Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 1st, 2006

A 'Manishi' (ordinary man) gets transformed into a 'Maharishi' by engaging in selfless service. Truly speaking, the merit that can be obtained from service cannot be acquired even by the practice of rigourous austerities. Service brings human beings closer to each other and promotes affection and friendship. Without this feeling of friendship and love towards one's fellowmen, one cannot attain intimacy with the Lord. Install in your heart the feeling that the service you render to your fellowmen is service to God.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 2nd, 2006

The river strives, yearns and struggles to merge with the sea from which it has come. It has that consummation ever in its consciousness. It attempts to make itself pure and pellucid so that it may be welcomed by its source. It overcomes every obstacle of terrain in order to journey successfully towards its goal. Man too must utilize all the physical, mental, intellectual and moral endowments that God has granted him so that he may journey to the goal of Self-Realization.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 3rd, 2006

Love is inherent in man, but like a seed that has to be nourished by water, love in man has to be fostered by dedicated service. Love is a sacred quality. Love is like nectar. A man who has tasted the sweetness of Divine Love will not desire anything else in the world. Life must be a constant manifestation of love. Nowadays, love is expressed in a constricted, selfish manner. It needs to be expressed in the form of service to society. Thereby love becomes a reciprocal, ever-widening experience.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 4th, 2006

Birth as a human being is a rare and unique opportunity. For, man is endowed with a discriminating intelligence, the power to reason out the best among alternative courses of action. The tongue that does not chant the name of God, the hand that knows no charity, the years of life that know no peace of mind, talents that do not find fulfillment, a life that has not garnered wisdom, a temple where there is no atmosphere of reverence, speech that does not communicate knowledge - all these are of no worth.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 5th, 2006

Envy and greed emanate from the ego and have to be carefully watched and controlled. Like the tadpole's tail, the ego will fall away when one grows in wisdom. It must fall away; if it is cut, the poor tadpole will die. So, don't worry about the ego; develop wisdom, contemplate on the ephemeral nature of the objective world. Then the tail of the ego will no longer be evident.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 6th, 2006

To realise God, it is not necessary to have wealth, gold, luxuries and comforts; nor is scholarship a requisite. All that is needed is pure devotion. Without purity of thought, word and deed, it is impossible to experience the Divine. God cannot be realized through ostentation and self-conceit. The basic requisite is the shedding of selfishness and possessiveness so that one can engage oneself in actions in a disinterested spirit. Any person is entitled to embark on this quest irrespective of age, caste or gender.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 7th, 2006

Seek and remain in good company; keep association with the holy. Being in the midst of such spiritual heroes, you can fight against evil with greater chance of success. Being in the company of the holy is like the bit and bridle for the wanton steed, the dam and canal for the raging flood. The value of holy places consists in just this: kindred spirits congregate there and contribute to the deepening of spiritual yearning. You can take sweet and sustaining counsel in such places and strengthen your faith and devotion.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 8th, 2006

Without the sanction of the Lord, man cannot achieve anything in the world. The Divine is the basis for everything. Man, however, is filled with conceit that he is the one who is doing everything. This pride is the cause of his ruin. It is the cause of his frustration and disappointment. Man today is basing his life on nature and is hence forgetting God. This is a grievous mistake. You must place your faith in God, the Creator of the universe, and then enjoy what nature provides. Faith in God is the primary requisite for man.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 9th, 2006

The Upanishads declare that immortality can be experienced only through Thyaga (renunciation or sacrifice). This renunciation does not mean giving up hearth and home, kith and kin. It means giving up the transient and impermanent things of the world. This calls for discrimination between what is permanent and what is perishable, what is good and what is bad. Only then can man discover the Divine principle within him.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 10th, 2006

Man today has forgotten his true nature and perceives the world entirely through the senses and the mind. The world is the effect of which the Brahman (God) is the primal cause. Truly speaking, the effect is not different from the cause. The millions of living beings are like the branches, twigs and leaves, and the Brahman is the seed from which the tree has come in to being. He who is aware of this has understood the Vedas.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 11th, 2006

Man today is knocking on doors other than that of God. Man now is praying to God only for worldly possessions. Man should seek the gift of spiritual knowledge that can bring fulfillment to life. However, man today has acquired proficiency in various skills and has mastered many fields of knowledge, but he has not acquired the peace that is his due. Science can offer only temporary worldly comforts; spirituality alone can give you enduring bliss.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 12th, 2006

You are all the indestructible Atma, nothing need discourage you. In your dream, you suffer so much due to fire, floods, insult, loss of money, etc. But once you wake up, you are not affected at all. When these events happen during the waking state, you feel afflicted. But let me tell you that from the state of Realization, even the waking state is equally without validity. It is not the real 'you' that suffers all that. Give up the delusion that you are this physical entity and you become really free.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 13th 2006

Man implies three things - doing, knowing and being. When the body acts alone without regard to the mind and the Atma, that person is considered to be in the animal state. When the mind acts in association with the body without regard to the Atma, that condition is described as demonic. When man acts in consonance with the Atma, he achieves oneness with the Divine. Hence, man has in him these three potentialities, he can manifest himself as an animal, a demon or God.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 14th, 2006

The inextricable connection between the phenomenal world outside and the world of consciousness inside eludes the understanding of ordinary people. Immersed in the desires of enjoying worldly pleasures, they do not attempt to discover the boundless joy that can be derived from the inner spirit. This is because all the sense organs are open only to the experiences from the outside. Only a few develop the inner vision and enjoy the spiritual bliss within.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 15th, 2006

Seek the Light always; be full of confidence and zest. Do not yield to despair, for it can never yield results. It only worsens the problem, for it darkens the intellect and plunges you into doubt. You must take up the path of Sadhana (spiritual exercise) very enthusiastically. Half-hearted, halting steps will not yield fruit. It is like cleaning a slushy area by a stream of water. If the current of the stream is slow, the slush cannot be cleared. The stream must flow full and fast, driving everything before it, so that the slush is removed without leaving a trace.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 16th, 2006

Service to God has been described as Bhakthi (devotion). The heart of the devotee overflows with love for the Lord through constant remembrance and recitation of His name. Out of this stream of love, devotion emerges. One who is nourished by the nectar of Bhakthi will not desire anything. To be unaffected by joy or sorrow, gain or loss, praise or blame, to remain steadfast and unwavering in faith is the hallmark of true devotion. Affection, attachment, desire are natural to man. However, when these qualities are directed towards God and when one is continuously engaged in good deeds, these qualities acquire purity and sacredness. Then one becomes not just a great soul but God Himself.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 17th, 2006

The body and the mind are closely inter-related and both derive sustenance from food. Therefore, food has considerable impact on the character and destiny of the individual. As the food, so the mind; as the mind, so the thought; as the thought, so the act. All that is perceived by the senses constitutes 'food'. For the Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant), the intake must always be Sathwic, i.e., pure and moderate. The sounds, the sights, the impressions, the ideas, the lessons, the contacts - all must promote reverence, humility, balance, equanimity and simplicity. It is only the Sathwic 'food' that will keep the mind on an even keel, fully concentrated on the Atma on which one must contemplate in order to attain peace.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 18th, 2006

In the quest for mental peace, you should not be concerned only about your own needs. Apart from such a quest being an index of intense selfishness, it is also a futile one. Is it possible for a single individual alone to achieve peace? If there is chaos and unrest all around you, how can you alone have peace? Your peace is dependent on peace in the family, in society and in the world. You have to cultivate the feeling that your individual peace is intimately related to the peace of the world. The ancients perceived this profound truth and hence prescribed the universal prayer - "Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu" (May all the beings in all the worlds be happy).

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 19th, 2006

It is attachment to property or position born out of a sense of possessiveness that is the cause of man's sorrow and unhappiness. Man must strive to get rid of this feeling of "I" and "mine" in order to experience enduring happiness. When everything appears to be going well, man forgets everything including himself. His ego gets inflated as a result of his achievements and acquisitions. He should realize that he is only a temporary beneficiary of what he possesses and has no permanent title to them. He should regard power or position as a moral responsibility carrying the obligation to discharge the duties relating to it. It is only when all actions are done in this spirit of moral imperative that man can experience genuine happiness and satisfaction.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 20th, 2006

Vedanta (Vedic philosophy) declares: "Brahman is Sathya (Truth); the Cosmos is Mithya (illusory)". Your primary concern must be to understand whether you are real or unreal or what in you is real and what is unreal. It is only when you have recognised the truth of your own being that you can recognise the world as illusory and your own self as the only reality. The realized person asserts: "I am Brahman". Wherefrom has this statement emanated? What does it mean? It is a spontaneous expression and not the result of a thought or feeling. The "I" is boundless Infinite. When the finite individual merges in the Infinite "I", the "I" alone remains.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 21st, 2006

Good Sankalpas (thought impulses) can elicit the best out of man and help him to use all his mental strength for his uplift. Ships at sea are guided by the compass along the desired direction; without it, they risk being wrecked on rocks or icebergs. Man has to sail safe across the ocean of Samsara (worldly existence). So he needs a one-pointed, unruffled mind to guide him and guard him. Man has to recognise bad Sankalpas as soon as they arise and render them ineffective by the systematic cultivation of beneficial Sankalpas. These latter alone can save a person from disaster and confer Prasanthi (supreme calm).

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 22nd, 2006

We become what we contemplate. By constant thought an ideal gets imprinted on our heart. When we fix our thoughts all the time on the evil that others do, our mind gets polluted by the evil. When, on the contrary, we fix our mind on the virtues or well-being of others, our mind is cleansed of wrong and entertains only good thoughts. No evil thought can penetrate the mind of a person wholly given to love and compassion. The thoughts we indulge in shape our nature; along with others, they affect us too.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 23rd, 2006

You must realize that Bhajan (devotional singing), Namasmarana (chanting God's name) and Puja (ritualistic worship) are not for pleasing or propitiating God, but for our own spiritual progress. Frequently people flatter the rich and the powerful - especially when they are in their employment or are beholden to them for some precious help - in order to induce them to shower gifts on them. But God does not shower grace on people because they sing His praises. Nor does He come down upon them because they do not deify Him. Contemplating on the Divine attributes enables us to dwell on elevating ideals and brings us nearer to the Divinity that is our nature.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 24th, 2006

As a preliminary to Seva (selfless service) you have to attain purity of heart. You must examine your motives and skills, your intentions and qualifications, and discover for yourself what you hope to achieve through Seva. You should ferret out any trace of egoism, and also the desire for fame. You have to get rid of all sense of mine and thine and burn to ashes the pride that comes from the feeling that you are offering service to someone poorer and less fortunate. Give up pride of status, wealth, scholarship and position, and practise humility, obedience, discipline and compassion.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 25th, 2006

Education must lead to illumination; the darkness of ignorance and the dusk of doubt will flee before that splendour. Then it is easy to cultivate good thoughts and feelings in the heart thus illumined. Education does not end with the accumulation of information; it must result in transformation of the habits, character and aspirations of the individual. Knowledge has to be tested in daily life. Now, man has no inkling of the most precious heritage that he has within him. He is interested in everyone except his own self. If only he becomes aware of his self, he can have vast strength, abiding peace and great joy added unto himself.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 26th, 2006

There is no being without a trace of love. Love leads to Ananda (Supreme bliss), pure and lasting. Many seek this Ananda through their relationships with other individuals, others try to attain it by amassing fame, power and riches and a few others attempt to gain it by renunciation of material possessions and desire for worldly pleasures. Detachment alone can confer Ananda. The Upanishads proclaim that Thyaga (sacrifice) alone can grant Amrithathwa (Bliss of Immortality). One must give up all attachment and affection and, in the heart thus liberated, install God in all His glory. This is the only means to earn everlasting, undiminished Ananda.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 27th, 2006

Do not blame God for your misfortunes. When everything goes right, you say that God has come close to you; when something goes wrong, you say that He has deserted you and gone far away! God does not move far or near. The distance between Him and you is as much as the distance between you and Him. He is everywhere. He is always in your heart. Recognise Him there; realize Him as nearest and dearest to you. He is your own self, neither terrible nor tender, but simply 'is'.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 28th, 2006

Food is an important factor which determines the alertness and sloth, the worry and calm, the brightness and dullness of man. When the mind is fed on Rajasic food that induces passion and emotion, activity and adventure, it gallops into the world with the plunge of desire! It brings man deeper into the morass of suffering. When it is fed on Tamasic food, which dulls and induces sloth, the mind becomes callous, inert and useless for uplifting man. Every activity of man is dependent on the energy he derives from the intake of food. The success of the Sadhana (spiritual exercises) that one undertakes depends upon the quantity and quality of the food taken by the Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant).

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 29th, 2006

Without unwavering faith in an all-knowing God, life becomes dry and drab, darkened by the ever-present shadow of despair and doom. Love for God and fear of sin are the two primary needs for a happy life. Without these two, man becomes a monster. Man must be ever ready to sacrifice his selfish needs for the sake of the larger community. There is nothing as glorious as renunciation. Be honest, be detached, and with God installed in your heart march forward to offer your talents and skills in discharging your duties. Do not strive for your happiness alone, but strive for the happiness of all.

-SAI BABA









Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – June 30th, 2006

God will respond to your prayers for succour only when you respond sympathetically to the needs of others. Life should not be wasted in selfish activities, blind to others' distress and deaf to others' groans. Treat joy and grief equally - this according to Lord Krishna is Samathwam (equanimity). Practise this equanimity - this is the way to win His Grace. You may not be rewarded materially for your compassionate acts but there is no greater reward than the joy that you derive by alleviating other's sorrow.

-SAI BABA