Secure wealth through Dharma - Sai Baba tells Businessmen

When one emerges from the womb of the mother one does not bring money and wealth with himself or herself. Likewise, when one leaves this world his or her money or wealth does not accompany him or her. Even a lakhpati, one who has amassed lakhs and crores can possibly eat salt and ordinary food as it goes. He cannot possibly aspire to eat gold, whatever be its grade of purity. By earning wealth you would become arrogant and egoistic, but this wealth thus accumulated does not come with you, would not come to your succour and assistance. You try to and make secure wealth and possession, tight and in a fond way, in trunks deeply hidden from the world. You would not indulge in charity, in philanthropy, or in dharmic activities. The wealth, thus accumulated would finally go to the thieves or to the robbers or the officials would come and take it away from you. Just as the honey bees strive for and make an attempt to secure honey in the beehive, little knowing who would come, and who would cheat and who would deprive them of the honey thus: "Oh, pious and good natured members of this vast assembly, the embodiments of the Divine Atma, listen to this. 
Man in every way and in every direction is attracted by the world. At the same time, the world would not let the man go beyond his own limitations of mind, body and intellect.
Man becomes a slave to his senses. He is but an accompaniment of the five elements. Little does he know what the future is going to hold for him. 

Life is a water bubble 

An onion kept in the rat-trap attracts the rat, little does the rat knows what the trap is going to hold for it. Man for the sake of his comforts, luxuries, money, wealth and for all that he wishes to possess by way of authority and position strives to spend every second of his time and energy. But alas! Man who derives all that he is, either in terms of comforts or joys, luxuries, money, wealth, name, fame etc. he derives it from the society. He does not show his gratitude to the very same society. 

For a human being's life, character and a code of morality are essential. His very life breath is spirituality. One is satisfying one's own life is in seeking a sense of fulfilment, consists in trying to acquire these virtues. But, then man does not have much trust in this spiritual aspect of his existence. He may have faith in the name and form of God in his existence or no existence, but, this is for sure that man's every move and every step is therefore all to see, observe and experience. Without this aspect of divinity man cannot experience any sense of fulfilment. But in all the diversity of his actions man must try to seek an unifying point. Only then can he be happy and joyful. But because man is endowed with this entity, called mind, he is blindfolded to his own evil sense, because his pride shields his heart. He verily forgets the very same God who has given him birth and who has sustained him. Such a person will never aspire to listen to anything by way of preaching. For him, the material aspects of his existence are his Gods. Such an individual gets intoxicated through the medium of his desire and no amount of good will come to his head. He would not be part of the good society or company. He does not realise that life is but a water bubble. He is not able to bring upon himself to believe that at any second, moment or place his life may go away. Nor is he able to recognise the truth that his joys and sorrows, his difficulties and all his trivial experiences are like the passing clouds. 

So man all the while is striving for money and authority, forgets his own. divine nature and in the process gets more and more ignorant and innocent. 

In tune with this prevalent feeling, Shri Sankaracharya had aptly described the state of affairs as follows: 

मा कुरु धनजनयौवनगर्व 

gefa fadormıs: aȧg | 

मायामयमिदमखिलं हित्वा 

ब्रह्मपदं त्वं प्रविश विदित्वा ॥ 

"Your money, wealth, arrogance of your youth and all the comforts and joy you are experiencing, are but momentary and ephemeral. They are not permanent or lasting. You are deluding yourself into believing that these are your lasting source of happiness. "Oh, foolish mind, sing of Govinda, and keep your thoughts centered on Govinda instead." 

मढ जहीहि धनागमत्रष्णा । 

Now the word 'Trishna' has two meanings - One is thirst and the other is desire. Every person certainly has to have an element of hope or desire. 

Now, there is certainly a necessity for hope and thirst for a man but then there is some distinction between these two. It is natural for any individual not to be satisfied with what he has and keep hoping and aspiring for more and more. This is his desire which is quite natural. But it is necessary at the same time that in this desire of his, he does not harm others or injure others nor bring any harm to anybody around him. But then this trishna is not like that. This trishna has no bounds, nor any limitations and hence it would lead man astray. 

Dharma & Nyaya 

Now dharma has laid down a certain code for every individual. Just as you have these seven convergent colours making up a ray of sunlight, so also in this idea of truth are laid down a certain set of things for the welfare and wellbeing of the society. Amongst these nyaya or justice is of paramount importance. The idea of nyaya exists in a person leading a life on principles centered on morals and ethics and a certain code of conduct so that he could be of some use to the society around himself. The nyaya once again makes no distinction between mine and thine. It transcends these limitations. Now, a person might come to harm. His kith and kin might come to harm, others may come to harm. But he should never let go of this nyaya. This nyaya is like the compass' needle. Wherever you place it, it points towards the northern direction. In the same manner, this nyaya points always towards the direction wherein you shall seek a fulfilment of human nature in seeking God and in realising God. 

Now, we tend to believe that one devoid of wealth and money is a hopeless case. We also feel that those who do not have people to look after them are the helpless ones. Certainly, we can't say that these people are destitutes because God is always having his sights on such an individual. 

One who has no nyaya is the one who is helpless. God would not look at him. The primary task of every human being is to uphold the validity of this principle of nyaya or justice and to lead a life in accordance with it. So this nyaya or justice should be the guiding principle. It should be the beacon light and proper destination for all individuals.

Now a person certainly might accumulate wealth, money, or position of authority but he should not forget that he is a member of the society. 

What he, thus derives from the society, he should use it for the sake of the society. He is bound by a dharma in this aspect. When he starts digging a pitch, alongside the pitch you also have a mound of mud and clay mounting up. In the same manner even as a person is accumulating wealth in one direction, there is a diminishing of the same in another direction. 

Happiness through despair

So by way of filling up this vacuum that is thus being created the wealthy person should come forward to share what he has with others. Man's life is between hope and despair. The one who is full of hopes, is an optimist and he looks up at the stars. One who is given to despair, is a pessimist and he bows down his head and keeps looking to the earth. 

The optimist looks at the rose flower, whereas the pessimist looks at the thorns beneath it. The optimist always looks for an opening, something hopeful in everything whereas a pessimist always looks at the difficult aspect of it in every opportunity which opens up. The optimist, likewise, goes about designing the aeroplane. Likewise, the pessimist goes about perfecting the techniques of the parachute. So here you have the hope and despair aspects of one's existence. So also are necessary the joy and the sorrow. Without sorrow, man would not give value to his sense of happiness. It has been said, therefore that pleasure is an interval between two pains. 

Now, here is a lime fruit. Inside this lime fruit, there is sweet juice. Covered as it is, there is a skin which is bitter. This bitter skin while shielding and covering the sweet juice, its bitter skin is safeguarding the sweet juice within. So here, bitter is shielding and guarding the sweet. In the same manner, all our difficulties, tribulations and troubles, are all shielding our comforts, happiness and joy. 

Man forever aspires to experience in a continuous fashion only joy and comfort. This is contradictory and it cannot be. You cannot get comfort through comfort and joy through joy. Without the idea of darkness you won't give value to light in the first place. If there is no hunger, man would not aspire for food. 

Without the idea of death even a mother would not love her child. So all these are stepping stones to lead you all on to the divine nature. If you are to sit continuously for 24 hours in an airconditioned room you would not know the worth of air conditioning. If only you were to go around just for two hours in the scorching sun, you will know the value of the air conditioning. So without the aspect of difficulties and sorrows, you would not know the joy. 

Man's life is basically this vast expansive ocean of joy, comfort, sorrow and distress and all things going together in a proper way. And that the experience is like a wave dancing across the ocean surface. This is like a pendulum which keeps swinging between tears of joy on the one hand. and tears of sorrow on the other. If this pendulum is not to swing to and fro, then you cannot know what life is all about. But man should not give room to greed or excessive desires anyway. Man feels always that he should earn more and more and enjoy more and more. But without his knowledge, he is subjected to increasing amount of distress and sorrow. It is said that excessiveness i.e. greed is the cause for this. Our desires for all that we wish to experience should always have a limitation. So in every little detail of one's life, he should be bound with certain limits. But we are transgressing these limits. That is why we find that there is a lot of chaos and agitation in this world. 

Take for instance, the body which has the human temperature. When the temperature records 98°F we say, it is normal. If the temperature shoots up to 99°F, it is fever. As it has transcended its limits, it is now a disease for you. So also the idea of blood pressure for the body. This blood pressure should record 120/80. If these two limits become 140/90 it is a disease again. So also the heart beat, as well as the pulse rate, which has got its own limits. If it exceeds these limits, it is a case of heart disease. So also the eyes, which can see only a certain degree of illumination. 

Same is the case with ears which can only possibly listen to a certain count within a certain decibel level. Here you find man's life is in every way bound by certain limits. 

True Charity 

Our life itself is like a limited company. This company should be safeguarded, and protected in an extremely careful way and we should know how we should go about doing it. So, in this way if we keep a limit to our desire, we can secure happiness. Even our charity and philanthropic activities should be bound by certain limitations. Even the charity that you wish to indulge in, you should know that deservedness aspect. If the person who is receiving is deserving, even if you give him a small amount, it is worth giving. Whereas if you give to an evil minded one, he will only cause you harm. How is this possible? Take the cow, as an example. Even if you are to feed the cow with hay or dried grass, it will still give you milk. 

Whereas the snake, if fed with pure milk, it will only give you poison. So, in this way, either in the charity aspect or sacrifice which we wish to make, we are bound by certain limits. But it should also be emphasised that if you wish to understand divinity and get into it, you should indulge in charity. Charity does not consist in parting with money only. Service through the medium of the body is also charity. Thoughts emanating from the mind is also charity. The discriminating capacity of your intellect is also charity. It is a primary task of every individual that through the mind, body, spirit and intellect, he strives for the betterment of the society This is charity. Through charity you get unity. When you develop unity, you become pure and thereby you get purity. From purity it is only a step to divinity.

So here, charity is like a foundation. In this, unity is like the wall. Purity is like the ceiling on the top. Divinity is your life. Here in this exercise of charity, unity and purity, self-confidence is necessary. First, you should have self-confidence. Through that you will get self-satisfaction. When you have self-satisfaction, you indulge in self sacrifice. 

Once you do self sacrifice, you have self realisation. What is this self? Is it merely saying I, I, I...? 'No' Selflessness is the real self. Now you equate self with my, my and I, I. 

What is this my? What is this I? 

You keep saying my body, my life, my intellect, my mind, my heart, my senses, but who am I? 

If you are to know who you are, there is some meaning in saying these are mine. Now, you say this is my kerchief. (Pointing towards a handkerchief). So here this kerchief is separate and my is separate. This is my tumbler. Here tumbler is separate and I am separate. In the same manner you are saying my body. So body is separate and you are separate. So who are you, then? Body is like a water bubble. It is like a negative. Mind is a mad monkey. We should not follow this mad monkey either, nor we should follow the water bubble. Rather you should follow your own atma, only then can you live in this mansion of ananda. 

In this human life of yours, there are many things which you must ask in every little detail. You should weigh the pros and cons of the situation, to and fro. Only then you must take the step. Now we are certainly indulging in charity. To whom and for whom? You are giving money to one who already possess it. What is the use of pouring water into the ocean? What is the use of feeding a man who has already been fed? 

There is no gain by giving money to one who already have it. Give food to the one who is already hungry. Give someone who doesn't have a thing. There is some result in it. 

न कर्मण न प्रजय घनेन त्यागेनैके अम्रतत्वा मानसू । 

The Vedas have stated, "Oh, you are born to indulge in sacrifice. This body is to be indulged in sacrifice. Through the medium of sacrifice, you can secure yoga. To illustrate this point a small example: 

Morality comes and grows 

We are inhaling air. This is something experienced by every individual, every second. What we inhale in one direction, should be exhaled in another direction. Otherwise, the lungs get spoiled. We also eat food. What we are thus eating in one direction should be discarded in another direction. Otherwise, the stomach will go bad. So by discarding this, you know how you have secured comfort and joy. But man is not indulging in sacrifice, nor is he making an attempt to secure his divinity. Certainly, he should aspire for this. But we must keep desiring for things within a certain limitations, tune with certain rights. Now let us say a person is working in a bank. From morning till evening the job of this man is to count Hundred Rupee notes and make them into bundles of lakhs. Certainly, he is going through the process of counting into lakhs but he cannot hope for them; he does not aspire for them. But he certainly hopes for the Rs. 600 which are his income by way of pay. In the same manner, man could certainly aspire for any number of things, but there is no point in it, because he has no right over it. Either for money, authority, position there are certain limits. By seeking excessively, his mind goes astray. 

Now, if you have your youth and wealth, you do not know their true value and worth. After he loses them, he realises what they were all about. 

In the same manner a wealthy person never looks to his faults. He will not look at them and would not realise them... Once he loses his wealth, he starts making efforts to know what his faults and shortcomings have been. So man should look ahead and make efforts now itself to live in peace and comfort. Certainly, money is necessary for you to live in this world. Without money nothing can be done. But this money comes and goes. You should not go for this money alone. Further your morals, and your ethics. That's why it is being said "money comes and goes, morality comes and grows". So we should strive to get this morals, these principles. 

What is this morality? Morality, to put in a nutshell, is in tune with the needs of the country, the place, one's religion and one's society to behave accordingly. This also could be called divyaichha which also could be called a code of conduct or righteous living. 

Mind - Key for Liberation 

First and foremost, one should further one's own nature. What is this nature? Do you mean an individual is just legs and limbs put together? This individual you are describing thus is only in form and not a true individual. Only when he can come to realise with this portent thing which is lying latent deep within him, the divine nature, can he be called an individual, a person. 

Derived from the Roman word 'Personna' is the word Person. Person means one's nature. Now, let's say, Personality i. e., the respect which you give to him. So here his morality is his personality. Personality does not mean one's weight, breadth and handsome features. What he is within, that is personality. 

In the Sanskrit language, this is called Purushatva. In the Vedantic language, it is called Vyaktitva. So Vyaktitva, purushatva and personality are the same thing in different languages. Now, what is contained in this container (pointing to a tumbler) all of you in Maharashtra will call it Pani. In the English language, people would call it water. The Tamil people refer to it as Tanni and the Telugu people call it Neeru. The Sanskrit people call it Wari. The names are different but the entity is the same. In the same manner,in all living beings divinity is one. To illustrate this, I sometimes give an example. There are different types of sweets like Mysore Pak, Gulab Jamun, Rasgulla, and so on. All of them have one common ingredient - sweetness i. e. sugar. So you must realise the divinity i.e. unity in diversity. Now, we look around and see several bulbs flashing. The bulbs may be different but the current is the same. But, the bedroom light could be dim and drawing room bulb could be bright, so where is the difference between dim and bright. It is not the difference in the current, but the difference in the bulb. So also in one's own behaviour from person to person, there could be differences, but the one divinity is the common factor in all. One's true value consists in recognising the divinity in all beings. You should travel from the state of I to the state of We. You should never lead a life of narrow and petty mindedness of I and I. You must widen your vision and include the ideas of We and We, all the while and you must further and foster this expansive life. This is true life. Whereas this my, my, my... this contraction in life is like dirt and filth. This is the difference between the living person, man and an inanimate object. Today, you have chaos, agitation and restlessness. What is the cause of this? 

We really do not know what the human nature is all about, either in terms of ethical, or politcal values, or in terms of science or spiritual values. The underlying factors in all these fields of endeavour, is the transformation of the mind. Unless you change your mind, you cannot hope to bring about any change in the world. That's why it is being said that mind is being responsible either for your liberation or for your bondage.

You sanctify yourself first, and you shall sanctify others. For this transformation of the mind is necessary. Mind is responsible either for bondage or for liberation. Take the case of a lock on a door. If you insert a key in the lock and turn it right with it, the lock opens. If you turn it left the lock locks itself up. So it is the key which is responsible either for locking or unlocking. In the same manner, either for bondage or liberation, the single key is responsible. The difference comes in the way you turn it, right or left. This is an example for the heart. Our heart is like the lock. 

The mind is like the key. You turn the mind towards God, it is detachment. Turn it towards the world, it is attachment. What is this mind? Different people have described the mind in different ways. What is this? (pointing towards the handkerchief). A piece of cloth. But the Vedanta does not say it is cloth. It says, it is a bundle of threads. No, it is not a bundle of threads, it is cotton, it says. First cotton, then threads, then cloth. Without cotton, you can't get the threads. Without the threads, you can't get the piece of cloth. In the same manner, you have first and foremost the thoughts. Through thoughts you have the threads of desire. These desires get together to give you mind. So if you don't wish to have this piece of cloth, remove all the threads. That's why you find in this country of ours inscribed these words in all the railway compartments: "Less luggage, more Comforts, make travel a pleasure." However, life is a long journey, if you take excessive luggage you will have to face a lot of discomfort. These desire are your luggage, diminish them, decrease them, then you have peace. Now, I come across many people who keep on saying I want peace, I want peace. It is easy for everyone to ask I want peace'. 

Now in this plea, how many words are there? There are three words. I, Want, Peace. I is ego. Want is desire. Remove these two and what is left is peace. This is what yoga determines. Yoga consists in purifying your heart. Try to curb your senses. We do experience, joys and difficulties and sorrows but all these are like passing clouds. They are not permanent. 

Why should we bother about these passing clouds? Some day or the other you have to discard them. So try to understand what human nature consists of. You have taken an unique form of persons. You are not one person but three. The first person is the one you think you are. The second person is the one others think you are. The third person is the one you really are. This is what you must understand. Through the form of body you have certain name and powers. Through the medium of the atma, you are the eternal witness. Either for asatya, anyaya, or adharma you are responsible. It is not the fault of the government either when you look at it this way. It is the fault of the people which is responsible. 

Through the votes of the people, you have the government. So for either good or bad even the people are responsible. Here is another example.

Wherever you see, they talk of corruption. Ask anyone, they keep saying: "Swami, When will there be an end to the corruption in this country"? Who is responsible for this? Is it the Government? No. It is the businessmen. 

They are responsible for the corruption. They seek their own means.

They seek their own ends to fulfil their own ends. They keep on encouraging corruption. If you are to live a life of truth and morality, this corruption can be put an end to and not to aspire for wealth. There is a proverb in the Telugu language. If a corpse was to see somebody who wants to give, it will rise up. Even a dead body will rise up at the sight of somebody coming to give something to it. This business or vyapara which you wish to do, should be within certain limits. It should be in tune with your requirements. 

Then the world will be one of peace and will enjoy and experience your own joy. There is no point in seeking business through the moral way. One who does business through morality can never experience joy or comfort. 

Morality should be given the pedestal of the heart. Motivated by the divine spark, he should keep a limit on his wants and whatever he has, he should share it for the welfare of the society and the country. Then the country will benefit and prosper. But today, every individual is up with the cry: I want, I want... What if it goes? He wails aloud: I have lost, I have lost.... All this life is this want and loss. What is the meaning of this? You should get equality of mind. You should not have narrow-mindedness. You should try and develop bonds of friendship between one and all. If you broaden your vision, you shall certainly be able to attain the divine spark in you. Now it is common experience that either through money or education or one's own position man becomes egoistic. 

But how long will this wealth, health and strength last? They are like the strokes of lightning. When the lightning flashes, there is the spark of brilliance all over but suddenly it is dark all over again. So our life should be in level and should have equanimity of purpose. Where you have a lamp, there is a smoke attached to it. This lamp can also reduce some of the light. It also crackles when water falls on it. If there is a wind blowing it flickers. So this flame has all these characteristics, but it has a common thing -one lasting thing. This unique feature of the lamp is that it sheds lights either to the good one or the bad one. this way, we may have joy, and sorrow. These are all coming and going.

Where there is love, we have the sense of forgiveness. When we have forgiveness, we can experience peace. That's why it is said that love is by giving and forgiving. Whereas the self, lives by getting and forgetting. 

Self is lovelessness, love is selflessness. That's why self is God. God is Self and lives in Self. We should live forever in this state of I, this alma. It is extremely easy to achieve. There are many who say we want liberation, we should get detached. What is the way of immortality? We want immortality but how do we achieve it. You should know the way to proceed then you must reach the destination of immortality. For this, the Vedas have given excellent means. The removal of immorality is the only way to immortality. We have these aspects of anger, hatred, ego living in our hearts. We want immortality? Is it a Saridon pill that you take. For this, you should do Sadhana. You must have good thoughts. You must be in the company of good people, do good things, jump into the society, do service to the society, then we become sacred ourselves. Now, you want everything. These things are not going to come to you. If I wish to go to Dharmakshetra, Dharmakshetra will not come to me, I must walk the distance to Dharmakshetra myself. In the same manner the nature of the atma is pure, and beyond comprehension. It is not something which is going to change or move. One who has to move is you. You are the one to take the step. You are one who has to reach the destination. So through your own courage and sense of fulfilment, you must proceed on the way. So either in this world of business or in any other endeavour of ours we must try and keep this idea of human nature upper most. 

Love gives and forgives 

Embodiments of Love, our money, wealth and possessions are not for ever. Our ancestors and forefathers have come and gone and some day we too have to go. There have been any number of mighty emperors and kings. Where are they all now? If everyone who has come and gone, and if he had been holding a handful of dust, today in India there would have been a ration even for dust and clay. The money and wealth is not ours. If it is ours, why does it not come with us when we go. Something which does not come with us does not belong to us. One who is given to steadfastness of purpose will never come to grieve. A person buys a ticket and pockets it and travel in a train. He is given to no sense of fear, whereas a person who does not buy the ticket, is given to agitation and fear at the very sight of the ticket collector. What is the cause for this fear? Because he has not done the right thing by himself. That's why he is afraid. One who threads the path of truth; the good, the noble, will never have any sense of agitation or fear. 

In this life there are four F's to remember. First F is to Follow the master. Who is your master? Your conscience is your master. Who is your Guru? Your conscience is your Guru. Who is your atma? Your conscience is your atma. Who is your God? Your conscience is your God. So follow your conscience and you are following your master. Do this properly and then come to the second F. Face the Devil. 

Third F is Fight to the end and the fourth F is Finish the game. If you follow these four F's faithfully, you have sanctified yourself. So our life should be looked upon as a temporary one. In this temporary outfit, there is a permanent thing. That permanent lasting entity is our atma. Our life is a coming together of the mind, body and the atma. If you follow only the mind and body, you are like an animal or a beast. If you follow the mind instead, you go towards a human being. Whereas if you follow the dictates of the Atma, you rise above and go to the divine.

From here to Immortality 

Alexander the Great made many conquests over this country of Bharat and while returning home with a lot of wealth loaded on elephants, he was found extremely exhausted and given to a state of mental anguish. He got a heart trouble. When he could not bear this state of agony, he sent for his doctor. The doctor examined Alexander and concluded that the heart is going to stop beating sooner. Now he was coming to the end of his life but Alexander at last realised the futility of life. He sent for all his sepoys, soldiers and ministers. Addressing the Chief Minister, Alexander said 'Oh Minister, in a few moments, I am going to leave this body, I am going to die. What you must do when I die is to put my hands up, tie them up and wrap my body in a piece of cloth, take it out in a procession so that everybody can see me. Then the Minister said 'Oh Lord and Master, if the people were to ask a question, why he is putting his hands up and wrapping his body in a piece of cloth? What should be our answer? Answer is, Alexander has crores of rupees, countless wealth. He had under his command lakhs of soldiers. His friends and relatives and well wishers were countless again. In spite of having all, at the time of departing and going, Alexander has gone bare handed. This is the message I want to give to the world". Now this is the plight of even the mightiest of the emperors. Then who are we? This money and wealth are like the ice which melts away. Before, the ice melts do something good. This is the true value you can assign to your nature. It is not our wealth. We are taking the wealth of others. We should share it with others and derive joy therefrom. This is the true ideal behind it. If you want to improve the conditions in the country the businessmen are the right people. The business people can also set right the government. It is the businessmen again who can protect and safeguard the interest of the world. The businessmen are those who can lend the country bankrupt. But you should know your priorities. You should know what you can do. Set right the government and all shall be well. You never know what is going to come to you. Your status and your state and so on. 

Purusharthas 

It is said, 'No doubt, live for hundred years', but you should never trust these words, either in childhood, youth, middle age or old age. You will never know, when and where you will go. Death is certain. Understand the truth and behave accordingly. This motherland Bharat is a land of sacrifice. It is again a land of Yoga and a land of Karma. This land of tyaga, yoga, karma, is today converted into the land of bhoga or comfort. All these bhoga or comfort are like diseases. Truly, our tyaga is our yoga. There are the four Purusharthas Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The ignorant one goes after Artha, and Kama, whereas the gnyani or the realised one, goes after Dharma and Moksha. Man should aspire to get all these dharma, artha, kama and moksha. There is no harm in aspiring for wealth through the medium of dharma. Here the four purusharthas Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha should be made into two - Dharma and artha on the one hand, kama and moksha on the other. Through the dharma secure wealth and use this wealth for dharma. The ancients by way of fulfilling the dharma used to take four paths. The dharma which we have to uphold, should be divided into four things. One for one's own sake, one for our family. The second part is for charity and philanthropy. Third is for feeding all the living beings. The fourth is to pay your taxes to the government. When you spend your wealth thus, you are utilising your wealth properly. Certainly, we are doing charity. 

How are we doing it? We do not pay our taxes. We want to reduce our income tax. We take the wrong ways. We go for building temples. In towns like Kashi, Prayag and Delhi several temples are built of pure shining marbles by the Birias. They are certainly an ornaments to the country, beautiful to behold and very laudable. For these temples, crores of rupees are being spent. Certainly, we should build temples. What is a true temple? Truly, body is the temple of God. Try to set right this temple of yours. We are spending crores to build temples but we do not maintain them. Beggars take shelter in them and they are a nuisance value in these temples. All these cost could be diverted for the sake of the destitute, the hapless ones rather than indulging in pompous activities. Do something for the beggars, the poor and the downtrodden ones. Try to secure the love of these jeevas, all the living forms, that is the sadhana of God. So don't waste your money in any way. Misuse of money is an evil. For a good cause, spend even one naya paise, it meets its end. 

Make use of your health and wealth in a proper way. We do not live indefinitely. Truth and morality are the true values of life. These two should be like the two wings so that we can soar up. No doubt, money has wings. It can take you anywhere. But it cannot take you to the destination of peace.

True individual 

"Oh Embodiments of Love, the Divine; Embodiments of the Divine Atma. At least now, realise, what the human nature is all about. Of all living forms the life of human being is the most difficult to achieve. Having got this, sanctify it, seek a sense of fulfilment. Don't waste time. Here are the four things laid down for us. Mother is your God. Father is your God. Guru is your God. Then comes God. We must honour and respect these. But today, unfortunately we don't respect even our parents. We don't look after the welfare of the parents. What is the use of having such sons, so it has been said that the eyes which can set themselves on the lotus eyes are the true eyes. The tongue that can sing the glories of the Lord is really the tongue proper. The knowledge that will take you to God is indeed the true knowledge. The teacher who imparts the knowledge of God is verily the true Guru. Reach, the lotus feet of Hari, i.e. truly the mother proper. There is nobody who loves you more than your mother, and if you bring tears to your mother then you are the greatest sinner. So your first God is your mother. Your mother brings you up, fondles you with care and sustains you. If you don't show your gratitude to your mother, what good are you? What we should select is the wife, not the mother? Nobody can select one's mother. Mother is the very embodiment of Dharma. So you are not going to select Dharma. You select your behaviour. 

You may feel that the Satya Sai Organisations are meant only for Bhajans and Nagarsankeertans. The aim of the Satya Sai organisations is to bring about a change in the right direction in all walks of life. Seva is their motto. Service is God. Service is God. It is only through seva that one can become a leader. 

This body has been given for the service of others. Therefore, serve the society even at the cost of shedding blood. We are born in the society, brought up by it and sustained by it. So sacrifice your life in the service of the society. One who lives such a life is a true individual. 

Having been born as a human being we should therefore follow the path of truth and sanctify our lives.