(contd. from previous issue)

(From Baba’s Discourse on 08 Sep 2006, Full Moon Day)

[ My message to you during this yagam is,

‘if you can comprehend Krishna,

you are on the path to comprehending me’.]

Krishna directed the Pandavas to place his head atop a mountain, and explained the reason for His action. ‘In his former birth, Paribarga questioned Brahma on the act of creation, to which Brahma said, ‘I will show you what destruction is, and why creation is required. In your next birth, your head will be severed and placed atop a mountain; you will be a witness to a massive destruction resulting from a violent war.’

When the Mahabharatha war ended, the Pandavas flaunted their prowess. Arjuna listed out all those he had killed and how. Bhima trumpeted, ‘I hit Duryodhana’s thighs and killed him’. Krishna said, ‘We have a witness, Paribarga. Let us ask him who fought most valiantly’. Everyone crowded around Paribarga, asking him, ‘Tell us who really won the war’, to which Paribarga asked, ‘Who are you?’ They said, ‘We are Pandavas. We fought against the Kauravas.’ Paribarga replied, ‘I did not see any of you. It was only Vishnu who fought on both the factions’. Just like a person who has no company, playing solo by dealing out both his and the opponent’s cards to himself; just like a person playing both his and the opponent’s move on a chess board; so too Krishna was fighting both sides of the war.

Krishna’s entire life happened that way. As a child, he quelled various demons - - Poothana, Chanur, Kamsa; He grew up in fun and frolic, sporting with the gopikas. Then He took over as the King of Dwaraka. He granted refuge to those like Kuchela who surrendered totally to Him. He played the role of an advisor to the Pandavas, functioned as their emissary advising the Kauravas on the benefits of a truce. And during the war, He played the Role of a Guru to the entire world, through His Bhagavad Gita. Is there any wisdom that the stanzas of Bhagavad Gita do not hold! And is there a role that Krishna has not played! He has played the role of a warrior. And He has played the role of a loving legend. He has played the role of the King. He has played the role of a friend and all relationships to all the people. Even after 2500 years, we are chanting Bhagavad Gita. Just a few chapters that contain the very essence of living and are relevant to date.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to address the students of a college in Trichy. Preceding that, we had a satsang hosted by a volunteer’s relatives there. After speaking at the satsang, I said, ‘If you have any questions, please ask’, to which an elderly person said, ‘I am able to understand whatever you said, but you say you are everything, my mind does not accept that’. I asked him, "Have you read the 10th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna declares, ‘I am the Airavata, the best among elephants; I am the Kalpaka Taru, the best among trees; I am Kamadhenu, the best among cows; I am Indra, I am the Moon, I am Muruga, the General commanding the war forces’. Are you planning to ostracize Krishna for His statements?’ If Siva Shankar Baba says this, you are unable to accept. Several thousand years ago, Krishna made this authentic statement, vociferously. But you build temples for Him! If you are unable to accept what I say, you must not accept what Krishna says.

Then I asked the questioner, ‘Whom do you believe in?’, to which he replied, ‘I believe in the Chief Minister only, because he does so much for the government employees’. I asked him, ‘You are prepared to believe in the chief minister of a small state with perhaps five crore population, and who is accepted by probably 30% of the population. Must not you be prepared to express your gratitude to God who runs this entire world with such effortless discipline - - see how the sun, moon, stars, rain, trees, animals, living and non-living things function - - and He ensures that all of them are fed - - and that includes even toads dwelling within rocks!

Such a free oxygen factory He has created for you, that converts the carbon-di-oxide you give outside into the oxygen you can breathe in. But you are not prepared to even think of Him!

I am not blaming anyone. My concern is that people do not understand the importance of expressing their gratitude for God. The day we decide to understand the OmniPresent Grace of God, and be thankful to Him for it, the world will be rid of all its problems and flourish. There will be no war or famine. The whole world will be full of peace and bliss.

This is my message to you today. The world is currently heading towards destruction. Still there is time; there is hope yet, in a very hopeless situation, provided humanity takes to the skies very seriously. If mankind surrenders to God, God can decide to change the course of destiny. I can lead the horses to the pond, I cannot make them drink; I can guide you but I cannot guarantee
whether society will change for the better. Instead of grumbling about the negative situations in society, my aim is to give you ideas on how to convert them into positive situations. Take this message across to everyone including all those you care for.

Krishna tells Arjuna, ‘You and I have always been together. I know you. You do not know me’. So does the Tamil song Thevaram speak of Lord Siva. Siva and Krishna have always existed. Just as we realize that, it is time we intensified our longing to attain them too. Then this world will attain divinity. All the problems will be resolved and there will be absolute happiness and bliss. Remember that there is hope yet, and therefore surrender to God. This is the story of Matsya Avatar. God said, ‘The world will perish in the Great Deluge. Get a boat ready - - I will take the form of a huge fish and save all those who are on the boat with you.’ That is the story of Noah’s Ark too. All these stories state the same thing, ‘Not everyone will perish; Some will remain.’

If you want to be among those who remain, then hold on to me, and be ready to board, when I call for you.

(concluded)

Prayers, like beams of light, reach the angels of God and they hurry to answer them.The deeper you pray, the brighter the light is and the faster the help from God.