God’s Address

A true devotee with conviction in the deep heart will repeat most optimistically that ‘He has seen God and He lives in Prasanthi Nilayam’. The same devotee when he climbs ladders of higher spiritual realms will vouch that ‘God Is Everywhere’. Is anyone interested in knowing The Address Of God? Once in Prasanthi Nilayam Bhagawan engaged His students in this topic, finally validating His OmniPresence. Read on Dr PV Shankar from the United States dwelling on the same. Extracted from his preface for the recently released book ‘Sai Antarvani’.

One evening in Prasanthi Nilayam, Beloved Bhagawan asked the students – “Is there anyone here interested to know God’s Address?” Many hands went up. Swami pointed to a boy who did not raise his hands – “Hey, aren’t you interested?” “Swami, I am already in the Abode of God that is You”, the boy replied. “But just this morning you fought with your roommate in the hostel? You also felt sad and bitter that your best friend deceived you? Does God’s Abode resemble such chaos and sadness?”

Then in general, He addressed the students – “You should not resort to sycophancy by trying to please Me with flowery words. I Am not impressed by your calling Me God which I already Am. Life is meant to realise your Innate Divinity.” Then He magnanimously said – “I will give you the address of God – “Yatcha Kinchit Jagat Sarvam, Drishyate Sruyate Pi Va, Antar Bahischa Tat Sarvam, Vyapya Narayana Stithah”, meaning Narayana manifests in all that is seen or heard in the world both inside and outside. Sathya Narayana permeates all the directions, above, below, inside, outside of you.”

Omnipresence is God’s personal signature or Swabha̅va. Narayana is not a name given to a Hindu God by a segment of humanity. It refers to One Who leads mankind or Nara on a flight or ayana towards its own True Self. Being deeply embedded beneath the layers of the Antahkarana consisting of Manas, Buddhi, Chitta and Ahankara – the internal organs of mind, intellect, memory and ego, man is unaware of the perennial fount of bliss which is his innate nature and seeks it outside of him in sensual gratification. Bhagawan often teaches in the simplest of terms that when the nayana or eyes well up with the nara or waters of sublime devotion, we attain Narayana.

God’s Omnipresence transcends time and space and He manifests anywhere anytime in any form whenever humanity prays to Him fervently. His Darshan, Sparshan and Sambhashan meaning Vision, Touch and Speech are not limited to the physical sphere alone. He penetrates the subconscious and grants spiritual instructions to deserving people in their dream. He shows Himself in high mountains to ascetics absorbed in deep meditation. Unlike mortals who someday die and are quickly forgotten, He vividly lives in the thoughts and imagination of devotees – even those who have never ever seen Him in person, ages after He discarded His physical form. Isn’t this testimony that He rules Time beyond birth and death? And in these myriad planes of existence, He continues to guide mankind through Upadeshas and Anubhutis, spiritual discourses and experiences.

As I look back in time, I see a definitive pattern in my spiritual evolution. I began my search for God looking for Him outside of me and my roving mind led me away from myself till I was lost in the labyrinthine crowded corridors of life. At such times, He drew me physically so close to Him that I could smell His Divine fragrance and even touch His silken hair. Endearingly, He led me into personal discourses that had been preludes to what was to follow in the course of time. But when my search for Him turned inward, especially after He left His physical form and left me with no option other than ‘look within’, His discourses assumed a totally esoteric dimension mostly in the form of inner promptings. I am being trained by Him to still my thoughts to be able to listen to His Voice from within – His Antar Vani in the stillness of my Being. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the Indweller of my heart and I do not see Him as different from myself. I am He and that is more felt and experienced than merely expressed in words.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II