‘Mine’ is death; ‘not mine’ is Immortality

As far you are attached, so far you have to traverse until you negate it practically. If life on this planet is to attain the Highest Goal, the Highest Goal is nothing but negating one’s own ‘individual’ existence. Such heroism is extolled, not by the mean worldly, but by The Supreme One HimSelf! Yes, Sri Sathya Sai – The Supreme did speak on such heroes, not once, but time and again in sacrosanct Prasanthi Nilayam.

Bharat has gained wide renown through many sons and daughters who have sacrificed their all for the common good. The seed has to renounce its identity and become one with the soil so that the tree might emerge. So too, the ego has to sacrifice itself so that man’s Divine nature can manifest itself.  Mama ithi mrithyu – ‘mine’ is death; ‘not mine’ is immortality. Thyagah shanthih anantaram – Renunciation results in peace. The golden key of non-attachment opens the lock which keeps the door to heaven shut. “Give up; I shall fill the gap,” says Jesus.

Today, renunciation has become a means for success and fame!  It has become a bargaining point.  Renouncing animal and even human feelings and earning the awareness of the Divine which is the core, is the most valuable sadhana. Consider the heroes of renunciation in the past; they  were  mostly  rulers  and  the  rich,  who  could  afford  power  and  plenty – Emperor  Sibi, Emperor  Mahabali,  King  Karna. Consider also later heroes – Tanhaji and Bhagat Singh. These two sacrificed their lives for the sake of the nation and the world.

Mahabali, the asura (demon) ruler, renounced everything for the sake of God. His father and grandfather were also very famous for the same reason. The great grand-father, Hiranyakashipu, did not tolerate the very mention of the name Hari. For he swore that he was himself God! He was a fanatical rationalist. And, he had a son named Prahlada who was devoted to Hari and whose dedication and surrender to God was complete, without any reservation. He came out triumphantly through travails and tortures. The name Hari, was the armour that saved him from the shafts of angry hatred aimed by his father. The persons who tortured him in obedience to his father’s  command  were  struck  at  the  calm  heroism  and  the  utmost  peace  he  enjoyed  as  a consequence of his steady repetition of the Lord’s Name.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II