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Friday, July 1, 2011

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

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