“Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti”
(Truth is one, the wise call it by many names)
- Rig Veda
Bhagavan is our sole refuge to know the import of Truth as He is Truth Incarnate. He is our mentor, preceptor, and prompter in our quest for Truth. Baba defines and demonstrates the power of Truth. Truth is His very breath. An exposition of Truth from Bhagavan – the very embodiment of Truth, ensures a right understanding of Truth. He is Sat Chit Ananda. Time and again, He has declared ‘Truth is My nature, My mission, My message. Organizations bearing my name have to be strictly adhering to Truth.’ According to Bhagavan, man’s journey is not, as generally understood, from untruth to Truth, but from a lesser truth to a higher Truth. Bhagavan Baba in His discourses presents a composite and concrete picture of Truth as the fundamental human value to be cherished by man. He reiterates the absolute nature of Truth. ‘Trikalabadhyam Satyam.’
Truth is one. It is beyond mind and speech. It transcends the categories of time and space. Innumerable seekers have pursued different paths to recognize this Truth. There are notable differences among the seekers of Truth. Yet, these differences do not affect the nature of the universe. On the contrary, these differences must be viewed as different stages in the understanding of the cosmic process. It is the existence of these differences that has prompted a continuous search for a unifying principle.
Truth is generally understood to be opposed to falsehood or untruth. Bhagavan rightly put it, ‘Before Truth wears sandals, falsehood circumambulates the world.’ Though modern society is steeped in falsehood and perjury, a good many spiritual masters such as Sri Adi Shankaracharya have affirmed that ‘Apriya Anruta Varjitam,’ ‘Yatha Abhooth Arthavachanam’ Speech or incidents narrated or facts presented acquire significance or sound credible only if Truth forms the substratum. Asatya or Untruth is the consequence of fear. Sruthi says, ‘Sathye Sarvam Pratishthitam’- all is established firmly on the foundation of Truth. But it is also true what the Gita states ‘Anudwegakaram Vakyam’- Truth in speech entails that it should not create anger or pain to the hearers. Bhagavan too, insists on following Truth even in day-to-day activities of life. He chides those who waver on the brink of Truth and deviate from honest behaviour out of fear or on account of anxiety to please.
Truth is that which is unaffected by time’s flux - by the past, present and future. Bhagavan says that everything originates from and merges with Truth. There is no place that is devoid of Truth. Truth is the omnipresent and omnipotent principle – the pivotal force that controls the entire universe. It knows neither dissolution nor fragmentation. It is the eternal unchanging absolute principle. It is the Divine spark that evolves, unfolds, and spreads. It is difficult to cognize Truth so long as one is immersed in a life hedged by desires and belief systems. ‘One must live for Truth, not search for it,’ says Baba. He affirms that Truth is the life-force of an utterance, just as a promissory note should bear one’s signature.
‘Satyam Naasti Paro Dharmaha.’ There is no greater Dharma than Satyam. Unpleasant Truth and pleasant Untruth are to be avoided, says Baba. Satya Harischandra regained his lost family, wealth, and kingdom only by strictly adhering to Truth. Unity of thought, word, and deed constitute Truth. An individual who possesses such Trikarana Shuddhi is a real Satyavrata, a recipient of God’s Grace. Bhagavan says, everyday life too has Truth in certain measure, but spiritual life reveals Truth – the absolute, better than science, which merely states facts and relies on proof. Types of proof such as Pratyaksha Pramana (proof of direct perception) and Anumana Pramana (proof of inference) are the methods generally adopted by scientists to determine facts about the external universe. It is a known fact that science is systematised knowledge of intellectual enquiry.
Bhagavan explains, ‘if the letters ‘ne’ are prefixed to the word ‘science’, it becomes ‘Nescience’: i.e., not knowledge – Ajnana. Science is Vijnana. Adding ‘con’ to Science, it becomes Conscience, i.e., Jnanachaitanya. Thus, Science lies in between Conscience and Nescience. Having become a conscientious person by developing the spirit of love, one can reach the state of Prajnana, which is the fourth transcendental state of godhead: Goloka Dhamam, i.e., God, the abode of peace, Prashanti.
Prajnanam Brahma. Scientists employ all kinds of Yantras (machines) and still declare that they have not found God anywhere, but saints seeking God through their inner vision, see him everywhere. Science and technology have produced good as well as bad results for society, posing greater challenges to human civilization. Science has indeed become the magnum opus of the 20th century providing unparalleled means of saving as well as destroying life. Though science has offered new insights into the nature of the universe, it has certainly destroyed the mainstays of traditional, social, and cultural aspects, like customs, religion, morality etc.
The limitations of science have been understood by scientists, such as Einstein who observes, ‘without science religion becomes lame, without religion science is blind.’ Scientific investigations into Truth lead us up to the threshold of the spiritual world. But, a total awareness requires spiritual knowledge. All the worldly knowledge and physical powers are of no avail, says Bhagavan, if there is no spiritual strength. This is amply demonstrated by Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu in the Bhagavata, Karna and Kauravas in the Mahabharata, and Ravana in the Ramayana. As Bhagavan affirms, Truth is understood better with the tools of Truth. It must be lived and experienced to be understood. Mere verbal description or definition is inadequate. Baba rightly points out that the modern man has lost sight of the fact that everything is permeated by Truth. Bhagavan asks a pertinent question, ‘How can man realize Truth?’ ‘Only by experiencing non-dualism’, He affirms.
Baba teaches us how it may be practised and experienced: Satyam Bhruyat, Priyam Bhruyat, Nabhruyat Satyamapriyam. According to Bhagavan, even if it is truth, one should not speak it, be too frank, or outspoken if it is too unpalatable. Harshness in speech is to be always eschewed; soft and sweet tongue is preferable. The real Truth emanates from the heart.
Bhagavan always addresses all as embodiments of Love. During 1973 summer course in Indian Culture and Spirituality, Baba explained that SAI the universal mother, the cosmic Divine principle is the eternal Truth, the universal Love. One can understand and experience this all-pervasive love of our beloved Bhagavan by a total surrender and faith. Bhagavan makes us understand this every moment of our life. As Baba says, when the road ends and the goal is reached, the pilgrim finds that he has travelled only from himself to himself, that the way was long and lonesome, and that God who led him unto it was all the while in him, around him, with him and beside him.
This truth was literally demonstrated to me along with my brother and sister recently during our pilgrimage to Gangotri and Yamunotri. As we were heading towards Nainital, after successfully completing our tour, we were taken unawares, as our car came to a sudden stop, caught in a traffic jam, in a precarious position, on a narrow road, flanked by very deep valley and sky high hills caught in a landslide, caused by inextinguishable forest fires. We intensified our prayers to our living God, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. There was an immediate response and redressal from our Loving Lord. A military officer came and signaled to us to follow his vehicle which he zoomed off at an incredible speed. We followed him blindly, reaching a safer destination, only to find, on looking back, the other vehicles stranded and the situation too grim. Our Lord’s ways are indeed mysterious and it will do us good only to get immersed in His infinite and inscrutable unfoldment of Truth Divine. It is verily the manifestation of Truth, or Sakshatkara of one’s personal God.
Divinity is changeless, eternal and true. Truth is God. The ‘I’ principle is, as Baba says, the Divine Truth. It is everything - the Self, Vital Breath, and the Overself. He illustrates this concept drawing our attention to numeral 1 that remains changeless, though the other numbers have to undergo changes and variations. Baba exhorts us to protect Indian Culture, Tradition, Truth and right living, as the true culture of Bharat is enshrined in the Vedic injunctions, ‘Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara.’ Bhagavan proclaims, ‘Aham Satyabodhakaha’ – ‘I am the preacher of Satya; I am Satya; My actions are Satya; My glory is Satya.’ During the World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations at Bombay in 1968, Bhagavan asserted, ‘This phenomenon (Supra-worldly Divinity in human form) will sustain Truth, it will uproot Untruth. That victory will make all of you exult in ecstasy. This is the Sai Sankalpa.’ On yet another occasion, Bhagavan affirms, ‘adhere to Truth, fulfil all the promises you make, then I will be with you.’ This assurance from our Lord is a time tested verity to all those who adhere to Truth, pursue the path of Truth, live under the canopy of Sai's Divine Love and protection. The Divine manifestations of Bhagavan are no mere myths and legends of yesteryears or distant aeons, but truly speaking, the inviolable and infallible concretizations of the Higher Truth - God is now here on earth. Our life is a ‘new chance, a fresh opportunity for realizing this Truth.’ Let us understand the present Avatar’s exhortations and explications of Truth that it elevates and inspires the individual and the society, and it holds forth ideals. It is the light that illumines Man’s path to God. Satyameva Jayate - Truth alone triumphs. The supreme folly is to forget this fact. Bhagavan cites the example of emperor Bali who asked his preceptor, sage Shukracharya, ‘can there be greater sin than going back on one’s plighted word?’ ‘Satyanna Pramaditavyam, Dharmanna Pramaditavyam’ - do not disregard Truth or Dharma, says the Upanishad. Overcome all the difficulties adhering to Truth, is the teaching of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Bhagavan mentions about Sri Rama’s adherence to Truth, when Rama told sage Jabali, ‘for rulers in the Ikshwaku dynasty, the greatest calamity is going back on the plighted word.’
Truth is God. Truth is the source of wealth and prosperity.
It is, again, Truth that sustains virtue in the world.
(Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.27)
Harmonization of science and spirituality is the message of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in this present hour. God is one! That One is Truth! That Truth is Love! Through Love light comes! Our loving Lord of Parthi is verily the cosmic light, Prakanti, Prashanti! The cosmic Truth - the spirit of magnetism of Divine Consciousness!
- Dr. S. Kanakadurga
Former Head, Dept. of English
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Anantapur Campus
Source: Sai Sparshan (80th Birthday Offering)
No comments:
Post a Comment