Divine Souls!

Did you know that you are living in a cage? The name of this cage is "I"! There are many kinds of cages - grass ones, worm ones, tree cages, snake cages, dog cages - there are as many kinds of cages as there are species of living beings. Your soul has entered and inhabited such a cage - the human body. This human cage desires a nice house with all the associated comforts to live in, but what does the soul require? The body may be savouring worldly luxuries, but can you honestly say that your Divine Soul, God within you, is in ideal surroundings? What comforts do you give to your True Self, which needs spiritual energy and purity to grow and reach maturity? Does your body help to uplift your Self or are you simply gratifying your physical senses? The body may be satisfied but your spiritual Self receives no gratification. The body can eat three meals a day and sleep well, but leading such a life you will realise nothing except temporary enjoyment and increased worldly desires.

By being in the company of saints and spiritually minded people you can begin to nurture the Self. Saints say that they have seen what you have not. Within the body is a third, spiritual eye - an eye of wisdom. Yet man in general is unable to experience the eye of wisdom because he is not yet spiritually elevated. Great souls advise how to achieve a high spiritual stage. There are many different paths and one should take the path that is most suited to one's nature. Through the presence, grace and blessings of great souls you can receive upliftment.

It is generally understood that one should not touch highly evolved beings, but I allow you to touch my feet in order that the bad effects of your past deeds (karmas) may be removed through the Grace of God. There is Divinity within my body and I wish to help the devotees through the God-given powers in me. You may ask, how can Divinity be transmitted from the saint to the devotees?

Electricity is not visible to us, but we know that electric lights are activated by electric current which is conveyed by wires. We know this, despite the fact that electricity is invisible to the naked eye, because we can see the light shining from light bulbs. Similarly, to bestow understanding that God exists, there are spiritually illumined souls who stand out from the average man in so many ways.

An illumined soul has absolute faith in and has fully surrendered him or herself to God, who activates all in existence. The sage loves everyone, is full of unwavering wisdom, is detached and desireless, contents and delights in the Self, speaks the truth, performs right actions in total selfishness, keeps the body busy and the mind still and is always engaged in service to the Divine. He has no anger or jealousy and his heart is immaculate whilst his mind is pure. He is a master of the senses and is compassionate and simple.

Such a soul has extraordinary powers hidden which are invisble, like electric current. Seeing such a person "shining" in his or her spiritual glory, one might gain some spiritual understanding that God exists. When such a sage speaks, his words are Truth and will definitely come to pass. (In Tamil this phenomena is know as 'satya vaarku'.) If you ask me for a statue, kum-kum, holy ash or any object, within an instant the same will appear in my hand. Such things happen to give you understanding that the Supreme Power is a reality, beyond the norms of human existence and emperical science.

In English, you call a sage who has realised God an 'enlightened soul'. Similarly, in Tamil we speak of one who is imbued with 'Jadadjothy' (the universal light), 'Anmajothy' (the light of the divine self) or one whose radiant presence bestows 'Jothymayam' (spiritual illumination). However, it is a waste of time trying to test the powers of such enlightened ones, or researching their spiritual capacity. It would be as futile as trying to perceive electric current with the naked eye. There is a saying in these parts which states that to measure the contents of the ocean is as impossible as gauging the power of a rishi (great sage).

I have spiritual knowledge and I want to impart it to you. That is why I have been born. I came to teach righteousness and to show you that pure happiness, God, is within you. The great saints of Tamil Nadu said, "Anbe Shivan". This means that Lord Shiva is Love, thus God is Love. I want you to see, feel and realise the great Love that is Divinity within your own heart. That is my sole desire for you.

Experiencing spirituality is not like learning from books. If you want immediate and temporary anandam (blissful state) you can get it through artificially speeding up your blood with drugs or alcohol - but such habits will lead only to your destruction. Experiencing true spirituality leads to immortal and permanent, perfect happiness.

In order to practise and experience true spirituality, it does not matter which country you are in. Spirituality is deep inside YOU in YOUR HEART and not in any particular place. Think of your Guruji. Call Him - he will come immediately. Telepathy power is instant! It is faster than external sound or visible light. Guruji will visit you, look around your house and return. How? Don't ask - it is his gift.

I laugh and live - laughing makes us happy and I believe that spirituality should be full of joy. But I never laugh or talk with ego. I only speak the truth but often the devotees understand only after some time has past. In general, people understand things a little late and so I teach dharma slowly but surely.

Swami Premananda