the form of God. There are several tens of millions of cells in our body. Not only that. We speak so many languages. There are thirty million taste buds on our tongue. We are able to speak so many different types of words due to these taste buds being on the tongue.

Then, there is the light in the eyes. There are a few hundred thousand forms of light (light rays). So the vision of God is so sacred. God is said to have the radiance of tens of millions of suns. We can see this manifest even in a small matter.

The light is shining here. If you want to see this light, you should not open your eyes wide and look straight at it. Look at it with half-closed eyes, and then it will become forms of numerous rays. What are these rays? They are only reflections of the element of fire. Hence, for everything there is a reflection, reaction, and resound. We can see everything in the five elements.

So, due to there being more students today, it becomes necessary to speak more of science. However, the science of today is not trying to understand inquiry regarding God. Scientists think it is a humiliation (to inquire into God).

Scientists are thinking that the magnet is very great. They think that the sun’s light rays are great. They think that fire rays are great. They feel and think that magnets are great. They are feeling that laser power is great. All of these are also modified forms of magnets.

One scientist said that all of these are not multiplicity. These are all powers that come out of the magnet. Newton said this. Newton was a very great man. Newton recognized its attraction power. He didn’t merely see it in the country he was in. This attraction power, wherever it is, is all over everywhere.

Therefore, every single power has Divinity, but this (attraction power) is not different or separate. This is not only the form of matter. It is not the form of living beings; it is not light rays; it is not power on its own. All of this is only through a single power! They call that single power ‘Ekatma’ (the One Atma). They call this Atma ‘Chaitanya Shakti’ (power of Divine Consciousness). They call it ‘conscience’. This conscience has come from Consciousness. It is all-pervading Consciousness. This only is the Divine power that spreads everywhere. That only is Divine Consciousness power, which is spreading everywhere.

The Divine power that spreads everywhere has been limited in a certain way. This Divine power reaches every body just like this current goes through a bulb. When this power is worn (resides) in the body, they call it ‘Atma’. This has a limit. But that which spreads everywhere they call ‘Divine power’. These are only artificial creations made by scientists, but these are not correct connotations.

When these scientists know this much (a little), they feel they know everything. They’ve only recognized a single atom (particle) out of Infinity. They are so much bloated only with this mere atom. How much more they would be overwhelmed if they recognized Infinity! So scientists are only ones who recognize science. They are ones who recognize matter. They think that science is only that which understands matter.

Our Venkataraman also recognized (did research) regarding light with C.V. Raman. However, all of these only came with a limited power. But that which is limited gradually changes. This infinite power, this infinite energy, the energy that is fundamental, will never change. How is this?

Now there is wind everywhere. We cannot see wind. We can't hold wind. But when a balloon is brought and when one blows in it, that wind takes the shape of that balloon. Yet, that balloon expands according to its thickness. When it gradually becomes thin, it breaks all at once with the sound of ‘PUTT!’

Hence, we are recognizing the Atma power in humans as limited power. This Infinite power is called ‘will power’. They call it ‘will power’ in this world. However, all transcendental powers are not called ‘transcendental energy’. They call it a sort of human power.

Then after going a little farther, they say ‘free will’. Free will has no form. Only God has this free will. No one else has this free will. This free will is restricted to God alone. All people are experiencing it only in a limited way. It will only develop to the extent of how far one is able to study and how far one is able to understand (expand) like a balloon. After some time, that will also break.

Einstein said that it is not something that changes. Magnet will never change. No one can create it. No one can change it. However, it may be changed into numerous forms. Scientists explained this Infinite power in a limited way.

Einstein was a great scientist in those days. But even a man like that only contemplated on God, without giving any chance at all for any kind of ego. Many Bharatiyas also went to see Einstein. They told others that after all their works were finished, they must see Einstein before they return.

When they went to Einstein, he took all of them and showed them a reading room. All of them went into that reading room and saw there all of the Upanishads and Bhagavad Githas. This Einstein, who was a great scientist, lived taking Bhagavad Githa and Upanishads as a basis.

All the scientists today go around with huge egos after securing a Ph.D. Truly, a scientist shouldn’t have ego at all. He is one with very small power. He is only concentrating on questioning, "What is this, what is this, what is this?"

All the great scientists are going on questioning, "What is that, what is that?" ‘That’ implies that which is far from us. ‘This’ is something that is near to us. What is it near to? That which is close to the senses is this worldly science. Spiritual science is far from our senses. Therefore, they say:

‘Purna’ means that it will end where it began.

So, we are making a big mistake regarding science. We are feeling as if scientists know everything. Truly, the scientist is a smaller fellow than a boy who studies in second form. A boy in second class is able to develop humility and faith. The scientist doesn’t have humility or faith. What can one without faith believe? Therefore, the one without faith is weaker than an animal. Let him think anything, but he’s not really a scientist. One like that has to develop prajnana (spiritual knowledge or wisdom) in the right way. Just because he knows this much, he is feeling he knows so much.

Divinity exists in all powers, in everything, whether science, spirituality, ethics, or worldly proficiency. All of these are only that which contains Divinity.

You have to think how much power there is in man. Man is able to see all numerous kinds of forms due to acid power being in him. Where does this acid come from? If we make the inquiry well, we will understand it comes from sour tamarind. Not only that. It comes out of lime juice. It comes from an apple. Therefore, this acid comes to us in this way through the foods that we eat.

These are all only the powers that are in man. We are feeling that all of these powers are great powers. If we eat pickles every day, others will think, ‘What is this? This crazy fellow is eating pickles!’ Lime pickle increases the acid in us a lot. This acid is the combination of two things coming together. Hence, we are feeling that we are bringing such a power from somewhere else.

All of these arise in the food that we eat every day. So, how much acid is there in tamarind? We should not take too much tamarind, thinking ‘But it’s here, isn’t it?’ When this is taken within limits, it gives us great power. When tamarind juice is taken too much, it will make blood clots.

So, all the Upanishads describe circumstances like this. Hence, we have to inquire into the Upanishads with a lot of respect. What are all of these Upanishads teaching? It is said:

It means the Upanishads are those which determine closeness to God. Upanishads are those which demonstrate the nearness of Divinity. ‘Upa’ means ‘near’. ‘Ni’ (means) ‘sit’. ‘Shat’ (means) ‘to remain’. ‘Upa’, ‘ni’, and ‘shat’, these are the ‘Upanishads’. ‘Ni’ means ‘below’. ‘Shat’ means ‘sit’. Sit. You sit down near.

What does it mean? Who should sit down? You should not sit on par with the teacher’s place. Hence, you are with the students (on their level), so sit down with them. ‘Upa’, sit near. Listen very peacefully to all that the teacher is saying. The teacher will speak softly. Why? Because if it is said loudly, the meaning of the sounds will change. So sit near to the teacher. Listen to his words humbly. So, upa, ni, shat.

There are so many meanings contained in every letter, every word, and every sentence. Not able to know such meanings today, when wanting to know a word, one looks in a library, and looks in a dictionary. No, no! These meanings are not that which come from the dictionary. They come from history.

So, one small example: At one time, Krishnadevaraya arranged a debate regarding this whole matter. Allasani Peddanna, Nandi Thimmanna, Ramaraja Bhushana, Tenali Ramakrishna; all of them were there as Ashta Diggajas (eight scholars of the royal court, popularly known as Ashta Diggajas, referred to as the ‘Eight Elephants’ guarding the eight points of the compass). Peddanna was asking the questions and Tikkana was giving the answers. Ramaraju Bhushana was interpreting it.

Ramakrishna was listening quietly. They called him Tenali Ramakrishna. Peddanna was asking all the questions. Who is the best among the scholars gathered? Who can know the right meaning of this (a question that he would give)? To recognize who was the best scholar, Peddanna asked this question in that assembly.

He asked it. What did he say? "These five letters: these five letters should be from five languages. Out of these five languages, whatever meaning there is in each language, that same meaning should come in the other languages also. There should be five languages. The meaning of the five languages should be the same. Whoever brings the correct answer to this question tomorrow morning at 7 AM, I will start the assembly with awarding them."

OK! It would be very far for Tenali Ramakrishna to go to his village. It would also be a lot of trouble to come back again. Thinking this, that night he stayed in that same village (near Krishnadevaraya) in his brother-in-law’s house. This brother-in-law was thinking, "Brother-in-law (meaning Ramakrishna) came to me, isn't it," so he tried to arrange a bed and mattress.

Ramakrishna said, "Brother-in-law, forgive me. I have to search for an answer for tomorrow. I will fall asleep if a Dunlop bed and Dunlop pillow are given. I have to keep thinking without sleep. So put a bed in the cowshed." So Ramakrishna’s brother-in-law had a bed put in the cowshed.

After some time, at 1 AM, a cow delivered a calf. Delivery. Then Ramakrishna knocked on the door of his brother-in-law’s house from the cowshed. He said, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, brother-in-law, brother-in-law, brother-in-law!" From inside, Ramakrishna’s brother-in-law questioned, "What, brother-in-law?" Ramakrishna said, "Brother-in-law, a cow is delivering a calf, come and see!" Ramakrishna’s brother-in-law asked, "Which cow, brother-in-law?"

Ramakrishna sat and gave each cow a name. "One is Lakshmi, one is Saraswathi and one is Parvathi." He sat giving names to each one like this. Ramakrishna’s brother-in-law asked, "Ye Aav Ra Bava?" (Which cow, brother-in-law?) He brought together these five words.

From then, Ramakrishna started repeating, "Ye Aav Ra Bava, Ye Aav Ra Bava, Ye Aav Ra Bava!" By the time his brother-in-law came and asked again, Ramakrishna was the one asking, "Which cow, brother-in-law?" The brother-in-law was also saying, "Which cow, brother-in-law?" as the answer! Thinking, ‘Brother-in-law’s (Ramakrishna’s) mind has gone bad due to having no sleep at night,’ that brother-in-law went inside.

Ramakrishna continued thinking in his mind, ‘Ye Aav Ra Bava, Ye Aav Ra Bava.’ He got up in the morning, took a bath and went to the court of Krishnadevaraya. Krishnadevaraya said, "Who has brought an answer for this question?" Ramakrishna got up from among them all. No one else had brought an answer for this.

There should be five languages. Among the five languages, one letter should represent each language. All the five letters should have the same meaning. Everyone thought, ‘For whom is this possible? This is utterly impossible!’

However, Ramakrishna was God's devotee. He was one who worshipped Devi. Therefore he said, "O King, due to worshipping that Devi, I brought the answer." What did he say? He said there are these five letters, "Ye Aav Ra Bava. Ye, Aav, Ra, Ba, Va." He said, "This is the answer." Krishnadevaraya said, "What are those five letters you brought? What is the meaning of this?"

" ‘Ye’ in Marathi (the language of Maharashtra) means ‘come’. The meaning of ‘Aav’ in Hindi (the language of Utter Pradesh) is ‘come’. ‘Ra’ in Telugu (the language of Andhra Pradesh) means to ‘come’. ‘Ba’ is ‘come’ in Kannada (the language of Karnataka). ‘Va’ means ‘come’ in Tamil (the language of Tamil Nadu). (Applause) There is only one meaning in all of these - Ye, Aav, Ra, Ba, Va. Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu: five languages have met with these five letters coming together. Have you seen (understood)?"

So many of these kinds of meanings can be seen in the world. This is not something that scientists can understand. Another will not get the meaning by inquiring. There are no investigations to do this experiment. So, all of these may only be obtained by the Grace of God.

Ramakrishna worshipped Devi all night. In this way, by the power of God, no matter what the difficulty he came ready to tell the answer. For that reason, only Tenali Ramakrishna obtained a great title and was a great humorist also.

However, they are saying ‘fun’ but it is not that. Tenali Ramakrishna was one who recognized and told the right meanings. In this way, he was one who integrated languages, words, meanings and bliss.

So what do the five elements mean? They represent the five praanas (life force or vital energy). The five praanas are in every human being: Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, Samana. (Audience laughs and claps as A.K. keeps silent and Swami says aside, "Tell it!" Then Swami repeats the above five names of the five praanas again.)

These five praanas are also in man. Man couldn’t live without these praanas. Therefore, the five elements are equal to the five praanas. These types of praanas exist from every ant up to Brahma also. Hence, they mention Pranopasana (literally ‘worship of prana’ or Pranaprathishta, ‘invoking prana’).

It means that if a temple is built, first and foremost they worship praana shakthi (the power of the life force). The other day they performed something in Tirupathi (a famous temple in South India). When anything has to be done, first and foremost, they will worship the praana shakthi.

Praana is the basis for everything. That life only is shivam (auspiciousness). Without it (praana), it is savam (a dead body). So, these five elements are equal to praana. Therefore, first and foremost, every human being has to pray to the form of the five elements.

Sound and tones are that which come from the five elements. You don’t need to go so far. You are playing the harmonium in bhajan. Yet when the harmonium is played, they will use only one tone. But when each reed is pressed, these meanings (sounds) come out differently: sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, da, ni (the Eastern musical scale). Sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, da, ni. Yet the air is the same for all. The basic power is the same. The fundamental power is only One, but all the different kinds of powers arise from it.

Therefore in those days, even Shankaracharya also undertook numerous investigations and chanted so many things in Sanskrit language to describe the nature of God. He said the first and foremost one quality is ‘Shabda Brahma Mayi’ (God is full of sound). Sound is the most important attribute. That sound is spread throughout the world.

Chara-charamayi (the moving and the non-moving. The One replete with both.): This sound spreads everywhere. Vangmayi (vocal, full of speech): That only reaches our heart and comes out again as speech. When it comes out as the form of speech, Nithyanandamayi (the ever-blissful), Parathparamayi (transcending this world and the next, the Almighty), Mayamayi (enrapturing by its delusive charm), Shrimayi (resplendent with wealth). Shankaracharya said:

Where did all of these come from? From Sabdha Brahma Mayi (God is full of sound). They have come from sound. Hence, even God is the embodiment of sound. That is the sound from the space. From that sound came Divinity.

Today we are saying, "Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara". No one has seen these forms of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara anywhere. They are only created in the pictures of Ravi Varma, but no one has seen these forms. They cannot see them.

However, in what way did they create them? It means that they created them to represent the form of these three: mother, father and teacher. Therefore, first and foremost they say, "Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara". Brahma is mother. The mother creates the children in the same way that Brahma created everything.

Next is Vishnu. He is the protector and He is the father. Why? Because the father must protect the child that is born. The father has to teach knowledge. The father only has to foster the child in all ways. Therefore, he is the one who has the power to foster, so they call him Vishnu.

Then, Eswara or Maheswara: What does ‘Maheswara’ mean? When any student approaches the teacher, the teacher brings him near and asks, "Son, what do you want? What should be studied? What education should be taught?" This (the type of education that the student wishes to learn) was described very well and he the teacher used to teach the appropriate knowledge.

Hence, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara all are mother, father and teacher. So,

So, the teacher is also the guru only! The teacher is also God only. In this way, they taught Divinity to the world through numerous ways and paths.

So we should not attempt to act just as we please, upon hearing someone’s words. That is all based on their own feelings.

It is ‘yes’ only for the three: social, cultural, and ancient values. Divinity says, "Yes, yes, yes" to these three. For everything else, it is a block. It means, no matter who describes this worldly nature, it is only untruth.

All that is seen with the eyes, heard with the ears, and experienced with the mind is wavering. Therefore, what is the use of us partaking of that, which is changing and wavering? We have to have darshan of that which does not change. We have to remember that which does not change. That only is Divinity. That will never change. Therefore, we should try to understand the meaning of such Divinity.

However, all foolish people don’t know the correct meanings to a large extent. They discover the wrong meanings, cover up truth, and change into animals. So, none of you should believe such foolish words. None of you should have faith in foolish words of untruth like this. Don’t keep the company of fools at all. The company of fools is spoiling us in all ways.

Have you seen (understood this sloka)? How good it is! Tyaja Durjana Samsargam. (Leave bad company.) If we remain in this bad company, we will also become bad. We will become even more bad (worse) than he (the bad company) will. He is anyway already bad. That bad is bad only, but you should be good.

It is not enough for us to give up bad company. We should join with good company. That only is good company. That only is ‘Sath’. What is that ‘Sath’? That is eternal. I said the other day, ‘Sath, Chith, Ananda’. What is the main cause of this bliss? Sath and Chith only are Ananda. Without Sath and Chith, there will be no bliss at all.

Sath is the sugar. Sugar is always sweet. If it is put into any item and one drinks it, it is always sweet. Cook any item with it, it will only be sweet. Make any item, it will only be sweet. Then no amount of change will come. That only is ‘Sath’.

‘Chith’ is the water, which contains (represents) Chaitanya. Therefore, this is water and this is sugar. It is no use if both sugar and water are separate. Join this sugar with the water. Only when both ‘Sath’ and ‘Chith’ are mixed will bliss be obtained when we drink it.

Hence, we have to make the eternal, true nature and the physical nature both into one. Then only will we attain Divinity.

There is no place without this Divinity. There are no individuals without Divinity. Divinity is everywhere.

This is also in the Vedas:

All is One. Let the Upanishads say, let the Vedas say, let the Koran say, let the Bible say, let the Grandha Rajam (Guru Grandha Sahib, the scripture of the Sikhs) say: the Truth in all is One. Names are different, but the Truth is One. So, whatever religion it is, it cannot help but accept the nature of the five elements. Whatever religion it is, no religion will want to get rid of one of the elements.

Tomorrow let us describe the nature of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara in detail. Why? Because all the children (students) are here, and it is not possible at all for children to recognize Oneness. They are dividing Oneness into multiplicity. That is very bad. It is not so. Multiplicity should be joined in Oneness. The true nature of Oneness comes out when multiplicity joins in Unity.

Unity is necessary for us now. Due to there not being unity, unity has completely gone from this heart. Enmity has taken its place. If enmity comes into our heart, then what is our life? That is not a heart at all. It’s like a frog in a rock. So God is in everything, observing.

Purundara Das said in Kannada (the language of Karnataka State): "Who is giving food to the frog that is born in a rock?"

Who builds a fence, pours water and fosters the tree that grows on a rock on a hill? It is all God only (who did it). Even if one brings a nice tree and plants it in nice soft ground and regularly waters it, it may not survive.

If there are two passages in a stone, a frog goes within those two tiny passages. Where does it get food? When the rock is broken, if it breaks apart, the frog comes out of that rock. Hence, only God is giving what is necessary to all living beings everywhere. There is no difference of ‘this’ or ‘that’. Therefore, there are no differences to Divinity at all. Yet ‘differences’ is the disease that has come to human beings. This is a bad disease that has come to man.

Man argues and says, "No" to whatever is said. There is only a mind to argue ‘No’, but there is no authority to say, "Yes." This is a bad disease. There is no cure for those who get this disease. There is a cure even for cancer. But there is no cure at all for this doubt. He is killing himself very quickly.

Therefore, human life is sacred. Human life is Divine. It is blissful. Why are you crying and spending such a blissful human life in this way? Whenever anyone is seen, must there always be a crying face? Won't a blissful face be seen? What karma is this? What bad fortune? What bad luck? This is not good. Whenever one is seen, one should be blissful. Have a smiling face. That only is the root cause of Divinity.

This sorrow is obtained due to not joining with Divinity. Don’t give place for anything like this. Always be joyful. That happiness is the royal path to Divinity. Let anything come, let anything go. Give it a send-off. Only give welcome to the bliss that comes. You always have to welcome bliss. Hence, it is essential that students recognize and conduct themselves according to such a path. This young age is a very important age.

You have to make good effort in spirituality at this age. Earn money afterwards. Listen to what the parents say. Experience any path, but be sure to begin a determination regarding God. Only the one who has this type of spiritual determination is lucky (blessed, fortunate).

What did Buddha lack? He was a king’s son who had everything. But didn’t he renounce everything? What lack did Rama have? All was fine. But Rama didn’t like anything (wasn’t attached to worldly comforts).

When Kausalya made so many preparations dear to Rama and put them on the plate, He used to call Lakshmana, Bharath and Satrughna, and eat with them. He didn’t have satisfaction when enjoying these things alone. However, whenever He was observed, He would be scratching His head, thinking of something else (preoccupied), or waving His hands, and He used to thus act out some drama or the other.

Vashishta was summoned and Rama’s parents said, "What is the main reason for Rama’s actions?" Vashishta sat in meditation and saw (had a Divine vision). He said, "All of these are only the nature of Divinity. He is talking with some living beings. He is making this body attachment distant. He is increasing attachment to the Atma. So, this is the proper meaning of Divinity."

When things were happening in that way, Vishvamitra came. Vishvamitra came to take Rama away. Rama was perfectly ready. He was very ready. Why? Because He was waiting for only that. Because Vishvamitra wanted to take Rama, He went along with Vishvamitra. He didn’t listen no matter how many objections His father made.

Dasaratha said, "Oh dear! He’s a young boy! He has never seen demons at all! He might get afraid if He sees them." He made pleas in this way. Rama said, "I don’t have any fear at all." Vishvamitra also said, "Dasaratha, You are feeling He is a boy. He is not a boy, He is not a boy, He is not a boy. He is Brahman, God. Send Him with me."

When they went to Sarayu River, Vishwamitra, who spoke of so many teachings said, "Rama, come near. You have never seen a demon. So demons are about to come. You may be afraid if You see them. I will give You a few manthra initiations." That is Maya! Vishvamitra had explained about the great powers of Rama to His father. But now Maya came as an obstacle.

He said he would give the initiation and he did. The names of the manthras are ‘Bala’ and ‘Atibala’. The reason that he taught these two, ‘Bala’ and ‘Atibala’, is that a determination should begin here. The vow of protecting the Yajna has to be undertaken.

However, when the vow of the Yajna is undertaken, who is there to cook food and serve them? So there are no cooks there. There was no dining room. There was no drawing room. They only created all of these.

Then Vishvamitra said, "Rama, it’s not as if You cannot do it. I have not taught these manthras because you might be afraid of seeing demons. I have taught these manthras to end Your hunger, thirst, and sleep (so Rama could guard the Yajna 24 hours a day with no ill effects). If you say ‘Bala’, hunger will be gone. ‘Atibala’ is to dispel sleep. Only when there is no hunger and sleep will it be possible for us to maintain this determination (to protect the Yajna 24 hours a day)."

Hence, Vishvamitra taught these manthras to Rama so He could live without sleep and without food. So the Divine resolve manifests in this way, based on the reasons for each person.

Jayamma (the Warden, Principal, Professor and Head of the Department of English, at Sri Sathya Sai College for Women, Anantapur Campus) said, "Swami is going to all countries, but He is not coming to the place of Anantapur which is close, only 40 miles away from Puttaparthi." I don’t have either preference of ‘I should not go there’ or ‘I must go there’. Time is important for everything. I come when the right time comes.

In the past, I used to go to Anantapur every single week. I would start off from here on Saturday, stay all day on Sunday, and I used to return on Monday morning. But many changes have happened between then and now. What is the reason? It is due to the effects of the circumstances, a bit of human influence, and the interest of the devotees.

Due to crowds like this coming, if I go there, all of them (the devotees) will also go and arrive there. If I start off in one car, 100 cars will come along. Who will give food to all of them? Never mind about Me, I can remain like that (without food). But all of them should be given and nurtured with food, isn't it? If they suffer, Swami suffers. So, I am a reflection to that reaction.

Hence, I am not going to Anantapur based on so many reasons like this. It is just not possible to stay there. There are rooms to stay in. However, that is not right. I am an ideal human being. (Applause) I have ideal power. I am an ideal man. I am ideal bliss.

There are only girls in that college. How can I go and remain alone there? A type of teaching must also be conveyed to the world. For that reason, I am not going there. When they come here, I am happily speaking to them. So, we should also recognize and conduct ourselves according to things relating to the world.

Yet, poor creatures, all of them feel very badly. They keep saying, "Swami, at least come in the morning and remain only until evening." I will come, I will come, I will come. I will never say that I will not come. That is only My nature. I will come, I will come, I will come.

Happy, happy, happy. If anyone says, "Swami, I have stomach pain!" I will say, "Very happy." Someone said, "Swami, yesterday my child died." I will say, "Very happy." They say, "My father died." I say, "Very happy." I am happy, happy, happy with everything. That is a word that always comes to Me. Happy, happy, happy. I am always happy, so all the words that come to Me are happy.

Hence, not everyone can understand My words. One lady came and was crying from below, "Swami, my husband died!" In the past, there wasn’t this verandah. The verandah was only four feet wide. I saw her from there. I said, "What is it, mother? Why are you crying?" She said, "My husband died, Swami!" I said (Swami says laughing), "Very happy!" She became angry. "Why do You have so much joy if my husband died?" I said, "I am always only happy, so I am also happy with this."

Therefore, I'm always happy. Bliss is My form. It is My nature to laugh. I am never without a smile. I am never sorrowful. (Swami sings):

This is My nature. So I will never leave My nature, no matter wherever I go. I am always blissful.

Noticing My bliss, numerous people are troubled: "Whenever Sai Baba is observed, He is always blissful! He has so many responsibilities. He built big hospitals, he built big institutes, He built all educational institutions, but He never worries even once!"

Why worry? Why worry? What must happen continues to happen. They happen according to that (God's or My) resolve. I never have any worry at all. It is never there and it will never come. Hence, I am always blissful.

A small example: If anyone feels badly, I will try so much to look like I am sad when I am near them. I think that I should at least act like I am sad. No matter what I do, it won't come! (Audience laughs) How can that sorrow be shown? When I ask, "Amma (Mother), how are you?" a smile comes to Me!

So, I can never understand all of these artificial things. All of Mine (everything I do) is natural. Natural, natural, natural. Therefore, I am always naturally blissful.

I need so much money. So many works must be done. So many crores must be spent. Yet I am not worrying about anything at all. Why should there be worry? That which has to be done will be done when it is in My plan. (Applause) It will not happen if there is worry regarding it.

All of you know that I said so much during Krishnashtami also. I said that I looked forward to uphold this (all the institutions) so much. We built a hospital. As long as I am in this body, there is no problem in maintaining this entire hospital. Who will be able to look after this afterwards? There should be a responsibility (Trust) created for it. A stable path should be shown for this. Thinking thus, I thought for this Puttaparthi hospital 300 crores (one crore is ten million rupees), for the Bangalore Hospital 300 crores, and some crores for the Institute should be put in fixed deposit.

Today in the world, if someone has to give one naya paisa (the smallest amount of money), they will cry and cry (not wanting to give) and then give a naya paisa. So many people today, Swamis and Mathajis, all are going about like beggars. They are going around to all countries. Whenever their money is less, then they buy an airplane ticket to foreign countries. Going around and about, all of them are not biggers (meaning bigger or greater than others are); they are beggars!

But I am never like that. There are so many types of people here, but I haven’t asked them for anything at all up until now. The one who asks like that is not God at all. (Applause) So, everything is happening without Me asking.

When it is like that only, just as I resolved, all 800 crores have come to maintain everything, all the types of institutions! However, where did it come from? Go and ask the bank people. Why do you ask Me? They only will give the answer for that. I won't join these tangles at all. Why? Because I have no desires at all. I have only one desire:

All should be happy in all respects. (Applause)

I don’t ever have any desires, even of ‘this’ or ‘that’. Only the one who has desires has sorrow. Only the one who has desires has worry. However, there is no desire and no worry for Me. So I am always only happy. When it is thought, ‘This should happen,’ it immediately happens! Therefore, there’s no use in worrying.