Thought for the Day

1.How can those who are aware only of mere sensual pleasure know the Supreme Truth? The craving for sensual pleasure veils the truth from the inner eye. That craving manifests in multiple ways, creating increasingly more desires and laying down more and more urges to action. These hide the truth from our eye like a thick veil. The recognition of this veil is a big step in spiritual progress. This is the Maya Principle (delusion) of Vedanta. From immemorial times, though the Truth was self-evident, this curtain has hidden it from people. Fortunate are those who have achieved great strength in spirit, holding God as their father, mother, Guru, friend, and the beloved. They adored God as dearer to them than anything or anyone, here or hereafter.

2.Repetition of God’s Name and meditation should never be measured by mere external standards; they are to be judged by their inner effects. If one sways between impatience and sloth, and always worries, “Why has it not come yet? Why is it still far away?” then it all bolis down to repeating the Name simply and doing meditation with an eye always on the fruit thereof. The single fruit of repetition of Divine Names and doing meditation is the conversion of our focus from outward to inward, that is, seeing the reality of Atmic bliss. For this transformation, one has to be always active and hopeful, regardless of the time taken and the difficulties encountered. One should not count the cost, the time, or the trouble, and await the descent of the Lord’s grace. This patient wait is itself part of tapas (the austerity of meditation). Sticking unfalteringly to the vow is the austerity.

3.When you achieve sense-control, mind-cleansing, concentration and inner silence, what initially appeared as a logical necessity later dawns upon the purified consciousness as a Positive Permanent Impersonal Will (Prajnaanam Brahma). Through the unremitting practice of Truth, Righteousness, and Fortitude, the Divinity quiescent in the individual will be induced to manifest itself in daily living, transforming every day into the joy of true love. Know the Supreme Reality, breathe It, bathe in It. Live in It. Then It becomes all of you and you become fully Divine.

4.In the pure, serene (sathwic) path of meditation, you will consider repetition of the Holy Name and meditation as a duty and suffer any amount of trouble for its sake; you will be fully convinced that this world is just an illusion, so you will only do good under all conditions and at all times. You will desire only the good of all and will always love all; you will spend time uninterruptedly in the remembrance and meditation of the Lord. You will not crave even the fruit of repeating the Name and doing meditation; you will leave it all to the Lord.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba