Thought for the Day

You derive benefit from the world and the community, and so some activity on your part is their due. This world, really speaking, is a huge workshop; every human being is a limb in this organisation. The limb is allotted a task in accordance with its structure, and it must find its fulfillment in doing that work; and it has to be done as an offering to God. There is no single thing in the universe that does not engage itself in this great task. Plant and insect, stone and stump, wind and rain, heat and cold, if each of these does not work as per plan, the world cannot subsist. The sun and the moon carry on their routine tasks; wind and fire have to perform their duties without demur. It is only when each performs their task without fail, and with care, that the wheel will move quickly and smoothly.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Everyone seeks and strives to be at peace with himself and with the community around. People have tried to get this peace by accumulating wealth, which gives power over others and the ability to command conveniences and comforts. Some have sought positions of authority and influence, so they can shape events suited to one’s aims and fancies. Unfortunately, these paths are beset with fear, and the peace that is secured thereby is liable to quick and sometimes violent extinction. Real Peace (Shaanthi) can be achieved only through Love! It is the fruit of the tree of life. This fruit with the sweet essence is encased in a bitter skin. The bitter skin is symbolic of the six evil passions that encase the loving heart of man: lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and hate. Those who remove the exterior through hard and consistent discipline attain the sweetness inside - the much desired peace; this peace is everlasting, unchanging and overwhelming.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

If the wheel of creation is to move smooth, each one has to continuously engage in Karma. None can escape this obligation, who ever it is.

1.When you enter sincerely into the path of spiritual practice, the urge to find faults in others or to publicise one's own excellence will disappear. When you yearn to reach God, you have to observe the guidelines and walk along the stipulated path; every step will bring you nearer. When you need to reach a village, you have to rise and move towards it; it will not rise and come towards you! Similarly, when you need to reach God, rise and move, as He has directed you to! By this means alone, can you make life worthwhile. Jesus taught simple practical lessons in spiritual advancement for the good of mankind; Jesus exhorted people by precept and example to cultivate the virtues of charity, compassion, forbearance, love and faith. If you are a sincere aspirant, celebrate His birthday in a spirit of dedication, deepening the faith in your hearts an d revering His doctrines through more intense practice.

2.So long as the objective world continues to attract the mind, one cannot claim complete success. Hence Krishna in the Geeta says: “You must establish mastery over the senses; then you need have no fear, for they become serpents with fangs removed. Man has three chief instruments: the mind, the intellect, and the senses. It is when these three work in unison and cooperate with one another that either 'immersal in the flux' or 'liberation' happens.” Krishna anticipated that Arjuna will be puzzled to know what will happen "when which operates with which”. So He himself provided the answer. He said: "When the mind cooperates with the senses, you enter into the flux called Samsara (worldly life); when it subordinates itself to the intellect, you attain the knowledge of the Divine. One path leads to worldly desires, the ot her to Divinity. The intellect must resolve; the mind must carry out the resolution so made. That is the correct procedure."

3.Give up all attachment and engage in acts, as if each one is a sacrifice (Yajna) dedicated to the Lord. The Scriptures emanated from God; actions (Karmas) emanated from the Scriptures; from Actions originated worship (Yajna), resulting in rain; from rain grew food; and from food came all living beings. This is the cycle that has to be accepted and honoured. Krishna declares: "Consider this, O Arjuna, I have no need to do any Karma; no, not anywhere in the three worlds. I am under no compulsion. Still I am ever engaged in Karma. Have steady faith in the Atma (Spirit); then dedicate all acts of yours to Me - with no desire for the fruit thereof, no egoism and no sense of possession or pride". If the wheel of Creation is to move smooth, each one has to continuously engage in Karma. None can escape this obligation, whoever it is.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

We must always respect divine that is in every being

Jesus sacrificed his life for the regeneration and welfare of mankind. He also proclaimed the truth: One Spirit resides in all beings. He said, “All lives are one, my dear son. Be alike to everyone." You must regard the body as the temple of the Spirit; bear in mind that Divinity is ever within you. Human body is a vesture for the Spirit. Only when you realise this truth can you begin to experience the Divine. Remember, wherever you may go, the Eternal Spirit remains with you. People may be different in form and name, in colour and nationality, and from varied historical circumstances. But God has no such differences. Hence you should not cavil at any religion or attack it or deride it. You may profess whatever faith you like. But you should not disparage another's beliefs. It is a travesty of devotion. We must always respect the divine that is in every being.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The Divine is not separate from you. You are the Divine. This conviction must grow in you. In the beginning you regard yourself as a mere human being. Then gradually you realize your potential divinity. Finally you realize your own inner Divinity. Embark on this journey to attain union with the Divine from now. Time waits for no one. Concentrate all your efforts to realize God. The primary requisite is the elimination of the ego; without this, the bliss of Divinity cannot be experienced. Ostentatious worship, wealth, power and position will not help you in the spiritual quest. They cannot confer peace or remove the fear that haunts man all the time. Only the man of faith is completely free from fear. Hence develop faith in God and lead a God-directed life. The one who is conscious of one’s faults is blessed. Equally blessed are those who see the good in others.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Be thankful to the Lord that He gave you Time, as well as action to fill it with. He gave you food, as well as hunger to relish it. But that does not entitle you to engage in action indiscriminately. When you build a house, you install a door in front. What is its purpose? To admit all whom you welcome and to keep out all and sundry, and not let them in as and when they like. So too, select the impulses, the motives, the incentives that enter your mind; keep out the demeaning, the debasing, and the deleterious. Admit the highest wisdom of the scriptures, the wisdom culled out of the crucible of experience (anubhava jnaanam). You have meditated too long on riches, status, salary, children, relatives, fame and the standard of living. They are all of momentary value. Fix your focus and urge on God, the Eternal, the Real, the Pure and the Immovable.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Avoid the company of those who are evil minded

1.Embodiments of Love! There is nothing more precious in the world than Time; do not waste even a single minute of it. People today tend to waste their time in selfish pursuits instead of devoting it to selfless service. They are eager to receive help from others, but have no desire to be helpful. There are two types of human beings - the degraded and the sublime. The degraded are those who seek or receive things from others and not only forget to repay the obligation, but even try to harm those who have helped them. The sublime are those whose natural trait is to go to the aid of others. If they give a word they will try to honour it, whatever be the difficulties and obstacles. Through good deeds and sacrifice, foster the feeling of love, get rid of evil traits and lead a worthy life.

2.There are two forms of Love. One binds you to God and the other binds you to the world. The mind is responsible for either of these states. It is like a lock. If you turn the key to the right, the lock opens; If you turn it to the left, it gets locked. The heart is the key to the lock of the mind. If you turn the key towards the world, you have attachment (bondage). You must see that desire and hatred do not get lodged in the mind. Bear no ill-will towards anyone. Avoid the company of those who are evil-minded. Through good company, your bad qualities get diluted, like sewage water that enters the sea. You can thereby raise yourself. Devotion means giving up all other desires and dedicating all actions and thoughts to God.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

You must first conquer desire. For this, neither waging a war nor the use of pleasing words to persuade desire to disappear is necessary. It will not vanish for fear of one or for favour of the other. Desires are objective; they belong to the category of the ‘seen’. With the conviction "I am the see-er, not the seen", you must release yourself from attachment and conquer desire. You must watch the working of the mind, from outside it; you should not get involved in it. That is the meaning of this discipline. The faculty of the mind is like a strong current of electricity. It has to be watched from a distance and not contacted or touched. Touch it and you are reduced to ashes. So too, contact and attachment give the mind a chance to ruin you. The farther you are from it, the better. By skillful methods, you have to make the best use o f it for your own welfare.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathy Sai Baba

Thougt for the Day

When Arjuna prayed that Krishna must tell him the true characteristics of a Sthithaprajna, the Lord explained that aStithaprajna is free from all desire and is stable in the knowledge and awareness of the Divine (Atma) alone. This state can be attained by two processes: first negative and then positive. The former is to give up all the promptings of desire in the mind and the latter is to implant therein ever-present joy. In the negative process, remove all the seedlings of wrong and evil from the mind; and in the positive process, grow and reap the crop of attachment to God. The pleasures the senses draw from the objective world are weeds; the crop is attachment to God. The mind is a bundle of wishes, and unless these wishes are removed by destroying their roots, there is no hope of vanquishing the mind. When the mind vanishes, th e Stithaprajna is made.

Bagavan Sri SRi Sathya Sai Baba

Dwell always on noble thoughts

Dwell always on noble thoughts. Develop attachment towards the Universal Lord and you will grow in love and splendour. The Lord is neither benignant nor malignant. He reflects to you, your own spiritual progress as Grace. Cultivate love towards Him. Likes and dislikes are truly the products of habit and training. The senses drag you away from Him, but do not yield; they will lie low soon. Sincere yearning born of steady discrimination alone can help you. The Divine wants the cream of virtue that is kept in the pot of your heart. This cream is the Soul (Atma), which is secured after vigorous churning. Offer to your Beloved Lord the fragrance of your virtues, the courage of your heart and the wisdom of your experience. That is what the Lord really wants. I bless you that you may grow in these from day to day.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

1.Persisting in the spiritual discipline of ignoring the body means turning away from the temptations of the senses, that is, overcoming the six inner enemies – desire, anger, greed, attachment, pride and malice. Anger turns a person into a drunken brute. The other impulses are equally vicious. Seek only salutary action that will win His grace. Eat only Saathvik (simple, pure, vegetarian) food, that does not disturb the equanimity you earn from your spiritual activities. Do not break the even tenor of your spiritual practices. Remind yourself, how the great saint Ramadas never gave up his Naamasmarana (Contemplation of the Lord) in spite of the travails of living in jail. If you immerse yourself in Deha Tathwa, body consciousness, you start declining. But you can be really healthy and happy only when you are immersed in the universal and essential nature of the Self - Aatma Tathwa.

2.Many commentators of the Geeta have interpreted that the giving up of the fruits of one’s actions is advised because one has no right or authority to desire the fruits. This is a great blunder. When one has the right to engage in action, one also has the right over the fruits of that action; no one can deny or refuse this. But the doer can, out of one’s own free will and determination, refuse to be affected by the result, whether favourable or unfavourable. The Lord has said in the Geeta, 'refuse the fruit' (maa phaleshu), which means, the deed does yields results, but the doer should not do it with the results in view. If Krishna's intention was to say that the doer has no right over the fruits of action, He would have said, 'It is fruitless' or 'na phaleshu,' (na, meaning no). To engage oneself in karma, kno wing well that the result will follow, and yet being unattached to it or being unconcerned with it, is the sign of purity.


Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Always have the meaning and purpose of life in view. Experience that purpose and meaning. You and the Absolute Eternal Divine are One. You are not the individual, the temporary and the particular. Always act in conformity with this. Persist in your meditation until the awareness that you are performing meditation or a spiritual practice disappears. Forget the ego, let it melt and merge with all its layers of consciousness. There are some, who while meditating, strike at the mosquitoes that pester them! No, you must immerse yourself in meditation until you transcend all the physical and mental urges and impulses. Valmeeki, the author of Ramayana, was covered by the anthill that grew over him. People discovered his existence by the chants of the name “Rama” that emanated from the mound. Ignore the body (Deha) so that you may discover its Indweller (Dehi). Do not get engrossed in outer finery; instead delve deep and discover the inner splendour.

Bagavan sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

People perform acts prompted by the desire for the fruits thereof; if an act does not yield desired results, they will not do the act thenceforth. Profit, gain, reward, result - man seeks these alone. But this rule does not apply to those who take the Geetha in their hands to drink the nectar of the Lord's message. Not all do yearn for the nectar; and if you do, it is evident that you aspire for eternal joy and liberation. Then you must pay the price of giving up the desire for the fruits of your actions, and dedicate everything at the feet of the Divine. Desist from sin, injustice and vice. Do not insult elders, desert the virtuous, and wound the self-respect of the good. Dedicate yourself to the cause of establishing Santhi and Soukhya (peace and plenty) in the world, and even if you must struggle, realize that justice is bound to win.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.One should engage in activity with a mind steady in fortune and failure, good and bad. Unless the intellect is purified and trained, it is impossible to give up attachment to the fruits of action and continue doing things as duty or dedication. Cultivate this mindset and through it, liberate yourself from the bondage of action (Karma). You might say that you will desist from action rather than practise the difficult discipline of renouncing the fruits thereof; but that is impossible! Karma is inevitable. Not for a single moment can one free oneself from action. Every deed (Karya) or activity has a beginning and an end, but Nishkama Karma (desireless action) has no such. That is the difference between the two. When action (Karma) is done with an eye on the gains therefrom, one has to suffer the loss, the pain, and even the p unishment. But Nishkama Karma frees you from all these.

2.Your worthiness is not measured by the number of temples you have visited, or the quantity and cost of the offerings you have made there. Do not calculate the length of time you have spent with the Lord’s Name and exult; calculate rather the time you have wasted away from the Lord, and repent. How did Mother Sita in the epic Ramayana brave the taunts, insults and tortures of the aggressors in Lanka? What gave her the mental stamina? It was repetition of the Name of the Lord and nothing else. Always remember that desire, anger, greed and hatred can never co-exist with Divinity. A tasty dish will become inedible, if a drop of kerosene falls on it. One bad thought or action is sufficient to spoil the spiritual discipline, built painstakingly over time. Have the Divine Name ever in your thoughts and you can brave any calamity.

3.Desire the fruits of action (Karma) and you will be born again and again, caught up in that desire; give up that craving and you are liberated from the flux. The main point is to stick to the goal consistently. Your goal should be Karma (action), not Karma phala (the fruits of the action). Be aware that the desire for the fruits of one's actions is an indication of Rajoguna (quality of passionate action, resulting in pain). If you choose to remain inactive, it is an indication of Thamoguna (quality of sloth and inaction leading to ignorance)! That is even worse than Rajoguna. This lesson was not for Arjuna alone; this advice is intended for every seeker and the whole of mankind.

4.The field of your heart must be cleared of bushes and thorns. It must be ploughed and furrowed, watered and dampened to depth. Then the seeds must be planted into the earth; not scattered on the surface. After planting the seeds, water the field, remove the weeds, keep away stray cattle, manure the plants, dust them with pesticides, and then you can reap the bounteous crop. Spiritual discipline (Sadhana) means and includes every one of these steps. If there is crooked vision, character, thought and feelings, how can devotion even sprout or bloom? If the lamp is not burning, it means that you have not lit it! Your spiritual progress is what is reflected back to you as Grace. Your decline is reflected back as its absence. Engage yourself in action that will direct your intellect and mind along divine and sublime channels, and win His bounteous grace through worthy action.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Wherever you look, God is present there. Whomsoever you see, God is in him. God has no particular form; all forms are His. That is why the Vedas declare Sahasra Seersha Purusha Sahasraksha Sahasra Pad (The Cosmic Being has thousands of heads, eyes and feet). When you sit for meditation, do not allow the mind to waver; always keep it steady. Do not develop differences amongst yourselves as controversies give rise to many troubles. Even if anybody makes you angry, do not fight with them; understand that when you quarrel, you actually harm yourself. Also control your thoughts. All these are the qualities of a truly educated person. This is called Educare. Along with education, you should also have Educare, for this will grant you health, happiness, peace and prosperity. Everything will become good to you if you make your heart pure.

2.No one can escape delusion; no matter how scholarly one may be. As a result of this delusion man is subjected to grief, and this grief acts as a brake upon activity. Arjuna the great hero, capable of immense renunciation and wisdom, was deluded by the awful needs of war. The grief therefrom handicapped his activity. He confused the body and the self; he imposed on the Atma, (ever untouched by the characteristics of the moving and changing world) the unreal and ephemeral nature of the world and believed this delusion to be true. This is the tragedy not of Arjuna alone, but of all humanity! That is why the Bhagavad Geetha is of universal and eternal value. To study it, is to learn the art of swimming across the sea of delusion. The fact that Geetha has provided consolation and liberation to millions is itself evidence of its Divine origin.

3.When one has attained the state of realising Divinity in every being, when every instrument of knowledge brings the experience of that Divinity and when It alone is seen, heard, tasted, smelt and touched, man undoubtedly becomes a part of the Body of God and lives in Him and with Him. This path is not laid down or recommended for the extraordinary among men alone. It is within the reach of all, for all have the hunger for God. When this duty to your own progress is taken up, you will get a new strength at the very first step; you will experience a new and purer joy; you will be refreshed by a new holiness. Therefore each person should pursue one's own dharma (individual duty). You should plan your life according to the spiritual foundations of your culture and listen to the voice of God.

4.Consider the place and situation in which the Geetha was delivered; therein lies the significance of this discourse. On one side were the forces of good (Dharma) and on the other, that of evil (adharma); caught between these two, and unable to decide which course to adopt, Arjuna weeps in despair. This was not just his dilemma; it is a universal human problem. Arjuna did not seek from Krishna the pleasing, worldly glory of power, status and wealth (Preyas) – he sought the lasting glory of full joy (Sreyas). Arjuna said to Krishna, "Preyas can be won by human activity or Karma. Why should I crave from You what I can win by my own endeavour? Grant me Sreyas, for it is not the fruit of action (Karma), but the fruit of grace!" Thus the lord gave the Geetha for all those who li ke Arjuna rise to the height of absolute self-surrender (Prapaththi or Saranagathi).

5.There are three types of surrender (Saranagathi). The first one is Thavai-vaaham, where the devotee affirms “I am Yours” , the second is Mamai-vathwam, where one asserts “You are mine” and the last is, Thwame-vaaham which means “You and I are one.” Each is a step that leads to the other and the last is the ultimate state. In the first stage, Thav-eva-aham, the Lord is completely free and the devotee is fully bound. Just like the cat and the kitten - the cat shifts the new born kitten about, as it wills; the kitten just mews and accepts whatever happens. This attitude is very gentle and is within easy reach of everyone. In the second, Mama-eva-thwam, the devotee binds the Lord in his heart and the Lord willingly remains bound. A devotee can tie up the Lord with Prema (love) that overwhelms and overpowers one’s own egoism. When one has this type of devotion (Bhakthi), the grace of the Lord fulfills every single need of the devotee.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

1.Detach yourself from the senses. Only then the Spirit (Atma) will shine. The mind must be withdrawn from its present friends, the senses, and made loyal to its master, the intellect. Simply put, the grain must be separated from the chaff, through the exercise of viveka (discrimination). When you light a lamp and keep it in a room with all its five windows open, the wind will blow the flame out. To keep the lamp burning straight the windows must be closed. The senses are the windows; the flame is the mind concentrating on the single purpose of God-realisation. What do the outward-bound senses know of that sweetness? The frogs that hop around the lotus flower are unaware of the nectar contained in the flower. Only the intellect can reveal that bliss to you. Fix your desire on things that last and nourish, rather than on things that are flas hy yet corroding.

2.Happiness makes one forget one's obligations to oneself as a human being. It drags one into egoism leading to committing of sins. Happiness draws a veil over experiences that make one tough. It also spends out one’s stock of merit and arouses baser passions. On the other hand, grief renders man alert and watchful. Misery makes one think and leads to self-improvement. It also endows one with new and valuable experiences, and highlights the value of happiness. Realize that happiness and misery are inseparable and you cannot choose only one. Treat troubles and travails as your friends; at least, do not see them as your enemies! It is best to regard both happiness and misery as gifts of God. That is the easiest path for one's own liberation.

3.A true hero is the steady person who is not agitated in the least by ups and downs caused by roaring waves on the sea of life. Such a person never loses poise; it becomes part of one's nature! The one who keeps to his schedule of spiritual discipline whatever be the attractions or distractions, is a wise person, also referred to as Dheera. Dhee means buddhi (intellect), and this is the true quality of man. It is not the attire or the moustache that marks out the 'hero'. True humanness blossoms with the rejection of the duality of joy and sorrow, and all your exploits should be to conquer these two. Your victory should be over internal foes, rather than external ones. Then the gain you acquire is immortality! Things of the world cannot confer that state of bliss. When you truly and steadily rise above joy and grief, the bliss you attain is absolute, independent and full.

4.Dwell always on lofty thoughts. When air fills a football, it takes the form of a ball. When it enters a balloon, it takes the shape of the balloon, oval or spherical. So too, the mind takes the form of the objects with which it is attached. If it gets fixed on small things, it becomes small. If it is focussed on noble and grand ideas, it becomes noble and grand. The camera takes a picture of whatever it is pointed at, so is the case with the mind. Discriminate before you develop attachment. If your attachment is towards spouse and children, lands and buildings, bank accounts and balances, you will experience grief when they decline. Develop sincere and steady attachment towards the Divine and you will grow in love and splendour. Devotion is not a matter of beads and beards, nor is worship signified by flowers, camphor or bell-ringing. You are judged by your spiritual discipline, thoughts and sense-control.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Lord Krishna, in His childhood days, broke the mud pots where butter was stored. The inner meaning is that Lord Krishna broke the material casement and liberated them from their temporary attachments. He then appropriated to Himself what always belonged to Him - the butter of faith. This butter is the result of the churning of the mind, the spiritual discipline of self-purification. The deha-thathwa (the feeling, “I am the body”), must go and transform into dehi-thathwa (the belief, “I am embodied”). Take a small quantity of sea water and keep it separate in a bottle; it will develop a foul smell in a few days. As long as the water remains in the sea, nothing will happen to it. Be in the sea (of Divinity), as a part of it. Do not separate and individualize yourself. Never isolate yourself as the body (deha) , separate from the Indweller (Dehi). So long as you are in the Divine Consciousness, no pain, grief, egoism or pride can tarnish you.

2.If the senses keep to their places there is no reason to fear. It is only when they start to contact the objects around, the twin distractions of joy and grief are produced. When you hear someone defaming you, you experience anger and grief; but there is no such agitation if the words do not fall on your ears. The attraction of the senses to the objects is the cause of grief and its twin, joy. So long as the world is there, sense-object contact cannot be avoided; similarly till the time one has the burden of previous births, one cannot escape the joy-grief complex. But of what use is it to wait till the waves are silenced, before you wade into the sea for a shower? The wise one learns the trick of avoiding the blows of the onrushing waters and the drag of the receding waves. Wear the armour of fortitude (thithiksha), and weather the blows of good and bad fortune. Thithiksha means equanimity in the face of opposites, that is, putting up boldly with duality.

3.To give up body consciousness must be your deeksha (steady pursuit). This must express itself in actual practice as discipline (nishtha) and training of senses and emotions (sikshana). Water or fire as such cannot move a train. They must both co-operate to produce a third element - steam, which moves the train forward. Treat discipline as more important than even food. This body (deha) is but an instrument to realize the Indweller (Dehi). With determination and faith feed your spirit as scrupulously as you feed the body. You will attain union with the Indweller only when your mental agitations are curbed and equanimity is achieved. Whatever be the path - devotion, wisdom or selfless action, it must lead you to achieve equanimity. To cross safely across the flood of birth-death-continuum, you must build this sturdy safe bridge called unflinching discipline (nishtha).

4.Generally, people seek only happiness and joy; under no circumstance do they desire misery and grief! They treat happiness and joy as their closest well-wishers, and misery and grief as their sworn enemies. This is a great mistake. When you are happy, the risk of grief is great; fear of losing the happiness will haunt you. Misery prompts inquiry, discrimination, self-examination and fear of worse things that might happen. It awakens you from sloth and conceit. Face the dualities of life with thithiksha (fortitude). But be aware, thithiksha is different from patience (Sahana). Patience is putting up with something; tolerating or bearing with it because you have no other choice. Fortitude is having the capacity to overcome it, but yet, disregarding it - that is the spiritual discipline. Putting up with the external world of duality with inner equanimity and peace is the path that will lead you to liberation. Bear all, with analytical discrimination - this type of patience will yield good results.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The secret to a happy life is to give up the desire for the fruit of action

1.As one advances in surrender from the stage, “I am Thine” (Thavaivaaham), to that of, “You are mine” (Mamaiva-thwam) and then to “You and I are One” (Thwame-vaaham), the devotee has progressively acquired the devotion that makes one inseparable from the Lord, called Avibhaktha-bhakthi. In this stage, the devotee can no more withhold oneself and hence offers all to the Lord - that completes one’s surrender. This state of “Thou art I”, is based on the realisation that everything is the Lord Himself, nothing less. So long as body consciousness persists, the devotee is the servant and Lord, the Master. And as long as an individual feels separateness from other individuals, there is body consciousness. When one progresses beyond the limits of the body, beyond that of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’, then there is no more distinction; the devotee and Bhagavan are one and the same. In the Ramayana, Hanumantha achieved this third stage through his devotion.

2.Perform action without hankering after the results. Do not complain that you did not get public recognition for the donations you gave to some Trust. Fruits of action, whether good or bad, have to be wholly consumed by you and you alone. The best means of liberating yourself from the consequences of your actions, is to perform them only for the sake of action. You will then be burdened neither with sin nor merit. If you crave for profit, you should be prepared to accept loss as well. If you construct a well where four roads meet, expecting to acquire the merit for quenching the thirst of men and cattle, you cannot run away from the demerit you will be credited with, when someone falls into it and drowns. The secret to a happy life is to give up the desire for the fruit of action (Karma-phala-thyaga).

3.Attachment to the body produces grief of all kinds and sorts, and its immediate precursors - affection and hatred as well. These two are the results of the intellect considering some things and conditions as beneficial, and others as not; this is a delusion. Despite the knowledge of this fact, at times, you get attached to objects that you consider favourable and start hating the others. From the highest point of view, there is neither; the distinction is just meaningless. There is no two at all; then how can there be good and bad? To see two where there is only one is ignorance (Maya). The fundamental ignorance is the belief that you are the body, and this is the cause for all grief. Practise living in divine consciousness instead of body consciousness, and be free from grief and live in joy.

4.What exists is only the perceiver of both the dream and the waking state - the "I”. Know that “I”; and know that “I” is the same as ”He” (God). You can know this only by intense spiritual discipline, that is not marred by anger, envy and greed - the vices that sprout from ego. You have to carefully watch and control these vices. When you get angry, you act as if you are possessed by an evil spirit; your face becomes ugly and frightful. Like the red bulb winking when danger is approaching, your eyes and face become red and act as a warning to you. Heed that signal and quietly get away to a lonely spot. Do not give free vent to wicked words. Once you grow in wisdom, ego will naturally fall away. So develop wisdom and discriminate by knowing the ephemeral nature of all objective things. Then ego will die a natural death from the field of your heart and you will attain salvation.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Anger is the fuel for all varieties of sin

1.You should never get entangled in the meshes of this world and its problems. Try to escape into the purer air of the spirit as often as you can, by taking the name of the Lord. Hate and envy distort man's true charm. Anger is the fuel for all varieties of sin. Those aspiring for success in the spiritual field must therefore decide to control anger, and subdue the vagaries of the mind. They must put down their mental agitations and worries, and see that they do not create worry in others also. From this very moment, pray for the Grace of God which will enable you to control and conquer your vices. Deepen your faith in God. Expand your prema (love) and take into its fold, the whole of mankind. May you all win Truth (sathyam), Peace (shanti) and Joy (sukham) through these means. May you merge in the source of all bliss (A anandam).

2.Peace is a state of mind that is very much within one's own self. It emanates from one's heart. There is reaction, resound, and reflection for everything in the world. Only when there is hatred in you will you see hatred in others. At times, even if no one causes harm to you, you try to hurt others. Whatever you do to others, you will definitely experience the result of that action, and whatever you hear or experience is all due to the reaction, reflection, and resound of your own actions and feelings; others are not responsible for it. You forget this simple truth and lament, "so and so is accusing me or causing pain to me or hurting me" and so on. Many a times you tend to fight and hurt others. From today onwards, always help others, never hurt anyone. Follow your conscience, it will help you to manifest noble qualities.

3.There are three types of Surrender (Saranagathi). The first one ïs Thavai-vaaham, where the devotee affirms “I am Yours” , the second is Mamai-vathwam, where one asserts “You are mine” and the last is, Thwame-vaaham which means “You and I are one.” Each is a step that leads to the other and the last is the ultimate state. In the first stage, Thav-eva-aham, the Lord is completely free and the devotee is fully bound. Just like the cat and the kitten - the cat shifts the new born kitten about, as it wills; the kitten just mews and accepts whatever happens. This attitude is very gentle and is within easy reach of everyone. In the second, Mama-eva-thwam, the devotee binds the Lord in his heart and the Lord willingly remains bound. A devotee can tie up the Lord with Prema (love) that overwhelms and overpowers one’s own egoism. When one has this type of devotion (Bhakthi), the grace of the Lord fulfills every single need of the devotee.

4.There are three types of surrender (Saranagathi). The first one is Thavai-vaaham, where the devotee affirms “I am Yours” , the second is Mamai-vathwam, where one asserts “You are mine” and the last is, Thwame-vaaham which means “You and I are one.” Each is a step that leads to the other and the last is the ultimate state. In the first stage, Thav-eva-aham, the Lord is completely free and the devotee is fully bound. Just like the cat and the kitten - the cat shifts the new born kitten about, as it wills; the kitten just mews and accepts whatever happens. This attitude is very gentle and is within easy reach of everyone. In the second, Mama-eva-thwam, the devotee binds the Lord in his heart and the Lord willingly remains bound. A devotee can tie up the Lord with Prema (love) that overwhelms and overpowers one’s own egoism. When one has this type of devotion (Bhakthi), the grace of the Lord fulfills every single need of the devotee.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Qualities of a truely educated person

1.People surrender their dignity and status to other men and women for wealth, fame, possessions, pomp, power, etc. But rarely does one get the chance to surrender to the Lord for the sake of the Lord! How can one feel the urge to do so, so long as one craves for the materialistic objects (aadheya) and not the Source of the objects (Aadhaara)? How long can the baseless satisfy? People want the created not the creator; things from the hand, but not the Hand! Can there be an object without the cause? No. God alone is the ‘Uncaused’. It is sheer ignorance to surrender individuality for the sake of the caused. Surrender rather to the Cause, the Source, the Origin of all - Sarveswara. This is genuine surrender or Saranagathi.

2.When the clouds that hide the face of the moon are wafted by the winds, the moon shines clear and cool; so too, when the clouds of egoism are wafted away, the mind of man will shine pure and full, with its native effulgence. This is the stage of bliss where grief ceases to exist. Where there is a lamp, darkness cannot exist. The lamp of wisdom (jnaana) once lit never dies, fades or flickers. The ananda (happiness) and the shanthi (peace) that men seek from the objects of the world, prompted by their senses flicker and soon, fade and die. They only momentarily satisfy one’s foolish cravings. They are attained through lust, anger, hatred and envy, and so they are false and fickle. Control and conquer these; only then can you acquire real Ananda and Shanthi. These neither fade nor flicker. You can not only acq uire these, you can in fact become these.

3.Wherever you look, God is present there. Whomsoever you see, God is in him. God has no particular form; all forms are His. That is why the Vedas declare Sahasra Seersha Purusha Sahasraksha Sahasra Pad (The Cosmic Being has thousands of heads, eyes and feet). When you sit for meditation, do not allow the mind to waver; always keep it steady. Do not develop differences amongst yourselves as controversies give rise to many troubles. Even if anybody makes you angry, do not fight with them; understand that when you quarrel, you actually harm yourself. Also control your thoughts. All these are the qualities of a truly educated person. This is called Educare. Along with education, you should also have Educare, for this will grant you health, happiness, peace and prosperity. Everything will become good to you if you make your heart pure.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

1.The mother's lap is the school for all; it is your first temple. There is no God higher than the mother. To recognise this truth about one's mother is the duty of every person. Your father is your treasure and mother, your god. Instead of valuing such precious wealth, people engage in all kinds of activities to acquire riches and positions. Father and mother are inseparable like the word and its meaning. The distinction between man and woman relate only to the physical body. The Indwelling Spirit in both of them is the same divine. Everyone should cherish one's parents as embodiments of the Divine.

2.We see in the world today disorder, violence and conflict. To cure these ills, one must shed selfishness, greed and other bad qualities, and rise above the animal nature. It is through charity (unselfishness), that you achieve purity. With purity of the heart you can attain Unity, which will then lead to Divinity. The mansion of human life should be built on charity, purity, unity and Divinity. Women play a crucial role in cultivating these four pillars. Truth, sacrifice and peace are predominant qualities in women. A good wife is of value only to her husband whereas a good mother is a national asset. Only dedicated mothers can offer to the nation children who will strive for the country’s great future. Broad-minded good mothers, who care for the purity and spiritual growth of their children and the well-being of the community, are the need of the d ay.

Bagavan sri sri sri sathya sai baba

For whom was the Geetha delivered?

1.Many in this world, even among the learned, do not spend their allotted span of life in the pursuit of the chosen ideals. Hence their earthly lives are like the voyage of a storm-tossed ship that has lost both its anchor and its compass, and is caught in mid-ocean. They are torn between opposing ideals and goals; in their ignorance and fear they say one thing and do another. Meditation will give such people fixity of purpose, courage, and also wisdom. It stills the agitated mind, makes it clear and fills it with joy. The path of meditation will destroy ignorance and grant the individual union with God.

2.For whom was the Geetha delivered? Just think of this for a moment. Milk is not drawn from the cow’s udder for its own sake, for cows do not drink their own milk; Arjuna, the calf, has had his fill and Krishna needs nothing! The Lord Himself clarifies: He milked the Upanishads and brought out the Geetha for the "Sudhee-jana", those who possess intelligence (Su-dhee) that is moderated by goodness and controlled by virtue. But when does one become worthy of receiving the lessons of the Geetha? Rather than exult over your excellence, search for your own faults with the desire of removing them. You will then progress fast without being dragged behind by fear or anxiety. When you move on thus, placing all your burdens on the Lord and with faith in him, you will reach a state of mental calm, which is the sign o f a true aspirant. Arjuna arrived at this stage and then Krishna gave him the teaching that confers immortality.

3.Riches and wealth are short-lived; office and authority are temporary; life-breath is a flickering flame in the wind. Youth is a three-day fair and pleasures and fortunes are bundles of sorrow. Knowing this, if you devote this limited term of life to the service of the Lord, then you are indeed blessed. Seek refuge at the Lord’s feet early on. Everything is untrue, impermanent and akin to castles in the air. Contemplate on this truth, approach God and glorify Him; that alone confers permanent joy. Inside the room called body, in the safe called the heart, the precious gem of wisdom (jnaana) exists. Four wily thieves - lust, anger, greed and envy (kaama, krodha, lobha and asuuya) are lying in wait to rob it. Awaken to this danger before it is too late. Reinforce yourself with the support of the Universal Guardian, the Lord, and keep the gem intact. That will make you rich in love (prema), and peace (shanthi).

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.When one has attained the state of realising Divinity in every being, when every instrument of knowledge brings the experience of that Divinity and when It alone is seen, heard, tasted, smelt and touched, man undoubtedly becomes a part of the Body of God and lives in Him and with Him. This path is not laid down or recommended for the extraordinary among men alone. It is within the reach of all, for all have the hunger for God. When this duty to your own progress is taken up, you will get a new strength at the very first step; you will experience a new and purer joy; you will be refreshed by a new holiness. Therefore each person should pursue one's own dharma (individual duty). You should plan your life according to the spiritual foundations of your culture and listen to the voice of God.

2.Many in this world, even among the learned, do not spend their allotted span of life in the pursuit of the chosen ideals. Hence their earthly lives are like the voyage of a storm-tossed ship that has lost both its anchor and its compass, and is caught in mid-ocean. They are torn between opposing ideals and goals; in their ignorance and fear they say one thing and do another. Meditation will give such people fixity of purpose, courage, and also wisdom. It stills the agitated mind, makes it clear and fills it with joy. The path of meditation will destroy ignorance and grant the individual union with God.

3.For whom was the Geetha delivered? Just think of this for a moment. Milk is not drawn from the cow’s udder for its own sake, for cows do not drink their own milk; Arjuna, the calf, has had his fill and Krishna needs nothing! The Lord Himself clarifies: He milked the Upanishads and brought out the Geetha for the "Sudhee-jana", those who possess intelligence (Su-dhee) that is moderated by goodness and controlled by virtue. But when does one become worthy of receiving the lessons of the Geetha? Rather than exult over your excellence, search for your own faults with the desire of removing them. You will then progress fast without being dragged behind by fear or anxiety. When you move on thus, placing all your burdens on the Lord and with faith in him, you will reach a state of mental calm, which is the sign o f a true aspirant. Arjuna arrived at this stage and then Krishna gave him the teaching that confers immortality.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The power of the divine name is unparalleled. People often take it lightly; that is a mistake. God's name is the real diamond - 'Die mind'. Keep it safe and secure. Whoever does namasmarana, (Repetition of God’s Name) whatever be the name they take and wherever they are, their life will be sanctified and they will be free from sin. Do not be too concerned about the tune and rhythm (raga and thala). Chant the divine name wholeheartedly and with complete faith. Faith develops love for God. Namasankirtan (singing of God's name) when done with absolute concentration and steady faith like a yogi, will help achieve great transformation. Fix your mind steadily on the divine name and attain bliss.

2.Do not worry about the unsatisfactory environment you may be in. Of course, sometimes the place you are in may have drawbacks and may not be ideal. But it is of no use trying to run away from it. You can overcome any obstacle by training your own mind. Stay in your environment and pray to the Lord that He may fill you with His thoughts and vision, enabling you to ignore the defects of your surroundings. Do not seek comfort, for it might not be conducive to meditation. Learn to be comfortable in any place; that is better. Live in joy wherever you are for that is the way. Revel in the realm of your mind, worship there the Lord you have chosen as your goal and be free of all the defects of your natural or human environment! Then no spot will be irksome to you, nor will any place seem disgusting.

3.This day you have resolved to imbibe Divine Bliss by reciting the glory of God in chorus and with music, continuously for twenty-four hours (Akhanda Bhajan). This programme will yield good results. For in this busy age of fear and anxiety, the remembrance of God and the repetition of His name is the single means of liberation that is accessible to all. Bhajan (devotional singing in a group) is more important than even bhojan (food). Bhajan is a good disciplinary process by which desire and anger can be kept away. This daylong bhajan will generate divine vibrations and purify. I bless those who breathe this vibration to be healthier and more upright in their behaviour. Be united in remembering God and encourage one another as you proceed along the path; then success is assured.

4.Consider the place and situation in which the Geetha was delivered; therein lies the significance of this discourse. On one side were the forces of good (Dharma) and on the other, that of evil (adharma); caught between these two, and unable to decide which course to adopt, Arjuna weeps in despair. This was not just his dilemma; it is a universal human problem. Arjuna did not seek from Krishna the pleasing, worldly glory of power, status and wealth (Preyas) – he sought the lasting glory of full joy (Sreyas). Arjuna said to Krishna, "Preyas can be won by human activity or Karma. Why should I crave from You what I can win by my own endeavour? Grant me Sreyas, for it is not the fruit of action (Karma), but the fruit of grace!" Thus the lord gave the Geetha for all those who li ke Arjuna rise to the height of absolute self-surrender (Prapaththi or Saranagathi).

Bagavan Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.At the gates of liberation (moksha) and self-realisation (sakshathkara), three guards are posted to ask you for your credentials. They are: peace or mental equilibrium, Joy or contentment, and enquiry or discrimination (santhi, santhosha, and vichara). Even if one of the guards is made friends with, the others too will facilitate your entry. First in the series is peace. If you make peace yours, contentment (thrupthi) will automatically become yours! Contentment is the true source of joy and the most valuable of all possessions, in the absence of which desire and greed attain dangerous proportions, overwhelming the power of discrimination itself. Desire easily becomes greed which then degenerates into miserliness and lust. These will makes you flit from object to object in mad pursuit of the evanescent sensual joy. Hence advise your min d to flow in the direction of the Lord, instead of dragging you along the floods of objects and sensual desires. Giving up all other desires and being ever content, dwell on the Lord’s name and form alone.

2.Joy and grief are as day and night; they have to be put up with and gone through. They will neither appear nor disappear at your will! Both are related to the physical or the material - the body, and they do not affect the soul. You are liberated the moment you transcend joy and grief. What is there to grieve in life? Did you grieve when your body underwent changes? The child disappears in the boy, the boy in the youth, the youth is lost in the middle-aged man who in turn is lost in the old man. You never weep over these changes that affect the body, why then, when the body is lost in death. Whatever changes your body may suffer, the Atma remains immortal. Being established unshakably in this knowledge is the sign of the wise, the Jnani.

3.Remember that contentment will not make one an idler. It is an attribute of true pure (sathwic) character. It will make the mind turn always towards the Lord. It will save you from the tribulations that one goes through to satisfy unimportant wants and to cater to selfish needs. It will direct human talents towards efforts that elevate. The contented person will also be truthful and will therefore be in constant communion with the Atma. That is to say, such a person can be immersed in meditation for long periods without needing rest or feeling fatigued. Contentment is the royal road to meditation.

4.See the Lord in every being; be aware of Him every moment of existence and be immersed in the Ananda (bliss) of this awareness. Merged in the relationship born out of profound devotion to Him, surrender your wish and will to act; the attitude, the activity and the fruit of the action as well - offer to the Lord everything from beginning to the end. That is, perform all actions in a spirit of worshipful non-attachment. This is what the Lord seeks from each and every devotee. Of course, such complete surrender is not easy. But if you make the slightest effort towards it, the Lord Himself will confer the courage to pursue it to the end. He will walk with and help you as a friend and guide; He will guard you from evil and temptations; He will be your staff and support.

5.Just as fish can live only when it is immersed in water, so too man is an animal that can live well only when immersed in bliss (ananda). One must have ananda not only at home and society but more importantly, in the heart as well. In fact the ananda in the heart spreads joy all around. The heart is the spring of bliss which has to be charged by constant meditation, recitation and the intermittent dwelling on the glory, the grace and the manifestations of the Lord (smarana, chethana and manana). Without giving way to doubt or despair, hold fast to the goal and never turn back. The one devoted to God knows no failure. The name of the Lord, if taken sincerely will help you overcome all obstacles. When the Saviour is by your side, why doubt whether you will be saved?

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

No one can escape delusion

1.Give up Para chintana (thinking about others) and cultivate Paramatma chintana (thinking about God). This is the true spiritual practice (Sadhana). Do not be carried away by worldly pleasures. Take to the sacred path and sanctify your time by chanting the Divine Name. There is no need to allocate a specific time or place for Namasmarana (repetition of the Lord’s name). You can do it wherever you are and whatever you are doing. One needs to pay tax for water, electricity, etc., but there is no tax for Namasmarana. Nobody can stop you from doing it. It is very simple, yet most effective. But people do not realise the value of Namasmarana as it is so easy to practise. We think that God can be attained only through severe austerities. This is a misconception. Without troubling yourself or causing trouble to others, you can chant the divine name. Follow this simple path, experience bliss and sanctify your life.

2.Meditation must be followed rigorously. In fact Dhyana (Meditation) also means discipline and, regularity and steadiness are the essential tools for it. Lord Krishna assured, “When you start fixing your thoughts on Me, all thoughts that agitate you will be stilled through My grace.” Meditation is a first class cure for the illness of worldly existence (bhava-roga). But along with it, also take the medicine of contentment. Just as a traveller who has trudged along for miles in the scorching sun feels refreshed when taking bath in the waters of a cool and shady lake, so too the unfortunate individual struggling in the scorching heat of desires, feels happy and relieved when bathing in the lake of contentment. Meditate regularly and practice contentment in your mind; anyone who follows this rigorously will achieve quick results..

3.To understand the essence of the Bhagawad Geetha you must take up its study in an attitude of submission and expectancy. Every chapter in the Geetha lays down the means and methods of reaching the goal of peace and harmony, with emphasis on spiritual attitude and practices in life. The Geetha is a boat which takes man from darkness to light and from the self-imposed state of bondage to the freedom that is one’s nature. The Geetha teaches that the aspirant must aspire and not despair; one must persevere and not clamour for quick success. Truly speaking, every being has come into this field of action (Karmakshetra) only to engage oneself in activity, and not to earn the fruit of such activity. This is the fundamental lesson taught by the Geetha.

4.No one can escape delusion; no matter how scholarly one may be. As a result of this delusion man is subjected to grief, and this grief acts as a brake upon activity. Arjuna the great hero, capable of immense renunciation and wisdom, was deluded by the awful needs of war. The grief therefrom handicapped his activity. He confused the body and the self; he imposed on the Atma, (ever untouched by the characteristics of the moving and changing world) the unreal and ephemeral nature of the world and believed this delusion to be true. This is the tragedy not of Arjuna alone, but of all humanity! That is why the Bhagavad Geetha is of universal and eternal value. To study it, is to learn the art of swimming across the sea of delusion. The fact that Geetha has provided consolation and liberation to millions is itself evidence of its Divine origin..

Bagvan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

There are many snakes of wicked qualities in the anthill of your heart

1.Today the country is facing a lot of problems because people are not doing enough Namasmarana (repetition of the Lord’s name). Let each and every street reverberate with the singing of the Divine's glory; let each and every cell of the body be filled with the divine name. Nothing else can give you the bliss, courage and strength that Namasmarana can. People may say, “He is a big officer. How is it that he is also doing Namasmarana?” Some people may even make fun of you, but do not bother. No matter whoever it is, young or old, rich or poor, everybody has to do Namasmarana. You may not have any musical instruments for this; it does not matter. From the depth of your heart and with total dedication, sing the glory of God wherever you are. Only then can you lead the life of a true human being.

2.There are many snakes of wicked qualities in the anthill of your heart. When you loudly sing the name of the Lord (Namasmarana), all these snakes will come out. Namasmarana should be the very breath of your lives. You must repeat God’s name in order to get rid of evil qualities. Today there are many who do not attach any importance to the chanting of the divine name. This is a great mistake! In this age of Kali (the fourth quarter of time where righteousness is most degraded) only chanting of the divine name can redeem your life; there is no other refuge. Singing the glory of the Lord is highly sacred. Clear your mind of evil thoughts and sing the glory of God wholeheartedly, without any inhibition. Only then will you become the recipient of divine grace and energy; only then can you experience divine bliss.

3.You must reform your mental traits and habits. Cultivate the habit of never causing pain to others. Try to understand others, sympathise with and help them. Train yourself to take insult and criticism as decorations awarded to you. Be friendly with everyone, whatever be their nature or conduct. A joyous disposition is necessary for spiritual progress, but many things and situations deprive you of the atmosphere of joy. So you must pray sincerely in order to be free from such obstacles. The recital or repetition of prayers (mantras) will be of great help.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Aspirants must always have the inward look; if they allow the mind to wander outward, they cannot identify their own faults. It is hard to get rid of pride and self-love or ego (Ahamkara), for the mind has been allowed to flow in the direction it likes for several ages. Pride prevents the inner vision and confuses the examination of the mind. Some aspirants get very angry when others discover and announce to them the bad traits they possess. If you wish to achieve success, you must bow down to those who point out your faults, and you must endeavour not to entertain those faults any longer. Those prone to anger should to be vigilant even about the most minor matters that might provoke them and remove such impulses; because if they are careless, they cannot progress in the least. Such people must cultivate a humble, loving spirit. Then the bad traits will disappear.

2.The festival of Deepavali teaches a profound spiritual truth. On this day, an entire array of lamps are lit by the flame of one lamp. This act signifies that it is the One that has willed to become the Many. The lamp used to light symolises the Supreme Effulgent Lord and the ones lit are the individual selves. As long as the demonic qualities remain in man, he will be immersed in darkness. Deepavali has to be observed as a day for getting rid of all these bad qualities. The demon Narakasura symbolises demonic qualities, and his death, which marks the festival of Deepavali, symbolises the destruction of evil and the restoration of good. This is the inner significance of the festival.

3.At the time of birth, one has neither good nor bad qualities. Changes occur in your nature due to the food consumed, the influence of associates and so on. One develops ego and attachment through the company one keeps. As you get educated, you develop pride and entertain vainglorious thoughts about your superiority over others. This conceit pollutes the heart. To purify milk that has got mixed with water, it has to be boiled. Likewise one has to undertake various spiritual practices (Sadhana) to purge the heart of impurities. It is only when the heart is melted in the heat of divine Love, you can succeed in removing bad qualities. Be clear that you alone are the cause for your fortune, good or bad; God has no share in causing your suffering; and you are free to shape your future. If you develop this understanding you will approach God with firmer steps and a cle arer mind.

4.Egoistic individuals, love to exercise authority over others. They see everything through glasses coloured by the smoke of selfishness and self-love. “My words are true”; “My opinion is correct”; “My deeds are right” - Such attitude is very harmful for spiritual aspirants. Aspirants must look forward eagerly to any objective criticism, suggestion or advice from any quarter. Also, they must minimise all discussions and argumentations as these breed a spirit of rivalry and lead one to angry reprisals and vengeful fighting. Do not struggle to earn the esteem of the world. Do not feel humiliated or angry when the world does not recognise you or your merits. Learn this first and foremost if you are after spiritual success. Do not become elated when praised, for therein lies a deadly trap, which might even lead you astray and endanger your progress.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai baba