October 8th, 2006



“Rig Veda”
 


OM… OM… OM…



Sai Ram



With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,



Dear Brothers and Sisters!



VEDIC LITERATURE TEACHES REFINEMENT AND EQUALITY
I am going to cover a few points today relating to the Rig Veda, after which we will take a few questions. These are points which, as I mentioned earlier, have been explained by Bhagavan.



This is a sort of study circle, during which we ponder points that we will hopefully come to understand and learn together. As students of Sai literature, we study together, learn together, and grow together. That is something unique in this study circle class. Once again, let me remind you, I do not claim to have any extra knowledge. I have no false claim of knowing anything more than anyone else here. All of us are one and the same—all fellow pilgrims trying to learn, grow, and understand what Bhagavan wants to communicate to us.



For all literature of Sanathana Dharma and knowledge of Bharatiya culture, the Veda is the foundation. Anything that is contrary to the Veda is not acceptable to Bharatiya culture. (Swami does not say, “Indian culture.” He always uses “Bharatiya culture”, and “Bharatiya samskriti”. Therefore, I also refer to it as “Bharatiya culture”.)



My friends, whatever we write and whatever we speak about must most definitely be approved by the Veda. Nothing can go against it. Swami has mentioned two important advantages, or aims and objectives of Vedic literature. What are they?



VEDIC LITERATURE REFINES OUR LIFE
The first advantage is samskara—refinement. Vedic literature refines our life. It polishes our life. For example, look how every building has got an elevation in the front. This elevation in the front gives a beautiful look to the building. Likewise, awareness of Vedic literature will be a sort of elevation to the human personality. This ensures that every human being has an elevated, enlightened, and awakened soul. So samskara—elevation, refinement, or awareness—is the first and foremost objective of Vedic literature.



VEDIC LITERATURE SPEAKS OF EQUALITY
The second objective, as put by Bhagavan, is samatwa—equality. Therefore, one advantage of Vedic literature is samskara or awakening; and the second advantage is samatwa, or equality. If there is anything unique about it, it is this principle of equality.



Every religion speaks of equality. No religion says this group is superior to the other group. In practice it may be, but at least from the scriptural point of view, they all stand by the principle of equality. As Sai devotees, we believe in the unity of religions; no Sai devotee can afford to be prejudiced or biased toward or against one religion. So as students of comparative religions, let us look at what is special in Vedic literature. Does it speak of equality like any other religion?



EVERYTHING IS DIVINE AND ALL ARE EQUAL
My friends, equality from the Vedic dimension is special in the sense that all are equal: organic, inorganic, living, non-living, biotic, a-biotic, and the five elements—all are equal. It is not simply a slogan like that of democracy: “Of the people, by the people, for the people.” Where those people are, we do not know! (Laughter) But this is not a political slogan on the platform. It is a reality that organic, inorganic, all the five elements, living and non-living—all are equal.



How do you say that? Why not? It is the same cosmic principle; it is the Divine principle that is responsible for the manifestation of the entire cosmos or the universe. The universe or cosmos is nothing but the manifestation of Divinity. God manifested is Nature. Nature unmanifested is God.



I am a student of literature. I don’t believe in the gimmicks of the world either. If God is to manifest Himself, we call that Nature. All of Nature is nothing but a manifestation of God. Therefore, the denial, rejection, misuse, and exploitation of Nature are betrayals unto God. It is exploitation; it leads to ruin altogether. As Bhagavan explained, the tsunamis, Katrina and Wilma (hurricanes) are the effects of human society misusing Nature.



Therefore, the principle of unity, which is the second objective of Vedic literature, represents this basic and fundamental truth: that everything is one, whether organic or inorganic. To quote Swami, “The only difference is the voltage. Whether it’s a zero candle bulb, a twenty-five candle bulb, a forty candle bulb, or a five hundred candle bulb, only the voltage is different. The electricity is the same.”



Divinity or consciousness expresses itself at the lowest ebb in the mineral world, a little more in the plant world, and a little more in the animal world. It expresses itself in all its fullness and totality in the human race. The expression of consciousness varies in proportions, but basically everything is Divine. There is nothing that is non-Divine. There is no such thing as ‘non-Divine’. Everything is Divine. That is the second objective of Veda.



HOW TO LEAD OUR LIVES

The third advantage is that Vedic literature tells us the way to lead our lives. Dharma jignyasa: meaning to have an interest in knowing how to lead our lives. To tell you honestly, if we are to confess unbiased, unprejudiced, and openly, we have to accept the basic truth that we do not know how to lead our lives. We consider leading our lives to mean having a bank passbook with a set of entries. Leading our lives, to most of us, means occupying a very high post and wielding a wide range of influence. This is not the way to lead life. Sanathana Dharma tells you how to lead your life.



Vedic literature gave a wonderful package! Things are said in a sentence, or less than a sentence. Yes! So what is the purpose of life? How to lead your life? Dharma jignyasa. Veda clearly tells you, “My dear boy! You should lead life in order to know yourself.”



“Lead life to know yourself? What nonsense is this?! Don’t I know who I am? I have a number of degrees and I have lots of properties and bank accounts. What is the fun of saying that I am to know myself?”



The Veda clearly says that to know yourself does not mean by virtue of qualification, credentials, insignia, status, or dignity. To know yourself means to know that you are Divine. To know that you are Divine is knowledge, spiritual knowledge. To know that you are Divine is sujnana jnana (spiritual knowledge). To experience that you are Divine is prajnana (spiritual awareness), meaning experience of the Self. Sujnana is the knowledge that you are the Divine. Jnana is knowledge, be it printed or spoken. Therefore, my friends, the Veda wants us to know how to lead our lives, where to end, what is the purpose of life. That, as Bhagavan says, is the next objective.



VEDIC LITERATURE SETS AN IDEAL
Finally, the fourth advantage and purpose of Vedic literature, as Swami says, is that it sets an ideal. It sets an ideal for all of us to follow. We should have ideals and goals in life, according to which we should live our lives. In His book Veda Vahini, which is a collection of His discourses, Swami mentions these four objectives of Vedic literature.

This morning I would like to share with you some points relating to Rig Veda.



I do not get tired of repeating, time and again, that we are fed up with traditional interpreters. We have traditional interpreters who speak to us on Vedic literature for hours and hours until we turn unconscious, (Laughter) or until we are determined not to hear about Vedas again for a couple of lives to come. (Laughter) Where these interpreters begin and end, even they themselves do not know. Confusion confounded. That’s what happens today. We are fed up with the traditional and conventional style of exposition on Vedic literature.



Today all modern philosophers—just watch their books, or listen to their talks and video cassettes—have a new approach: a scientific, reasonable, logical, and rational approach, socially applicable to our day-to-day life situation. If I speak about Prahlada, who lived thousands of years ago, one may listen to me out of courtesy and etiquette, but while climbing down the steps they will say, “What does it matter to me?” (Laughter) And some younger boy (because all kids play with computers these days; they are more intelligent than people of our generation), will come and say, “Uncle, why do you speak of Prahlada as such a great man?”



“He is a very great man!”



“No, no, uncle. I don’t think so. He disobeyed his father and in one of your talks you said, ‘Pitrudevobhava – father is God.’ So how can a boy who disobeyed his father be ideal?”



At the most, I can tell him, “If you speak like that you will become blind. (Laughter) God will be very angry with you. You must fast this afternoon to atone for this sin!” (Laughter)



And he will say, “Please keep quiet. I shall not meet you ever again.”



Therefore, our presentation should be different, catering to the times and age in which we live, to which we belong. This is the very reason that we run after Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He explains things in a beautiful way. His interpretation of the Ramayana is different from the interpretation that others give of the Ramayana. His interpretation of the Bhagavatha is totally different from others.



BHAGAVAN EXPLAINS THE VEDAS WITH A MODERN APPROACH
Because I am also a little familiar with literature, I want to give you a small illustration. It is from an episode in the Mahabharatha. Dhritharashtra, the oldest man, after the death of all his one hundred sons, wants to escape and he hides at a safe place. Even though he has lost all his children, he still wants to live. It is at that time that a wise man by the name of Vidura comes and asks him, “Why do you hide like this? For whose sake do you want to live? You have lost all your hundred children. For what are you doing this? Is this life at all?”



My friends, believe me, when you read that episode as written by Bhagavan Baba, you feel as if Swami has put all His words into the mouth of Vidura. I don’t think Vidura even said these words—Swami has put all His words into Vidura’s mouth and made him speak for Him. Vidura goes on speaking in such a way that you will be transformed, and will feel detached; you will feel the taste of vairagya or renunciation. That is the style of Baba’s explanation.



Whatever He speaks of, He applies to our daily situation. He explains Vedic literature in such a simple way that even modern people can easily follow and appreciate it. Moreover, Bhagavan’s movement is not limited to a region or a province. Sai movement is international. If He speaks in Sanskrit, some of us may feel like committing suicide because we do not know Sanskrit. Similarly, if He speaks about things which are above our heads, what will happen? We will have already lost our heads!



Baba puts it in a very simple way for all of us modern people so that we can practice the lessons in the text. For those of us who are a little more interested, we can do an in-depth study if we find the time. The simple explanation by Baba is a kind of incentive or appetiser for the individual who wants to further evolve his own self.



EVERYONE IS A SPARK OF THE DIVINE
So what does He say about Rig Veda in a nutshell? First, the Rig Veda contains the description of Divinity. God appears in a myriad of forms. God can be described in thousands and thousands of forms and deities.



Sahasra Sheersha Purushah.



God has thousands of heads, thousands of hands, and thousands of feet.



In one of the talks, Baba said that if at all you were to meet a person with a thousand heads, a thousand hands, and a thousand feet, what would you do? You would run away from him! It would make a very good exhibition or museum piece!



No, no! It’s not like that. Sahasra Sheersha Purushah. The direct translation of this is: “God has thousands of feet.” However, it doesn’t mean that He has thousands of feet. No! All our feet are His. All our hands are His. All our heads are His. Therefore, each one is God Himself. Everyone is a spark of the Divine.



Mamaivamso Jeevaloke Jeeva Seva Sanatanah.



You are a spark of the Divine.



Vasudeva Sarvamithi.



God pervades everywhere.



So you are a spark of the Divine. That’s what the Veda tells you here. When the Rig Veda describes God in thousands of forms, it means that everyone is a spark of the Divine.



The second point, as explained by the Veda, is that God exists in each individual. The consciousness is Divinity; or you can say Atma, soul, spirit, or chaitanya. Chaitanya, consciousness, soul, and spirit are one and the same. God at the individual level—that’s what He speaks of.



FIRE IS THE WITNESS IN VEDIC RITUALS
Next, Rig Veda contains a number of mantras, which are used when performing many rituals. All things used during the rituals are offered in the fire. Fire is the postal department. When such-and-such a thing should be sent to Indra, the fire will carry it to Indra. It is like an email to Varuna! So, agni or fire is the one that takes all that you offer to the concerned deities. Therefore, Baba says that agni is the witness in Vedic rituals.



You must have noticed how a fire is started in the yagna. They have two pieces of wood which they rub against each other, and a fire is ignited. Since the two pieces of wood are rubbed against each other repeatedly, it is believed that fire has so many births. It is born again and again. This is also a good thing, because if fire were eternal, we’d be finished! (Laughter) That’s quite acceptable to all of us! (Laughs) Let not fire be eternal. Fire has so many births. That’s what Bhagavan has explained.



The next point Swami explains is that when fire is ignited, you see smoke, hear sound and immediately see light. Heat, light, sound and smoke are generated the moment fire is ignited. So Swami says fire has another name—Dhooma Pada, which means the fire is accompanied by smoke.



Since fire is the witness, it is also called Brahma. Also, since all the offerings are made in the fire, it is also called Hotha. (My friends, if it were not for Swami, I would not have learnt these things. But if it were not for you, I would not have prepared these notes at all. So I must be very grateful to Swami for the literature supplied, and highly grateful to all of you for making me make notes and deliver this presentation every Sunday. I am grateful to Swami and you also.) So Hotha means the witness, fire as a witness.



Then Swami speaks of another point. Any Vedic ritual, particularly a Rig Vedic ritual, is performed by a group of people, not by an individual. Swami sings this song quite often:



Kalasi Melasi Thirugudaam.

Kalasi Melasi Perugudaam.



Let us grow together.

Let us mingle together.



Kalasi Melasi Thelusu Konna Thelivini Penchudaam.



Let us grow in intelligence by moving together.



Kalasi Melasi Kalatha Leka Kalami Chelimi Balimi Penchudaam.



By mingling together, without any conflict, fight, or contradiction, let us grow together.



Kalimi – Let us grow in richness.



Balimi – Let us grow in strength.



Chelimi – Let us grow in friendship.



So Rig Veda speaks of community life. Rig Veda speaks of the advantages of friendship and how one should live in a group.



Bhagavan then mentions that this Rig Veda is also present in the remaining three Vedas. Atharva Veda has twelve hundred slokas straight from the Rig Veda. The Yajur Veda is also full of Rig Vedic portions. Furthermore, three-fourths of Sama Veda contains Rig Veda. Hence, according to Bhagavan, Rig Veda is the underlying current of all the remaining three Vedas.



THE THREE COMPONENTS OF CREATION
Bhagavan explains the mystery of Nature as described in Rig Veda. The whole of creation is nothing but the combination of three components—only three. What are they? One is rajas, the second is tamas, and the third is sathwa. Sathwa, rajas, and tamas, which are the three qualities, three attributes.



What is tamas? Tamas is dullness or inertia. The second is rajas, meaning emotion, ambition. The third is sathwa, meaning piousness, calmness. A peaceful state, a blissful state, an equanimous state is the sathwic nature.



These three components are present everywhere. You cannot say, “I am full of sathwa.” No! This is a false claim. All the three are present. But that which is more prevalent determines your personality. If sathwa is more, you are a pious man. If rajas is more, you are a Napoleon, a Marshall Tito. (Laughter) If tamasic is more, you are very close to Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden. (Laughter) But Bin Laden has the other two qualities, rajas and sathwa, also. But poor fellow! He is dominated by tamas. One thing is extra; that’s the reason why. You know the effect.



The whole of creation is a combination of these three components. Bhagavan said that at the time of birth, the newborn child does not know anything other than to sleep. The child goes on sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. That is tamas . . . inertia. As the child grows—toys, dresses, style, romance, and desires also start increasing day-by-day, year-after-year. That is rajas. So one starts life in the state of tamas, and slowly gets into rajas (ambition). Then he should try to improve the sathwic qualities, which is the equanimous, balanced, and steady state of mind. That’s what we call sathwic. So the three states are present in every one of us.



Bhagavan also said to look at your eye. The eye is white and black, with a red tinge; all the three colours are there in the eye ball. Three—sathwa, rajas, and tamas. The dark colour is tamasic, the red rajasic, and white is sathwic. All three are present in your eyeball. Therefore, Bhagavan explains that the three qualities are present in every human being, right from the time of his birth, similar to what you find in the eyeball. This is what the Rig Veda speaks of.



MANTRA, TANTRA AND YANTRA ARE PRESENT IN US
Swami goes on to say (see how He interprets), that the body is yantra, meaning a machine. The heart is tantra, meaning operative technique, methodology, and skills. Finally, our breath is mantra, meaning chanting. Mantra, yantra and tantra are present in everybody’s life. If anyone says there is no mantra in me, it means he has stopped breathing. He is no more! (Laughter)



If he says, “I have no tantra,” this means he has no heart. He may be heartless. Figuratively, many people are heartless, but everyone surely has a physical heart. Therefore, the heart is tantra, which pumps blood. Everyone possesses it. Yantra is the human body. So, mantra, tantra and yantra are not separate from you. They are present within you. That’s how Swami explained it.



Swami explains Sama Veda in a beautiful way: That which has got rhythm, beat, and music is Sama Veda. The rhythm part of the Veda is Sama Veda, with its beat and tune. It is the musical aspect of the Veda, while Rig Veda contains the method of worship and rituals.



DON’T WORRY ABOUT UNNECESSARY THINGS
And then, there is another aspect. There is some unwanted stuff in every one of us. Let us be honest with ourselves. Sometimes there are certain things that we don’t want to be present within us: bad thoughts, bad ideas, wicked manoeuvring, and manipulation. Some people are happy when others are unhappy. They continue to think about how to torture, underestimate, and make others unhappy, because the unhappiness of others brings happiness to them. These poor fellows are suffering from a psychological sickness. We need to pity them. They need treatment, that’s all. We don’t have to fight with them. We all have some unwanted garbage within us which has got to be emptied.



First, we should recognise the unnecessary qualities within us. You may say, “Is it so?” Yes, why not? Watch the faces of so many people. Some people are serious. If you ask them, “Are you fine?”



“Yes.”



“Then, why are you like that?” (Laughter) “Why are you so serious?”



“I don’t know!”



And if you spend some time with him, you will understand that he is serious because he thinks that the other man is happier than he. (Laughter) He is already happy! But the other man should not be happier than he. (Laughter)



Therefore, my friends, we have some unwanted and unnecessary worry within us. We worry ourselves. Why worry? We don’t know. Some people are worried because if they get heart attack after ten years, how will they meet the expenditure? (Laughter) A heart surgery, as it is, costs two lakhs. After ten years, it may cost ten lakhs. How to meet that expenditure?



I say, “You may die before the surgery. (Laughter) You may not need any heart surgery at all. It won’t cost anything!” (Laughter) Poor fellows! Why they worry, we do not know.



There are some people who are worried about their grandchildren.



“Sir, how are you?”



“Mr. Anil Kumar, my son has three daughters.”



“OK. So what?”



“How is he going to perform the marriages of his three daughters?”



“Just as you have performed your daughter’s marriage, you son will perform his daughters’ marriage. It is his headache. Why are you bothered about it? (Laughter) You completed your portion, so relax! Don’t carry on your shoulder your son’s problems, grandson’s problems, and in the process, make yourself a problem.”



So we have got unnecessary worries. Let’s not worry about our children’s problems. Let them face their problems. Let them know that life is a challenge. Just as we somehow swam across this life with God’s grace, let them face the music of their life. How long will this spoon-feeding continue?



I always tell my friends (I have got some friends from the geriatric society, who are above sixty and retired), that we should not talk about anything personal, even with family members. I should not ask my son how much money he is saving every month. He may say, “Why are you bothered?” (Laughter) Or he may say, “I need some more money. Are you ready to give it to me now?” (Laughter) I am not ready to give him money and I am not interested in how much he earns. So why should I worry about it?



By not talking about personal things to our children, people of our age group can be quite happy. We may not necessarily like the way our children live their lives. We want them to save more, be disciplined, cut short their expenditures, and follow our lifestyle. They will openly say, “Daddy, our days are different from your days.” In plain words, this means, “Keep your mouth shut!” (Laughter) Why should we hear such words? We will say, “Fine! How are you? Fine!” Yes. Keep smiling. Smile, smile, smile all the way. That’s what we should do.



DO NOT THINK OF TOMORROW
The second thing people of our age group should do is not think of tomorrow. Do not think of tomorrow. No! Tomorrow will take care of itself. I’ve got a close relative who just turned ninety-two. I’ll give you her address and house number also, if you are so particular as to check up on me. (Laughter) What is her worry? “If my servant maid discontinues, will I be able to get another?” (Laughter) But she is still there! “If she discontinues, will I get another one or not?” (Laughter)



How can I answer that question? This is our problem. It is better if people of our age don’t worry about tomorrow. Just thank God that today is well-spent.



LEARN TO BE HAPPY WITH THE EXISTING SITUATION
Young fellows, how ever much money they have, are dissatisfied. I ask some of my students, “Arre! How much salary do you get?”



“Fifty thousand rupees, sir.”



(In a weak voice) “Fifty thousand rupees. Arre! You should say happily, FIFTY THOUSAND RUPEES! I don’t expect (in a weak voice again) ‘fifty thousand rupees’.”



“No sir, the other fellow is getting one lakh!” (Laughter)



So youngsters, however much they get, they are not happy. This age is about more and more and more money. In the same way, at our age, above sixty, however healthy we are, we are dissatisfied. If anyone asks, “How are you?”



“Uhhh. Getting along . . . waiting for the doomsday. Somehow, we have to adjust.” (Laughter)



Chee, chee, chee! I tell you, God will feel very badly with all of us, because we are quite fine now. We should be very grateful to Him.



“Thank you, oh God! My eyes are still functional; I am able to hear; I am still able to walk briskly; I am quite fine.” Why can’t we say that? We should learn to be happy with the existing situation. I cannot say that I should have high-heel shoes, a broad belt, and wear shorts like my students. I will look very awful if I imitate a college student. (Laughter) I am graceful with the way I am at this age. We should be happy with the existing situation. We should not say, “If I would have been more active, I would have been healthier.” Or— “I should have been earning more.” Cha, cha! We should be happy with what we are.



CONTINUE TO BE YOUNG IN SPIRIT
Another thing is worth mentioning. (I am just reminding myself and sharing with you the secrets of success in old age. ‘Old’ is a rotten word, we don’t say that—we should say ‘senior citizens’. (Laughter) No one is old, after all. All are young.) How to be happy as senior citizens? I have already mentioned three points.



The fourth point of how to be happy is to be happy with our own world. What do I mean? As a youngster, I always wished to have company to go around with, walk along the streets with, go to the theatre with, or make fun of people; we all want some company as youngsters. But as a senior citizen, nobody wants to join us. Why? Because we go on speaking of the service that we did thirty years ago! (Laughter)



“You know what I was when I was forty?”



“Arre! Why? Neither are you in your forties, nor is this is 1940. So why do you bore me?”



Nobody wants our company because we always live in the past. We go on saying, “You know, in 1958 what happened was . . .” That fellow will be looking at his watch, (Laughter) because he has got another appointment. But we don’t leave him; we go on telling him all our service register and all that. (Laughter)



Therefore as senior citizens, if we learn to live ourselves in our own world, we’ll be very, very successful. What do I mean by our own world? In the olden days, you needed somebody to give you company. That was in the olden days. Today, you don’t need anybody’s company. Book reading is the best thing. If you read, I tell you, you don’t need anybody for company. In fact, you can ask people to please leave you alone.



Cleopatra said, “Leave me alone, leave me alone.” Cleopatra, from the Egyptian Nile—she was the most beautiful of all of William Shakespeare’s characters. Cleopatra! Let me not get into that because I am very tempted to quote a few verses now. (Laughter)



I should tell you at least one, (Laughter) which all of us should remember. I tell you, Shakespeare is highly romantic. When I visited William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, I forgot where I was. All over the walls there were metal plaques depicting Shakespearean plays and drama. As I looked at them, I was thinking about the dramas that I studied as a student.



Shakespeare said this about Cleopatra, when she was quite aged:



Age cannot wither, nor cut and stale her infinite variety.



I tell you, no romantic poet can say it like Shakespeare did. Shakespeare represents the apex, the zenith of romantic compositions. Age cannot wither—meaning, even though she ages, she never looks old. No! Age will never make her wither or lose her beauty. So, she continues to be like that.



RIG VEDA SHOWS HOW TO HAVE A WORLD OF YOUR OWN
We should continue to be young in spirit. It is possible, if we try to learn to live in the world of our own making. Suppose some of my son’s friends come to meet him. I should not force myself into their company and talk about my experiences to them. Eventually, my son will tell me, “Daddy, my friends are afraid to come to our residence (Laughter) because you don’t allow them to speak to me.” He will receive them at the gate and they will run away from there! (Laughter)



Why should I do that? It’s not necessary! I can read a book. Let people of the same age group spend time together. Why not? I have got my own taste and temperament. I am interested in philosophy. They are interested in Michael Jackson music. (Laughter) I can’t tell them, “Stop it!” No, no. After all, I was like that at that age—much worse than them. (Laughter) Who are they, after all? They are the same ones as we were yesterday . . . our own reflection.



Therefore, we have to live in our own world by reading books of our choice, listening to cassettes, listening to Swami’s talks or bhajans, watching videos, TV, or whatever you like. This way we won’t have reason to complain, “My son has not come, and I am all alone. My daughter has not come; I am all alone.” What is this? They’ll say, “Daddy, we have got our own jobs. You can’t expect us to be with you all the time. Impossible!”



People of our age group should learn to be happy in the world of our own creation. Yes, reading books and all that. Why not? And when time permits, we can meditate. We have been moving outside all these years. Let us go within now. Why not? Enjoy the bliss within. Why not? Therefore, Rig Veda tells you how to have a world of your own with meditation, and the contemplation of all these aspects.



MOKSHA IS REALISED BY ONE’S OWN EFFORT

Swami tells us (and this I have not heard from anybody else), there are four objectives in life. What are they? Dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. Dharma is righteousness; artha is money; kama is desire; moksha is liberation. Baba says that the Veda cannot tell you how to attain liberation. The Veda is not competent enough to tell you the technique of moksha, and not sufficient enough to grant you moksha.


Moksha is realised by one’s own effort. You have to realise for yourself. Veda can’t help you. Your mother, father, or guru can’t help you. You have to realise for yourself, with God’s grace. God’s grace is the only thing which will help us experience the state of moksha or liberation.



Another point Swami makes is that the Rig Veda tells us to always be discriminative. Understand what is temporary and what is permanent, what is momentary and what is immortal, what is ephemeral and what is eternal, what is body and what is spirit, what is conscience and what is consciousness, and what is creation and who is the Creator. This is what we call enquiry—vicharana of nithya anithya. Nithya—meaning eternal. Anithya—meaning momentary. Nithya anithya vicharana—enquiry of the momentary and of the eternal.



So always enquire, “Is this permanent? Is this temporary?” That is something one can discover through meditation and through deep contemplation. That’s what Rig Veda wants us to do.



And finally, there are two important parts in Rig Veda. One is Namakam; the other is Chamakam. One says, “I want it, I want it. Please give it, give it, give it.” Chamakam is a part which prays to God: “I want this, I want this, I want this.” Baba gave one example in His discourse. You want water. You pray to God, “Oh Swami, I want water. Not simple water. Cold water! Fridge water!” (Laughter) “Yes, I want it.” And Swami said in His discourse, you want not simply cold water; this time—ice cream at least. (Laughter) Desires multiply. The part of Veda that prays to God so that all that your desires are granted is called Chamakam.



The other part of Veda is Namakam and says, “I don’t want this, I don’t want this. I want You only. So I don’t want these. I want You only.” On the other hand, Chamakam says, “I want everything wholesale.”



So my friends, as promised earlier, I was able to complete this Rig Veda part. Let’s now cover just one or two questions to update myself, because all these things go into the Internet. Those who have sent these questions will be naturally awaiting answers from me. As you know, all these talks are available on the Internet at www.saiwisdom.com . I will answer these questions now, in order to update.



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS


Why did Kaikeyi, WHO LOVED RAMA, send HIM into exile?

Kaikeyi was originally a nice lady with lots of love towards Rama, and who changed her mind against free will. Why did Kaikeyi, who loved Rama so much, decide to send Rama into exile? Rama was to become the king but Kaikeyi prayed that He be sent into the forest. Why did she change her mind?



Also: I try to think about God whenever possible throughout the day