The following discourse has been translated into English from Bhagavan's Telugu speech as heard on this festival's ashram audiocassette. It is a complete, literal translation made with the objective of preserving Bhagavan's precious original poetic style as much as possible.
DISCOURSE BY SRI SATHYA SAI BABA
New Year’s Day
January 1st, 2003

One may learn all types of knowledge, have much discrimination and gain a good name in the world.
Being born King of kings, one may reign a kingdom.
One may give gold and cows in charity.
One may count all the dots (stars) in the sky.
One may say the names of all the living beings.
But one cannot control the senses of the body,
stop the mind, and always look within without stpping.
(Telugu poem)

Jihvagre Vartate Lakshmi.
Jihvagre Mitra Bandhava.
Jihvagre Bandhana Prapti.
Jihvagre Maranam Druvam.

The tongue brings prosperity.
The tongue also earns friends and relatives (for us).
The tongue brings bondage.
It is the tongue that can bring sure death.
(Sanskrit sloka)

SATH, CHITH AND ANANDA ARE IMPORTANT QUALITIES
Embodiments of Love!
Any amount of wealth and prosperity can be acquired through words. Any number of relatives and friends also may be acquired. One may acquire a kingdom through words. Though man has acquired such sacred words, man is unable to put those words on the proper path. The great power, great reputation and infinite peace that are within man are not observed in any other living beings (or creatures).
All things in the world have these five: Sath, Chith, Ananda, form and name. However, Sath, Chith and Ananda are important qualities in life. They are true and eternal. Form and name are temporary and ephemeral. However, due to being covered in the maya (illusion) of Prakrithi (Nature), man is keeping only form and name as aims and wasting his life by following them as true and eternal.

TWO TYPES OF INTELLECTUALS
There are two types of intellectuals in the world. There are some who only recognize the physical, worldly and secular aspects of things. They inquire into the good and bad of them (the objects) and thus use them. Meaning, some are happy with only seeing the young shoots and examining the small branches and branches. They are scientists.
However, ones who are joyful with recognizing the Vedas, which are the root foundation of these branches and twigs, and examine the power and capabilities of those Vedas, are Vedantists (philosophers).
Hence, the individuals who are happy with only seeing the shoots and branches are external, secular and worldly living beings. The ones who give joy to their life by recognizing the power and capabilities in the root foundation of these, and who foster the Vedas and partake of the fruits, are the Vedantists.

CHURNING OF THE MIND
In the Bhagavatha, while churning the Mandara Mountain, there were a few (the devatas, or deities, demi-gods) who recognized that certain actions were necessary and were happy with (performing) them. There were others who were felt badly about the poison that arose. Due to those who were caught in the maya (illusion or delusion) of Prakrithi (Nature), the Mandara Mountain of (representing) the mind was churned and the demons first obtained the poison.
However, the devatas were ones who were with them (the demons). They (the devatas) bore and endured all without going back; they went forward and made efforts to complete it successfully. Though what they first obtained in the very beginning was poison, thinking, “We should not go back because of the poison,” they were successful in that with courage and boldness. The devatas churned it and obtained Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth), Mandara Mountain, Kamadhenu (the cow that fulfils all desires) and Kalpavriksha (the tree that gives us what we want).
Every man who was born in Prakrithi is churning this kind of mind, (symbolized by) the Mandara Mountain, and is struggling in order to obtain numerous results. However, the devatas are the ones who obtain valuable things by not paying attention to the poison that is obtained in the very beginning, and who joyfully dedicate their whole life.
Therefore, in the very beginning every single human being who experiences obstacles, difficulties, losses, sorrows and worries (but) without being afraid of them at all, they have to be subdued and one should step forward. Then only it will be possible for man to recognize his true form and act accordantly.

GREAT POWERS IN MAN
The qualities in mankind are Sath, Chith and Ananda. Today forgetting such valuable qualities, man is wasting time by only developing the temporary, ephemeral and untrue relationships with the body. Though man has such valuable qualities, he is unable to recognize the value of those qualities. If that value is recognized, man can attain any amount of greatness. He himself will be able to transform into God. Man is able to do any amount of great works due to his (latent) Divinity. However, he should himself try to achieve without forgetting his natural (Divine) qualities.
The great powers that are in man of today, cannot be seen anywhere in the world. Sath, Chith and Ananda are shining in every single human being in the world. However, due to being caught in the maya of Prakrithi and feeling that forms and names are Truth, he is forgetting the true and eternal qualities. What man should recognize today are the Divine, auspicious and ever-new powers within him. Day by day the powers of man are increasing. However, he is not trying to recognize them. He is wasting time by yielding to and struggling for low and menial matters.
Hence to recognize the human values in man and to act according is a very essential action. It is not possible to describe the value of the human values. Mankind will be sanctified only when we recognize the human values today.

MAN IS A PART OF GOD
Man is a part of God but nothing else. Therefore:

Mamaivamsho Jeeva Loke
Jeeva Bhuta Sanathanaha.

The Eternal Atma in all beings
is a part of My Being.
(Sanskrit sloka)

The inner voice teaches from within that, “I am an eternal part of God but nothing else.” However, man is not trying to recognize the nature of that inner voice at all. He is aspiring for and happy with only physical and mundane things. They change in a moment. Man yields to objects that change. Without recognizing his eternal and true nature, he is becoming distant from a sacred place state.
Temporary and momentary forms and names are only physical. These forms and names are only like water bubbles. He yields to maya, which is like water bubbles, and he is becoming distant from the gem-like (true) nature of the mind.
However, the great powers that are in man are certainly very great. The iron piece that glows with fire does more sacred work than fire itself. Man is not trying to recognize the Divine feelings that are in the iron piece of his body like that.

EVERY MOMENT IS A NEW YEAR
Embodiments of Love!
Many people are enthusiastic saying it is the New Year. What is this New Year? Every moment is a New Year. We are under the illusion that sacred and new feelings will come in the New Year. The great value within man is not the forms and names. The nature of virtues is eternal and true.
We are obtaining numerous types of diseases. We are obtaining some outer diseases and some inner diseases. Outer diseases are cured with the medicines that doctors give. The feeling of the Atma is the important medicine for all the inner ailments. Importantly, we should make suitable efforts to recognize the nature of the Atma.

CONSCIOUSNESS AND CONSCIENCE
Atma means Brahman. Brahman means the Chaitanya in every human being. Today we are under the illusion that such Chaitanya is Atma. Atma has no form. Chaitanya has so many forms and names, and gives bliss. That Chaitanya is called ‘consciousness’. However, it is called conscience only when in the body of man. Only when this conscience is united with conscience contained in diversity (the whole world), it becomes consciousness. This is the inner meaning of sacred Chaitanya.
However, (though) man keeps such sacred power in his hand, he is only deluded with numerous types of waverings. We are giving a lot of value to the moments, hours and to time that passes. Value should not be given to this time that passes. We should give value to reputation and sacredness and sanctity.

TRUTH AND GOODNESS
What remains for us is Truth and goodness. We should attempt to recognize this goodness and Truth. No one is imagining that goodness is in us. It is not possible to give value to it. We are only striving for temporary name and fame.
Now, some say we are giving the Telugu Ganga to Chennai. We are under this delusion. But this Ganga cannot be given to someone. These are normal characteristics of Prakrithi. Based on each one’s praapti, it goes on according to that praapti.
All actions fructify when kaala (time), karma (action), karana (cause) and karthavya (duty) come together. We should wait for the kaala and karma. Whatever time comes, we should give protection suitable to that time.
All the children are doing so many good actions. Coming together in numerous villages, they do bhajans and sankirtin (community singing), and they give suitable joy to them (the villagers).

Anithyam Jivanam Loke.
Nityam Sathyam Nijam.

Life in the world is impermanent.
The Truth is permanent and true.
(Sanskrit sloka)

However, the true Love should be present in the full nature and in the sufferings of the mind. Something that is heavier than Love and has more quality than Love cannot be observed anywhere else. This nature of Love has to be joined with the delusion in the mind, and life has to be carried on.

OTHERS ARE NOT OTHERS, THEY ARE GOD
Embodiments of Love!
The works that you do are not (most) important. The bhajans that we do are not important. The help that we render to others is not important. When such feelings are not present in the mind, there should be the feeling of, “I am doing everything for my own Self,” not the feeling that you are doing for someone else. It is not for others. One should feel that others are also your own Self. We feel that others are different.

Others are not others; they are one’s own.
(Telugu poem)

Whoever we do seva to, it should be felt that it is seva to God. We are undertaking so many types of good actions in order to have this feeling. You (P) should also recognize whom we are doing all of these service activities for. You (P) should recognize the Truth that you (P) are doing them for yourself (P) but not for others, and act accordingly.
We should enter into this type of selfless Love and we should take part in suitable sevas in the world. These true sevas are proper but worldly and physical sevas that disappear in a moment are not permanent.

SERVE WITH LOVE
Students!
You are under illusion thinking that you are doing some help to others. These are not great sevas. It should be seen that this feeling doesn’t enter into the heart at all. Then only they will become true sevas.
What does ‘service’ mean? We feel that doing sevas are service.

The best way to love God is to love all, serve all.

We should serve with Love. We should do work with that Love. Then only it is real. Without the positive of Love, no matter how many sevas are done, they will all transform into negative. Without the current of Love in the bulb, no matter how many bulbs are present, they won't light up. Only when the main switch is turned on, even small bulbs will shine, and will render many kinds of help. However, today you have turned off the main switch and you are observed as being happy only with the numerous bulbs.
That is the switch related to the heart. That is ‘hrut’ (‘the place that has’) plus ‘daya’ (‘compassion) is ‘hrudaya’ (‘the heart’). Every work that has its origin in the heart, should be performed with Love. It should take the form of being full of Love. There is no strength greater than Love.
All of the ancient Maharishis in the forest succumbed to (experienced) numerous difficulties, (yet) they moved about without any fear or delusion. What was their weapon? Not these rifles or guns. The weapons of Love were their important weapons. Having such weapons of Love, they spent time in the forest in the midst of wild beasts. The ancient rishis lived in the ancient times in Bharath like this.

A DIVINE CULTURE
The ancient culture of Bharath is a Divine culture. It is a valuable culture. It is an amazing culture. It is a blissful culture. It is a culture that offers happiness. We are not making an effort to recognize such a culture today. We are considering the nature of this culture, which arises out of the heart, as so low. This is greatly valuable culture.
This culture does not mean mere physical and secular rules. You are under illusion only seeing caste and culture. Caste and culture are not important. The nature of the heart combined with the nature of Love is the true caste.
All of mankind are one. They are all of one family. All are elder and younger brothers. This whole country is one house. Therefore, feeling that this whole country is one house, have faith that all of mankind are brothers. When time is spent like this, it is not possible to describe the amount of bliss that will be obtained. For that reason, try to recognize the Divinity in humanity.
So many types of waves are coming. All of these waves, each wave comes and goes in lakhs (hundreds of thousands). No one can recognize their speed.
The light of a few stars in the sky, has not reached the earth till today. Therefore, (the fact that) the light that travels so many miles per a minute, has not reached this Prakrithi (earth) even up to today means, how distant they are! It is said:

It is amazing!
Sacred in the three worlds are crops, friends,
forest dwellers, people and citizens.
It is the story of Sathya Deva (the God of Truth).
(Telugu poem)

So, no one can determine that the story of God is like this or like that. No matter how many are constructed and though they are determined, they go towards the standards of the heart based on the power of the heart.

GOD IS IMMEASURABLE
No pramaanas (measure, standard or evidence) can describe God. He is Anumana Pramaana (presumptive evidence) (this should be: Aprameya Pramaana, meaning immeasurable). They are pramaanas of stories. Pratyaksha Pramaanas (direct evidence), Boutika Pramaana (physical evidence), Dwaita Pramaana (evidence based on duality) and Adwaita Pramaana (evidence based on non-duality). There are so many pramaanas like this in the world.
God is one who has no pramaanas at all therefore he is called ‘Aprameya’ (immeasurable and indefinable). Apremeya means one who cannot be caught (defined as having) any pramaanas.
He (God) who gives all powers arises from every man’s heart. There is another name for Him who has kept these pramaana Sathyas hidden in His navel. Therefore, the navel pramaana is an important nature for Him.

THE NAMES GIVEN TO GOD
No one can determine the beauty of God as like this or like that. Why? God has the name of:

Hiranyagarbhaya Namah.

Salutations to One who has a golden womb.
(Sanskrit sloka)

‘Hiranya’ means the radiance of gold. That is in the heart. Just as the food that goes into the heart (body), dissolves, and circulates throughout the body (in the form of energy), because hiranya circulates throughout His entire body, it is said that He is very beautiful. Therefore:

Hiranyaya Namah.

Salutations to One who is gold.
(Sanskrit sloka)

God is very beautiful. He is the mooladhara (main basis) of every living being. He has such a mooladhara power therefore He is called ‘Manuvu’. What does mooladhara mean? It is the fundamental power of everything. There is no suitable meaning for this mooladhara power.
Everything is created out of His sankalpa, therefore He was given the name of ‘Parikshat’. (Note: ‘Parikshat’ means ‘one who examines’ It is the name of Arjuna’s grandson. Perhaps Swami “meant” to say ‘Prajapathi’, which means the Lord or creator of all human beings.) What does ‘Parikshat’ mean? Parikshat is one who creates all living beings.
If one continues to consider the names given to God, (one discovers that) there are numerous names. There are infinite names. Hence, in what way does man compare such a Divinity? He is comparing Him with forms according to his alpa buddhi (lowly mentality).
The nature of Dakshinamurthi is present in His womb, therefore He has the name of Dakshinamurthi. ‘Dakshinamurthi’ means ‘one who has good intelligence’. He is one who always increases sankalpas. Of what type are those sankalpas? Sacred sankalpas.

Nirgunamulu, Nirantaramulu,
Sanathanalu, Niketanamulu,
Nithya, Suddha Buddha, Muktha,
Nirmala Swarupamu.

They are attributeless, eternal,
ancient, with no specific abode,
eternal, pure intellect,
free, unpolluted form.
(Sanskrit sloka)

ACCORDING TO YOUR FEELINGS
When God who has this kind of nature is in the hearts of everyone, why would man become lowly? We should brush aside the feeling of these alpa buddhis. There is no greater one than man. There is no one greater than man. Divinity is present in man. Therefore, there is nothing else in the world that is greater than man. We are feeling that such a sacred humanity is low. That is:

Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati.

As is the feeling, so will be the result.
(Sanskrit sloka)

You (P) are giving place for these alpa buddhis only according to your (P) feelings. God has no attributes of ‘like this’ or ‘like that’.

Aprameya Namah.

Salutations to the One
who is immeasurable.
(Sanskrit sloka)

We are observing Pratyaksha Pramaanas (direct evidences). If there is heat on a hill, the fire (flames) is seen. Those flames are the Pratyaka Pramaana. However, say (for example) the fire is not seen (but) only the smoke comes (is seen). Seeing that smoke, we think, “There may be fire.” This is Anumana Pramaana (presumptive evidence). Though there is no fire (seen), mist may seem like smoke. So Anumana Pramaana is the state of doubt. Pratyaksha Pramaana (direct evidence) is seen in a manifested form.

TRUTH IS THE FORM OF GOD
In every human being, the manifested form is Love only. When anyone asks (you), “Where is God?” (You should answer,) “He is within my Love. He is in the words that I utter.”
Truth is the form of God. There is nothing greater than this form of Truth. Is there any God greater than Truth?

It is Truth:
sacred in the three worlds and to
forest dwellers and good friends.
(Telugu poem)

So, Sathya Pramaana (the evidence of Truth) is the true pramaana. The God that is greater than this Truth, is nowhere in the world.
Countries may be different: America, Germany, Japan and England may be different countries. However, the word that is uttered within everyone, is only Truth, isn't it so? No one can separate (Truth) saying, “This is American Truth, Japan Truth, German Truth.” All of these are characteristics of alpa buddhis.
We are not low ones. We are infinite forms. (One should think,) “Truth is my form. Love is my swabhava (nature). Bliss is natural to me.” We have to catch hold of this nature and practise it.
Man is manana seela (one who recalls). His thoughts and his searches are infinite. How far are we observing such an infinite search?

SCIENCE IS A SEMI-CIRCLE
When we take a fistful of sea-sand and put it in a place, according to its colour, its weight and its state, scientists can say, “This is sand from such-and-such a time and such-and-such a place.” However, they say it is sand of that time. They say that it is sand that is obtained from this place.
However, Vedantists (philosophers) won't proceed like this. “This is all the creation of God. It’s God's creation. It’s God's maya (illusion). So, just see how much difference there is between what is in science and what is in a saint!
Science is only a semi-circle. That is only the nature of half. Science is a semi-circle: it starts at one place, goes around, and arrives back at that same place. This is (not):

Purnam Adah, Purnam Idam.

This is Fullness. That is Fullness.
(Sanskrit sloka)

However, when half of that is broken off, it becomes a semi-circle. This semi-circle starts at one place, and ends at another place. That only is science. It begins at one place at stops at another point. This is not complete.
Hence, that which ends where it begins is true Divine power. This all the yogis (describe as):

Purnam Adah, Purnam Idam,
Purnat Purnam Udacyate,

This is Fullness. That is Fullness.
When Fullness is taken from Fullness,
Only Fullness will remain.

(Sanskrit sloka)

This complete Divinity is in every human being. However, man is not trying to realise it. When he closes his eyes and is asleep, who is protecting this body? In what way is the nature of the body continuing? No one knows. For all, protecting, punishing and fostering, God is the only cause.

HAPPINESS IS UNION WITH GOD
Though keeping this type of shakthi in every human being, man is disheartened by difficulties. He is disheartened by suffering. He is elated with bliss. The nature of being disheartened and elated is (ordinary) man’s true characteristic.
Where does happiness originate? Where does sorrow originate? No one can say this. Human quality is present where both happiness and sorrow originate.

The pleasure is an interval between two pains.

There is bliss in-between these two differences. We don’t need to search somewhere for bliss. Bliss is with us, beside us, in us and around us. Why should we go to trouble to search for such bliss?
Embodiments of Love!
You (P) always be blissful. This is because your heart is full of bliss. Why should you worry about something that is full of bliss?

Bliss is an interval between two pains.

Not only this, bliss is also within you. We don’t need to search for this bliss. This bliss came from the Atma. You (P) may obtain it whenever you (P) think of it.

Happiness is union with God.

Join with God. Bliss will be with you. It will be with you as a slave. (A.K. translates: “It will follow you throughout.” Swami turns to him and says: “So, not follow, slave. It comes as a slave. Slave.”) It will be your slave. You won't need to search for it. Man of today is being a slave to bliss. Today he is becoming a slave to bliss. No! Bliss should be our slave. Then only we will be true human beings.
Truly, whether you believe it or not, I am always blissful. (Applause) Experience bliss. We should not consider that which comes and goes now and then. Bliss should follow you but you don’t need to follow bliss.

MONKEY AND MANKIND
Hence, you are a greatly wise, brave and profound. Therefore, regarding Hanuman it is said:

Shanttudu, Gunavantudu, Balavantudu, Hanumantudu.

Hanuman is peaceful, virtuous and strong.
(Telugu poem)

Wherever he went he repeated, “Rama, Rama,” and He (Rama) was beside him. We should obtain such a nature.
We are thinking that Hanuman is a monkey. However, he is not a monkey. He may be a monkey but you are mankind. When you are mankind, the monkey-nature becomes distant. First and foremost you should be a man. (Then) it should change into mankind. When it changes into (man-) kind, you will transform into Divine.

PEOPLE SHOULD EXPERIENCE BLISS WHERE THEY ARE
Embodiments of Love!
You are studying so much knowledge. You are repeating so many books. You are acquiring so many powers. However, all of these are temporary and untrue. Recognize the power that fills your heart with bliss. Develop your (P) power with Divinity. That power is infinite. No matter how much it goes (is used), it is expanding, expanding, expanding. When bliss that has such expansion is within us, why are we succumbing to these difficulties?
Now, all of these children, old students, have come. They are doing so many sevas. They are singing so many songs. However, My opinion is that people should experience bliss right where they are. The people of each village should follow their own village.
All the people who have come from somewhere else are also brought together and this is becoming a business. That is not good. Each one should spend their life in their own village. Bliss should be given to that village.

I WILL NOT LEAVE THE PLACE WHERE I WAS BORN
So many people have aspired in so many ways. They said, “Swami, come to Mysore, we will give a palace. Come to some other thing (place), we will give a palace.” I don’t need this palace. I should be (I want to be) only in a small village. I have not left the place where I was born. Something like that should be accomplished in a big way only there.
This Puttaparthi is a very small hamlet. If one wanted to come here, a bullock cart had to be hired from Penukonda. One had to come on a bullock cart. But now what has happened? People are coming by airplane and getting down. (Applause) If one needed to go to a hospital, one had to go by bus to Penukonda or Anantapur. Now a Super Speciality Hospital has been built in Puttaparthi itself. (Applause) In this way, all of that comes in the village where one should remain in.
There is no other place better than a village. The village is a very greatly valuable village. There is no joy at all in sevas to cities. Even when thieves come to the next-door neighbour’s (house) and take (all their belongings) away in a lorry, we won’t talk. If anything happens in the next-door house in a village, all (the villagers) will gather in groups. That unity is still in villages.
Only when there is unity we will have Divinity. Only when there is Divinity, bliss will be obtained. Hence, there should be that unity. So whatever village one is from, desire for the progress of that village.
Just don’t be involved in politics. Everyone comes together as gangs and it has become like politics. This doesn’t make Me so happy. Wherever one goes, do bhajan in unity. However, these feelings of difference should not come in you. All should be united. Don’t give place for these politics.
Today what fate has the entire country succumbed to? The country was so peaceful. When one goes to the villages, so many people come and gave support, “Where did you come from?” They spoke with Love. That Love has gone. Unspeakable conflicts have begun. After Independence there are so many types of agitations. They don’t regard life at all. Killing everyone: is this the thing that man should do? This is not for us.

SKILL NOT KILL
We should skill. It is not important (right) to kill. Skill should be done. We should skill the Divine power within us. Only when we skill the Divine power, there will be perfect balance. Only when there is perfect balance, we will get insight, not outsight. Skill knowledge, then only we will get balance to it. With this balance all kinds of inner feelings will arise in us. When we kill instead of skill, we will have only outsight.
So, suitable progress should be made in every village. We should make distant the differences in everyone. However, all the children who have come now (say), “We came from Hyderabad, we came from America, we came from Japan, we came from Madras.” Is this a fair (carnival or marketplace)? Not at all! Hyderabad people should develop Hyderabad. If you go from Hyderabad to a different city, then develop them (that other village). Only that but Hyderabad, Madras, another one, and still another one, if it is made like a garland of different flowers, finally it becomes adulterated. It will finally become confusion. It becomes pollution. It should not become pollution. There should be purity in us.

UNITY, PURITY AND DIVINITY
You (P) are only polluting but are not purifying. Purity is required. Purity is required. When will purity come? Purity will come only when there is unity. Only when purity comes, Divinity comes. Therefore, develop the relationship of these three: unity, purity and Divinity.
Hence, you all may come together but in a place like this, all may come together and do work. If you go to villages and come together like this, you sacred feelings will be spoiled. We will be pollution but not purity. Their feelings are one thing, other’s feelings are another thing, still other’s feelings are still another thing, all feelings will become different and they will become completely polluted. This only changes into a type of business centre. Our spirituality is not a business centre. Spirituality is a Divine mansion. It is associated with oneness. The unity in diversity is bliss. I am hoping that you will develop this. Then only your seva will get the proper type of value.
Due to us mixing so much (Swami restarts the sentence), I will tell one small example. Gold arises from the earth. When this gold is purified (processed), it becomes shiny. When it shines, its cost is 400 or 500. When a little bit of copper and brass is mixed in that, the cost reduces. Not only this. Its shine also goes (reduces). When a few other metals are added, finally the gold doesn’t have any value at all. Therefore, the value goes (reduces) and its shine is gone.
So our heart is a golden temple. That only is Hiranyagarbha. You should not change that hiranya (gold) at all. It should always be shining. It is good if it is like that. Only that but theirs, those, theirs, those: if it is all mixed up, you (P) are making it very polluted.
Share Love. I won't say not to. However, in a few matters like this, you should share unity in a sacred way.
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FROM COMPLETE CASSETTE:
The children wanted to sing. Sing, let us see (how it is).
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(Bhagavan ended His Divine Discourse.)