Bharathavarsha (Indian subcontinent) knew that the secret of peace lay in service and love towards all beings. The culture of this land proclaimed that the best form of service is to foster the practitioners of the good life, the sages and spiritual aspirants. Do not decry the servants of God; do not obstruct the charity of the generous; do not discourage the study of the scriptures even if you cannot positively promote any of these; that is the lesson taught in this land. Peace cannot be ensured by the piling up of atom bombs, the systematic amassing of weapons. Without removing hatred from the heart and planting love therein, mere terror and counter-terror cannot establish cordiality and harmony. “You purchase a bean and demand a gourd as an extra.” Your effort is so microscopic: your expectation of fruit is gigantic. How can this wish for peace be realised Little is done to cleanse the mind of hate, but every one expects international peace tomorrow at dawn.

At present, every one is after sukha (happiness). The hunt for comfortable jobs and positions of influence, the founding of banks and business houses, the growth of bungalows – all this is evidence of the eagerness to live in happiness. But, there is no eagerness to live in shanthi (peace). Sukha (happiness) is confused with shanthi; sukha is taken to be the same as shanthi. No one of the rich or well d or prosperous or powerful has peace. You can investigate and find out for yourselves the truth of this. Peace is not found in the pass book or many-roomed bungalow or godown or iron safe. Your whole attitude is topsy-turvy. It is as absurd as putting the cart before the horse. The physical is subordinate to the spiritual. The body is the cart and the spirit, the horse. Of course, the cart should be kept in good condition; vice ruins the body and makes it unfit for the journey of life. The mind is the horse and that is neglected and not groomed for the journey. It is starved. In this land where Meera, Jayadeva, Valmeeki, Thyagaraja, Ramadas and Tukaram, by their intense yearning and fortitude, showed the path of achieving lasting joy, precious years of life are thrown away in silly adventures.

“I am the holy” attitude breeds grief

The four Mahavakyas (great truths) which the Vedas proclaim, announce that all this is Brahmam, one unitary uniform substance, appearing only to the diseased eye as many. AhamBrahmasmi – “I am Brahman” – you must assert; then, you transmute yourself into sons of Immortality; (Amrithasya Puthrah); now, since you bleat aham dehasmi – I am the body (the combination of five elements, that one day splits into those elements) – you degrade yourself into Amrithasya Puthrah – sons of Illusion. That attitude breeds grief; it is the root of discontent. People who stay in air-conditioned rooms have no coolness in their heart; people who resided in the caves of the forest had it. It is not external temperature that counts; it is the inner temper. Here, the Mahasakthi (Supreme Power) in the Name and Form of Chengalamma is established and evident. And, this foundation stone for a dharmashala (choultry) for the pilgrims who come to adore Her is being laid by Me. It is significant, for I never do any casual act. Every single act has a deep significance. This temple and this dharmashala are bound to serve mankind more and more. That is the meaning of prathishtha, the establishment of temples and the institutions of service related to them.

Dharma leads you to God

This building is named a Dharmashala, a Hall of Dharma, a School of Dharma. It should not be merely a free lodging house for pilgrims. It should have an atmosphere of dharma, which the pilgrims must inhale and get inspired thereby. The temple will inspire Atmadharma, leading the pilgrim into himself, to search for the Mahasakthi that is behind the Icchasakthi, the Kriyasakthi and the Jnanasakthi (power of the will, the work and the wisdom) that man is endowed with.

The Dharmashala must inspire him to deepen faith in the Vriththidharma, (the moral code that regulates and enriches his profession), the Varnadharma, (the restrictions and regulations that strive to canalise his impulses and instincts, into fields that are special to his in society), Ashramadharma (disciplines laid down for the blossoming of the spiritual consciousness during the four stages of life as student, as householder, as a recluse, and as asceric), Viseshadharma (code of conduct in special situations) and Samanyadharma (code of conduct common to all). That will make the name Dharmashala really appropriate. Dharma is the path by which the Mahasakthi in the temple of your heart can be tapped, experienced and realised; without adherence to dharma, it can never happen. Dharma (virtuous conduct) purifies the mind and leads you to God. It creates a taste for the Name and the Form of God. When you love the Name and Form of Krishna, you will naturally respect and obey the command of Krishna, which is found in the Bhagavad Geetha. Have the Name on the tongue and the Form in the eye and the demon called asha (unending desire), will fly from your mind, leaving joy and content therein. This kind of constant dwelling on the indwelling God will promote in you love for all beings. You will then see only good in others. You will strive only to do good to others.

Do your duties with God as the witness

Now, all things have gone up in value; man alone has become cheap. Endowed with the costly gems of Reason, Discrimination and Detachment, man has allowed them to slip away and he is beset with dire poverty, as a consequence. He has become cheaper than animals; he is slaughtered in millions without any qualm, because of the terrific growth of anger, hate and greed; he has forgotten his unity with all men, all beings, and all worlds. The contemplation of that unity alone can establish .world peace, social peace and peace in the individual. All other efforts are like pouring sweet-scented rose water on a heap of ash, ineffective and foolish. I bless all efforts made by each of you to build shanthi (peace), on this foundation of Atmajnana, knowledge of Athmic unity. Gatherings like this must be arranged to spread the message of the Prasanthi Vidwanmahasabha in order that you may know the truth about yourself and seek to experience it. As Kumararaja said in the beginning, try to practise in your daily life at least one or two of the things. I spoke to you now. Do all daily duties, with God in your heart, as the witness. This gathering is like a flood that has come from all the four quarters; it gives an assurance that Sanathana Dharma (Eternal Religion) will certainly rise in splendour in this land. It teaches man to investigate the truth about himself and the world. Is that not the most proper thing for man to do What is wrong in prompting man to engage himself in the task It is mere ignorance that keeps you away from this task. Start now, with the first step, Namasmarana, (remembrance of the Name of the Lord, the Universal Indweller); that will lead you on to the further steps, until the goal is reached.

Whenever there is a vacuum in any heart, love flows into it and is glad that it can fill the emptiness. It is never held back; it is offered in abundance without guile or deceit. it does not wear the cloak of falsehood, flattery or fear. The tendrils of love aspire to cling only to the garments of God. It senses that God resides in His splendour, in every heart to discover that the seat of God is real devotion.

– Sri Sathya Sai Baba