Most Precious Gift Given to us by God

We have to be very, very grateful to God for many reasons. For all those gifts of life, for all the facilities and conveniences, for the whole of creation given to us, we have to remain very grateful to Him. But my friends, there is one most important gift given to us by God, for which we cannot adequately thank Him, because we do not realise the presence of that most precious gift. Some of us get on with life, without knowing the existence of that precious gift.

Some of us ignore that precious gift. Some of us do not make use of that gift at all. But it is a most precious gift. What is it? It’s the gift of intellect, the power of discrimination. The power of intellect and of discrimination given to mankind is the most precious gift. I may not be exercising my discrimination. I may not know its value. But if I am to stand distinct, if I am to stand unique among the different beings of the creation such as birds, bees, animals, and plants, I should make use of this discrimination.

Without exercising this discriminatory capacity—the power of discretion, the strength of intellect—man loses his unique quality. Man loses his unique feature. Man is distinct only because of his intellect. All other qualities, which we are given, we share with the whole of creation. So far as food is concerned, we are not exclusive. Plants also absorb nutrients. Animals partake of food; so also mankind. The need for food, shelter and procreation are the common qualities of all living creatures, and man is no exception.

If man is to be unique, befitting the life of a human being, it is only this gift of intellect that sets him apart from the rest of creation. This gift of discrimination, this most precious gift of life, is that which helps him to know his own true Self, that which helps to know his own identity. An animal does not know that it is an animal. Therefore, animal behavior is tolerated. Birds do not know their nature; therefore their lives can be fairly understood and sympathetically viewed.

DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD

He may be achieving everything in life, yet if man does not know who he is, he cannot be called a true human being, because a human being is the only one in the whole of creation who can know his own true nature. Therefore, to begin with my friends, let me share with you this idea that we have to be very grateful to God for this faculty of discrimination.

Discrimination between good and bad, discrimination between right and wrong, that is what I mean by a higher level of discrimination. It is a higher stage of life, where discrimination helps us to know what is transient, what is eternal, what is ephemeral, and what is immortal. It is discrimination in knowing what is momentary and what is everlasting. This discrimination has to be exercised exactly for this purpose.

For example, I am a rich man, and I own a very big palatial building —a very big building—a ten- bedroom mansion! It has so many acres of land to go with it, such a beautiful landscape! First class bedrooms, well furnished, good mattresses! All rooms are air-conditioned. Yet if I cannot sleep, what is all that furniture for?  What is that mattress for? What is that air conditioning for? That is all waste.

Similarly, my friends, all the wealth of life is meaningless if one does not possess the wealth of the experience of his true nature, his true identity. This is the wealth of wealth, without which the rest of the things do not matter at all. Therefore, Bhagavan always necessarily and emphatically tells us repeatedly in His discourses that, “Man has to know his own true nature."  He tells us that every festival; every holy occasion is meant for this purpose. It is not for some performance and show, nor for aggrandisement, nor careless festivity. The underlying purpose is to know one's own Self.

All spiritual disciplines that we follow, whether repetition of God's name, going through the holy scriptures, listening to the discourses of noble souls, performing rituals like daily prayers, or our experiences in different levels of meditation—these all come down to one important point. Only one objective is there, the bottom line. What is it? Self-realisation. Without self-realisation, all the spiritual activity has not achieved its purpose.

I am not condemning or negating our spiritual activities. We should pray. We should worship. We should meditate. We should study scriptures. What for? For the ultimate purpose of self-realisation. All the other things that we do are a preparation towards that end. The taste of the pudding is in the eating of it. Similarly, it is the experience of the Self, which should be kept in view. In doing so, we will all be following different paths, based on the faith or religion to which we belong.

The second question people may ask is, “Why do all these questions arise if I accept the existence of God?” If a fellow asks me, “Is there a God?” what is my answer?

Baba gives a beautiful answer to that question. "Whether God is there or not, take the question and keep it aside for some time; then ask if you are present or not? Do you exist or not? Why not? Yes, you do exist. Just as you exist, He exists."

RELIGIONS OFFER DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS

The fellow doesn't leave it at that. He puts forth another question. "Why should He exist? I accept that I exist. I know that I exist. Why should He (God) exist?"  The Master gives this reply: "He exists to see that you cannot escape from the consequences of your actions."

You cannot escape from the consequences of your actions. Just as you want to evade income tax, you may try to escape the results of your actions. Others may suggest to you some methods to escape or evade income tax payment. But the highest income tax officer is God, the Eternal Witness. God, as an income tax officer, can be given a name: Yama Dharma Raja. Yama: strict, Dharma: the conduct, Raja: enforcement.

The one who enforces strictly the code of Dharma is Yama Dharma Raja. All your income tax returns are prepared by this pukka accountant. And you cannot say that your entry is forgotten. Because He registers your entries; you don’t submit your entries. If it is given to me, I can make a few entries and I can omit other entries; but He is always noting. He is Chitra Gupta. Chitra— unnoticed, peculiar. Gupta – in secrecy, confidential.

So, Chitra Gupta maintains confidential records of all our deeds: credit, debit, a full pukka balance sheet. And there is Yama Dharma Raja, who sees to it that you cannot escape from the consequences of your actions. Even if you don’t want good results of good actions, you cannot avoid them. Even if you don’t want to face punishment for your bad actions, you cannot run away from it. You have to face it! So, this is the answer that the Master gives: “When you know that you exist, you also know that He exists. The reason He exists is to make you pass through the experiences, the results of your actions.”

Another Master gives another reason. Another answer, a very interesting answer! We have a variety of Masters, seers, sages, saints — all who cater to the requirements of vast humanity. Our temperaments are different. Our attitudes are different. Our habits are different. You cannot give the same formula to everybody, or the same answer to everybody – well, it is rather a question of science and technology, not philosophy. Science has the same answer. Mathematics has the same answer. Technology has the same answer, but philosophy does not give the same answer.

Why?  Philosophy has got its own mould, its own beauty, its own variety, its own adaptability, its own utility, suitable to your various temperaments and attitudes. It can mould everything nicely. That’s the reason why you have a thousand and one interpretations on the Bhagavad Gita, on Ramayana, on Brahma Sutra.

All spiritual scriptures have many interpretations. You cannot say, ‘this is the only path, I alone am right’, unless you are fool number one! That is why Baba has said, “How is it that there are so many religions?” Why? After all, it would have been so convenient had there been just one religion on earth, for the whole of humanity, one sacred book -- very fine and easy.

Being teachers, we say, "We will prepare guides for you, so that you don’t have to read the whole scripture. We will give you summary notes, by dictation!“ Quite possible. But Bhagavan said, “No.” As attitudes are different, temperaments are different. While one interpretation will be convincing to one person, another interpretation will be convincing to the other person. So, the variety in religion is like the variety of flowers in a garden. If the same flowers are present all over the garden, it is boring and vexing. We don't eat the same type of food day and night. We want variety. We don’t wear the same dress throughout our life. Boring! Yes, we do have variety.

Therefore, religions offer different dimensions. Religion is a multi-dimensional approach to human enquiry. Spirituality is a multi-dimensional view of the inner quest; we have got to understand that. Now another Master gives an answer to this man's question. What is the question? “Is there a God?"

The Master tells this: "Boy, if God does not exist, you don’t lose anything. If He exists, and you don't believe it, you lose everything. Because, if you think He is not there, then you can do whatever you like, so you will lose everything. If God does not exist, all right. You don't lose anything. If He exists and you don’t believe, you lose everything. You understand?”

The fellow could understand a little bit of this. Then the Master makes another point: "Look here my child, suppose you are going on a difficult walk. The stones on the road are making the journey a torture. But if you take a good walking stick, it makes life much easier. God is that walking stick."

God may say, “Life becomes burdensome. Life becomes not worth living at certain moments. When you are totally depressed, when you are totally frustrated, when you feel like committing suicide, my son, I am here to build up your spirits, so that you may lead a life of hope. Better to live a life in hope than live a hopeless end! My son, I am here so that you will face all difficulties, all problems with courage, so you don't feel the pain. You don't feel the agony. You don't feel the pinch. Yet you pass through suffering."

“Oh God, yes, I want You to be here with me. Now I understand that You are a bit useful to me during these difficult times in my life. Then, why do I need You in times of pleasure? While I am in pain, You say that You will see to it that I don't feel the pain. OK, I need You now. Now I have no pain. Good-bye. I will call You when I next need You. See you later. Bye.”

EGO IS AN OPEN DOOR FOR ALL BAD THINGS

God will say, "No, my dear son. In times of success, in a series of positive moments of life, there is every danger of being egoistic. You become egoistic. You become headstrong and you ignore people."

Then the fellow says, "Father, what's wrong in being egoistic? Why not? I have achieved success in my life. I am something today. Why can't I be egoistic? Why not? Mine is a genuine ego, a reasonable ego, a rational ego, a scientific ego. Why should it go?”

God says, "My dear son, once ego comes in, once ego steps into your life, then you start acting in a different way. You start committing all manner of crimes, all manner of mistakes, all manner of wrongs. Ego is an open door through which all bad things may enter. Ego is a welcome arch for all nonsensical things to enter into one's life. So, when bad things get in because of ego, we will be committing mistakes more and more. Then again you have to suffer and I have to console you. Then again I have to come to you and give you strength to face the difficulties. My son, don't be egoistic. To see that you will never be arrogant, to see that you will never be egoistic because of your achievements, because of your success in life, you need Me there also. So, my dear son, both in times of pain and pleasure, you need Me. Please understand this. In pleasure, I see to it that you will not be egoistic. It is only in your own interest that I do this for you. While you are in pain, I see to it that you are not frustrated. So, you need Me, My dear son."

“OK, my God, You are speaking to me. Where are You? I want to know Your telephone number, Your e-mail address, and if possible Your cell phone number too!”

God says, "My son you have a single cell to contact this cell number. But you are forgetting the fact. Your body is filled with millions of cells. In every cell, My name is there; My number is there. The body is full of cells. Not a single cell is hanging there, making unnecessary sounds, and spoiling your tranquility. The body is full of cells. You can call Me from any cell. Any cell is enough, My son. If you forget your external cell phone, you cause yourself worry. If the cell phone happens to get lost, you may have to buy a new one. But My cell phone is inside you. Nobody can feel it, yet you cannot forget because My cells are all over your body. Millions of cells are within you. You can contact Me from any cell within you, My son.”

“Oh God, now I understand You!”

Bhagavan Baba says, “Kana kana.” Kana means ‘cell’. “Kana kanamu naku.” In every cell, there is the Divine. Kshana means ‘moment’. Kana is the cell. Baba says, “God is there in kana kana (in every cell) in kshana kshana (in every moment).” What a wonderful God He is! How happy we should be! This truth is not realised because we think that He is far away from us, or because we think that we need Him only at certain times. We think that God is seasonal, accidental, incidental. We do not have that awareness that He is in every cell within us. We do not have that contact, that constant communion with God every moment of our life.

FEEL GOD WITHIN

The devotee poses another question. “God, I have understood all that You said till now. I am convinced that I need You. I am also convinced that You are in me. I know I can contact You within me every moment. Why is it that I do not know that till now? When You are in me, why is it that I did not know? You say that there are millions of cells. You are there in every cell. How is it I do not know?”

The answer is this. God said, “I said I am within you. You are looking on the outside, so how can you see Me? I am telling you that I am within you. You are looking all around, outside of yourself. It is your mistake."

The devotee says, “Oh, God. Now I see! You are within me. You are not outside. Good! Now I can be happy on the outside. You are inside. No problem."

Then God tells him, “When once you know that I am inside, you will see Me outside also. When once you know, when once you experience that I am inside, you will experience Me outside also. If you think I am outside, you cannot see Me inside. If you experience Me within, you will experience Me without.” This is the quintessence of Vedanta philosophy.

The quintessence, the summary of Vedanta is, as Bhagavan says, “My dear son, if you experience Me within, you can experience Me in the outer world, everywhere, at all times."

As we do not have that inner awareness, as we are satisfied with God being on the outside, we make Him seasonal. We consign Him to a festival. We limit Him to an idol, restricted to a temple. God restricted to a temple! Limited to an idol!  We do that because it's always safe. “I will see You on Sunday God, OK? ’Bye now.”

“I will see you on Thursday, Sai Baba! Thursdays seem to be quite precious to You. Same day, same time.”

My friends, is it not so? Therefore Bhagavan Baba’s message to all spiritual seekers is this:  “Feel God inside, so that you can see God outside.”

“How to know You within? How to know You, God? And then why is it I was not able to know You all these years past? Why should I have wasted my time all these years? Should I wait until now for You to tell me that You are within me? After all, do I need You to tell me that there is a pen in my pocket? I am searching for a pen; then somebody comes and says, ‘Mr. Anil Kumar, there is a pen in your pocket.’ “

IT IS THE MIND WHICH IS DEFECTIVE

All right, even if you don’t tell me that a pen is there, because of my movements I may suddenly touch my pocket and feel the pen. Or else, if I go home and stand in front of the mirror, I will find my pen. Sometime or other, I will notice my pen, whether you tell me now or not. So when God is within me, how is it that I do not know? Why should I wait for a guru or a Master to tell me?

I can say, “Why don’t I see that? Some thing must be wrong with my eyesight! Why don’t I hear You, God? Something must be wrong with my ears. Why don’t I see within? Something is wrong. What is it?”

When I am not able to see you clearly, you will say, “Mr. Anil Kumar, get your eye sight corrected. Go to an eye specialist.” If I say I am not able to hear, you say, “Please consult the ENT (Ear Nose Throat) surgeon.” There are people to see in order to have all these sense organs in good working order. But when I am not able to see within myself, what is wrong? What is my mistake?

Is it an eyesight problem? No. Because it lies within. It’s not an eyesight problem.

Is it a hearing problem? No. What is the problem? The answer is very simple: the mind.

It is the mind, which is defective. It is the mind, which is responsible for the non-experience of the Self within. I am not able to experience the Self within. I am not able to know God within. The reason is the mind. Because of the mind, I am not going to go within.

“Oh, God!” I say. “There is another problem now. Mind is not outside; mind is within only. Mind, which is inside, can’t find out what is present inside. Mind, which is present inside the body, can’t notice that which is also inside. How can the mind be the culprit? How can You say that the mind is a criminal now? Why do You blame the mind?” The answer is simple: Though the mind is inside, it is thinking only of outside matters.

Oh, I see.  I sit there for meditation; my mind immediately goes to New York. Mind immediately runs to the bus station, the railway station, the canteen, stores, friends, reservation tickets, flights, visas. Tonight I have a mosquito problem. Or, is this a pizza day or not? Yes, I am seated here comfortably. The door is bolted from inside. Yes, my eyes are closed, and ears are plugged. The mind is inside my head, but I am not able to quieten the mind. The mind is inside, but all these thoughts are focused outside only. Mind is an open market. Mind is a departmental store -- the biggest mall in this universe!

INTELLECT WILL CORRECT THE MIND

So, the mind is the biggest mall in the universe. God has made a wonderful mall here. At least the malls on the outside have a schedule. They remain open for some time, but they are closed at other times. However, this mall in the mind is always open -- no limitations. Everything is on sale, so that you can buy anything, anytime.

                                                                                              

My friends, it is very clear now. That which is not helping me, that which is defective, that which is really my enemy, that which does not help me to go within, that which is not co-operating with me, that which has become an obstacle, that which has become a curtain between me and my God within, is my mind.

Therefore, the only sadhana in this world, no matter which religion we may belong to, is this. The only sadhana that has to be taken up by everybody, by any age group is this: learn to withdraw the mind, to control the mind, to remove the mind, to pacify the mind, to silence the mind, to drop the curtain of the mind. As long as that is not being done, one cannot experience the Divinity within.

God says, “My son, you are able to see everything outside of yourself, because I have given you eyes, and I have given you ears. And when you are not able to see anything outside, you are able to correct yourself. You are able to medicate yourself. You are able to get yourself treated because of science, experts, and doctors available. But you are not able to see Me within, because the defective mind is there within you.”

And who is to treat that defective mind? Not the psychiatrist. Psychiatrist adds to the problem, because he demands a bill also! Psychiatrist cannot solve the problem. Who can solve the problem of the mind being an obstacle between my God and me? My mind is an iron curtain between my God and me. Mind is the biggest barrier between my Self and me. Who is to treat that mind? What treatment can be given?

That treatment is called enquiry, or vichara. Where is it available? Eye ointment is available in that medical supply shop. Eardrops are available in that medical supplies shop. Yes, there are certain things that I can get. I can get hearing aids, earphones, and glasses. What about enquiry? Where is that available?

God says, “There is the intellect, which I have given you. That intellect will correct the mind.” I see. “Does the intellect exist?” That is the real tragedy. The real tragedy is that we do not know of the existence of the intellect. Therefore, mind is our master, making us dance like anything.

INTELLECT IS THE REFLECTION OF THE SELF

God says, “There is the intellect above the mind, and that intellect will be able to treat this mind. A doctor alone can treat a patient. A teacher alone can teach a student. An expert can teach a person who wants to learn, who wants to be an expert in his own right. Who can treat the mind? The intellect should treat the mind.”

Why only the intellect? Because intellect is the reflection of the Self. These are all the statements given by Bhagavan, which I am trying to put in a dramatic way. That’s what a teacher does. That’s all. So, the Self is reflected. The reflection of the Self is called intellect. The intellect is closer to the Self. Intellect is directly exposed to the Self. Therefore, it has got the eligibility to correct the mind, to rectify the defects of the mind, to treat this mind, which is sick.

“Oh I see. How is intellect able to correct the mind? What is its power?”

Intellect has got the power of discrimination. That intellect only will help you to discriminate, to enquire. Therefore it has got the capacity to correct the mind.

“How does it correct? Has it a cane? Or any prescribed syllabus? How many hours does it need? What does the intellect charge—$250 per hour?  How does the intellect correct the mind?”

Simple. Intellect only expects the mind to turn towards it. That’s all. Here is a simple example. What should I do to have my picture taken by a camera? Should I fight with the lens? Or should I manhandle the photographer? Or should I go on changing my outfit? Should I do some exercises? What should I do? The photographer says, “Only turn towards the lens.” He will then have a good picture. That’s all! There is no point in struggling in the other direction. Turn towards the lens, that’s all. Yes, now your picture is there. Similarly, the intellect expects the mind to turn towards it.

“I see. Has it not turned that way till now?” No. “How do you know?” The picture will tell you. Supposing the photographer shows my picture to me, what do I see? I see my back. I cannot sue the photographer in the court. Can I sue him? Or should I kick him? No. He will say, “I never thought that you would be mad. I am sorry. You did not turn towards the camera. So, I could not take the picture. You are responsible. So, you had better behave yourself in front of the camera hereafter.”

Similarly, the mind is turned towards the outside. How do you know? All the worries, anxieties, botherations, troubles and tribulations, agitations, disturbances, restlessness, sleeplessness, tension and pressures occur because of the mind, which is focused outward. I am wealthy, but not happy. The outward-looking mind is the cause. I am healthy, but I am not happy. Outward mind is the culprit. I am influential, but I am not happy. Outward mind is responsible. We have everything in this world. Not happy? Mind outside is responsible.

So, you don’t need any proof. You don’t need any detective or police force to prove this fact. The fact is that your face is a castor oil face, (as Baba says). Your face looks very much troubled, frightened, fear-stricken. That is enough to know that you are completely focused on the world outside.

But a mind turned towards the intellect, a mind turned inward, is calm, peaceful, blissful, equanimous, balanced. A mind turned outward is disturbed, agitated, and full of tension, worked up. Mind turned inward is peaceful, restful, and blissful. So, our condition will itself tell us whether the mind is outward or inward.

Now, when once the mind turns outward, how to turn it inward? When the mind is outward, we get troubles and worries. When one praises me, yes, I am very happy. If one does not praise me, I see to it that he had better start. Until he does, I won’t leave him! (Laughter) I go on giving my bio data. He says, “Good to see you.” But I am not glad to see him until he says, “I have not met a person like you until now." So I go on telling him all the details, and all the achievements of my life.

These are all expressions of the mind. Such a mind, how to turn inward? I know the advantages of the inward mind also. How do you know these advantages without turning inward? How do you know that inward mind will make you happy? Who told you? Our daily experiences tell us. When I am awake, I am happy and unhappy. When I am awake, I am joyful and miserable. When I am awake, I think. I have both experiences of positivity and negativity when I am awake.

While you are in deep sleep, are you dancing? No. Are you singing? No. Are you happy? You don’t know. Are you unhappy? Certainly not. What are you, when you are sleeping? I am I. What are you? I am I. In deep sleep, the mind is inward. Mind is passive. Mind is silenced. An Alsatian dog, tamed and well trained by the master, sits down just like that when told to. If the master allows the dog to dance about, he will never find a place to make that dog sit down. Similarly, once the mind is silenced, when it is not active, as in deep sleep, then we are in bliss.

I can be crying all day long; but when I go to sleep, the next morning, I get up feeling very fresh. Somebody says, “You were crying last night. How come you look so fresh?” I say, “I had a good sleep; therefore I look fresh. It is true that I cried last night. After deep sleep, I am refreshed.” In the state of deep sleep, the mind is silenced; the mind is withdrawn.

MEDITATION IS TURNING THE MIND INWARD

Therefore, the inward mind, the silenced mind gives us happiness, which is our daily experience in our deep sleep state. Now, how to turn the outward mind inward? What pressure should I resort to? Do I need a crane to turn it inward? Or a grinder to churn it? What do I need? Turning or churning?  God says, “No, no, no, my dear son, this art of turning the mind inward is called meditation. Meditation is the art of turning the mind inward.”

“I see, I have not been thinking thus. Till now, I have been thinking that meditation is concentrating on God’s form in a temple. I am thinking that meditation is concentrating on the cross, on the crucifix, as I find it in a church. I have been thinking that meditation is concentrating on Krishna’s form – constantly, repetitively.”

“No, my dear son. If you just concentrate on Krishna’s form and think it is meditation, where is the guarantee that you will not concentrate on a film star tomorrow? A film actress of your choice?”

Tomorrow I may be concentrating on a film actress. Shall I say this is meditation? No. So, is meditation the constant thought, constant thinking of a name and form? Today, you may think of the name and form of God. Tomorrow you may think of a name and form of a film actor or a political leader. It is not meditation. Meditation is turning the mind inward.

What happens, when the mind turns inward? What happens? Once the mind turns inward, it gets silenced. It becomes inactive. When I see Bhagavan sitting in front of the mandir, all my thoughts are controlled, all my body movements are under check. When I am elsewhere, I can move my body any way I like.

When you are sitting by Swami's side, like a military man, you should know how to behave yourself. Otherwise you will be running a Divine risk. You have to be very cautious about your body language. You have to be extremely cautious about the words you use. The Divine Master is there, so you must have full control! So, as you translate His words, you should be noticing, yes, how far have you been able to communicate on the same wavelength, to His expected standards? His very Presence regulates your talk. His very Presence regulates your movements. His very Presence regulates your gestures.

Similarly, when the mind turns inward, it gets silenced. It is active when it is outward. The moment I go to Prashanti Nilayam, ah! Every fellow is very loving towards me, very cooperative! The moment they leave me at the gate, “Sai Ram” – “Ah, Sai Ram.” (Laughter) What happened to them? Within the Presence, you are all so loving, so smiling – “Sai Ram sir, come in sir.” Then when I am outside Prashanti Nilayam, when I say, “Sai Ram”, everyone is gone! (Laughter)

Similarly, once the mind turns inward, it becomes silenced. It becomes inactive. It gets nullified. It becomes empty. It becomes an abyss. It becomes void, powerless. Then the curtain drops. You can have the vision of the Divine. Vision Divine – experience it within. Manifestation of the Divinity is realised within. The consciousness, the awareness is within. Therefore, mind withdrawal is the litmus test. Thoughtlessness is the acid test. Passivity of the mind is the aim of meditation.

So, meditation will help us to turn the mind inward, that it may be thus dissolved. Then you can experience the Divinity within. That’s what Vedanta philosophy teaches us. That’s what Bhagavan tells us in so many Vahinis. He doesn’t mince words. He tells you clearly. But Bhagavan makes another point here.

Yes, I think I am leading a good life. I think I am leading a disciplined life. I think I am leading a religious life. But some thoughts come now and then, which are bad thoughts, which are evil thoughts. Though I am a perfect man now, though I am leading a good, disciplined life now, some thoughts start arising within me, which are bad thoughts. Why?

A simple example – a floppy computer disk has got two important things recorded on it. What are they? One is a file containing my past lives. Another file is of the present life. Both are there in the computer floppy as files. So put it in the computer, and then bring up the files on the screen. The screen is the mind. The computer floppy is nothing but the samskara. Samskaras are the traits of the past life and also the present, here in this floppy.

Then a thought appears on the screen of my mind. The computer will be registering all that I feed into it now, and also all the recordings of the past. All those things I entered as ‘saved’ in the computer are the past life samskaras.  So, my friends, all that is saved in the computer of human life, saved in the computer files, are the samskaras of the past lives. Whatever you are typing now on the keyboard, whatever is stored now, here after are the present samskaras.

So, some people say, “Sir, I am very good; I am very religious. Why are bad thoughts coming to me?”

I say, “Go open the file (of your past lives). From that opened file, things are appearing on the screen.”

“So, what should I do now, sir? What should I do?”

“Let all the bad things in the past life appear on the screen. What do you do now? Delete! Hit the delete button! They are gone. Delete. When once you press the delete key, it is gone. It will go into the recycle bin now.”

“Sir, if it is there, it may come back any time.”

“Don’t worry! Shift and delete; it will go once and for all! (Laughter) Totally gone!”

Therefore, all those things that come into the mind from the past life may be deleted, and that delete button is the intellect on the keyboard of our life. And delete once and for all; no sending to the recycle bin. Delete once and for all!

As for those actions, which you are now doing, you are typing them onto the keyboard now. See that you correct your typing well. See that you type nicely. See that you don’t make any mistakes. The margins left and right should be correct. Put in bullets, point after point at the centre of the page. Be careful that the present actions are programmed in a correct way. The present life is programming; the past life is a recording.

This we have to understand. As Bhagavan says, “Human temperaments, human behavior neither depends on the past, or the present or both.” So, past things don't come into the picture. We will be directing our actions and thoughts from now on.

How do you know? I am a good man, but a bad thought has just come up in my mind. It is from my previous life. So, the thoughts that come within us will always tell us whether they are of the present or of the past.