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Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 1st, 2006
The essence of all religions, the message of all scriptures and the
destiny of all mankind is the same. But because of selfishness,
narrow-mindedness and self-interest, religion is used as a pretext for
promoting differences and conflicts. Morality, integrity, righteousness,
charity, truth, forbearance and non-violence are basic tenets of all
religions. But over the years, men have forgotten these truths and have
fostered divisive tendencies in the place of unity. As a result, respect
for human values has vanished. It is essential to recognise the Divine
unity that suffuses all the apparent diversity in human existence.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 2nd, 2006
Peace cannot be found in the external world but within oneself. One should
realize that the whole universe is pervaded by the Divine. Today the world
is filled with strife. It is not possible to make a distinction between a
human being and a demon. Man, who evolved from the animal, instead of
proceeding towards Divinity, is regressing to animality. Man's primary
duty is to uphold the human values of Truth, Righteousness, Peace and
Love. However, man today is enveloped in attachment and hatred. The moment
he casts them off, he will realize his divinity.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 3rd, 2006
All that one sees in the entire universe is a manifestation of Brahman
(Godhead). Some people ask: "How can we petty human beings be equal to the
all encompassing Brahman?" This is not correct. You are that omnipotent,
all-pervading Brahman. Due to your worldly attitude, you are not
recognising the Reality. You are separating yourself from the Divine. All
that you see is Brahman. To search for God as something different from you
is a mistake. But this truth is not easily recognised by man. When you
look at the ocean, its endless series of waves and the frothing foam on
the waves, they all appear separate from each other. But the truth is they
are all one. The water in the waves and in the foam comes from the same
ocean and has the same qualities as the ocean.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 4th, 2006
Spiritual love has to be distinguished from love or attachment related to
the body, the mind or the intellect. The latter are related to the world
and are a source of sorrow. True love is pure, selfless, free from ego and
is full of bliss. Worldly attachments are not real love at all. They are
transient, whereas the everlasting, pure love arises from the heart. How
is it that man is unable to recognise this all-pervading love? It is
because man's heart has become barren and polluted. The heart is filled
with all kinds of desires and there is no room in it for pure, unsullied
love to enter. It is only when worldly attachments are expelled from the
heart that there will be room for true love to abide in it and to grow.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 5th, 2006
Love is of four kinds. The first one, Svaartha-Prema, is like a lamp kept
in a room; it illumines only the room. This kind of selfish love is
confined to a limited group and does not extend to others. Samanjasa-Prema
may be compared to the light from the moon. Though moonlight is visible
everywhere, it is dim. This kind of love extends to a wider group, but is
not very intense. The third is Paraartha-Prema. It is like sunlight - very
brilliant and spreads everywhere. But like the sun that disappears at
night only to rise again at dawn, this kind of love may appear to be
absent at times, but it will appear again. The fourth one is
Yathaartha-Prema or Atma-Prema. This love is present in all places, at all
times and under all circumstances. This is Divine Love. It is eternal,
imperishable and immanent in everyone. When this love is manifested by a
person, he achieves the peace that passeth all understanding.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 6th, 2006
The Mother principle is highly sacred. The mother fosters the child in the
womb and goes through all travails to protect the child. There is no
greater love in the world than maternal love. For every person the first
preceptor is the mother. It is from the mother that a child learns to
speak its first few words, take its first few steps and learn the first
lessons in good conduct. That is why the ancients accorded the highest
place of honour to the mother and declared: "Mathru devo bhava" (Esteem
the mother as Divine).
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 7th, 2006
By constant contemplation on God the mind should be turned away from
mundane desires. That is the way to transcend the dualities of pain and
pleasure. Man has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance and realize his
divine essence. When worldly desires are reduced, bliss will be
experienced. Along with the control of desires, men should also get rid of
Ahamkara (ego). Men today are filled with fear because they have no
confidence in themselves. A bird can brave a storm because it has faith in
its wings. But man succumbs to the slightest reverses of fortune because
he does not rely on the power of the Spirit. People must rely primarily on
the power of the Divine. With confidence in the Self, they should devote
themselves to good deeds. This is the purpose of life. Every step you take
must bring you nearer to God.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 8th, 2006
Good qualities can be acquired only by practice. Though it may seem
difficult, like moving an object uphill, yet the effort has to be made.
Sadhana (spiritual practice) must be done with full faith and without any
room for doubt. Cultivate love for God. There is nothing greater than
that. As your love grows stronger, the Spirit in you will shine brighter.
Spiritual growth calls for restraint on desires. In addition, you also
have to get rid of attachments and aversions. The three great enemies of
man are Kama (desire), Krodha (anger) and Lobha (greed). Desire destroys
devotion, anger annihilates wisdom, and greed poisons every action. These
three vices are deleterious to Sath-Karma (good deeds), Upasana (devotion)
and Jnana (spiritual wisdom). The only way to get rid of them is to burn
them in Prema-Agni (the fire of Divine Love).
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 9th, 2006
If you wish to lead an ideal life, you have to follow the example of the
Avatars (Divine incarnations). Avatars may appear in human form, but you
should not equate them with ordinary mortals. In physical form, both may
appear alike. But there is a fundamental difference. You should not
mistake the cotton fruit for the mango. When man strays away from the path
of righteousness, God comes in human form to reform him. Birds, beasts and
insects lead lives according to their specific nature. It is only man who
has given up all righteousness, forgotten his divine essence and degraded
his humanness. The Avatar has to protect the good, reform the erring and
punish the wicked.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 10th, 2006
Self-realization should be the goal of human existence. It has to be
reached through three stages: Self-confidence, self-satisfaction and
self-sacrifice. Man should regard himself as the master of the body, the
senses and the mind. He has to use the intellect to experience his oneness
with the divine, the cosmic all-pervading consciousness. The flame of
Prajnaana (constant integrated awareness) which is in everyone is covered
by the ash of worldly desires. When the ash is blown off, the fire of
Brahman (Absolute Divinity) reveals itself in all its glory.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 11th, 2006
Giving up narrow ideas and feelings, people should show compassion towards
their fellow-beings. Compassion is the hallmark of Bhakthi (devotion). No
one can hope to please God without showing Daya (compassion) towards his
fellow-men. A loving heart is the temple of God. God cannot dwell in a
heart without compassion. There is nothing greater in the world than
Prema-drishti (feeling of universal love). They alone are good who see the
unity in the apparent diversity. Men have to realize that they are sparks
of the Divine. They have to develop sacred thoughts and lead ideal lives.
They must seek to promote the welfare of society.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 12th, 2006
Developing attachment to persons and possessions is the cause of all
sorrow. By reducing attachments and developing love for God, one can
reduce misery and experience more happiness. The more one loves God, the
more the bliss one experiences. Men are plunged in misery because they
hanker after the physical instead of yearning for God. If men transform
their desire for material objects into the desire for the Supreme they
will enjoy immense happiness. All that is necessary is to see the Divine
in everything. This is true devotion. Work will then turn into worship and
every act rendered holy.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 13th, 2006
Man should realize that the five basic elements which constitute the
fundamental stuff of the universe are common to all mankind. He should see
the divine in every human being. This is the purport of the prayer:
Buddham Sharanam Gachchaami, Sangham Sharanam Gachchaami, Dharmam Sharanam
Gachchaami. The meaning of the prayer is that for the sake of upholding
Dharma (Righteousness), one should use one's Buddhi (the enlightened
intellect) and engage in service of Sangha (society). Man has been endowed
with a body essentially to pursue Dharma.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 14th, 2006
One should realize that just as the body can be healthy only so long as
the blood is pure, real bliss can be experienced only when the mind is
filled with thoughts of God. Divinity cannot be discovered by experiment.
To realize this inherent divinity in man the royal path is the path of
spirituality. The nine forms of devotion mentioned in the scriptures may
not directly reveal God, but they do show the path to God-realization. Of
these, chanting the name of the Lord is the simplest. Whatever form of
worship, penance or meditation one may adopt, the foundation is the Lord's
name. Chanting the Lord's name is essential for crossing the turbulent
ocean of life. It is a boat that can carry you across the deepest ocean.
While chanting the Lord's name, one should be tranquil and pure at heart.
Ostentation and egoism should be eschewed.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 15th, 2006
The true goal of human life is to have the vision of Brahman (Divinity)
and merge in it. The ancients declared that there are three stages in the
path towards the goal: Karma jignyasa, Dharma jignyasa and Brahma jignyasa
(seeking spiritual knowledge through meritorious acts, right conduct and
divinity). Through Karma (action), one follows Dharma (righteousness and
morality) and then seeks to find the basis of morality that is Brahman
(God). One discovers that morality and righteousness add to one's Ananda
(Bliss) and that all Ananda everywhere flows from Brahman itself. One then
realizes that any activity devoid of this awareness is barren and causes
bondage.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 16th, 2006
Transcend anekathwa bhava (the feeling of multiplicity) and cultivate
ekathwa bhava (the feeling of oneness) - that will end strife, grief, pain
and pride. See all beings as manifestations of the same Divinity. Feel
that the reason you are able to talk and walk, think and act is due to the
God within. Differences that strike you where you cast your eyes are
illusory; you have not yet developed the vision that makes you comprehend
the unity which underlies the apparent diversity. The fault lies with you,
not with the world. The world is one; but each takes it to mean what
pleases him most. Each sees it in his own way and hence, it appears as if
it has multiple facets.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 17th, 2006
To realize 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 – May 18th, 2006
When the obstacles in the path of truth are laid low, deliverance is
achieved. That is why moksha (liberation) is something that can be won,
here and now; one need not wait for the dissolution of the physical body
for that. Action must not be felt as a burden, for that feeling is a sure
sign that the particular action is ill-advised. No deed that helps your
progress will weigh heavily on you. It is only when you go counter to your
innermost nature that you feel it a burden. A time comes when you look
back on your achievement and sigh at the futility of it all. Entrust your
mind to the Lord, before it is too late, and let Him shape it as He thinks
best.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 19th, 2006
Assign to your mind the task of serving the Lord and it will grow tame.
You hand over only ornaments that need repair or reshaping to the
goldsmith. So too, give the Lord your mind that certainly needs repair, if
not complete reconstruction. The blemish that affects the mind is
illusion. It is like a fierce dog that will not allow any one to approach
the master. Illusion is the Lord's pet and so, it will not harm you if He
orders it not to. Hence, the way to avoid the dog is by calling out to the
master loudly, so that he comes to welcome you himself, that is to say by
praying to the Lord to shower His grace upon you.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 20th, 2006
Everyone must seek and discover the answer to the question, "Who am I?"
The senses are powerless to give the answer; indeed they are limited in
their own functioning - there are sounds the ear cannot hear, colours the
eye cannot perceive, and tastes beyond the ken of the tongue. They are
imperfect instruments for the study of the external world. How then can
they serve us in our enquiry into the intangible, inner world of the Self?
Contemplate on the truth that the body and the Atma (Self) are separate.
This practice is indispensable for realizing the truth of one's Divinity.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 21st, 2006
You should cultivate an attitude of inseparable attachment to the Lord,
who is your very self. If He is a flower, you should feel that you are the
bee that sucks nectar from it; if He be a tree, feel that you are creeper
that clings to it; if He be a cliff, then feel that you are a cascade
running over it; if He be the sky, be a tiny star that twinkles in it;
above all, be conscious of the truth that you and He are bound by Supreme
Love. If you feel this intensely, the journey will be quick and the goal
can be won easily.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 22nd, 2006
The best way to get rid of weakness is to strike at its very roots - the
mistaken notion that you are the body, with a name and form, the five
senses, intelligence and the mind. In fact, these are like baggage. Don't
you say, "my nose, my mind, my hand, my reason", just as you say, "my
book, my umbrella?" Who is the 'I' that calls all these 'mine'? That is
the real 'you'. It was there when you were born, and also when you were
sleeping, forgetful of everything, even your body. That 'I' cannot be
harmed; it does not change, it knows neither birth nor death. Learn the
discipline that makes you aware of this Truth and you will be ever free
and bold. That is real vidya, the Atmavidya (Knowledge of the Self), which
the sages have gathered for you after intense penance and contemplation.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 23rd, 2006
Liberation is just the awareness of Truth, the falling off of the scales
of delusion from the eye; it is not the preserve of a few expert spiritual
aspirants. Like the river losing its form, its name and its taste in the
sea, liberation dissolves the name and form, aptitudes and attitudes. You
are no more a separate individual. The rain drop has merged in the sea,
from where the drop arose. Of course there was no bondage, at any time,
and no prison; there was only a fixation in the mind that one was bound,
that one was in prison, that one was limited and finite!
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 24th, 2006
The tongue is the armour of the heart; it guards one's life. Loud and
irresponsible speech, full of anger and hate, affects the health of man.
It breeds anger and hate in others. Silence is said to be golden. The
silent man has no enemies, though he may not have many friends either. He
has the opportunity to dive within himself and examine his own faults and
failings. He has no more inclination to seek them in others. If your foot
slips, you suffer a fracture; if your tongue slips, you fracture some
one's faith or joy. That fracture can never be set right; that wound will
fester for ever. Therefore, use the tongue with great care. The softer
your speech, the lesser you talk, the sweeter you talk, the better the
world will be.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 25th, 2006
There is no meaning in worshipping God as Sathyaswaroopa (the embodiment
of Truth), and not adhering to truth in daily life. Dharma (righteousness)
is based on truth. This righteousness emanates from the heart.
Righteousness promotes self-satisfaction. It is an expression of
self-consciousness. Have faith in the promptings of this divine
consciousness. No one should act against the dictates of his conscience.
Acting in violation of the conscience is evil; action based on the
conscience is righteous. True worship consists therefore in doing what is
right as dictated by your conscience.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 26th, 2006
The pain that another suffers from, which you seek to assuage, is really
your own pain. When you alleviate another's suffering, it is your
suffering that ends. Service can be effective only when the feelings of
'I' and 'Mine' give place to 'Him' and 'His'. It is when your attention is
monopolised by the body and its needs that egoism grows in strength. When
you direct your attention to the Antaratma (Inner Self) which is God,
then, you find the same of God in all and a flood of reverence fills you
and sanctifies every act of yours.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 27th, 2006
Man's actions are related to desires and aversions. They are the cause of
his joys and sorrows. All the world's ills arise from the evil thoughts
and deeds of men. It is only when man is transformed that society can
transform and the world be reformed. Man does not use his sense organs in
the right way. He has eyes, but does not see what is good. He has ears,
but does not listen to what is good. There is only one way to correct him.
He has to be shown the spiritual path and guided to cultivate the virtues
of Truth, Love and self-sacrifice. He must be weaned away from selfish
pursuits and from arrogance and pride. His mind, which is the real
culprit, has to be cleansed of all evil. One can acquire real peace and
joy only when one turns one's thoughts towards God and away from the
world.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 28th, 2006
At the core of this universe is the Paramatma (Supreme Self), which lies
beyond the comprehension of the mind. Both the cognisable and
non-cognisable have emanated from the same One Indivisible Consciousness.
Each is full and complete in itself. The individual consciousness is the
manifestation of the Cosmic Consciousness. When the material sheath falls
off, it merges in its source. The Vedas declare, "That is full; this is
full. From the full, emerges the full. When the full is taken from the
full, the full remains full." So, the Cosmos, the world, the individual -
all are embodiments of the Full. All this is indeed Brahman. The awareness
of the immanence of the Universal can come to man only when the 'I'
consciousness is transcended.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 29th, 2006
It is indeed pathetic to see people falling prey to the vagaries of the
mind and courting disaster instead of using the intellect to discriminate
between the transient and the permanent. The mind should be checked by the
intellect. Or else, evil resolutions translated into action will result in
sorrow. Resolve on good actions and reap joy. Of course, if one can desist
from desires and the tendency to pursue them, one can enjoy unbroken
peace. If the mind is let loose and yielded mastery, man is driven from
one desire to another. He loses his self-respect. He sets at naught law
and justice, rules of conduct and regulations of social behaviour. His
life becomes a frantic rush from place to place and object to object.
Detachment alone can give happiness. Thyaga (renunciation) is the real
yoga.
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 30th, 2006
You wear coloured glasses and see everything through those glasses.
Correct your vision; the world will get corrected. Reform yourselves; the
world will get reformed. You create the world of your choice. You see
many, because you seek the many, not the One. Try to subsume the many in
the One - yourselves and others, the family, the neighbourhood, the
community, the state, the nation, the world. This is the Sadhana of Love,
for Love is expansion. The individual has to be Universalised and expanded
into the Vishwaswaroopa (the Cosmic Self).
-SAI BABA
Thought for the day as written at Prasanthi Nilayam – May 31st, 2006
The Prakrithi (world) we see around us cannot give us happiness. The
experiences Prakrithi gives us in the waking state get obliterated in the
dream state, and those of the dream stage cease when we wake up from the
dream. The dream experiences are our own creation. And so are the waking
state experiences! The experience of the world is but a projection of our
mind and the reflection of our own inner thoughts. As the thought, so the
vision. The colour of glasses you wear determines the colour in which
things appear to you. If you wear red glasses, everything will appear red.
If you wear green glasses, everything will appear green. Pure thoughts
make the world appear as pure. If you view things with Prema, with a
loving heart, the whole world, the whole creation will appear to you as a
reflection of Prema.
-SAI BABA