The Five “D’s” The universe is itself a university in which every human being is a student. Every student pursues one subject and acquires a degree. Each one chooses the subject he likes. But whatever different subjects any may study, there is one thing common to all of them, one common pursuit and goal: to obtain the degree of Divine Love. In an army there are a variety of jobs to be done and a hierarchy of ranks. But whatever the job, whether it is that of a washerman, an orderly, a sentry, or a commander- disciplined drill at the parade and the ability to use the rifle are essential requirements for everyone. Likewise in the Cosmic University, though there are scientific, political, economic, and other studies, what is fundamental to all of them is spiritual knowledge. Even in the spiritual field, there are special subjects. There is one group which may be described as the Five D’s: Dedication, Devotion, Discipline, Discrimination, and Determination. Those who have mastered the Five D’s are qualified to receive God’s Love. DEDICATION Dedication: It means offering. As soon as Swami arrived (in the Auditorium) teachers and students made offerings of flowers and offered their salutations. The flower symbolises the heart. When you offer the flower of your heart to the Lord, it should be free from the pests of desire, hatred, envy, greed and the like. Only pure flowers are offered to the Lord or to those whom you revere. The flower of the heart is subject to infestation by two evil creatures- one is self-conceit (Ahamkaara); the other is envy (Asooya). Self-conceit is based on eight different factors: wealth, physical prowess, birth, scholarship, beauty, power and penance. Of these, the arrogance born of wealth or scholarship is to be despised most. As long as this conceit (Ahamkaara) is predominant, it is impossible to recognise the Divine or one’s spiritual reality. Self-conceit is a great barrier between the individual and God. It has to be utterly demolished. ESCHEW PRIDE Pride of wealth is another grievous human failing, which causes the downfall of man. All forms of pride, based on birth, wealth, power or scholarship, have to be given up totally. Only when egoistic pride is offered as a sacrifice at the altar of the Divine can man discover his true nature. This is the Dedication that is called for as the first step in the spiritual journey. DEVOTION Next comes Devotion. This is the highest form of your love. “Service to Hrishikesh is known as Bhakti,” says the Sutra. Devotion means constant contemplation of God. The term Bhakti is derived from the root Bhaj (to worship). Devotion means loving contemplation of God, repetition of His Name, worshipping Him and doing penance for Him. Service to the Lord is the highest expression of devotion. There is nothing which is not attainable through loving service to the Divine. Once Tulasidas was engaged in meditation at the confluence of the three rivers (Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati). Rama and Lakshmana appeared before him as two young boys. They asked him: ” Kakaji! What is it you are doing?” Tulasidas replied: “Children! I am doing service to Rama.” The boys asked: “What is the use of doing service to Rama?” Tulasidas replied: “Through service I get a sweet.” They said: ” What is the use of getting a sweet? Once you have eaten and digested it, nothing remains.” Then Tulasidas explained that the sweet gotten from others is digested in a brief time. But the sweet given by God is His love, which is not digested and cast away. When it is eaten, all hunger is appeased. The sweet of Divine love illumines the spirit. When the oil of Devotion is put into the lamp of the Antahkarana (the indwelling motivator) and the wick of integral consciousness (Prajna) is lit by the fire of spiritual enquiry, the flame of Self-knowledge shines effulgently. Devotion does not mean merely doing bhajans or performing puja. These forms of devotion at present are based on some kind of self- interest and self-seeking. True devotion should be free from selfish- ness of any kind. For the external observer all appear to be devotees, filled with humility and piety. But internally, their hearts are otherwise. Judging a student by his marks, he may have a high rank. But as regards his conduct he is a blank. Likewise, judging from external practices a person may appear to be a devotee. But his heart and mind may be filled with evil. This sort of duplicity should be given up. There should be the same loving devotion both inside and outside. Devotion is not something o be proclaimed or demonstrated. Exhibitionistic devotion may result in disaster. True devotion should be an expression of love both internally and externally. DISCIPLINE Next comes discipline. This is most essential for students. From the moment you wake up, you have to carry out your morning ablutions, meditate on God and then do your prescribed duties in an orderly manner without deviating from the regular routine. Variations in the routine from day to day are undesirable. You should not wake up at one hour on one day and at a different time on another day. The day’s activities should be regulated by the same schedule. Immediately after finishing the morning chores, one should devote, in the calm and serene atmosphere of the morning, at least a few minutes to loving meditation on God. The human estate is based upon regulations and self-control. These have to be strictly adhered to in daily life. DISCRIMINATION Then comes discrimination. The world is a mixture of good and bad, of joy and sorrow, right and wrong, victory and defeat. In a world replete with such opposites, man has to make constantly the choice between what is right and proper and what is wrong or undesirable. A man who has no such discriminating faculty is an animal. Man should not let himself be guided by the mind.