Bhagawan Blesses the Book Trust Office
by
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

[It was a very memorable day, a momentous occasion for the staff members of Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, young and old alike, since Bhagawan stepped again in the portals of the Book Trust office after a gap of six years on the morning of 24 August 2007 at 8.50 a.m. The building was inaugurated by Bhagawan on 24 August 2001. Bhagawan gave a Discourse, watched a video presentation on the Book Trust, graciously went around various departments of the office, and blessed the staff members.

Bhagawan was received traditionally with Poornakumbham, Veda chanting, and bhajans as He arrived at the central hall of the office. After a few bhajans, the Convener of the Trust, Sri K.S. Rajan, addressed the staff members. In his opening remarks, Sri Rajan observed that they were all fortunate to be here on this day. Bhagawan has set foot in this building on this day, and it will become very prosperous in all respects. Bhagawan's message is being spread to every nook and corner of the world through the medium of "Sanathana Sarathi", books, and audiovisuals. He declared that this was all possible only due to Bhagawan's grace. This visit of Bhagawan would be written in golden letters in the annals of the Book Trust. Sri Rajan concluded His speech with a prayer to Bhagawan to address the staff members so that they could cherish His words in their hearts and act accordingly. Bhagawan in all His compassion gave a Discourse, full text of which follows:]

All those students who are working here are discharging their duties with steadfastness and devotion. It is because of them that this Book Stall has developed. It is not enough if you merely bring out books; you should put into practice what is there in the books. You should understand and assimilate all the teachings that are contained in the books and practise them. Pustaka (book) and mastaka (head) should be in harmony.

What the world needs today is service. We should love everybody. Love All Serve All. This is what we are supposed to do. Whatever work we may do, we should do it with the feeling that we are doing the work of God. There is no place in this world where God is not present. He is all-pervasive. Never doubt that God is here and is not there. He is everywhere. God is in you, with you, above you, below you and around you.

Whatever work you do, whatever happens is only due to the Will of God, and not by your own effort. (Showing His handkerchief) Here you see a cloth. This cloth is woven with a bundle of threads. The threads are made out of cotton. So, the process is first cotton, then thread, and thirdly cloth. Similarly, you are not one person but three. The one you think you are, the one others think you are, and the one you really are.

There are three processes involved in writing a book: the person who writes, the people who read it, and the person who prints it. Do not lay importance on just bringing out books. The books we bring out should broaden the vision of the people. We should not give room to narrow-mindedness. The books should help people develop broad feelings. We should publish books that are essential for everybody.

But money is not important, morality is important. Money comes and goes, morality comes and grows. We should develop morality. What is the use of writing and reading books without putting them into practice? We should be able to practice at least one principle. There may be many items in the plate, but by merely repeating the names of those items, will our hunger be satiated? Take at least one item and eat.

In the same manner there are many books. People are writing about the divinity of Swami in many books. But are you putting into practice at least one principle contained in them? No. What is the use of reading books if you do not practice? You may listen to ten teachings, but at least one of them you should be able to practice. Only then will we derive the necessary strength to carry on our lives.

Our Rajan is putting in lot of efforts to develop the Book Trust. He is doing much more than what is expected of a person of his age. Students are also cooperating and working in the right direction to make it conducive for the smooth functioning of the organisation. You may take into consideration any workplace. Progress is possible only when there is cooperation. Cooperation should be such that there should be relationship between heart to heart. Whatever work we are doing, we should first understand it thoroughly.

All are one, be alike to everyone. All should work with unity. One may write the book, another may print it, and yet another may bind the book. But there should be cooperation and unity between all the departments. Only when all work in unity can we get the desired result.

When can you develop unity? You can develop unity when there is purity. How can you develop purity? If there are any negative feelings in the mind, purity is not possible. First of all, there should be unity. Where there is unity, there is purity. Where there is purity, divinity will manifest. So, first of all develop unity and purity. Then you will attain the grace of divinity. If you want to attain divinity, first of all you should develop unity and purity. Therefore, I exhort you to develop unity and work together —persons who are writing and those who are printing them.

What I see is not the pustaka (book) that you print, I see your mastaka (head). Our Rajan brings so many things to Me that are printed by the Trust. But I am not satisfied with any of them. I see the purity of heart of the person who has written the book. Hence, purify your heart in the first instance. A cooked dish will be tasty only when the vessel in which it is prepared is clean. Cleanliness of the vessel is very important. In the same manner, purify your heart.

Any number of changes may take place in the world, but the heart should not change. Here when I refer to the heart, it does not mean physical heart. I am referring to the spiritual heart. Spiritual heart means divinity. Divinity is referred to as Atma.

God has no specific form, but He is all-pervasive. He is in you, with you, below you, above you, and around you. The Atma. is present wherever you see. But when there are passing clouds, you will not be able to visualise the Atma. Moon is always present in the sky, but you will not be able to see the moon when it is covered by clouds. You cannot deny the presence of the moon because it is covered by clouds. If you want to see the moon, you have to wait for some time. You can see the moon, once the clouds move away.

The Veda declares, Chandrama Manaso Jataha Chaksho Suryo Ajayata (the moon was born out of the mind and the sun out of the eyes of the Supreme Being). The Atma is shining like moon in the sky of our heart. But sometimes, it is covered by the clouds of thoughts and desires. In some seasons, you find thick clouds. When there are thick clouds, you will not be able to see the moon. But do not deny the existence of moon just because you are unable to see.

In the same manner, God is present in the heart of everyone. You are unable to see the Atma because of your thoughts and desires. So, you should exercise control over your desires. Less luggage more comfort makes travel a pleasure.You can experience immense happiness if you reduce the luggage of your desires. It is because of desires, you are unable to see the Atma. Therefore, reduce your desires.

This is referred to as vairagya in Vedanta. What is meant by vairagya? It is reducing your desires. You should not have more and more desires. Our body grows with every day. But our life-span decreases day by day. As the body grows, our life-span also decreases. Hence, it will be very beneficial to us if we reduce our desires. You can always be happy and cheerful when you reduce your desires. You may read any number of books and listen to many sacred histories, but first and foremost you must reduce your desires. Only then can you find benefit out of them. Everyone has desires, but some are necessary and some are not. When we wake up in the morning what is that we do? We get up from the bed with a lot of desires.

Oh man!
You struggle hard in life merely for the sake of filling your belly.
You acquire myriad types of knowledge from various fields.
Examine and enquire for yourself what great happiness
     you have achieved by spending all the time from dawn
     to dusk in acquiring worldly knowledge and earning wealth
     while forgetting God.
(Telugu Poem)

Forgetting God, whatever you may do is a mere waste of time. You should always keep God as your goal. God is not present in a far off land. He is present everywhere —in you, with you, below you, above you, and around you. Hence, never forget God.

People may say anything, you may face any number of difficulties, but you should never forget God. Only when you have such pure, unsullied, and steady devotion can you be called a true devotee. You cannot call yourself a devotee if you do not have steadiness of mind. Your devotion should be steady, like an ocean, which never reduces in quantity. On the one hand, the water gets evaporated from the ocean; on the other hand, rivers merge in it, but still the ocean maintains all its characteristics. Our heart should be filled with devotion like an ocean. Do not entertain the waves of desires and malign it. Any number of waves may arise, but the ocean maintains its pristine state. Hence, keep your heart always pure, steady, and selfless.

Our Rajan is putting in a lot of effort. He is bringing about many changes in the publication of books. For the 80th Birthday, many good books were brought out.

Never entertain any desires. Whatever you do, do it as an offering to God. Sarva Karma Bhagavad Preetyartham (do all actions to please God). That is the sign of true devotion. Do not give rise to differences —like this is my work, that is Swami's work, and yet another work pertains to public. Think all work is God's work. One who writes the book, one who prints and one who reads the book, all are one. All are one. Never entertain any differences.

Only when you do not have differences, can you develop steady devotion. Your devotion should always be steady; it should not waver moment to moment. When you have a wavering mind, everything will keep changing. Do not give scope to a wavering mind.

Desires and thoughts may arise, but we should utilise our power of discrimination. Is it good or bad? Is it right or wrong? When your conscience tells something is right, follow it. Always follow your conscience. It is like a traffic signal. Follow it conscientiously. When your conscience tells something is right, follow it scrupulously, irrespective of what others say. Let people talk whatever they want, but we should remain steady in our mind.

Greatness does not lie in bringing out books, but we should understand the essence contained in the books. We should bear in mind the essence in the books. Without matter, it cannot be called a book. Without any subject, you cannot get matter. What type of subjects you should choose? You should choose those subjects which are related to the heart. If you do not go by the dictates of the heart, you will not be successful.

An author should write good books, books that are beneficial to one and all. We should not print unnecessary things. Many books brought out in the outside world  gives rise to worldly desires. What is happening to all those books? Nobody is reading them. Whatever subject is pleasing to the heart should be the subject matter of books. They are true and eternal.

We should perform actions without deviating from the path of sathya (truth) and dharma (righteousness). Sathya and dharma are not different from each other. Sathyannasti paro dharma (There is no dharma greater than adherence to truth). Sathya and dharma are one and the same. Without dharma there cannot be sathya, and without sathya, there cannot be dharma. They are interdependent and are like mirror images. We can achieve anything when we have sathya and dharma on our side. We should always keep sathya and dharma as our goal. Then we will certainly achieve our goal.

Now, I cannot explain in detail any further due to time constraint. I wanted to tell you something related to publication of books and nothing else. We should publish only good books. Good books that are beneficial to one and all. You have heard Bhagawan's Discourses and read many books. At least from now onward, put them into practice.

After blessing the distribution of Prasadam to all assembled and accepting the Arati, Bhagawan left for Sai Kulwant Hall at 10.15 a.m.