Purpose of Life and Ways of Sadhana ... from teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba

‘Purpose of Life and Ways of Sadhana’ based on teachings of:

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Compiled by: Dr. M. Thirumaleshwar

July 19, 2016

Holy Guru Poornima day

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Overview …

• Sri Sathya Sai Baba says: • Basically, you are GOD only; to know this truth is the goal of life • Butter is there everywhere in milk, but to get it, you have to curdle it, churn it • Similarly, to realize God who is everywhere, there is necessity of ‘Sadhana’ (i.e. spiritual efforts) • Jnana (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion) and Karma (Action) are the three paths of Sadhana

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What is the purpose of Life?

Our Life…

• Life is momentary….

• Life is mechanical….

• Life is a repetition of events….

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Sri Shankaracharya has said: • Day and night, morning and evening, the seasons… come again and again…

• Time is ‘playing’.. Life is shortened..

• Still, the desires are not reduced!

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For example...see the cycle: Seed-sprout-sapling-tree-fruits-seed

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Similarly‌. Human life too..

Infant...

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Similarly‌. Human life too.. child...play

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Similarly‌. Human life too.. student...play, study..

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Similarly…. Human life too..

Youth…work… money

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Similarly…. Human life too..

Youth…love… marriage

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Similarly…. Human life too.. family…work…exert… middle age

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Similarly…. Human life too.. exert…retire…old age…

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Similarly…. Human life too.. …old age …sickness…

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Similarly…. Human life too.. …sickness…and… death..

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Sri Shankaracharya has said:

• • • •

Just like the water drop of lotus leaf..

This life is unstable, indeed.

Know that entire world is destroyed by..

Ego, sickness and sorrow.

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Sri Shankaracharya has said: • • • •

Child … interested in play Youth …in sensual enjoyment Old man… in worry, anxiety But.. No one is interested in ‘Brahman’…

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Sri Shankaracharya has said: • • • • •

Who is your wife…and, your son…

Indeed, this ‘samsara’ is perplexing Who are you ..and.. from where did you come ..

Think of these essentials, brother!

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Swami has said..

Greatness of human birth.. • Of the 84,00,000 types of life-forms, human life is the greatest • Having got this human birth, due to the merit of many lives, if one does not redeem one-self .. he is really unfortunate

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Swami has said..

Greatness of human birth..

• For all other life – forms, ego is the support; but, for humans, mind, intellect (buddhi), mind-stuff (chitta) and ego are the ‘instruments’.

• Only Man has the possibility of transforming himself in to God, whereas other animals do not have this capacity.

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Swami has said..

Goal of human birth..

• To ‘know one self’ is the purpose of human birth • ‘Realization of Brahman’ is the goal of human birth

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Swami has said..

Goal of human birth.. • You have come from God and will be returning to God • Basically, you are GOD only; to know this truth is the goal of life

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Swami has said..

Goal of human birth..

• Every one should find answers to following four questions: • who am I ?

• from where did I come ?

• where am I going to ?, and • how long I will be here ?

• “Sadhana” (i.e. spiritual effort) is the way to get the answers to these questions.

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Ways of ‘Sadhana’ (i.e. spiritual efforts)..

• Bird’s eyeview..

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Sadhana…

Bird’s eyeview..

• • • • •

Purpose of Life ?

Purpose of Sadhana?

Necessity of Sadhana Who is fit for Sadhana?

When should one start Sadhana?

• Different ways of Sadhana…

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Purpose of Life…

Swami has said: • You have not come here to eat, sleep and spend time in ‘samsara’ (family life) • Leading a disciplined life, exhibit your ‘divinity’ • Knowing oneself is the purpose of this life • To find answers to the four essential questions, viz. who am I, whence am I, where am I going to, and how long I will be here… is the purpose of Sadhana

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Purpose of Sadhana…

Swami has said: • Sadhana is not for attaining God, but to attain destruction of ego • Sun’s rays fall on hills, rivers, trees etc, but only a clean mirror reflects these rays • Similarly, God who is everywhere is reflected only in a clean heart • And, purpose of Sadhana is to attain the cleanliness of heart July 19, 2016

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Necessity of Sadhana…

• Butter is there everywhere in milk, but to get it, you have to curdle it, churn it • Similarly, to realize God who is everywhere, there is necessity of Sadhana

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Necessity of Sadhana…

• ‘Knowledge is enveloped in ignorance’… Githa …

• One has to drink water by moving aside the moss covering the surface of water … and, this is Sadhana • Even though there is light everywhere, light will enter the room only when you open the door… this is Sadhana July 19, 2016

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Who is fit to do Sadhana?

Swami has said: • Who is qualified to drink medicine? … every one who is sick is qualified • Similarly, every one who is suffering from the disease of ‘birth and death’ is qualified to do Sadhana

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Attitude of doing Sadhana?

• First teaching of Sai was: ‘To cross the difficult ocean of Samsara… worship mentally the holy feet of Sadguru..’

• And Sri Shankaracharya also has prayed: ‘In this ocean of Samsara, which is difficult to cross, oh God, mercifully help me to cross it and save me’ July 19, 2016

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When to start Sadhana?

Swami has said: • Entire life of man should be a Sadhana • Any day is a ‘good day’ to start Sadhana • Start Sadhana when you are young; not when you get old • Start early, Drive slowly, Reach safely!

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When to start Sadhana?

Swami has said: • We learn walking, talking, riding etc by practising • Similarly, to be able to think of God at our last moment, we have to practise beforehand… from now on..

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Swami says...

• Three methods of Sadhana: • Eagle–like • Monkey-like • Ant-like

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Swami says...

• Three methods: • 1. Eagle-like: • Eagle attacks its victim suddenly with great desire… and misses it…

• And, fails to get it

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Swami says...

• Three methods: • 2. Monkey-like: • Jumps from one tree to another, tastes the fruit and throws it away

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Swami says...

• Three methods: • 3. Ant-like: • Slowly, steadily, moves towards its goal

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Four stages of Sadhana…

Swami says: • 1. Salokya ..

• you are in His kingdom, surrendering to Him completely

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Four stages of Sadhana…

Swami says: • 2. Sameepya …

• You are in God’s palace, as His servant • Now, you are near Him

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Four stages of Sadhana…

Swami says: • 3. Saroopya …

• Now you are His relative… and are eligible to dress like Him

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Four stages of Sadhana…

Swami says: • 4. Sayujya…

• Now you are His son… and are eligible to sit on the throne and be like Him

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Three ways of Sadhana..

Swami says: • Jnana (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion) and Karma (Action) are the three paths • There should be a harmonious mix of these three paths • For ex: a piece of Barfi ( sweet) has: shape, weight and taste; if barfi is held in your hand, you have got all the three attributes of barfi • Similarly, Karma is the shape, Jnana is the weight and Bhakti is the taste…. let them all be together in a harmonius blend.

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Three ways of Sadhana..

Swami says: • • • • • • • •

Three D’s: Discrimination Devotion Duty Three H’s: Head Heart Hands

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• Jnana • Bhakti • Karma • Jnana • Bhakti • Karma

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Overview..

• Overview of Jnana, Bhakti and Karma follows…..

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Jnana yoga..

It is said that..

• Adwaitha darshanam Jnanam..

• Eashavasyamidam sarvam …

• Vishwam Vishnumayam…

• Sarvam khalvidam Brahma …

• Antharbahischa tat sarvam vyapya Narayana sthithaha..

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Jnana yoga..

It is said that..

• • • • •

Seeing Unity is Jnana..

‘All this’ is pervaded by Eashwara (i.e. God) Whole universe is pervaded by Vishnu (i.e. God) All this is verily Brahman In this world, whatever is seen or heard…

Narayana pervades all this from inside as well as outside

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Jnana yoga..

• In front and back, left and right, up and down, inside and outside …all He and He only • In all movable and immovable beings, in various names and forms…what shines as the light of self is God’s light only • When one sees equality in all beings … such a one is a Jnani

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Jnana yoga..

Swami says: • Darkness does not disappear if you throw a stone at it.. It goes away only when you light a lamp • Similarly, darkness of Ignorance leaves the heart when the lamp of Knowledge is lit • ‘Pancha kosas’ or, five shields cover the Atma and prevent the light from spreading out… these five shields should be purified July 19, 2016

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Five shields … and their purification…

• ‘Physical’ shield .. body.. purified by pure food • ‘Prana’ (breath) shield … purified by calm, regular breathing • ‘Mind’ shield… purified by holy thoughts • ‘Knowledge’ shield … purified by meditation on Truth • ‘Shield of Bliss’ … purified by bliss of God realization July 19, 2016

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Jnana yoga..

Swami says: • • • • • • • • •

Seeing Oneness everywhere is Jnana Rain drops are many, but water is ONE Rivers are many, but ocean is ONE Nations are many, but earth is ONE Jewels are many, but gold is ONE Flowers are many, but worship is ONE Cows are many, but milk is ONE Religions are many, but God is ONE Life forms are many, but Life is ONE

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Jnana yoga..

Swami says: • An orange has a name and form; when it is squeezed to get the juice, its name and form disappear…i.e. the fruit disappears, but its taste only remains.

• Sweetness, perfume and essence have only to be experienced, and, can not be explained

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Bhakti yoga..

Swami says: • Sign of Bhakti: Supreme love on God • Wetness of ground is the sign of rain, and peace of mind is the sign of Bhakti • Real devotee is peaceful and filled with bliss in all circumstances .. honordishonor, profit-loss, love-hate July 19, 2016 Holy Guru Poornima day ..

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Bhakti yoga..

Swami says: • Two types of Bhakti.. ‘Saguna’ (with form) and ‘Nirguna’ (without form) • These two are like left and right foot; both are not on ground at the same time when you walk • Lakshmana is example of ‘Saguna devotee’; Bharata’s devotion was of Nirguna type • Still, Bharata asked for Rama’s ‘paduka’ (i.e. sandals); i.e. Nirguna also desires Saguna!

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Bhakti yoga..

Swami says: • When sun is straight over the head, no shadow is seen; • And, when faith is firm in the mind, shadow of doubt will not exist!

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Bhakti yoga..

Swami says: • Nine types of devotion: Type

Example

Shravanam (listening)

King Parikshith

Keerthanam (singing)

Sage Narada

Smaranam (remembering)

Prahlada

Vandanam (saluting)

Akrura

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Bhakti yoga..

Swami says: • Nine types of devotion … contd..

Type

Example

Padasevanam (worhip Lord’s feet)

Goddess Kakshmi

Archanam (worship)

King Puru

Daasyam (service)

Hanuman

Sakhyam (friendship)

Arjuna

Atma-nivedanam (surrender)

King Bali

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Jnana and Bhakti..

• Ice floating on water melts silently in to water; similarly, by constant contact with God, the ego is destroyed silently …. this is the road of Bhakti • By contact with fire, camphor is completely burnt out; similarly, by the fire of Jnana the ego is completely destroyed … this is the road of Jnana July 19, 2016

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Jnana and Bhakti..

• Nature .. is like a net • There two ways to escape..

• 1. Become small… very small.. so that you can pass through the tiny openings in the net ..

This is the road of Bhakti • 2. Become very large.. then, you can break through the net..

This is the road of Jnana July 19, 2016

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Karma yoga..

Swami says: • Whether he is aware of it or not, one is always busy doing some work or other..

• When these works are done with an attitude of surrender, it becomes ‘Nishkama karma’ (i.e. desire-less action)

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Karma yoga..

Swami says: • The time, space, cause, instrument, intelligence, skill, opportunity, luck… all these required to perform the work are given by Him only… then, why do you think that you are the ‘doer’?

• Work like a clock… it shows correct time to all … it has no ‘love’ or ‘hate’ towards anyone!

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Karma yoga..

Swami says: • • • •

Birth is by Karma, Living is by Karma, Death is by Karma.

Karma is the cause for joy and sorrow, • Really, for man Karma is God. July 19, 2016

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Purpose of Life and Ways of Sadhana Lovingly offered at the Lotus Feet of

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by M. Thirumaleshwar July 19, 2016

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