No Place for Pomp in Spirituality

Hislop, accept my blessings. The letters you sent me have all been received. I have read them all. But, I was not able to send you replies immediately. Many thousands of devotees had gathered during Dasara, the Birthday, and the all-India Conference of Office Bearers of Sathya Sai Organizations; and so, I could not avail myself of even a moment’s leisure. Besides, since the building of the College had started, I have been at Bangalore, for about a month. Kasturi was at Prasanthi Nilayam, and letters to you had to be translated and typed. So, the delay lengthened. This is what happened. Therefore, do not imagine that I have forgotten you. I shall never forget you. Wherever you are, you are mine. Wherever I am, I am yours. The bond between these two is Atmic, (Soul and soul) not dependent on time, space, and the vagaries of physical encasements.

Hislop, I am drawing your attention to the happenings in some homes, of which you have written. Spiritual discipline and endeavour are not pomp-oriented; they are practice-oriented. One has to earn the experience of spiritual progress, through practice. Later, that experience is to be revealed only to those nearest to one, those who have earnest and devoted interest in such experiences. I do not like the advertisement of such matters in newspapers, announcing them to all and sundry, as if they are cheap commodities of the marketplace.

The sweetness of the spirit is not a dish, which can be served over the counter. It cannot be procured from a shop; no firm can supply it to its customers. It is of the nature of Divine illumination; it has to be evoked, from oneself, for oneself. To advertise the experience of this illumination is to indulge in a paltry pastime.

There are some people who engage themselves in Sadhana, study, and in listening to discourses, for transient mental satisfaction or even entertainment. They feel that, that little is enough effort. But, the task is not over with these… Food has to be cooked, it has to be consumed, and it has to be digested and assimilated. The body can develop strength only when these three steps are accomplished, one after the other. Similarly, what is heard has to be pondered over, what is pondered over has to be put into practice. It is only when all three are accomplished that Atmananda (Atmic Bliss, the Bliss of the Realization of the Reality) can be attained.

Instead, if what is accomplished is very little, and what is advertised about oneself is much more, one becomes the target of ridicule. He who puts into practice a single item of spiritual discipline derives much more benefit, than he who preaches about a 100 items! A seed embedded in the soil sprouts, grows into a tree, and yields fruit. If, however, it is cast on the surface, it does not sprout. So too, faith implemented deep in the heart will express itself as a tree, that is to say, it will yield fruit – spiritual experience. But, if faith is on the surface only, it will be wafted away in publicity, and in the ridicule it provokes. Only the commodity that has no demand is advertised in plenty. For the pure and the holy, what need is there for advertisement? Advertisement of spiritual experiences is an evil habit, quite contrary to the spiritual attitude.

I do not need name and fame. They are as disgusting as spittle. Do not publicize, without filling the heart with Love. Live and act, in the spirit of full fraternity, with love and regard for all, and demonstrate that you have known the ultimate Truth through the spontaneous manifestation of that genuine experience. Any other method will only foster disbelief, atheism.

Those who seek to acquire steadiness of faith must first acquire the strength to bear grief and pain, insult and injury. They should not slide from a term of self-control (Yoga) into a bout of excess (Bhoga) and end up with a period of illness (Roga). Self-control must persist as self-control, until the very end. The Yogi must continue as Yogi, till the end of life. The succession of joy and grief must help confirm the faith and make it immovable. That alone can evidence true devotion.

Where there is no gust of wind, an iron ball and a dry leave, both lie unmoved, and in similar manner, upon the ground. To conclude that they are therefore of the same nature would be wrong. Let but the wind blow a little fast, the leaf will rise and fly far; the iron ball is unaffected. Such is the nature of false and true devotees. When there is no pain or grief, both the false and the true are alike; when pain or discord presents itself, false devotion takes to flight. The devotion that seeks publicity is not true steady devotion. Devotion, that is confirmed in and through practice, can alone be the spring of lasting Bliss.

Experiences can be communicated among ourselves or to ourselves, or even to those who evince delight in listening to them and are eager to share; but, if they are announced in public to whomsoever may listen, they may not be seen in true light, they might even be misinterpreted and ridiculed. Those who are hungry will themselves come seeking places where food is available. Those who have no hunger will not be impressed, even when a variety of tasty dishes is placed before them.

Where Divinity is sought after, one ought always to behave in the spirit of Love, devoid of the slightest trace of envy, hate, and anger. Sadhana should first be directed towards the elimination of these traits. When worldly relationships are accepted as the basis of activity, one is inevitably drawn into the mire of separateness and distinction. When one cultivates the inner look, one attains the conviction of the basic quality of all. Observe the trunks of trees (not the branches, twigs, flowers, and leaves), and you will be convinced of the sameness of all trees. Similarly, when one observes only the status and stages, the office and the authority; only differences and distinctions will strike the mind. But, in every one, as the very basis of existence, there is the one and only Soul, the Atma. That is to be known and realized.

Man derives all the joy and peace that he needs from within himself and not from sources outside himself. So, the best spiritual discipline is: strengthen the inward vision.

My dear Hislop! Do not let yourselves be drawn by other pursuits; carry on Sadhana, unaffected by them. I, Swami, am with you, beside you, before you, behind you, in your home; my love, my compassion, my grace are ever with you, you will never be with them. You will experience the Bliss of the Atma, the Reality, very soon.

Convey my numberless blessings to your grha-lakshmi (the Goddess of the Home, conferring peace and prosperity on the Home), Mrs. Hislop. May both of you be showered with mutual concord, peace and joy; may you attain the glorious consummation of your Sadhana – the realization of the Reality.

Blessings for the Sai Family. Discard malice, hate, envy, and pomp; develop love and tolerance … progress in Sadhana by these means. Secure Ananda (spiritual bliss) first, and then, try to convey it to those who crave for it, among the people. When the tank is dry, how can the taps give water? Fill the tanks with pure potable water; only then can the taps give water to the thirsty.

With Blessings,

Baba