Lord Buddha HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS STUDY GUIDE - Buddha Poornima 2021 - Sri Sathya Sai ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Lord Buddha
HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS
STUDY GUIDE
Buddha Poornima
2021
Table of Contents
Buddha’s Life 3
Buddha’s Teachings 5
Samyak Darsanam..................................................................................5
Samyak Vachanam..................................................................................6
Samyak Karma and Samyak Sādhana..................................................... 7
Ahimsa....................................................................................................8
Good Company.......................................................................................8
Happiness – the Natural Condition of Man............................................8
Body is a Water Bubble – Attitude Determines One’s Actions................9
Buddha Poornima Sadhana 10
Resolve to Follow Buddha’s Teachings.................................................. 10
True Individuality of Man.....................................................................10
Buddha’s Stories 10
Buddhist Prayers 11
Triratna Saranam – Swami’s Proclamation........................................... 13
The Gift Swami Wants.......................................................................... 14
Reflection Questions 14Buddha’s life
Although all Avatāras (divine advents) have all precautions to see that his son did not step
been preaching only good things, men today out of the palace and get into the company of
are content to observe their birthdays with- others, lest he should be influenced by them.
out following their precepts. Buddha did not Thus, he protected his son from the influence
attach any importance to yajñas and yāgas of others for twenty long years.
and other religious rituals. The reason is he Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 39/Ch. 9,
13 May 2006
felt that it was more important to ensure that
the five sense organs were pure to begin with. One day, the parents of a girl came to Śud-
Buddha sought to find out why the mind gets dhodana and expressed their wish to give
disturbed. their daughter in marriage to his son Sid-
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 39/Ch. 13, dhārtha. The name of the girl was Yaśodharā.
15 May 1997 Śuddhodana accepted their proposal and
King Śuddhodana and his wife Māyādevī per- performed the marriage of Siddhārtha with
formed many spiritual austerities such as japa Yaśodharā. Owing to their loving insistence,
(soft repetition of the name), tapas (austerities), Siddhārtha continued to stay with his parents
vratas (vows), and yajñas (rituals) for years to- in the palace even after the marriage. One
gether with an aspiration to have a son. They year after the marriage, he begot a son, who
also consulted many astrologers. Śuddhodana was named Rahul. Both the husband and wife
had no peace of mind, because the worry of not spent their time happily with their son.
having an heir to the throne haunted him day In spite of all the comforts of the palace and
and night. At last their prayers were answered happy married life, Gautama’s mind became
when Māyādevī gave birth to a son at Lumbini. restless when he saw people afflicted with old
Unfortunately, Māyādevī died soon after age, disease, and death after he ventured out
giving birth to her son who was named Sid- of the palace one day. One night, there was a
dhārtha. Gautamī, the second wife of Śud- sudden transformation in his mind. While his
dhodana, brought up the child with loving wife was fast asleep, he got up at midnight, ca-
care like her own son. That is why he was also ressed his son, and left for the forest. He had to
called Gautama. The astrologers predicted that undergo numerous hardships and difficulties
Siddhārtha would not rule the kingdom; he in the forest. But he faced all ordeals with for-
would leave the kingdom and become a renun- bearance and determination. His parents were
ciant. The prediction of astrologers was always immersed in sorrow, unable to bear the pangs
ringing in Śuddhodana’s ears and caused him of separation from their son. Though Sid-
anxiety as he watched his son grow. He took dhārtha was also undergoing a lot of anguish,
Buddha Poornima 2021 | 3he marched on his path of attaining self-real- tary). “Sarvam nāśyam, nāśyam” (everything is
ization. perishable). Buddha felt that nothing was truly
During the course of his journey, he met a holy lasting. Parents were subjecting their children
man. The holy man told him that the cause of to various kinds of bonds and making their
his anguish was actually within him, and it lives miserable. As soon as the children come
was his anguish that was coming in the way of age the parents are keen to get them mar-
of his self-realization. So saying, he gave him ried. They do not know what kind of happiness
a talisman for protection and asked him to he can get from married life. What happiness
wear it around his neck. (At this point of time, have they derived from their own married life
Bhagawan materialized that talisman and physically, mentally or otherwise? No person,
showed it to the congregation amidst a thun- however intelligent, thinks about this matter.
derous applause). This was the talisman given Even eminent scholars do not care to examine
by the sage to Siddhārtha. When Siddhārtha whether it is worthwhile pursuing sensuous
put it around his neck, all his anguish disap- pleasures instead of seeking what is beyond
peared instantaneously. Till the last moment the senses. Buddha felt intensely unhappy that
of his earthly sojourn, Buddha had the talis- his parents and others combined to commit
man around his neck. When he shed his mor- him to the bondage of married life. One day,
tal coil, the talisman disappeared. at midnight, Buddha left the palace, giving up
his wife and young son, Rahul.
Siddhārtha started doing intense penance,
which went on for a long time. He kept ques- He abandoned everything out of the convic-
tioning himself, “Who am I? Am I the body? tion: “There is no mother or father, no kins-
Am I the mind? Am I the buddhi (intellect)? Am man or friend, no home or wealth. Awaken
I the chitta (mind-stuff)?” He came to the con- yourself!” He resolved to find out something
clusion that he was none of these. Ultimately, which transcends all worldly relationships and
he experienced the truth, “I am I.” pleasures. Buddha asked himself: “What is this
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 39/Ch. 9, life? Birth is misery. Old age is misery. Wife is a
13 May 2006 cause of sorrow. There is misery at the end of
The name given to Buddha at the time of birth life. Therefore, be alert and awake.” Happiness
was Sarvārtha Siddha. Śuddhodana got his son is not to be found in any of the things of the
married to Yaśodharā, daughter of his broth- world. Everything is fleeting. Man is wasting
er-in-law, Śuddhabuddha. He was apprehen- his life in the pursuit of petty ephemeral plea-
sive that his son may become a recluse and sures. Nirvāṇa is the only truth. It is the sense
turn away from the world if he was left to him- of oneness with all life. To turn the mind to-
self. But Buddha did not feel that a married wards that which is permanent is Nirvāṇa. Be-
life was the proper thing for him. Buddha felt fore he attained Nirvāṇa, Buddha summoned
that man was bound by various attachments his stepbrother Anandabuddha. Buddha’s
in worldly life. Friends and relations were mother Māyādevī passed away on the seventh
the cause of this bondage. Various human re- day after his birth. Śuddhodana’s second wife
lationships were the cause of sorrow in the Gautamī, brought up the child. Because he was
world. So he declared: “Sarvam duhkham, duh- brought up by Gautamī, he was named Gauta-
kham” (All is sorrow) He also declared: “Sarvam ma Buddha. At the age of 28, he gave up ev-
kshaṇikam, kshaṇikam” (everything is momen- erything and turned a renunciant. What is
4 | Buddha Poornima 2021the significance of this step? Buddha declared: gacchāmi.” What is this Dharma? “Ahimsa para-
“Sangam śaraṇam gacchāmi”, “Hands in the so- modharmah.” Dharma means causing no harm
ciety, head in the forest.” He renounced ev- to anyone.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 30/Ch. 13,
erything to think about promoting the well- 15 May 1997
are of society. He declared: “Dharmam śaraṇam
Buddha’s teachings
The teachings of Buddha are lofty, sublime, When one’s thoughts are centered on God,
and sacred. Buddha asserted this with great one’s feelings, speech, and actions get sanc-
emphasis and force. Buddha also advised that tified – samyak bhāvam, samyak śravaṇam and
one’s looks must be sacred. He said, “Sacred vi- samyak kriya. This leads to the purity of the
sion is a must for leading a pure life. You should inner sense organs. Purity in thought, word,
cultivate samyak drishṭi (the habit of looking and deed is the requisite for experiencing the
only at good things) and samyak śravaṇam (the Divine. This triple purity is considered the es-
habit of listening only to good things).” For sence of humanness. Buddha relied entirely
Buddha, everything had to be pure and sacred. on his own inner quest to experience his real-
If you throw a pebble into a well, ripples are ity because he found that scriptural texts and
created and these travel up to the edge of the preceptors were of no use.
well. In the same way, if you throw a pebble Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 3,
11 May 1998
called good thought into the well called the
heart, the ripples generated travel throughout
the body. When the ripple reaches the eye, it Samyak Darsanam
stimulates pure vision. When the ripple reach- Buddha declared that the first requisite is
es the ear, it tunes the latter to sacred sounds.samyak darśanam (having the right vision). The
When the ripple reaches the hands, it swings implication of this statement is that, having
them into good action. In this manner, when been bestowed with the great gift of eyes, man
the ripples spread across the entire body, there should use them for seeing sacred objects and
is a symphony of sacred activity all round. holy beings. But, on the contrary, by using his
Thus, good and noble thoughts are fundamen- eyes to look at unsacred objects and evil per-
tal to sacred activity. sons, man fills himself with bad thoughts and
Summer Showers 2000, Ch. 8, becomes a prey to evil tendencies. What one
21 May 2000 sees influences the feelings in the heart. The
state of the heart determines the nature of
one’s thoughts. The thoughts influence one’s
life.
Buddha Poornima 2021 | 5Hence to lead a good life the first requisite is Buddha realized that self-realization cannot be
a pure vision. Man has to cultivate sacred out- attained through penance or prayers or aus-
look. As a result of looking at cruel, ugly, and terities. At the outset, Buddha emphasized the
wicked scenes man leads an animal existence. importance of developing good vision (samyak
The very first inquiry one should make is to drishṭi). Good vision leads to good thoughts,
ascertain what is pure, edifying, and godly good speech and good action.
that he should see. Whatever he sees leaves its Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 23,
11 May 1998
imprint on man. Few realize the effects of this.
Human life today is racked by anxiety, misery,
Samyak Vachanam
unrest and troubles of various kinds. The root
From developing sacred vision, man should
cause of all this is that man is witnessing what
proceed to samyak vachanam (sacred speech).
is repulsive, wicked and demeaning. For trans-
Buddha declared that only sacred thoughts
forming one’s life, the first requisite is a proper
could lead to sacred speech. Buddha declared
vision. The eye (netra) is comparable to a spiri-
that the tongue should not be used recklessly
tual text (śastra) and one’s vision (drishṭi) deter-
to utter whatever one thinks. The tongue has
mines one’s views of the cosmos (srishṭi). Hence
been given to speak the truth, to expatiate on
to acquire the highest knowledge one has to
what is sacred and pure. The tongue has not
purify the vision. This means one should avoid
been given to man to pamper the palate with
seeing what is obnoxious. One should strive to
delicious sweets. It is not given for talking as
see only that which is sacred and pure. What
one likes. It is not to be used for causing dis-
man sees is like seeds sown in the heart. Evil
pleasure to others. Nor is it to be used for in-
scenes give rise to evil thoughts. Good scenes
dulging in falsehood. The tongue has been giv-
evoke good thoughts. When sacred scenes are
en to man to speak the truth, to be sweet to
implanted in the heart there will be no room
others, to praise the Divine and enjoy the bliss
for bad feelings or thoughts to grow in the
derived from such sacred speech.
heart.
There are people who devote their entire time
This was the first lesson Buddha taught. Bud-
to reading all kinds of books, without trying
dha wandered all over the country in search
to put into practice what they learn from such
of spiritual peace and liberation. After many
reading. What is the use of such reading? Bud-
years of inquiry he came to the conclusion
dha spoke out against scholarship unrelated
that the secret of spiritual wisdom was not to
to the good life. He carried out a great deal of
be got from scholars or by study. He realized
study and met many great men. He listened to
that spiritual understanding could only come
many discourses. He realized that true knowl-
from mastery of the senses.
edge could not be got by these means. He re-
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 3,
5 February 1998 alized that a pure, unsullied consciousness
confers the highest knowledge. True knowl-
edge is derived from a pure inner conscious-
ness (antahkaraṇa). This year 1998 is dedicated
to Peace. How is this Peace to be achieved? The
first requisite is purification of one’s vision.
The second requisite is the cultivation of sa-
6 | Buddha Poornima 2021cred feelings within, which will be conducive practiced maunam. We should not allow the
to purity in speech. Harmony will promote a mind to go wherever it likes and do whatever
climate of peace. The well being of society is it likes. We should not allow the mind to rid-
bound up with the transformation of the in- icule, hurt and hate others. If you hurt any-
dividuals composing it. Righteous individuals body, you will be hurt ten times more. You may
alone can build a righteous community. A pure take pride that you have abused somebody. But
mind is essential for pure thoughts, pure vi- there will come somebody who will abuse you
sion and pure speech. also some day. The sin you commit today will
The country today has plenty of persons who bring retribution to you later amplified mani-
talk a great deal and display book knowledge, fold.
but do not practice even a fraction of what The joy you get by singing Bhajans and by per-
they have read or speak about. It is such people forming worship is temporary. But you will get
who are responsible for the lamentable plight eternal joy by experiencing the Soham Mantra.
of the nation. Soham is also known as Hamsa Gayatri. “So”
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 3, means “That” (God), “Ham” means “I am”. “I
5 February 1998
am That” is the meaning of Soham. You should
Watch whether you are speaking good or bad. experience it with every breath. When you
Watch whether you abuse others or appreciate breathe in, you listen to the sound “So” and
them. You should not use your tongue to abuse while exhaling, you hear the sound “Ham”.
others. Abusing others is a sin. Do not let your Watch your breath carefully and experience
tongue indulge in such sins. You cannot escape the reality of Soham with every breath.
the consequences of your sinful acts. Every- Summer Showers 2002, Ch. 11,
thing has reaction, reflection and resound and 26 May 2002
it comes back to you in some form or the other.
Hence, exercise control over the tongue. Samyak Karma
Buddha observed maunam and became qui-
and Samyak Sādhana
Buddha emphasized goodness in action (samyak
et. Every sacred act has manifold rewards. By
karma). The mark of good action is harmony
being quiet, Buddha began to experience So-
in thought, word, and deed. When there is no
ham within him. You may chant the Names
such harmony, the action belies what is said or
of Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Buddha and Sai
thought.
to steady your mind. Once the mind becomes
steady, you do not need to chant. Observe totalBuddha went on to declare that good action is
conducive to good spiritual progress (samyak
silence. That is why it is said, silence is golden.
Once words become less, the activities and va- sādhana). Good deeds constitute genuine spir-
garies of the mind also become less. As words ituality. Mere formal worship or ritualistic
increase, the vagaries of the mind also in- practices do not constitute spiritual striving.
crease. Annihilate the mind by quietude. How- These religious practices are good in a way. But
ever, it is easier said than done. they do not constitute spiritual sādhana. True
spirituality consists in the unity of thought,
Man may die but the mind will not die. The
word and deed in all their purity and sacred-
mind vanishes when words vanish from it. Ob-
ness.
serving maunam (silence) is one of the ways of
silencing the mind. That is why our ancients
Buddha Poornima 2021 | 7Buddha declared that when spiritual striv- Good Company
ing of this nature has been completed, there He laid stress on association with good peo-
is samyak jīvanam (leading a pure life). This is ple. The company of the good leads to good
how the five organs of perception (panchen- deeds. The four rules to be observed are: culti-
driyas) should be used to achieve the supreme vate good company, avoid association with evil
goal of life. Good vision, good thoughts, good persons, do meritorious deeds always, and re-
speech, good deeds and good spiritual endeav- member what is transient and what is eternal.
or are the prerequisites for a good life (samyak Good company does not mean merely associa-
jīvanam). tion with good people. Sat refers to the Divine.
In this context, the meaning of spiritual striv- What is required is to seek the company of
ing should be properly understood. Essential- God, who is the source of all bliss.
ly spiritual striving calls for the shedding of Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 23.
11 May 1998
all bad qualities and the cultivation of good
thoughts. Spiritual sādhana means cultivating
good thoughts and undertaking good deeds. Happiness – the Natural
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 3, Condition of Man
5 February 1998 “It seems to me that you are grieving over the
exalted state that is impending for me. No hu-
Ahimsa man being should shed tears over the moment
Buddha taught that we should not have an- of death of any person. Tears are associated
ger, we should not find others’ faults, and we with the Divine and should be shed only for
should not harm others, because all are the the sake of the Divine and not for trivial mat-
embodiments of pure, eternal principle of the ters. You should shed tears of joy. Grief is not a
Atma. Have compassion toward the poor and proper state for man. Hence no tears of sorrow
help them to the extent possible. Understand should be shed.” Here is an illustration from
and respect this underlying principle of unity our daily experience. While going in a bazar,
and Divinity in all and experience bliss. if a person sees someone crying he asks him,
“Why are you crying?” Other passersby also
Do not have such narrow considerations as so
question him. If in the same bazar another
and so is your friend, so and so is your enemy,
person is going about in a jolly mood, no one
so and so is your relation, etc. All are one, be
goes to him to inquire the cause of his happi-
alike to everyone. That is your primary duty.
ness.
This is the most important teaching of Bud-
dha. Happiness is considered to be natural condi-
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 39/Ch. 9, tion of man. He seeks it all the time. Sorrow
13 May 2006
is repugnant to man. It is a weakness of man
to give room to grief. By falling prey to grief
in many lives, man is perpetually plunged in
sorrow.
For a person who has firm faith in God, there
will be no cause for sorrow. Those who give
way to sorrow are persons who have not un-
derstood the Divine Principle. God is one.
8 | Buddha Poornima 2021He appears to people in different names and Buddha recommended a lifestyle which fol-
forms. Failing to recognize that God is one, lowed all these eight principles:
people suffer from many difficulties. They 1. Right Understanding Or Vision
worship God as Allah, Buddha, Rama, Krishna, 2. Right Thought Or Feelings
Jesus, etc. These names have been given after
3. Right Speech
their advent in the world and these are not in-
4. Right Action
herent in them. The names are of passing sig-
nificance. 5. Right Livelihood
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 23. 6. Right Effort
11 May 1998
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
Body is a Water Bubble –
Attitude Determines One’s Swami emphasized that the first three steps
Actions are the most crucial ones as they are funda-
Buddha left his home in quest of the secret of mental to everyone’s development. Without
ananda. In his wanderings, he saw a dead body, proper practice of the first three steps there
an old man, and a sick person. will not be development of the others. When-
ever we achieve something at one step, we are
These painful sights made him to enquire
also elevated at the other levels too.
deeply. He realized that death could not be
Heart 2 Heart, Vol. 4,
avoided. Old age also is inescapable, being the June 2006
natural culmination of childhood, youth, and
middle age. Such changes form part and parcel
of the physical world, which itself is ephemer-
al. These changes are natural, and one must
not be perturbed or agitated by them. Buddha
asked himself, “What is the cause of death?
Why do old age and sickness come upon hu-
mans?” After much pondering, Buddha con-
cluded that the body is just like a water bubble,
while the sickness of the body has its origin in
the mind. In modern parlance, the psychologi-
cal attitude of a person determines his actions
and behavior.
Summer Showers 2000, Ch. 8,
21 May 2000
Buddha Poornima 2021 | 9Buddha Poornima Sādhana
You have come to experience the joy of partic- ruin. What is the use of mere study? Do these
ipating in the Buddha Poornima celebrations. scholars practice even a bit of what they have
You need not have come all the way from your studied? Hardly. Scholarship will not protect
distant places. Buddhi represents the intellect. or redeem you; only pure love can.
That intellect must be used properly. Then you Summer Showers 2000, Ch. 8,
21 May 2000
will realize what is implied in Buddhism.
People talk about spiritual exercises and waste
Resolve to Follow
their lives. All these pursuits are waste of time.
Buddha’s Teachings
It is enough if you develop sacred feelings. The
You must resolve to follow the teachings of
chief sādhana (spiritual exercise) consists of
Buddha. He was a noble soul. The best way of
getting rid of bad thoughts and cultivating
celebrating Buddha Poornima is to put into
good qualities. Whatever pilgrim center you
practice the teachings of this holy one. It is not
may visit, try to shed your bad tendencies. De-
enough to be happy just on this festival day.
velop good qualities instead.
By constantly re-living the experience of this
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 23,
11 May 1998 holy day, you must experience joy all the time.
The cow first grazes; it then sits down quiet-
ly to chew thoroughly what it had eaten earli-
Start the day with Love
er. If an animal can do this, can not a human
Spend the day in Love
do the same with respect to the teachings he
End the day in love
acquires? When you get back home, ruminate
This is the way to God
over what you have learnt today. Recall re-
Therefore, starting from today the auspicious peatedly the experiences you have had today.
day of Buddha Poornima, vigorously develop This is the way to digest what you have learnt
your love for God. Propagate and spread self- and also be happy. It is only when you do this
less love. There can be no greater spiritual that your journey to this place would become
preaching than love. The study of scriptures worthwhile. You should not forget the lessons
can make a person scholarly [in the worldly the moment you leave from here.
sense] but not wise. Who is a true scholar? Who Summer Showers 2000, Ch. 8
is the truly wise one? He who has perfect equa- 21 May 2000
nimity and is equal minded under all circum-
stances alone can be described as scholarly and True Individuality of Man
wise. They pore over books, claim to have mas- Transformation at individual level is absolute-
tered all the texts, and proclaim themselves to ly essential. But today, man is wasting his time
be highly learned. Such self-praise and self-ac- in evil practices. He indulges in unholy activi-
claim are a sure sign of ego. Ego is very dan- ties day in and day out. He demeans himself by
gerous because it drags one with certainty to his evil habits. He kills animals and eats their
10 | Buddha Poornima 2021flesh. Instead of purifying his mind, he debases being i.e. the body. The Chaitanya (Divine Con-
it by taking intoxicants. He defiles time, which sciousness) latent in every human being is his
is the very form of Divinity, by gambling. He true individuality. This consciousness should
nurtures evil qualities by indulging in evil ac- be put on the right track.
tivities. In addition to this, he involves himself Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 32/Ch. 13,
28 April 1999
in demeaning activities like stealing and den-
igrating others. He reads vulgar books, which Embodiments of Love! It is not enough to be
generate evil thoughts and violent feelings in happy just on this day of Buddha Poornima.
him. As he indulges more and more in wick- You must be able to experience bliss all the
ed activities, he also pollutes and corrupts the time, and you can do so by following the teach-
society. When individuals take to evil ways, ings of Buddha.
the entire society degenerates. Teaching and These days, people are great heroes in making
propagation of spirituality is essential for the platform speeches but zeroes when it comes to
purification of the individual and the society. practice. It is far more important to translate
What is spirituality? That which destroys Buddha’s teachings into practice than to make
man’s animal nature, nurtures humanness, eloquent speeches. This is the proper way to
and finally transforms him into a Divine being enjoy happiness. This is also the right way of
is spirituality. Worshipping, singing devotion- showing respect and reverence for Buddha.
al songs, and performing rituals are acts of Such are the great teachings of Buddha. What
secondary importance. They cannot be identi- is your response to them? No doubt you all
fied with true spirituality. The word SAI spells read books containing Buddha’s teachings.
out to the world the significance of transfor- But the moment the book is put down, all the
mation at three levels. The letter S stands for teachings are forgotten. Remember it is only
transformation at spiritual level, A for trans- when the sandalwood is continuously ground
formation at association (social) level, and I for that the fragrance can be experienced. It is
transformation at the individual level. only when sugarcane is well chewed that the
Individual transformation is the basis for the sweetness can be experienced in full measure.
other two. Therefore, this is the first step. But, In the same way, it is only the continued and
these days, the word individual is not proper- the sustained practice of sacred teachings that
ly understood. You usually take only the hu- can lead to Bliss. Great people of the past have
man form into consideration and identify it left behind innumerable teachings that must
with an individual. Who is an individual? He, be followed and ideal examples that ought to
who manifests his Avyakta (unmanifest) Di- be copied. It is enough if you practice just one
vinity through his conduct is an individual or two of these great lessons from the past.
(vyakti). This latent divine principle permeates Summer Showers 2000, Ch. 8,
21 May 2000
the entire being of an individual from head to
foot and is called conscience. To manifest and
demonstrate the presence of this conscience is
the characteristic of a human being. Instead
of manifesting the pure inner being, the Self,
man today is manifesting evil qualities and
evil tendencies, which are related to his outer
Buddha Poornima 2021 | 11Buddha’s Stories
Buddha, in one of his travels, was going from inner solitude (ekānta) is when you are not
one town to another along with his disciples. aware of the crowd around you. When you are
The Holy One’s company, His observations, able to remain undisturbed by others, then
suggestions, and advice were gems of wisdom you have perfect inner solitude.”
that His disciples were blessed to receive. He marched back to his master. He was re-
As this team traversed some distance, they ceived with the same calm and waited for a
came upon a lake. Buddha voiced His need for while. Buddha told him to go to the lake yet
some water as He was thirsty. “Do get me some again. The disciple knew not what Buddha had
water from the lake as I am thirsty.” in mind as he found the whole exercise a bit
The disciple walked toward the lake to a point odd.
where he could fetch some water when he saw The lake that was mucky and filthy all the
a bullock cart cross the lake resulting in the while since the bullock cart left seemed to be
lake turning to a murky brown. a totally different one this time – a clean, clear
“Oh no,” he thought, rather disappointed lake with not a hint of brown! The mud nice-
about the ill-timed passing by of the bullock ly settled into a bed of sediment; it required
cart. “How do I take this muddy water to Bud- no skill to fill his pot of crystal clear water for
dha? What will He say to this?” Buddha. Feeling triumphant after more than a
single attempt, he walked back pleased to have
He walked back to Buddha not looking too hap-
gone back on a successful note.
py and said to him, “Buddha, this water isn’t
good to drink. It is dreadfully muddy.” Buddha Buddha in his quintessential serene look, ac-
waited for about a half hour and sent him back cepted the water, and turned to this disciple
to the same lake to get Him a bit of the same and said, “Did you see what it took to get me
water! some clean water? Nothing! You just let it be.
You gave it time and what happened? The mud
The disciple visibly puzzled walked back quite
raced to the bottom of the lake leaving you
sure the lake wouldn’t change. A closer look
with clean water! The same holds true for your
showed that the lake was indeed still addled.
mind as well. Just let it be. All it needs is a lit-
He was right; the lake didn’t change colour in
tle bit of your time. It will quieten down on its
that time at all. There was no way he was going
own. It requires no effort from you to still it.
to take this water back to Buddha!
It eventually happens with the help of a little
“Be like the tortoise that can live in water or time. It is effortless.”
on land. That is to say, cultivate the inner calm
Just how supremely powerful is this simple
that helps you remain with the thought of God,
message? The disciple was obviously stupefied.
whether you are alone or in a crowd. The true
12 | Buddha Poornima 2021The peace of mind that seems to elude most of vate the inner calm that helps you remain with the
us on this planet actually is right here for all of thought of God, whether you are alone or in a crowd.
us to experience. The true inner solitude (ekānta) is when you are not
“It is actually effortless.” It isn’t a wearisome aware of the crowd around you. When you are able
exercise that we think only few can get results to remain undisturbed by others, then you have
for. It is actually that simple for all of us!” perfect inner solitude.”
Heart 2 Heart, Vol. 7
Bhagawan Baba says, ”Be like the tortoise that August 2009
can live in water or on land. That is to say, culti-
Buddhist Prayer
The Buddhist prayer must be properly un- can achieve this. Man has to make the right
derstood. When the Buddhists say: “Buddham use of his senses for sacred purposes to realize
śaraṇam gacchāmi, Dharmam śaraṇam gacchāmi, his divinity.
Sangam śaraṇam gacchāmi,” the real meaning Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 5,
5 February 1998
of the prayer is: You must divert your Buddhi
(mind) towards Dharma (right conduct). And
the right conduct should aim at serving soci- Triratna Saranam – Swami’s
ety. When this is done, society gets purified. Proclamation
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 30/Ch. 13, In this transient and ephemeral world, one
15 May 1997 thing is true and eternal. That is Divinity. That
The principles taught by Buddha have pro- is what everyone should aspire to attain. Sa-
found significance, but people are not trying tyam śaraṇam gacchāmi (I take refuge in truth).
to understand them. You might have observed Ekam śaraṇam gacchāmi (I take refuge in the
that Buddha had curly hair on his head. One principle of oneness). Everything is the man-
lock of hair was entwined with the other. There ifestation of divinity in this world; there is no
is an underlying message of unity in this. He second entity other than divinity. It is the di-
had only one feeling in his heart, the feeling of vine principle that governs the entire world.
love. He taught, Dharmam śaraṇam gacchhāmi (I The principles taught by Buddha have pro-
take refuge in righteousness), Premam śaraṇam found significance, but people are not trying
gacchhāmi (I take refuge in love). to understand them. You might have observed
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 39/Ch. 9, that Buddha had curly hair on his head. One
13 May 2006
lock of hair was entwined with the other. There
Buddha undertook various inquiries to discov- is an underlying message of unity in this. He
er the Divine and came to the conclusion that had only one feeling in his heart, the feeling of
it is only through mastery over his senses he love. He taught, Dharmam śaraṇam gacchāmi (I
Buddha Poornima 2021 | 13take refuge in righteousness), Premam śaraṇam The Gift Swami Wants
gacchāmi (I take refuge in love). You have presented many things as ‘gifts’ to
During the Buddha Poornima celebration in Bhagawan. This ‘Tiger Map’ is one of them. That
Prasanthi Nilayam on 30 May 2006, Sri Sathya is not the gift I want. Hand over to me your
Sai Baba explained that man should use his ‘tigerly’ qualities. That is the gift I would like.
Buddhi to understand that the principle of The tiger is a cruel animal. Rid yourself of all
unity of Atma is the only true principle in the cruel feelings and offer them to me. Lead the
world. Dualistic feelings of ‘you and I’ have to life of a useful, harmless, sacred cow. It gives
be given up to experience this unity. On this oc- nourishing milk in return for cheap grass.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 31/Ch. 3,
casion, Sri Sathya Sai Baba bestowed the addi- 5 February 1998
tional prayers, Satyam śaraṇam gacchāmi (I take
refuge in Truth), Ekam śaraṇam gacchāmi (I take
refuge in the principle of Oneness) and Premam
śaraṇam gacchāmi (I take refuge in Love). Bereft
of love, humanness has no existence.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 39/Ch. 9,
13 May 2006
Reflection questions
1. Amongst the sense organs, why is tongue considered to be the most difficult to control?
2. Why is practicing silent sitting necessary for our spiritual growth?
3. Why is it more difficult to speak untruth or act in a dishonest (act opposing one’s conscience)
manner?
4. Swami says “Whatever he sees with his eyes, leaves its imprint on man. Few realize the ef-
fects of this.” – How can we keep our vision always pure?
5. What is the source of anger? How can we stop ourselves from reacting spontaneously when
we get angry?
6. Why does Swami emphasize on the need for purity and harmony in thought word and deed?
For the proper writing of Sanskrit names and philosophical terms the International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) has been
used throughout this Study Guide. This transliteration scheme emerged during the nineteenth century from suggestions by Charles Trev-
elyan, William Jones, Monier Monier-Williams and other great Sanskrit scholars, and it was formalised by the Transliteration Committee
of the Geneva Oriental Congress, in September 1894. IAST allows the lossless romanisation of Sanskrit and makes it possible for the reader
to read the Sanskrit text unambiguously. It is this faithfulness to the original script that accounts for its continuing popularity till today.
14 | Buddha Poornima 2021Buddha Poornima
Sri Sathya Sai Scriptural Studies Committee
©2021 Sri Sathya Sai International Organization, All Rights Reserved
sathyasai.orgYou can also read
