A Lesson on Monetary Matters

Tuesday, June 18, 1996

On the same evening Bhagavan addressed the staff and students of the Prashanti Nilayam Campus who offered Bhagavan a new beautifully designed rosewood chair with embellishments in silver. Bhagavan said, “I felt that they had carved the chair out of their pure feelings and deep devotion. I therefore, accepted the chair. This morning I told the Warden (Dr. Siva Sankara Sai) that I had stocks of rice here, and said that the three hostels may take 200 bags of Basmati rice each. The Warden said that the boys were quite willing to pay and requested Me to accept payment for the rice. ‘Is this all you have learnt about Me after all these years?  When I ask you to take the rice out of My large-heartedness, you are so small-minded as to offer money’, I said.  You must be prepared to carry out implicitly, Swami’s commands. Then alone will you experience real bliss. I am always ready to shower My grace on you. But you must be prepared always for the call from Swami, which may come at any time. Be always ready”.

He also gave a Discourse in the Sai Kulwant Hall on this day. He emphasised on the essential unity between the different philosophies in India. He said:

“Today there are three schools of philosophy prevalent in Bharat. Dvaita, Visishta-Advaita and Advaita (Dualism, qualifies Non-dualism and Non-dualism). In the Dvaita philosophy, there is dualism, separation between Jeeva, the individual self and Supreme Omni Self. There is no great difference between Visishta-Advaita and Advaita. Whatever the creed, whatever the country or nationality, Truth is one. "Ekam eva Adviteeyam Brahma" (The Omni Self is one only, without a second).

Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 AD), the proponent of the Advaita system of philosophy

The variations between the three systems of philosophy can be explained by an example. You have sugarcane, with a number of knots. Whatever the shape of the sugarcane, the juice in all of them is the same. Advaita (non-dualism) may be compared to the juice which is one and the same irrespective of the cane from which it is extracted. The juice drawn from any cane has the same sweetness. There is no other taste.

Ramanuja (founder of the Visishta Advaita system) conducted his own enquiries and came to the conclusion that the sugar cane juice cannot be preserved indefinitely and therefore it should be converted to sugar. The sugar can then be used, any day at any time. This is qualified non-dualism.

Sri Ramanujacharya (1017-1137 AD), Exponent of the Visishta Advaita system of philosophy

Madhvacharya was the exponent of Dualism. Madhvacharya viewed the problem in this way. He declared: "Oh Lord! I do not want either sugarcane juice or sugar. I wish to be born as an ant that relishes the juice or the sugar. The sugar does not know its own sweetness. Only the one who consumes sugar can know its sweetness. O Lord! You are the very embodiment of love. I do not wish to be mere love. I want to be one who enjoys love. You should remain as God and I should remain as Jeevi (individual soul). It is only when the individual is separate from God that he can enjoy the Divine." This is the essence of dualism----the distinction between God and the individual self. When the individual self starts enjoying sugar (the Divine), in due course he becomes the Divine itself. "The knower of the Divine becomes the Divine."

Sri Madhvacharya (1238-1317 AD), exponent of the Dwaita system of philosophy

Magnifying the differences between the three systems of philosophy, Bharateyas are wasting their time. All the three are essentially one. Advaita is like the sugarcane juice. Visishta-Advaita is sugar. The consumer of sugar is a Dvaitin (dualist).

The truth is that sweetness is common to all, though the names and forms may vary. Similarly, in the world the different nations and countries have diverse forms and names. But the Divine in all of them is one and the same. The Indwelling Spirit is the same in all beings. The Divine energy is common to all, like the current which activates all bulbs, fans etc. God is present equally in everyone. The differences among human beings are the result of the differences in their capacities. When one is immersed in thoughts of God, his capacity will grow. Develop greater love in your heart. As your love grows, the Spirit in you will shine brighter.”

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1986 – 2005)