Be it any religion, any culture or any
civilization, flowers play a very important role in prayers and worship.
Bouquets, garlands, and in a variety of other forms; flowers adore the altar,
the photograph, the mausoleum or the deity. Roses, jasmines, lotuses,
marigolds, lilies, and the list can go on. In certain traditions, specific
flowers are prescribed for specific forms of worship too. Thus, flowers are such
an integral part of religious and spiritual practices that one can never
imagine any ritual or practice without the use of flowers in some form or the
other. Specifically, in Bharatiya culture, one would never find any temple
without the idol bedecked with flowers and without a number of flower vendors
lining up the entrance of the temple. Buying flowers and offering them to God,
turns out to be a lively experience for the devotee and a livelihood for the
vendor!
However, these are only the external modes of
worship and prayers. What are the flowers that we truly need to offer to God?
Would we become deserving of God’s Grace only by spending some money and buying
flowers to adorn Him? Would we advance spiritually by plucking flowers from the
plants and offering these to Him in worship? Would God, in whatever name or
form, be anxiously waiting for flowers to be offered to Him by His devotees? If
God is omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent, is He not present in the flowers?
Is not the fragrance of the flowers an expression of His very own Self? Are not
the infinite shades of colours of the flowers His very own manifestation? If
yes, then why would He need these? If not, then what type of God do we believe
in, who is so limited and incomplete that He desires for flowers to be offered
to Him? Analyzing thus, we would realize that all these forms of worship and
prayers are for our own satisfaction and not for satisfying God. These forms of
worship and prayers give us joy, delight and provide the ambience for us to
raise our consciousness and turn within to comprehend Him as our true Self!
Thus, flowers do have their due place in prayers and worship, but one should
not stop with that.
In this context, Bhagawan Baba states that He does
not want the worldly flowers to be offered to Him; flowers that would fade and
dry away within a few hours or a day. He wishes that we offer Him flowers that
remain fresh and colourful forever! Where are these flowers available? What are
they? It is precisely about these flowers that this blog post talks about.
Bhagawan asks us to offer eight flowers to Him. He calls these the Ashta Pushpam (Eight Flowers). This blog
post lists all the eight flowers and presents Bhagawan’s explanation for each
of these.
The twelve audio extracts in this posting are taken from the Discourse
delivered by Bhagawan in the year 2000.
Clip-1 gives an introduction to the eight flowers to be offered to God.
In Clip-2, Bhagawan explains about the first flower of Ahimsa (Non-violence) to be offered to God. In Clip-3, Bhagawan
describes the second flower of Indriya
Nigraham (Sense-control). Clip-4 elaborates on the third flower of Sarva Bhoota Daya (Compassion towards
all Beings). In Clip-5, Bhagawan illustrates the quality of compassion through
the well known story of Abou Ben Adhem. In Clip-6, Bhagawan states that
Compassion and Service to others is the highest among all the nine paths of
devotion. Clip-7 explains about the fourth flower of Kshama (Forbearance). Clip-8 highlights the fifth flower of Santhi (Peace). In Clip-9, Bhagawan
speaks about the sixth flower of Tapas
(Penance). Clip-10 is about the seventh flower of Dhyanam (Meditation) and Clip-11 is finally about the eight flower
of Sathyam (Truth). In the last
Clip-12, Bhagawan reiterates that God does not want an offering of flowers that
will dry and fade away. He wants us to offer flowers that will remain ever
fresh.
Each audio clip has a name that adopts the following code: Serial
number, Title appropriate to the key content, Duration of the clip,
Year-Month-Date of the Clip. Below the title is the translation in English of
the select excerpt of the Discourse, followed by the audio player. The
post ends with a short quiz that would help you evaluate your assimilation of
Bhagawan's Message from these extracts.
Note:
Those receiving this blog by email may see words bunched
together due to a technical glitch. That is beyond my control. Please click on
link at the top of the email to read the blog directly. Sorry about this. If
anyone has a solution to this please help me out.
01-The Eight Flowers to be offered to God-1.16-2000 August 22
 |
| Offering Eight Flowers to God Image Source |
02-The First Flower of Ahimsa-Non-violence
to be offered to God-2.33-2000 August 22
 |
| Offering Non-violence at His Lotus Feet |
Some more say, “You eat all these
vegetables. When you cut these vegetables, they must be feeling so much pain”.
What we do does not affect these vegetables. Trees and vegetables do have life.
But they do not have a mind. Because they do not have a mind, they do not feel
the pain. They do not have wisdom either. If you cut a vegetable/fruit, there
will be some sap oozing out. Looking at that, many feel that the
vegetables/fruits are crying and shedding tears. This is natural water and not
tears of sorrow. Sorrow comes only when there is mind. Delight /happiness is
experienced only by the one with a mind. Humans have a mind. Animals and birds
also have a mind. Germs and insects also have a mind. Trees and vegetables have
life but do not have a mind. Therefore, the one without mind will experience no
pain even when put to suffering.
03-The Second Flower of Indriya
Nigraham-Sense-control to be offered to God-6.52-2000 August 22
 |
| Offering Sense-control at His Lotus Feet |
Jihve Rasagne Madhura Priya Twam
Satyam Hitam Twaam Paramam Vadami
Avarana Yeta Madhuraksharani
The tongue has got used to many
tastes. We have to make an attempt to control such a tongue. “O Tongue, from
the time you have been born, you would have eaten so many bags of rice, you
would have eaten so many bags of wheat, you would have eaten so many bags of
snacks, you would have eaten so many types of vegetables, you would have eaten
so many delicacies; still are you not satisfied? Chhee (what a shame), what is
the use of this life that is bereft of satisfaction?
You have to control the tongue and
the taste. You have hunger and you have to eat. But, Bhikshaannam Deharakshaartham (You need food only to protect the
body). You must eat so as to protect the (physical) body, not for the sake of
taste. Therefore, “O tongue, give up (sacrifice) this taste. Eat for the sake
of hunger. Provide strength (nutrition) to all the sense organs.
This (Sense-control) is the second
flower. Ahimsa is the first flower.
The second flower is Indriya Nigraham.
This is very important. We can achieve anything with control of senses. The
senses are responsible for all the conflict, restlessness and lack of peace in
the world today. In fact, we should teach a lesson to each of the sense organs.
We must teach a lesson to the mouth.
“O mouth, how long will you keep eating like this? You are not contended
inspite of eating for so long. Your life is just this”. As we advise the
tongue, so should we advise the eyes also. “O eyes, you have been watching so
many things. You have been experiencing so many things. Are you still not
satisfied? What should you see? You have experienced whatever you have seen.
You should indeed see the form of Truth alone, i.e. the form of God. Aspire for
God. Contemplate on the real form of God. Therefore give up all these foolish
things and consume the right things”
What should you consume?”
O ears, you are ready to listen to
vain gossip and tales. But you are not ready to listen to matters of
spirituality – Telugu verse.
O ears, you have been listening to
so many things. You listen to all unnecessary things. You listen to all vain
gossip of the town. You listen to all bad things, which are not good for you.
You listen to all that comes on the radio. You listen to all that comes on the
video. But what is the benefit you have got from all this? Chhee (what a
shame), O ears, do not give in to such actions. Do not be ready for this.
Listening to others’ matters, you are spoiling your heart. All that you hear
gets imprinted on your heart. All the scenes that you see, get imprinted on
your heart. Therefore, you are spoiling your heart. Today, the whole world is
polluted. Taking in all this pollution, you are polluting your heart also. You
are making your mind impure. When your mind is impure, what can you experience?
Everything is useless.
Yesterday, I spoke to the devotees
from Visakhapatnam. Our heart is like a pen. As is the ink in the pen so will
be the lines and the writing. The colour will be the same as the ink.
Therefore, the human heart is like a pen. It writes all the worldly matters and
gets imprinted there. You need to fill this pen (of the heart) with the ink of
love. Then, all your thoughts, all your words and all your actions will also be
full of love. Whatever you write with this pen (heart) of love, will be full of
love only. It will have the same colour. Thus, we must fill our hearts with
love and lead a sacred life.
04-The Third Flower of Sarva
Bhoota Daya-Compassion towards
all Beings to be offered to God-0.51-2000 August 22
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| Offering Compassion to all Beings at His Lotus Feet |
05-Compassion towards all Beings-Story of Abou Ben
Adhem-3.19-2000 August 22
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| The one whom God Loves Image Source |
One day, he returned home very
exhausted. He saw a woman sitting and writing something. She was not an
ordinary woman. She was an angel. After a while, he got up and asked her,
“Mother, who are you? What are you writing?” She replied, “I am an angel. I am
making a list of all those who love God”. Abou Ben Adhem asked, “Is my name
there by any chance?” She replied, “Son, your name is not there here”. “Very
happy” said Abou Ben Adhem. The angel disappeared and he went to sleep.
The next day, again when Abou Ben
Adhem returned home, he saw a woman sitting there and writing something.
Recognizing her, he asked, “Mother, what are you writing today?” She replied,
“Son, today I am making the list of all those who are loved by God. Yesterday,
I was writing the list of people who loved God. Today, I am writing the list of
people who are loved by God.” Abou Ben Adhem asked, “Is my name there in this?”
She replied, “Other than your name, there is no other name here”. Thus, service
to others is the highest.
06-Compassion towards all Beings-Service is highest among all
nine paths of devotion-1.35-2000 August 22
 |
| Service is the Highest form of Devotion |
07-The Fourth Flower of Kshama-Forbearance
to be offered to God-2.01-2000 August 22
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| Offering Forbearance at His Lotus Feet |
08-The Fifth Flower of Santhi-Peace
to be offered to God-3.01-2000 August 22
 |
| Offering Peace at His Lotus Feet |
That is why, Saint Tyagaraja said, “Shaantamu Leka Saukhyamu Ledu” – Without
peace (patience) there is no happiness. We need physical, mental, worldly and
practical peace. But how can we earn this peace? In the outer world there is no
peace. There is no peace in the material comforts or in the external objects.
This peace is verily our own form. Therefore, this flower of peace has to
manifest from within us and cannot come from without.
We must be able to face all the
difficulties and challenges that come our way and must move forward. There will
be so many difficulties in this world. There will be so many challenges in this
physical world. We must not take note of all these. The human birth has been
given to overcome all these. The human birth has not been given for mere
comfort and pleasure. It is not for experiencing worldly happiness. We are
anyway experiencing all these. Animals and birds are also enjoying these. But
this is not what we need to experience. We need to experience the real peace.
That is the very nature of our heart. We should be able to achieve that peace
which emanates from the heart. Thus, the flower of peace is the fifth one.
09-The Sixth Flower of Tapas-Penance
to be offered to God-3.07-2000 August 22
 |
| Offering Penance at His Lotus Feet |
Na Tapaamsi Na Teerthaanaam
Na Shaastraanaam Japaanahi
Samsaara Saagarotaare
Sajjanam Sevanam Vina.
Neither penance, nor pilgrimage, nor
scriptures, nor meditation can help you cross the ocean of the world. Service
to the noble ones alone can help you cross the ocean of Samsaara (world).
True penance means uniting the three
Gunas (qualities). You may get anger,
but you must control it. You may become very enthusiastic, but that has also to
be controlled. You may become very happy but that also must be put under check.
Sorrow may come but that also must be controlled.
Sukha Dukhe Same Kritva
Labha Labhou Jaya Jayou
(Verse 38, Chapter-2 - Bhagavad
Gita)
We must exercise the spirit of
equanimity in times of both sorrow and joy. That is true penance. You may do
any work, you may engage in any service but do not entertain desires. Penance
is the state bereft of desires.
10-The Seventh Flower of Dhyanam-Meditation
to be offered to God-3.07-2000 August 22
 |
| Offering Meditation at His Lotus Feet |
(But true) Dhyana (meditation) is not this. Meditation means to merge the mind
in God. When water mixes with milk, you cannot separate water from the milk. In
the same way, when the principle of love merges in God, it cannot be separated
from God. When iron is put in fire, the whole iron becomes fire itself. It
burns wherever you touch it. Therefore, our principle of love must merge in the
Love of God. The Vedas call this as, “Brahmavid
Brahmaiva Bhavati” (The knower of Brahman becomes Brahman Himself). The two
should become one. The iron and the fire should not be separate. They should
become one. Our mind should become one with the feeling of God.
Just performing meditation in the
morning and evening and uniting with God for that brief period is not
meditation.
Sarvadaa Sarvakaaleshu Sarvatraa Harichintanam
You must think of God always and at
all times. While doing any work, you may focus on the work, but keep this Love
(God) as the undercurrent. This is true meditation. Meditation is not
remembering God by setting aside a limited period of time. This would amount to
only part time devotion. What is needed is full time devotion. Therefore,
meditation is not sitting for a brief period in the lotus posture and
remembering God. In that case, God’s Grace will come for a moment and then go
away. Once God’s Grace comes, it should stay permanently with you. We should
pray so as to (be able to) meditate truly and continuously.
11-The Eight Flower of Sathyam-Truth
to be offered to God-1.41-2000 August 22
 |
| Offering Truth at His Lotus Feet |
Satymabulanundi Sarvambuputinche
Satyambulananage Sarvasrushti
Satyamahimaleni Sthalamedikanugunna
Shuddha Satvam Idiye Choodaraiyya
The Creation emerged out of Truth,
is sustained in Truth and finally merges in Truth. Is there any place where
there is no Truth. It is the unsullied pure Truth that we see everywhere.
Trikaalabhaajyam Sathyam
Truth is that which does not change
with time. It is always ever existent. Everything may vanish, but the Truth
will always remain. That Truth is God. Therefore, Truth is God, Live in Truth.
We must live in Truth and end our lives in Truth. This Truth is the eighth
flower.
12-God does not want Flowers that will dry and fade
away-1.11-2000 August 22
 |
| God does not want flowers that will dry away |
Therefore, when we worship God with
these flowers, He will lovingly accept these. God will not expect any other
type of flowers.
A Short Quiz
01-Do you know what constitutes the Shodashopachaara (16 forms of
ritualistic worship)? Can you list them out with a brief description for each?
02-What are the eight flowers that
need to be offered to God and that would please Him?
03-Does not cutting open a patient’s
body by the doctor, with a surgical knife, amount to violence??
04-Does not plucking and cutting
fruits and vegetables amount to causing pain to them and thus amount to
violence?
05-How does Bhagawan ask us to
advise our tongue so as to exercise control over our taste?
06- What is
the meaning of the phrase, “Bhikshaannam
Deharakshaartham”?
07- How
does Bhagawan ask us to advise our eyes so as to exercise control over our
sight?
08- How does Bhagawan ask us to
advise our ears so as to exercise control over our hearing?
09-What is the analogy that Bhagawan
draws between the human heart and the writing pen?
10-What is the meaning of the
phrase, “Adveshtaa Sarvabhootaanaam”. Which
flower among the eight flowers does it talk about?
11-Narrate briefly the story of Abou
Ben Adhem. What is the central message of this story?
12-Bhagawan states that service is
the highest among all the nine forms of devotion. List the nine forms (paths)
of devotion.
13-Whose example does Bhagawan give
to illustrate the fourth flower of Kshama
(Forbearance) that we must offer to the Lord?
14-Talking of the fifth flower of Santhi (Peace), Bhagawan gives the
example of four great and noble personalities who stand as role models of peace
for the entire world. Who are these four personalities?
15-How can we earn Santhi (Peace)?
16-What is true Tapas (Penance) according to Bhagawan?
17-What is the meaning of the
phrase, “Manas Ekam, Vachas Ekam,
Karmanyekam Mahaatmanam”? What is the similar opposite phrase that Bhagawan
usually speaks of, immediately after this phrase?
18-What is the way to cross the
ocean of Samsaara (world)? What is
the Sanskrit verse that Bhagawan gives in this context?
19-What are the four emotions that
we need to control as part of our penance?
20-What is the meaning of the verse,
“Sukha Dukhe Same Kritva, Labha Labhou
Jaya Jayou”?
21-What is the worldly type of
meditation that Swami talks about? How long does one need to practice this
worldly type of meditation?
22-What is true Dhyana (Meditation)?
23-How does Bhagawan explain the
Vedic dictum, “Brahmavid Brahmaiva
Bhavati” using the analogy of iron and fire?
24-What does Bhagawan say about the
eight flower of Sathyam (Truth)?
25-What is the meaning of the
phrase, “Trikaalabhaajyam Sathyam”?
In this context, one may recall that Bhagawan has talked about the three types
of Truth – Nijam, Satyam and Ritam. Explain these three types of
Truth?
