The very first lesson I gave when I declared My Identity at Uravakonda was:
"Maanasa bhajare Gurucharanam, Dusthara bhava saagara tharanam." That is to
say: First know that you are in this cycle of birth and death, the ocean of
worldly life (bhavasaagaram); then, resolve on crossing it (tharanam); then fix
on a Guru or the Name and Form of God which appeals to you;lastly, dwell on His
Glory, do bhajan, but do it with all your mind. He, who is deluded by this
relative reality is the worldly person (samsaari); he who is aware that it is
only relatively real is the spiritual practitioner (saadhaka).
Egoism is the most dangerous illusion that has to be exploded and destroyed.
Bheema had it, but when he could not lift and lay aside the tail of an old
decrepit monkey, who was really Anjaneya Himself, that bubble was exploded.
Arjuna had it; one day, after the battle, when Krishna brought the chariot back
to camp, he wanted that like all charioteers, Krishna should get down first;
the master must get down later, after the charioteer opens the door for him, is
it not?..
Krishna refused, and insisted that Arjuna should alight, before He Himself
should. At last Krishna won. Arjuna got down and then, as soon as Krishna left
His seat and touched the ground,the chariot went up in flames! If only Krishna
had got down first! The fact was that the various fiery arrows that had the
power of burning the chariot had hit the target, but due to the Presence of
Krishna, their igniferous powers could not manifest themselves. Knowing this
Arjuna was humiliated; his egoism had a rude shock. He knew that every action
of Krishna was full of significance.
- taken from Swami's Discourse on 14th January 1964..
Sai Ram
