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
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
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