Thought for the Day

1.Imitation is a sign of cowardice, not a quality that can ensure progress. How can you draw inspiration for uplifting yourself, if you are engaged in hating yourself and devaluing your achievements? You should feel no sense of shame when you bring back to memory your forefathers and the teachers of the past who built the culture that nurtured you. Instead, you ought to feel proud of them. Like them, manifest the power that lies in self-exertion! Do not resort to the weak stratagem of imitating others. Instead absorb the good qualities that others may possess. We plant a seed in the soil. Then we supply it with the ingredients it needs—water, air, and manure. The seed sprouts. It grows into a sapling. It becomes at last a huge tree. You will notice that it does not become either soil or manure, or air or water. These it makes use of, but sticks to its own nature and grows into a tree. May you too live like that!

2.How do you accumulate the wealth of character? You cannot exist without activity, so you must, out of necessity, act through good qualities. You must curb all desires and become free. The mind filled with good qualities will help you in this process, for it will bear other’s prosperity gladly. It will give up doing injury; it will seek opportunities to help, heal, and foster. It will not only suffer; it will also pardon. It will not incline towards the false; it will be on the alert to speak the truth. It will remain unruffled by lust, greed, anger, and conceit; it will be free from delusion. It will always seek the welfare of the world. From such a mind, will flow an uninterrupted stream of love.

3.We have much to learn from others. There is no need about doubt this fact. Those who refuse to learn this, declare themselves fools. You can imbibe from others anything that can promote your spiritual advancement in line with your own moral path or dharma. You must live as you, not as someone else. Be immersed in your God, in your own beliefs and feelings, in the bliss that springs from your own heart, and in the delight derived from your sadhana (spiritual practices). If others try to prevent you from doing this by weaving different plans or employing several contrivances, resist them boldly. Do not deny yourself the Divine Awareness and the Divine Ecstasy. Pull down the barriers that stand in the way and obstruct the free flow of divinity, sweetness and strength from the depth of your heart.

4.When your mind matures and attains fruition, it easily becomes free of all qualities. It becomes placid, calm, and pure. It effortlessly merges in the one and only Atma. Each person has the unique chance to taste the inner peace that such a mind can grant, but, unfortunately, most are strangers to the unshakeable joy and equanimity that is their birthright. Meditation is the only island of refuge in the ocean of life for all beings tossed on the waves of desire, doubt, dread, and despair. This Vedantic truth must be present in the mind, even while one is engaged in the mundane material world!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The spiritual aspirant must always yearn for good company (satsang), where there is no chance for growth of greed or ambition. Even if it is hard to come by, you should only mix with good people. It is profitless for a true aspirant to associate with people who spend their time in worldly affairs. If you don’t secure good friends, spend your time alone; thereby you do not lose anything. Never even think of joining the company of the bad or being in their presence. Do not get entangled in their wiles. If you cultivate good qualities and seek good company, then both, repetition of the Divine Name and meditation will become easy for you and will yield quick results.

2.Space is one. But it is held in diverse containers like the home, the pot, the building and the canvas. There is no truth in this divided existence; it is the one space that exists in all these ‘receptacles’ which are varied shapes and forms, with distinct names attached to them, and different modes of behaviour and use. So too, individual beings (jivas) have different names and forms, peculiarities, specialties and behaviours. But like the string that holds the beads, passing in and through each one, the Super Consciousness in all individuals is ONE. That is the Self, Atma, which is mistaken as the ego through ignorance. Only when this truth is acquired, can man release himself from the hold of this transient world.

3.Those who never speak of the Lord, or those who are not even aware of Him, or those who are busy multiplying and strengthening the bonds of worldly existence (samsara) or who preach and practice falsehood, injustice, and oppression, and who advise you to stray from the path of dharma (righteousness) - treat those not as your friends but as people to be avoided at all costs. Associating with such bad company (dussanga) leads to committing wrongs against your will, uttering words that should not be uttered, doing deeds that ought not be done and consequently, treading the path to ruin. People who fear neither sin nor God are capable of venturing into any wickedness; so, seek the company of those who fear God and fear sin; that alone is true good company.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The word karma (action) is short and crisp. But the idea and ideals it conveys are of great significance to mankind. It is of two kinds: material and spiritual, that is, loukik (connected with this world) and vaidik (drawn from the Vedas or scriptural injunctions). Karma that merely sustains life is material. The vaidik actions elevate the human to the Divine and are based on the scriptures. Karma is not simply physical, it is also mental and verbal; it subsumes every activity of man—worldly, scriptural and spiritual. All the three strands are truly intertwined. Worldly actions entail merit or demerit. Scripturally based actions are saturated with the experience of generations of seekers of goodness. The spiritually-focused will devote themselves to cleansing their hearts so that the indwelling God may be reflected therein.

2.Its animal nature to get attracted to the exterior; the Lord is pleased only by internal charm that arises from good character. Do not be driven by the low tastes of the world and the cheap regard that people bestow. Strive for the grace and love of the Lord. The affection that people shower is not constant, for it depends on their likes and dislikes. But the love that the Lord bears for you depends on your good qualities alone; it gives you permanent joy. True beauty lies in character, not in anything else. There is nothing more charming than this.

3.The lives of individuals are determined by the actions performed by them in previous lives and the present one. The entire load of accumulated karma that is slowly being worked out over many life times by the individual is called sanchitha karma. That karma which directly influences the current life is called praarabdha karma. The actions being performed, which is bound to affect the future is called aagaami karma. While the actions one is engaging in is referred to as karma, being inactive is called akarma! If you are not attached to the fruits of your actions, but carry it out as your duty and as your way of worship; then you can practice akarma even though physically engaged in Karma. This is the highest sadhana.

4.The good should never even discuss the evil that others do, for that will contaminate them. The stories of child devotees like Dhruva and Prahlada will, if listened to, grant merit and show the path; and the stories of great women like Savithri and Anasuya will destroy the roots of evil and strengthen character. How will this happen? They are all holy and their lives are without a blemish; therefore to discuss them and their lives is worthwhile and beneficial. Always discuss the good in others and never about their faults. If you can, try constantly to offer them good advice and turn them to noble ways. You should cultivate peace of mind, charitableness and eagerness to promote the welfare of all. These can come only through repetition of the Divine Name and meditation.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Cultivate prema (love) for the Lord. It has infinite potentiality. Even an iron chain can be broken, but not the chain of love that binds a devotee to the Lord. Remember, even the cruelest of animals can be overpowered by love! What a holy deed it would be, to direct all the floodwaters of this love to the the Lord who is the ocean of pure love rather than to worldly lakes and shoals. By doing this the Jivi (individual) will realise the purpose of life. To direct one's love to the divine name and form incessantly is true meditation. This is the highest Moksha (liberation).

2.The ancient rishis (sages), out of their own genuine experience, have clearly described the means to sanctify our lives. Their counsel is not based on knowledge gathered from books. According to them, in order to carry out with perfection one's karma (duty), bhakthi, jnana and yoga (devotion, wisdom and self-control) are essential. Dharma (right conduct) is the taproot of the great tree of religion; the eternal source of its strength. This tree is nourished by the waters of bhakthi (devotion). The leaves and flowers are renunciation and other virtues, and the fruit is jnana (wisdom). If there is any interruption in these stages of growth, or deficiency in the nourishment, the fruit of jnana will be adversely affected.

3.Do not mistake this temporary abode as your eternal dwelling place. Do not lose heart at evanescent troubles and short-lived tragedies. Immerse yourselves in the effort to attain the eternal Lord. Everything in this world is subject to decay - if not today, sometime in the future. It is not right to reject the Lord, who is eternally related to you, and be misled by this world with which one is connected to for a short while! Consider the number of births you have taken, the countless mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, sons, daughters, friends and enemies you’ve had. Do they exist today? Do they remember the relationships? You are no one to them, and they are nobody to you. But you and they have the Lord in common as the unchanging relative. He is there throughout all births; He is eternal. He watches over you from one birth to another. The Lord will never give you up. What greater tragedy can there be than forgetting such a Lord? With the senses weakened, powerless and refusing to function; with the parents, wife, children, and all relations crowding on one side; while the messengers of death compelling you to pack up for the journey without delay on the other side - who knows when this call will come and how? Before that moment comes, be ready with the thought of God.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

1.Every animate being has to attain fulfillment; that is destiny. The length and difficulty of the journey are determined by the nature of the cumulative effects of many lives. In order to attain fulfillment in the spiritual field, the help of those who have mastered the path is very necessary. This guidance can be transmitted only from one heart to another when an intimate kinship is established between the seeker and the Master. Texts, commentaries and guide books only breed doubts, discords and discussions. Intellectual reasoning will only lead to cleverness and ill-advised sharpness. Experience achieved through intuition alone is valid in the realm of the spirit. For the journey from intuition to illumination, layers of egoism and its evils have to be penetrated and destroyed. A Guru will be of great help in this adventure. For, He alone who has reac hed the goal can guide the pilgrim to it. Without the Guru, the aspirant tends to wander in the wilds.
2.Guru Poornima is a holy day which must be celebrated with prayer and sincere repentance that arises from love for God. This alone can cleanse the heart; not feasting or fasting, which only affect the body. The wayward mind of man is compared to the moon that oscillates between brightness and darkness. On the full moon day, the mind too has to be bright, effulgent and cool.
3Guru Poornima is the day you should decide to become masters of your senses and intellect, emotions and passions, thoughts and feelings through Sadhana (spiritual discipline). Even during Dhyana (meditation), ego will disturb you. A scholar too can be polluted by ego; he delights in discussing pros and cons, and in the process raising doubts that disturb faith. Hence offer yourself completely to God seeking nothing but spiritual progress. Such dedication cannot arise out of scholarship. Therefore engage yourselves in Sadhana (spiritual practices) without delay. Cultivate virtues; be free from evil habits, thoughts, words and deeds. Treat everyone with love and grow in love. This is the way to Ananda (joy).
4.In the spiritual path, there are six steps: Sama, Dama, Titiksha, Uparathi, Shraddha and Samadhana. Sama, Dama and Uparathi are the steps involving control of senses and withdrawal of the mind from the external world. Titiksha is being equanimous in gain and loss, pain and pleasure, praise and censure. Shraddha or faith is very essential in spiritual life; it is impossible to attain illumination without this virtue. Therefore whatever work you undertake, do it with diligence and faith. The sixth step Samadhana refers to contentment. He who has the least desires is the richest man in the world and the one filled with desires is the poorest. This contentment or self-satisfaction comes from selflf-confidence. Self-satisfaction ca n lead one to selff-sacrifice and finally to Self-realization.

Thought for the Day

1.In the olden days even before imparting knowledge to his disciples the Guru (preceptor) would assign them different tasks that they had to perform in his hermitage. This was done with a purpose. One important object of work is purification of the chittha (heart). Once the heart is purified one is ready to receive the teachings of the Guru. Thus in this manner the Guru first purified the heart of the disciple and only when he was satisfied with the disciple's spiritual progress did he start imparting Self-Knowledge.]

2.All work should be done as an offering to God. One should not be idle. Whatever work one does, it should be done with a feeling of love. You can take up any work that is appropriate for your aptitudes and capacity. While doing such sacred work, you must continue to worship your favourite form of the Divine. People say many obstacles occur when one undertakes sadhana (spiritual practices). When obstacles come they should be taken as tests. Tests are intended not as punishment but for ascertaining one's fitness for promotion. Frequent tests mean repeated opportunities for promotion. If there is a big time lag between tests, it only means that promotion is not possible for a long time. One must face the obstacles in one’s sadhana in this spirit and try to overcome them.

3.For success in any aspect of life, three things are essential - knowledge, skill and balance. If you combine knowledge with skill, you get balance which is very important. It means maintaining equipoise in the face of praise and criticism. To stay balanced, skill is necessary. If you lose balance, suffering will soon follow. When you are given some work, you should put your heart and soul into it, and do it with utmost sincerity and dedication, to the limit of your capacity. Take for example, a person who is entrusted with planting trees and developing a garden. If he does the work wholeheartedly without getting affected by praise or blame, the plants will come up well, and the garden will get transformed into a place of beauty. When the Guru comes to see that garden and feels happy with the growth of the plants, the joy of the Guru becomes the gr ace He bestows on that individual, and that grace will confer great happiness to that person.

4.The Guru warns and awakens. He reveals the truth and encourages you to progress towards it. Unless you have the yearning, the questioning heart, or the seeking intelligence, he cannot do much. The hungry can be fed; he who has no hunger will discard food as an infliction. The Guru is a gardener who will tend the plant; but the sapling must have sprouted before he can take charge. He does not add anything new to the plant; he only helps it to grow according to its own destiny, quicker perhaps, more fully perhaps, but not against its inner nature. He removes the spiritual poverty by pointing to the treasure that lies buried within oneself; he advises the method of recovering it, the vigilance needed to use it to the best advantage.

5.There are four stages in the journey to God; they are: Saalokya, Saameepya, Saaroopya and Saayujya. The first stage is Saalokya, which is coming to the divine presence. From there on, you should progress forward to Saameepya, which means getting nearer to the Guru. Then you march forward to Saaroopya where you shine with the very form and splendour of Divinity. Finally you enter the stage of Saayujya, which is complete mergence with the Divine. At this stage, the bubble bursts and becomes one with the sea. Seva (Service) gives you the opportunity to progress along each and every one of these steps and merge with God.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

1.The entire world is like a university, teaching us constantly. When we do business, there is something to learn. Even when we cultivate land, there is something to learn. Without any difference of caste or creed, title or status, the tree shares its fruits with all and proclaims the equality of everyone. The mountains teach us that we should not have excessive attachment to our body by showing us how patiently they can stand in rain, sun and cold. When someone dies, we learn that the world is not permanent; family is only an illusion. It reminds us that we have no right to keep on saying that this belongs to me or that belongs to you. To understand God, His creation is the best school. Everywhere there is something for us to learn.

2.You should regard imparting spiritual education as a great opportunity and a sacred task. You should make every attempt to teach the students with love and forbearance, and do this with a pure heart. You should overcome laziness and treat all the children who come to you with more affection than you show to your own children. Gurus must have equal-mindedness and should not discriminate against anyone on the basis of caste, religion or such other aspects. You should inculcate the idea of service in the minds of the children. You should teach them that whenever they eat, they should offer the food to God first. You should also teach them to conduct themselves with humility when they meet their elders. A teacher should not be egoistic; one with ego cannot be a good Guru. Therefore you must make every attempt to be free of ego, learn about your responsibiliti es and do your duty.

3.You must use your discrimination to sift the trash and discard it in preference to what is valuable. You must earn punyam (merit) by rendering selfless service to others. You must keep away from bad company and seek the friendship of the good, only those who can cleanse and heal you. When you do not attempt to transform yourself in this manner but expect plentiful grace, you finally end up accusing God for your sorrows, instead of blaming your unsteady faith! Grace cannot be claimed by such behaviour; your devotion must be so true that God accepts you as His devotee. You are consumed by time; God is the Master of Time. So, take refuge in God. Let God be your Guru, your path, your Lord. Adore Him, obey His commands, offer Him your grateful homage, and hold Him fast in your mind. This is the only way and also the easiest way to realize Him as your ow n reality.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathay Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Faith is like a live volcano. Doubts are like seeds. No seed will sprout on a live volcano. If your doubts are multiplying, it means your faith is weak and unstable, and akin to an extinct volcano. Where there are doubts, there can be no faith. Your doubts arise or disappear because of your past karma (actions). No doubts will arise if your faith is strong. To realize Divinity you must first get rid of all your doubts. From time to time, God subjects you to various tests. These are not intended to be punishments as you may imagine, but actually to strengthen your faith. Always remember that the Divine acts as a witness. The Divine shows you the path to self-realization.

2.The true Guru is like an ophthalmic surgeon. The ophthalmologist cures cataracts by removing the clouded film in the patient's eye and thus restores vision. The true Guru also removes the veil of ignorance and attachment that blurs the disciple's vision and thus restores their natural spiritual vision. Only when you clean your heart by removing ignorance, sorrow, worry, greed, and envy, can you realize the fullness of your Reality. Celebrate the day when your mind is rid of the darkness of ignorance and achieves fullness of illumination.

3.Once born, death is the inevitable end. But it is possible to escape birth and thereby also death. For birth is the consequence of Karma (action). Engage in activity as your duty requires and as an offering to God. Then you will neither be elated at success or disheartened by failure, for He prompts, He helps, He grants joy or grief as He wills. The doer will have no attachment to the fruit of the deed, so he will not be bound to its consequence; it will leave no trace on his personality to affect him beyond death.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thiought for the day

1.If you view the world with love, it will appear as filled with love. On the other hand if you view it with hatred, everything will appear antagonistic to you. Eyes filled with love shine with brightness and cheerfulness. On the contrary eyes filled with hatred appear bloodshot and fearful. Your thoughts determine your actions whether good or bad. The external world will reflect your thoughts. You must consider the entire universe as a temple of God. You must regard all that is beautiful and great in Nature - the lofty mountains, the vast oceans, the stars in the sky - as proclaiming the glory and power of the Divine. The sweet fragrance of flowers or the delectable juice of fruits should also be regarded as tokens of God's love and compassion.

2.Your attitude to God should not be dependent on likes and dislikes. There are some devotees who worship God with devotion for some time. Then they turn against God. The reasons for these changes in attitude can be traceable to their expectations from God. When they feel that their prayers are being answered and their desires are being fulfilled, they adore Him. But when their wishes are not fulfilled, they revile God in all sorts of words. This kind of devotion is based on self-interest and has nothing divine about it. One should not blame God for difficulties. Pure devotion will not be affected by changes in circumstances or fortunes. True love is not based on any conditions. It is equal in joy and pain and is not affected by fluctuations in fortune.

3.Upaasana means approaching near the Divine. Often Upaasana is equated with fasting; this is not correct. When one is immersed in the bliss of Brahmaananda (divine bliss), one gives up food of one's own accord; this is true Upaasana. To subject oneself to fasting as a compulsory regimen is not Upaasana but mere starvation. For instance, to keep awake on the night of Shivaraathri by watching films or playing cards is a caricature of the sacred vigil that one is expected to observe at that time. The experience of Divine Bliss is not to be achieved by the mastery of various spiritual practices. It is only when the heart is purified that divinity can be realized. There is no room for divinity in a heart filled with egoism, pride and hatred.

4.All of you must realize that the relationship between you and God is permanent, and is beyond the limitations of time and space. You should not waste your life thinking only of the physical relationship. The body is a passing thing. What you see externally is a burden; when you have made it a part of yourself it ceases to be a burden. It is like the food that a traveller carries on his shoulders for consumption on the way. As long as the food remains outside it is a burden. But when he has eaten it, he gets stronger and there is no burden on his shoulder. You must safeguard the Divinity you experienced and magnify it by contemplating on it internally. You should concentrate on the attainment of union with the Divine, which is permanent and beyond the limitations of time and space.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

How to control your mind

1.Let the mind run wherever it likes; just be careful not to follow it, seeking to discover where it is going! It will then wander about for some time as the fancy takes it. Soon, getting tired and exhausted, it will come back to you! It is like a little child that knows nothing. Since the mother is following it and calling it back, it gets courage and confidence to run forward in any direction. But if the mother does not run behind the child and instead quietly retraces her steps, the child too, of its own accord, will run back to the mother! Carry on with the remembrance and meditation of the Divine Name and Form you like best and in the manner you are accustomed to. In this way, you will acquire one-pointedness (ekagratha) and realise your heart’s desire.

2.Do not entertain in your mind the idea of purity or impurity while undertaking a spiritual practice. There is nothing impure in the world. When the Lord is immanent everywhere and in everything, how can anything be impure? Even if something appears to the eyes as impure, the moment it contacts the Name of the Lord, it becomes purified. Purity and impurity are the result of the mental reactions at a particular moment. When one is giving money to someone, one talks of choosing an auspicious time. But when one gets a chance to take money, every moment becomes auspicious! The mind is the reason for both the attitudes. Remember that everything is pure, everything is Divine!

3.Life is a long journey through time, and religion confers peace for the present and motivation for the future. We must believe that we are currently undergoing the consequences of our own actions done in the past. It is a great source of peace and encouragement when people can be content with their present conditions because they know they themselves were the cause and that if one does engage in good and meritorious deeds now, it is possible to build a happy future. It is only when one adheres to these two principles that morality and self-control can have a place in life. Religion confers the inspiration and enthusiasm needed to abide by these two ideals.

4.Believe firmly that everything is rendered holy by His Name. Do not reject Him; cultivate Prema (love) for the Lord. It has infinite potentiality. An iron chain can be broken with ease, but not the chain of love that binds you to God! Even the cruellest of animals is overpowered by love. Do not mistake this temporary abode as your eternal dwelling place. Do not lose heart at evanescent troubles and short-lived tragedies. Immerse yourselves in the effort to attain the eternal Lord. He will never give you up.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.You are overly concerned about your body. It is just a water bubble. The mind is a bundle of thoughts. Hence, one should not lead one's life reposing one’s entire faith in the body and mind. In today's world, righteousness has declined and the whole world is filled with injustice, indiscipline, and evil behaviour. In such a chaotic situation, faith in God is the only lasting remedy. Love God to receive the gift of love from God. Truth is the only refuge, for truth is God. Love is God, live in Love.

2.People generally think that giving up family life, property, land and other forms of wealth is thyaga (sacrifice). But that is not sacrifice at all; in fact, running away in this manner is easy. What is required is sacrificing one's desires; that is real sacrifice! You must realize the purpose of human life. We are not born merely to eat, drink and make merry. Human birth is for helping our fellow human beings. We should not cause harm to anybody. We should not speak harsh words. We must always follow the motto: “Help ever, Hurt never”.

3.The human body is Panchabouthika (made up of the five elements, namely, earth, water, fire, air, and space). It consists of Panchendriyas (five senses) that crave for fulfilling desires. There are also certain values like Sathya (truth), Dharma (righteousness), Shanti (peace), Prema (love), and Ahimsa (non-violence) hidden in the core of our personality. These noble qualities are inherent in each and every one of us. They have to be brought out and manifested in our daily life. This process is called ‘Educare’.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.The pupil must be eager to translate the teachings into daily activity and actual practices. They must fill their hearts with devotion and dedicate all their skills for the actualisation of the Guru’s counsel. Such a person alone deserves to be called a shishya (disciple). The seed may have life in it; but the soil must be ploughed and made fit to activate it. When both these conditions are satisfied, the harvest of spiritual success is assured for the true pupil.

2.A wild horse is trained by many methods. Similarly, it is to tame our unruly mind that we have prayer, bhajans (devotional singing), and remembrance of the Name. In the initial stages, the horse runs in many directions, but the trainer does not worry; he holds fast to the reins. The mind too naturally runs in different directions when you begin remembrance and repetition of the Name; you must not yield to despair, anxiety, or indecision. Hold fast to the reins of Nama (Divine Name)! Within a short time, your speech and thoughts will come under your grip. Do not allow anything to come near you that might make you forget the Name of the Lord. In due course, you will realise the benefit of remembering His Name.

3.Those who have the inner urge to achieve the higher wisdom that confers liberation have to reflect upon and investigate the phenomenon of death. Death should arouse no fear. It should not be regarded as inauspicious. Neither should you run away from the problem imagining that death happens only to others, and that it will not happen to you, nor should you postpone reflections on death judging that they are inappropriate now and profitless. For inquiry into death is really inquiry into one’s own Reality. This truth has to be recognised.

4.Do not crave for the fruit the moment the sapling is planted! Do not pluck and chew the leaves and the twigs in the hope of inferring the taste of the fruit. If you do so, you cannot enjoy the sweetness of the fruit; besides, the plant itself will not survive. Similarly, your task is simply to cultivate the sapling called Nama (Name of God). While doing so, do not doubt and examine whether it has the glory ascribed to it. Without fail, that sapling will grow into a tree and give you the fruit you hope to eat. You can achieve it! Steadfastly believe that the Name is capable of yielding that fruit.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Develop Love. When we come into this world, it is only love that comes with us. From love arises truth. When love and truth come together, humanness finds its sustenance. The mansion of human life can be built with self-confidence as the foundation, self-satisfaction as the pillar and self-sacrifice as the roof. Only then, can you attain self-realization in this life. You should begin with self-confidence; without it, you cannot have happiness in life. How can one without self-confidence have confidence in others? Do not doubt anything and everything. Doubt endangers life; one who doubts will not achieve anything. Develop faith. Give up all wicked qualities and lead an ideal and blissful life. Humanness finds fulfillment and blossoms only in a pure heart.

2.People adore many deities like Rama, Krishna, Sai, but the Divine Principle in all of them is the same. The Atma (Soul) does not have a form or a name. Brahma Sathyam Jagan Mithya - Divinity alone is real; the world is unreal. God has no attributes. He does not punish or harm anybody. He is present in your heart in the form of pure and unsullied love. Therefore develop love more and more. That will protect you always. There is no greater protection than this; there is no weapon more powerful than love.

3.Every one of you will attain fullness in the end. You are at present at a particular stage as a result of the acts performed during your previous lives and the feelings you entertained in the past. The future is being built this very moment by the activities you are engaging in and the feelings that urge and shape them. A scholar might write elaborate commentaries on the Gita. But as a result of all that study, if in his character and conduct, he does not prove that the Gita has become a living part of him, all that punditry is but a burden he is carrying. So, never treat the learning you derive as so much fodder for the brain. It must be sublimated into Ananda (bliss). Envy, pompousness, egoism — all such evil traits have to be driven out.

4.If workers are ordered to dig the soil, their work is simply to go on digging. The gardener alone knows how much of the earth is to be put under which plant and how it must be arranged. So too, the order to you is “Constantly dwell on the Lord’s Name”! If you continue to do this, God Himself will direct where and how this has to be utilised.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Friendhsip is very important

1.It is the youth and youth alone who can set this world right. No nation can stand without its youth. Never underestimate the capabilities of young people thinking that they are inexperienced and immature. Only the youth are capable of protecting this world; they are endowed with immense power. If they take a firm resolve, they can achieve anything! When they realize their power, they can emancipate nations. You must face all difficulties with forbearance. Accept all trials and tribulations with love. Accept both pleasure and pain with love. Fill your heart with love and not with the poison of evil qualities. Everything is love. The very word ‘love’ is suffused with sweetness. Treat each other with love, converse with each other with love; lead a life full of love and enjoy bliss.

2.Education denotes Vidya which is the Knowledge of the Self. This is the foundation of education. Students should acquire sacred education beginning with thoughts of God. Even an illiterate driver in India salutes the steering wheel before he starts the vehicle. Similarly, a musician offers salutation to the musical instrument before playing on it. Thus, when one begins any type of learning it should start with the Name of God and prayer. Every activity should be done as an offering to God without any artificiality and ostentation. Degrees acquired without the essence of education are only pieces of paper. Students must have a pure and sacred heart, and virtues from a sacred education should be reflected on their faces. In fact, every individual should be imbued with divine feelings.

3.Your very form is love. Have more faith in love and develop loving relationships with others. Cultivate the feeling that you belong to all and all belong to you. All are one; be alike to everyone. All are the children of the same Divine Mother. Being the children of the same Mother, all should live like brothers and sisters. The very foundation of this country is based on truth and right action; this must be propagated. Everyone should consider adherence to truth as the greatest deed they can perform. Truth and right conduct are most important in the life of every human being. Youth, in particular, should strictly adhere to these virtues. What is truth? It means harmony of thought, word and deed. Wherever these three are in harmony, there you find Truth. You should not say one thing on the platform, but have something else in your mind, and finally act in a totally di fferent manner from what you spoke and thought. This is the worst sin possible!

4.Friendship is very important. When somebody salutes you, you should salute them back. Do not consider that since someone is your enemy, you should not return the greeting. Consider everyone to be your friend. Do not bear hatred or enmity towards anyone. Enmity is a wicked quality. Everyone should be united. If you really want to see God, first see Him in everyone. You may earn any amount of money, but as long as you live, you should give joy to others by undertaking acts of charity. Those who have wealth should look after the poor and the sick. Utilize all your earnings in a proper manner. Consider social service as service to yourself. Service to society is a sign of nobility. On the contrary, those who do not take to the path of service are immoral.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Some say knowledge is the most valuable acquisition, but character is more valuable than knowledge. One may be a learned scholar or hold high positions of authority, or may be very wealthy or be an eminent scientist but if one has no character, all the other attainments are of no use at all. Sacrifice, love, compassion and forbearance are the sterling human qualities that you should foster. One must get rid of jealousy, hatred, ego and anger, which are bestial tendencies.

2.When bhaktas (devotees) pray to Bhagawan (God) sincerely, offering all their actions to Him, they will certainly receive appropriate grace from the Divine. There are nine types of devotion: Shravanam (Listening to His glory), Keerthanam (Singing to Him), Vishnusmaranam (Remembering Him), Padasevanam (Serving at His feet), Vandanam (Adoring Him), Archanam (Worshipping Him), Dasyam (Being His dedicated servant), Sneham (Loving Him like a dear friend) and Atmanivedanam (Surrendering oneself completely to Him). In whichever way you offer worship, God responds in the same manner. When you surrender all your actions to Him, you will surely receive His Grace.

3.If at present you are pure in spirit, then it is you yourself who have caused it. If you are afflicted by misfortune, again it is assuredly the result of acts done by you. Hence, you must realize that your happiness and good fortune lie in your own hands; it depends on your decision. Unless you yearn, you cannot earn. So, it is clear that the will inherent in you is beyond all situations and conditions, all formations and transformations. The freedom that it represents is the result of your past acts. It is powerful, supreme and infinitely fruitful.

4.Divinity is immanent in every being. The same truth was proclaimed in the Bhagavad Gita: Mamaivamsho Jivaloke Jivabhuta Sanathanaha (In this world, every being is eternally an aspect of My Divinity, says the Lord). Since every being is a part of the Divine, all should be respected, loved and adored. You should not hate anybody or create distance between one another. Being a part of the Divine, each one of you should serve society. For whose sake is the existence of man? It is for the sake of society. Similarly, society has its existence for the sake of creation. This is the basis of the entire creation. In fact, creation is the manifestation of God. And you have a unique position in it. Indeed, service to society is the most important duty of each one of you; that will endow you with Divine Power. Service to society is, in reality, service to Divinity.

5.Just as all parts of the body form one organism, similarly all beings are like various limbs of God. When there is an injury to the leg, it is the eye that sheds tears. The same type of intimate relationship exists between God and all the beings. We must realize that our joys and sorrows are the reflections of our own actions; they are not caused by others. To blame others or God for our sorrows is a big mistake. You are your own witness. Every happening in this world is nothing but a 'reaction, reflection and resound'.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba