Arunachala means Red Mountain and it is more ancient than Kailasa. The mountain itself is Siva. Annamalai means unattainable mountain and it means that it couldn’t be reached by Vishnu or Brahma. For those who come to Arunachala after death there won’t be any more journeys. After the mind is destroyed – no more journeys. Heaven and Hell are created worlds. Wherever you may go the final destination is Arunachaleswara. He only brought you here.

A lady came to Bhagavan and said, ‘I am illiterate. I just do Siva japa. Bhagavan said, ‘That is enough. You have caught what should be caught.’ Education is an illusion - instead of reading millions of books; a little bit of Guru’s Grace is enough. The Guru is within us and He steers our life in the way it should be steered. He watches the mind and how it is wandering.

One person asked Bhagavan, ‘Do I have God’s Grace?’ Bhagavan said, ‘Due to God’s Grace only you have come here.’ Just like sun and light are inseparable, God and Grace can’t be separated. The problems we face are also God’s Grace. We can’t stop the death of that which is born (body) and we can’t kill that which isn’t born (consciousness). A person asked Bhagavan, ‘Does God exist?’ Bhagavan replied, ‘That which exists is God only.’ Then he asked, ‘If God exists, then why isn’t He known?’ ‘This is due to only two reasons; the wandering of the mind and wrong thinking, nothing else.’ Wrong thinking also springs from selfishness.

When happiness comes, it is immeasurable. You can’t measure it yourself so how will you be able to tell others? There need not be ninety reasons for rebirth. If you think that something isn’t attainable here and that thought is there at death, that one reason is enough to give you rebirth.

Whether the body is there or not, a jnani is happy. Whether the world is visible or invisible, he is happy. Happiness continues. There is no difference. If difference arises rebirth comes. This concept requires proper understanding.

• The world isn’t real in the form of the world, it is real in the form of Self. A chain isn’t real in the form of chain it is real in the form of gold.

• We think Lord Krishna did many great things, but Krishna didn’t think so! If work is performed with ego, karma binds it. If done without ego, it is Atma and that work doesn’t bind.

• Buddha (planet Mercury) does good or if it can’t it will keep quiet. But it won’t harm. That is why I like Wednesdays (the day of Lord Buddha).