There is no disease greater than greed;
One's worst enemy is his anger;
There is no bigger sorrow than one's misfortune;
there is no greater joy than wisdom.

Love, Aham, Atma, I --these are all synonyms of one and same entity. When every man uses these words, he is actually expressing his true nature. It is said, "Sarvam khalvidam Brahma- (whatever there is to see and experience is all Brahma)". Brahma is another synonym for Atma. The great scientist Einstein made a conclusion after extensive investigations: "There is nothing in this creation except energy, and it is present everywhere." Thousands of years before Einstein, the seven-year-old Prahlada had already come to the same conclusion without the help of any experimentation! He would avidly state; "You can't say that God is present here and not present there. God is present everywhere."

How was it possible for the young Prahlada to have such a firm conviction? He withstood all the punishments heaped on him by his father by chanting "Om Namo Narayanaya". It is this faith that saved him. Firm faith is the basis. Without faith, any amount of namasmarana (remembrance of God's name) will fetch no result. Man's body is like a powerful dynamo --a generator from which the divine current always flows. Prahlada constantly experienced this and hence was confident that God is Omnipresent.

Newton was another great scientist who experienced this truth, like Einstein. Newton spent his entire life in investigating the gravitational attractive power of earth. He stated that this gravitational power cannot be created or destroyed and has no birth or death. It is all encompassing. Newton attributed the gravitational force of earth to the divine power of magnetism and experienced Divinity thus.

Though energy can be neither created nor destroyed, it can certainly be transformed from one form to another. Through these transformations, each form of energy still retains its identity. For example, magnetic energy can be transformed to electrical energy, which in turn can be changed to light energy. There can be many such forms, but magnetic energy is still magnetic energy. It can change its intensity, but it remains indestructible.

At the time of birth, man has no desires. He is pure and peaceful. His body is the storehouse of an enormous quantity of energy and power. There are about 13 crores of light-sensors in the retina of his eye, about 30 lakh taste buds on his small tongue, and around 50 lakh cells involved in helping him hear! The divine power pulsates in him from head to toe, keeping a powerhouse at his disposal. However, as desires steadily increase, this Divine power starts to ebb. Just try to reduce a few of your desires and you will see how much your power increases. Your memory also sharpens. The ancient rishis (sages) had little or no desires. Their memories were hence so powerful that they could recall anything instantly, however long the time past.

Sage Saraswat was the first one to initiate the recitation of the Vedas, in that he contributed the eight letters - Ka, Cha, Ta, Tha, Pa, Ya, Sa, Ha. From these eight letters came the entire vocabulary. Words that praised God originated and were conveyed everywhere by the wind God. God has been given eight names --each depicting him to the embodiment of an important power of nature: Sabdha Bramhamayi, Chara charamayi, Jyothirmayi, Vangmayi, Nityanandamayi, Paratparamayi, Mayamayi, Srimayi --i.e., God is the embodiment of sound, mobility, light, speech, eternal bliss, supreme strength, illusion, and prosperity, respectively.

The entire Vedas came from these eight names of God. The ancient seers and sages declared: "Divinity, that is radiant like a thousand suns, lies beyond tamas." They experienced Divinity everywhere. They wouldn't even travel anywhere, since they felt that if they walked, they would stamp on Divinity. Today, perversions abound. People even keep their feet on idols. Rightly is it said: "Vinaashakaale viparithabuddhi (As one's doom approaches, good sense takes leave)". Those were good times and sacred ideals abounded.

Based on their experience, the seers of the past termed Divinity as:

* Saikotikam: It means that whenever or whatever you see, it is only the sound, feeling and vision of God alone.

* Bhakshakthi: It is the divine power that none can touch. It was this power that was experienced and shared in the past.

Where there is love, there is peace.
Where there is peace, there is truth.
Where there is truth, there is bliss.
Where there is bliss, there is God.

In those days, children as young as 6 years would be stricken with the desire to seek God. Dhruva was hurt by his step-mother's humiliating treatment and went to a totally secluded spot, silent and peaceful, to do penance. When Lord Narayana appeared, the conversation between the Lord and His devotee indicates the maturity of the child. When the Lord asked Dhruva what he wished for, the child answered, "You, who could find me out in this isolated spot, will certainly know what I want!"

The Lord replied, "Manas ekam, vachas ekam, karmanyekam mahatmanam (You have resolved in your mind to meditate and have done the action of doing penance. I wish you to ask in words what you need.)"

Dhruva answered, "I set out to ask for a glass piece. I have found a huge diamond instead. I don't want the glass piece, take me into you!"

The Lord replied, "You had done penance to obtain the chance to sit on your father's lap and rule the kingdom. Your words do not match your thoughts. Hence, though I can give you anything, you must finish your desire; I shall then grace you."

Such was the keen intelligence of the children of those days.

As desires increase, bondage too increases. If you reduce your desires, you experience peace and security. As is said, "Less luggage, more comfort". I have no desires in me at all, so I am always happy.

When people's wishes are granted they praise Me;
When they fail to succeed, they criticize Me;
You commit all kinds of sins, and pray for liberation;
How is it possible to do this, pray, tell Me?

Follow the Master ;
Face the Devil ;
Fight to the End;
Finish the Game.

When creation first came up, there was total darkness. Then came a deluge of rainfall, and oceans formed. Then the clouds cleared and the sunshine fell on the earth. Crops grew, life forms thrived, and living was eked out. But as more light dawned, man's desires also multiplied. Today, man starts his day with desires! But when it is dark, he sleeps peacefully. On this count at least, man must welcome darkness, since it gives no scope for desires to proliferate!

Truth is all-pervasive. Creation originates in Truth and terminates in Truth. When Truth is realized, Lord Narayana presides. Where the Lord resides, His consort, Goddess Lakshmi, also appears. Hence, Truth alone can give you prosperity, peace, and plenty. You must help others as far as possible. Do not entertain jealousy because it will ruin everything you have.

God's grace is always there. But you need to put in some effort to earn it. Using the rope of bhakthi (devotion), and, tying it to the bucket of your heart, you must send it down the well of Anugraha (Grace).This will give you the sweet water of ananda (bliss).