Ones of Divinity – compiled from the talks given by Ratan Lal (1918-2006)

TRUE CULTURE

The Divine gives light to the mind and

shines within it as its substratum.

What are the limitations superimposed upon our Self? They are the· body and the mind. We imagine that we are the body-mind complex. God also comes in human form with a body and a mind, but He does not identify Himself with them. He knows the real Self, although He is associated with the body and mind. We, on the other hand, in our ignorance forget our true identity, which is God or the real Self. We imagine ourselves to be these limitations, our mind and body.

Do not limit the limitless Self or God to the mind and body. Understand that the gross and subtle bodies are inert, like stone. A stone cannot move by itself. So also, the gross and subtle bodies cannot function of their own accord. These instruments are able to function because of the presence of the Divine Force, which is the real Self. Once one understands and accepts this, the thinking process will be automatically slow. When this happens, the mind is more at peace. When one accepts the fact that one as body-mind is able to function because of the higher power that we call God or the real Self, then the path becomes very simple.

The mind has too many past tendencies and it is always preoccupied with preconceived ideas. Try to empty the mind of these preconceived ideas. Now there is space in the room. If the room were full of luggage and articles, there would be no place even to walk. In order to create space to walk in the room, one has to remove the furniture. Then one will have the space one needs. The mind is very useful if one turns it toward the God within. At the moment, it is always turned outward. One has to make a little effort.

In western culture, we are always told to look at what is outside us; now we are told to look within!

What is culture? T.V., video, magazines, newspapers? Culture is that which is revealed and affected by a person's refinement. Here is an example. The way this garden has been formed shows the culture of the person who has done this work. Look behind; there is a barrier. That shows lack of culture. For an artist, ideas or behavior are refined. That is culture. If two people are walking toward each other on a road, the cultured person will step aside in order not to spoil the rhythm of other man's walk. An uncultured person will not bother about the person coming from the opposite direction. He may even bump into him. A car driver or a taxi driver applies the brakes of his car just before it is about to hit another car. That shows lack of culture, of refinement. Louis, when he is driving a car, will look a hundred meters ahead and slow down more slowly. He will look toward the left and right and be alert. He will slow down the car to avoid an accident. He will not be hurt, nor will he hurt his fellow man. He will keep the car under full control. That is culture.

Now which is better, to be refined or to be gross? To be narrow minded or broad minded? To love all and serve all, or to hate all? What is real culture? Culture means expansion-to love all arid serve all. Not to create distinctions or differences between men.

We should use a word like patriotism or loyalty sensibly. Patriotism cannot be helpful, either to the country or to other human beings. Today, we have made a religion out of patriotism. There are good or bad things happening in all countries. Why should we assert thus, "My country alone is heaven on earth?" This is not a good form of patriotism. In order to bring about the notion of one human family, regardless of caste, color, religion, and to bring about the religion of Love and humanity, one has to rise above this notion of patriotism.

Once, fifteen years ago, the speaker was in a Muslim's house. The little children were asking an elderly Muslim, "How can we be good Muslims?" He was telling the children, "You should offer prayers five times a day." The one who was advising them was not practicing this himself. The speaker interrupted the elderly Muslim and told him to teach the children to become good human beings. That is far more important than to become a Hindu, a Christian, or a Muslim. All religions teach us that we should be good and love all.

Now let us discuss loyalty. Loyalty to whom is implied? Is it loyalty to one's culture? Is it loyalty to one's country? Is it loyalty to one's preceptor or to one's religion? One should ask a basic question. Who is the one who is going to be loyal to someone? There must be someone to be loyal and someone to whom to be loyal. According to the highest teaching of all religions, the sense of separation from God is a myth. So the question of loyalty does not arise. Some people say they are not loyal to their religion if they sing Bhajans. In Prasanthi Nilayam, all names of God are used in the Bhajans. Does that mean Hindus are not loyal to their religion?

People are always advised to read the words of the Master. Most authors of books write more about their own life story than the teachings of their Divine Master. That is being egotistic and selfish. The more unselfish you are, the more cultured you are. Culture means to have more tolerance. If your culture is to be selfish, narrow-minded, and loyal only to a particular form of God, then one is not justified in speaking to you. God–Men have appeared from time to time, in different parts of the world, to teach this highest of truths. If the priests have misinterpreted them, and if we believe the priests more than the God–Men, then our culture is not true. Be broadminded. Learn to love all. Learn to see the Divine Atman everywhere. Our understanding may be different because of our preconceived ideas, but the power behind our understanding or misunder–standing is the same. To understand, that is Self-inquiry. Light is light. Is it more difficult to see the light in your home country? See the Light. Be the Light. You are the Light.

There are three schools of thought in every religion. In the beginning Christ said, "I am the messenger of God," implying Dualism, meaning "I am different from God." Then he said, "I am the son of God," meaning "I am part of God, I am not separate from God." Finally, he said, "My Father and I are one." That is Oneness of Divinity. Hanuman, in the 10,000-year-old Hindu epic Ramayana, says, "Rama, when I identify myself with the gross body, I consider myself to be Your servant. When I look upon myself as the mind, then I am a part of You. When I identify myself with the real Self, then "I am You and You are Me." This is the teaching in all religions. Where is the difference? Where is the disloyalty?

It is not proper to divide persons from persons by these wrong notions of culture. People belonging to the same religion have fought wars because of selfishness and narrow-mindedness. Vedanta teaches all to love persons regardless of their color, caste, or religion. This teaching is not against any religion. It teaches everyone to be at peace with the whole world. Every morning and evening one recites the prayer, “Loka Samasta, Sukhino Bhavantu. " It means, "Let the whole world be happy!" This is a proper prayer. This is the right culture.

In this connection it is relevant to quote an episode from the Ramayana narrated by Divine Baba as follows:

"One should not give one's word or promises in haste without due deliberation, since they can be misused. Dasaratha gave two boons to his Queen Kaikeyee without due consideration. It is known that Kaikeyee loved Rama like a real son. But her mind was poisoned by her maid servant. Here the moral is that one should listen to ones conscience and not the dictates of the mind. "

Rama, being a well-balanced person, had much equipoise and was always smiling. It did not matter to him whether he was crowned the king or banished to the forest for fourteen years. He consoled his mother Kausalya saying that while he was in exile, he would get an opportunity to meet rishis (seers) and other evolved beings in the forest. We know that Bharatha was so fond of Rama that he could not accept Rama going to the forest, but wanted him to be crowned king. Rama considered it his duty to fulfill the promise given by his father, Dasaratha, whose boons to Bharatha's mother, Kaikeyee, required Rama not to be crowned king, but to proceed to the forest for fourteen years. Bharatha, though unhappy with Rama's decision, ruled the kingdom by living abstemiously in a hut in a sylvan condition and keeping Rama's Padukas (sandals) on the throne. Because of his unhappiness with his mother Kaikeyee,"he did not see her for fourteen years.

Here again is a tremendous commitment to moral values which are part of Bharathiya Culture.

We are all aware of Sita's attention being drawn to a golden deer in the forest. Rama was· in pursuit of the golden deer and was drawn deep in to the forest.

Here the moral is: desire for the world made Sita lose her husband. Attachment to the passing show distances one from God. After Rama has gone to the forest hunting for the golden deer, Sita heard a voice of Rama shouting, "Lakshmana, Sita come and help me, I am in trouble." On hearing the call for help, Sita was distraught and requested Lakshmana to proceed and help Rama. Lakshmana was very hesitant to go away, since Rama had instructed him to protect Sita by not leaving the area and being always in Sita's sight. However, Sita was very insistent on Lakshmana going to Rama's rescue. Finally, Lakshmana drew a line (called Lakshman Rekha) and requested Sita not to cross the line under any circumstances. Sita agreed to this and then Lakshmana left (much against his will). Using this opportunity, Ravana disguised himself as a sadhu and approached Sita for alms. She went inside the hut to bring some food. In the mean time, Ravana tried to cross the Lakshman Rekha, but fire blazed forth from the Rekha and prevented him doing so. When Sita came with the food, Ravana would-not cross the line arid insisted on Sita crossing the life to feed him. Lakshman Rekha symbolizes the code of conduct and is symbolic of the potency of moral sanctions and right conduct. We should note that it is Bharathiya culture to offer food to sadhus. Ravana told Sita that he would not cross the line under any circumstances, and that he would curse her and her spouse if she did not give-him food. Sita was unable to bear this and she ended up crossing the line. She was immediately abducted by Ravana and take to Lanka.

Rama killed Ravana in the battle that followed. People of Lanka prayed to Rama to be their monarch. This was refused by Rama on the pretext that his intention was only to liberate Lanka and not to acquire its territory. Again this is Bharathiya Culture, not aspiring for someone else s property or land. Rama demonstrated this aspect of Bharathiya culture by an actual example. He indicated to the people of Lanka that Vibhishana (Ravana's brother) should be crowned their king.

While returning to Ayodhya, Rama had a vision of his deceased father, Dasaratha, who told him to ask for any boon: Rama being unselfish did not ask anything for himself, but requested Dasaratha to pardon Kaikeyee for her mistakes. This is because Rama regarded Kaikeyee as his own mother and did not distinguish between the real mother and stepmother. Rama's request was granted by Dasaratha. On reaching Ayodhya, Rama proceeded straight to Kaikeyee's palace. He bore no ill will, though Kaikeyee was responsible for banishing him to the forest. On inquiry he was told that Bharatha had been living in a hut ever since Rama was exiled to the forest.

Bharatha was so furious with his mother that he did not see her for fourteen years. Rama told Bharatha that Dasaratha had pardoned Kaikeyee and that he should accompany him to Kaikeyee's palace.

Kaikeyee, recognizing Rama's Divinity, begged for forgiveness and requested spiritual guidance. Rama -asked her to come back after taking a bath in the river. When she returned, Rama asked her whether she heard any sound. She replied that she did not. Rama insistently made the same query again, to which she responded by saying that yes she did hear the sound of sheep bleating at a distance, "Bah, Bah!" Rama told her that that was the spiritual instruction: to find out who she was and to find the core of her existence."