Thought for the Day

A mother fetching water from the well, will have a pot on her head, another on her hip and a third in her hand, and will be hurrying her way home, as she is always conscious of the infant in the cradle. If she forgets the infant, her gait slows down and she wanders around, chatting with all her friends. Similarly, if God, the Goal, is not cherished in the memory, one has to wander through many births and arrive home late. Hence keep the memory of the Lord and His glory, always with you. That will quicken your steps and you will arrive soon at the goal.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The lotus in your heart pines for the Sun, the splendour of the Loving Lord. To attain Him requires effort. Withdrawal of all attachment towards the world and cultivation of Divine Love alone can win it. God is the nearest and dearest entity, but ignorance hides Him away from the eye. The stars appear as dots of light, for they are at great distances from us. Just as the stars, God appears insignificant or ineffective to many, because they are keeping themselves too far away from Him. If some believe that God is not present or visible, it only means that they are at a too great a distance to be aware of Him. The love that God bears for each and every one is unequalled.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Scholarship is a burden, many times a handicap even.

Practice is the real thing that matters in spirituality. Scholarship is a burden, many times a handicap even. So long as God is believed to be far away, in temples and holy places, one will feel religion a burden and a hurdle. But instal Him in your heart and you feel light, burdenless and even strong. It is like the food basket – when carried on a shoulder, it feels heavy. You are too weak, even to carry it. But sit near a stream and eat your food from the basket – though the food weight has not decreased, you feel stronger and joyful. That is the consequence of taking the food in. Do likewise, with the idea of God. Do not carry it on the shoulder, take it ‘in’! The scriptures teach, “God is verily the Life-breath, of every soul.” So practise to live in His Glory, in His Memory, in His contemplation, every single moment of your life.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

பிறர் வற்புறுத்தலுக்காக இல்லாமல் மனதிலிருந்து தொண்டாற்றும் சிந்தனை தானாக வர வேண்டும்.

தோட்டத்தில் மண்டிக் கிடக்கும் செடி, கொடிகளை வெட்டி சீர்படுத்தி அழகுபடுத்துவது போல, மனதையும் தியானப் பயிற்சியால் சீர்படுத்த வேண்டும். 

கோபம் பல தீய விஷயங்களை மனதில் தூண்டிவிடும். பல ஆண்டுகளாக கிடைத்த ஆற்றலை கணநேரத்தில் இழக்கச்செய்து விடும்.  

மன பலவீனமே கோபமாக வெளிப்படுகிறது. அமைதி, பொறுமை, பணிவு போன்ற நற்குணங்களை மனதில் நிரப்பி விட்டால் பலவீனம் காணாமல் போய்விடும்.

இறைவனை அறிய வேதம் பயிலத் தேவையில்லை. எல்லா உயிர்களிடமும் அன்பு காட்டினாலே, இறையருள் என்னும் பரிசு பெறலாம்.  

அடுத்தவரிடம் அன்பு காட்டாவிட்டால் உன்னையே நீ நேசிக்க முடியாது. அடுத்தவரைத் துன்புறுத்தும் மனிதன் தனக்குத் தானே துன்பம் இழைத்துக் கொள்கிறான்.

பிறர் வற்புறுத்தலுக்காக இல்லாமல் மனதிலிருந்து தொண்டாற்றும் சிந்தனை தானாக வர வேண்டும்.
Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The body is a house, given to you for rent.

The body is a house, given to you for rent. The owner is God. Live there, so long as He wills, thanking Him for it, and paying Him the rent of Faith and Devotion. A strong will is the best tonic you can intake; the will becomes strong when you know that you are a child of immortality or a person who has earned the Grace of the Lord. In the epic Mahabharatha, the Pandavas are wonderful shining examples of faith and devotion. They won the Grace of the Lord and successfully defeated every single one of the wily strategy of their foes. The reinforcement of Grace from the Lord is the most reliable means of support. When you win the Grace of Lord, dishonour, defeat and despair fade away like fog evaporates before the Sun. Even disease cannot touch you. Hence, I advise you to face life by strengthening your spiritual urges and invoking the Grace of the Lord.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

நீங்கள் ஒருவரிடம் அன்பு செலுத்தும்போது, இறைவன் உங்களிடம் அதைவிட பல மடங்கு அதிகமான அன்பு செலுத்துகிறார்.

உங்கள் முன்பாக யாராவது கஷ்டப்பட்டால், அவர்களது நிலையைக் கண்டு வெறுமனே பரிதாபப்பட்டு மட்டும் சென்றுவிடாதீர்கள். அவர்களுக்கு என்ன தேவை என்பதை அறிந்து, அதனை நிறைவேற்றி வையுங்கள். அதையும் அன்புடன் செய்யுங்கள். அவர்களுக்குசிறு தீமைகூட வந்துவிடாத அளவிற்கு பாதுகாப்பு கொடுங்கள். அவர்களது மனம் நோகும்படியான வார்த்தைகளை பேசாதீர்கள். மென்மையாகவும், இனிமையாகவும் பேசுங்கள். ஆதரவற்றவர்களுக்கும், ஏழைகளுக்கும் நீங்கள் செய்யும் சிறிய உதவிகூட இறைவனின் கணக்கில் மிகப்பெரிய பலனாக கருதப்படும். அதற்காக அந்த பலனை எதிர்பார்க்காமல், பிறர்க்கு உதவுவதை உங்கள் கடமையென நினைத்து உதவுங்கள்.

* உலகில் வாழும் அனைவரும் இறைவனை தந்தையாக ஏற்றுக்கொண்டு, சகோதர, சகோதரிகளாக வாழுங்கள். சகோதர பாசத்துடன் பழகுங்கள். அவர்களுக்கு, நீங்கள் வைத்திருக்கும் பொருளில் பங்கு கொடுக்கத் தேவையில்லை. ஆனால்,  அன்பை மட்டும் தவறாமல் செலுத்துங்கள். ஏனெனில், கருணை பொழியும் குணம்கொண்ட இறைவன், அன்பின் வடிவமாகவே இருக்கிறார். நீங்கள் ஒருவரிடம் அன்பு செலுத்தும்போது, இறைவன் உங்களிடம் அதைவிட பல மடங்கு அதிகமான அன்பு செலுத்துகிறார்.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

There are learned scholars who spend a good deal of time in arguing that this form of God is superior to the other. This delusion has caused great harm. The truth is that each reveals a certain phase of Divinity. The comparison itself diminishes the integrity of any scholar! Anyone who has reverence for God, would not attempt at intellectually estimating the power of the Lord, they would, in fact, earnestly try to get an intuitive experience of the Divine! Harmony is the test of any religious outlook; if it breeds hate or faction or pride, the outlook is definitely evil. Keep away from these, if you are interested in your spiritual practice.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Repetition of God’s Name is the process by which the dedicatory attitude can be cultivated and grown. When confronted by a calamity, you must attach yourself to this spiritual practice, even more firmly, instead of losing faith in it and getting slack. Do not give up the medicine, when you need it the most! The pity is that when most people face the first disappointment, they lose courage and confidence, and give up their Lord! There are also others, who call out the Names of the Lord, when they are displeased with some happenings, or when they are depressed, in a tone indicative of disgust, uttering it with a sigh or a groan. This is very incorrect. The Name of the Lord must always be pronounced with joy, gratitude, exultation and remembering Him in all splendour. Call Him with Love, call Him with a heart full of sincere yearning.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

மக்கள் மனதில் பக்தியும், நேர்மையும் வளர்ந்தால் தான் ஆபத்து மறையும்.

விஞ்ஞானத்தால் வளர்ச்சி ஒருபுறம் இருந்தாலும் மற்றொரு பக்கத்தில் ஆபத்தும் வளர்ந்து கொண்டே போகிறது. மக்கள் மனதில் பக்தியும், நேர்மையும் வளர்ந்தால் தான் இந்த ஆபத்து மறையும்.

செய்யும் செயலை பற்றின்றிச் செய்தால் ஒழுக்கம் வளரும். உள்ளமும் தூய்மை பெறும். பற்றின்றிச் செய்ய பகவானின் பாதங்களைப் பற்றிக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

எவ்வளவு குறைவாகச் செலவழிக்க முடியுமோ, அந்த அளவு சிக்கனம், எளிமையைப் பின்பற்ற வேண்டும். அதில் மிச்சப்படும் பணத்தை தர்மத்திற்காகச் செலவழிக்க வேண்டும்.

மக்கள் எந்த நிலையில் இருந்தாலும் சரி, அந்த இடத்தில் இருந்தே அவர்களை முன்னுக்கு அழைத்துச் செல்ல வேண்டியது தான் தலைவர்களின் கடமை.

வாழ்வில் ஒழுக்கம் ஏற்பட்டு விட்டால் அதன் பின் நாம் ஈடுபடும் ஒவ்வொரு விஷயத்திலும் அந்த ஒழுக்கத்தின் அழகைக் காண முடியும். 

காஞ்சிப்பெரியவர்

Best way to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Embodiments of Love! In all religions and countries, birthdays of great personalities are celebrated, but the ideals for which they lived are not remembered and followed. This turns celebrations into artificial observances. Christ taught people to love all beings and serve all with compassion. It is only by practising these ideals that one can truly celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday. The Divinity within should be reflected in your every action. The seat of Truth is in your heart. Worshipping God means loving others with your full heart. You must live in love and lead a life of selfless service based on love. This is the best way to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

உண்மையான மகிழ்வோ, அமைதியோ எங்கு கிடைக்கும்?

ஒவ்வொரு மனிதனும் மகிழ்சியும், அமைதியும் பெறவே விழைகிறான்.  ஒருவர் கூட துன்பம் வேண்டுமென விரும்புவதில்லை.  அவ்வாறிருக்க, உண்மையான மகிழ்வோ, அமைதியோ எங்கு கிடைக்கும் என்று உணர முடியாத நிலையில் தான் தவறிவிடுகிறோம்.  உண்மையான ஆனந்தம், அமைதி ஆகியவை, செல்வம், சொத்து வைத்திருப்பதிலோ கல்வித்துறையில், கட்டுமானத்துறையில் தொழில் புரிவதிலோ, விஞ்ஞான ஆராய்ச்சியிலோ கிடைக்கப்பறுவதல்ல.  இவையெல்லாம் அளிக்கும் அமைதியோ, மகிழ்ச்சியோ தற்காலிக்மனவையே.  உண்மையான அமைதி இறைவனின் அன்பில் தானுள்ளது.  வாழ்வில் மனிதனின் முழுமுயற்சியுமே இறைவனின் அன்பைப் பெறுவதிலேயே ஈடுபடுவதாக இருக்க வேண்டும்.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

To accomplish anything, one should have a firm determination.

In the world today all those who are held in high esteem as great personages, have earned their good name only by their character and conduct. To accomplish anything, one should have a firm determination. All religions and scriptures agree that helping fellow-beings in times of need and saving them from distress is the greatest virtue. Every human being has equal rights in the world, for Divinity is present in all. To enjoy peace of mind, it is essential to practice forbearance and equanimity. Good and bad, rich and poor, educated and uneducated exist in every country. Even though born in the same family, some are narrow minded and have crooked ideas and indulge in selfish deeds, while others are noble and selfless. To be friendly towards all beings and do good with love is the primary duty of all.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Cultivate love in your hearts. Then nations will be united, prosperous and happy.

Live in truth, you will then experience Divine Bliss. Faith in God promotes love. Love leads to peace. Peace prepares the way for truth. Where there is faith there is Love, Where there is Love there is Peace, Where there is Peace there is Truth. Where there is Truth there is Bliss, Where there is Bliss there is God. The Divine manifests Himself in many forms and is worshipped as such, for the joy to be derived from it. Truth is one, regardless of nation or religion. The names and forms of human beings may vary, but the Supreme in them (Sath-chith-ananda) does not vary. It is eternal and changeless. Embodiments of Divine Love! Strike down the walls that separate man from man. Get rid of differences based on caste and creed. Develop firm faith in the oneness of Humanity. Cultivate love in your hearts. Then nations will be united, prosperous and happy.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Lord Jesus Christ gave the following example while teaching His fishermen disciples: ‘In a river the water is flowing in a swift current. But the tiny fishes are able to swim in it and move about merrily, despite the speed of the current. In the same river, a huge elephant caught in the rapids, is likely to get washed away or drowned in spite of its enormous size. The elephant just cannot survive there! The reason is: What you need for survival in a river is not being large, but the ability to swim. Likewise a person who is caught up in the ocean of worldly existence needs, not so much metaphysics, scholarship or wealth, as much as the grace of Divine love.’ Without any knowledge of Vedanta, one can still surmount all the problems of life if one is blessed with God's love. Hence, remember the Lord with Love, worship Him with Love and sanctify your life with Love.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

A green gourd sinks in water, but a dry one floats. Become dry - rid yourselves of attachments, desires, and avoid anxieties and worries. Then you can float unaffected on the waters of change and chance. Even water, when it becomes steam, can rise into the sky. Be free from the desires that drag you down; have only the yearning to come face to face with the Truth. The truth is shining inside you, waiting to be discovered. God is your Indweller and so when you seek Him outside, He cannot be caught. Look for Him within you. Love Him with no other thought, and feel that without Him, nothing is worth anything. Feel that He is all. Then you become His and He becomes yours. There is no kinship nearer than that!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The highest spiritual discipline is to follow assiduously the instructions of the Master. Years and years of rigorous training make a soldier, who can then stand all the rigours of warfare. The heroic fighter was not made in a day. Restrictions, regulations, drills and techniques laid out for him, were practised for a long time. So too, the practising spiritual aspirant, who can win victories in life, cannot be made in just a day! Understand this and seize your opportunity in this life; put it to full use. You will need to come and merge in the Divine, if not in this birth, at least in ten more births. Hence, do not let go of the opportunity and strive most earnestly, from today, to acquire the Lord’s Grace. The Compassionate Lord will certainly bestow Grace upon you as a reward for your spiritual practices.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Man is the monarch of all animals

Man is the monarch of all animals. Though the elephant lives longer, the lion is more fierce, the eagle more far-seeing, the cock more punctual in early rising, the cow more imbued with the spirit of sacrifice and so on, human birth alone has in it, the potentialities that can be brought out by proper culture. You are born with a helpless lamenting cry; you should die with a smile of joy. That is the purpose of the years between. But those years are wasted now. People are tossed about from one want to another, one grief to another, until they are blinded by despair and exhausted by foiled pursuits. Most illnesses are due to this despair and exhaustion. God alone is your anchor, who will save you from stress and storm. Do not neglect or ignore Him in your life.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Just as the calf seeks the udder of the cow for the nourishing milk, seek the Lord and His Glory in Nature. As a matter of fact, Nature is useful only when it adds to the wonder and awe that it is able to provoke and sustain. Everything is an image of the Lord. That is why joy wells up in you when you see and hear the stories of the Lord, and how He attracts all to Himself. It is the call of the bimba (object) for the prathibimba (reflection) to merge in it. So all are entitled to the merger, and all finally have to attain it. Remember, you have to come to Me, if not in this birth, at least within ten more births! Strive to acquire Grace which is the reward for spiritual practice. And the highest spiritual practice is to follow the instructions of the Master.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The body is the chariot (ratha) of the individual (jeevi), who is the Master. Human birth is the glorious and precious opportunity amongst all living beings. The human body is the castle from which one can fight successfully against the foes of attachment and egoism. It is the boat by which one can cross the sea of change and chance. The realization of the reality within oneself, through relentless spiritual discipline is an arduous challenge – as fraught with dangers and calamity, like playing with fire or duelling with wild animals. Scriptures (Upanishads) have compared the spiritual aspirant’s path to that of a razor’s edge. One has to be alert, vigilant and fully trained to meet all emergencies. Use the precious opportunity of this human birth and leverage your intelligence, discrimination and detachment you are gifted with, to rise above all, and realize the Ultimate Reality.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

You know only the present that is happening before your eyes; you do not realise that the present is related to the past and is preparing the course of the future. Each birth wipes out the memory of the one already experienced. The tree came from the seed and the seed from the tree and so on. You may not know which came first, tree or seed, but you can easily put an end to the cycle by frying the seed. You do not realise that the end of this cycle of birth and death lies in your own hands. The scriptures and holy books serve this very purpose. These are not meant to mislead you. That is not the desire of the sages who wrote down these annals and their own experiences. It is to tell mankind the truth about oneself.

BAGAVAN SRI SRI SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

Thought for the Day

One must develop deep detachment. There is no use renouncing some food or drink, to which you have become bound, when you hear a discourse, or when some religious text is expounded within hearing. Detach yourself from all that keeps you away from God. Spend more time on meditation or namasmarana, for peace and joy are not to be found in external nature; they are treasures lying hidden in the inner realms of each and everyone. Once they are located, one can never again be sad or agitated. With every inhalation, utter the Name of the Lord. With every exhalation, utter the Name of the Lord. Use this splendid and precious chance in your life to the fullest. Live in God, for Him and with Him.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Discard sloth and slumber, denounce fanaticism

Three fishes lived in a pond. One told the other two that the water was drying up and they should leave before it was too late. The first fish decided to leave the pond immediately, the second said it could save itself when the contingency arose and the third fish ignored it. In due course, the second and third fish were caught by a fisherman. The second fish managed to break through the net and escape, the third one resigned its fate to destiny. God of Death, Yama is the fisherman; unless early notice is taken of the process of drying to which the tank of one's lifespan is subject, one gets caught. Migrate into the sea of Grace, which will not dry; or learn the art of breaking through the net of death. Discard sloth and slumber, denounce fanaticism and make yourself a dedicated servant of the Lord. Then all strength, joy and Grace will be showered on you.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Be steady, make a firm resolution

You can feel the presence of God, in the depth of silence. In the excitement, clutter and confusion of the marketplace, you cannot hear His gentle footsteps. He resounds with clarity, when all is filled with silence. Hence I insist on silence, practice of soft speech and minimum sound. Talk little, talk in whispers, sweet and true. When you want to place a heavy thing on the ground, place it with care, do not drop it and create noise around you. Bend a little, keep it softly and gently on the floor with care. Similarly examine each and every act of yours and see to it that you execute it softly and silently. Transact all dealings with minimum speech and eliminate noise. Do not shout to persons standing far, go near them or beckon them to approach you. Loud noise is a sacrilege on the sky, just as there are sacrilegious uses of earth and water.

Be steady, make a firm resolution. Do not commit one fault or take a false step and then repent. Be very intentional, faithful to your resolve, every single day. Before you act, deliberate and make a decision. That is better than taking a weak step and regretting and losing the way. In the Mahabharatha, Arjuna had the foresight to pause and think about the consequences of the war even before the battle began. So he asked Lord Krishna to advise and guide him. Hence, take every step in spiritual practice, or in your day to day affairs, only after deep deliberation and satisfying yourself that it will be for your good and well-being. Reason out, discriminate; do not rush to conclusions or be led away by mere hearsay.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba 

Select good company and strive sincerely to reach your goal

The ancient sages who decided upon the many festivals that we celebrate today, had a high purpose in mind when they did so. They want us to imbibe the inner meaning and use each such day as a step in saadhana (spiritual efforts), as a reminder of the journey which each person has to undertake alone to the feet of the Lord. The festival of Dasara for instance, celebrates the victory of the forces of good over the evil ones which resist one’s progress towards love and light. You must remind yourself that the forces of good are combating the forces of evil in every living being, and if they only rely on the great Divine Force that fosters and fends the Universe, they can easily win and reach the goal.

"God resides in the heart of all beings" says Lord Krishna in the Gita. He is not to be found specially in cities like Amarnath, Kashi, Tirupati, Kedar or Gokarna alone. Just as every drop of the ocean has the salty taste, the composition and the name of the ocean, so too every single being has the divine taste, composition, and the name of the Lord. Only you do not realise it so clearly. The river realises itself by reaching the sea; man realises himself by merging in the Absolute. The space encased in the pot must become one with the space that traverses the entire Universe. This can be achieved by the negation of the attachment, which is just an artificial creation of the deluded mind. The inferior status of manhood that now satisfies you, must give place to the status of Reality of God which is the true status.

Have you heard the story of the rabbit that borrowed from Mother Earth four paisa (pence)? The rabbit thought to itself, “If I run away as far as I can, from the place I received the loan, I will be free from the obligation”. So one day, the rabbit ran as fast as its legs could carry it. After a while, it sat down in great relief thinking, “Now no one will ask me to repay.” The rabbit was shocked, for at that very moment, it heard from the ground beneath, “Mother Earth is right under your feet! You cannot escape from me, however fast you run!” So too, you cannot run away from Divinity. Wherever you may go seeking refuge, the Lord demands good conduct, good habits, good thoughts and good company! Make use of this opportunity, accept this noble advice, select good company and strive sincerely to reach your goal! 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba 

Learn to use the natural resources intelligently, in moderation, with the idea of loving service to all in the community.

Often, people try to reform the world without making any or proportionate effort to reform themselves. For, it is far easier to give advice and admonish others, than to take the advice and advance ourselves. The other is fundamentally, a reflection of your own self. You are the original and you yourself have to improve your shape. Invest time to strengthen your inner urges towards virtues and goodness, becoming impregnable and unassailable from within. Then you can set about reforming others in the planet.

A judge of the Supreme Court may, while at home play with his grandchild and bend on all fours for the little fellow to mount his back. He may crawl around on the floor while the child rides him; but all the while, his status as a judge does not suffer diminution, nor does he forget it. So too you must always be conscious of the high calling for which you have come. You should not disgrace it by any means or through any meaningless act or thought or word. I have come to give you the courage and confidence to conceive yourself as the Supreme Truth (Paramathma) you really are, to give you the intellectual power (dhee shakthi) to grasp the reality. These alone can destroy the delusion born of ignorance.

Divinity expresses itself infinitely as the five elements – the sky, the wind, the fire, the water and the earth. All creation is but a combination of two or more of these in varying proportions. The characteristic nature of these elements are sound, touch, form, taste and smell, cognized by the ear, the skin, the eye, the tongue and the nose. All the elements are abundant in Nature and are precious and potent with Divinity. So use them in moderation, reverentially, with humility and gratefulness. Excessive or inappropriate usage will injure your well-being just as drinking more or less water than needed is a torture. Inhaling more air is suffocating. Fire in moderation can warm or serve to heat and melt, but beyond a certain limit, it is a holocaust. Even excessive use of sound will distract people and drive them crazy. Hence, learn to use the natural resources intelligently, in moderation, with the idea of loving service to all in the community. 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba 

Thought for the Day

Lead your life such that, in posterity, people will remember you with gratitude and joy. To lead a good life, constant prompting from the Lord within you will be of great help. That inspiration can be got only by constantly reciting the Lord’s Name and calling on the inner springs of Divinity. The Lord’s Name is such a valuable instrument to win His Grace, to realize His Presence, to picture His Form and to remember His Glory. Repeating it from the depths of the heart, even once in the morning and once in the evening, will make your house, a home (griham) instead of a cave (guha). Senses are the windows, which when left open, make the lamp of the Name of God unsteady. Keep your senses away from the negative influences and concentrate on the Name of the Lord, its beauty and sweetness.

 The glory of the Divine - the richness, fullness, extent and the depth of Divine experience has to be experienced. It cannot be expressed through any amount of words or plays. You must feel that it is your highest destiny to acquire that experience. You are not a despicable creature, born in slime or sin to eke out a drab existence and be extinguished. You are a mixture of the mortal and immortal (Deha and Deva). Liberation is the means to be free from grief and live in joy. And it is easy to accomplish this. All you need to do is to place all your burdens on God. That will make you carefree, and griefless. Take everything as a Divine Play of the Lord you adore and love. No matter whatever happens clap your hands in bliss and joy, for all is His Divine Play and you can be as happy as He is, for His plans are working, and they are for your highest good!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

A big and long journey begins with the first step.

When a plane flies across the sky, it leaves no mark on it, no streak that lasts, no furrow or pot-hole that interferes with the next plane in that path. So too, let any or all feelings or emotions cross your mind, but never allow any of them to cause an impression. You can accomplish this by inquiry, quiet reasoning within oneself. This method is more effective than listening to lectures or studying books. Little children are trained to walk by means of a three wheeled contraption. The Pranava is such an instrument, the three wheels being the syllables A U and M. Holding it, you can learn to use your feet of devotion and detachment. If one walks on with the help of this Pranava meditation, one can certainly realise the glory of the Divine, which is the very substance of the Universe.

Turn the key in the lock to the left, it locks. Turn it to the right, it opens. So too, turn your mind towards the objective world, it gets locked, caught and deeply entangled. Turn it to the right, steer it away from the objects of senses, and the lock opens up, you are free and deliverance is in your hands! How to turn your mind to the right? Begin with remembering the Lord’s Holy Name (Naamasmarana) as your first step. A big and long journey begins with the first step. The first step itself will take you through to the second and third, and ultimately to realizing your destination or goal.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Just as the body is the house you live in, the universe is the body of God. An ant biting the little finger of your foot draws your entire attention to the spot in a split second, and you react to the pain and make an effort to remove the tiny enemy immediately. So too, you must feel the pain, the misery of the people, in the society around you. Pause for a moment to calculate what good you have done to the society that is helping you live your life comfortably. Do not fritter away your talents in profitless channels. You should not be a burden on others, or an enemy to your own self. Expand your sympathies to serve others, who stand in need, to the extent of your skill and resources. Be kind to all your kith and kin.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

When the seven colours of the spectrum come together, the effect is ‘no colour’; when they stand apart, the seven colours can be separately identified. The betel nut is brown, betel leaf is green and the chunnam (slaked lime) is white, but when you chew these three together, your tongue becomes red. When the three blades of a ceiling fan revolve fast enough and no blade is separately noticeable, they give cool comfort. So too only when the different qualities of Sathwa, Rajas and Thamas are unrecognisably integrated, one can be happy. When the three gunas are equated in saadhana (spiritual practice), the result is peace. The lamp is the sathwa guna, the wick is the thamo guna and the oil is the rajo guna. When all the three are integrated, they give the light of wisdom, which illumines.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Those who are trying to build the human community on the foundation of wealth (dhana) are like builders using sand as their foundation. Those who seek to build it on the rock of righteousness (Dharma) are the wise ones. Always remember that righteousness is the very root of this world. (Dharma Moolam Idham Jagath). Those who practice evil are cowards, they will constantly be haunted by fear and have no peace within them. Practice righteousness and you will remain happy forever. Respect for the parents who brought you into this world is the first lesson in right conduct. And gratitude is the spring which feeds that respect. 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Education must train the children to love, to co-operate, to be brave in the cause of truth, to be helpful, to be sympathetic and to be grateful. Dear children! Revere your parents, elders and teachers, be humble before them and respect their experience and deeper love for you. You must follow these virtues consistently and strictly. The educators, elders and parents too, on their part, must cleanse their intelligence and practice the same virtues with humility and detachment. There is no use teaching the children one thing and holding out examples, contrary to the teachings. Thus, true learning occurs when noble truths are taught and supplemented by the conduct of the teachers, parents and the elders.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

“Deho Devalaya” – Body is the temple, scriptures teach us. Realize that the human body is not just a mass of flesh and bone. The human body is a sacred instrument equipped with reason and emotion, capable of being used for deliverance from grief and evil; you have earned it after long ages of struggle. Honour it as such, keep it in good condition, so that it might serve that high purpose. Maintain it even more carefully than your brick homes and never let go of the conviction that it is an instrument and nothing more. Use it justly, for the purpose for which it has been designed and given. Install the Lord in the altar of your heart and invite Him into it. God loves to reside in a pure and aspiring heart.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Sand that has little grains of mica is valuable. But the sand, which has veins of gold, is much more precious. Thus, sand is valued according to the preciousness of the metal, which it has in its fold. Similarly, human hearts are evaluated by the contents therein. Keep God in your hearts. That is the best way to make your heart the most precious of your possessions. When God is installed in the heart, you will see only God everywhere, even in the objective world. The influence of God is such that even as you contemplate on Him, all traces of envy and greed will disappear from the mind.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Resolve this day to engage only in virtuous deeds, good thoughts and noble company. Let your mind dwell on elevating thoughts. Do not waste a single moment of your time in idle gossip or vain boasting or demeaning recreations. Death stalks behind you to snatch you and carry you off. Consider President Kennedy – how death was lurking around, waiting for the right time? Did he not have powerful soldiers and security men to guard him? All was in vain. No security personnel or device can prevent death from occurring. So while life persists, do good things, speak softly and sweetly. Never injure or insult another, serve those in need and keep the image of God, ever before your mind’s eye.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Time wasted is life wasted

Many of you are wasting a lot of time in meaningless pursuits. Time wasted is life wasted. Our ancients considered God as the embodiment of time and extolled Him thus: Kalaya Namah, Kala Kalaya Namah (Salutations to the Embodiment of Time, the One who conquered and transcends time). Do not forget the truth that time is verily God. You eagerly wait for a Sunday, thinking that you can relax and enjoy. In fact, you should feel sad that you are wasting time without doing any work on a Sunday. Utilise your time in a proper way. If you do not have any work, undertake social service. When your feelings are pure, and you utilize your time well to perform noble actions, your life will be sanctified and all work you do will be transformed into worship.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

All that I seek from you is that you love your fellowmen, share their sufferings, and engage yourselves in serving them. Rich people and those in power have plentiful servants. But the distressed, the poverty-stricken, and those who suffer have no one to serve them. Go to such people and be their friends, their kith and kin, and their closest well-wishers. Let them welcome you as such. If you pour spirituality into the ears of those who are tortured by hunger, it will not be assimilated. First satiate the hunger. Give them God in the form of food and in the form of clothes. Give God in the form of peace to those who are afflicted with anxiety and in the form of medicine to those who are suffering from ill health. Give God in a form that will assuage fear, pain and sorrow. It is only when this is done that spirituality can soak into their hearts.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

For men or women, character is the foundation.

The happiness that one derives from virtues is far superior to the happiness that you get from the possession of wealth. Unfortunately, many educated youth today are striving for wealth, physical strength and friendship. But all these have little value without the wealth of character. For men or women, character is the foundation. If you lack character, you become feeble in all other respects. Know that one’s strength lies in character and not in the wealth one earns. Materialistic wealth is not what we need today. Wealth can never confer true happiness. Hence, earn the wealth of virtues by developing good character. Without good character, all learning will prove futile, sooner or later. Embodiments of Love! With good character and purity of heart, perform all your actions. Know that even if a small act is done with a pure heart, it becomes fruitful.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Your fortune or misfortune depends on your actions.

Your fortune or misfortune depends on your actions. Without realising this truth, you are indulging in evil deeds. You feel sorry when the consequences of your sins haunt you. What is the use? You have to be careful right from beginning not to commit sin. Truth is the ornament for your neck (Sathyam kantasya bhushanam), Charity is the true ornament of the hand (Hasthasya bhushanam daanam). Your hands are useless if they do not perform acts of charity. You have to sanctify each limb of your body by engaging in sacred activities. Let your eyes ever look only at sacred things. These teachings are simple to practise in your daily life. But do not take them lightly. Though they appear to be simple, they lead you to liberation. You may not be able to see the results of your meritorious deeds. But they confer on you all the happiness and comforts in due course of time.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

An old man was once warned that there was a cobra on the roadside of the path he proposed to walk through. But he said, he had never seen it and so he did not believe it. Unfortunately for him, he did believe in it later, after it bit him. But then, it was too late to benefit from the information that he had heard earlier. Several leaders had to acknowledge that there is destiny that shapes events in lives, irrespective of individual efforts. Know that everyone has to come to the same conclusion, sooner or later – for, there is a limit to the capacity of the individual to control events in the world. Beyond that, there is an Unseen Hand that takes over the wheel of events. One may call it Destiny, another may call it Providence and the third may call it God – the Names do not matter. What matters is your humility, your ability to wonder, and sense of awe at the grandeur and magnificence of Divinity.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Give up all negative thoughts

The teachings of a mother play a vital role in shaping the future of her children. She should make every effort to drive away bad qualities and infuse human values in them. Embodiments of love, lead an exemplary life. Give up all negative thoughts and develop sacred feelings. Talk softly and sweetly. Never hurt others' feelings with harsh talk. Look after your home diligently and conduct yourselves in a pleasing manner. Treat guests cordially; to the extent possible, extend your help to those who are in need of it. Empathise with those who are in difficulties. You should try to comfort and console them with soothing words. Know that anyone who hurts others' feelings, will be hurt twice as much. No one can escape from the consequences of their actions. Hence, sanctify your lives by reforming your conduct to help ever and hurt never.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Sensuous pleasures are momentary and leave a trail of pain behind. Yet most people, from the learned to the illiterate, seek only such fleeting and unreal pleasures (preyas). Hence, instead of seeking preyas, develop a desire for spiritual well-being (Shreyas). Surely there is a need for some concern about physical comforts. ‘Even the body is essential for the realisation of Dharma,’ says the scripture. The demands of the body have to be satisfied. Society has to be served. Family responsibilities have to be discharged. The body is the basis for all these. But this should not be the ultimate goal of life. Together with this, there should be the yearning for a higher Shreyas. All actions aimed at Spiritual bliss are related to Shreyas and it is when you yearn for Shreyas, that even preyas leads you to fulfilment.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Education must encourage the acceptance of the good and the rejection of the bad

Education is no book-worm affair; the process must include the study and appreciation of all trades and professions. It must encourage the acceptance of the good and the rejection of the bad. Spiritual education is not a distinct and separate discipline; it is part and parcel of all types and levels of education; in fact, it is the very foundation on which a lasting edifice can be built. Secular and spiritual education are like the two halves in the seeds of pulses; the germ that sprouts is in between and it is fed by both. Cultivate Love; sow the seeds of love in all hearts. Shower Love on the desert sands and let the green shoots, the lovely flowers, the luscious fruits and the sweet harvest of nectar be earned by all mankind.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

1.Step by step, you reach the end of the road. One act followed by another leads to a good habit. Listening over and over again, you get prodded into action. Resolve to act, to mix only in good company, to read only elevating books and to form the habit of remembering the Lord's name (Naamasmarana), then ignorance will vanish automatically. The Divine Bliss that will well up within you by the contemplation of the lord who is Bliss Personified, will drive out all grief and worry. Move forward towards the Light and the shadow falls behind; move away from it and you have to follow your own shadow. Go every moment one step nearer to the Lord and then maya (illusion) which is the shadow will fall back and will not delude you at all.

2.The basic cause for the occurrence of feelings like hatred, jealousy and anger is body consciousness. As long as body consciousness remains, the body will be subject to these types of feelings. For instance, all experiences derived through the senses and the mind occurs only during the waking state. When you go to sleep none of these experiences are present. The experiences in the dream state are real as long as the dream lasts. The experiences in the waking state are real in that state. The Reality or Truth, is the ‘I’ that remains in all the states. Over the ages, by identifying the ‘I’ with the body, its true nature has been grossly underrated. The truth is, this ‘I’ is subtle and incomparable. It is beyond change. This is the characteristic of Divinity. You must be aware of this and make efforts to recognise this inherent Divinity.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba 

How to overcome sorrow?

When happy news is heard, the heart is elated. But when we listen to something sad, the heart shrinks with sorrow. Similarly, the heart gets enraged when the ears hear harsh words about you, and you are filled with joy when you listen to words of praise. What is responsible for these varied responses, though all the words are heard by the same ears? The ears are inert (jada) and are incapable of any reactions by themselves. The responses of joy or sorrow are related to the contents of the messages conveyed by the ears. Given this, ask yourself, how can the operations of these senses be deemed as Sathya (Truth or Reality)? When the senses are unreliable, the reactions and experiences produced by them are equally unreliable. Enquiring along these lines, one can overcome sorrow.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

I desire that festivals should be celebrated, understanding their inner significance. Deepavali is a special day for getting rid of all the bad qualities in us. As long as the demonic qualities remain, you will be immersed in darkness. The destruction of the demon Narakasura symbolizes destruction of evil and restoration of virtuousness. Also, on Deepavali day, a whole array of lamps are lit by the light from one lamp. That One lamp symbolises the Supreme Effulgent Lord. The other lamps are the light in individual selves. The truth of the Vedic saying, "The One willed to become the Many" (Ekoham Bahushyaam) is exemplified by the lighting of lamps from the flame of one. Another significant fact is that, wherever the lamp may be placed, the flame goes upwards only and never down. Likewise, the flame of Spiritual Wisdom (Jnana) always leads you to a sublime level through the path of Righteousness.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

When a man falls into a well, of what use is it if he controls his voice and his emotions and whispers quietly, "I have fallen into this well.. I have fallen into this well... I am in great danger... Please save me?” and so on. No one will be able to hear or save him. He must shout full-throated, with all the anguish he is experiencing and with the extreme desire to be saved. Then he can hope to get succour. Similarly, when you are caught in the coils of this world, when you have fallen into this deep well of worldly misery, shout with all your might and all your heart, that you may be saved by God. There is no use muttering faintly and half-heartedly, "Save me... I am floundering in this samsaar (worldly life)." When the prayer comes shrieking through the heart, help is assured. Sing with intense yearning for God and enjoy the experience of adoring Him.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

You must probe into the real significance of samkeerthan (or Bhajan singing) that you are engaged in. Keerthan is ‘singing aloud the Glory of God.’ Samkeerthan is the process of singing that originates in the heart, not from the lips or tongue. It is the expression of the joyous thrill that wells up from the heart when the Glory of God is remembered. It is the spontaneous manifestation of inner ecstasy, no attention is paid to the blame or praise that others may give. It does not seek the admiration or the appreciation of the listeners. It is sung for one's own joy, satisfaction and delight. Keerthan of this supreme type, alone, deserves the name samkeerthan. It is with this high purpose in view that this programme of global samkeerthan was designed. Singing this intense yearning for God and enjoying the experience of adoring Him, helps to purify the atmosphere. It is with this high purpose in view that this programme of global Akhanda Bhajan was designed.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri sathya Sai Baba

The first step to love all and serve all is to expand love in your own homes.

The first step to love all and serve all is to expand love in your own homes. You must revere and please your parents who gave you this chance to live and learn. If you ill-treat them or inflict grief on their minds, how can you ever gladden others by service and understanding? You know that when a balloon is blown, it bursts and the air inside it merges with the vast limitless expanse outside. Similarly your love must fill your home, then the society you live, and finally burst open to spread in the Universe. A drop of water held in the palm is soon evaporated; but drop it into the sea and it survives as a part of the sea. It assumes the name and the taste, the majesty and might of the sea! Cultivate Love; sow the seeds of love in all hearts, everywhere around you. That is My Wish, My Mission!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The motherland is not a mere lump or earth

1.All worldly pleasures are transient and temporary. Very often they result in sorrow and disappointment. You often experience loss, depression and confusion and have no contentment. Know that lack of contentment is the real loss (Asantrupto nijo nashtah). There is no limit to desires. One feels hungry, another is thirsty. If the thirsty man is offered water, he is not satisfied, he wants a cool drink. When he is given a cool drink, next he wants ice cream, and so on. He is not satisfied with anything. Realize that there is no end to desires for material things in the world. To get rid of these desires, one must turn their mind towards God. The purpose of human birth is to realise the inherent Divinity. That is the way to achieve contentment and lasting bliss. God alone is the source of enduring bliss.

2.When students score low marks parents feel great grief. Similarly, when we fall low in morals and spiritual virtues, our motherland bemoans her fate ten times more sadly. We have to assuage the grief of the physical mother and promote the peace and prosperity of our motherland. The motherland is not a mere lump of earth. When we desire her progress, we have to promote the progress of the people who dwell therein. The skills needed for resuscitating and reforming are found in youth. The reforming process involves the removal, in daily living, of bad conduct and bad habits, and the practice of good conduct and good deeds. You must express your humility, fortitude, equanimity, and gratitude for kindness received, in various acts in your daily life, every day.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba 

Egoism is the most dangerous illusion that has to be exploded and destroyed.

Egoism is the most dangerous illusion that has to be exploded and destroyed. Arjuna too suffered this ego. One day when Krishna brought the chariot back to camp, Arjuna wanted that like all charioteers, Krishna should get down first and open the door of the chariot for him. Krishna refused and insisted that Arjuna should alight before He does. At last Krishna won and Arjuna got down. As soon as Krishna left His seat and touched the ground, the chariot went up in flames! The fact was that the various fiery arrows that had the power of burning the chariot had actually hit the target, but due to the presence of Krishna, their igniferous powers could not manifest themselves. Realising this, humbled Arjuna; his egoism had a rude shock. He also realised that every action of Divinity was full of significance.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

You must take care of your body, which is the case for the Divine Spark, until its purpose of Self-Realization is fulfilled. But its nourishment and care should not overshadow the attention due to the mind, its purification and sublimation. Now the body is nourished with breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon, snack break at 4 PM and dinner at night. The body is the cart and the mind is the horse that drags it. Unfortunately no food is given to the horse, which is really the more valuable of the two. Give the mind and culturing of the mind, the importance it deserves, only then life is worth living. The mind has to be hale and hearty, joyous and peaceful, free from agitations and worries. You can keep it happy by recitation of holy names and doing noble acts that helps the wellbeing of all. This will confer you everlasting joy.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Many worry themselves with questions on the multiplicity of Divinity. The same current activates the fan and gives air, illumines the bulb and gives light, heats the stove and cooks, moves the wheels around in a train. The instruments are different, but the inner energizer is the same. Some bulbs are 40 watts and some are 60, 100 or 1000 watts. Hence, though the current is one, the illumination varies. Name and form are not essential, focus on the inner truth. Take the case of your own body - the hand is a limb of the body, the hand has fingers, the fingers have nails and so on. Through every part of this and every other limb, flows the same life force. So too, in this universe, which is the body of God, every being is a part, sustained by the same divine essence. So honour everyone, revere the essential Divine.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The very first lesson I gave when I declared My Identity at Uravakonda was: "Maanasa Bhajare Gurucharanam, Dusthara Bhava Saagara Tharanam." That is to say: First know that you are in this cycle of birth and death, the ocean of worldly life (bhava saagaram); then resolve on crossing it (tharanam); then fix on a Guru or the Name and Form of God which appeals to you; lastly, dwell on His Glory, do bhajan, but do it with all your mind. He, who is deluded by this relative reality is the worldly person (samsaari); he who is aware that it is only relatively real is the spiritual practitioner (saadhaka).

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Think and feel only pure thoughts and emotions

The best means to stay in contact with the Higher Self at all times, is to follow the simple exercise of Namasmarana, the repetition of any one of the Names of the Lord; a Name that signifies the glory that lies embedded in every being. People indulge in all types of purposeless gossip, conversations and scandal. Many find time and interest in these degrading pursuits. But they have no inclination to awaken the Divine in them by constant remembrance of the Creator and His Splendour. See only those scenes that will foster this discipline; speak only of elevating and uplifting subjects; listen only to purifying topics; think and feel only pure thoughts and emotions. That is the way to develop the Divinity inherent in each one.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

It is true that milk contains butter; sesame seeds contain oil; cane yields sugar. But by merely holding milk in the hand, you cannot get butter; filling the lamp with sesame seeds you cannot light the wick, shaking the cane will not result in a shower of sugar. By placing sweets on a plate in front of you and reciting 108 times "sweets, sweets.." can your tongue relish it? Similarly you study many holy books, and chant mantras and hymns. Of course, the time spent in these activities is thereby rendered holy. But, these are not helping you to transform the work you are engaged in into an offering acceptable to God. Are you putting into practice at least one percent of what you read or recite? Mere reading and singing will not free you from the cycle of birth and death. God has to be planted firmly in the mind, the omnipresent God has to be enshrined in the heart; God has to flow with the blood in the veins. God has to be visualised through the inner eye.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Millions read and write; millions have qualified for degrees and have become experts and specialists. This only means that they are efficient collectors of information or big encyclopaedias of general knowledge! But none can say, who one really is. People try to fly millions of miles into space, but they are powerless to travel even half an inch into their own inner realm and discover what lies therein. What is the use then, of the vast amount of exertion and energy they have spent for their education? True learning must be like that of ancient India, where knowledge and scientific temper was developed and practised along with sense and mind control, and character development. That will be beneficial to the individual, the society and lead to the progressive unfoldment of the Divinity present in every being.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Illusion is like a fierce dog that will not allow anyone to near its Master, God. You can easily manage to by-pass it by assuming the Form of the Master which is called Sarupyam or by calling out to the Master so loudly that He comes down and accompanies you into the house; that is to say, by winning His Grace as proximity, Saameepyam. Illusion is His pet and so will not harm you, if He orders not to. Illusion is the blemish that affects the mind. The Master comes to save not just one good person from Illusion, but the whole of mankind. Of course, He has to come assuming a form that man can love, revere, and appreciate.

Proceed ever towards strength (balam). Do not take to untruth, wickedness, and crookedness – all of which denotes a fundamental fatal trait of cowardice and weakness (bala heenam). Weakness is born of accepting as true, a lower image of yourself than what the facts warrant. That is the main mistake. You believe you are the husk, but you really are the kernel. All spiritual practices must be directed to the removal of the husk and the revelation of the kernel. So long as you say, ”I am so and so”, there is bound to be fear. Once you say and feel “I am Divine” (Aham Brahmasmi), you get unconquerable strength.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Action must not be felt as a burden. No action which helps your progress will weigh heavily on you. It is only when you go counter to your innermost nature, that you feel it as a burden. If you focus only on the worldly gains, a time will come when you look back on your achievements and will yourself sigh at the futility of it. Entrust your mind the task of serving your Lord, before it is too late. Let Him shape it as He likes, and your mind will be tamed. You don’t have to hand over to the goldsmith an ornament that is quite beautiful. You give him broken and dented ones, or those that have gone out of fashion! So too willingly give the Lord your mind that certainly needs repair, if not complete reconstruction!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Education is the rot of the tree of line

The root of education fulfills itself in the fruit of virtue. Earning a fat salary is not the chief thing one should expect from education. The goal should be the cultivation of virtues. Education is the root of the tree of life. The affection which the individual develops towards kith and kin, the objects of the world, the ideals and the goals, the fancies and fashions - these form the branches and twigs. The blossoms which the tree produces are the intelligence and its manifestations. These flower blossoms yield the fruit of joy (anandam). The sweetness this fruit confers is character. The essence of character is virtue. It is in virtue that the tree of life justifies itself.

Bagavan SRi SRi Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

People are blinded by the objective world and they believe that world to be real, meaningful and worthy of pursuit. The cataract grows in the eye and robs it of its efficiency. Ignorance is the cataract of the inner eye. It hides the true vision and blinds the intellect such that one cannot see that Divinity is their real nature. Ignorance misleads you and makes you believe that you are an ordinary human (manava), when in reality you are God (Madhava). Of what use is the eye, when the vision is not correct? You have focussed too long on riches, status, children, relatives, fame and standard of living. All of these are of minor interest and momentary value. Fix your urge on the Truth, Eternal, the Real, the Pure and Immovable (Nithya, Sathya, Nirmala and Nischala) - the Divinity present within you and around you.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Believe in your experience; confidently accept whatever has given you peace and joy. This is the basis for faith. Also, gather wisdom from wherever you can acquire it. Listen to the good things that teachers of different denominations elaborate upon. Weigh in your own mind, against your own experience, the teachings you have heard. Listening (Shravanam) should be followed and confirmed by Reflection (Mananam). You must think through the background, implications, reservations, and limitations of what you have been told. Then comes Nididhyaasana - you should meditate on the truth that you have painstakingly garnered over the years and plant this wisdom deep down in your consciousness and let it become part of yourself.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Many often believe and state in the spirit of surrender: “I offer to You my body, my mind, my possessions, my all." This is incorrect and is a sign of ignorance. It concedes that you and God are distinct entities. God is not separate from you, for God is in all, everywhere, at all times. (Ishwarassarva-bhoothaanaam). How then can you or God be apart? To see God in everything, everywhere, at all times, is true surrender (Sharanaagathi). Repetition of mantras (holy formulae) and platform speeches on holy texts alone is not true devotion. The real devotee is one whose deeds are in accordance with the words of advice they utter. Devotion cannot tolerate in a devotee, the slightest trace of envy or jealousy. Make your daily life holy and pure. Render your life worth-while through service to man and service to society. That is the most important aspect of surrendering the self.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Your heart is the ceremonial altar; your body is the fire place; your hair is the holy grass, darbha; wishes are the fuel-sticks with which the fire is fed; desire is the ghee that is poured into the fire to make it burst into flame; anger is the sacrificial animal; the fire is the tapas you accomplish. People sometimes interpret tapas as ascetic practices like standing on one leg, and so on. No, tapas is not physical contortion. It is the complete and correct coordination of thought, word and deed. When all words emanating from you are sweet, your breath becomes Rig Veda. When you restrict what you listen to and prefer only sweet speech, all that you hear becomes Saama gaana. When you do only sweet deeds, all that you do is Yajur homa. Thus, you will be performing every day the Vedhapurusha Yajna, the yajna which propitiates the Supreme Vedic Being.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The term Yajna means ‘any activity dedicated to the glory of God’. Such activity can be done in all climes, in all realms, and by all races. The key to success is ‘Dedication’. Without it, there will inevitably arise anxiety, fear and faction. Every activity in the world is directed unto God, whether you know it or not. If God is not the inspirer and motivator, how can the Universe be moving in harmony, wheeling so smoothly, without chaos and anarchy? Those who are aware of this fact and accept it, experience thrill and joy in witnessing it! Anyone who lives in the constant presence of God and does all acts dedicated to God is continuously engaged in Yajna. 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba