Thought for the Day

1.Riches are needed to secure any article in the world. With wealth, one can acquire any possession at any time, so it follows that the riches are superior to the objects obtained. So too, it is by the wealth of the Divine Name that the possession 'the Divine Form' is to be earned. If the riches of the Divine Name are steadily accumulated, the Lord can be realised through the path of meditation, easily and without difficulty.

2.A special feature about Namasmarana (repetition of the Divine Name) is this: it is possible to acquire various Siddhis (occult powers) through Yoga and Tapas (penance). And there is every likelihood of the Lord being forgotten when these powers come. Blinded by this pride, a person might even let go of the basic victory won by spiritual practices. This is not the case with remembrance of the Name, repetition of the Name, and meditation; no such dangers beset these paths. These three paths ensure that the Prema (Love) in the devotee's heart grows more and more. Through Love, Shanti (Peace) is achieved. Once peace of mind is achieved, all other benefits are automatically attained.

3.Fish nurture their newly hatched young ones first in a safe and shallow spot. Then, they send them out into the wide open sea with its monstrous denizens. Only then can the young ones survive courageously and grow without fear. If they were bred in the open sea right from the beginning, they would certainly be swallowed up! In the same way, contemplation of the Name (nama), repetition of the Name (japa), and meditation (dhyana) are to be practised with a great deal of care according to a set routine in the initial stages until you become an expert who contemplates on the Name constantly and repeats it with concentration. Repeating the Name of the Lord is the safest, surest and easiest spiritual practice.

4.Neither liberation from the cycle of birth and death nor purity of intellect and emotions is possible without devotion to the Lord. Those who have the spring of ecstatic devotion to the Presence of the Lord within them do not need any texts to ponder over. The very contemplation on the beauty, grace, and power of the Lord will give them the bliss they seek. In that ecstatic mood, they discard all self-consciousness and yearn to become the beloved of God, and remain in blissful union with Him. They dance and sing aloud and merge with Him in genuine joy and ananda (bliss). The agony of the devotee to attain their beloved Lord is the true sign of devotion.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba